Freight Train Moniker Streaks

After that whole discussion about the whole FTRA and freighthopping movement, I decided to dig deeper. I went ahead and pulled out all of the old 35mm pictures I shot back in the day. Sure enough, I found another FTRA moniker tag done by Dan’l Boone FTRA dated 8-29-1987. It amazes me how long these streaks run on these old rusty boxcars. Anytime I walk down the line, I look for the older run down boxcars for this reason. I also flicked the legend himself Herby. If you ever happen to be by some boxcars, look on the panels. Anyhow, enjoy the pics!

Freight Train Riders of America (F.T.R.A )

Last night I happen to be going through some old vhs tapes, yes vhs. An back in the day I use to record all kinds of shows that caught my attention. Well, I ran into an old video that had a feature on the life and history of the FTRA. Being that I am a big freight train freak, the commercials had caught my attention due to all of the freight train footage. This was back in 97 – 98 and had never heard of these guys until watching the show. It was pretty interesting on how they showed the life of transients, hobos, and freighthoppers. It later got in depth on the FTRA. It started as an organization of train hopping hobos that later resulted in deaths on the rails. They began to talk about Robert Joseph Silveria, Jr. (aka “Sidetrack”) and his series of murders of transients. He was serving in Oregon for the murders. You can see some of their marker streaks on boxcars. I dug up all my old photos and sure enough I had this 10 year old photo of  FTRA Pockets tag that was done on an electrical box in Union Station, Dallas, Tx. It is an interesting culture that most people do not know about if you even mention it to them. I’ve had some encounters and some are friendly, but some you do not want to mess with. Be safe out there! That’s why I always have, I am now, and always will take precaution when walking the lines taking pictures.

Kicking off my Freight Train Monikers collection!!!

While I am out benching and not flicking pieces on the fr8s, I find myself looking for box cars that have no pieces looking for “hobo tags,” “streaks,” “oil bars,” “worker tags,” “freight monikers,” “chalk graffiti,” “boxcar art” of infamous monikers we hear about through stories, net, and other writers. If you are a fr8 addict, then you should know about these guys who where the original fr8 kings leaving tags since back in the days of war world era. Early writers have got into the art form of streaking. In my eyes it is an art form as these guys are expressing themselves with their own unique tag.

I find JD King Esquire’s story very interesting as a rich man by day who loved to get filthy and ride the rails on the weekend to get a view of America you cannot see on the roads.

There is many more to come, so check back!!!

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