Using railroad tracks for bugging out

M

MG_Saldivar

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
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There have been a couple of threads late regarding escape and evasion issues when bugging out, and somebody make a comment about his route involving a railroad track (the 'line' itself, not a locomotive -- I presume :D )

This got me thinking -- I tend to think of railroad lines/tracks as annoyances that (1) make my truck bounce up and down when I drive over them or (2) obstacles that I have to endure when a train's passing and I'm stuck behind a railroad crossing. However, every major urban center I've ever visited except maybe Manhattan has railroad tracks that often cut through even densely built-up areas. So -- are railroad tracks a good 'escape vector?'

It happens that there's a railroad line that passes near my neighborhood in Denver that, according to my area road map, heads right up into the foothills west of town, and then up into the mountains. I'm close enough to the outskirts of town that I could get to the tracks on foot within 30 minutes if I had to (i.e., my vehicle is inoperable or the roads are impassible).

From my 'entry point' west to the mountains, the tracks pass through non-residential areas (warehouse district, isolated subdivisions) and then out into the sticks. The terrain on either side (the railroad right-of-way) is rough enough to make hiding quickly possible (if I don't mind groveling in dirt and brush) but not so rough that it's impossible to navigate if I can't actually walk on the tracks (assuming I'm uninjured, etc. etc.).

Like most people, I tend to take my personal vehicle for granted and my bug out plans certainly incorporate my truck. Yet, in a Rita-style traffic jam that creates a parking lot on the roads, I'm thinking a set of railroad tracks might be handy... The problem would be if I had to follow tracks that passed through areas so built-up that there are plenty of hiding places for bad guys, or if I had to risk following tracks whose path I didn't know well (i.e. "Do I take the left fork or the right fork? They both seem to head west..?").

Thoughts?
 
I think this is a great idea - it's one I hadn't thought of before in terms of a potentially clear route for bugging out. It makes a lot of sense.

(By the way, Manhattan probably has more railroad tracks leading out of it's center than probably any other major metropolitan area - the tracks are just hidden underground for the most part)

If you're physically fit, you might want to consider a mountain bike to speed-up your egress and allow yourself to carry a bit more weight. Otherwise an off-road scooter, moped, or ATV might come in handy. And certainly having a set of maps of the tracks beforehand would be invaluable.
 
akennedy73 said:
I think this is a great idea - it's one I hadn't thought of before in terms of a potentially clear route for bugging out. It makes a lot of sense.
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that is one potential drawback, there is not a lot of concealment near RR tracks, if you go early in a disturbance or at night, other than that you are very exposed especially in an urban areas
 
I guess too, a lot depends on the reason for the "bugout". As I am sure you know, what we have come to think of as a civilian interstate highway system is actually a stratigic military transport system. In the event of a large disaster, there is every likelihood that the railroad system will also come under Federal command and control. I would hate to be detained under suspicion of being a terr or sapper (particularly carrying weapons, maps, and other items we think of in normal times as being quite harmless). Also, if you have never walked tracks for any distance, I can tell you that it is very tiring, and also dangerous. Some elevated sections and bridges offer very poor retreat to get out of the way of rail traffic. Rail junctions and depots are loosely guarded in normal times, but you can bet patroling and consequences for trespass would be ramped up in extraordinary times.

My 1/2 cent's worth
Codger
 
akennedy73 said:
(By the way, Manhattan probably has more railroad tracks leading out of it's center than probably any other major metropolitan area - the tracks are just hidden underground for the most part)
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Good point - I completely forgot about the subways... Still, I don't know if I'd want to navigate a subway tunnel or even one of the tunnels under the Hudson (to NJ) unless absolutely necessary --- I've seen "The Stand." ;)

HT and Codger -- you're both totally right about the dangers re. concealment and getting picked up/detained... I'd hate to have to stick to railroad tracks as a method of egress, but at the same time, I'd hate to be confined to interstates... Or urban surface streets... Or two-lane county 'farm-to-market' roads... So adding RR to the mix is just another option to what I hope I never have to use -- a bug out route that gets as close to a straight line away from danger as possible (i.e., mixing highway, surface streets, cross country, etc.)...
 
Codger_64 said:
I guess too, a lot depends on the reason for the "bugout". As I am sure you know, what we have come to think of as a civilian interstate highway system is actually a stratigic military transport system. In the event of a large disaster, there is every likelihood that the railroad system will also come under Federal command and control. I would hate to be detained under suspicion of being a terr or sapper (particularly carrying weapons, maps, and other items we think of in normal times as being quite harmless). Also, if you have never walked tracks for any distance, I can tell you that it is very tiring, and also dangerous. Some elevated sections and bridges offer very poor retreat to get out of the way of rail traffic. Rail junctions and depots are loosely guarded in normal times, but you can bet patroling and consequences for trespass would be ramped up in extraordinary times.

My 1/2 cent's worth
Codger
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Darn good points , especially
Some elevated sections and bridges offer very poor retreat to get out of the way of rail traffic
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.

In the fiction book Patriots http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-Surv...=pd_bbs_3/002-2769886-4021627?ie=UTF8&s=books (which you folks should do your best to read) one of the main characters makes his escape on RR tracks.

Something else I would take into consideration is that it seems to me RR tracks usually enter or exit the bad parts of towns/cities. For instance in Fresno here many of the main tracks are in old downtown/industrial , lots of homeless and druggies, gang bangers spray painting etc.
Something to think about.

Otherwise they do seem like a decent idea aside from what Codger bought up. I wonder though if the "terrain" would not be really uncomfortable to walk on , you have RR ties , the actual tracks , and then rocks of various size to walk on .
I would also think a major drawback is that in some places RR tracks seem to be up higher than ground level , putting you as a easy target.
 
Some on the forums may not be aware...but there are people who live along these tracks. Some are known as the freight riders of America. I've known a couple, and run into a couple by some tracks in the woods. Many are heavy drug addicts and live a 'hobo' type lifestyle. Keep a keen eye out for these types, they like to ambush or use women/children as a distraction/lure.
You could also check pipeline right of ways....
 
cjpgeyer said:
You could also check pipeline right of ways....
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Good idea -- I briefly thought about electrical lines (the huge steel girder kind that you see in rural areas) but I know I've seem some of those go over rivers and across canyons and stuff (i.e., are impassible to anybody who can't fly) -- being 10 stories or whatever up in the air, they don't need bridges the way RR do.

Thanks for the tip about people who 'haunt' RR tacks -- I probably heard about them in a news story or something and then forgot about it.

I'm not inclined to do any exploring of RR tracks, just want to put another arrow in the quiver, as it were...
 
Walking along the railroad tracks is illegal here in Georgia.
 
rebeltf said:
I wonder though if the "terrain" would not be really uncomfortable to walk on , you have RR ties , the actual tracks , and then rocks of various size to walk on.
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I spent a year at TCU, living at home, no car. Usually, I'd catch a ride home at someone else's convenience.
However, the railrod tracks ran straight from campus to my neighborhood. So one afternoon I tried it. About a six mile walk (no bad neighborhoods, so I wasn't concerned about any sort of trouble).
I tell you what, walking on the rocks wears you out! Walking on the ties will aggravate the dickens out of you (they're never stride-length apart: too short or too long, and somewhat irregular to boot). The grass is usually a fairly uncomfortable grade up to the rails, and the rails themselves are too narrow and domed to walk on them. Really no nice way to walk the railroad.
The upshot was, six mile walk took two hours. Entirely doable, but not a bit of fun.

Mike
 
I'd think twice about using track myself. Not only for the points raised above, but purely for train safety reasons. A train can come up on you with little warning, and people walking on tracks are often killed in this situation. At the least, consider taking a railroad safety class so you have some idea of the safety procedures before you foul the tracks (that's what the railworkers call getting too close to or on the tracks).

Pat
 
It is all about keeping options open and rails are one of mine. Avoids traffic jams during evacs and road checkpoints. Rails will be guarded but only as secondary, rivers and streams next. Even if you do not walk them directly they are good for nav points.
Bill
 
For what it's worth, a bicycle can be easily converted to work on rail road tracks with an outrigger. I'd restrict their use to abandoned lines.
 
Don't forget that a rail line is a perfect defilade for an ambush also. Straight lines, level, and cleared.
In a SHTF situation you risk your life walking the railway lines.
Use them as a navigation guide, but keep well clear of the track bed.
 
Yes, railroads are a great navigation aid. Sure screws up your compass readings though. In a true SHTF situation, any pathway in rural areas would be a likely ambush point. Under normal civil situations, the RR makes a lot of sense. I don't think I would use a RR bed in the city except for short distances. It just depends on the terraine, amount of vegetation, etc. The fact that you have bridges over rivers and streams is quite helpful. Who wants to get wet when you don't have to?
 
BlueyM said:
Use them (tracks) as a navigation guide, but keep well clear of the track bed.
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That says it best.

aproy1101 said:
Walking along the railroad tracks is illegal here in Georgia.
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Here in WI and most places, I bet. The tracks and the strip of land they're on belongs to the railroad. Just as the right-of-way under power lines is private property. (Usually... I'm sure some smarty-pants knows of exceptions to that :D )

Having said that, they offer a space of clear sky which might be welcome if your clothes are wet (sunshine and breeze), among what others have mentioned. And walking along the right-of-way in the grass is often very easy going.
They'll certainly lead you to some manner of civilization eventually, which may or not be a good thing. Plus all the coarse gravel and steel spikes you can carry.

P.S. If you stole one of those RR company pickups with the modified undercarriage you could scoot all over the country! Heh.
 
If the tracks are still good then the roads are still good; get in your car and drive. Bug out to me means the world is goin to he!! and the through ways impassable and I need to get home to my family. Most of us don't need a map to get home, just walk. Takes a while, but pioneers of this country didn't take the tracks to L.A. and they sure didn't have maps.


Just my 1.50 (inflation):D
 
rebeltf said:
Otherwise they do seem like a decent idea aside from what Codger bought up. I wonder though if the "terrain" would not be really uncomfortable to walk on , you have RR ties , the actual tracks , and then rocks of various size to walk on .
Click to expand...

I spent quite a bit of time walking on RR track where I live, if possible there is usually an easement or access road next to the tracks that is easy to walk on, walking on the actually ties between the tracks is a pain. The spacing is such that you have to really watch you step and are constantly lengthening or shortening your stride to step on the ties and not the gravel. Well maintained tracks may be easier, the ones near my place are pretty old and in poor shape. It is pretty easy to twist an ankle because of the unevenness caused by the ties and gavel between them.


The bike idea mentioned sounds interesting because bikes in general have don’t make a lot of noise. It seems about the time you hear them, they are gone. They have a very small circle of disturbance. On the other hand walking down tracks make a huge amount of noise if you are on the gravel, it also limits your ability to hear anything but your walking.
 
I used to hunt small game from a railroad bed. I never had much problem being quiet, but I was not trying to walk a mile in 15 minutes either. Trains aren't a big deal as long as you pay attention.; just get off when they come by and keep on walking. Being too close makes me a bit nervous or when they are traveling really fast... I can always envision the rocking cars rolling right over on me.

They are private property though; even though most treat them as public property.
 
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