Veritas 7th & 8th Graders Ride the Rails After Reading Murder on the Orient Express
To cap off their study of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery Murder on the Orient Express, Veritas Preparatory School’s 7th and 8th-grade students took learning off the page and onto the rails with a field trip to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.
After weeks of reading and analyzing Christie’s famous novel, students were eager to experience the world of historic rail travel for themselves. The museum visit offered a hands-on look at vintage locomotives, restored passenger cars, and the history of railroads in Nevada and the American West.
“The story really came alive for the students when they could see and step inside the kinds of trains Agatha Christie was writing about,” said literature teacher Ms. Behimer. “It was a perfect way to connect literature, history, and imagination.”
At the museum, students were able to ride a 99-year-old motor car, operate handcars, and operate a railway switch. They also participated in guided exhibits explaining the mechanics of locomotives and the role of railroads in connecting early Nevada communities.
Before the trip, students engaged in scholé learning by sharing a multicultural picnic and reading the final chapter of the novel together. Each student brought a dish that represented the home country of one of the characters. Items such as French croissants, Hungarian paprika chips, and Italian meatballs were shared.
Between exploring the museum and enjoying a picnic lunch together, students gained a deeper appreciation for both storytelling and real-world history. “It felt like we were stepping into the mystery ourselves,” remarked 7th grader Alice Frey. “Seeing the trains helped us imagine what it would be like to travel with Poirot!”
The trip was more than just an outing - it was an extension of Veritas’ classical education model, which seeks to engage the whole student through discovery and experience. By combining literature with hands-on learning, the 7th and 8th graders deepened their understanding of the story while exploring Nevada’s rich transportation history.
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