Episode 20:Capitalizing on the Big Boy & The West Coast is Burning

In this week’s episode of Off the Rails with Rowdy & Bethan, things are hot, hot, hot- and we’re not talking about Christmas beverages.Union Pacific’s Big Boy tour has wrapped up, the West Coast is burning, and Rowdy may or may not be in the midst of a mental breakdown. Just another normal week in heritage railroading.Here’s what we’re getting into:1.) Rowdy Is Doing GreatAnd by “great,” we mean he appears to be in the midst of a mental breakdown. We check in.2.) What Happens After Big Boy?Union Pacific’s Big Boy tour has wrapped up, leaving a massive amount of public attention on steam locomotives and railroad history in its wake. The Roundhouse podcast recently posed an interesting question: How can heritage railroads capitalize on the publicity the Big Boy tour created? Rowdy and Bethan have answers. They do not have the same answers.3.) In the News!This week’s news segment gets a little personal and seriously related to the next topic...4.) Why Is the West Coast Burning?Yes, this is a railroad podcast, but Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad was built around the logging industry, and our museum preserves the history of logging railroads in the Pacific Northwest.So we’re going there....How have forestry practices and policies changed over the decades? What did forest management look like historically? How does the decline of the timber industry factor into what we’re seeing today? And what does any of this have to do with the catastrophic wildfires burning across the West?It’s complicated. So naturally, Rowdy and Bethan have opinions.5.) FAQs & Listener QuestionsWe wrap things up by answering some of your questions.---❤️ Want to support Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad?If every person who watched or listened to this podcast donated just * $2 *, it would make a huge difference.Case in point: we just paid approximately $135,000 in shipping costs to BNSF and Norfolk Southern to move our ex-Reading passenger coaches across the country. A $2 contribution for every listen would equal those very large bills. Please consider making a donation at https://wfim.org/donateGot a question or a 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