Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan

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

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

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

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

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