Steve Jones, Brian Woods, Mike Pulley, Lizzy Kate Gray and Scott Gregory all either caught out with me or sincerely tried to. Meagan Atiyeh and I got kicked out of a trainyard together. Micheline Marcom kept me company on a couple of train track safaris and once found herself beside me in the middle of a trestle bridge when a train appeared behind us.
Paula Keyth introduced me to Jake Macwilliamson, who drank with me, answered questions on two occasions and lent me his trainhopping accounts and journals, together with the journal of his friend Ukla, whom I also thank. As the reader already knows, I cited both of their accounts on more than one occasion. Paula also put me in touch with her friend Kevin X., to whom this book is happily indebted, and, through Kevin, with the legendary Sporticus.
Anna, the cheese slinger at a local market, introduced me to “Dolores,” whose stories grace this book.
Peter Maravelis gave me the phone number of Eddy Joe Cotton, whom I wished to ask a couple of questions about the experiences he recounts in his memoir Hobo. We exchanged messages but never quite connected. Peter, thank you anyway.
Ross Peterson inspired me with a trainhopping tale or two, and promised to come rescue me if I got stranded anywhere near Salt Lake.
Paul Slovak gave me that copy of The Dharma Bums.
Miriam Markowitz, the fact checker at Harper’s, caught a couple of embarrassing errors (for instance, the Roseville yard is not the longest in the West, and it is six miles long, not seven). I am sheepishly grateful to her. Roger Hodge, her boss, actually gave me money for my trainhopping, and who can beat that?
I also thank Dan Halpern, my editor; Millicent Bennett, his assistant; and Susan Golomb, my agent. Casey Panell and Casey Ferguson, who both work at Susan’s office, were extremely kind and helpful. My father figures in these pages, and I often benefit from his bravery and honesty when I try to do my best on the rails. My copy-editor, Don Kennison, rescued me from several more embarrassing errors. I truly appreciate it.
The following persons refused to return phone calls for this book: George Slaats, Union Pacific Railroad; Michelle (last name unknown), the public information officer for the Sacramento police department; and Detective Mike Quankenbush of the Salem, Oregon, police department.