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- From: romeo@niagara.Tymnet.COM (Michael Stimac)
- Newsgroups: rec.railroad
- Subject: Re: Hopping trains for a ride
- Message-ID: <2838@tymix.Tymnet.COM>
- Date: 17 Nov 92 19:14:58 GMT
- References: <1992Nov9.215011.169@gems.vcu.edu> <55121@donald.WichitaKS.NCR.COM>
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-
- In article <55121@donald.WichitaKS.NCR.COM> msjohnso@donald.WichitaKS.NCR.COM (Mark Johnson) writes:
- >hleaves@gems.vcu.edu writes:
- >
- >>I used to know a group of people who hopped freight trains for free rides and a
- >>thrill. I presume that this is very illegal. What are the laws regarding doing
- >>this? I've heard that the caboose crew is allowed to shoot people trying to
- >>jump their trains. Is this true? It seems like rather a severe measure to
- >
- >The railroads generally prosecute freight hoppers as some variation of
- >simple trespassing; shoot-on-sight has never been allowed, to my knowledge.
- >I've heard stories of folks being thrown off moving trains, back in the
- >bad old days (1930's or so). Today, I think they usually hold them for some
- >local law enforcement agency.
-
- Persons interested in this topic might enjoy the movie _Emporer of
- the North Pole_ (US, 1973). It depicts a dramtic story of hoboes
- during 1933, and the ongoing battle between the 'boes and an over-
- zealous railroad conductor. In keeping with the 'hard times' the
- battle gets pretty brutal.
-
- (the movie is also known as _Emporer of the North_ and
- _Emporer of the Northwest_)
-
- Michael Stimac
- --
- Michael Stimac
- (415) 355-8889
- romeo@tymnet.com
- These opinions are not necessarily anyone's but my own.
-