Hobos are part of railroad lore, and we honor that in a few ways at the R&GN. Along the tracks there are hobo signs, similar to the ones illustrated. Hobos would mark these along fences and buildings as they passed through, to provide information and warnings to those who came later. In addition to the signs along the tracks, we sell a coffee mug that has a bunch of hobo signs on it. And the conductors often notify the dispatcher or engineer that we need to stop to pick up or drop off hobos -- meaning we have some volunteers working out of the rails who need a ride back or to another work site.We think of hobos as figures of the past, usually Depression era bums and vagrants. Actually it was a more complex historical reality that emerged in the nineteenth century and lasted for many decades. Unable to find work at home, many hobos were men who traveled around, working wherever they could and sending money back home. These were a fairly respectable crew -- although they were bumming free rides on the rail and making folks nervous with their camps (jungles) under bridges or on the edge of towns. They formed a sort of union as far back as the 1880's, and members approved a formal code of ethics:
1. Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
3. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along, but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals treatment of other hobos.
7. When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you.
8. Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.
11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member.
12. Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children, expose to authorities all molesters, they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
15. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.
Needless to say, not all hobos were respectable and people were wise to be wary of them. But it is a reminder that we cannot always judge an individual by his or her outward appearance. It seems there were saints as well as sinners riding the rails
A National Hobo Convention is still held on the second weekend of every August in the town of Britt, Iowa, organized by the local Chamber of Commerce. The National Hobo Convention is the largest gathering of hobos, rail-riders, and tramps, who gather to celebrate the American traveling worker. They have a parade and elect a king and queen. To be elected king, you have to have been an actual rail-rider, not just a wanderer or a bum.
Today we were visited by the king (2001) and queen (2000): Grandpa Dudley and Mad Mary (their hobo names), a friendly and talkative elderly couple. Grandpa had to recite some poems for us, and his wife told us more than we could ever have thought we wanted to know about hobo culture, of which her husband had been a real part. PBS did a series on hobos some time back, and Grandpa Dudley was featured. They were in the area and always visit any train sites they run across. Back when they were a reigning couple, they presided at a Hobo Gathering at the MidContinent Railroad Museum in North Freedom, just a few miles from us, but this was their first visit to our little train. Here is a picture of the two of them I found online.
A National Hobo Convention is still held on the second weekend of every August in the town of Britt, Iowa, organized by the local Chamber of Commerce. The National Hobo Convention is the largest gathering of hobos, rail-riders, and tramps, who gather to celebrate the American traveling worker. They have a parade and elect a king and queen. To be elected king, you have to have been an actual rail-rider, not just a wanderer or a bum.
Today we were visited by the king (2001) and queen (2000): Grandpa Dudley and Mad Mary (their hobo names), a friendly and talkative elderly couple. Grandpa had to recite some poems for us, and his wife told us more than we could ever have thought we wanted to know about hobo culture, of which her husband had been a real part. PBS did a series on hobos some time back, and Grandpa Dudley was featured. They were in the area and always visit any train sites they run across. Back when they were a reigning couple, they presided at a Hobo Gathering at the MidContinent Railroad Museum in North Freedom, just a few miles from us, but this was their first visit to our little train. Here is a picture of the two of them I found online. Okay, maybe not the Queen of England, but still a treat.
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