Lead service attendant, 2016.

Missouri has worked with Amtrak since 1979 to fund service linking its two largest cities – St. Louis and Kansas City – with the state capital and other intermediate communities. As of 2016, the Missouri River Runner served 10 stations along a 283-mile route. The four daily trains are scheduled to allow for convenient connections with the Lincoln Service and Southwest Chief.

To celebrate 30 years of state-supported rail service, the Missouri Department of Transportation sponsored a contest to rename the train. “Missouri River Runner,” suggested by Keith Kohler of Glendale, Mo., garnered the most votes from the public. The name evokes the river that parallels much of the route.

Lead Service Attendant (LSA) Deborah Ahrens, who started with Amtrak in 2004, makes sure the cafe runs smoothly on the Missouri River Runner. The LSA is responsible for practicing excellent customer service, providing food and beverage service and creating attractive displays of available merchandise. He or she also has delegated responsibility for material usage and handles payments. "We're a family," says Ahrens of her colleagues.

Photographer: Chuck Gomez for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.