Silver Path - freight train vacation 1 of 6

This is the film I made with one of my childhood friends (Alex Arnsdorf) in the summer of 2000. We left San Francisco, trying to see how far we could go in 11 days by hitching rides on freight trains. It's an hour long in six clips and is available on DVD too (http://little-red-dots.com/silver/). For youtube I've had to re-do the titles, so they're a bit ugly.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• freight
• train
• hobo
• rails
• travel
• adventure
• alex
• arnsdorf
• nathaniel
• walters

[SmashTheStAte199]

when trains stop... do they have a reason? what do they do... like why?

and how long is the wait... u just stay in the train?

[nathanielwalters]

When two trains are coming towards each other on a single track, one has to find a siding to wait for the other to pass. Can be five minutes or five hours, you never know.

[SmashTheStAte199]

thank u alot... sorry. but i forgot to ask one more question..... whens it safe to hop off?

lmao

before it gets to the yard?

cuz it seems dumb to hop off at the yard where theres mad workers.

and when there going to the yard. i notice they always have to slow down....

[nathanielwalters]

You never want to be getting on or off in a yard, unless you know it well. Especially near borders they make it hard for you to get off in time, so it's always best to hop a route you know.

[SmashTheStAte199]

thought so

u helped me alot!

thanx

im trynna go to richmond or DC

[nathanielwalters]

Make a video and post the link! I grew up in Balt. but never hopped the east.

Good luck & safe riding.

[trianglepoints]

Rode for 12 years ..would not trade it for all the Money in the World...and yes as you mentioned w/ happiness ..so too was i the same way..

[thetechnoPIMP]

awesome vid

[zephyerwind]

Right on guys! Back in 1983 I did the same thing albeit solo. Rode an Eastbound from Roseville, CA. to Sparks, NV.... up and over Donner Pass...and return. Though, I don't know about that open well car business. I, for myself. Chose to ride at one end of a covered hopper.

Great to see you guys made it and were able to post your adventure. "Well" done (grin) .

[jonahbegone]

Interesting that you passed an arch that has Jack London's name... he hopped many a freighter. It's in a work he wrote entitled "The Road" - excellent reading. He also traveled with a celebrated hobo, "A No. 1."

[SmashTheStAte199]

ill try and post a vid... i know ill have pics!

thanx alot...