Freight train hopping!

rawrasaur · Post by **rawrasaur** » Thu May 22, 2008 2:54 pm

So I need to get from Reno to gerlach, however driving is not an option. Has anyone tried hopping a train from reno? I see there are tracks on google maps.

Also, does anyone have any idea how much a taxi or car service would charge to drive from reno to gerlach?

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:15 pm

The train moves past burning man/gerlach at about 60 mph. I wouldn't want to jump from there...

Sensei · Post by **Sensei** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:27 pm

Okay, exactly how does one 'hop' a freight train with a week's worth of water and camping supplies? Not going to happen. Perish the thought, or you certainly will. Honestly.

A few years back I camped next to a couple of cute chicks who took a taxi from Reno the year before when their original plans blew up at the last second. Cost them a couple hundred, I think. Again, perish the thought.

If, I repeat, if you bring $$$ you shouldn't have any problem finding people in Reno who are headed to BRC. Just go to a grocery store and when you see somone walking out with 20 gal. of water... or you notice all the PVC hanging of their Volkswagen Jetta... or you see a double-decker London bus... you'll know just what to do.

I'm going to repeat this once more because you scare me: bring $$$. There might actually be someone out there who's dying to carry your ass out to the middle of nowhere for free - while they're paying $4 a gallon - but I wouldn't count on it if I were you.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu May 22, 2008 3:35 pm

You have GOT to be kidding.

Attention children, unless you are a serious contender for a Darwin Award, Don't Try This.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:24 pm

Maybe he/she means "take" a train, like Amtrak. If that's the case, there is no station in Gerlach that I am aware of.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:35 pm

Dunno, the title of the thread specifically said "freight train."

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:42 pm

People who do this at any point in time in their lives scare me. The last thing I want to do is jump onto or off of a moving train.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:44 pm

AntiM wrote:Dunno, the title of the thread specifically said "freight train."

Oh yeah...

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Thu May 22, 2008 4:52 pm

ragabashpup wrote:People who do this at any point in time in their lives scare me. The last thing I want to do is jump onto or off of a moving train.

Actually, hopping a freight train can be a real thrill. Unfortunately, in this day and age it's a lot more dangerous than it used to be, the time of the "happy hobo" is a thing of the past. It's not enough to have to worry about jumping on and off a moving train, or avoiding the railyard "Bulls" now you might get beat to death for having too nice of a sleeping bag.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu May 22, 2008 5:24 pm

The only reason I survived having my legs cut off by a moving train is that they noticed right away and the emts were close. Both femural arteries severed doesn't give you much time to live. Out in the middle of nowhere like that...they might not find you for a few years...

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Thu May 22, 2008 6:17 pm

The coyotes will clean up any leftovers.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:05 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:The only reason I survived having my legs cut off by a moving train is that they noticed right away and the emts were close. Both femural arteries severed doesn't give you much time to live. Out in the middle of nowhere like that...they might not find you for a few years...

Ok , be the debbie downer......

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:46 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:The only reason I survived having my legs cut off by a moving train is that they noticed right away and the emts were close. Both femural arteries severed doesn't give you much time to live. Out in the middle of nowhere like that...they might not find you for a few years...

It's really amazing that you survived.
And it may be more amazing that you survived without brain damage.

It's easy to forget how often brain damage occurs with major physical trauma.
I saw someone on the bus in sf and he had mixed up his bus routes.
He was having trouble getting his chair out and I don't think he really understood the directions.
People were giving him a hard time and he was yelling back at them.
They probably thought he was drunk.
The bus driver stood up to everybody.
I think San Francisco has some great bus drivers.
Some people did step up to help the guy find the right bus, though he didn't really want the interference.
I think it must take a lot of courage for this guy to try to find his way.

I'm glad you're still yourself, Fishy.
I promise to never tell you you're lucky though.
I always hate hearing that.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:16 pm

AntiM wrote:You have GOT to be kidding.

Attention children, unless you are a serious contender for a Darwin Award, Don't Try This.

You think?

Post by **mdmf007** » Thu May 22, 2008 9:50 pm

My uncle (vp of operations at a major rail carrier) informed me years ago that somewhere in the US a train will pull into a yard with an arm hanging from it every week or so.

It happens often enough to have a protocal for it, a train whizzing by at 45-50 mph may seem slow - but its the scale of the thing moving. i am pretty fearless by nature, trains are one thing i dont dick with. (other than crushing change)

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu May 22, 2008 11:48 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:The only reason I survived having my legs cut off by a moving train is that they noticed right away and the emts were close. Both femural arteries severed doesn't give you much time to live. Out in the middle of nowhere like that...they might not find you for a few years...

Wow crypto, i didn't know that about you. Care to tell the story?

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri May 23, 2008 7:13 am

Its online already my friend, follow the links on her profile.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:00 pm

Incredible! I'm so sorry that this happened to you Crypto but I am glad to know that you are in good spirits. Sorry if my question was prying too much.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat May 24, 2008 10:32 am

It's okay. It's also been pretty publically discussed on this forum. I think Koosh still has my homecoming on her sig line. Dig around on the General discussion forum.

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Sun May 25, 2008 8:21 am

A scary story in mexico.

We whettas, 2 of us, decided to stay an extra day on our trip.
checked at the train station to make sure we didnt need to buy differnt ticket or additional ticket...
We were told no, ticket was ok for next day.

Nope, 3 hours into our trip, in the middle of bumfuck Mexico, midnight we were escorted off the train.
Luckily, when we got off train(2 cute blonde chicks) and this pack of mean and nasty mexicans heading towards us...yikes...a familaur face came out of the middle...a kid we met on the train down into mexico. Took us under his wings and showed us the ropes!

Neither of us had anything other then a credit card.The train full of Americans rallied together a hat for cash for us, as the train station we were going to be dropped at doesnt take credit cards.

Well, Ill tell ya...the 3rd class train in this middle of nowhere station, doesnt stop...it just slows down, whereas you have 15-30 people(with luggae in hand)at each set of door way steps, trying to get on before it starts going fast again.
SCARY!If it wasnt for that Gardianangel kid, we wouldnt have even known it doesnt fully stop!
I was left with 3 lil' scars just from trying to get my friend her luggage, myself and my luggage on the train that was going 5 mph...and increasing by the second!

Nope, you can have that idea of freight hoping...
I now prefer to call it FRIGHT Hoping!

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:52 am

Great Story - We were hopping trains in India this last November and I thought i had seen what chaos was.

Its normal practice to load 2000-3000 peope on a train that was designed for 4-500. The roofs are covered, the passageways are all standing room only, the engine is covered. Look like ants trying to eat a worm.

We climbed on the roof with a bottle and watched the scenery go by, not knowing where we were going. I am mazed that moe people dont die -

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Sun May 25, 2008 2:14 pm

Wow, both stories are craziness.

.....looked like ants trying to eat a worm.....he hehehehe.

In Deeth Valley, NV ( 24 miles east of Elko ), myself and 2 friends were walking through the train tunnel
to get to better fishing spots on the other end. We had each taken a drop under our tongues.
The tunnel is over 1 mile long and has 2-3 miles of staightness on each end.
One of my friends lives out there and said it's OK, he does it all the time.

Well......about halfway through the tunnel, there she comes, you can see the lights.......then the horn starts blaring. Yikes !!!
We dropped our poles and tackle and started running because our "friend" threw his down
and yelled "RUNN!!!" as he was already running back the way he had came.
The train travels at almost full bore (55-70mph) through that area and there are warning signs stating this
at the ends of the tunnel and the tunnel is extremely skinny . The signs are death/fatality signs. I wish I had a pic.
We had walked past a small alcove when walking through, and that was our destination at this point
as the train was already in the tunnel with us, horns BLARING AND SCREAMING at us.

The indention in the wall was barely deep enough to stand on , and it is risen off of the ground about 2 feet also,
and when the train swooshed by us , the initial thud of the air pressure blew all of out hats off and
was immediately followed by a suction that made you feel like you were going to be pulled into it face first.
The train was so close to us you could reach out and touch it.
Freaked all of us out pretty good, and the other friend was crying for a while, and he was in his 40's !! we were about 23- 25 ?

Good times, good times..................

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:09 pm

Wow - great one, at least that far out in the desert you can toss your underwear wherever.

flipper · Post by **flipper** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:45 am

[quote="Sensei"][b]If[/b], I repeat, [b]if[/b] you bring $$$ you shouldn't have any problem finding people in Reno who are headed to BRC. Just go to a grocery store and when you see somone walking out with 20 gal. of water... or you notice all the PVC hanging of their Volkswagen Jetta... or you see a double-decker London bus... you'll know just what to do.

I'm going to repeat this once more because you scare me: bring $$$. There might actually be someone out there who's dying to carry your ass out to the middle of nowhere for free - while they're paying $4 a gallon - but I wouldn't count on it if I were you.[/quote]

Also, there's usually been a rideshare prearrangement board on burningman.com as the event gets closer. Twin City Surplus has also been desginated a hitchhike to BM meeting point, though the airport outer loading zone or the major supermarkets are also good chances.

An even more obvious sign for going to the playa: some man-like drawing e.g. )*( on the back whether drawn in duck tape, lipstick, or back window dirt.

But as stated here earlier... will you have your water???

urban-dkay · Post by **urban-dkay** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:11 pm

train hopping isnt actually that dangerous if you keep sharp. The main thing you have to worry about is the asshole trainhoppers who dont want you riding "their" rails.
Its not as hard as people make it seem, but if your going to go, make sure you have someone with you who is experienced and dont do anything stupid. Like catching it on the fly or riding suicide when your drunk.

Also, if you want information you can trust, talk to your local trainhopper.
You wont be able to find them unless you allready know who they are.
Your most valuable tool is someone who can give you the low down in real life, is experienced and willing to share the experience with you, and has the brains to not get you into trouble. And also, if they have a cc for you that probably would help too.

But most trainhoppers have that trainhopping ego thing going on and wont be so willing.

twang2000 · Post by **twang2000** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:57 pm

That was a most interesting read!

Mother always said, "Don't play with trains, or on the tracks", guess she was right.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:05 pm

Freighthopping is fine, done it a million times, just jump off at Trego.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:06 am

I don't remember which I used to find scarier- Grabbing on or jumping off. We used to hop the freights crosstown in Kalamazoo while prowling the old paper factories and Upjohn buildings, but those are largely gone now and the railway land is densely populated with our local outpatients and the disenfranchised.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:21 am

Heres a little light reading for those that fancy themselves as a trainhopper, or hobo...

http://www.cyberhobo.com/
http://www.hobo.com/

Never tried it myself, I kinda wonder if trainhopping is a dying "sport"

Simon of the Playa · Post by **Simon of the Playa** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 9:11 am

tried it twice (long before 9/11). It's better than Greyhound, but i'm somewhat biased by my misanthropic tendencies.

and i Really Hate Buses. Actually, thats not true, i really hate the PEOPLE on buses, and that stems from a five day nightmare from reno to rochester.

Never Again. i would rather hop on one foot the entire way than listen to a choir from nebraska practice "holy holy holy" for 12 hours straight.

God, i hate Nebraska too. Fucking Corn-Huskers.