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:''Note that this website is mainly about [[hitchhiking]], another free form of transport, which is much more legal and especially more safe.'''''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 hobos, bums, tramps, punks and anarchists, or just a poor lonesome traveler 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.
== 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 rideable, what doesn't, 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 beforehand, 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.
Hopping freight trains is a more dangerous, but a 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 [[CB radio|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.