Friday, March 16, 2012

Overpass

These railroad tracks run across outer Congress Street near Libbytown. During my teen years, I use to be real intrigued by the hobo lifestyle. I read nonfiction stories about life on the rails crisscrossing the country. One of my favorite authors, Jack London, led quite a life on the rails and off. Dad showed me where they camped and jumped the trains near Rigby Yard. His dad worked for the railroad, so he often would hang around the train yards. He said his pals were always jumping aboard the railcars, not always successful either. Even he had a scar on his knee compliments of a slip and a fall along the tracks. One morning while walking along the tracks behind the Fox Lumber Company, a fast-moving train was heading through the corner crossing towards Canada, and I spied a man atop a railcar, with his arms outstretched in a 'crucifixion pose'. That image created a few restless nights of sleep for this boy. I still think about it now.

12 comments:

  1. I wonder if you can still do that today?

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  2. We don't hear too much about hobos today or riding the rails, or even hitch hiking.

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  3. and you never tried to hop a train after that, did you? didn't even fantasize about it anymore...

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  4. Was it really as romantic as we like to imagine!

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  5. Sounds like the interest in hobos and life on the rails was genetic!

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  6. I also remember being curious about the hobo lifestyle when I was young.

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  7. A great view that we don't often take the time to look at.

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  8. You would get arrested as a terrorist today!

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  9. Nice photo of the the underbelly of your dreams -- barbara

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  10. That would bother me too.

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  11. Quite a powerful image for a young person to witness.

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  12. I REALLY like this shot from underneath.

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