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.

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In this episode of Off the Rails, Bethan is back from D.C.and both she and Rowdy are barely surviving the latest version of the plague.

Bethan recaps the massive undertaking that is Railroad Day on the Hill (huge shoutout to the ASLRRA for pulling it all together): long days navigating Capitol Hill, heightened security, and the importance of sticking to the ASLRRA playbook to deliver clear, consistent talking points.

Those talking points? They centered around four big priorities: (1.) modernizing the 45G short line tax credit to keep up with inflation and continue driving private infrastructure investment; (2.) ensuring strong, reliable funding for key safety grant programs like CRISI, RCE, and Section 130 while encouraging adoption of new safety technologies; (3.) streamlining federal permitting so critical rail projects don’t get stuck in endless delays; and (4.) pushing for a fair, user-based Highway Trust Fund while opposing heavier and longer trucks that shift costs onto taxpayers and infrastructure.

From there, the conversation shifts to CRISI prep. With the NOFO expected any day, and rumors of a tighter turnaround, Bethan is already deep in the trenches, doing everything possible to get ahead of the rush.

On the home front, reality hits hard. Rowdy experiences sticker shock with a diesel delivery coming in at around $7/gallon, making the cost of “doing business” feel especially steep. The episode wraps with Bethan slowly spiraling over budgets and fuel prices, while Rowdy floats some…creative ideas for expanding the tax base.

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

In this episode of Off the Rails, Bethan is MIA, and the "talent" is upgraded, with Eric Mencis volunteering as Podcast Tribute.

Left without supervision, Rowdy and Eric dive into the deep end of the foam.

Then things take an unexpectedly foamy turn. What starts as a straightforward conversation is both informative and hilarious, as the two discuss what goes into planning and executing a successful photo charter/photo foam and talk about "what if," scenarios for our operation. They also take a deep dive into the future of Mt. Rainier Scenic’s car restoration work and what the future consists will look like. Yes, consists, plural, because we will have two steam engines operating this year.

Of course, we’ll cover current news in the industry and feature a robust segment of questions from our listeners. 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