I watched a documentary called "Riding the Rails" on DVD last
night. I got it out of the Cuyahoga County Library, check your
local library for availabilty or to get an interlibrary loan.
The movie is a documentary about the 250,000 teens who hopped
freight trains during the depression. It's hearbreaking in parts.
There is some nice archival movie footage showing freight cars from
the era. There is some from a movie called "Wild Boys of the Road"
which was supposed to warn teens about the dangers of hopping
freights. The action in that would be less trustworthy, because the
action was staged for the movie.
However, there are many actual shots of lots of hobos riding on top
of reefers, which is more out in the open than I would have
thought. I was under the impression that they would have to find a
less conspicuous location, to avoid unwelcome attention from the
railroad police.
Much of the freight equipment appears to be SP and CMSt.P&P, but
there is a block of Morell reefers with lettering that covers the
whole side, not just the right side ala Branchline. Are there any
commercially available cars with this version of the lettering? I
may have to watch it again to be sure.
(also posting to the 1914-1940RRing group)
Dean Payne

Most American Experience and other PBS programs are available
from Netflix -- including "Riding the Rails"....

http://cdn-8.nflximg.com/us/boxshots/large/60029088.jpg

Disclaimer: I'm not a Netflix stockholder, just a happy customer.

--- In STMFC@..., "Dean Payne" <deanpayne@...> wrote:

I watched a documentary called "Riding the Rails" on DVD last
night. I got it out of the Cuyahoga County Library, check your
local library for availabilty or to get an interlibrary loan.
The movie is a documentary about the 250,000 teens who hopped
freight trains during the depression. It's hearbreaking in

parts.

There is some nice archival movie footage showing freight cars

from the era. There is some from a movie called "Wild Boys of the
Road" which was supposed to warn teens about the dangers of hopping

freights. The action in that would be less trustworthy, because

the action was staged for the movie.

However, there are many actual shots of lots of hobos riding on

top of reefers, which is more out in the open than I would have

thought. I was under the impression that they would have to find

a less conspicuous location, to avoid unwelcome attention from the

railroad police.
Much of the freight equipment appears to be SP and CMSt.P&P, but
there is a block of Morell reefers with lettering that covers the
whole side, not just the right side ala Branchline. Are there any
commercially available cars with this version of the lettering? I
may have to watch it again to be sure.
(also posting to the 1914-1940RRing group)
Dean Payne

A second viewing shows 2 Morrell Ham reefers (ala Branchline #1317)
followed by a truss rod reefer with the "Morrell Pride" covering the
full side (including the door). After that was another reefer with
full-side lettering, but channel side sills instead of truss rods.
I've looked at Atlas and Red Caboose, none of their reefers have the
proper lettering. Art Griffin has the proper decals, page 77, for a
40' car from the 20's-30's. Finding the proper 40' truss rod reefer
carbody is going to be a problem! I was expecting 36'.
Dean Payne

Presumably: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120017/
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120017/>

Thanks for the 'heads up'. I'll order one from www.amazon.co.uk
<http://www.amazon.co.uk> but I am reminded that I must check my
Samsung DVD player (origin Malaysia). The TV is multi-region. Amazon
say; Region 1 encoding (requires a North American or multi-region DVD
player and NTSC compatible TV.

Phil Clark, ALTON UK.

--- In STMFC@..., "Dean Payne" deanpayne@ wrote:

I watched a documentary called "Riding the Rails" on DVD last
night. I got it out of the Cuyahoga County Library, check your
local library for availabilty...Dean Payne

A second viewing shows 2 Morrell Ham reefers (ala Branchline #1317)
followed by a truss rod reefer with the "Morrell Pride" ... > Dean

Payne

To all the UK lurkers on this Yahoo group, the DVD plays OK, and is
extremely interesting. It came to me via UK Royal Mail from the
amazon.co.uk marketplace seller in Kentucky in nine days.

Phil Clark, ALTON GU34 2RS, UK

--- In STMFC@..., "Phil Clark" <clark33@...> wrote:

Presumably: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120017/

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120017/>

--- In STMFC@..., "Dean Payne" deanpayne@ wrote:

I watched a documentary called "Riding the Rails" on DVD last...

A second viewing shows 2 Morrell Ham reefers (ala Branchline #1317)
followed by a truss rod reefer with the "Morrell Pride" ...

A fascinating movie. I watched it twice, once for the "Story line" and again for the rail stuff.

SGL

To all the UK lurkers on this Yahoo group, the DVD plays OK, and is
extremely interesting. It came to me via UK Royal Mail from the
amazon.co.uk marketplace seller in Kentucky in nine days.

Phil Clark, ALTON GU34 2RS, UK

"Dean Payne" deanpayne@ wrote:

I watched a documentary called "Riding the Rails" on DVD last...

A second viewing shows 2 Morrell Ham reefers (ala

Branchline #1317)

followed by a truss rod reefer with the "Morrell Pride" ...