You know, the guys depicted in countless old Hollywood movies keeping the goods trains clear of hobos, and in none too polite a fashion! Do people still try to travel the country in boxcars? Were (or are) bulls armed? In films they mostly carry a billy-club. Did they have the power of arrest? (Not of course that they would have worried about such niceties years ago).
There are railroad police who have power of arrest. In some cases they have the same power as state troopers.
Boxcars are pretty much non-existent, though, and you’d have a rather uncomfortable time hitching a ride on a container flatdeck.
There’s still lots of security at rail yards, although these days they’re worried more about theft and graffiti and such than hobos. Back in the 30’s there might have been a railroad policeman that rode along on the train while it was underway, which I think is not common these days.
People do still ride the rails, but it’s generally more adventure-seeking types than people who are genuinely down on their luck. Other intercity travel options, particularly the bus, are way cheaper than they were (inflation-adjusted of course) back in the 30’s.
Container cars are actually great for hoboing. They’re not flat, but have about a 5-foot deep trough that the lower container sits in. If you get one with a short crate on the bottom and a long crate on top, you’ve got a nice little hidden and somewhat sheltered space. Also, importantly container trains usually go between populated areas in a somewhat speedy manner, so there’s less risk of getting left on a siding out in the middle of nowhere.
I have to ask about this; where do they draw their power of arrest? The railroads are private corporations and don’t have legislative authority as a peace officer AFAIK.
But if they’re limited to the rail lines and property, and turn arrested persons over to the civil police, I would understand that. Am I right?
Tripler
Ain’t never hopped a train. . . yet.
There were still railroad detectives in the 70s. They would call the local police to pick up teenagers they caught partying on the tracks. No need to go into how I know this.
I believe they are agents of the Federal Rail Administration. In fact, I know someone who used to be a safety officer for them.
Railroad police who are commissioned as actual police officers in one state have interstate police powers granted to them by federal statute. They have to register as railroad police with the Department of Transportation and provide proof that they are actual law enforcement officers in at least one state where the railroad has property. Outside of that state their powers are restricted to the railroad’s property.
States can allow private entities to form police forces with full police powers. This is not all that uncommon. The best-known examples are private universities which in some states can have their own police forces with full arrest powers on and off campus. You might remember Sean A. Collier, the MIT police officer who was killed by the Tsarnaev brothers.
Most states allow railroads to form police forces. The powers granted to these police forces vary greatly ranging from protecting rail property to general police authority on and off rail property.
For example, the Illinois Railroad Police Act (610 ILCS 80/) says
And here is the good part, federal law, 49 U.S. Code § 28101 - Rail police officers, basically says that if a railroad police officer is certified in any state, all other states where the railroad has property have to give the officer the same authority that they give rail police officers certified in their own state.