Great thread, indeed. I've continued to think about this since it first appeared.

Back in my hitchhiking days, I would occasionally meet and talk with someone who knew someone else who had a friend of a friend, etc., who knew something about how to ride the rails (not necesarily the "rods"), but I *never* got first-hand information. If I had ever actually encountered an experienced freight-hopper and had the opportunity to accompany him, I might well have done it.

Not today, though, nor in the foreseeable future!