On a recent visit to Atlanta to visit the daughter and her husband, we took a day trip to Warm Springs, GA. and to FDR's "Little White House". If you're ever in the area, it's well worth the time to visit the town and the Little White House.
While there, I purchased the DVD "Riding the Rails" and have watched it 3 times. What an eye opening documentary of the Great Depression years and what young people went through trying to eke out a living. It gives you a greater respect for hobos and the homeless. Film footage and life stories of survivors of those days makes it a must see video. Today's kids should see this film and maybe they would appreciate how good they have it.
I've owned a VHS copy of it for years. My family had a more-or-less direct connection to those times in that my dad did at least two cross country trips by, er.. freight train accomodations. He was looking for work, just like the ppl in Riding the Rails. He told me quite a few colorful stories of those halcyon days of the 1930's and his many adventures aboard various box cars. He told me about going through a long tunnel under steam. Not sure, but it might have been the Moffat; he can't remember anymore.