TrainingHoppers
Ello! TrainingHoppers Here,

Contrary to the title of this specific thread, I am not a complete, utter, idiot, spamming a useless post onto you (your?) wonderful people's website. I have been train-hopping only once, and it was a very short excursion for which I was under-prepared, it was out of a small place called "Brunner Island Steam Electric Station", more commonly known as PP&L Power Plant for the folks who live around here. (namely me!) I hopped on the fly when it was still very slow and rode about 5 miles before bailing at a sharp bend and going home. (Yes, that can't even be called an excursion, I know)

Needless to say, it's something I can/want to/will do again, most definitely in a longer excursion. But there's one small, itty-bitty, teensy-weensy problem.

Excuse my French, but I don't know fuck all about Long excursion freight hopping, much less far away from the comfort of my home-sweet-home.

WHich means I'm leaving it on your shoulder to give me some pointers and tips and how to properly, safely, and reliably (as well as possible) freight hop probably across North America (Except for the Southwestern U.S, I've heard bad things about that place, so I'll leave the sleeping giant be).

Most notably the things I want to know are Radio Frequencies, how to acquire the "Crew Change Guide" and other reliable first-person sources. Things I must absolutely bring at all costs and things I can leave at home (I'm a light traveler, preferably), and yards/stops to avoid.

EDIT: What's a good place to find a reliable scanner to bring along?

Give me any and all advice you feel might be slightly useful to me, because chances are, I'll need it!

Thanks in advance! (I apologize for the wall of text).
HowlinWolf
I've personally never train hopped (someday I hope), but as far as radios go, I would check out the Baofeng UV-5R. It's a pretty cheap ($30-40) Chinese radio, but I've used it for both Ham radio and for listening to train yard communications. It's not built to be a scanner, but it'll probably work well enough to get the job done. You're going to want to buy a programming cable for it as well; it will make entering in frequencies a lot easier (you do that via a program called CHIRP).

I don't know about the CCG, but I do know of openrailwaymap.org . Very useful for finding train tracks. There's also the Harry Ladd US Railroad Traffic Atlas, if you want something physical. The main downside is that the Atlas probably won't have the most up to date info.

Best of luck to you.
SinWolf
Good coms are a lifesaver. Don't cheap out on a cheap, featureless scanner. I carry a 800$ programmed kenwood NX-200 (with ear piece so I can manage my noise disipline)
SinWolf
"Crew change guide" is an outdated list with little info on Canadian hopping. It may be better in the US I'm unsure. I used to have a copy but I got rid of it when I learned that it was worthless (for my intent)

Frequencies can easily be obtained online.