Riding The Rails

Unemployed people who needed work for money, and people who just wanted a thrill rode the rails during the Great Depression. Riding the rails is illegally riding on a train to get from one place to another, without buying a ticket. Because they had to hide from the Bulls (railroad security to try to prevent people from riding the rails), people had to run to the train while it was moving and jump on it. About 6,500 people died every year trying to ride the rails, due to the danger of the act, and because of the Bulls.