American tramps on freight trains
Belgian photographer Stephan Vanfleteren is a true pro in documentary and portrait photography. Prefers exclusively black and white photography. In 1996, he traveled across America for several months along with criminals, fishermen, Vietnam veterans and simply vagabonds traveling illegally in empty boxcars.
After the end of the Vietnam War, many veterans began to travel aimlessly around America. This homeless man is one of them.
25-year-old homeless man Harold travels on freight trains from Texas to Alaska to get a job on a fishing boat there.
A homeless man named Tallman has been traveling on freight trains for many years. And all this time, friends and fellow travelers write their names on his jacket.
The man who catches the dog calls himself a "Pan Fried Southern Rider from the South."
This homeless repeat offender, nicknamed “Box,” was part of the Bandidos biker gang and spent almost all of the time from the age of 18 to 31 behind bars. He was on heroin, but now pills and booze are enough for him.
40-year-old environmentalist Twilley hops on the train. Twilley rides freight trains because it is “cheap, fun and gives you a feeling of freedom on the road.”
On the left is the shadow of photographer Stefan Vanfleteren, on the right is the shadow of a homeless man (name unknown), around is the shadow of a boxcar.