Train Hopping

[GlassCurtain]

I've hopped a train from Kansas City to Chicago once. But I did buy a boarding pass from amtrack first. Actually it was pretty fun. We were the only ones in our car. I brought the acoustic so I just sat in the back of my car and played most the trip.

I've ridden the AmTrack from Chi-town to KC and back. Loved it! Beat the hell out of greyhound and was less hassle than flying.

Dude I totally agree! It was a nice chill trip up there. And your more rested when you arrive than when you drive or fly.

[cousin]

Hmmm....Looks like the first one has one going straight towards Joplin. I wonder if there's a stop around there?

That would be a pretty far and crazy trip..

Most of the switching down here takes place in Carthage, 15 miles from Joplin.

[cobcob]

Dude I totally agree! It was a nice chill trip up there. And your more rested when you arrive than when you drive or fly.

Not to mention the snack car!

[redox]

shame the US has such shitty trains. I say this thinking train travel is very pleasant compared to the alternatives.

[paul06660]

I would not recommend hoping any trains in Springfield. BNSF visually inspects all trains going thru town at the rail yard between Division and Atlantic streets. They have cameras everywhere along the main tracks, and a piggy piggy man in an SUV with a German Sheppard to get your ass.

[graffitifetish]

Whatever. They just ask you to leave. Or wave at you. In my experience.

I've never hopped one of the trains, but I was climbing through one when it started moving and had to eat dirt. It was less than awesome.

[PANIC! on the Titanic]

I was at a yard in STL this one time at the edge of it watching the trains go by while sitting on a park bench. After a couple minutes a locomotive came right up to where I was sitting and a guy got out and nicely told me I had to leave before the sheriff got there. Then he got back in and the train went back the way it came. I was like kick ass! I got my own personal messenger train!

[PANIC! on the Titanic]

This guy has some big pendulous clanking brass balls as he train surfs on high speed bullet trains. The bar's been set.

[redox]

holy shit that's fucking madness!^^

[cobcob]

Train surfing used to be a big thing back in Melbourne late 90's/ early 00's
Fucking retarded there because the power for the trains came from overhead lines not an electrified 3rd rail...

[paul06660]

I was at a yard in STL this one time at the edge of it watching the trains go by while sitting on a park bench. After a couple minutes a locomotive came right up to where I was sitting and a guy got out and nicely told me I had to leave before the sheriff got there. Then he got back in and the train went back the way it came. I was like kick ass! I got my own personal messenger train!

I thought park benches were public property?

[PANIC! on the Titanic]

yeah that's what I though too. Apparently they are just there to screw with trainspotters.

[CaveGirl]

I hopped a train once as a teenager but I haven't done it since and won't do it again. I've known too many people who've been killed by trains and they kind of scare me now because of it. I only road from my friend's house near Stanton down to Sullivan so just a few miles but it was a rush. If I wasn't such a chicken shit about getting ran over or hadn't known people who died that way I'd do it again.

[DigitalNinja]

Yeah a I read a recent post by cousin (no promise of safety) and went to the trains section and was instantly inspired to do a long distance train hop, maybe across state and back. It's an excellent exercise in problem solving (e.g. when the train doesn't stop where you want it to.)

Could be fun or could really suck. Problem is I can't find anyone crazy (or retarded) enough to go with. Any takers?

I hopped one a couple times in KC the other day. Didn't stay on for more than 1/4 mile. I'm game. I keep saying I'm going to take one to KC.

[railroadpunk]

Since Homeland Security, train hopping has become close to impossible. Infrared is used quite a bit around most rail yards to detect warm spots for bodies. However, hopping freights on secondary railroads is more possible away from major cities.