By Andrew Fickes

Mt. Rainier Railroad offers guests an improved experience from start to finish!

When children and their parents arrive to Elbe this spring and summer to ride the train and learn about the history of steam locomotives and logging, their experience might look and feel a little bit different – but in a good way.

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Earlier this year, the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and Museum rebranded and changed its name to Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum. With the change has come the commitment to reinvest an approximate $300,000 in capital improvements in this year alone, and a 40 percent increase in payroll, meaning an additional seven paid staff and in peak season, an additional 10 part-time staff. Over the next three years payroll will double.

“All of our crew will be paid staff,” said Wayne Rankin, president of Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum. “We love our volunteers, and we will still use volunteers for certain aspects, but having the same crew on all the time will give us more ability to make sure people are saying the same things to give guests a better experience from the second they’re on the property to the moment they leave.”

What does that mean for railroad and museum guests? It means more opportunities will be available to ride the train. During peak season in July and August and from Thanksgiving weekend through December, Rankin said guests can expect the train to operate five days a week. Having paid full-time staff operating the trains makes this increase in operation possible, Rankin explained.

Tom Murray, who founded Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in 1981, has entrusted the organization with Rankin, who has more than 30 years of experience in entertainment and hospitality as a former employee of Disney and Sega-Game Works, and also Al Harper, a railroad industry entrepreneur, who, along with his wife Carol, own Rail Events, which include the Warner Bros. production of Polar Express.

Harper will be bringing Polar Express to Elbe this Christmas. Where before 7,000 passengers rode the train, Mt. Rainier Railroad now expects 18,000 passengers to experience the Polar Express ride – an authentic interpretation of the Castle Rock Entertainment computer animated film, starring Tom Hanks.

Rankin said a lot of investment will be done in refurbishing the rail cars, adding an additional two rail cars per train, reactivating the Polson Logging #70 2-8-2 Rod Locomotive, and sprucing up facilities. Another aspect that will receive an enhancement will be food and beverage.

“We want to have more variety, better quality, and bring more things in house,” Rankin explained.

Over time, Rankin said he would like to add concession carts throughout the museum grounds in Mineral. And eventually, Rankin would like to add a restaurant that will encourage all-day visits to the museum and a more immersive experience.

“People can enjoy a loggerman’s breakfast or a loggerman’s lunch and spend the whole day there,” Rankin said. “I want to make it to where guests want to come back after the train ride and enjoy what’s at Mineral.”

This will be helped by enhancing the guest experience throughout, Rankin said, including upgrading educational exhibits and adding new ones. Rankin wants to add an electronic docent experience and also welcome school field trips.

Rankin also said it’s in the budget this year to improve the guest experience by investing in a new air conditioning system for each of the exhibit rooms.

And for those families who want to make sure they can all ride together on the train, Rankin said guests will soon be able to choose from reserved seating and first-class seating.

Over the next three to five years, Mt. Rainier Railroad plans to grow ridership from 58,000 passengers annually to 100,000. It’s full speed ahead!