Claim OwnershipOff the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan
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© 2026 Off the Rails with Rowdy and Bethan
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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.
10 Episodes
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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.) moder...
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. T...
In this episode of Off the Rails, Bethan and Rowdy dig into what it actually takes to make steam work on a railroad, and we do not just mean lighting a match and hoping for the best. Before getting into the nuts and bolts, there is an unavoidable recap of the Super Bowl rivalry, very much against Bethan’s wishes. From infrastructure needs, water supply, track conditions, shop capabilities, and the "quirks" of operating steam locomotives, they break down the practical and sometimes sober...
In this episode of Off the Rails, Rowdy and Bethan are back after a longer-than-planned break to share where they’ve been. Recorded before the big Sportsball game, there was a quick detour into Seahawks talk, and a tangent on the surprising similarities between Christmas trains and potty training. The mood shifts as they recount the Old-Testament-level flooding that hit the railroad in December, when the line (and a bridge) nearly washed away, saved only by some seriously impressive emergency...
In this episode of Off the Rails, you'll hear about how important the Christmas season is for tourist railroads. As Rowdy jumps ship after 5 minutes to get the train consist ready for the season, Bethan is joined by Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad's Hospitality Manager Eric Mencis to unpack what it takes to launch our all new for 2025 Christmas Train, Christmas With The Clauses and the 'new guy' makes an appearance as well! At the time of publication of this ep...
This week our ringmasters detail their entry to the three-ring circus, known as heritage railroading. Bethan’s accidental journey to Executive Director, Rowdy’s childhood fascination that turned into a lifetime on the rails. This episode includes a thoughtful discussion on Jim Wrinn’s 10 Rules for Tourist Railroads, a bit of discussion about ever-changing social media algorithms and more Q&A. Origin stories, practical wisdom and good vibes coupled into one tidy consist....
Can a 1472 waiver spark joy? Rowdy and Bethan turn FRA fine print into a darned good listen—mixing wisdom and Monty Python with their game plan for marketing the madness on social media, YouTube, and wherever railfans scroll. Climb aboard for good vibes, greasy gloves, and the strangely satisfying clickety-clack of compliance meets content. 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. Se...
Fresh off the 2025 Heritage Rail Alliance Conference in Durango, Colorado, Rowdy and Bethan sat down to record before they’d even unpacked. They cover the week’s train trips, seminars, and share a few thoughts on what they’d like to see at future conferences — with the occasional tangent about food. Bethan’s suitcase came back 12 pounds heavier thanks to Colorado green chili, and both of them sound about as tired as you’d expect after a week of nonstop railroading with some late night forays ...
The impact of politics and a weakening economy on tourism and a heritage railroad. Did you know that running our steam engine is significantly less expensive and more environmentally friendly to operate than our diesel engine? In this supersized episode, Bethan and Rowdy discuss this, regressive tax structures and how to make things roll in a remote and rural small community tucked at the base of Mt. Rainier. Oh and corn. Lots and lots of corn content. Become a s...
Join Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Superintendent Rowdy Pierce and Executive Director Bethan Maher in this first episode of Off the Rails! Why DO they have a podcast? Listen and you'll learn the answer to that very valid question and so much more. Topics include how to bring legitimacy to the industry in a sustainable way, finding young talent to learn steam and answering questions like 'will a steam engine soon be hauling freight' and 'are people clutching their pearls when they se...
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