13 episodes
City of the Rails iHeartPodcasts
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- Society & Culture
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4.9 • 31 Ratings
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When journalist Danelle Morton’s daughter skips town to hop trains, she follows her into the train yard, and across America. Join Danelle as she travels the country to understand what drew her daughter into the hidden world of the railroads. Her guides are the rail cops, train engineers, and hobos she meets along the way, each of them with their own extraordinary tales of the beauty and brutality of the rails.
A mother/daughter story unfolds across a landscape of vast open spaces and filthy backstreets, as Morton learns how railroads shaped the modern world - from creating our time zones and QR codes, to the first lobbyists and unions.
The story of the rails is the story of America, and through 10 episodes, Morton reckons with our history, and her family history, as she tries what she can to bring her daughter home.
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Fans Calling: A Bonus Episode of City of the Rails
City of the Rails passes a million downloads! Cause for a celebration, and a chance to thank all of you who sent so much love. To mark this big achievement, we made a bonus episode featuring just some of the hundreds of voicemails we got from people who adored the show (and also a few from some who didn't like it). Big question: Where's Season 2? We didn't get renewed for a second season, but we're trying to find a podcast home for the next chapter in this story: The Railroad Murders. And we're still working on the railroad. Check out Danelle's investigative work with a team from ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/series/train-country Want to stay in touch? Find us @flipturnpods and keep an eye on danellemorton.com. Have a question or comment? Leave us a voicemail at (707) 653-0339. We’re keeping the lines open just for you.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Living By The Tracks — E10
Danelle visits with a kindred spirit, and reckons with the past. Ruby and Danelle finally talk about it. Kiwi weighs in and looks back on Profane Sass. Danelle pursues several new leads. Plus CC Rider, a Western bar, and a road dog named Nikita.
Thank you for listening to Season One! We’ve got good things planned – stick around. And listen to The Yard: Songs Inspired by City of the Rails at aaronkaufmanmusic.com/theyard/
Danelle's playlist of modern hobo music at tinyurl.com/hobomusic
Want to stay in touch? Find us @flipturnpods and keep an eye on danellemorton.com. Have a question or comment? Leave us a voicemail. We’re keeping the lines open just for you.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Fire in New Orleans — E9
When a fire takes the lives of Ruby’s friends, Danelle realizes no one else will tell their stories. A reporting trip to New Orleans with Ruby presents Danelle with an opportunity to get closer, and get new answers. Members of hobo band Profane Sass help piece together events, journalist Chris Rose weighs in on New Orleans, and Danelle meets a survivor.
For biographies of the traveling kids and more on the squat fire, visit https://danellemorton.com/fire/
Want to see the warehouse? Check out @flipturnpods. Have a tip? It’s your last episode to call in! Our number’s in the credits.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
All The Livelong Day — E8
When the boss wants you gone, it’s only a matter of time, and this rolls out extra nastily on the railroad. In this episode, the story of Nickie Jackson, and how she was hounded by the railroad. Danelle digs deeper and Ruby tells her about a miracle.
Want to see Nickie? Check out @flipturnpods. Have a tip? Danelle’s gathering worker stories for a reporting series. Leave us a voicemail – our number’s in the credits.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Cops & Robbers — E7
Danelle heads to El Paso, Texas to get the lowdown on the rail cops – the private police with federal powers who report only to the railroads. In a border town, rail cops are the most powerful entities, but is that such a good thing? One dynamic duo shows Danelle how they tried to clean up the tracks, and how wild the rails still are, with Old West train raids, smugglers, and hobos all overlapping in this ultimate crossroads. Ruby calls with big news.
Want to see Colton? Check out @flipturnpods. Have a question or comment? Leave us a voicemail – our number’s in the credits.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. -
Whistle Stop
We'll be right back. Thanks for all the love!
Danelle's playlist of modern hobo music here: https://tinyurl.com/hobomusic
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Customer Reviews
WideRanging+Personal
This is a great podcast. Danelle’s voice is easy on the ear and her narration is great. Paraphrasing, but she said that she had some kind of coaching (?)in order to narrate well and def succeeded!
I love how this story is at once so personal on one level but also so broad on other levels. It’s the story of Danelle’s daughter, it’s the story of Danelle’s search for her wayward daughter and her journey. But it’s also the history of the railroads and encompasses the stories of those who work on or around them, as well as the “hobos” who ride them.
I’ve largely stopped listening to “I💙Radio” podcasts (even though they make some v good ones) because they are SOOO ad-heavy that I find them unbearable! However, this one kept me gripped enough to push through the frequent and often shouty ads.
Top marks to Danelle! 💗 In this particular instance I’d be willing to endure the frequent+lengthy+shouty ads, if there were to be a 2nd season. Here’s hoping...
Insightful
I binged this & woke up once worrying if Ruby was ok. As a wayward child, then traveller then parent I could relate to this on all sides. Beautifully researched written & narrated. Very much looking forward to season two
A great listen!
A great listen. Looking forward to season 2.