So I wanna do something different for a change this summer. I'm thinking of hopping this train and just seeing where it takes me. Anyone had experience hopping trains? Like, where do I go to catch one in time, what part do i jump on, basic shit like that. Any feedback is appreciated.

I thought about doing it. Just get a laptop or GPS that shows all of the conrail/railroads and streets and you might be able to make it across the country.
Wrong forum though.

I suggest you jump in front of the train

sis graduated, no more 'cuse visits for me. Maybe I'll drop by worcester sometime though, its not that far.

OP-> Travelers Travails

Don't you have some "Punk Rock" to go listen to?

OP-> Travelers Travails

indeed.

Its pretty fuckin dangerous. Me and a couple of my friends did it last summer in Canada and we got far but they did a train inspection at one point and we made a run for it and a fuckin dog attacked us. I was attacking my friend so I kicked it in the head then it went after me and we all started kicking the bastard but it wouldn't back down so we just kept running. It was a fuckin alsation too (police dogs) I still have scars on my ass.

It is pretty straightforward, or was for me at least..... in my town there is a couple main lines where trains regularly slow/stop. One way goes to vermont, one to NYC and beyond.

Be careful, sometimes a seemingly slow moving train is going faster than you may think. The ideal good weather car is the open top, half-height ones. The full heights can be ok but are usually loaded to the brim so you are painfully exposed. In bad weather, ideally going into a regular boxcar is your best bet, but you can make do on an oil/tanker car (They have platforms, handrails and are more sheltered).

When the train stops in some bigger areas, there can be inspections. They're easy to see coming but may fuck up your travel a bit.

Also, keep in mind..... once you hop on, be prepared to go for it because you never really know when the train is going to slow/stop again, and TRUST ME when I say jumping off a shitty platform at 40mph is BAD. I deliberated on it and jumped when it was going over a bridge ~30-40ft
over a decent size river. I've jumped like 55-60 foot cliffs so I figured it'd be not too bad but holy shit I entered the water textbook perfect, and still was fucking sore for days.

I had hopped the train thinking it was doing the slow loop so I could get to my buddies' house the lazy way but the fucker immediately laid on the diesel and I was in new york before I knew wtf had to be done.

PS: Apparently locomotives have high pressure, aimable hoses on them. So uhh..... don't fuck with them or you're liable to get super-soaked. This actually happened at the local skatepark the other day.

a run for it and a fuckin dog attacked us....... It was a fuckin alsation too (police dogs) I still have scars on my ass.

I'd think pepper spray, a knife or a gun would be one of the things people normally carry when doing this type of activity

Fucking trains

Fucking trains

nice tr1p joke

Haha that is great.

The ideal place to hop on a train is when it is leaving the yard, or passing through certain areas (like where the track is poor, so they need go slow) remember, trains can pick up speed surprisingly quickly. A good investment would be a regular scanner (sometimes referred to as a police scanner) and enter the frequency for the rail yard, and you can sometimes find where trains are bound for, inspections, passes for single line type track, ect…

Different rail company's have different policies if you get caught. some will tell you to get lost, others will file charges (trespassing, vandalism, theft), so try not to get caught, and best of luck.

Be careful, I know two people who have seen 2 different people fall under a train & die while trying to jump on to a train when its moving.
I guess thats just chance.
1 slipped & the other got sucked under by the draft that goes under the carrage.

Anyway I guess you need to work out what the chalked 'codes' are on the side of a carrage.
No point getting on one thats going to the wrong place.

All trains stop at some point anyway.

No point getting on one thats going to the wrong place.

"There's no such thing as a 'wrong train'".--Evasion

"There's no such thing as a 'wrong train'".--Evasion

that book is the shit. I'm going to finish it as you brought it up/

that book is the shit. I'm going to finish it as you brought it up/

Isn't it? I'd put it up there among my top three--the book that made me a libertarian socialist, the book that made me an atheist, and Evasion. Reading it again this summer.

Isn't it? I'd put it up there among my top three--the book that made me a libertarian socialist, the book that made me an atheist, and Evasion. Reading it again this summer.

The Fountainhead and The God Delusion?

The Fountainhead and The God Delusion?

Parecon and Misquoting Jesus.

Isn't it? I'd put it up there among my top three--the book that made me a libertarian socialist, the book that made me an atheist, and Evasion. Reading it again this summer.

it's technically summer now :P

Also, hmm. That book made you an Atheist, AND a Libertarian Socialist? LOL

it's technically summer now :P

Also, hmm. That book made you an Atheist, AND a Libertarian Socialist? LOL

No, it's separate from the other 2. See above.

Lesson:

If you wish to travel like the homeless/hobo you must have the skills of them. In other words, poison-tipped weapons, things to trade, and access to the Internet. Yeah, they use that instead of the national mail system. People will be annoyed with you, and things will attack you. If a person had a neurotoxin (poison weapon) or stungun, it could have been used on the dog. Don't kill the thing, cause that will land you in a home (jail).

PS: Apparently locomotives have high pressure, aimable hoses on them. So uhh..... don't fuck with them or you're liable to get super-soaked. This actually happened at the local skatepark the other day.

No, they do not. Only fire fighting crews following rail grinder trains have these to extinguish burning ties.

My advice: Dont do it. I know a lot about railways and getting caught riding (or even near the tracks doing some hokey shit) is a pretty serious offense, especially post 9-11. This is especially true if you live in a town/city with a large yard, because large railroads (BNSF, CSX, UP, Norfolk Southern, etc) have dedicated police forces (not rent a cops).

Read this entire thread (http://www.12ozprophet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55285) then don't do it. It's not that I care about the legality of it, but you will fuck up eventually, and you will end up maimed if you're lucky.

It's damn fun to read about, though.

Lol he's going to get maimed. Maiming is sweet.