Are Train tracks good places to use MDers?

(())RandY(())

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jeff of pa

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Yes & No

At stops Yes, & probably a few Nice Items lost while Building the tracks.

But there will be alot of Hot Rocks (coke) from the steam engines.
 

Montana Jim

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Train tracks NEAR or AT old train stations, watering stations, warehouses... you get the idea. Also, anyplace where you KNOW there was a workers camp along the tracks, anyplace railroad workers would have gambled, lived or stayed for a period. Anyplace along the track near a park, fishing hole, bridge, church, school...

I've read of some bridges where people, as a tradition, would throw spare change out the train window while on the bridge to the river or creek below.

I don't think I'd walk along the tracks in the middle of no place on a prairie for example...

Remember... you will find iron all along any track, and lots of it.
 

jeff of pa

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Also look a few hundred feet on each side the train station if there is a Creek
with an area just out of site of the station that looks good to camp,
Bathe, Etc.
Hobos would deboard the train before & hop the train After it leaves
the station. any Tumble would loosen coins in the Pockets
while Jumping off, Any Mishap while trying to Jump on
could cause the same.
& Hobos liked to Carve Nickels while Camping overnight waiting for the Next
Train.
 

Montana Jim

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seas1to2 said:
also they are private property you will be tresspassing

LMAO... Thats true! Watch for the right of ways... active RRs are Private Property.

I'm sure you'll figure all that out depending on where you choose to hunt...
 

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(())RandY(())

(())RandY(())

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anyplace railroad workers would have gambled, lived or stayed for a period. Anyplace along the track near a park, fishing hole, bridge, church, school

Good point!
 

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(())RandY(())

(())RandY(())

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Mar 5, 2008
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jeff of pa said:
Also look a few hundred feet on each side the train station if there is a Creek
with an area just out of site of the station that looks good to camp,
Bathe, Etc.
Hobos would deboard the train before & hop the train After it leaves
the station. any Tumble would loosen coins in the Pockets
while Jumping off, Any Mishap while trying to Jump on
could cause the same.
& Hobos liked to Carve Nickels while Camping overnight waiting for the Next
Train.
Thanks for the Info! Did Hobos have much change?
 

jonnyrebel00

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lRandylInlOhiol said:
jeff of pa said:
Also look a few hundred feet on each side the train station if there is a Creek
with an area just out of site of the station that looks good to camp,
Bathe, Etc.
Hobos would deboard the train before & hop the train After it leaves
the station. any Tumble would loosen coins in the Pockets
while Jumping off, Any Mishap while trying to Jump on
could cause the same.
& Hobos liked to Carve Nickels while Camping overnight waiting for the Next
Train.
Thanks for the Info! Did Hobos have much change?



lol, not if they lost it for us to find years later :wink:
 

rwsnc

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Just don't use "Noise Cancelling" headphones. :wink:
 

johnnycat

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A family friend found 3 gold coins almost together along the tracks quite a few years back in Southern New Mexico. Going to that town next week and try to find maybe a Hobo nickel. I remember that the town was always full of hobos back in the 50-'s-60's. We used to go lizard hunting and I can remember that they were camped everywhere along the tracks. Jeff of Pa is right, I can still see them jumping on and off the train as it slowed down to stop at the station.
 

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(())RandY(())

(())RandY(())

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johnnycat said:
A family friend found 3 gold coins almost together along the tracks quite a few years back in Southern New Mexico. Going to that town next week and try to find maybe a Hobo nickel. I remember that the town was always full of hobos back in the 50-'s-60's. We used to go lizard hunting and I can remember that they were camped everywhere along the tracks. Jeff of Pa is right, I can still see them jumping on and off the train as it slowed down to stop at the station.
good luck! hope you find more..
 

Illinois Jeff

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Feb 12, 2006
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I would think you find a lot of spikes and rail tie plates. Some tracks that have been classified as "exempt" are no longer used but you can get permission. Dont forget about areas where tracks have been removed and the paths are for hiking or bike paths. Elmhurst IL, Villa Park, Lombard IL all have train track paths converted to "prairie paths". A little research at your library will tell you where the stations were.
 

Nuttdriver

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I found a train depot that was built in 1882 and abandoned in 1932. It's nothing but 10 acre vacant field with old broken glass now. I've been hunting it on and off for 12 years and it still produces. Especially on trade tokens. ;D
Go to your local library and ask the person up front for "local history". Mine has three boxes of goodies. That's how I found my train depot.
You'll be surprised on how good spots you will find.
 

Jeffro

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I hit a campground up on the Columbia a couple years ago, there were some tracks between it and the river. Turns out a path had been worn between the campground and the river, crossing the tracks. I hunted for perhaps an hour with my sensitivity at the lowest setting and scooped a handfull of squashed coins. Folks had been placing them on the tracks for years, most of which disappeared under the large rocks. Pretty cool finding all those squished coins, but it got kinda boring after about 50 or so, lol! Still have them around here somewhere, I'm sure! ::)
 

sniffer

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I've been md'ing along tracks for quite a while. when the trains pass, they just wave, smile and keep on rolling. here in the wheat state, when tracks are abandoned or pulled up, they are normally returned to the original land owner, unless the state shows an interest in the land for public recreational use.
BTW you will find lots of spikes and bolts LOL

Sniffer
 

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