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Show PAGE 10 THE ZEPHYRNOVEMBER 89 on the rails starlight learning the fine art of hoboing by Timm Lee Knouff In answer to how to catch a train, the obvious Is certainly true. Its best if Its to catch one on the fly. That was standing still, though it is necessary, at times, the case in Vancouver, WAshington. We had been waiting weU over twelve hours, one of the bums say, You fellas Preparing to do a little rubber tramping, we heard No doubt, when traveling, you have stopped for a passing freight train. Chances are, on one or more of those occasions, you have seen someone riding on a car. What crossed your mind? Perhaps you thought, why doesn't that person get a Job, buy a car, get insurance, like the rest of us? On the other hand did you think, how romantic, I wish I could do that? trains have fascinated us since the days when coal or wood tendered steam locomotives moved along that great linear city, dragging us by the carload, into the going to Seattle? Pointing to a hot shot slowly moving through the yard, he said, "well what do you know. We were off and running. By the time we could match its speed, we were at the tail end. I saw Hugh sling his mandolin onto a car. That's I-L- we were committed. By now, I was at the last car, on a train that had no plans of stopping this side of Seattle. I looked behind me. David was still with us, but It was touch and go. Hugh was settled in and gaining speed. Now Ive always believed that humans were given a certain amount of Intelligence. At least somewhere above the animals. As I closed my eyes, and flat out dove for the last that belief came seriously Into question; I hit the platform, and riveted piggy-ba- ck myself to a narrow steel rail. After taking mental Inventory of body parts, I sat up and looked for David. He was still running, but he had run out of train. We would not see him again until our return to Moab. There Is indeed an art to knowing which train to catch. It helps to have an Iron atlas. Rand McNally puts out, what they call, a handy guide to the rails. It shows all the currently used railways in the country. Consulting this handy guide, a route can be planned. Following that, of course, you need to find the rails, and a freight going In the right direction. Sometimes you must first catch one the wrong way. That happened to us on the very first ride. Hugh and I had taken a shuttle to Hite, for C.F.L They brought us back through Green River, for a burger at Rays and on to Crescent Junction. This Is the embarrassing part; Marian Ottinger was on the shuttle. We said our good-bye- s, knowing we would not see them for several weeks. Or so we thought That twentieth century. It was probably this countrys great depression and the dust bowl era that brought bumming the rods into vogue. Migrant workers, following the crops. Tramps doing odd Jobs, then riding on to the next town. Hobos. Websters New World Dictionary describes hobo In this way: 1. a migratory worker 2. a vagrant; trap, hoi beau! formerly a greeting between vagrants. I had never really thought of myself as a bum or tramp; though I have traveled a bit And I have been employed as a migrant worker. I have even done odd Jobs from coast to coast to coast (Houston, Texas, the third coast). After spending the better part of a month riding the rails. Im proud to say Im a tramp. started when Hugh Glass (you know the red headed guy that rides the recumbent bike) told me he was going, by ralt to Seattle. lf I had the time, Id love to go with you, I said. It all "Why not?" So I began to think of all the reasons why I shouldnt go. After listing a dozen reasons why I shouldnt go, I was convinced I should. it was not long before we had attracted a third member to our tittle troupe. David Whldden (you know the little poet). So we were off to the emerald city. Tim Knouff, breaking a cardinal Hobo rule: . never stand between 2 cars (for David and Hugh, watching the world roll by. obvious reasons) Some of the questions I've been asked, since my return, have been almost as Interesting as the trip Itself. Questions like, do many people still ride that way? How do you know which train to catch? Is it dangerous? Were there any women? Why did you wait so late In Dfe to do It? How did you prepare for the trip? I must say though, none ever asked me why I would do such a thing. It Is surprising how many people are still traveling by freight trains. Not far from the Ogden yard, during a siding that lasted several hours, we met Jlmbo. A man In his early thirties. He had been In an accident, some years previous, and was on medication to prevent epileptic seizures. Curious as to how he got started with some friends. It was too long riding freights, he said he was hitch-hiki- ng train between rides, he saw a pulling Into a nearby yard and thought that would be foster. He told us how he walked right Into the yard as If he owned IL From out of nowhere an elderly man grabbed him and pulled him Into the bushes. "You cant do that, the old man said "well get thrown out of here." "Well, how do you get on one of these things anyway, Jlmbo asked him. The old mans reply, as If through the wisdom of the ages, You Just walk on. Seymore, a man we met along another siding, had quite a different story to telL It was difficult to tell his age, but he said he had grown children living In the east He told of a family reunion coming soon. He was not going. He had nothing and did not want to embarrass the children. In his younger days, he worked hard, paid the mortgage, helped raise the children. Tragically his wife died ten years ago. He walked away from the mortgage, the children were gone already. Seymore hopped a freight and never got off. Just before we met him, he had made about a thousand dollars as a caterer during the recent fires nearby. It seems not far down the line he had hired a female companion for the evening. Unfortunately she had two large friends. He still had the fresh scars on his face, but not his wallet There were many others we met along the way. There was a group of about eight men we talked to in the Grand Junction yard. We saw them later In the Salt Lake yard. "Where ya headed? Is the common greeting. "Seattle. "Oh! If you plan on going through Pocatello, watch out for the bulls there. Some of the meanest In the country, especially Shirly." As we travelled north, Shirtys name came up again and again. Jlmbo spoke she had thrown him out of the yard at least twice. He was definitely not of her going through Idaho. He could not bear the thought of being caught a third time. evening we slept near the tracks In Thompson; thirty some miles from home. Thompson does not have a yard, but there Is siding. There Is no reason for anything, but Amtrack, to stop. For much of the following day, we waited for something to side. So there we were, playing pool In the Silver GrilL Eighteen hours Into our adventure, still only thirty minutes from Moab. I went out to see what was moving and there she was. Marian, waiting to shuttle some folks from an Incoming Amtrack. Well, anyone else would have gone back Inside, avoiding further embarrassment Not mel It was a few hours later, while napping under a small trestle, we heard the low rumble of an approaching freight This Is Itl Our first ride. Walt a minute, something Is amiss. The only thing to stop In the past twenty hours, and Its headed east Were going north. But then sometimes you gotta get In to get out It rolled to a stop, we were on, and In short order detrained In Grand Junction. A few hours later, rolling out on a gralner, we were finally headed north. Thankfully I was sleeping as we passed, for the fort time, the Thompson station. In answer to the question of the dangers Involved, I recall Hughs exact words. lts as dangerous as you make It Well, I myself have found something as mundane as painting to be quite brutal, at times, imagine what I could do with something a mile long with that king of tonnage moving at great speed. The possibilities are unlimited. As If from the very pages of a handbook for Hugh carefully guided us through our maiden voyage. Never stand between freight cars, If the train Is stopped. For obvious reason. The rail right of way Is quite narrow. are If lost Appendages easily dangled beyond certain parameters. Basically, Stop, Look, and Listen, covers a multitude of sins. Preparation for such a venture should not be left to chance. The rails can be very unforgiving. Of course the distance travelled will dictate, to a degree, what should be carried along. For our trip a large pack with frame Is a must Clothes for every season, sleeping bag, and wool blanket are at the top of the list A good Is riding spent waiting. To expect the unexpected, Is a good rule of thumb. Hoht, matches, canteen, a drinking cup, knife, and food are also high on that fist Some other Items to add a bit ofpocket comfort, well worth their weight are a pad to sleep on, and a compact cook stove. David brought along a stove and prepared meals of such extravagance as to cause one tramp to ask If Tramp-along-tou- PJJf ' t imumqfru J It .I fr 1. . rs, |