How many people were riding the rails during the Great Depression?
How many people were riding the rails during the Great Depression? Some left to escape poverty or troubled families, others because it seemed a great adventure. At the height of the Great Depression, more than 250,000 teenagers were living on the road in America. Many criss-crossed the country by hopping freight trains, although it was both dangerous and illegal.
How many people rode the rails?
They were among 4 million people to taste the bitterness of hobo life. A remarkable story, as gripping as it is well-researched. Riding the Rails sets out to tell about the 250,000 teenagers who hopped freights and lived the hobo life in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash...
Who was the homeless person who rides trains?
Life as a hobo was dangerous. In addition to the problems of being itinerant, poor, and far from home and support, plus the hostility of many train crews, they faced the railroad police, nicknamed bulls, who had a reputation of violence against trespassers.
How many people fall on train tracks?
If you're walking near train tracks, it's important to be aware of the dangers and take steps to stay safe. In the United States, there are around 300 train pedestrian accidents each year.