Freighthopping or train hopping is the act of surreptitiously hitching a ride on a railroad freight car. In the United States of America, this became a common means of transportation following the American Civil War as the railroads began pushing westward, especially among migrant workers who became known as 'hobos'. It continued to be widely used by those unable to afford other transportation, especially during times of widespread economic dislocation such as the Great Depression. Today, the practice is forbidden by statute in nearly all states. This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... A railroad car (or, more briefly, car, not to be confused with railcar), also known as an item of rolling stock, is a vehicle on a railroad (or railway) that is not a locomotive — one that provides another purpose than purely haulage, although some types of car are powered. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Migrant farm worker, New York 2003 USPS stamp featuring Chávez and the fields that were so important to him A migrant worker is someone working on a regular basis away from their home, if indeed they have a home. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Great Depression started after October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ... In law, trespass can be: the criminal act of going into somebody else’s land or property without permission; it is also a civil law tort that may be a valid cause of action to seek judicial relief and possibly damages through a lawsuit. ...

In modern colloquial usage, though not very common, hopping a freight train is also known as "catching out" or "hopping out."

Many railroads take a strict view of people hopping freight trains, and employ railroad police, also known as "bulls", in an attempt to prevent the practice. Among other duties, railroad police are charged with preventing trespassing on railroad property, which includes freighthopping. Railroad police officers typically patrol in utility trucks, SUVs ("bullmobiles"), or even standard police cruisers. Railroad police are certified police officers and can enforce the appropriate laws in any jurisdiction the railroad owns property. Transit Police, or Transport Police, are a specialized type of police employed by a common carrier, usually a railroad (but may also include a bus line or other transportation carrier) that are tasked to prevent and investigate crimes committed against the carrier or by or against passengers or other customers... In law, trespass can be: the criminal act of going into somebody else’s land or property without permission; it is also a civil law tort that may be a valid cause of action to seek judicial relief and possibly damages through a lawsuit. ... This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... Contents // Categories: Emergency vehicles | Law enforcement equipment | Stub ...

Decline of freighthopping

In recent decades, the traditional role of hobos as itinerant workers has fallen off, largely because of increasing prosperity; even most itinerant workers nowadays have cars and drive between jobs, or use bus or airline transportation (or pay their way on commuter trains), and live in motels or temporary housing. A Go North East bus parked in a lay-by in Tyne and Wear, England. ... An Airbus A380 of Emirates Airline An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ... Holiday Inn Great Sign Exterior of a Howard Johnsons motor lodge. ...

Increasingly, as seasonal agricultural work became the province of illegal immigrants, and other seasonal work became increasingly lucrative, freighthopping became mainly used by the homeless population, by thrill seekers, youths who have adopted the lifestyle as an expression of rebellion against society, and people who enjoy traveling across the countryside under the open air. Illegal immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently, in violation of the law or without documents permitting an immigrant to settle in that country. ...

In recent years there has been an increase in crime targeted at the rail-riding homeless population and other freighthoppers by other itinerants. Retired Spokane police officer Bob Grandinetti attributes this largely to the rise of an itinerant group calling themselves the 'FTRA' or Freight Train Riders of America. Whether the FTRA is as violent as claimed by Grandinetti is in some dispute. Other increases in crime targeted at freighthoppers can be attributed to the general increase in violence and urban gang activity around train yards in such locations as Los Angeles. Nickname: Location of Spokane in Spokane County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County Spokane Government  - Mayor Dennis P. Hession Area  - City  58. ... The Freight Train Riders of America (FTRA) is an American gang of homeless men who move about in railroad cars, particularly in the northwestern United States. ... Nickname: Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: , State California County Los Angeles County Settled 1781 Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ...

See also

• Hitchhiking
• Hobo
• Itinerant
• Boxcar Betty

See also Hitch hike for other meanings Look up Hitchhike in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up itinerant in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

External links