Jumping a train, September 1975: Spanish Fork, UT

In my pack I carried a few avocados, some coffee, oatmeal, powdered milk and a small tin pot. I also held a six pack of Coors beer. I was intent upon carrying this to David in Florida. It was his favorite and not available there yet. Food was not the problem, but I did not seem able to catch a ride. It took all morning to get from Ogden to just south of Provo. I caught several rides, all of the short nature. It seemed like no one was going to far from here. After my last ride, with a sweet angel who shared a roach with me, I was left at two lane road that headed east up into the mountains. For quite a while, no cars headed that direction. Across the road, a set of train tracks ran parallel to the highway. Soon a long train appeared led by three engines headed in my direction.
It crept on slow enough for me to ponder jumping aboard. Several minutes elapsed and there was no sight of the end of the train in either direction. That seemed to cinch it, since the engines were out of sight, no one would notice me getting on. I grabbed by pack, crossed the road and approached the slow moving beast. Quickly, I sized up that boarding could be accomplished by way of grabbing a ladder attached at the end of every box car. Positioning myself quite near the tracks, I practiced the motions necessary to accomplish a leap aboard. Getting aboard a train moving by even at a slow rate presents an imposing challenge. It seemed daunting and I spent quite a time, getting up the courage. Just below each ladder were the wheels, that obviously would grind up anything that fell off. Several open type cars that normally haul automobiles passed. They had no hand rails to climb up, but seemed like preferable choices to ride on since they were empty and offered shaded accommodations. The end of the train was still not in sight when I made the determined leap aboard.
I grabbed sure hold and quickly got myself pulled away from the wheels. No sooner had I secured my connection then the train came to a sure stop. Not knowing why it stopped, I took advantage and dismounted. I hurried ahead and climbed aboard one of the open type cars. As the train resumed its journey I settled back and enjoyed an avocado and Coors beer meal while enjoying the vista only available to train passengers climbing eastward into the Rocky Mountains. The sun was getting low in the sky when the train pulled into a yard in an obviously small town. Noticing several train workers in the yard, I decided to leave. I seemed to remember something about railroad bulls. I quickly got past the fence and sauntered up the main street of Helper, Utah. I walked out to the highway, looking for a place to spend the night. Before I found that, I finally got a ride that was planning on traveling a good distance. Rick, stopped and was glad I could help driving. He was intent on reaching Gainesville, GA in two days.