What was Riding the Rails?
Riding the rails is a popular expression for traveling by railroad or other mass-transportation rail systems. It usually implies a consistent use of this mode of transportation, rather than taking a train once in a while or for a short distance. Riding the rails is often used in reference to the Great Depression of the 1920s in America, when many people chose to sneak on board trains to look for work or opportunities in a far away place. In the 19th century, railroads spread across the United States, bringing new trade and communication opportunities to small towns throughout the country. Whereas in the 18th century, travel to the far coast had involved detouring ships or slow-moving wagons, the railroad system shrunk the nation into a manageable distance. Instead of a six month journey by wagon, by 1876 railroad trips could cross the US in about four days. The railroad system in America changed the entire country, and places that small-town people never dreamed of visiting became acce
