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Sensing that he was not "one of them" I told him how I'd ended up there, to which he replied, "Shit! We've got to get you out of here or you'll be arrested! They think you're here for an interview like the rest of us!

European Tales: Hitch-Hiking by Freight Train

Joseph Tame
2006-06-30 17:26:24

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For many years, myself and my sister spent Sunday afternoons in front of the telly watching black and white Westerns. I can see it now; the cowboys hijacking the trains by riding alongside them on horseback and jumping into the open freight carriages. Well anyhow, this always struck me as being daring and romantic - so it was that my dream was born.

Ten years later I was a 16-year-old student at Hereford Sixth Form College. Feeling the rules of adulthood closing in on me, I felt rebellion was the only way out (this was around the time when I and my friends scaled Hereford Cathedral Tower late at night and held a party up there), so my idea of illegally riding on freight trains seemed to be an ideal way in which to voice my contempt for society.

Everyday, on my way up Aylestone Hill towards college, I'd have to pass over the railway bridge situated right beside Hereford Station.

At that time of day there'd often be a very long train pulling into the station, with carriage upon carriage holding a huge roll of steel. I saw that this could be an ideal opportunity and began my research - if my plan was to be a success it was vital to case the joint beforehand.

Borrowing my brother's old Parker jacket (with it's attractive orange lining), I adopted the role of trainspotter, taking many black and white photos of these trains from all angles. The bridge provided a good vantage point as I could see down into the open-top skips that held the metalic swiss rolls: it was in one of these that I'd have to ride.

Of course, I needed to know where these trains were going. It would have really sucked if I'd daringly boarded one only to find that it moved on a couple of miles and stopped! I needed insider information, and so removing the Parker jacket I donned my school uniform and sent a letter to the manager of all of stations ...