Re: Train Hoppers

[Richard Ray <ray_r@rocketmail.com>]

There used to be a site run by one "Northbank Fred" which carried 
lots and lots of trip reports which I used to read at lunchtime. Many
of those reports ran ten pages or so. These people carry scanners,
cell phones, schedules, etc and they have as much knowledge about the
RR operation as any railfan. In addition they were computer literate,
communicating with others via E-mail at the local library or college.

They had maps of where to "catch out", mostly in the west. The
favorite ride was from ??? to Dunsmuir and back, with an occasional
extension to K-Falls and back. The train crews were apathetic about
it. Only the RR police cared. Crews would offer information on when a
train would be leaving and where it was going. Favorite spot was the
non-brake end (A or B) of a covered hopper, called a "grainer".
Behind the wheels of a trailer on a flat car was popular except that
riders were visable to the police watching a train leave the yard.
Boxcars were dry and they could hide easily. On the other hand the
door had to be securely jammed open. If not slack action could slam it
shut and they knew that there was no inside handle!

The agility required to climb up into a boxcar moving at 5-10 mph
impresses me a lot. They reported throwing their traveling bag (warm,
dark clothes and electronics) end even a dog! into the car and then
climbing on.

Several train wreck reports have mentioned that there were more bodies
discovered than they could account for. The best ride of all is the
cab of a trailing unit and "hoppers" can hide in the nose area as well.
Maybe North Bank Fred didn't beat the odds after all.

The only "catch out" spot I remember in the NW was somewhere around
Parkrose section of Portland, OR.

Last time I visited the site it said Gone By-By. I have nort searched
since. It was interesting escapeist reading. Maybe there is another
site now. If anyone follows the links and finds it, please post it.

Dick, "not condoning anything" Ray

 






---Ron Zammit <rzammit@polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> I agree.  I've sent the address to a FRA contact.  There's probably
not a
> lot they can do if the server does not care.
> 
> ron
> 
> 
> On Fri, 9 Oct 1998 Mt14l@aol.com wrote:
> 
> > To List;
> > My Neotrace shows the last server for this site at Oklahoma City.
> > This guy belongs in the same bag as the railbike dentist from Idaho.
> > Dave S.
> > 
> > 
> 
> 

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