There are few experiences sadder than returning to a Western railroad yard 12 years later. In 1993, starting out of Laurel, Montana, I had launched a two-week journey — between

My plan was to hit two separate lines, the Royal Gorge route and the Santa Fe's Raton Pass route. The former lies between Pueblo and Minturn, Colo.; the latter

I've been traveling in an unorthodox manner for 30 years. When vacation comes, I'm apt to jump a freight train rather than buy a plane ticket or rent a

It was time for a modest day trip to escape my burdens: I had two commitments in the East Bay and decided to catch out from San Jose to

There are better places than Richmond to hang out in after midnight. I was reluctantly eyeballing the BNSF yard in this ghetto and refinery town when headlights trained on

On Friday night, August 2, 1991, I rode Tri-Met bus #17 to the Southern Pacific yard adjoining the Eastmoreland golf course. According to the map, a promising line runs

I'd been sitting beside the loading dock of some factory and geared upward to a sprint. Determined to catch out on anything remotely rideable - Wishram was only 96

I've been traveling in an unorthodox manner for 30 years. When vacation comes, I'm apt to jump a freight train rather than buy a plane ticket or rent a