In August 2003, volunteers started manning the Amtrak station in Jefferson City to help give passengers information and assist them in getting on and off the Missouri River Runner trains.
A few dozen people signed up when the volunteer program began. The number has fluctuated over the years, but now, as few as six or seven volunteers help out.
One of those still volunteering in Steve Buersmeyer, whose service dates back to when the program started.
He said he saw an ad in the paper and thought the volunteer role would be interesting.
"I was working at Von Hoffman Press at the time, and coming down here was therapy for me," Buersmeyer laughed. "After dealing with some people at work, this was a great break."
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last spring, many of the Amtrak station volunteers, who were mostly retirees, decided to quit to limit their risk of potential exposure to the virus, Buersmeyer said. The pandemic also led to the halt of two River Runner trains. Since March, Amtrak has run only one train going east across the state in the morning and one train going west in the evening due to reduced travel demand.
"When it first hit, there were a couple days when I was volunteering where no one got on or off the trains," Buersmeyer said. "The train might have had only one or two people on it. I never thought I'd see that. Before COVID hit, my goodness, on weekends, we'd have sold-out trains."
Another change affecting the volunteers came a few months before the pandemic hit. In fall 2019, the station had to move out of the historic Union Hotel building, which is part of the Jefferson Landing State Historic site, because it was found to have structural issues that made it unsafe for people to be inside. A temporary trailer was put in place in a nearby state parking lot.
"There's not as much room as we had at the hotel," he said.
Buersmeyer said he has met several interesting people getting on and off the trains, which is one of the main reasons he's continued as a volunteer.
"You can't imagine what you see, both good and bad," Buersmeyer said. "You run the gambit of society with the people who travel on these trains."
In recent years, they haven't as many issues with passengers as in years past, he said.
"People seem more friendly, especially these past few months," Buersmeyer said. "When we started the program, we had some real knuckleheads that came through here. I can't tell you the last time we had to ask law enforcement to come down; it's way before COVID hit."
Among passengers Buersmeyer remembers is a woman who donated some railroad memorabilia to the station. One piece currently on display at the temporary station is a framed silk scarf with the decals of what Buersmeyer said are "fallen flags," the logos of railroads from the past that were absorbed by larger companies such as Union Pacific.
If people would like to volunteer, Buersmeyer said, the easiest thing to do is drop by the station when it's open. Volunteers typically get there about an hour before the trains arrive. The morning eastbound train is scheduled to arrive at 11:18 a.m., and the evening westbound train is scheduled to arrive at 6:22 p.m.
"Just talk to the volunteer, and they can give you a form to fill out," Buersmeyer said. "If we start getting more trains again, we're going to need more help.
"It doesn't pay, but it has its own rewards."
This article was edited at 10:43 a.m. Jan. 24, 2021 to correct the spelling of Von Hoffman Press.