Catching Out: a film about people hopping freight trains (Trailer)

[WeRnotSchizophrenics]

I rode some freight trains back in the mid to late 80's. It was dangerous but very exhilirating and left Me with great memories. I don't regret doing it while I was young enough to enjoy it somewhat.If You don't have anything going in life, why not take a chance? Catch Out.

[JoeA320Pilot]

I am living a lonely life and there is alot of freight routes here in SoCal. Maybe I should just try this and get a better view on life.

[joeSQUARE666]

@Roxgod666

We eat food just like you. Only we get it in more creative and fun ways than paying for it.

[BURNERUGK]

@joeSQUARE666 yah by dumpster diving :D

[roxgod666]

I still don't get the point of what they do. Do they have a job, what do they eat?

[hope4anafterlife]

you know who cracks me up? people who care about what other people are doing with their time. also, people who are condescending because other people do stuff that they are not interested in. if they free then let them feel free, why the fuck do you care what they are doing?

[zakwani88]

Those are the dumbest train riders i hate it when they talk about how free they always feel. there spoiled kids who do it to escape a life thats not that bad they're elitest train riders there pasive aggresive faggy hipster train riders god they piss me off. he says he doesn't like material things well he wouldn't be riding trains if it wasn't for material things thats what there shipping your no better than them just because you get your pizza hut out of a dumpster and don't pay for it....

[cloudpaladin]

@zakwani88 you know who cracks me up? train riders that spend their internet time looking up shit about train riding. you're already doing it, why are you looking it up on Youtube?

[zakwani88]

@cloudpaladin i'm not looking it up to get tips on how to do it i know how to do it i'm looking it up to see if i can find any videos on here that can show in the very least what it is like for people i know who have asked me if there are any good sources on the internet. also i appreciate the effort of trying to do a film about a dying american past time i think it's something that should be done you just miss the mark when you interview elitist wanna be poets like the ones in this trailer.

[BURNERUGK]

@zakwani88 I So agree hahahaha

[Lettukaivuri]

@zakwani88

You're sad.

[erictoddbrown1]

@765tony yes tony they take to jail for a few hours or even days get food crapy food but food shower and a trespassing citation and are expeld from the train yard for 6 months but you never asked for permission in the first place so you get on another train alittle more secretive and ride out of the county until the next time the catch you and stay away from the same yard until the 6 months are up but the bulls or railroad security team is known for burnig backpacks and other forms of intimida

[CapnSquigglepops]

can't wait to hop my first freight train.

[butterpoop]

does anyone know a good forum or site to meet other train hoppers? Looking to try and travel with someone, don't really wanna do it alone thanks!

[gatsu38]

@butterpoop hey i don't know any forum but... i'd like to do it too i'm from italy were are you from?

summer is still young.

[butterpoop]

@gatsu38 from Fairfax County VA right by Washington DC

[gatsu38]

@butterpoop quite far away lol

[erictoddbrown1]

@butterpoop try looking in the homless in any us town with a train yard and go for it you can only learn from a traind profesional

[asoka2000]

I got a better idea get a FUCKING JOB and find a Real PLACE TO LIVE.

[gatsu38]

@asoka2000 yes now go to work and stop with all this internet freedom

[OsmosisDives]

Just don't get caught, shit... It's pretty easy to just lay low when a worker comes by. Cops don't give a fuck about train yards, just watch out for other hobos and workers and writers.

[Th3B1ackDeath]

hopping a train is on my bucket list.

[MegaSuxification]

i understand riding freight trains can be dangerous, my great grandfather used to work for NS as a switcher but retired on disability after a box car door broke off and crushed his leg. still though i would love to ride one at least once,what would be the safest kind of freight car to ride in? box? intermodal? coal?

[TheBreeze2000]

@MegaSuxification A Covered Hopper or Box is the Safest a Boxcar you need to find a track spike and wedge it at the bottom of the door to keep it from closing

[poundcommapound]

Maybe I'm being dim, but why are all of the comments on this video people going back and forth with an arrogant yard worker who's only here to argue? Let the tool type himself tired and go away. Let's talk more about the movie, huh?

[QP4ozHP8oz]

can u go to jail if you get caught?any advice is appreciated thanks.

[smuuuuuuuth]

@QP4ozHP8oz

Yes, you can go to jail if you get caught. In the 80s it was cool with the yard workers I met, illegal but cool, as long as you stayed off the engines. Post-911, I doubt you will get much sympathy.

[TheBreeze2000]

@smuuuuuuuth 9-11 wasnt the train riders fualt it was the US government

[TheBreeze2000]

@QP4ozHP8oz yes either Trespassing or interference with RR property

[Daim1292]

This documentary looks amazing. catching out definitely changes your perspective on things.

[mooneepondskid]

Plenty of non americans have sex in cars..I'm guessing this guy has a very narrow view of life outside of america.

[madcatchazel]

OMG WHY ARE KIDS POSTING these freight rides..jumping on the fly and there rides.. so stupid!!!! I SEE ALOT OF BIG MOUTHS....<---the shady lady country dirt bag forever...

[trainman2816]

@Revleftkid No freight train in the United States goes faster than 75 Miles per hour. Stey the hell off of our railroads, you ruin it for us ligitimat railfans.

[wardy2294]

@trainman2816

There's more to life than working for a living, then dying. Some people seek more than to have a career and a house, and they are usually the ones who have the most exhilarating and wonderful experiences. So don't tell people not to take their own calculated risks, just because you're not driven enough to do it yourself.

[Boss302fan]

@publicspaceinvader When you are trespassing on private property as these individuals are doing, you are no longer 'living freely'. You are living on the property of others who do not want you there. If you want to travel, do so in ways that are not illegal or in the way of myself or those who work for me in this industry.

Gas piece of shit? No fun in life? LOL. Wrong on all accounts kid. I just don't want to be responsible for picking up your dead body in the middle of my railyard.

[cochranexyz]

@Boss302fan Good points. I forgot where I read this--it was before the Internets--a RR employee (UP, I think) found a kid dead in one of the big yards. Got run over and over and over.... "Living freely" my white ass.

[MegaSuxification]

@cochranexyz yea but one thing about it the kid didnt die alone of old age in a rest home......

[jakebarnes28]

@Boss302fan Hey BossMan, most rail rights of way were given to the RxR's. What a Conformist blob of lard. Stay home, watch tv, eat your HungryMan meal and then pass quietly away. No one will miss you. As for the adventurers, keep on keepin' on!

[kill666kkkopz]

HAHAHAHA yallz iz dumb

[tsilavivrus]

Lol, is it just me, or does it sound like she's singing a song at the beginning of this video?.

[ronnieiskickin]

I live in Maryland and have been interested in trains and catching out for a few months now. I'm 16 now, "researching" and waiting to hop until I'm 18, out of respect for my family pretty much. I walk the tracks nearly every day and dream big of living out on the run.

[myroncope]

@ronnieiskickin do it. for everything holding you back now there will be 10 things by the time you're 26 and 20 things but the time you're 36

[Boss302fan]

@ronnieiskickin How about having respect for those of us who work in this industry and have to deal with you guys. Stay off the tracks and off of our equipment so we can do our job safely and efficiently without having to worry about killing someone. Instead of walking the tracks as a tresspasser, get a job on the railroad and see the countryside as a contributing member of society

[erictoddbrown1]

@ronnieiskickin fuck do not wait run for it have fun you live once

[bob1sded]

@ronnieiskickin hey Im might see you out there haha

[stickdog100]

I'd rather pay for a comfortable passenger train ride than hop a boxcar, get trapped inside when the doors close, lose a hand and leg jumping off, and hopefully getting thrown in jail before getting killed.

[circusboy90210]

@stickdog100 the idea of it's very romantic, the reality is far different.. some of it is an excuse for not trying, it's not like the hobo's who were traveling simply for reason to find work. they were not out there to jump from town to town , they had to follow the crops and sell the soul to a company store.

[dipmuthafukinset]

@stickdog100 thats a very bleak insight.

[MezzaNine26]

@Revleftkid Dunno what trains your hopping.. Freight train maximum speed is 70mph.

[circusboy90210]

@MezzaNine26 no in reality. have seen freights go up to 110. and on .. forget it you've never been on the rails.

[MezzaNine26]

@circusboy90210

110?? I'm assuming you have never been on or near a freight locomotive.. It very clearly states in a big ass impossible to miss stencil inside the cab : MAX SPEED 70MPH.. And uh, Ive been on the rails plenty, pretty much every day for the last 2 years... I get PAID to ride the rails. in a comfortable air conditioned cab, not sitting on top of dirty coal loads.

[circusboy90210]

@MezzaNine26 actually lived on Ringling Train. what the words say and what happens is two different animals. not all rail systems operate in the same manners. seen freights in florida exceed this many times. I know what speed the train I was living on was going for reason I have a very accurate watch.

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 You have an accurate watch? And so therefore I assume you are assuming CSXT, NS or FEC have CTC systems where the signals are always a mile apart. Not so Joe. Your readings are not accurate.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan don't know where you get your "facts" that signals are "milemarkers" which many lines do have, or that they are inaccurate. my best friend in high school's dad was a railroad brakeman. even if what you say is true most people can judge speed I've spent many hours on a motorcycle over 180mph so speed is no stranger to me. almost got sucked into a train standing to close in florida must have been doing about 85mph.

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 I get my "facts" based on 30 years of railroad experience. This includes specifically working with Digicon's CTC system which is used extensively in Florida. In many cases those systems, depending on the particular line in question, are not spaced exact distances apart. In some cases they may be spaced miles apart.

I'm happy your friend's dad was a brakeman. I currently manage about 200 of them.

With your lack of experience I suggestyou stay away from fast trains.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan well my lack of experience @ the time was before I lived on the ringling train. however I lack no experience in trains especially fast one. been on accela few times many subways' etc...

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 You lived on the train? Now that's cool. I envy you.

[circusboy90210]

@MezzaNine26 However I do agree most freihts don't go that fast.

[circusboy90210]

@MezzaNine26 oh for the record yes and been in many cabs, at many rail yards. though it's been like 15 years.

[seahawks847]

For anyone interested in this, I recommend the book "Rolling Nowhere" by Ted Connover; he hopped freights and wrote about it.

[skottkoonz]

Riding CNs whitepine sub in the upper U.P once a year is beyond words to me I guess folks posting here know what I mean. I have been doing this for over 10 years now.I have a Wife and Kid, a good job...but once a year just to hear the click, clak of the joint rails as the wheels spin over them traveling the country side is a fix beyond words.

[brokeskater86]

i envy these people

[smo1765]

i cant do this cause i take meds but i used to skydive and i think doing something like this would be exhilarating

[ziehe666]

i did it from 18-21 now im 27 and im doing it very soon im in iowa, its easy to bail from des moines. my advice... if your a idjet... don't attempt

[mattedda]

im just going to do it one day. who wants to come with me? i live in baltimore and i see hobo ppl all the time

[Websters52]

just got this movie, i ove it soo much

[Ronin0212]

does anyone know a good source of info for hopping trains?

[Websters52]

the movie catching out, get hold of a crew change guide

[nihilism80]

an experienced teacher

[MrTwiztidJuggalo]

Gotta do it on your own brotha. Learn your own.

[EON352]

if you choose to hop really do your homework. if you dont know what youre doing you can end up stranded or dead. ive met some people that have hopped across the entire continent and they really encouraged me to do it. and do plan on it. when i have the time and the knowledge to ride the highline in spring.

[lalafree2express]

i think im going to finally do it!!

[JWC312]

yeee

[widerstand]

Its a good film! Y'all should check it out if you have to ability to.

You also might like some of my train videos.

[Noid193]

nice graffiti there

[LovexandxRage]

Ya gotta usually pay for those passenger cars. I'd rather just take care of myself and not have to depend on cash to get to where I'm goin. Besides, sitting in a cushy seat just isn't the same feeling. I like being slapped in the face by wind and feeling all of the little rattles and having these really profound realizations.

[Noid193]

Why not

[Noid193]

Shut up. If your careful its all good.

[WarioDS]

If you have nothing good to say then shut up

[Masteroftuba3]

yeah I think there is the chance of jailtime but it is unlikely

[8mileronaldo7]

sick graff

[doghairedinfant]

look at how dangerous those felons look

[doghairedinfant]

felons

[06chevyboy]

@doghairedinfant  Misdermeanor's

[RoseWhiteRoseRed]

life is dangerous period. bad things happen to "normal" people living "normal" lives every day...my anxiety's just too bad.

[ffg4th]

to bad some of the cast didnt get paid, I hear the producer and crew made a ton of money on the film and screwd the cast. Oh Well Karmas a Bitch.

[FreightCarPainter]

Nice freight graffiti ART there too.

[subzerotime420]

this isnt hard at all, i got drunk today and hopped like four trains and just rode around my city.

[Boss302fan]

Wow. A real intellect. I'm impressed. You really demonstrate to those reading this what a persuasive individual you are.

[Boss302fan]

Well, I'm about 6'4" and 200 lbs. So, actually not a 'big fat' boss man.

But I am a 'boss man'. I'm a rail supt. in a joint served BNSF facility.

Which part of my post leads you to believe I'm full of shit? Both of the examples of what can happen to those who hop freights and get off in the wrong part of town took place.

As far as where you can find the real movie, I don't know and don't care.

[FreightCarPainter]

HOPPING TRAINS IS SAFE! As long as your good at it and know not to fuck up.

[Boss302fan]

And as long as you are capable of handling yourself when you suddenly find yourself surrounded without warning by a bunch of inner-city thugs who are willing and able to take your money and beat the shit out of you as a reward.

Or you hop into an open boxcar and the engineer applies the brakes hard and the doors slam shut. Seen that happen before as well.

[FreightCarPainter]

I carry a weapon always when i`m out. Sure I could knock out probably any fag toys who think they`re so tough. But unfortunately metal beats body. And sir, trains RARELY hit the brakes so hard that u get thrown out. I see train workers hop on SLOW trains in my yard all the time. But ya safety is a thing to respect and take into proper consideration.

[Boss302fan]

If hopping trains are safe...why do you carry a weapon?

So, your advice is...don't hop trains without a weapon?

And FCP, I am a certified engineer trainer. I know how trains operate. And I did not say they hit brakes so hard you get thrown out. I said they hit brakes hard and open doors slam shut. And I've seen this done at 10mpg.

[FreightCarPainter]

You may be right about the doors slaming shut, but indeed you shouldn`t go without proper supplies. (protection, food water etc.) I`m up in canada so I don`t really have to worry about any stupid shit.

[crossbar6]

so u dont hafta pay for a ticket then?

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan good way to avoid that is to lock it open???

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 Yes. If I was 'hopping' a boxcar and the door was open I would endeavor to position the latches so the door was less likely to slide shut. Moving a boxcar with the door open is illegal in rail operations. If you stand beside a track and watch a merchandise train roll by you'll see those rules are often ignored. :>

Many of those latches that keep doors open are missing or broken, especially on older boxcars.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan probably it's that open box cars are easier to spot when in train assembly mode so that the person arranging the train will not have to wonder if the car is truly loaded or not & also to spot stowaways who should like for the door to be shut while still in the yard however there are better hiding spots than a boxcar though not as comfy but probablly not as likely to be shut in for day's or longer with no hope of being released, hence trapped & starved(dehydrated) to death. heatstroke

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 Switchmen depend on written lists and not visual inspections on spotting cars. Latching the door shut is strictly a safety issue. When railcars stop suddenly if the door is not latched shut it can slide on its bearings and come off the side of the car.

I'll leave it up to others who are experienced in this sort of tresspassing as to which car type is the most comfortable to perform this illegal act. :>

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan seeing a number on the side of a car is visual, not all cars use electronic id's & many times these fail.

however illegality has nothing to do with morality in this question. hopping on a form of transport that is technically federal property leased to the railroads is a brilliant way to avoid poverty by escaping that territory to a more promising area should not be criminal, untill amtrack stops it's upside down pricing structure.look @ blues musicians leaving new orleans2 chicago

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 Seeing the nbr is visual, but switchlists that tell crews how to switch are electronic or paper. All railcars in interchange service are equipped with AEI readers and the failure rate is about .0001.

Railroad tracks in North America are owned by the freight railroads, not the govt. Except for the NE corridor, Amtrak runs over this private property. It is theirs and riders are trespassing and breaking the law.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan from what i've been able to gather over the years most rail is actually leased from the government and not actually owned. Amtrak is highly subsidized & has an upside down pricing structure that provides disincentive for rail travel in this nation on top of not providing enough service to where people actuallly want to go.. however hopping on the train itself is defiantly trespassing. actually been told railroad police (private company) have the right to shoot on sight if need be.

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 You ahve been told wrong. Almost all rail lines in the US are completely owned by the railroads and they pay taxes. The government owns very few properties outside of the NE Corridor. And no, railroad police do not shoot on sight.

Amtrak is subsidized and providing more service would only increase the subsidy. NE Corridor is the only exception to subsidizing. Amtraks routes are politically assigned and do not always make sense.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan I try not to speak without some amount of authority. railway right of way is leased to rail companies. the actual physical rails & ties are owned by the company not the land.Railway tracks are laid upon land owned or leased by the railway company. this is s wikipedia quote amongst other on the net. I learned this from ringling trainmaster. used to dodge taxi drivers in nyc because only federal police can enforce law on rail's or trains' it's federal property leased to rail companys

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 In NYC you may be right. As I mentioned, railroads in the N.E. Corridor run on track owned by the government. In most of the rest of North America the land is owned by the railroads. That is, land, track, ballast, ties. The entire right of way. It is not a lease or long term grant. There are exceptions. I am talking about the vast majority of railroad mileage.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan being a mere employee of an data company & not a a actual railroad emplyee i would not expect you to know that almost all rail right of way ( land ) is federal property. ths was something.keep this in mind while I was on the circus train . I can't say why here.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan Ringling actually bought up alot of private and large railroads back in the day , but never owned the lines as they were leased to the railroads they (the railroads) were given large easements in the construction of the lines (right of way) but never actually given any land . do some research . but being as your not actuallly a railroad employee this might be a little harder . not busting your chops here. but readers are not as dependable, unless changed in last 10 years.

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 I am a railroad employee of 30 years and manage a huge terminal operation. Railroads do own the land and pay taxes on that ownership. I've actually worked heavily in that area in the past.

[circusboy90210]

@Boss302fan even @ the rate you claim for rfi technology aei vs the previous kartrak technology. 5400 read's are incorrect out of the fleet every time the whole fleet is cycled through the system a human being is even better than that. plus they can check for trespassers while on the ground. takes about a week for the average coast to coast rail journery & only 1 million of railroad cars are interchange. bringing accuracies down even further, according to aar. I could be wrong.

[Boss302fan]

@circusboy90210 AEI is incredibly dependable. My terminal lives based on these reads daily. I have 50 on this property alone. The reads produce the paperwork and switch instructions for my multiple crews to break up trains and switch industries.

AEI cards are required on almost every car in service. Exceptions are in-plant cars or MOW equipment that are not interchanged. Even then, many of these are carded. Cars that do not read are marked to have new cards installed

[insect66]

yooo i live in california i wanna go up to portland and then were ever anyone wanna join

[agencyfilms]

And just how often is it that you are finding "beat up" or "dead" train riders any way...?

Presumably you work out of CSX/NS ATL...?

How many of these above mentioned injured folks are other 'trespassers'...? the distinction being that anyone cut in half crossing a train at a grade crossing or found beaten to death in the yard is a trespasser not necessairly someone who was riding a freight...

[Boss302fan]

I assume you are talking to me. Maybe not but I'll answer anyway.

My experience with large terminal areas are Houston, LA and Atlanta. Over the past 10 years or so I would say we've encountered maybe 5-6 deaths. Maybe a hundred or so injuries due to falling off equipment, spraining ankles or violence.

My comments are only to back up the dude who said "it's not for everyone".

It isn't. And in some areas like those I mentioned you need to be careful.

[agencyfilms]

I concur that it is not for everyone... I was just curious to know the difference in trespasser fatality statistics... tramps vs. local home bums getting killed...

Having been to ALL of the above mentioned cities by rail and walking to and from the yards I also agree that it could be potentially dangerous in larger metropolitan areas... the age old expression "the wrong side of the tracks" heavily coming into play...

[Boss302fan]

I would say that about 90 percent of the time the victims were homeless individuals or those out of luck riding the rails.

My guess is that well over 1/2 the time those hurt were beaten by individuals they new. However there have been some who were robbed by "inner city youth". Miami is another tough area.

[slamminhole69]

@Boss302fan

yeah i've ridden trains a little bit (about 2000 miles) and one of the most understated dangers of riding freight isthe danger of being attacked by another transient. when my friend and i were sleeping under a bridge outside of a yard in montgomery we got woken up by some FTRA gang members, they invited us to come warm up around their camp fire. But then they started getting drunk and belligerent and scary. my friend and i ran, and when we got away he explained that a lot of FTRA

[slamminhole69]

@Boss302fan

members are killers, they'll rob you for your pack, beat you to death, then throw your body under a train to try to make it look like an accident. For reference, most of the people I ran into on the rails were homeless (usually age 35-50) and then the younger generation of train hoppers (usually age 17-30) are "gutter punks" anarchists and other social dropouts. Probably the smallest percentage of train riders are recreational thrill seekers like you see on youtube. Riding freight

[slamminhole69]

@Boss302fan

was a really cool experience, but I stick with hitchhiking as my means for seeing the country. But the next time you're downtown and a really dirty guy with a backpack and dreadlocks and facial tattoos asks you if you can spare some change, help him out; he's probably a hobo. If you hopping trains always be aware of your surroundings, I would suggest carrying mace and a knife. Don't hop trains with people you don't know or don't trust either. Things can really get ugly out there.

[astaroth333777]

@slamminhole69 any advice you can give me about this cause im about to hop soon cause i cant afford a bus ticket i need all the advice possible to do this how do you know what direction and etc......

[FreightCarPainter]

Its a fun thing i`m sure. But yes you do have to be careful and know wat yo doing.

[SnowDude08]

cool vid

[onemanarmy801]

its alexander supertramp

[adventures72012]

not a bad video clip. P.S Alexander Superhobo

[NoelaAndTheMax]

lulz, i like how america is described as being famous for freight hopping, jazz, and sex in cars. thats hilarious

[pimpnj23]

Im an avid train hopper. Hopped over 200 trains so far. Its free easy fast travel. It's definetly NOT for every one though.

[Boss302fan]

Definitely not for everyone.

Like the dude who was beat up in Hapeville (South Atlanta) when he got off the train in the wrong part of town. Our crew called 911 when they saw his body lying trackside. He lived..

Another dude wasn't so lucky. Beaten up and died from his injuries. Our crew saw his body and called 911, but he had been dead for several days. Ran into some trouble with the locals after hopping off the freight after a thrill ride from Macon. That was the last thing he did.

[dmm8686]

@NoelaAndTheMax

he doesn't say america is "famous for" those things, he describes those things as genuinely american. that doesn't make it any less specious, but there is a definite difference.

[irishbroog92]

@NoelaAndTheMax fuck yeah! america!!

[Streetlightcngus]

i really want to do this. does anyone know of any trains in Md/ Nyc?

[vampirerauli]

so do i i just dont know how to start X_X

[chadillac745]

find a yard. or tracks usually under a highway bridge, and hop on, see where it takes you.

[otacon451]

memorize the book by duffy littlejohn

[Lamahopper17]

sweet

[TrandomnesstwO]

ah i saw copes throwie.

I hopped a train once,but only for about 5 minutes when i was 12.Hiding from the workers while they were checking the train had a good rush. Want to try it again,to go somewhere like Montreal.and another way but a much less safer way to do it is just hop on the back of a truck if your late for your curfew at night.Just go for a few lights and stop on the first reasonable stop closest to your destination.Shouldnt do it though.

[bemjamin]

yea i really dont like the dudes face at 1:07 lol. not everyone listens to jazz.. and has sex in cars? but whatever haha

[6Satan6Archist6]

So much fun, I think everyone should do it at least once in their life. I miss it so much

[JeremygotTHEmotoQ]

aww there like so confused

[WWBZT1]

Totaly awesome, to do it for a life...might be fun when your young

[oskorei123]

can't wait to see this film. Does anyone know of any other films or docs about "catching out"?

[punkmafia]

Listerine on sundays

[coolpiza]

not paying rent or bills must be great, but where do you find meaning in a life spent hoping from place to place without ever making roots?

Complete freedom- being totally without responsibility to other people- would suck, i think.

[loftsean]

I've always wanted to but dont know how or where to start

[oskorei123]

same here..from northern NC and plenty of trains around..just gotta do more research and get the sand to do it

[loftsean]

yeah theres a train that goes right through here

but

with the speed it goes and all

its kind of hard to understand how to even get on

[FactsOfLifee]

oskorei123! i'm also from North Carolina. and i've reallllly been wanting to do this. maybe if you decide to do this(or if you have already..) you could gimme some tips? that'd be really cool if ya could man! thanks

[mtb527]

hey im also from nc if you are going or thinking of going let me know im coming with you

[punk00thrasher]

Oi! man, I'm thinking of hopping a train in May, I'm in Mount Airy, NC, let's do this.

[mtb527]

hell yeah dude find me on face book Trent Bailey i am so down to do this!! since i posted that last comment i have hopped a train and it was such an adrenaline rush

[Boss302fan]

All I can tell you guys is that while it may be a rush, it is illegal and can be dangerous.

And more and more lately there are people running around in railyards that are dangerous. There are areas where I send our crews out with escorts. I am not kidding. 

You ride a train to Miami or downtown Atlanta or St. Louis and you get out and you just might die.

[agencyfilms]

The difference though is that your crews have pockets and grips that contain wallets and money...

People in the ghetto will generally leave tramps alone...

mainly because we dont have ANYTHING worth stealing... and maybe also... they can identify with the desperation and necessity of riding trains and thusly we end up becoming more of a novelty then a target or threat...

[Boss302fan]

The next time I find a beat up train-rider, or in one case when we found a dead one....I will keep your thoughts in mind.

[anarchocrust]

While agreed that it can be dangerous, most travel in groups, not all, but many. Danger is a bit less when it comes to being attacked.

[mrbaseball2202]

first of all the bull isnt smart enough or fast enough to catch me second keep this shit off the internet i wanna be able to keep riding trains

[punkmafia]

get a trainschedule. their not that hard to come by. talk to kids on the street. wait at a siting spot and as soon as it stops hop on. or if you're willing to risk it hop it on the fly.

[oskorei123]

any other ways to get schedules or maps? I live in a small southern town and there aren't exactly too many train punx wandering the streets spanging.

[YoungAndBalding]

good stuff