American Experience: Riding the Rails

During the Depression-era of the 1930s, tens of thousands of teenagers hopped freight trains in search of a better life elsewhere. What they discovered was a mixture of adventure, camaraderie, hardship and loneliness. They saw a country in turmoil and found experiences that impacted them for the rest of their lives -- their ultimate freedom traded for despair, lack of jobs, and even death. Through first-hand accounts, "The American Experience" recalls the stories of teen drifters crisscrossing America during tough times.