Hitchwiki - User contributions [en]

Train hopping

2009-01-24T21:35:01Z

Lilylove:

{{Random Roads}}

==Freight trains==
'''Freight hopping''' became a common means of transportation in the United States 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 the destitute and those unable to afford other transportation, especially during times of widespread economic dislocation such as the Great Depression.

In more recent times, freight hopping has evolved into an underground movement of hobo's, bums, tramps, punks and anarchists, or just a poor lonesome traveller with no money. These people can be found throughout the United States, hanging out in 'Jungles' by the side of the tracks or near a freight yard.

* [http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html How to hop a freight train]

'''Train hopping'''

Riding the rails, hoboing, or jumping a freight train (train-hopping), although most commonly found in the United States, can be done in most parts of the world. If there are freight trains, then there can be hobos. While there is a vast amount of information online regarding the U.S, practical guides for Europe, Asia and Oceania are few and far between. A zine called 'EuroHobo' exists for European adventures but can be difficult to obtain.

Your best option for outside of the U.S is to find your nearest train Yard and spend some good long hours waiting and watching. Keep an eye out for the different types of cars, what looks ridable, what doesnt, and keep track of the timetables and frequencies. Hoboing can be fun, exciting and full of adventure, but it also takes a lot of time and patience. Research of the area is vital before hand, but also while sitting by the tracks in the cold dark night, the wind and rain blowing into your face. You'll need passion and an adventurous spirit to keep you there, but once you find your ride, you will be heavily rewarded.

'''[[United States]]'''.

A big country with an extensive rail-network, coupled with a history of hobo travelling, makes the United States the ideal place for riding the rails.

Although riding trains for free (train-hopping) is illegal, it is one of the most viable ways to get out of the city for free. In most passenger trains (NJ Transit, Amtrak, etc.), the only way to ride for free is to hide in a bathroom or display a "Seat Check" ticket found on the ground or from a previous ride. Generally speaking, if you are discovered to be riding without paying the proper fare, you will be asked to pay it. If you can not pay it, then you will be asked to exit the train at the next station. As long as you remain friendly and cooperative, there should not be a problem with legal issues, arrest, or fines.

Hopping freight trains is a more dangerous, but more exciting way to ride long distances for free, in the United States. It is more common here than in any other part of the world, and hoboing has a long history in art, music and culture. It is extremely practical to do if you have phone or internet access, because there are numbers and/or websites that will give you the direction that each freight is headed and its estimated time of arrival, based on that freight's identification number.
A common accessory is a two-way radio, used to listen in on freight movements, destinations and times of departure. Frequencies will need to be found before hand. It is very possible to ride without one, which will save you space and weight (radio, batteries, recharges), but a little more time might be needed to work out which trains are going where and when they're looking like leaving.

If possible get your hands on the [[Crew Change Guide]], an underground book with hopping info on nearly every crew changing station across the United States.

There is a mailing list for train hopping. Send a mail to train-hoppers-request@nw.com to join.

'''[[Europe]]'''.

Freight trains can be found in most European Countries and often carry ridable cars. Auto Racks (automobile carriers), Boxcars, Coil Cars, Flat Cars, Grainers, Gondolas, Tanker Cars, and Well Cars can all be found. Most are electric, travelling far and fast. Which is fortunate since very long tunnels are found in Europe, and diesel trains going through tunnels require a 'skank' or piece of material which you must dampen and tie around your mouth and nose to avoid asphyxiation.
Conducters, controllers and engineers or rail workers have no concept of 'hoboing' in Europe, so be prepared to have a good explanation if you get caught. All yard workers wear bright vests, so you can see them from a distance, however this also means a moving body without a vest is likely to raise attention. Keep low, stay safe. 'Bulls' or railroad police dont exist in Europe so you're off the hook there.

[[Image:Australia_rail_networks.png|thumb|right|250px|Australias Rail Networks]]
'''[[Australia]]'''.

A huge country with big distances between cities, lots of rails and trains, no bulls, little security... sound like hobo heaven? It is! Well, almost. There's little information to be found about times, destinations and yards, so several hours will have to be spent scouting out the system and your nearest rail network. Different gauges are used for different states, which means certain trains can only operate within their state. Pacific National runs through most of the country, with routes to and from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. QLD RAIL covers Queensland and for hopping out of Brisbane, the Southbound yard can be found at Acacia Ridge, while for Northbound trains Bowen Hills is your best bet. Tasmania has its own rail network, going from Hobart up through the middle of the island.

==External Links==

* http://www.squattheplanet.com/
* http://www.digihitch.com/trains.html
* http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html

==Amtrak==

==Metro-North==

==MTA==

==LIRR==

==NJ Transit==

==PATH==

{{stub}}

[[Category:Trains]]

::''This article is partly based on work from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freighthopping Wikipedia].''

[[Category:Transportation]]

File:Australia rail networks.png

2009-01-24T21:29:01Z

Lilylove:

File:Western australia rail lines.jpg

2009-01-24T21:19:18Z

Lilylove:

London

2008-10-27T22:23:13Z

Lilylove:

{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}

'''London''' is the capital of [[England]] and the [[United Kingdom]].

==Hitching Out==
* [http://www.hitchbase.com/ergebnisse.php?LANG=eng&abfrage%5Bstartort%5D=444 Hitchbase] has some information about hitchhiking out of London

Hitchhiking out of London is pretty tricky, but not impossible - the big problem is getting onto a motorway is a bit of a challenge, once you're on the motorway, stick to the petrol stations, hitching entrance ramp to entrance ramp is quite difficult, especially in the big cities.

===How to get onto the M4 Motorway (West)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]'''''), [[Reading]], [[Swindon]], ('''''[[South West (England)|The South-West]]'''''), [[Bristol]], [[South West (England)|Devon]], [[South West (England)|Cornwall]],
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to Zone 3 - approximately 3 UKP from Zone 1.
* '''Last verified''': March 2006

* '''Directions''':
Get the Underground to the station Chiswick Park ''(District Line)'' - from there you can find the entrance to the motorways M4 - its about 5 miles to the actual entrance to the M4, but you can walk along the main road for a mile and theres an Esso petrol station that is on the corner next to a bridge with the main london traffic running above you, and you can stand in a layby nearby with a sign saying M4 west, and someone will pick you up. Gunnersbury Underground Tube ''(District Line)'' is also convenient.

Heading for '''Cornwall''', it is much more easier hitching the M4 and changing to the M5 in [[Bristol]] than trying to hitch the M3 through [[South West (England)|Dorset]].

===How to get onto the M20 Motorway (South East)===
<map lat='51.43983124736507' lng='0.0528717041015625' zoom='15' view='0' float='right' />

* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East (England)|South East]]'''''), [[Maidstone]], [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]], [[The Channel Tunnel]], [[France]] (''[[Western Europe]]'')
* '''Cost of public transport''': One train ticket ''from zone 1''(approximately £3.10)
* '''Last verified''': October 2007

* '''Directions'''
Get the Underground to London Bridge Station ''(Northern Line - Jubilee Line)'' and get the overland train to a station called Mottingham ''(direction Dartford)'' - this is very close to the entrance to the M20 to Dover - head for 'Great Sidcup Road' around 800 yards further down the road is a set of traffic lights (corner of 'Sydcup Road' and 'Court Road'), and you can hold a sign saying Dover from that crossroad and try to get the cars stopped at the lights to let you jump in. You can also stand by 'Sydcup Road' at the Shell Gas Station entrance. Remember that the Shell Gas Station is the only place that a car can pull aside before the highway, it is therefore flaw to try to walk further down 'Sydcup Road'.

The train to Mottingham (zone 4) departs from Charing Cross Station (downtown zone 1) through Waterloo (zone 1), London Bridge (zone 1), New Cross (zone 2) and Lewisham (zone 2) stations on its way to Dartford and Gillingham. Mottingham Station (as well as the previous station of Lee in zone 3) does not have a check-in/check-out gate, which means that it is better not to use a Oyster Card when going to that station as you won't have the chance to 'touch out' and be charged consequently. Therefore, it is also possible to simply buy a ticket to the previous station in zone 3 (Hither Green or Lee) and bring the cost of the ticket beneath the 3 pounds. The distance between each stations is no longer than 5 minutes.

The best ride to accept from Mottingham is one that brings you directly into the South-East along the M20 and past the M20-M25 junction, most likely to the [[Maidstone Services]]. Many drivers said that many hitch-hikers happens to stand and hitch at the junction, but the police might be more likely to pick you up.

There is also a BP Gas Station Services (Swanley Services) before the M25 junction but the cars still goes in every direction from there and catching a ride might reveal difficult; although it would not be advised to go until there, someone might want want to do so if he feels he needs to change landscape ''(gathering more information needed)''. Drivers have also said that some people do hitch-hike at the M20/M25 Interchange Roundabouts, though this sound more likely to be illegal, more information would be welcome.

====How to get onto M2 Motorway (South East)====
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East (England)|South East]]'''''), [[Rochester]], [[Canterbury]], [[Dover]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':

*'''Directions''':
Get the Underground to London Bridge Station ''(Northern Line - Jubilee Line)'' and get the commuter train to a station called Mottingham ''(direction Dartford)''
(''Note that you can hitch along the M20 and changing to the M2 in [[Maidstone]]'')

====How to get onto A21 Highway (South East)====
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East (England)|The South East]]'''''), [[Hastings]], [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':

*'''Directions''':
{{infoneeded| Help providing the information with the one available for the M20}}

===How to get onto the M40 Motorway (North West)===

<map lat='51.55322' lng='-0.4508' zoom='17' view='0' float='right' />

* '''Where to''': ('''''[[West (England)|The West (London)]]'''''), [[Oxford]], [[High Wycombe]], ('''''[[West Midlands (England)|The West Midlands]]'''''), [[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]], [[Redditch]]
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 6 (Hillingdon) or zone 3 (Hanger Lane).
* '''Last verified''': 28 December 2007 (Hillingdon), 26 January 2008 (Hanger Lane)

*'''Directions''':
[[M40 (GB)|M40]] is different from other motorways originating from London, as it starts quite close to M25 as a continuation of the dual-carriageway A40.

[[A40 (GB)|A40]] has a number of entrances with heavy traffic, and the following 2 places have been successfully hitched from:

**'''Hanger Lane''' Underground station (Central Line, West Ruislip branch, zone 3)

As you exit into the main hall of the tube station, have a look at the local area map and find an exit by the Westbound A40 slip road. Once you are out of the underground, keep walking along the slip road, and then A40. There are two good places to hitch from:

One of them is a bus stop just past the junction with Lynwood Rd. It has a long lay-by, which is a good place to hitch from as long as there's nothing parked there. Legally, it's a "non-stopping except buses" lay-by.

The other place is half a mile further on - a little lay-by with no restrictions. I ([[User:Lnx|Lnx]]) have not personally hitched from there, but it looks like a good spot and has an advantage of being open to the entire A40 (the Lynwood Rd bus stop has a separation between the incoming slip road and the main carriageway, so you can only be picked up by traffic emerging from North Circular Road, or Lynwood Road).

**'''Hillingdon''' Underground station (Piccadilly/Metropolitan Lines, zone 6).

As you exit the tube station and go to the end of walkway, turn left and walk until you reach big traffic light-controlled crossroads of 'Long Lane' and 'Western Avenue' (NOT the A40 Western Avenue). Cross the road, then turn right and continue to the roundabout, whose primary exit is the slip-road to A40. Stand on the grass next to of the hatched area - the hatched area is a good and legal place for a vehicle to stop. The area is also well-lit which makes it a perfect place to hitch at night.

It is advisable to have a sign saying "Oxford" or something, as a lot of traffic leaves [[M40 (GB)|M40]] at junction 1a to continue on [[M25 (GB)|M25]].

There is also an Oxford Tube coach stop in Western Avenue/Freezeland Way nearby. If you happen to get really stuck (which I think you won't - I waited only about 12 minutes for a ride on an evening during a post-Christmas season) and only need to get to Oxford, this might be an alternative.

===How to get onto the M1 Motorway (North)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[The North (England)|The North (London)]]'''''), [[Luton]], [[Milton Keynes]], ('''''[[East Midlands (England)|The East Midlands]]'''''), [[Northampton]], [[Leicester]], [[Derby]], [[Nottingham]], [[Sheffield]], [[Leeds]]

*'''Directions''':

** '''Option 1''' - [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=15386599078168394493,51.613806,-0.276014%3B7303632460877835457,51.616789,-0.260584&saddr=A5100%2FStation+Rd+%4051.613806,+-0.276014&daddr=A5100%2FHale+Ln+%4051.616789,+-0.260584+to:51.629873,-0.264659&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=15&via=1&sll=51.62617,-0.269852&sspn=0.017104,0.047035&ie=UTF8&ll=51.622306,-0.273972&spn=0.017105,0.047035&z=15 London Gateway Services]
** '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 5.

It is possible to walk from Edgware tube ''(Northern Line)'' to London Gateway Services on the M1. There are a few different ways to walk, but the simplest is: Turn right out of the station onto 'Station Road'. Follow the road along, it turns into 'Hale Lane', keep going, then turn left onto 'Selvage Lane' and keep going, you will then go over a bridge over the M1 and come to a big roundabout 'Apex Corner'. Go down into the subway under the roundabout, and come out on the A1 ('Barnet Way), just by the petrol station. Turn left just behind the petrol station onto 'Ellesmere Avenue', and keep walking until you come to a road on your left with a big sign telling you not to go down there. Walk down it and you come to '''London Gateway Services'''.

<map lat='51.572129' lng='-0.230595' zoom='17' view='0' width='500px' height='300px' float='right' />
** '''Option 2''' - [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51.572780,+-0.230950&ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Staples Corner]
** '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 3.
** '''Last verified''': March 2008

Another option is to take the tube to Brent Cross ''(Northern Line)''. From there you follow the 'North Circular Road' westwards for about 1km (along Tilling Road), and you get to the bottom of the M1 (don't get confused with the A1 which also passes nearby, although if this road is more convenient for your destination, you can also hitch from here). After passing the shopping centre, you should see the M1. It is possible to hitch at the first entrance you see, which is the traffic coming off the 'Westbound North Circular' (there is a bus stop just after the slip road joins the North Circular, and a small lay-by further on - both adjacent to the lane for M1).

However, it tends to go slightly quicker if you walk 2 minutes more around the roundabout ('''Staples Corner ''West'' '''). You'll see a railway bridge, go under it and there is a bus stop beside a car repair place (the bus stop itself is near Adrian Avenue and is by the ''Western'' side of the railway bridge). It doesn't look like such a great place, but it works quite well if you have a sign (worked for [[User:Lnx|Lnx]] - a 5-minute wait in the dark!). Certainly it is better than the entrance to the M1 used by traffic going eastbound on the 'North Circular', which has a big camera pointing right at where you would stand.

====How to get onto A1 Highway (North)====
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[The North (England)|The North (London)]]'''''), [[Stevanage]], ('''''[[East Midlands (England)|East Midlands]]'''''), ('''''[[East (England)|The East]]'''''), [[Peterborough]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':

*'''Directions''':
''(See information for M1, Option 2 - Staples Corner. Hold the sign saying "A1 North". There must be better places to get onto A1, though...)'' {{infoneeded| Help complete this information with the one available for the M20}}

===How to get onto M11 Motorway (North East)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[East (England)|The East]]'''''), [[Cambridge]], [[Peterborough]], [[Norwich]], [[London Stansted]]
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket to zone 4
* '''Last verified''': March 2008

*'''Directions''':
The M11 begins near Redbridge, so this is an ideal place to go to. [[user:Siinvincible|Simon]] and [[user:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] managed to get a ride to Newmarket from the train to Redbridge, as someone noticed us making a sign.

===How to get onto M3 Motorway (South West)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South West (England)|The South West]]'''''), [[Basingstoke]], [[Salisbury]], [[Southampton]], [[Porstmouth]], [[South West (England)|Dorset]], [[Bournemouth]]
* '''Cost of public transport''': One ticket/travelcard to zone 6 + one ticket from ''Hampton'' to ''Kempton Park'' railway station.
* '''Last verified''': 27 March 2008

*'''Directions''':

M3 is not an easy motorway to get to, although the following worked for [[User:Lnx|Lnx]]:

Take the train bound for ''Shepperton'' from ''London Waterloo'' and exit at '''Kempton Park''' station. Exit the station (do not go on the footbridge), cross the racecourse car park and turn right into Park Road, which goes into the slip road coming off A316. When you reach the A316 itself, walk on the pavement in the opposite direction to the traffic. You will immediately see a lay-by (chances are some lorries will be parked there). You can hitch from there. The position is not perfect, as the road is going downhill, and the traffic is travelling very fast (50-70mph).

'''Kempton Park''' station is just outside London Transport Zones (''Hampton'', the previous station on the Waterloo-Shepperton line, is in zone 6), but it has no ticket barriers and the chances of meeting a ticket inspector between ''Hampton'' and ''Kempton Park'' should be quite remote.

====How to get onto A3/A24 Highway (South)====
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East (England)|The South East]]'''''), [[Woking]], [[Porstmouth]], [[Guildford]], [[Worthing]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':

*'''Directions''':
{{infoneeded|Information needed}}

''Possible site along the A3 would be located between Putney Heath/Roehampton and New Malden/West Wimbledon, New Malden offering the best opportunities''

''The A24 is best reached directly in Leatherhead outside the M25, there is a on-ramp to the M25 as well''

===How to get onto M23 Motorway/A22 Highway (South)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[South East (England)|The South East]]'''''), [[Brighton]], [[Eastbourne]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':

*'''Directions''':
{{infoneeded|Information needed}}

''For the M23, possibly Purley''
''For the A22, possibly Kenley''

===How to get onto A12/A13 Highway (East)===
* '''Where to''': ('''''[[East (England)|The East]]'''''), [[East (England)|Essex]], [[Chelmsford]], [[Colchester]], [[Ipswich]], [[Southend-on-Sea]]
* '''Cost of public transport''':
* '''Last verified''':

*'''Directions''':
{{infoneeded|Information needed}}

==Airports==
Paid transport to and from airports can be expensive. Hitching can be a good alternative. The exits to the airports can also be good places to get lifts to other places. For example, if you get stuck on the western part of the M25, try to get to Heathrow, from there people are going all over the country. If you are coming from Brighton, and trying to get around London, you may get a ride quicker to where you want to go if you get dropped at Gatwick Airport than at Pease Pottage services.
* [[London Gatwick]]
* [[London Stansted]]
* [[London Heathrow]]
* [[Luton | London Luton]]

== Transiting in Greater London ==

Since nearly all the highway networks lead towards London you probably might have to go through that urban area somehow to reach your destination. The M25 is the ring highway that surrounds the metropole and connects with every possible highway network in destination of the country. It is then better to be left at some very specific Motorway Services to manage to catch a ride further.

Be careful: there are only 3 service stations on the M25, and on the whole western part there are none at all. If you get dropped at a junction rather than at services you can get really stuck, as a large part of the traffic is only going round the road a short way. If it is not possible to get a lift to one of the services, consider waiting for a ride that takes you actually to the road you want to be on, rather than just stopping somewhere random on the M25.

===Clacket Lane Services===

Possibly the best place to get lifts on the M25. There is a bridge here to cross from one side to the other, which can be useful to know if, for example, you are trying to hitch from the M4 to Brighton but get a lift with someone who is going to Dover.

==Public Transport==
''See specific article for [[Transport for London]]''

==Sleep==
There are several options when it comes to finding a place to sleep. If the worst prevails and you're without a place, you're still not too bad off. Central London is relatively safe and you probably wont be bothered sleeping outside.

==Wild [[Camping]]==
Its quite possible to sleep out in London in considerable privacy despite its gigantic population of 10 million. Go North East to Trent Park (Picadilly Line North, second to last stop before Cockfosters. Find the directions for the university (middlesex) campus and walk (or take the free bus) up the hill. Beside it and beyond the lake are quite a few miles of woodland and and it is incredibly beautiful. [[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] lived here for 7 months during his final year of university. Be careful with park waldens, they eventually discovered him during the last few weeks of his studies. Build camoflage from ferns if staying for long. People are unlikely to be your greatest threat...dogs are. Dogs! A lot of people walk them here but you can find amazing places if you search hard enough. And if you search really really hard, you'll find a tree with the dates of the past dweller's residence...;)

Also, outside this station (Trent Park), there is a Greek Bakery. Behind it lie huge sacks of bread every night. Please go. Its crazy that this could possibly be wasted every night.

===Squatting===
London has such an abundance of [[squat]]s that you shouldn't ever have to pay for accomodation. Having said that, most squats are places where people live and go about their normal business, so don't expect too much from them. Perhaps it would be good to find some friendly squatters by word of mouth or on [http://www.couchsurfing.com couchsurfing] or similar. Don't worry about the negative connotations associated with squats. They generally aren't crackhouses or scabies-infested punk hangouts. People of all types squat in London and their homes are usually very nice. They are especially helpful if you're planning to stick around for a while, but can also be great if you're just passing through. [[User:Zac Stewart|Zac]]<small><sup>[[User talk:Zac Stewart|talk]]</sup></small> ended up with a squat to sleep in on his first night, and in [[Mayfair]] of all places! There is a strong community of squatters especially in the north east of London where a new group has been set for resistance and solidarity. The North East London Squatters Network are having meetings every month as well as a mailinglist etc... For more info, get in touch with the '''[http://www.hackneysocialcentre.blogspot.com/ Hackney Social Centre]''' .. (unfortunately this has now been evicted).

'''[http://www.rampart.co.nr/ rampART]''' is a squatted social center in [[Whitechapel]], east London. This place isn't a residential squat, but they do have a "crash room" for visitors. They make it clear that it is not a tourist hostel so you needn't bother them unless you are interested in getting involved with their project for some time while you're there. To stay, you need to contact them well ahead of time. If nothing else, it's a great place to meet squatters and find a place to stay. They also have free internet! The address is 15-17 Rampart Street, London, E1 2LA. The space is under threat of eviction but is still hanging on (August 2008). Interestingly, the new place at Bowl Court Road that was squatted a few months ago has already been evicted (August 2008).

The '''[http://www.squatter.org.uk/ Advisory Service for Squatters]''' is helpful for people that are planning to find a place to live and cannot really help you find a place to crash. It's located at the Freedom Bookstore in Whitechapel and is another great place to meet squatters as well as get online for free. The address is Angel Alley, 84b Whitechapel High Street, Whitechapel, London, England, E1 7QX. (Tel. 020-32160099)

For more info on social centres in London, check out [http://www.socialcentresnetwork.org.uk/ Autonomous London].

==Eat==
Cheap and free food abounds in London.

===Free===
In the uk, the term for eating food that would otherwise be thrown away, is called skipping. Lots of people do it, all from people that come from poor countrys and see all the food that goes to waist, to people that are political in there way of living. Many people, especially in the squatt sceen live totaly out of food from the bins...

Plenty of places throw out food at closing time. Always check the bags out front of '''Pret a Mangers''' and '''Benjy's''' at 5-7pm. If you feel up to it, you can even go inside when they are closing shop and explain that you're homeless and pick out all the food you want instead of getting it off the sidewalk. Feel no shame, you're helping to curb wastefulness!

The '''Coffee Republic''' on Great Marlborough Street near the Oxford Circle and Carnaby Street is reported to put out garbage bags with totally normal food--boiled potatoes, sandwiches, etc. every eveing around 8pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends.

The sandwich company "Eat" throw away lots of stuff everyday all over town. Have a look in there bins or outside the shops on the street.

The bakery 'Paul' in Blackfriars and Paddington throw out a lot of cakes, all extremely luxurious and scrumptious. From Blackfriars station walk up the main road, and Paul's will be on your right after a few minutes.

Wholesale vegetable markets at New Covent Garden Market and New Spitalfield Market have tons of stuff lying around on the floor that they cant sell but you certainly can eat... Go early in the morning, you probably run in to some other people skipping...

Places like Sainsburys, Marks and Spencers, Tesco and so on have a marking system on there packedge food that says when the food should be thrown away and when it should be eaten before. The gap between this days are often two days and you can still have it more or less a week more depending on what it is.

===Cheap===
If you're going to self cater, stick to '''Sainsbury's''' and '''Tesco''' rather than the convenient Off-Licenses for better prices. If you are a bit out of Central London, you might as well look for '''Lidl''', '''Morrisons''', '''Netto''' or '''Asda'''. Anyhow with a decent and wise grocery, you can get your grocery for nearly a week for about 10-15 pounds at any of the mentioned supermarket with decent, fresh and healthy food ''(to cook)''. Be aware though that these supermarkets are not in any sense "ethical". They are wiping out local shops, taking monopoly on feeding us, destroying the environment and throwing away food every day that could feed hundreds of people. It's better to eat out of their bins.

If you get tired of peanut butter sandwiches or want to fill up for the weekend, try one of the MANY £5 all-you-can-eat '''Thai Buffets''' which are always always totally vegan! (some good all-you-can-eat start at £3,50). Go early, they get more expensive in the evening. While downtown, you can also get a ''<nowiki>'</nowiki>6inches sandwich of the day<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' at '''Subway''' for 2 pounds. Bear in mind though that Subway is a company not any more ethical or healthier or vegan-friendly than McDonalds.

The markets in Camden Town have cheap food around 5pm, especially in the Lock Market where, if you walk for a few minutes past all the initial food courts, you can easily find dishes of noodles for £2.

{{Template:Regions England}}
{{Excellent}}

[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:E30]]
[[Category:E13]]
{{IsIn|England}}

Amsterdam

2008-10-07T18:09:16Z

Lilylove:

{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
__NOTOC__
[[Image:IMG_5336.jpg|right|thumb|266px|Hitching at the Prins Bernhardplein liftplaats]]
'''Amsterdam''' [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=amsterdam&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=52.374551,4.889946&spn=0.099349,0.432243&om=1&iwloc=A] is the capital of the [[Netherlands]].

Amsterdam is often abbreviated '''A'dam''', which can be a nice alternative to put on your signs.

== Hitching In ==
During daylight it's usually not a problem to hitch on on-ramps close to Amsterdam, so if you've been at gas station for 25 minutes you might want to give it a try at an on-ramp closer-by.

Public transport is fairly okay in the Netherlands. There are convenient metros from e.g. the Bijlmer. It could be worth it to get a "15-strippenkaart" (6,90 EUR, valid on local buses, trams and metros in the entire country).

== Hitching Out ==
=== West towards [[Haarlem]] ===
There is an official liftplaats about 50 meters south of metro station Sloterdijk on Haarlemweg.

For [[User:Liva|Liva]] it was not the best place even though you have had to do it when you're anyway there...

For [[User:Lilylove|Lilylove]] it was a great spot to get to [[Delft]]. After several uses, it only ever took me one ride to get from Amsterdam to Delft direct.

<map lat='52.39278242102423' lng='4.85844612121582' zoom='13' view='0' float='right' />

===North towards [[Alkmaar]], [[Zaandam]]===
There is an A10 on-ramp near Sloterdijk station. Exit the station and go 200m east on ''Hatostraat'', 250m north on ''La Guardiaweg'' and 250m east on ''Basisweg'' and then cross over to the on-ramp.

Another ramp is a little way up the street from the last. Get there from the last by continuing further down ''Basisweg'' (which becomes ''Transformatorweg'' until ''Kabelweg''). Follow this north past s101 (''Nieuwe Hemweg''). The ramp is off of ''Vlothavenweg''.

=== South and Southeast towards [[Utrecht]], [[Breda]], [[Nijmegen]], [[Arnhem]], [[Düsseldorf]], [[Antwerpen]], [[Brussels]], [[Paris]] ===
There are several spots near the Martin Luther King Park in Amsterdam Zuid. This spot is called the Utrechtsebrug and is where the [[A2_(Netherlands)|A2]]-highway starts to [[Utrecht]] and further to [[Den Bosch]], [[Eindhoven]] and [[Maastricht]]. Take tram 25 to its end-stop or tram 4 or 12 and walk from the Vrijheidslaan south through the Rijnstraat to the highway ([[A10 (Netherlands)|A10]]/ [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]]).

You can already start hitching while walking on this road, if you want to test your luck. At the end of the road you can stand at the traffic lights before the crossing and pro-actively ask drivers who go straight, to drop you at the next petrol station 200 meters further. You can also walk over the bridge and try it at the hard shoulder (less good), or even walk further over the hard-shoulder and the grass towards a petrol station 250 meters further, behind the bend. Be careful when walking here, the space between you and cars is minimal.

Just before Utrecht, after exit 5 ([[Breukelen]]) and just some kilometers before the Utrecht Ring you find a big petrol-station called [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verzorgingsplaats_Haarrijn Haarrijn]. This is an excellent spot to find drivers for larger distances.

<map lat='52.342785761313266' lng='4.922003746032715' zoom='13' view='3' float='right' />

=== East towards [[Amersfoort]], [[Hengelo]], [[Nijmegen]], [[Osnabrück]], [[Hamburg]], [[Bremen]], [[Berlin]] ===
There is a [[liftplaats]], a spot specifically for hitchhiking, at the Gooiseweg next to the Prins Bernhardplein situated before NS Station Amsterdam Amstel (pass the bus stop). This road leads to the ramp of the S112 of the A10, the highway around Amsterdam (direction [[A1_(Netherlands)|A1]] and [[A2_(Netherlands)|A2]]). A little further on that road and behind the bend you will find a petrol-station where you can talk to drivers, often a better way for getting a ride.

Most cars here will drive along the [[A1_(Netherlands)|A1]] towards [[Amersfoort]], [[Hengelo]] and [[Germany]]. The first petrol-station is just 25 kilometers further, just after [[Muiden]].

From the [[liftplaats]] you can also find rides to [[Utrecht]], [[Arnhem]], [[Nijmegen]] and [[Belgium]]. But this you will find a lot harder compared to the Utrechtsebrug.

Since there are so many different directions (and sometimes even many hitchhikers) it's better to make a sign.

There are trains, trams (12,51) and metros to Amstel station from most other stations in Amsterdam. It is a couple of minutes walk from there.

== Sleep ==
If you are caught in the rain with nowhere to go, the best place to stay dry that [[Zac]] found was outside the train station.

: ''After walking all night in the pouring rain, trying to stay dry and warm wherever I could, I finally crashed outside the train station until the wee hours of the morning. At that time I moved inside of the station. This had mixed results. It was warmer and drier, but the security guards walked by and gave me a kick every time I dozed off.''

There is another solution if you're caught in the rain : you can sleep on one of the tour boats parked along the river in front of central station, some of them have a roof outside the cabin and it can be a quite confortable place. Policemen or guards sometimes come and kick you out, but far less than in the station.

==Buy==
"Philip's compact atlas Europe" shows service stations in some countries, is pretty compact and was available for 7 euros at the New English Book Store in [[Amsterdam]], in June 2008.

It's not recommended to carry any type of illegal drugs with you while hitchhiking. A bit of weed inside the borders of the Netherlands is not going to get you into trouble. But taking any amount of weed (or anything else) across the border could be a problem for you and possibly your driver. And it's not worth it.

{{IsIn|Noord Holland}}
[[Category:Noord Holland]]
[[Category:E35]]
[[Category:E19]]
[[Category:E22]]

[[de:Amsterdam]]
[[fr:Amsterdam]]
[[es:Amsterdam]]

User:Lilylove

2008-10-07T18:07:10Z

Lilylove:

[[Category:Hitchhikers]]
=='''About'''==

Lilylove, otherwise known as Lily Barlow was born in Port Vila, Vanuatu, but moved to Australia age 12, and tends to refer to herself as 'an aussie'. She's 21, young, foolish and free, and is currently living it up in Europe for a planned period of two years.

She has a degree in Social Documentary Photography, but is also pursuing video-making, and is currently working on a documentary about dumpster diving. Her first and foremost passion (at least for now) is focused on environmental sustainability, downsizing and ecological living. Hobos, wandering, photography and (fairtrade, vegan) chocolate follow closely behind.\

[[Image:Lil in park.jpg]]

=='''Hitchhiking Philosophy'''==

Hitchhiking makes more sense to me than most things in this world. Travelling not as an end, but as a means, the journey not the destination, is what suits me best. It appeals to me because it's a way of socially interacting with others, cheaply meandering a country, but first and foremost, getting around without using excess oil. If mr of mrs X is going to destination Y anyway, then i may as well come along for the ride :)

=='''Countries I've Hitchhiked'''==

Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, United States, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands.

=='''Contact'''==
*Couch surfing: Lilylove
*Blog: www.beelily.wordpress.com
*Email: lil_pil@happyhippie.com

File:Lil in park.jpg

2008-10-07T18:03:09Z

Lilylove:

Amsterdam

2008-10-07T17:56:07Z

Lilylove:

{{Hitchhiking Zine nomination}}
__NOTOC__
[[Image:IMG_5336.jpg|right|thumb|266px|Hitching at the Prins Bernhardplein liftplaats]]
'''Amsterdam''' [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=amsterdam&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=52.374551,4.889946&spn=0.099349,0.432243&om=1&iwloc=A] is the capital of the [[Netherlands]].

Amsterdam is often abbreviated '''A'dam''', which can be a nice alternative to put on your signs.

== Hitching In ==
During daylight it's usually not a problem to hitch on on-ramps close to Amsterdam, so if you've been at gas station for 25 minutes you might want to give it a try at an on-ramp closer-by.

Public transport is fairly okay in the Netherlands. There are convenient metros from e.g. the Bijlmer. It could be worth it to get a "15-strippenkaart" (6,90 EUR, valid on local buses, trams and metros in the entire country).

== Hitching Out ==
=== West towards [[Haarlem]] ===
There is an official liftplaats about 50 meters south of metro station Sloterdijk on Haarlemweg.

For [[User:Liva|Liva]] it was not the best place even though you have had to do it when you're anyway there...

For [[Lilylove]] it was a great spot to get to [[Delft]]. After several uses, it only ever took me one ride to get from Amsterdam to Delft direct.

<map lat='52.39278242102423' lng='4.85844612121582' zoom='13' view='0' float='right' />

===North towards [[Alkmaar]], [[Zaandam]]===
There is an A10 on-ramp near Sloterdijk station. Exit the station and go 200m east on ''Hatostraat'', 250m north on ''La Guardiaweg'' and 250m east on ''Basisweg'' and then cross over to the on-ramp.

Another ramp is a little way up the street from the last. Get there from the last by continuing further down ''Basisweg'' (which becomes ''Transformatorweg'' until ''Kabelweg''). Follow this north past s101 (''Nieuwe Hemweg''). The ramp is off of ''Vlothavenweg''.

=== South and Southeast towards [[Utrecht]], [[Breda]], [[Nijmegen]], [[Arnhem]], [[Düsseldorf]], [[Antwerpen]], [[Brussels]], [[Paris]] ===
There are several spots near the Martin Luther King Park in Amsterdam Zuid. This spot is called the Utrechtsebrug and is where the [[A2_(Netherlands)|A2]]-highway starts to [[Utrecht]] and further to [[Den Bosch]], [[Eindhoven]] and [[Maastricht]]. Take tram 25 to its end-stop or tram 4 or 12 and walk from the Vrijheidslaan south through the Rijnstraat to the highway ([[A10 (Netherlands)|A10]]/ [[A2 (Netherlands)|A2]]).

You can already start hitching while walking on this road, if you want to test your luck. At the end of the road you can stand at the traffic lights before the crossing and pro-actively ask drivers who go straight, to drop you at the next petrol station 200 meters further. You can also walk over the bridge and try it at the hard shoulder (less good), or even walk further over the hard-shoulder and the grass towards a petrol station 250 meters further, behind the bend. Be careful when walking here, the space between you and cars is minimal.

Just before Utrecht, after exit 5 ([[Breukelen]]) and just some kilometers before the Utrecht Ring you find a big petrol-station called [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verzorgingsplaats_Haarrijn Haarrijn]. This is an excellent spot to find drivers for larger distances.

<map lat='52.342785761313266' lng='4.922003746032715' zoom='13' view='3' float='right' />

=== East towards [[Amersfoort]], [[Hengelo]], [[Nijmegen]], [[Osnabrück]], [[Hamburg]], [[Bremen]], [[Berlin]] ===
There is a [[liftplaats]], a spot specifically for hitchhiking, at the Gooiseweg next to the Prins Bernhardplein situated before NS Station Amsterdam Amstel (pass the bus stop). This road leads to the ramp of the S112 of the A10, the highway around Amsterdam (direction [[A1_(Netherlands)|A1]] and [[A2_(Netherlands)|A2]]). A little further on that road and behind the bend you will find a petrol-station where you can talk to drivers, often a better way for getting a ride.

Most cars here will drive along the [[A1_(Netherlands)|A1]] towards [[Amersfoort]], [[Hengelo]] and [[Germany]]. The first petrol-station is just 25 kilometers further, just after [[Muiden]].

From the [[liftplaats]] you can also find rides to [[Utrecht]], [[Arnhem]], [[Nijmegen]] and [[Belgium]]. But this you will find a lot harder compared to the Utrechtsebrug.

Since there are so many different directions (and sometimes even many hitchhikers) it's better to make a sign.

There are trains, trams (12,51) and metros to Amstel station from most other stations in Amsterdam. It is a couple of minutes walk from there.

== Sleep ==
If you are caught in the rain with nowhere to go, the best place to stay dry that [[Zac]] found was outside the train station.

: ''After walking all night in the pouring rain, trying to stay dry and warm wherever I could, I finally crashed outside the train station until the wee hours of the morning. At that time I moved inside of the station. This had mixed results. It was warmer and drier, but the security guards walked by and gave me a kick every time I dozed off.''

There is another solution if you're caught in the rain : you can sleep on one of the tour boats parked along the river in front of central station, some of them have a roof outside the cabin and it can be a quite confortable place. Policemen or guards sometimes come and kick you out, but far less than in the station.

==Buy==
"Philip's compact atlas Europe" shows service stations in some countries, is pretty compact and was available for 7 euros at the New English Book Store in [[Amsterdam]], in June 2008.

It's not recommended to carry any type of illegal drugs with you while hitchhiking. A bit of weed inside the borders of the Netherlands is not going to get you into trouble. But taking any amount of weed (or anything else) across the border could be a problem for you and possibly your driver. And it's not worth it.

{{IsIn|Noord Holland}}
[[Category:Noord Holland]]
[[Category:E35]]
[[Category:E19]]
[[Category:E22]]

[[de:Amsterdam]]
[[fr:Amsterdam]]
[[es:Amsterdam]]

User:Lilylove

2008-10-06T18:16:00Z

Lilylove:

[[Category:Hitchhikers]]
=='''About'''==

Lilylove, otherwise known as Lily Barlow was born in Port Vila, Vanuatu, but moved to Australia age 12, and tends to refer to herself as 'an aussie'. She's 21, young, foolish and free, and is currently living it up in Europe for a planned period of two years.

She has a degree in Social Documentary Photography, but is also pursuing video-making, and is currently working on a documentary about dumpster diving. Her first and foremost passion (at least for now) is focused on environmental sustainability, downsizing and ecological living. Hobos, wandering, photography and (fairtrade, vegan) chocolate follow closely behind.

=='''Hitchhiking Philosophy'''==

Hitchhiking makes more sense to me than most things in this world. Travelling not as an end, but as a means, the journey not the destination, is what suits me best. It appeals to me because it's a way of socially interacting with others, cheaply meandering a country, but first and foremost, getting around without using excess oil. If mr of mrs X is going to destination Y anyway, then i may as well come along for the ride :)

=='''Countries I've Hitchhiked'''==

Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, United States, England, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands.

=='''Contact'''==
*Couch surfing: Lilylove
*Blog: www.beelily.wordpress.com
*Email: lil_pil@happyhippie.com

User talk:Lilylove

2008-10-04T18:27:04Z

Lilylove:

Hey Lily! Great to see those contributions on train-hopping. Finally there is some info here about this. It was also very inspiring hearing your stories about this. Can't wait actually to start doing this --[[User:Robino|Robino]] 00:12, 4 October 2008 (CEST)
Hey robino :) no worries, ill add some more soon.. pictures and maps etc. Trying to get those links for the alternative guides, ill let you know soon. safe travels!

----

{{NewUser}}

User talk:Lilylove

2008-10-04T18:23:20Z

Lilylove:

Hey Lily! Great to see those contributions on train-hopping. Finally there is some info here about this. It was also very inspiring hearing your stories about this. Can't wait actually to start doing this --[[User:Robino|Robino]] 00:12, 4 October 2008 (CEST)

----

{{NewUser}}

Hey robino :) no worries, ill add some more soon.. pictures and maps etc. Trying to get those links for the alternative guides, ill let you know soon. safe travels!

Train hopping

2008-10-03T15:40:42Z

Lilylove:

==Freight trains==
'''Freight hopping''' became a common means of transportation in the United States 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 the destitute and those unable to afford other transportation, especially during times of widespread economic dislocation such as the Great Depression.

In more recent times, freight hopping has evolved into an underground movement of hobo's, bums, tramps, punks and anarchists, or just a poor lonesome traveller with no money. These people can be found throughout the United States, hanging out in 'Jungles' by the side of the tracks or near a freight yard.

* [http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html How to hop a freight train]

'''Train hopping'''

Riding the rails, hoboing, or jumping a freight train (train-hopping), although most commonly found in the United States, can be done in most parts of the world. If there are freight trains, then there can be hobos. While there is a vast amount of information online regarding the U.S, practical guides for Europe, Asia and Oceania are few and far between. A zine called 'EuroHobo' exists for European adventures but can be difficult to obtain.

Your best option for outside of the U.S is to find your nearest train Yard and spend some good long hours waiting and watching. Keep an eye out for the different types of cars, what looks ridable, what doesnt, and keep track of the timetables and frequencies. Hoboing can be fun, exciting and full of adventure, but it also takes a lot of time and patience. Research of the area is vital before hand, but also while sitting by the tracks in the cold dark night, the wind and rain blowing into your face. You'll need passion and an adventurous spirit to keep you there, but once you find your ride, you will be heavily rewarded.

'''[[United States]]'''.

A big country with an extensive rail-network, coupled with a history of hobo travelling, makes the United States the ideal place for riding the rails.

Although riding trains for free (train-hopping) is illegal, it is one of the most viable ways to get out of the city for free. In most passenger trains (NJ Transit, Amtrak, etc.), the only way to ride for free is to hide in a bathroom or display a "Seat Check" ticket found on the ground or from a previous ride. Generally speaking, if you are discovered to be riding without paying the proper fare, you will be asked to pay it. If you can not pay it, then you will be asked to exit the train at the next station. As long as you remain friendly and cooperative, there should not be a problem with legal issues, arrest, or fines.

Hopping freight trains is a more dangerous, but more exciting way to ride long distances for free, in the United States. It is more common here than in any other part of the world, and hoboing has a long history in art, music and culture. It is extremely practical to do if you have phone or internet access, because there are numbers and/or websites that will give you the direction that each freight is headed and its estimated time of arrival, based on that freight's identification number.
A common accessory is a two-way radio, used to listen in on freight movements, destinations and times of departure. Frequencies will need to be found before hand. It is very possible to ride without one, which will save you space and weight (radio, batteries, recharges), but a little more time might be needed to work out which trains are going where and when they're looking like leaving.

If possible get your hands on the [[Crew Change Guide]], an underground book with hopping info on nearly every crew changing station across the United States.

There is a mailing list for train hopping. Send a mail to train-hoppers-request@nw.com to join.

'''[[Europe]]'''.

Freight trains can be found in most European Countries and often carry ridable cars. Auto Racks (automobile carriers), Boxcars, Coil Cars, Flat Cars, Grainers, Gondolas, Tanker Cars, and Well Cars can all be found. Most are electric, travelling far and fast. Which is fortunate since very long tunnels are found in Europe, and diesel trains going through tunnels require a 'skank' or piece of material which you must dampen and tie around your mouth and nose to avoid asphyxiation.
Conducters, controllers and engineers or rail workers have no concept of 'hoboing' in Europe, so be prepared to have a good explanation if you get caught. All yard workers wear bright vests, so you can see them from a distance, however this also means a moving body without a vest is likely to raise attention. Keep low, stay safe. 'Bulls' or railroad police dont exist in Europe so you're off the hook there.

'''[[Australia]]'''.

A huge country with big distances between cities, lots of rails and trains, no bulls, little security... sound like hobo heaven? It is! Well, almost. There's little information to be found about times, destinations and yards, so several hours will have to be spent scouting out the system and your nearest rail network. Different gauges are used for different states, which means certain trains can only operate within their state. Pacific National runs through most of the country, with routes to and from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. QLD RAIL covers Queensland and for hopping out of Brisbane, the Southbound yard can be found at Acacia Ridge, while for Northbound trains Bowen Hills is your best bet. Tasmania has its own rail network, going from Hobart up through the middle of the island.

==External Links==

* http://www.squattheplanet.com/
* http://www.digihitch.com/trains.html
* http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html

==Amtrak==

==Metro-North==

==MTA==

==LIRR==

==NJ Transit==

==PATH==

{{stub}}

[[Category:Trains]]

::''This article is partly based on work from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freighthopping Wikipedia].''

Train hopping

2008-10-03T15:39:29Z

Lilylove:

==Freight trains==
'''Freight hopping''' became a common means of transportation in the United States 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 the destitute and those unable to afford other transportation, especially during times of widespread economic dislocation such as the Great Depression.

In more recent times, freight hopping has evolved into an underground movement of hobo's, bums, tramps, punks and anarchists, or just a poor lonesome traveller with no money. These people can be found throughout the United States, hanging out in 'Jungles' by the side of the tracks or near a freight yard.

* [http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html How to hop a freight train]

'''Train hopping'''

Riding the rails, hoboing, or jumping a freight train (train-hopping), although most commonly found in the United States, can be done in most parts of the world. If there are freight trains, then there can be hobos. While there is a vast amount of information online regarding the U.S, practical guides for Europe, Asia and Oceania are few and far between. A zine called 'EuroHobo' exists for European adventures but can be difficult to obtain.

Your best option for outside of the U.S is to find your nearest train Yard and spend some good long hours waiting and watching. Keep an eye out for the different types of cars, what looks ridable, what doesnt, and keep track of the timetables and frequencies. Hoboing can be fun, exciting and full of adventure, but it also takes a lot of time and patience. Research of the area is vital before hand, but also while sitting by the tracks in the cold dark night, the wind and rain blowing into your face. You'll need passion and an adventurous spirit to keep you there, but once you find your ride, you will be heavily rewarded.

'''[[United States]]'''.

A big country with an extensive rail-network, coupled with a history of hobo travelling, makes the United States the ideal place for riding the rails.

Although riding trains for free (train-hopping) is illegal, it is one of the most viable ways to get out of the city for free. In most passenger trains (NJ Transit, Amtrak, etc.), the only way to ride for free is to hide in a bathroom or display a "Seat Check" ticket found on the ground or from a previous ride. Generally speaking, if you are discovered to be riding without paying the proper fare, you will be asked to pay it. If you can not pay it, then you will be asked to exit the train at the next station. As long as you remain friendly and cooperative, there should not be a problem with legal issues, arrest, or fines.

Hopping freight trains is a more dangerous, but more exciting way to ride long distances for free, in the United States. It is more common here than in any other part of the world, and hoboing has a long history in art, music and culture. It is extremely practical to do if you have phone or internet access, because there are numbers and/or websites that will give you the direction that each freight is headed and its estimated time of arrival, based on that freight's identification number.
A common accessory is a two-way radio, used to listen in on freight movements, destinations and times of departure. Frequencies will need to be found before hand. It is very possible to ride without one, which will save you space and weight (radio, batteries, recharges), but a little more time might be needed to work out which trains are going where and when they're looking like leaving.

If possible get your hands on the [[Crew Change Guide]], an underground book with hopping info on nearly every crew changing station across the United States.

There is a mailing list for train hopping. Send a mail to train-hoppers-request@nw.com to join.

'''[[Europe]]'''
Freight trains can be found in most European Countries and often carry ridable cars. Auto Racks (automobile carriers), Boxcars, Coil Cars, Flat Cars, Grainers, Gondolas, Tanker Cars, and Well Cars can all be found. Most are electric, travelling far and fast. Which is fortunate since very long tunnels are found in Europe, and diesel trains going through tunnels require a 'skank' or piece of material which you must dampen and tie around your mouth and nose to avoid asphyxiation.
Conducters, controllers and engineers or rail workers have no concept of 'hoboing' in Europe, so be prepared to have a good explanation if you get caught. All yard workers wear bright vests, so you can see them from a distance, however this also means a moving body without a vest is likely to raise attention. Keep low, stay safe. 'Bulls' or railroad police dont exist in Europe so you're off the hook there.

'''[[Australia]]'''
A huge country with big distances between cities, lots of rails and trains, no bulls, little security... sound like hobo heaven? It is! Well, almost. There's little information to be found about times, destinations and yards, so several hours will have to be spent scouting out the system and your nearest rail network. Different gauges are used for different states, which means certain trains can only operate within their state. Pacific National runs through most of the country, with routes to and from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. QLD RAIL covers Queensland and for hopping out of Brisbane, the Southbound yard can be found at Acacia Ridge, while for Northbound trains Bowen Hills is your best bet. Tasmania has its own rail network, going from Hobart up through the middle of the island.

==External Links==

* http://www.squattheplanet.com/
* http://www.digihitch.com/trains.html
* http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html

==Amtrak==

==Metro-North==

==MTA==

==LIRR==

==NJ Transit==

==PATH==

{{stub}}

[[Category:Trains]]

::''This article is partly based on work from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freighthopping Wikipedia].''

Train hopping

2008-10-03T15:14:34Z

Lilylove:

==Freight trains==
'''Freight hopping''' became a common means of transportation in the United States 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 the destitute and those unable to afford other transportation, especially during times of widespread economic dislocation such as the Great Depression.

In more recent times, freight hopping has evolved into an underground movement of hobo's, bums, tramps, punks and anarchists, or just a poor lonesome traveller with no money. These people can be found throughout the United States, hanging out in 'Jungles' by the side of the tracks or near a freight yard.

* [http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html How to hop a freight train]

'''Train hopping'''

Riding the rails, hoboing, or jumping a freight train (train-hopping), although most commonly found in the United States, can be done in most parts of the world. If there are freight trains, then there can be hobos. While there is a vast amount of information online regarding the U.S, practical guides for Europe, Asia and Oceania are few and far between. A zine called 'EuroHobo' exists for European adventures but can be difficult to obtain.

Your best option for outside of the U.S is to find your nearest train Yard and spend some good long hours waiting and watching. Keep an eye out for the different types of cars, what looks ridable, what doesnt, and keep track of the timetables and frequencies. Hoboing can be fun, exciting and full of adventure, but it also takes a lot of time and patience. Research of the area is vital before hand, but also while sitting by the tracks in the cold dark night, the wind and rain blowing into your face. You'll need passion and an adventurous spirit to keep you there, but once you find your ride, you will be heavily rewarded.

'''[[United States]]'''.

A big country with an extensive rail-network, coupled with a history of hobo travelling, makes the United States the ideal place for riding the rails.

Although riding trains for free (train-hopping) is illegal, it is one of the most viable ways to get out of the city for free. In most passenger trains (NJ Transit, Amtrak, etc.), the only way to ride for free is to hide in a bathroom or display a "Seat Check" ticket found on the ground or from a previous ride. Generally speaking, if you are discovered to be riding without paying the proper fare, you will be asked to pay it. If you can not pay it, then you will be asked to exit the train at the next station. As long as you remain friendly and cooperative, there should not be a problem with legal issues, arrest, or fines.

Hopping freight trains is a more dangerous, but more exciting way to ride long distances for free, in the United States. It is more common here than in any other part of the world, and hoboing has a long history in art, music and culture. It is extremely practical to do if you have phone or internet access, because there are numbers and/or websites that will give you the direction that each freight is headed and its estimated time of arrival, based on that freight's identification number.
A common accessory is a two-way radio, used to listen in on freight movements, destinations and times of departure. Frequencies will need to be found before hand. It is very possible to ride without one, which will save you space and weight (radio, batteries, recharges), but a little more time might be needed to work out which trains are going where and when they're looking like leaving.

If possible get your hands on the [[Crew Change Guide]], an underground book with hopping info on nearly every crew changing station across the United States.

There is a mailing list for train hopping. Send a mail to train-hoppers-request@nw.com to join.

==External Links==

* http://www.squattheplanet.com/
* http://www.digihitch.com/trains.html
* http://www.thespoon.com/trainhop/train1b.html

==Amtrak==

==Metro-North==

==MTA==

==LIRR==

==NJ Transit==

==PATH==

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[[Category:Trains]]

::''This article is partly based on work from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freighthopping Wikipedia].''

Train hopping

2008-10-03T14:59:11Z

Lilylove:

Crew Change Guide

2008-10-03T14:13:55Z

Lilylove:

The Crew Change Guide (CCG) is an underground document passed on from hobo to hobo with information about jumping freight trains in the United States.

It contains very detailed and useful information concerning yards, bulls (police), times, maps etc. However, it's circulation should be kept strictly to word of mouth, by hand to hand. It is forbidden to publish the document online, or in any wide arena. As hoboing is common in the United States, law inforcements are very aware of it as a means of travel and try to abolish it. Therefore, spreading the CCG far and wide will only jeopardise this kind of transportation.

The CCG can be obtained from most hobo's, punks, hoppers etc... found around yards or while riding the rails.