Mt. Rainier Railroad
Train conductors at the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and Logging Museum can expect to be calling “all aboard” more often this coming season.
In the past few weeks, negotiations have been finalized between Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad founder Tom Murray and Al Harper, owner of two other scenic and historic railroads, and Wayne Rankin, president of the new company.
Harper and Rankin are taking over the Elbe-based steam train company.
“Exciting changes are taking place,” Rankin said in a press release.
Rankin served as executive director of the railroad for the past two years and previously worked for Disney and Sega-GameWorks. He has 30 years of business and operations experience.
The word “scenic” is being dropped from the title as new owners plan to boost the profile of the enterprise.
Along with the name change, Harper is planning to rebrand the railroad. He has worked in tourism and development for more than 40 years.
“Visitors can expect a whole new production. We’re taking what we know works and applying those best practices to operations,” Harper said.
He said payroll will be doubled and the guest experience will be completely rebuilt.
Meilee Anderson, director of sales and marketing, said the rebuilt experience include everything from guests’ first visit to the website to the time they leave Elbe.
Plans to add more rides and employees are already underway under the new leadership, she said.
Mt. Rainier Railroad has hired a new food and beverage and retail manager, a new chief mechanical officer and a new events coordinator.
“We are over the moon; we are so excited about this,” Anderson said.
She said the railroad plans to run Easter weekend and then weekends beginning in May. Later in the summer, the team hopes to run trails five to seven days a week before going back to weekends in the fall.
For the holiday season, the railroad has been running a Santa Express, which drew 7,000 riders in 2015. The new owners plan to run Polar Express rides during the 2016 holidays, a move that is projected to increase ridership to 18,000.
The railroad was previously volunteer-based, which limited excursions. A paid train crew will allow the company to increase excursions, Anderson said.
The museum will also be seeing some upgrades and interactive exhibits in the future, Anderson said.
Rankin said in the release the company plans to install new exhibits and host special events.
“Preservation of the historic steam train collection and steam train excursions is our priority,” Rankin said. “We will continue with a larger vision for the future and we plan to dramatically increase ridership and improve the guest experience.”
Murray founded the scenic railroad in 1981 and helped to rebuild steam-powered logging locomotives.
Anderson said Murray will be serving on the nonprofit museum board and will be welcome anytime.
A sale amount for the railroad has not been disclosed.
