Free ride on cargo train?

Question

Many did it in 1930's and some do it to this day. I feel like it's a good alternative to hitchhiking, but where do I start?

I need tips and pointers.

Answer 1

I wouldn't suggest it.  Nowadays if you get caught they'll get you with trespassing charges.  Depending if there are hazardous chemicals, they might also charge you as a terrorist trying to derail the train.

Answer 2

As a friend of a railroad engineer for BNSF, he has told me that if you dont bother the train crew, they genrally don't bother you. It is rumered that many train conducters and engineers carry guns, and that is true for a slim minority. It really wouldnt be smart to try these days because of the train yard security advancments and trespassing laws. If you are crossing a track and you get hit and killed, you not only ruin your life, but you ruin the engineer's. They have to go through months and months of therpy because they feel it is their fault you died. For all the above reasons, you SHOLDN'T attept such an act.

Answer 3

Sure, and it's especially safe for a female, if you want to be scrogged by a hobo.

Answer 4

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!  Don't do it.  What has been said here and above are the best tips and pointers you will receive.

Answer 5

Back in the 30's, technology at the time meant the trains had to stop frequently, and boxcars were easier to get into.  Nowadays, a train can run for hundreds of miles with no stops, trapping you on the train, and the stops are very well patrolled (especially after 9/11).  Also, boxcars are now designed to be much tougher to get into (plug doors), and other car types are used (auto-racks, container stacks, intermodal semi-trailer carriers) that are pretty much impossible to get into.

Once again, it's very dangerous, and after 9/11, they don't tolerate it at all (if they ever did).  Bad idea. Plus, the modern day hobos that DO ride the rails are pretty hardcore, and would eat a newbie for breakfast.  Thre was a serial-killer hobo that was caught a few years ago, too. Better to take your chances hitchhiking, or join the military - that'll get you out of the house for free and pay you to boot.

Answer 6

Usually the "box cars" that you imagine are closed - or are supposed to be, but even if you found one open the fact that it is open means that it is defective and ya probably wouldn't want to jump in that car to begin with. That leaves you with the alternative of riding at the end of tankers filled with nasty toxic products or other unsafe location on unaccommodating cars. Bottom line, this coming from a railroad conductor, is that many, many people attempt to ride the cars which travel up to 60 mph and because of jerking, unexpected movement, etc -- fall off and are killed by being run over by literally 100s of thousands of tons of steel and cargo. Trust me bro, people die daily. They are found, usually by following trains with their legs cut off, or torso cut in half. And even worse, it is really not much fun at all to ride these things to begin with. If you are looking for a suck-**** experience that may kill you -- then car riding is for you. Your call, though.

Answer 7

Riding freight trains may have had an allure to it long ago, but there's a very real danger now that still existed back then.

Freight trains are not designed to carry riders.  The experience is uncomfortable, dangerous, and potentially deadly.  There's a lot of jerking movement from slack between cars running in and out, something even experienced railroaders find hard to predict.  There's a good chance you could fall off, or worse, get launched off, and there's a very good chance your landing will be a hard one.

Add to this all the paranoia of terrorism these days, and the allure and romance of riding the rails quickly disappears.  Trespassing charges would be a welcome sight if the over-zealous law enforcement types catch on to you (and there are some of those around).

Freight train cargo also moves kind of slow, and in an unpredictable pattern.  If you planned to go Point A to Point B in 7 days, there's a good chance you'll either never see Point B, or it'll take you much longer to get there.  It's not like you can stop and ask directions along the way, either, because that's likely to end the ride right there.

Unfortunately, hopping a freight train gets sorely misrepresented, these days moreso than ever.  I hate to be a spoiler, but I strongly recommend traveling the nation by nearly any other means than this one.

Answer 8

It's both illegal and dangerous.  Don't attempt it.