matt5
Nov 01, 2005, 02:15 AM
People actually still do that. They hop on freight trains and crisscross North America with no particular destination in mind. It's dangerous and illegal of course but I imagine some people would find this romantic. At least as a concept.
A few years ago my room mate had a guest traveller stay over for a few days. He was from Japan and was travelling the world with his backpack Martin guitar. He could play a pretty good Do You Want To Know A Secret and I Dig A Pony (odd choices eh?)
Anyways they decided on a lark that they would try out some freight hopping. They invited me to come along but I regretfully declined.
They headed down to a local rail yard and picked a freight train out at random and just hopped on. They had know clue as to what direction they were going in. Eventually they found themselves rambling across the Canadian wilderness. Then the train stopped. In the middle of nowhere. For about 12 hours.
Eventually they ended up in Toronto and decided that they had enough and hitchhiked back to Montreal.
Quite the adventure.
A few years ago my room mate had a guest traveller stay over for a few days. He was from Japan and was travelling the world with his backpack Martin guitar. He could play a pretty good Do You Want To Know A Secret and I Dig A Pony (odd choices eh?)
Anyways they decided on a lark that they would try out some freight hopping. They invited me to come along but I regretfully declined.
They headed down to a local rail yard and picked a freight train out at random and just hopped on. They had know clue as to what direction they were going in. Eventually they found themselves rambling across the Canadian wilderness. Then the train stopped. In the middle of nowhere. For about 12 hours.
Eventually they ended up in Toronto and decided that they had enough and hitchhiked back to Montreal.
Quite the adventure.