Special Features
- Map, static: Railroad Maps
- Interview: Tales From the Rails
- Teacher's Resources: Teacher's Guide
- General Article: Added Obstacles for African Americans
- General Article: Striking a Chord: Railroads and Their Musical Heritage
- Preview: Riding the Rails Preview
At the height of the Great Depression, more than a quarter million teenagers were living on the road in America, many criss-crossing the country by illegally hopping freight trains. This film tells the story of ten of these teenage hobos -- from the reasons they left home to what they experienced -- all within the context of depression-era America.
My American Experience
Share Your Story
What do the 1930s mean to you? We invite you to tell us your own stories — whether you lived through the tumultuous decade or learned about it from a relative, a book or a movie. Comment on the decade as a whole, or on any of our 1930s film subjects.
