Saw the movie "Into The Wild" (2007), directed by Sean Penn. It was a great story about a young man that abandoned all possessions, ends up living a loner-hobo-tourist hell-bent on visiting Alaska to find himself. If you don't know who Christopher McCandless was, It's about time to see his story.

There are a few goofs in the filming that railfans can easily pick out. Like the BNSF GEVO locomotives in 1992, but if you can get over that kind of stuff, it's worth the watch IMO.

I have a question about railroad operations to those who have seen the movie. The part when Chris takes a ride in the empty boxcar. Flares appear trackside, the train slows to a stop. When Chris pokes his head outside the door to look, a guy pulls him off, and gives him a beating like no other. Do any railroads usually put flares on the tracks to stop a lone hobo from riding a train? It seems like a waste of resorces to stop a rider, especially on single track. I imagine the next siding in civilization might be a better place to do this, with police presence.

almo