Sure, you can pay Amtrak to haul you across the country with a bunch of blue-haired old ladies. Or you can grow some balls and hop a train. Train hopping sounds easy, but go about it in a half-assed manner and bad things happen. To give you some hobo tips, we talked to guys with names like North Bank Fred and New York Slim. Ask for whatever information you need, then disappear.
Trains start and stop suddenly.
Never duck between or underneath cars. Never walk on tracks. Always stay low and wear black, especially in rail yards. Cars loaded with cargo are the smoothest rides, but never ride with loose material, like lumber, steel, re-bar, or coal. Always have a stash of garbage bags to keep your gear dry during a downpour.