Leaving in approximately 2 weeks

[false]

Alright I haven't been online recently to give my insight in some matters, but that's because of my business as of late. I've decided to finally do what I've been wanting to do and take up freighthopping.

My family has worked for CSX railroad for as long as I can remember, and a couple generations back to boot. I've got the research element to freighthopping down pat and am just gonna do some trainspotting and ride around locally for a bit to get the feel down. My route? Northwest America.

I'm gonna be in a bunch of places within the next couple of months and I'm sure I'll meet some cool people along the way. I plan to head up to northern california and checkout the redwoods, and Arcata primarily. I would love to see more, but time may be an issue.(I'm gonna be back in december) If I were to stop by in YOUR town, would you hang out, walk around, etc etc. I think it would be bad ass to meet some fellow dnber's on the road, what do you think?

I forgot where I was going with this so I'm just gonna leave it at that.

[Soopaman]

It sounds like you'll miss Houston if you're headed for the Northwest. But if you do stop by here, hit me up and we'll meet for a couple of bowls on me :D

[false]

It sounds like you'll miss Houston if you're headed for the Northwest. But if you do stop by here, hit me up and we'll meet for a couple of bowls on me :D

hey man, thanks for the hospitality. I don't know if I'll hit up your area or not, but I guess we'll have to just see. I haven't traced train routes all the way to texas, so it will just be random. I'll notify you beforehand though. and again thanks.

[Ollie]

I'm gonna be in a bunch of places within the next couple of months and I'm sure I'll meet some cool people along the way. I plan to head up to northern california and checkout the redwoods, and Arcata primarily. I would love to see more, but time may be an issue.(I'm gonna be back in december) If I were to stop by in YOUR town, would you hang out, walk around, etc etc. I think it would be bad ass to meet some fellow dnber's on the road, what do you think?

I forgot where I was going with this so I'm just gonna leave it at that.
I live in Arcata, we should hook up. You play disc golf?

[notverysalmonlike]

Check my location if you're gonna be around. Upper Mi.

Good luck on this man. It sounds like a blast and I know that I'd sure as hell enjoy doing that. Make sure to keep a detailed journal/log. I'd love to read it.

-Tom

[false]

I live in Arcata, we should hook up. You play disc golf?

yep, haven't played in a week or two but my buds and I always try to hook up on the course and pass a j or two while playing. I'm not good or anything, but its still fun as hell

and loony, I'll check on the routes when I get out of tennessee, I dunno if I can score a good railroad map so I may just have to hit up libraries a long the way, but I'll definately keep you guys posted.

My friend said he's gonna see me off (and another friend of ours) right this weekend and we're supposed to smoke some insane amount in one night. Maybe do shrooms, but If we don't have a good house or we can't get a good camping spot I'm gonna pass. Too many dickhead cops around here to drop them without being secure.

[notverysalmonlike]

Well here is this information man.

The East coast is headed by CSX Transportation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSX_Transportation) and Norfolk Southern (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norfolk_Southern). As for mid and west, that is headed up by BNSF Railway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BNSF_Railway).

Here is a list of all the united states railroads: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_railroads.

I wish you luck on your travels. And remember, just go with it!

-Tom

[false]

I know, my dad, his dad and my uncle all work at csx, I'm gonna try to pick up a map while I'm down there but I don't think they have maps for Union pacific and the others, I'll just see what happens, either way it doens't really matter that much. thanks for the info.

[enfect]

That's an awesome plan man, I eventually wanna do something like that for a month or so. Grab some spraypaint man, you could do maaaddd graff.

[tweak]

Well, my city has a crazy amount of freight trains, to an unbelievable extent, apparently, it's well known to train geeks. I wouldn't be suprised if you ended up near me. Although, from th route you're describing, I don't think you'll come anywhere near me.

[false]

Well, I'm back. I didn't make it to california, but I still would like to come up there. Freighthopping is an amazing set of things. Emotions, feelings, circumstances, etc. On the trip I didn't talk to a single human being for 2 days, and lemme tell ya it was weird as shit. The first conversation I had with a buddy over the phone brought me out of the lonely/depressing freighthopping mood that you get put in. I liked it, but at the time I had had enough with trains and came back home. I would go into more detail, but I feel its better in a more conversation type of thing and I've went over the experience with a couple people already. I will say this though, if you even think you want to do it, then go for it. Make a small 3 day trip on trains. It will change how you view things, you will probably be more patient. I was on 1 train for over 5 hours and I didn't sleep but maybe an hour of that time. Slept under a bridge, in an abandoned house, and on a train. it is a definately lifestyle shift, and its almost desired with how things are. If you are in a rut of some sort in your life, this could be the thing that would rip you out of it. It sucks that I couldn't meet some of you, but it could still happen if I take a bus or fly, who knows whats in the future.

peace

[z0r]

That's an awesome plan man, I eventually wanna do something like that for a month or so. Grab some spraypaint man, you could do maaaddd graff.
Its fucked how easy it is to get to a freight lay up in the states. All of our freights are kept in the same yards as our commuter trains, which are heavily garded. They are paintable, but it takes alot of research and looking out for weeks, you have to know the security routes and times etc. Not something easily done.


Sounds like you had a great time. Changing your life into doing something as raw as that would be crazy. Ive been in plenty of abandoned places, but NEVER had the balls to sleep in them. Thats raw as fuck.