In the 1930s, many left their homes
to search for something better.
Some who left were children and
teens. They typically had younger
siblings and believed they were
helping their families. Leaving
meant there was one less mouth
to feed.
Young people rode the rails looking
for opportunity and adventure. Some
rode trains to wherever they could
find farm work. They would harvest
corn and wheat in the Midwest, hay
in California, and fruits in the Pacific
Northwest. Many young people had
never left their hometowns before.
250,000
Estimated number of
teenagers riding the
rails at the height of the
Great Depression.
• Many young people left
their homes so there
would be one less mouth
to feed.
• Catching trains allowed
some to find work and
travel to new places.
• Riding the rails was
dangerous and illegal.
• Thousands of people died
trying to jump on or off
moving trains.
Young People
Ride the Rails
A young man
hops aboard a
train in 1935.
11
26
