Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan

Jared
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Non-Profit

Join Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Executive Director Bethan Maher and Superintendent Rowdy Pierce and take a ride into the modern age of steam locomotives, cows, corn and incontinent Santas.   This is an unvarnished look at the business of tourist steam railroads like you've never heard before. 

  1. Jul 14

    Episode 18: True Crime

    In this week's episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, we present Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad’s version of a True Crime podcast, or plea for someone else to do one.  This episode follows another bridge fire on Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and ongoing trespassing concerns.   1.)  True Crime Here’s the timeline (with some stuff left out):  October 2024 – Mean, no-good emails start.  December 2024 – Trespassing incident / western standoff.   December 2024 – More signs, etc.   February 2025 – Manifesto  February 2025 – More emails         February 2025 – MRSR requests heightened law enforcement due to ongoing risks.           April 2025 – Trestle fire at GG-92        July 2025 – More nasty notes.         July 2025 – Harassing phone calls.         July 2025 – Boxcar Canyon Fire 1        September 2025 – Requests to elected officials and law enforcement        October 2025 – Follow-up to requests        June 2026 – Boxcar Canyon Fire 2 2.) The most recent fire at Boxcar Canyon and ongoing trespassing issues. 3.) In the News! Trains Magazine drops from 12 print editions every year to 10, the internet has feelings!  4.) Listener questions, like “do you sleep?”  Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way—we'd love to hear from you. So grab your coffee (or whatever is getting you through the day), crank up the phonograph, and let's go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  2. Jun 30

    Episode 17: The Hangover (minus the Rule G Violations)

    In this week's episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, we're calling this one the "Hangover Edition." Neither is actually hungover, just running on fumes after submitting our CRISI grant and getting Polson 70 back under steam. The result? A completely unscripted episode in which no one is entirely sure what was talked about... but apparently it was a lot. 1.) The final push to submit our nearly $30 million CRISI grant application and what the last few days looked like behind the scenes. At the time of filming, Bethan still hadn't submitted it. 2.) Getting Polson 70 back into service following her 1,472-day inspection and rebuild, personnel meltdowns and all.  3.) Rowdy's problematic internet presence.  4.) The Oregon Trail, favorite presidents, whether heritage railroading is a viable career, legal pads, spot plates, World War II, and a variety of other topics that production wouldn't have put on the agenda. 5.) In the News! This week's news segment covers paperwork at Railtown. Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way—we'd love to hear from you. So grab your coffee (or whatever is getting you through the day), crank up the phonograph, and let's go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  3. Jun 16

    Episode 16:The making of The YouTubes

    In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, Bethan is M.I.A., and Calvin - commonly known as "Production" steps in to talk about all things YouTube and his entry to the Chugg Life.  1.) Who is Calvin? What's he do aside from "Production" stuff?  What's his entry to the ChuggLyf been like?  2.) Behind "The YouTubes." How it got started, how it's found it's footing, and what goes into each week's episode.  3.) Polson 70 updates following the FRA's visit.  3.) In the News! Our weekly news segment talks about America 250 paint schemes. 4.) Our Frequently Asked Questions – like, why does Calvin say "brother," so much?  Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way- we’d love to hear from you.  So grab your coffee, crank up the phonograph, and let’s go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  4. Jun 2

    Episode 15: Special Pridecast

    In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, Rowdy is conspicuously absent, leaving Eric in the hot seat for a special Pridecast focused on LGBTQ+ history in railroading and logging railroads, with a look at where we are today. Eric and Bethan spend some time discussing the unique "flavor" of Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in the Year of Chugg™ (2026) and the team that has come together to make it all happen. There isn't much written about queer history in American railroading, which makes uncovering these stories all the more interesting. One great resource from across the pond is the UK's National Railway Museum: People, Pride and Progress. As part of Bethan's ongoing quest (hyperfixation) to uncover the untold stories of logging and railroad history, she dives into a few notable LGBTQ+ stories, including the Sumner Welles/Pullman Porter affair of 1940 and Portland's 1912 Scandal. For those interested in learning more, check out Peter Boag's Same-Sex Affairs: Constructing and Controlling Homosexuality in the Pacific Northwest. Fast-forwarding to the present day, Eric shares his own coming-out story and reflects on life as a gay man in the railroad world, particularly within the heritage railroad community. In the News! Our weekly news segment was almost nonexistent this week, thanks to a complete hyperfocus on history rather than current events. We do, however, discuss some exciting new gift shop merchandise. Frequently Asked Questions! This week's FAQ segment included a question about nationalizing the U.S. rail network, a topic we mostly decided to nope right out of. Got a question or topic you'd like us to cover? Send it our way, we'd love to hear from you (we think). So grab your coffee, crank up the phonograph, and let's go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  5. May 19

    Episode 14: Playing with the Big Kids

    In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, Rowdy and Bethan are back to the usual shenanigans, with a bit less food-centered content than "the talent" prefers. They detail activities where they're parading around undercover, hanging out with the "Big Kids," a.k.a. freight folks.  1.) Recapping the ASLRRA Conference that was held in Minneapolis from April 12 through 14.  2.) The current state of our CRISI application. The scope of our project has increased from a mere $20 million to $29 million, and Bethan is definitely feeling the pressure.  3.) In the News! Our weekly news segment is a bit self-serving, featuring the start of our 21+ event series! Also covered, the magnificent debut of the newly restored Cheney Depot.  Check it out here: https://www.cheneydepot.com 4.) Our Frequently Asked Questions – like, what the heck is behind you guys?  Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way- we’d love to hear from you.  So grab your coffee, crank up the phonograph, and let’s go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  6. May 5

    Episode 13: Radical Transparency

    In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, they discuss the “tough stuff,” their take on radical transparency, and a recent situation regarding anonymous complaints to the FRA about Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad’s repair work on steam engine, Polson 70.  1.) Radial transparency. Why has MRSR taken this approach from the start? How does radical transparency fit into our organizational purview and how it affect us? What things can we share, and what things can’t we share?  2.) A recent situation regarding a formal complaint to the FRA regarding the condition of Polson 70’s back tubesheet knuckle. How we interact with the FRA, what our response was, what the paperwork burden is, and how we’ve “gotten to the other side.” 3.) In the News! Our weekly news segment covers the President’s budget requests for railroad activities – Amtrak, Intercity/Passenger Rail, and other railroad projects.  4.) Our Frequently Asked Questions – like, how the heck did Rowdy get his name?  Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way- we’d love to hear from you.  So grab your coffee, crank up the phonograph, and let’s go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  7. Apr 21

    Episode 12: Responsible Railfanning

    In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, Rowdy and Bethan dive deep into a topic near and dear to them, "Responsible Railfanning."  Here's what comprises this episode:  1.) Introducing while Bethan loads up on the Red Bull. There's some buffering. 2.) How to safely foam. With some really, really big things happening in heritage rail space this year, we want to take a minute to talk about how to safely and respectfully railfan.  3.) What do we do with heritage equipment that needs saving? The internet is full of last-minute emergency fundraisers and calls to save historic equipment, on tight timelines, and often, without solid plans for the future. How do we, as a community, museums, and railroads, be good stewards of our historic assets?  4.) In the News - Appropriations! Rail Funding!  5.) Questions. (This was filmed before our "fuel storage solution" was announced. :)  Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way- we’d love to hear from you. So grab your coffee, crank up the phonograph, and let’s go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

  8. Apr 7

    Episode 11: MRSR History and Legends. Tea Edition.

    In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan, Rowdy and Bethan do what they do best - talk - a lot....while "sipping tea." Both self-proclaimed history nerds, they dig into their ongoing effort to broaden the story told at the museum by shifting the focus to include the people who lived along, worked on, and were impacted by the railroad and logging industries in the Pacific Northwest. They touch on topics they could easily spend hours on, including Japanese loggers, millworkers, and railroaders prior to 1942, the railroads' roles in internment, and the lasting impacts that followed. They also wander (enthusiastically) into stories about some of the larger-than-life personalities who helped shape the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad - Blackie Mosier and Tiny Freeman. Think today’s crew has personality? Turns out, we’re just carrying on a long-standing tradition. Listener questions and an “In the News” segment round things out—so climb aboard. Resources mentioned in this episode: David Sakura Interview – Densho Archive (Eatonville resident) https://ddr.densho.org/interviews/ddr-densho-1000-498-1/ Photo of Japanese Americans relocating camps to Tule Lake, CA https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-288/ Tiny Freeman – Seattle PI Article https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/maybe-big-living-tiny-can-bring-character-back-1241413.php Tiny Freeman – Bio/Blog http://zelsj.mlblogs.com/2013/09/16/j-j-tiny-freeman-larger-than-life/ Blackie Mosier Article http://www.bigbendrailroadhistory.com/2023/01/fred-blackie-moser-obit.html Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Send it our way- we’d love to hear from you. So grab your coffee, crank up the phonograph, and let’s go Off the Rails. Become a sponsor and help keep Off the Rails 'On the Air'! Thanks to Huffman Machining Solutions is proud to sponsor this Off the Rails podcast.  See how we can help with your next challenge at huggmanmachining.com

See All (18)

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Join Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Executive Director Bethan Maher and Superintendent Rowdy Pierce and take a ride into the modern age of steam locomotives, cows, corn and incontinent Santas.   This is an unvarnished look at the business of tourist steam railroads like you've never heard before. 

Information

You Might Also Like