What are my options? I'm trying to see a long lost love but it's hard. I'm 17, have an okay paying job and all. But I want to get there fast. And with having to go to school a weekend long trip wouldn't be worth a 2 months paycheck.

Any advice?

Time equals money, so if you want to get there fast be prepared to pay a premium. If you can spare four or five days travel each day trainhopping is expense-free.

Trainhopping sounds fun. I'm really looking for some adventure. How might one go about doing something like that? Are there any legalities involved? and will I get my ass kicked by bums?

Trainhopping sounds fun. I'm really looking for some adventure. How might one go about doing something like that? Are there any legalities involved? and will I get my ass kicked by bums?
1. You're pretty unlikely to see any other trainhoppers at all. If you do, be respectful and try not to get in or on the same car.

2. Trainhopping is illegal and considered to be trespassing, however the majority of "bulls," a.k.a. railroad police, will simply let you go with a verbal warning, maybe a ticket.

3. Wait for a train going in the right direction and hop aboard. You might sneak into a railyard and board an open boxcar, or wait for one to slowly leave the yard and hop onto a grainer "porch," which is the open spot at the back of grain cars, complete with a human-sized hole for hiding.

Be careful with the hole in the grainers, some of the holes are not traveler friendly and drop right onto the wheels.

So uh, check first.

For anybody in Canada, don't get any bright ideas when it come to trainhopping. It's legal for a railway cop to shoot first and ask questions later.

They have no issues laying, completely legal, beatings on people. The courts haven't seen fit to strip them of this power.

Take a look in the sticky for ways to find cheap tickets and accommodations.