How do I Make a Train Hopping Map?
Train hopping is a very dangerous activity in which a traveler jumps into an empty freight train car to obtain a free ride to or near his desired destination. Books such as Evasion and Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums romanticize train hopping as an adventurous adrenaline high, and, while most would and should never seriously consider hopping a train, it’s fun to study trains and imagine doing so. Real train hoppers use freight schedules and maps to plan their trips, and if you’re interested in studying the art of train hopping, you might enjoy making one yourself. Print out or photocopy a map of freight train routes. A map of the entire country is available from the Federal Highway Administration, and you can also search for information by state. Find out freight train schedules by searching for intermodal schedules on railway company sites. Verify traffic patterns by visiting a train yard and noting when freight trains leave and arrive, and asking train yard workers about the schedules
