Live Simple Live Free: Riding the Rail

There is a rich history of vagabonding in the US by different groups with different reasons for travel. Years ago a group of people began sneaking passage on freight trains to get to areas that had jobs. These vagabond workers, called hobos, took advantage of free train rides to get around the US. They would mark places where people were willing to feed them for free. The symbol used was a cross so the food became known as angel food. Today, the term is still used by hikers when a person known as a trail angel leaves drinks and food along the trail.

As a vagabond, I too love the railroads but I have my own means of transport so I plan my trips to pass by some of the great scenic railroad lines operating today.

This railroad was built in 1901 to haul lumber and is a great way to ride the rail up a mountain. The train must do switchbacks to make it up the 11% grade to the top of the mountain. Whittaker Station is the lunch time stop for a picnic and pictures taken on old railroad equipment. You can walk through a recreated logging camp to see the experience that workers had living and working for the lumber company. Located in eastern West Virginia, Cass Scenic Railroad is accessible by State Route 28/92N between Dunmore and Green Bank in Pocahontas County. Don't forget to go by and see the Green Bank radio telescope. The Monongahela National Forest is close for free boondocking.

This is a narrow gauge railroad with rail separation of 3 foot instead of the normal 4 foot rail that is common in the US. This railroad spans the Colorado New Mexico border and you can hitch a ride in Antonito, Colorado or Chama, New Mexico. The train departs either station at 10am then stops midway for lunch and takes you back to your starting point by 4pm. While this train is not a particularly cheap ride, you get to ride along the side of a mountain and across high trestles just like in western movies. The railroad is near the Carson National Forest for boondocking or BLM land near Questa.

Trains made the original Grand Canyon Tours and today you can still travel the same route. Grand Canyon Trains will join the green movement this year with the  new Grand Canyon Steamers that run on waste vegetable oil. “The Cataract Creek Rambler” pulled by an authentic steam engine costs $15 to ride for 8 miles. In the winter try out the "Polar Express" that leaves Williams on a round trip travel to the north pole riding in restored Pullman cars. Book early because it sells out each year. Williams is located near Flagstaff and the Tonto National forest for camping. For boondocking check out the Vermillion Cliffs while you are in the area.

Started as a logging train it carries passengers from downtown Fort Bragg or Willits, California on 4 hour excursions through the redwood forests. Try the summer evening barbecues. The train will travel through private land that is inaccessible to the public unless you ride the train. A close campground is near Fort Bragg in the redwood forest off highway 20. You can hike in the area and stay there for 14 days.