The rails are cool, more people like them then you would think. I have a friend whom walks the rails to this day shooting video of every train he can. I told him, you get arrested today walking the rails.
I then told him about the day I thumbed a ride on a freight train when I was about 12. They stopped right outside my home and let us off. I will never forget it. Me and two friends. The man whom told us to get on the caboose was the president of the railroad. The man in the Caboose told us this after he yelled at us for coming in his caboose.
Ain't gonna happen in this day and age. Railroads no longer have a sense of humor. Fortunately, I have some rail friends and get places others can't.