So recently, we’ve had the urge to learn how to hop frieght trains — much like our ancestors. We realize this is dangerous, and as of yet, we have not been able to meet anyone who could teach us. Well, not until the National Hobo Convention — which we don’t want to show up looking like idiots or beginners. So, we’ve decided to take it into our own hands. We are now beginning our Freight Hop Train-ing Program.
This of course will be documented and turned into a “Winnebago Experience — FHTP” webisode.
On our agenda:
- Starting/Maintaining Hobo Jungles.
- Hopping moving and stationary trains (and other vehicles for practice)
- Train Hopping Equipment
- Reading the trains. How to know where you’re going, or not. Requires purchase of Microsoft® Train Simulator — you will memorize the train system via computer simulation.
- Dealing with being thrown in jail/How fast can you run.
Accurate Computer Simulation of Railyards and Roads — WELCOME TO THE MODERN HOBO.
The Cajon Pass at Dusk.
Hey i just kind of stumbled on to this webpage but im surpremely interested in it and i was wondering, where do i view the final project? thanks
Sadly this part of the Experience has not been done yet…
the rest, is still in post-production. We’re going over the footage, and in the process of making that happen.
this isnt s**t that needs to be made public, if you want to do it, do it, but dont ruin other peoples lifestyles by making some sort of guide that any idiot kid can get his hands on and follow, or you may end up witha lot of pissed off train hoppin traveller kids on your hands.
I agree. It’s one of those things that has no guarantee. You cant rationalize and plan to jump on train cars. its true, you will be waiting more then you will be riding, so please stop glorifying something like this
[...] http://www.thehobosoul.com/blog/?p=136#comment-696 [...]
the only way to learn the rails is to actually live the life. no one is going to show you how do to it if your gonna post ur info like this it needs to be kept under close supervision. foamers and wingnuts will get there hands on it and ruin my way of life.
secondly you don’t need a f**king train simulater to tell you where to go i hope you never finish this.
Hi. I homebrew my own beer and I just settled on a name “Homeless Waif Brewing”. I love the picture of the guy hopping the train. I would also love to use it for a beer I want to call Train Hopheader IPA. I’m not a major brewer, just a guy that makes 5 gallon batches. Can you help me find the artist? Thanks!
Bob-
We’ve been working on it…but haven’t come up with anything yet…
Vern found it on a google image search most likely, but it was a while ago, so he really can’t remember…
We’ll keep trying…and maybe…drinking some of your beer…
you dont need to buy a f–ing “train simulatour package or wtf ever you are talking about, all u need is a crew change and someone who KNOWS what the fyck they are doing, not to start bitching and griping but i think that a “how to manual on hopping freights” would be a very baaad idea. first off this is a very dangeroud sport i have personally watched a mans legs become amputated as he slid under a moving freight in AZ. & he was no newbie with a train simulator. THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SH*T U PUT ON HERE OR THERE ARE GOING TO BE ALOT OF YOUNG FU*K’O'S GETTIN EATEN ALIVE BY THE TRACKS. THANK YOU
dont make shit like this man its all clasified info for a reason dood
This is a terrible idea. Trainhopping should stay the way it is- word of mouth. It’s bad enough crew changes exist to blow the shit up. This just ices that cake, mate.
Plus, trainhoppers don’t buy computer programs and simulations, that’s fucking ridiculous..
90% of comments are ragers… I love this.
“Trainhoppers don’t do this”, “Trainhoppers don’t do that”… some of you act so self-righteous thinking that you’re not “supporting the system” or some shit, but go around to a couple cities in the summer and bum money from those who do “support the system”. Get your heads out of your asses and grow up; accept that you are voluntarily homeless (or live in your parents house) and that you had the privilege to choose a transient lifestyle. You all act like the kids in middle school that bought their pre-studded leather from somebody and all others are posers or some shit.
As for the author, the people I just hated on are right: all you need to know is word of mouth and there is no need to make a primer or guide for this shit. Chances are you will just end up getting a couple kids killed. Hang out with your local traveling kids in the summer (they can be found in most downtown or outdoor mall areas) and hope they aren’t as self-righteous and pretentious as some of these fucks. Travel with people that know what they’re doing, and don’t be an idiot.
Publishing half-baked information on the internet about trainhopping is a spectacularly bad idea. Over 500 idiot civilians (non-tramps) get killed every year in American train yards. Young people who have a great deal more self-confidence than is warranted by circumstances take stupid, unnecessary risks and get maimed and killed. Half the time they don’t even realize that what they are doing is dangerous. They don’t understand how the railroads work, and because they don’t understand, they do things that seem innocent to them, but are in fact potentially fatal.
There is only one way to safely learn to hop trains–find an experienced trainhopper that you can trust and get him (or her) to teach you to ride safely. All the video crew change guides in the world cannot help you if you do not have an experienced teacher.
DO NOT encourage kids to hop trains. It is dangerous and illegal. If you have a shred of conscience you will not encourage children to endanger their lives.
I first rode trains in 1970, and I have logged numerous trips since then. Professional tramps do not take any unnecessary risks. They ride according to a set of unbreakable rules. If you ignore the rules, you do so at the risk of getting maimed or killed.
http://karhu-art.com/thumbs/freight/zipper2.jpg
im going to be train hopping from jersey to cali. never done it before but no matter what i am told i know this is something i am going to do. where can i get one of these crew change manuals. also where can you get a good map of all the rail lines in the us.
hey i been hoppin trains 4 years,but just had twins,now 7 months but ima take em on a train in february.nebody ever hop w/ a baby b4?ne tips? hjazlyne@yahoo.com
Hey this is a good idea, you think i won’t do this?? i most definately would and i’m going to try it… dont worry. im a fast runner, so i couldprobably run from the cops because they eat enough doughnuts and coffee already…… Try to CATCH ME COPPERS!
Don’t put this stuff on the internet. Meet some train kids, buy em a bottle of whiskey, don’t piss em off, and tell em you’d like to come along.
CREW CHANGE TRAIN SECRET GUIDE CALL 206-222-0786 RAILROAD RIDING FREE! LISTEN TO THESE TRAIN HOPPING VIRAL VIDEOS AND GET A “JUMP UP” ON WHAT YOU GET IN THE CREW CHANGE GUIDE. TRAIN HOP VIDEO LADY READS AND NARRATES THE SECRET CREW CHANGE GUIDE OF THE TRAIN HOPPING REBELS, IT’S HOW SHE ROLLS, ACCORDING TO OTHER TRAIN HOPPERS WHO HAVE TANGLED WITH TRAIN HOP VIDEO CHICK! LISTEN TO THE FUNNY TRAIN HOPPERS PHONE MESSAGES GOOD BAD AND UGLY AND CALL 206-222-0786!!!
2009 Train Hop Crew Change hard copy Guide available free zrii-and-live-well.blogspot.com/ with details, or email junelander47@yahoo.com and get the Crew Change Guide latest, no joke, it’s for real, see video, wait until you see it. It’s fantastic. Just mailed out 3 today! Only to real train hoppers, not trolls or posers! Get your crew change guide today and feel safer riding the rails through historic USA Canada and Mexico, all routes!
The Crew Change Guide can be gotten from http://crew-change-videos.blogspot.com just go there and get directions, or email the chick at junelander47@yahoo.com or even call Train hop Video Lady at 206-222-0786!
AND WHAT THE HECK would you call this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZtNSgck6WA TRAIN HOP VIDEO LADY TRAIN HOPPING OR WHAT?
My name is Train Doctress and I have a wonderful historical document called The Train Hopping Crew Change Guide that train hoppers use to lead them where they need to go and ride across the USA! The train hoppers I have met for this article have have surprised me. They are not what you think they are. The last 4 hoppers I met were young, college age and well dressed, well spoken, rich and good looking. Train Doctress reports that there are a lot of folks out there that want this particular Crew Change. It’s the most updated and the most detailed of all the Crew Changes out there. “I’m happy to protect it for train hoppers and am learning that train hopping is not just for punk rockers, hobos and crazed robbers. I’ve met rich people, good looking men and women, and more women than I had expected!” Says Train Doctress, who also goes by the name Train Hop Video Chick. But never children or teens.
Train Doctress says that there are a bunch of sobering stories out there about some hoppers, and this one was the most horrific one Train Doctress has ever received, please read this and remember it could be worse!
I am 33 years old, and I know I have wasted my last 10 years on drugs! I also used to train hop all the time, but now I can’t. This is the first time in 10 years I have been clean with out incarceration, hence I know I will not go back. I know about the rich kids that hop, I ran into sons and daughters of doctors in my travels. So I understand!
My mom died from heroin in 2009 and I don’t have any one left, and this self-righteous sick woman I live with just made a scene in front of friends that would have helped me all because I made them food I cooked with food I got with my food stamps..
They did it just to make me look like a freeloader. I have been clean for 10 months off of heroin and just as my life got better this bitch said she would help me. One of those bitches that says they will help like she is Mother Teresa then get me over here and go after what money I have, while I was paying her rent.
Plus stealing cash from me and trying to steal my dog I found when I was homeless in Sacramento in 08′. She even called my last job to try and get my last paycheck. This sucks because I am supposed to get my section 8 next week, but I have nowhere to go until then and I have no family here to help me, (no family in the US).
My mom died of a dope OD. sorry for venting to ya, I don’t need the Crew Change Guide, I know of a church in NYC that will hands them out. There is a friend of mine that lives down the street I can stay with until he gets kicked out of his place this week! But by then I should; maybe starting my new job and get my section 8! That is providing I find a place to stay here.
I am in a small town with 1 friend and he lives with his parents and they are not well off and the guy I am staying with tonight gets kicked out tomorrow! (I need the job so I have income because they have to have proof of income because my rent has to be a precentage of that).
Ugh, I wish my mom was alive to help me. I am sorry not trying to give a guilt trip. I had to cut out all my junkie friends to get off Heroin and I can’t stay or talk to my old train hopper friends either, or other past friends so they don’t think I am back on dope.
This is my life, but I am clean and it just does not get easy. If I can quit dope dope I can live through this, because I am a resourceful gal and I have been through worse. I can take it!
Keep in touch so you know how well I came out of this I will do the same. Like Kenny Loggins said in the song he did for Caddy Shack “I’m alright”.
Train Doctress read that letter with a heavy heart, but the woman who wrote it sounds strong. “I will be be following the progress of this lost soul, who wanted to train hop again but does not have a Crew Change to do it.
My point is to show the world that there are people out there, all types, that train hop, or dream of train hopping, or are train hopping. They need this Crew Change, it is the key to all train hopping. Train Doctress is the “keeper of this document now.
Train Doctress would never give it to just any old Train Hopper, she checks them out very well. “Yes, I do, I will not send it to a child, nor a drunk, or snotty person!” Check out, by Googling “Train Hopping Crew Change Guide” and you too may have an interest in this historical document, and would want to get this fabulous piece of history. Train Doctress does not train hop!
HEY HOBO SOUL, I SENT YOUR CCG. YOU SHOULD GET IT IN A FEW DAYS. GOOD LUCK AND KEEP IT CLOSE OT YOUR HEART ALWAYS, AND DON’T MAKE COPIES TO SEND TO IDIOTS. I AM VERY VERY VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SEND TO KIDS, OR POSERS, OR BOZOS. SO GOOD LUCK!
Crew-Change guides are useless & if you need one or if you need a simulation then perhaps you ought to find something else to do. Train-hopping is dangerous, obviously. Where can you ride? Where will you sleep in a Big-City? Who will give you money? What about random acts of violence? Can you go hungry & thirsty? Ever had your ass-kicked for no reason? Hoboing is most difficult. Unless you are absolutely a baddass which most are not.
Um, Train Doctress is pedalling useless material.
TRAIN HOP VIDEO LADY IS A FAKE “HISTORIAN”! This is a lady that ran upon a ccg under a park bench that got left behind by a REAL modern day hobo and decided to make copies of it and try to solicit a free item! If you want a ccg, go get it for free at your local downtown, or a major city downtown from a dirty kid. There will be a “dirty Kid” in YOUR downtown area with a backpack and a dog with a name associated with railroading or railroads or traveling like “dirty” or “derail” or “atlas” go ask them, I’m sure someone would love to show you how miserable it can be. As for train hop video lady, DO NOT buy this chopped up, copied, way overpriced(free, remember), book that is outdated. and by the way, train hop video lady DID NOT get blessings from train doc! Train doc quit publishing a long time ago because of internet accessability, do you honestly think this would be encouraged??? I am a “transient” that met the “person” who DOES publish these and “I AM” in the process of making an UP TO DATE book using observations from my many friends that do “ride” for the sole purpose of keeping it out of the hands of the people that want to destroy the essence of this book. It will be ready by the end of 2013, I am also in the process of creating new hobo camps around the usa with a traveling buddy of mine. Make sure to look for me in your local downtown!!!
Updated Crew Change Guide Historical, learn about the routes and ways that the ones who still follow the historical call of this country, it’s a code of honor, but all written down so you can follow it too. Be part of of it, LIVE IT! DREAMS come true so email a girl I know named Train Doctress at junelander47@yahoo.com and she’ll hook you up. TOTALLY WORTH IT, totally an educational experience to read this Train Hopping Crew Change guide it helps and remember that information is power! Go to http://crew-change-approval-network.blogspot.com and check out the videos there on this incredible guide and educational tool for serious enthusiast!
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Updated Crew Change Guide Historical, learn about the routes and ways that the ones who still follow the historical call of this country, it’s a code of honor, but all written down so you can follow it too. Be part of of it, LIVE IT! DREAMS come true so email a girl I know named Train Doctress at junelander47@yahoo.com and she’ll hook you up. TOTALLY WORTH IT, totally an educational experience to read this Train Hopping Crew Change guide it helps and remember that information is power! Go to http://crew-change-approval-network.blogspot.com and check out the videos there on this incredible guide and educational tool for serious enthusiast!
Hey Atlas, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ you are so wrong. So far Train Doctress has updated this document from old info to new jump points, and it IS free. But paper isn’t and neither is ink, a note book and mailing it out 3 day Priority! It’s not a bad way to gbet a good document. AND IT IS NOT CHOPPED UP. She filled it in, and it’s perfect! You can’t pull that FOLK FAKE LORE on us, if you think you stop the letters from coming you are surely mistaken. There isn’t any Train Doc. There IS A TRAIN DOCTRESS for real, so why don’t you cool your jets on the new CCG CSX lines and take your guide and send the updates to her. Forget the old dirty ways, the new hopper is young, fresh and rich and also not a hobo punk , she has met only nice people and has sent out about 50 of them in 3 months, a better way to get the CCG thant he Begging a hobo way. The way of the hobo punk is dead, and you can’ do anything about it.