Hi Folks, Am listening to a lot of the 1920’s-30’s blues music, and the phrase “ride the blind” occurs often. I think that this is a reference to stealing aboard a night train. Is this true?
Many thanks.
No - Riding the blinds (at least in this part of the country) referred to riding between cars where the crew (or rr police) could not see you. Typically this would be between tender and first car, or possibly between head end cars on a passenger train. Bear in mind that there were all kinds of regional differences in these kinds of phrases. Riding the blinds was not a desirable place to be, especially on roads that had track pans.
Don’t confuse this with riding the rods which typically referred to riding between truss rods and car floor on freight cars. Think this was fun? Watch “Emperor of the North.”
I am sure others will weigh in with their ideas, too.
work safe
Ditto what coalminer3 said - he’s right on the money! [;)]