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My uncle did time as a hobo after he got back from WWII. He was a mechanic and traveled from coast to coast. He became a wonderful role model for me and he became a great husband and father. His tales of traveling the rails never cease to amaze me. 😃👍
Growing up I had a Uncle Jack who was a hobo ,worked a lot as a painter and handy man . He went to all 48 states and to Canada and to the tip of South America. He always sent post cards to my great grandmother from wherever he was was. He also sent her money as he could . He alway wore white painters pants and a white shirt sometimes a loose pair of coveralls white of course . He wore what he called broghans black ankle boots with a strap or white canvas tennis shoes. He was quit the character reminding me much like Popeye. He smoked hand rolled cigarettes and drank hot black coffee even in the hottest of summer. He worked around the village for food or cash . He told tales of his adventures in Canada and going through South America when he came inside to eat lunch or dinner. He liked tunafish sandwiches and soup or chicken and dumplings the best . Wouldn't eat a hot dog he said he'd starve first. He had bad habits and some people in the village shunned him but he was always welcome in the family around us.
Our house backed on to tracks of a freight yard in the early 50s and hobos still occasionally stopped by our back door looking for chores that could earn them a meal. The ones I remember were fairly young. The one thing you didn't mention were the "bulls" or railroad security who tried to keep the box cars clear of trespassers. The original hobos in the thirties used the trains to ride from town to town looking for work. After WW 2 the hobos died out, because there actually was plenty of work and cops were not very sympathetic to unemployed vagrants. In the sixties a new kind of "hobo" appeared. With a duffle bag and guitar, I lived on the road for two years, hitch-hiking from coast to coast. Adults branded us "hippies". There were dozens of us on the highways and it was a golden time that I'm glad to have experienced. Hitching a ride was fairly easy in those times, so we seldom used trains. In larger communities the YMCA was about $3.00 a night for a bed, so whenever I landed a job that's where I stayed. I usually worked long enough to get a paycheck and then moved on. Sometimes I could earn enough by just playing my guitar on the street. Eventually I settled down and went to college, earning a BA. I was 25 before I married and started having kids. A family will tend to domesticate a person. I've been married 49 years and now retired in southern Arizona. Living on road is one of the fondest memories of my youth, but sleeping in a highway underpass in the rain is not something I would want to experience at my age. It was a different world then.
wow. I have only met one other person who lived this lifestyle, it is forgoten but very fascinating! I worked on the road but today we stay in motels, its a different world
Most people think a Hobo was a homeless bum, but I believe they were actually survivalists, especially during the Depression. I appreciate you bringing the true hobo to the forefront and showing what it took to survive on the road during hard times. I wish someone would make a movie about the life and times of hobos. You would be perfect for one of the roles by far! Thanks for sharing the knowledge you have obtained about the hobo lifestyle. Look forward to more of your videos.
Yes, I talked with one who hopped trains during the Depression. He was middle class in the 80s. He stated they would walk into businesses & asked if they needed the floor swept/dishes washed/whatever else they needed done for one meal. When "work" ran out in one town, back to the train for another town.
@caitanyadasa108 A lot of railways were shut down or abandoned in the last 100 years, which might make it difficult too. There are a lot of traveling workers these days who live out of their cars and move wherever the seasonal work is.
They have been for a while now but in different fields. Think about all those “tech nomads” you hear about who are constantly traveling and constantly getting temporary remote work gigs. In the modern digital age, programmers are the new mechanics (although mechanics are still around obviously) and just like the early mechanics, lots of programmers are moving around place to place looking for work. The same can be said about a number of other careers
I remember, at age 14 I had a friend who was 16. As King of the Road was playing on the radio in his trailer, I asked him what he was going to do after High School? He said; I'm going to be a Hobo. I've never quit thinking about him.
I would highly recommend carrying a large tin cup or an Army canteen cup that the canteen would slip into for making and drinking coffee or at least a peach can modified with a wire bail. One of the handiest thing I carried in my knapsack was a simple pillowcase. It has little weight and helps keep clean shirts and socks clean, you can use the case and clothing as a pillow and feels much nicer on a wind or sunburned face while sleeping. You can use it as a poke for carrying anything you pick up along to tote back to camp. You can also use it as a towel if you bathe in a pond or creek. I got that hint from the diary written by a Federal Civil War solider. I found he was correct from my experience during very long fast marching on week long, hardcore campaign marches years ago.
Going to add a nice flannel pillow case to my kit! I generally carry some kind of thin bag but not sure why I never thought about a pillow case. I have extra clothes and blankets stored in them and use them as pillows at home. . Great idea! Thanks!
Hey that's a great tip! I usually carry a small towel but it can be cumbersome to pack and to dry out. A pillow case has multiple uses as you said and is more versatile.
My Grandpa was a hobo after WWII. I always loved to hear his stories. I’ve worked on the railroad for 32 years. Use to see hobos quite a bit in the mid to late 90’s not so much now. I always tried to help them out with crewpacks(a little pack that had toilet paper, some hand cleaners, paper towels, and a bandaid) some bottles of water and maybe some info on what train was going where. Most of them were cool but some were a holes!
Never really road the rails. But hitchhiked all over the US. Been to 48 states. Sometimes I worked, sometimes I didn't, it was all about the freedom. Did this in 1999 to 2019. Now I live in a house with my girlfriend where we have a garden and thankfully live in the mountains. Awesome video my friend
As always, great video James. The saying “Jack of all trades, master of none”, has a very important ending that is for some reason always left out. Maybe because truth hurts? “A jack of all trades is a master of none but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Keep up the good message James. Godspeed.
We called them Swagmen or Swaggies here in Australia. Their canvas bedroll was called a Swag - length of canvas, blanket or 2, soft items, length of rope to carry - the song Waltzing Matilda tells the story of a Swaggie carrying his Matilda (the swag) as he walks from town to town.
My father was a swagman after WW2. He died in 1955 aged only 44, from a combination of hypothermia, starvation and liver disease. It was a tough life. Maurice Wilgress Bullock RIP.
@@MrGraemeb2022 My mother worked in a bakery & the Swaggies gave their ration tickets for days old bread & they were thankful. Dad said they would offer to chop the fire wood for the stove for 1/2 a loaf of bread. His mother would give them tea & sugar too.
Greetings from California. I was something like a Swaggie back in the 80's. Traveled the world and stopped in Sydney for about six months to work and earn some money for my travels. I wasn't supposed to work but my boss didn't mind, he just wanted the work done. Never even saw a kangaroo but made a lot of great friends though. I miss those days at the pub on payday and the beaches on the north shore. I even miss you all poking fun at my accent. I'd like to come back. Keep the Toohey's cold for me, would you, mate?
I used to travel a lot while I was in the military and later. You need to carry everything you will need to survive, but not enough to be a target. There is a fine line there I know, but it's important. Never flaunt what you have, but try to be generous when you can.
@howiescott5865 It's not easy. There will always be something you have that someone else may want. I think the important parts are to keep what you have to yourself, but be willing to share. For example, if I was sitting at a small fire, and someone came up, I would offer to let them share the fire. Most folks will appreciate the chance to get warm and will usually offer food or drink, if they have it. 'Course you might have to defend yourself, if they are not nice. Best way is to be friendly, but show everyone that you're willing to do violence in a heartbeat. Most people decide what you have isn't worth the damage they will incur.
Interesting video 👍😊 I am from Sweden, my great grandfather was forced to leave home when he was 14 because his parents could not afford to feed him and other things. He went on the roads and lived like a hobo. In Sweden they are called ”Luffare”. He worked mainly as a lumberjack in different places. I could listen to his storys for hours and hours. Thank you for a great channel 👍😊💯
This may sound macabre to some, but the first dead person I ever saw was a HoBo who had tried crossing the rr tracks ahead of a train in Sheffield, AL and didnt make it! I was 9yrs old and witnessed it with my school friends! First & only time I had seen a person explode from such an impact! We used to see Hobo's all the time up there, getting on and off trains near the Nabisco plant. TV always portrays the Hobo as a bum and filthy, these Men were more like what you are referencing in your video Jim! Thank you for another interesting video!
As a 30+ year career Law Enforcement Officer, I've seen my share! I'm retired now and have all those experiences visit me time to time; but Life is so much better with the great many awesome experiences I've had as well! I find such solice being alone in the woods, camping, hunting and just enjoying the wonders that God has made and wants us to experience and share! That is one of the many reasons I enjoy and appreciate your videos James....you give reverence to our Almighty and seem more than Happy in what you do! God bless you and yours Sir 🕊🙏😇
Oh, what a nice video. My dad was born in the 40's, and he always considered himself a bit of a hobo. He actually was for a while, even thought it was after the main period. Even in later years, he always had a bag of things, as if he were ready, and probably longed, to hit the road. Your harmonica rendition of Swanee River was just lovely. Brings back a lot of memories.
@@jerbear7952well I didn't know either and I ALSO bet a lot of people didn't either. And yes, to the presenter's point, probably many were organized and many were not. Both are valid points despite your criticism of the respondent.
They probably had no choice but to be organized. They had to be able to go at a moments notice if they were getting kicked off a train or from one of their camps.
Nice! Puts me in mind of something I saw a ways back. It was an article on hobo signs and symbols. These would be left in innocuous spots to tell others what they might expect in the town or village just up ahead, Friendly folks who gave handouts, and jobs and the other end of things mean dogs, railway yard men, and tough cops. There was an alphabet too, as I recall. These might make a good video too.
Finally someone explained the word to me [German], thank you! We still have Hobos, they're young, travelling craftspeople who just finished their professional training as carpenters and such. To send them on 3 years of "Walz", as it's often referred to, ensured new blood in far away villages - and skilled workers of course. So the concept still very much exists and I think today you could call them work&travel folks! Anyway, thanks a ton, your videos rock!
I wonder if the German Walz is what is referred to in the song Waltzing Matilda. I know that Matilda refers to the pack an Australian carried but I never understood the waltzing part.
I'm surprised they didn't carry some kind of tarp to use as ground cover or for rainy nights. I REALLY love learning more about time when life was different, and adventure was everywhere! Thanks James!
@@dennisdeal3323 That's so cool! I would have loved to have been able to travel like that! I've got an oiled canvas tent that my Grandparents used to live in while they built their first home in Chateaugay New York. {It's half in Canada & half in NYS}. It's extremely heavy, but a piece big enough to roll up with a wool blanket might have worked... their first home had dirt floors, and my Grandfather used to paint them, and Grandma made rugs out of rags to walk on. My Mom, Aunt's & Uncle's were born there. They sold it, and bought a bigger farm, and I grew up there... At 65, I wouldn't make a very good traveler now! However, as a teenager I was such a Tom Boy, I would have loved it! If you don't mind my asking, how long were you on the road? I'm truly fascinated by the "Hobo" lifestyle. I wouldn't want to be rained on either!
@@dragonslayer7587 10 years in total. And at 61 and disabled with a bad back. I would not be able to live that way again. For me it was not a choice. It was necessity. When I started to ride the rails. It was not with a sense of joining or being a part of any culture or society. It was just a faster and often more reliable way to get to a where a seasonal job was opening up. Whether it was harvesting crops in Southern California or picking apples in Oregon or Washington State. Depending on the season I could be any where in the country. Either working or looking for work.
Thank you dear brother ❤ I have to tell you that when my son who is now 21, once told me that he wanted to be a hobo ❤ I thought that was pretty cool!! 👍 He was pretty young when he told me this! Guessing he was watching videos like yours ❤ Also, my father who was born in 1916, rode the rails to go west during the Great Depression. Not sure if he was a hobo or not. I do know that he could do anything and everything and he was very intelligent and such a hard working man!! I remember his stories he told about how my grandma and grandpa could not afford their 4 kids. He was told either to get a job or leave. Of course there weren’t any jobs then. I sure miss my dad 😞 I do thank you so very much for all of your hard work and knowledge that you pass along to all of us ❤ God bless you my fellow Buckeye!
I have been minamilizing my life for the last 5yrs. Traveled and worked out of a subaru and then a truck. Lived on a boat for a while. I Have been trying the hobo life this summer in Washington. I have learned alot from you videos dude,thanks for the knowledge my friend ✌💚
Nice! Be careful there's a few tunnels that will kill you, too long low oxygen many who don't know which train routes are safe die of asphyxiation thru such tunnels here in the PNW...had a few punkrock buddies who did this, and me and my friends hopped freight just to get across to downtown spokane as teens growing up by the tracks, back in the 90s.. anyway train towns teach bout hobos and many ride the rails to avoid jail time and many hobo murders go unsolved in spokane so as a mom plz stay safe and vigilant there be monsters..
What a simple life to have James. However, I am sure it wasn't all that easy. I appreciate that you do your homework on the hobo life. Impressive harmonica talent as well...is there anything you can't do! Take care!!! : )
Supposably the word hobo came from the term 'homeward bound' after the Civil War when soldiers were traveling to get all the way home from the battlefields. So it's funny that now it means not having a home?
Excellent. Couple more thoughts: smoking pipe, Bible, letters/correspondence“secretary” a small revolver. You did mention a tarp. Often hobos had 2 pair of shoes. Walking stick. Eye glasses. Work gloves. Baling/longshoremen hook. Thermos. Overcoat. Sweater. Haversack exclusively for food. Whiskey flask. Deck of cards. Jaw harp. Pocket watch. Fingernails brush & scissors. Tooth powder. Shoe polish/rag. TP. Witch hazel. Casual reading book. Folding, brass, Civil War era lantern.
Awesome video!!! I've worked for a class 1 railroad for nearly 30 years and was never introduced to this historical knowledge. What a shame! I HAVE, however, bumped into a modern day hobo on rare occasion, always at night and it was clear that I scared them as much as they scared me. They were always polite and simply asked if I knew which way that train would go. Unfortunately, I was never much help in that regard - but I also never turned them in.
My second time recommending an episode about the hobo symbols, my grandad, retired Southern Pacific Railroad, said they had a whole system of communication.
My Grandpa was a hobo after WWII. I always loved to hear his stories. I’ve worked on the railroad for 32 years. Use to see hobos quite a bit in the mid to late 90’s not so much now. I always tried to help them out with crewpacks(a little pack that had toilet paper, some hand cleaners, paper towels, and a bandaid) some bottles of water and maybe some info on what train was going where. Most of them were cool but some were a holes!
I found it interesting about wanting to look presentable for jobs; shave kit, toothbrush, etc.. I know people today who are well off and we refer to them as hobos because they look scraggly and unkept. It goes without saying, if you take care of yourself and look 'presentable', you'll go further. Whether that means getting a job or simply getting some food. People treat people differently if they are 'kept'.
As a trades man and a long distance walker, I can relate to this very much, I feel like I might of enjoyed the great depression, as the speed of life intensifies. Love the video very interesting 👌
What a fun video to watch. If I had a choice between that set up and a modern one, I would definitely want that hobo gear. Thanks for putting this together!
I'm from Germany, so I wasn't really familiar with Hobo culture (I don't think we had Hobos, I only heard about them from the US). In fact I didn't even know what a Hobo was exactly. Thank you for educating me about this fascinating piece of history.
In Germany we have something like Hobos. But our "Hobos" are called "Wandergesellen" that means something like Journeyman they are fully educated Workers frome their craft something like a Stonemason or a carpenter and they travel to learn new skills. They have a lot of Rituals and rules (like dont return to home)
@@solracxd7456 That's what I thought of, as well. Imagine, how exciting it must have been for young guys, to set to the road and explore the country and learn about their craft. Some even went abroad for a while. Of course they had the advantage of being part of a larger community, whose members would take them in and feed them and such. But still. In those times it must have been the adventure of a lifetime.
Another Blogger stated: "the more you know, the less you need"! Seems the Hobo's knew what they were doing. One of my men was getting out of the army, I ask him what his plans for the future were. He told me he was going to be a hobo and not worry about anything. Then he said: "have you ever seen a hobo that did not have a smile on his face". I wished him the best of luck and have thought about him often. I have to agree with him, because giving away my last possession was the most liberating feeling I ever had. Yes, I drive a car and live in a house, but I own nothing, am free to walk-away anytime I please, with zero emotional, financial obligation or grief.
Loved this! So many things in that small bag - it was like watching Mary Poppins unpacking that carpet bag! 🥰. God bless the world’s hobos - not an easy life 🙏
The best thing about these videos is that you are defining what a hobo is. Thank you! I had no idea. Growing up the term “hobo” “tramp” and “bum” were used interchangeably.
I grew up one block away from the tracks. My mom fed Hobos or let them shower for chores done or repairs to the house back in the 50's in Oakland and us kids always jumped on empty box cars moving out. It's too dangerous to trust anybody now these days.
James, your videos of "Life on the Tracks" (aka Hobo Life) refresh memories of my early childhood. As a youngster during & after WWII, our family often lived close to railroad tracks & for several years near a big railroad switching yard. As part of a Hobo's Tool Kit, I do not recall your mention of FRICTION TAPE. That was the black, sticky, cloth-backed tape used for repairs before the days of plastic electrical tape & Duct Tape. That would be a useful addition to anyone's kit in those days. You always do a SUPER job in your presentations, allowing us to step right into whatever period of history you are portraying. As an 82 year old youngster who still considers himself an "Old Schooler," I see the Hobo Pack as more than a survival kit, Bug-Out-Bag; the Hobo Pack is really more of a "Mobile Daily Living Kit." Thanks, and may God bless you!
Fun fact, sir! I worked in telecom, and linemen to this day still use friction tape A LOT, even with high quality 3M vinyl tape on offer! Friction tape is still stronger and more versatile for certain purposes, great observation.
Outstanding video! Great education! I was just back in southwest Virginia, and was reminiscing my teenage adventures with my wife. I used to jump trains coming out of the depot and ride them several miles up the track before jumping off in a cow pasture. Always wanted to take a hobo style trip, but never got beyond that short adventure. God bless you man!
There is a book written by Charles Elmer Fox AKA Reefer Charlie, as he preferred to ride the refrigerated trains as they got from point A to point B the fasted, he used his walking stick attaching it thru his belt to the ladder which kept his knees and often took a nap. Found the book at my local library and the story he told me in person was verified by Gypsy Moon who was Queen of the Hobos and a guy who went by the name of SteamTrain. Hobos preferred to work for a meal, Tramps took handouts and Theives just helped themselves.. Cher once had a hit song that summed it 'fairly well'.
I had a coworker (nurse) in the 90s. She came in distraught one day, & told me her husband had just "picked up & left home the day before, no idea where he was". She stated he was a good man & she loved him dearly, but he had been a hobo since youth. He had warned her when he proposed marriage to her years earlier... "It's in my blood, but if you can live with that, I'd be happy to be married to you." She said there was never any warning when he might just disappear when the yearning took over, & it might be 6 months to 2 years before he'd suddenly show back up, out of the blue, happy as a lark to be home, & it was honeymoon time over & over again.". Of course, all kinds of thoughts went thru her head after he left..."Did I do something to make him leave?"..."Is he safe & well?"..."I need him here right now!" Of course, she hadn't really been fully aware of the life she was committing to when she married, yet she was happy when he was there, so they never split up. However, they were older now, & she was worried for his health & safety, which grew with the years...but the desire for freedom overrode everything. She was a good woman, too. I often think of them.
I actually have experience in this fascinating culture. His name was Jack Fry and he taught me how to thrive as a hobo. I was just on my way to pick apples in Washington state where we met near a railway station. Got to learn how to travel the railways and make hobo stew- from garbage. In reality he was only interested in getting drunk, but actually came up with a meal that I did not partake of. He traveled light. I did not. Was he a bum? Probably. But still, I learned a few things. To be clear I do not recommend learning in this manner.
I am so happy I found and subscribed to this channel. I have learnt quite a lot and the presenter seems to be an affable and really laid back guy. Thanks for sharing.
I love your hobo video's, simpler times. Always been interested in pioneers an history......this kit just shows how basics kit is a staple thru the centuries! Apart from screw drivers an can opener, looks much like a legionnaires kit from roman times
@WayPointSurvival the romans even used poles to carry a bed roll, leather sack/bag off a cross section. The pole had a netted bag which carried bread cheese etc, but the netted bag could also be used as a purse net for fishing or catching rabbits. The hobo using a stave for a extention to carry more gear must proved how it was helpful. I wonder if they used the carry pole as the first pole tent rig? You do a really good job with your videos sir, showing old skills to younger viewers of how the old ways still work an are tried an tested thru time.....good on you
In the early and mid-80s when I started avidly thrift shopping in very low priced non-profit shops, I would find shoe shine boxes, rolled up leather bags and other things that had these exact items in them. And maybe a little bit more sometimes, as if someone had this kind of set up in a humble home or cabin. But yes I found a lot of sets that were just like this. I'm 61 years old and grew up in a town that was behind times, around many old timers, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, so I was skeptical when I clicked on your video but I vouch that it's very legit! I wished I had had a home where I could, as some people I know of have, keep kits like to hold onto history & people's lives and stories... like a small museum in my home!
im a vivid thrift shopper, i wish id find things like this. Im making my own from the every now so often tin cans i find. Canvas is impossible to find, if not bought expensivly. Its very learning this video and commen section
Would love to see a series, similar to your 1700s story series. Traveling from town to town using this gear and showing the way of life for a hobo. Thank you for the fantastic content and historical knowledge behind it.
Real good story. Im 70yrs and worked for Rail Road till 1987. The railroads have tightened it up well. I miss the one I came in contactwith I was always helpful letting them know witch track to get on. A lot of great guys those times went out in the 1980. I worked as a mud hopper. Ask an ole railroader what that is. Peace Out and Love. MMLZZZ Just watched Imperial Of the North. A number 1 was the best. Find movie great history and acting.
I find the similarities between modern "bug out bags" typical military personal loadouts, and what a Hobo would carry remarkably similar. This Hobo life skillset is something I never thought to look into while setting up and/ or preparing for when SHTF
I hate the idea of a bug out bag. I have mission-specific pouches hooked up to slings that I can just toss on as many or few as I need, plus a couple different packs, one for urban scavenging, and one for forest recon. But I'm also not required to go around with all my belongings strapped to my back, nor am I short on finances for said pouches and packs.
@@manictiger The bags are a good idea, just not in the weird "Alone in the woods" context they're usually put in. A fire, flood, or storm, are all relatively reasonable things to expect to see at least once in your lifetime so having a bag with a change of clothes, some snacks, water, keepsakes, medications, copies of important documents (e.g. insurance documents, passport, things to essentially prove that you are you) along with a little cash are a great thing to keep by a front door. Swap out the meds and snacks every few months, water twice that, and if the worst ever happens you'll find it a _lot_ easier to get back on your feet when you can claim insurance, access emergency grants, or even just get a job. Bonus points if you combo it with a wool blanket or two in your car and a bit more snacks and water. It's enough to get you to a hotel and back.
@@jillsjakes2519 Already saw a fire, lol. Was about a block and a half away from losing everything in my apartment at the time. All respect to those firefighters. The only meds I pack are anti-diarheals, since it can happen and be completely crippling, and my "food" is P-38 can openers and vacuum-sealed corn starch (that doubles as anti-chafing powder). I have no plans for extended op. Either it takes less than one day, or it's no longer an op. The risk/reward gets worse, and it's become a self-inflicted game of Russian Roulette.
My grandmother used to talk about the hoboes that would come to their back door asking for work in exchange for a hot meal. Her mother, my great grandmother, never turned them away. They grew all their own food and there was always enough to go around. Later on, my mother remembers that the hoboes had drawn a simple cat on a fence that seperated their house from the railyard. The cat let other hoboes know that a friendly family lived there that would give them a hot meal. My grandmother had learned from her mother that helping someone in a time in need was very important. She never turned anyone away. She died a few years ago at the age of 102 and I will always be thankful that I live and learned from her examples. Finest person I have ever known.
My mother has distinct memories of hobos. She grew up in rural Illinois and their house wasn’t too far from the railroad. She said my grandmother would never allow them in the house but would still provide them some food.
Another fascinating history lesson regarding hobo’s, thank you. I worked at the RR in the 2000’s as a conductor/engineer and I don’t ever remember seeing any hobo’s. However, we would see quite a few young people who would “appear” after we yarded our trains.
@@slatsgrobneck7515 a panhandler who lives on the streets, most frequently a new or unserious one who is perceived as homeless by choice, rather than by necessity
Cool video, always cool to see the gear and complete the mental picture of what it would have been like. This reminded me of when I used to watch Stobe the Hobo's videos. RIP Stobe.
My dad left home at 15 in the late 1930s and traveled back and forth across the western USA by freight train for a year. I always loved listening to his stories. It was a very hard life.
Nice video James, very nostalgic. I noticed that the pliers and flat screwdriver you carried in the pack are vintage items from the tool kit supplied with the ubiquitous Ford model "T". With 15 million of those built between 1907 and 1927, I'm sure there were lots of those laying around in any scrapyard or workshop. Got a few myself.
Great information. My grand father hopped a train in Texas and worked in California in the early 40's. Thank you for giving me a glimpse at some of the things he might have carried back then.
My Grandfather was a 'Bo for a few years in the 30s. He later served in the CCC as a cook. Because of this experience, when WW2 came around, he became a cook in the Army. Needless to say, he had some amazing stories to tell!
I'm not looking to become a habitual hobo, but I've been fascinated with their way of life also. Honestly, hopping just one ride is on my bucket list. Where it takes me might make a long walk home.
My grandmother was born in 1925. We live in a highly industrialized suburb of Pittsburgh with a lot of rail. Hobos would knock on her door every morning for breakfast and would be welcomed in. Every morning was a huge pot of oats on the stove to feed the whole family. My grandmother said she would be upset as a child that the hobos got to all eat in the dining room and all the children had to eat in the kitchen, lol. As an adult, she was always one to feed every kid in the neighborhood. No joke, kids would knock on her door every day for ice cream, popsicles, a soda, or even a whole lunch.
Shared this on my FB friend's news feed which will attract many of his hobo friends to the channel. I hope it helps and leads to many more people supporting the channel
Interesting history distinguishing the hobos from the tramps & bums. I've watched all your hobo videos and am curious how many people today are by definition, hobos
I found it hard to get actual statistics on those who ride the rails. It keeps getting confused with the homeless. However, a lot of people that still live the hobo type life now do it living in vans and rvs.
@@WayPointSurvival I agree, far too difficult to get an accurate figure. I hadn't considered the fact that nomadic RV and van lifers could also be hobos, good point. God bless.
I remember when I was young back in the early 70s.up in Dunsmuir, CA. us kids would watch trains go by . Some had hobos riding the trains we would wave to the hobos and they would wave back to us. Didn't have much in those days but life was simpler and better.
God Bless You James, have you ever attended the National Hobo Convention in Brit, Iowa if You haven't, please go some year. You'll have a great time there. Really enjoy all Your videos. 🕊🙏🐟🎣
James, you’ve put together another amazing video. You’ve managed to take us back in time when life for many in this country was hard. Some men found themselves drifting from place to place, making do with what they had or could scavenge. Many migrant workers traveled as hobos. Some hobos were just wanders. Willing to work or not, these people found themselves adapting to their situation and surroundings. Here in your video, you’ve covered the most basic items a man might gather if he found himself homeless and wandering as a hobo. How interesting it would be to learn more about the minimalist lifestyle of these men. A step back in history, presented in a very authentic way. Thank you for your commitment to keeping your videos as real and informative as possible. God bless. - Tennessee Smoky
This culture is alive and well in America, and Canada. There's an entire subculture of people who ride trains and work seasonal jobs. They have large backpacks, often have dogs, and instruments. Easy to spot them apart from the normal homeless people you encounter. The gear has evolved as well. Most have modern internal frame packs, scanners to listen to RR communications, and smartphones.
My grandfather (probably in the late '50s) moved the family to large developing centers and worked there for years before moving again for another developing city. Came a point where he couldn't find a steady place to move to, so he "Hoboed" it his way: weeks at work and weekends at home, he did some train riding, hitch-hiked for a while and finally ended up hiring someone close by as an assistant foreman so he could get a lift. He liked fishing, but not sleeping outdoors...
There's a lot to be said for traveling light! Of course, I would take a few clean underpants with me, too. My mama told me to never leave home without them.
Thank you for a great video. I really like the american hobo culture. I ride freight trains in Europe, mostly in my country (Czech republic) and you gave me an inspiration on how to do it in a more traditional way.
![Camp Like a Hobo! [ Unveiling the 1930s Railside Wilderness Adventure ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I26CBlTBeRk/mqdefault.jpg)
![Camp Like a Hobo! [ Unveiling the 1930s Railside Wilderness Adventure ]](/img/tr.png)
![1930s Hobo Horseshoe! [ Easy and Functional! ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/s7ZOgxt5QXI/mqdefault.jpg)
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👍🏻thank you for this Video 👌🏻
Loved it, thank you sir!
Learned some things from you for sure!
You're welcome!
I like my beans with Ketchup George.
😮
My grandparents hired a hobo every fall for harvest in North Dakota! They spoke highly of this Hobo who came every year for seven years!
I believe that's called a migrant worker.
Once you feed them, you can’t get rid of them
@@Penfold497 That was not the case with my Grandparents experience.
That's a modern term
@Penfold497 well, that is the way the US became a nation and superpower.😂😂😂
My uncle did time as a hobo after he got back from WWII. He was a mechanic and traveled from coast to coast. He became a wonderful role model for me and he became a great husband and father. His tales of traveling the rails never cease to amaze me. 😃👍
That's very cool! Thanks so much for watching!
Much respect for your uncle and his service
Growing up I had a Uncle Jack who was a hobo ,worked a lot as a painter and handy man . He went to all 48 states and to Canada and to the tip of South America. He always sent post cards to my great grandmother from wherever he was was. He also sent her money as he could . He alway wore white painters pants and a white shirt sometimes a loose pair of coveralls white of course . He wore what he called broghans black ankle boots with a strap or white canvas tennis shoes. He was quit the character reminding me much like Popeye. He smoked hand rolled cigarettes and drank hot black coffee even in the hottest of summer. He worked around the village for food or cash
. He told tales of his adventures in Canada and going through South America when he came inside to eat lunch or dinner. He liked tunafish sandwiches and soup or chicken and dumplings the best . Wouldn't eat a hot dog he said he'd starve first. He had bad habits and some people in the village shunned him but he was always welcome in the family around us.
Lol mine too he was a logger
@@charlesmurphy7712 awesome story,thank for sharing
Our house backed on to tracks of a freight yard in the early 50s and hobos still occasionally stopped by our back door looking for chores that could earn them a meal. The ones I remember were fairly young. The one thing you didn't mention were the "bulls" or railroad security who tried to keep the box cars clear of trespassers. The original hobos in the thirties used the trains to ride from town to town looking for work. After WW 2 the hobos died out, because there actually was plenty of work and cops were not very sympathetic to unemployed vagrants.
In the sixties a new kind of "hobo" appeared. With a duffle bag and guitar, I lived on the road for two years, hitch-hiking from coast to coast. Adults branded us "hippies". There were dozens of us on the highways and it was a golden time that I'm glad to have experienced. Hitching a ride was fairly easy in those times, so we seldom used trains.
In larger communities the YMCA was about $3.00 a night for a bed, so whenever I landed a job that's where I stayed. I usually worked long enough to get a paycheck and then moved on. Sometimes I could earn enough by just playing my guitar on the street. Eventually I settled down and went to college, earning a BA. I was 25 before I married and started having kids. A family will tend to domesticate a person.
I've been married 49 years and now retired in southern Arizona. Living on road is one of the fondest memories of my youth, but sleeping in a highway underpass in the rain is not something I would want to experience at my age. It was a different world then.
I read it like a good adventure movie
wow. I have only met one other person who lived this lifestyle, it is forgoten but very fascinating! I worked on the road but today we stay in motels, its a different world
Same experience in the 70's. We wore mullets because we could put our hair up in our ball caps and look "respectable".
Awesome comment ! Thanks
Something that I did for a very short time. By the late 70s the highway was becoming dangerous.
Most people think a Hobo was a homeless bum, but I believe they were actually survivalists, especially during the Depression. I appreciate you bringing the true hobo to the forefront and showing what it took to survive on the road during hard times. I wish someone would make a movie about the life and times of hobos. You would be perfect for one of the roles by far! Thanks for sharing the knowledge you have obtained about the hobo lifestyle. Look forward to more of your videos.
Thanks so much! That would be a fun series.
Yes, I talked with one who hopped trains during the Depression. He was middle class in the 80s. He stated they would walk into businesses & asked if they needed the floor swept/dishes washed/whatever else they needed done for one meal. When "work" ran out in one town, back to the train for another town.
_Emperor of the North_ is pretty good! It has Lee Marvin, Ernest Bourgnine, and a young Kieth Carradine. It was made in the early 70s. Good Movie!!!
there is a great documentary from the 90s here on youtube
They were bums.
The way things are looking now, hobos may be making a comeback.
That may indeed be true! Thanks for watching.
I agree, though I wonder if the railroad companies would tolerate it now.
@caitanyadasa108 A lot of railways were shut down or abandoned in the last 100 years, which might make it difficult too. There are a lot of traveling workers these days who live out of their cars and move wherever the seasonal work is.
@@apalinode3859 Maybe! Guess time will tell...
They have been for a while now but in different fields. Think about all those “tech nomads” you hear about who are constantly traveling and constantly getting temporary remote work gigs. In the modern digital age, programmers are the new mechanics (although mechanics are still around obviously) and just like the early mechanics, lots of programmers are moving around place to place looking for work. The same can be said about a number of other careers
I remember, at age 14 I had a friend who was 16. As King of the Road was playing on the radio in his trailer, I asked him what he was going to do after High School? He said; I'm going to be a Hobo. I've never quit thinking about him.
Very interesting. I wonder if he actually did it?
@@WayPointSurvival I wonder the same thing.
Great random human memorys thanks
We are all basically Hobos with bank accounts or family and friends for support .
@@gentrynewsom2080 I agree, but being a real life Hobo seems a bit more of an adventurous life.
I would highly recommend carrying a large tin cup or an Army canteen cup that the canteen would slip into for making and drinking coffee or at least a peach can modified with a wire bail. One of the handiest thing I carried in my knapsack was a simple pillowcase. It has little weight and helps keep clean shirts and socks clean, you can use the case and clothing as a pillow and feels much nicer on a wind or sunburned face while sleeping. You can use it as a poke for carrying anything you pick up along to tote back to camp. You can also use it as a towel if you bathe in a pond or creek. I got that hint from the diary written by a Federal Civil War solider. I found he was correct from my experience during very long fast marching on week long, hardcore campaign marches years ago.
Very interesting. Thanks for watching and for the information!
Going to add a nice flannel pillow case to my kit! I generally carry some kind of thin bag but not sure why I never thought about a pillow case. I have extra clothes and blankets stored in them and use them as pillows at home. . Great idea! Thanks!
Hey that's a great tip! I usually carry a small towel but it can be cumbersome to pack and to dry out. A pillow case has multiple uses as you said and is more versatile.
My Grandpa was a hobo after WWII. I always loved to hear his stories. I’ve worked on the railroad for 32 years. Use to see hobos quite a bit in the mid to late 90’s not so much now. I always tried to help them out with crewpacks(a little pack that had toilet paper, some hand cleaners, paper towels, and a bandaid) some bottles of water and maybe some info on what train was going where. Most of them were cool but some were a holes!
You're a good man! Hobo Shoestring still rides and posts videos on UA-cam. Keep an eye out for him.
That's excellent! Good hearted people are what truly makes this world feel like a good place to live in difficult times.
@@punishedmatteson7108he's a bum and a drug addict liar.
Never really road the rails. But hitchhiked all over the US. Been to 48 states. Sometimes I worked, sometimes I didn't, it was all about the freedom. Did this in 1999 to 2019. Now I live in a house with my girlfriend where we have a garden and thankfully live in the mountains. Awesome video my friend
Thanks so much for watching and I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
My husband and I hitched when we did disaster relief. 16 years.
As always, great video James.
The saying “Jack of all trades, master of none”, has a very important ending that is for some reason always left out. Maybe because truth hurts?
“A jack of all trades is a master of none but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Keep up the good message James. Godspeed.
Thanks! I don't think I'd ever heard that second part but it does make sense.
I remember my grandmother telling me bout feeding Hobo’s off her back porch, excellent video, thanks James
That's awesome and you're welcome!
Woke people do not understand. A white man strugle❤ we all human 😊
We called them Swagmen or Swaggies here in Australia. Their canvas bedroll was called a Swag - length of canvas, blanket or 2, soft items, length of rope to carry - the song Waltzing Matilda tells the story of a Swaggie carrying his Matilda (the swag) as he walks from town to town.
My father was a swagman after WW2. He died in 1955 aged only 44, from a combination of hypothermia, starvation and liver disease. It was a tough life. Maurice Wilgress Bullock RIP.
@@MrGraemeb2022 My mother worked in a bakery & the Swaggies gave their ration tickets for days old bread & they were thankful. Dad said they would offer to chop the fire wood for the stove for 1/2 a loaf of bread. His mother would give them tea & sugar too.
Very cool, thanks so much for watching and for the information!
Greetings from California. I was something like a Swaggie back in the 80's. Traveled the world and stopped in Sydney for about six months to work and earn some money for my travels. I wasn't supposed to work but my boss didn't mind, he just wanted the work done. Never even saw a kangaroo but made a lot of great friends though. I miss those days at the pub on payday and the beaches on the north shore. I even miss you all poking fun at my accent. I'd like to come back. Keep the Toohey's cold for me, would you, mate?
Once a jolly swagman camped beside a billabong.
I used to travel a lot while I was in the military and later. You need to carry everything you will need to survive, but not enough to be a target. There is a fine line there I know, but it's important. Never flaunt what you have, but try to be generous when you can.
Absolutely.
How do you not be a target these days?
@howiescott5865 It's not easy. There will always be something you have that someone else may want. I think the important parts are to keep what you have to yourself, but be willing to share.
For example, if I was sitting at a small fire, and someone came up, I would offer to let them share the fire. Most folks will appreciate the chance to get warm and will usually offer food or drink, if they have it.
'Course you might have to defend yourself, if they are not nice. Best way is to be friendly, but show everyone that you're willing to do violence in a heartbeat. Most people decide what you have isn't worth the damage they will incur.
wisely said.
Interesting video 👍😊 I am from Sweden, my great grandfather was forced to leave home when he was 14 because his parents could not afford to feed him and other things. He went on the roads and lived like a hobo. In Sweden they are called ”Luffare”. He worked mainly as a lumberjack in different places. I could listen to his storys for hours and hours.
Thank you for a great channel 👍😊💯
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
That was an interesting video.
This may sound macabre to some, but the first dead person I ever saw was a HoBo who had tried crossing the rr tracks ahead of a train in Sheffield, AL and didnt make it! I was 9yrs old and witnessed it with my school friends! First & only time I had seen a person explode from such an impact! We used to see Hobo's all the time up there, getting on and off trains near the Nabisco plant. TV always portrays the Hobo as a bum and filthy, these Men were more like what you are referencing in your video Jim! Thank you for another interesting video!
Sorry to hear that mate
Wow, that's a sad story! I'm sure that there were many of those type incidents across the years. Thanks for watching the video!
As a 30+ year career Law Enforcement Officer, I've seen my share! I'm retired now and have all those experiences visit me time to time; but Life is so much better with the great many awesome experiences I've had as well! I find such solice being alone in the woods, camping, hunting and just enjoying the wonders that God has made and wants us to experience and share! That is one of the many reasons I enjoy and appreciate your videos James....you give reverence to our Almighty and seem more than Happy in what you do! God bless you and yours Sir 🕊🙏😇
Oh, what a nice video. My dad was born in the 40's, and he always considered himself a bit of a hobo. He actually was for a while, even thought it was after the main period. Even in later years, he always had a bag of things, as if he were ready, and probably longed, to hit the road. Your harmonica rendition of Swanee River was just lovely. Brings back a lot of memories.
Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words!
I bet a lot of people don't realize how organized Hobo Gear was.
Do you mean that YOU didn't know how organized it was? Don't worry about what other people know.
Thanks. I'm sure that not all of them were well organized just like in society today there was a range of people who traveled the rails.
Yeah I'd say that they had to be pretty organized if they were able to in order to survive! Excellent comment!
@@jerbear7952well I didn't know either and I ALSO bet a lot of people didn't either. And yes, to the presenter's point, probably many were organized and many were not. Both are valid points despite your criticism of the respondent.
They probably had no choice but to be organized. They had to be able to go at a moments notice if they were getting kicked off a train or from one of their camps.
you listened, and brought us back to the 30,s thank you. you are awesome.
Nice! Puts me in mind of something I saw a ways back. It was an article on hobo signs and symbols. These would be left in innocuous spots to tell others what they might expect in the town or village just up ahead, Friendly folks who gave handouts, and jobs and the other end of things mean dogs, railway yard men, and tough cops. There was an alphabet too, as I recall. These might make a good video too.
Yes, you can actually find lists of them online and in various books written on the subject.
The cooking pot with rice and beans in paper bags is a good shout that I wouldn't have thought of for a pack. Thanks 🙂
Finally someone explained the word to me [German], thank you! We still have Hobos, they're young, travelling craftspeople who just finished their professional training as carpenters and such. To send them on 3 years of "Walz", as it's often referred to, ensured new blood in far away villages - and skilled workers of course. So the concept still very much exists and I think today you could call them work&travel folks! Anyway, thanks a ton, your videos rock!
Thanks so very much!
In English we call those Journeymen. Skilled tradespeople that travel (Journey) to refine their skill and eventually become Master Tradesmen.
@@cosmiccat3190yeah, I’d classify journeymen as different from hobos though. I think the modern term for hobo would be “migrant worker”
@@X4zerm4nno, itinerant workers you aren't a migrant in the same country.
I wonder if the German Walz is what is referred to in the song Waltzing Matilda. I know that Matilda refers to the pack an Australian carried but I never understood the waltzing part.
I'm surprised they didn't carry some kind of tarp to use as ground cover or for rainy nights. I REALLY love learning more about time when life was different, and adventure was everywhere! Thanks James!
I did mention that in the video that some would often carry a tarp. I'm sure a lot of it depended on whether or not they had access to one.
Tarps back then where also heavy canvas saturated in repellant oils.
Tarps are heavy and bulky. Even rolled up. You want to carry as little as possible. I did carry a small tent. I liked not being rained on..
@@dennisdeal3323
That's so cool! I would have loved to have been able to travel like that! I've got an oiled canvas tent that my Grandparents used to live in while they built their first home in Chateaugay New York. {It's half in Canada & half in NYS}. It's extremely heavy, but a piece big enough to roll up with a wool blanket might have worked... their first home had dirt floors, and my Grandfather used to paint them, and Grandma made rugs out of rags to walk on. My Mom, Aunt's & Uncle's were born there. They sold it, and bought a bigger farm, and I grew up there... At 65, I wouldn't make a very good traveler now! However, as a teenager I was such a Tom Boy, I would have loved it! If you don't mind my asking, how long were you on the road? I'm truly fascinated by the "Hobo" lifestyle. I wouldn't want to be rained on either!
@@dragonslayer7587 10 years in total. And at 61 and disabled with a bad back. I would not be able to live that way again. For me it was not a choice. It was necessity.
When I started to ride the rails. It was not with a sense of joining or being a part of any culture or society. It was just a faster and often more reliable way to get to a where a seasonal job was opening up.
Whether it was harvesting crops in Southern California or picking apples in Oregon or Washington State. Depending on the season I could be any where in the country. Either working or looking for work.
Louis L’amour’s book, “The Education of a Wandering Man” talks about his time as a hobo and a merchant seaman. Long before he wrote his first novels.
Excellent book! 👍
Thank you dear brother ❤ I have to tell you that when my son who is now 21, once told me that he wanted to be a hobo ❤ I thought that was pretty cool!! 👍 He was pretty young when he told me this! Guessing he was watching videos like yours ❤ Also, my father who was born in 1916, rode the rails to go west during the Great Depression. Not sure if he was a hobo or not. I do know that he could do anything and everything and he was very intelligent and such a hard working man!! I remember his stories he told about how my grandma and grandpa could not afford their 4 kids. He was told either to get a job or leave. Of course there weren’t any jobs then. I sure miss my dad 😞 I do thank you so very much for all of your hard work and knowledge that you pass along to all of us ❤ God bless you my fellow Buckeye!
Thanks so much for watching and for sharing this heartfelt story from your family history! God bless you too!
I have been minamilizing my life for the last 5yrs. Traveled and worked out of a subaru and then a truck. Lived on a boat for a while. I Have been trying the hobo life this summer in Washington. I have learned alot from you videos dude,thanks for the knowledge my friend ✌💚
That is awesome! Thanks so much!
Nice! Be careful there's a few tunnels that will kill you, too long low oxygen many who don't know which train routes are safe die of asphyxiation thru such tunnels here in the PNW...had a few punkrock buddies who did this, and me and my friends hopped freight just to get across to downtown spokane as teens growing up by the tracks, back in the 90s.. anyway train towns teach bout hobos and many ride the rails to avoid jail time and many hobo murders go unsolved in spokane so as a mom plz stay safe and vigilant there be monsters..
@lonesomeknoteye stay vigilant! Happy travels 🎉
What a simple life to have James. However, I am sure it wasn't all that easy. I appreciate that you do your homework on the hobo life. Impressive harmonica talent as well...is there anything you can't do! Take care!!! : )
Thanks so much!
Supposably the word hobo came from the term 'homeward bound' after the Civil War when soldiers were traveling to get all the way home from the battlefields. So it's funny that now it means not having a home?
The coffee bean can and the belt strap for the cook pot are great ideas.
Thanks!
OK. but how in the world did they grind those coffee beans?
@@NaomiSims-id2vn Mortar and pestle?
Excellent. Couple more thoughts: smoking pipe, Bible, letters/correspondence“secretary” a small revolver. You did mention a tarp. Often hobos had 2 pair of shoes. Walking stick. Eye glasses. Work gloves. Baling/longshoremen hook. Thermos. Overcoat. Sweater. Haversack exclusively for food. Whiskey flask. Deck of cards. Jaw harp. Pocket watch. Fingernails brush & scissors. Tooth powder. Shoe polish/rag. TP. Witch hazel. Casual reading book. Folding, brass, Civil War era lantern.
Thanks for watching and for the suggestions!
Koran😮😅
Awesome video!!! I've worked for a class 1 railroad for nearly 30 years and was never introduced to this historical knowledge. What a shame! I HAVE, however, bumped into a modern day hobo on rare occasion, always at night and it was clear that I scared them as much as they scared me. They were always polite and simply asked if I knew which way that train would go. Unfortunately, I was never much help in that regard - but I also never turned them in.
Very interesting! Thanks so much for all that you did on the railroad and most of all for your kindness!
My second time recommending an episode about the hobo symbols, my grandad, retired Southern Pacific Railroad, said they had a whole system of communication.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this. I'm preparing a modern version PAC for when things get bad, I'm packed up and ready to go.
Excellent!
My Grandpa was a hobo after WWII. I always loved to hear his stories. I’ve worked on the railroad for 32 years. Use to see hobos quite a bit in the mid to late 90’s not so much now. I always tried to help them out with crewpacks(a little pack that had toilet paper, some hand cleaners, paper towels, and a bandaid) some bottles of water and maybe some info on what train was going where. Most of them were cool but some were a holes!
Thanks for watching and for the assistance to all the hobos along the road!
I found it interesting about wanting to look presentable for jobs; shave kit, toothbrush, etc.. I know people today who are well off and we refer to them as hobos because they look scraggly and unkept. It goes without saying, if you take care of yourself and look 'presentable', you'll go further. Whether that means getting a job or simply getting some food. People treat people differently if they are 'kept'.
Absolutely true!
I'd think a hair comb would be another item that you might find in a hobo's pack. Another great look back into our history. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, I have one in my pocket that I failed to show. Thanks for watching!
As a trades man and a long distance walker, I can relate to this very much,
I feel like I might of enjoyed the great depression, as the speed of life intensifies.
Love the video very interesting 👌
What a fun video to watch. If I had a choice between that set up and a modern one, I would definitely want that hobo gear. Thanks for putting this together!
You're very welcome and thanks for watching!
Hobos are still the lifeblood of a lot of countries. Always respect them
True!
As a Floridian i enjoyed that harmonica song at the end
Thanks!
I'm from Germany, so I wasn't really familiar with Hobo culture (I don't think we had Hobos, I only heard about them from the US). In fact I didn't even know what a Hobo was exactly. Thank you for educating me about this fascinating piece of history.
You're very welcome and thanks so much for watching!
Hobos were a thing because of the Great Depression, Germany was busy with…other things in the 30s
In Germany we have something like Hobos. But our "Hobos" are called "Wandergesellen" that means something like Journeyman they are fully educated Workers frome their craft something like a Stonemason or a carpenter and they travel to learn new skills. They have a lot of Rituals and rules (like dont return to home)
@@solracxd7456
That's what I thought of, as well.
Imagine, how exciting it must have been for young guys, to set to the road and explore the country and learn about their craft. Some even went abroad for a while.
Of course they had the advantage of being part of a larger community, whose members would take them in and feed them and such. But still. In those times it must have been the adventure of a lifetime.
@@stoutyyyyBusy being the best, most advanced country.
Another Blogger stated: "the more you know, the less you need"! Seems the Hobo's knew what they were doing.
One of my men was getting out of the army, I ask him what his plans for the future were. He told me he was going to be a hobo and not worry about anything. Then he said: "have you ever seen a hobo that did not have a smile on his face". I wished him the best of luck and have thought about him often.
I have to agree with him, because giving away my last possession was the most liberating feeling I ever had.
Yes, I drive a car and live in a house, but I own nothing, am free to walk-away anytime I please, with zero emotional, financial obligation or grief.
You don't own a towel or a tooth brush? How do you cook? Are you on someone else's computer?
Great attitude. You would do well in India.
You own nothing and be happy😅. Klaus want us all to be hobos.
Thanks for watching and for sharing your experiences!
Highly impressive about you sir
Loved this! So many things in that small bag - it was like watching Mary Poppins unpacking that carpet bag! 🥰. God bless the world’s hobos - not an easy life 🙏
Indeed, thanks for watching!
The best thing about these videos is that you are defining what a hobo is. Thank you! I had no idea. Growing up the term “hobo” “tramp” and “bum” were used interchangeably.
Yes, unfortunately they were given a bad rap on just about every hand.
This is fascinating. Keeping some of the history alive, which otherwise would have been lost. Well done.
I grew up one block away from the tracks. My mom fed Hobos or let them shower for chores done or repairs to the house back in the 50's in Oakland and us kids always jumped on empty box cars moving out. It's too dangerous to trust anybody now these days.
James, your videos of "Life on the Tracks" (aka Hobo Life) refresh memories of my early childhood. As a youngster during & after WWII, our family often lived close to railroad tracks & for several years near a big railroad switching yard. As part of a Hobo's Tool Kit, I do not recall your mention of FRICTION TAPE. That was the black, sticky, cloth-backed tape used for repairs before the days of plastic electrical tape & Duct Tape. That would be a useful addition to anyone's kit in those days. You always do a SUPER job in your presentations, allowing us to step right into whatever period of history you are portraying. As an 82 year old youngster who still considers himself an "Old Schooler," I see the Hobo Pack as more than a survival kit, Bug-Out-Bag; the Hobo Pack is really more of a "Mobile Daily Living Kit." Thanks, and may God bless you!
Thanks so much, my friend! And may the Lord richly bless you as well!
Fun fact, sir! I worked in telecom, and linemen to this day still use friction tape A LOT, even with high quality 3M vinyl tape on offer! Friction tape is still stronger and more versatile for certain purposes, great observation.
Thank you, sir. I am impressed that you noticed that minute detail in my lengthy comment. I still prefer the Friction Tape, too! @@cplshujumi
I wish that a vagabond lifestyle wasn't legislated out of existence. I am targeting the massive prohibition of just laying your head down in peace.
Thanks for watching!
Outstanding video! Great education!
I was just back in southwest Virginia, and was reminiscing my teenage adventures with my wife. I used to jump trains coming out of the depot and ride them several miles up the track before jumping off in a cow pasture. Always wanted to take a hobo style trip, but never got beyond that short adventure.
God bless you man!
Thanks so much and God bless you too!
This adds a whole new visual layer to all those old Merle Haggard songs ⛺ Thanks!
You're welcome!
Great gear! My dad rode the rails for a while, around 1930. Must have been rough.
There is a book written by Charles Elmer Fox AKA Reefer Charlie, as he preferred to ride the refrigerated trains as they got from point A to point B the fasted, he used his walking stick attaching it thru his belt to the ladder which kept his knees and often took a nap. Found the book at my local library and the story he told me in person was verified by Gypsy Moon who was Queen of the Hobos and a guy who went by the name of SteamTrain. Hobos preferred to work for a meal, Tramps took handouts and Theives just helped themselves.. Cher once had a hit song that summed it 'fairly well'.
The book is Tales of an American Hobo.
Yes, it was a tough life but many of them grew to enjoy it as evidenced by the books and stories they left behind.
I had a coworker (nurse) in the 90s. She came in distraught one day, & told me her husband had just "picked up & left home the day before, no idea where he was". She stated he was a good man & she loved him dearly, but he had been a hobo since youth. He had warned her when he proposed marriage to her years earlier... "It's in my blood, but if you can live with that, I'd be happy to be married to you."
She said there was never any warning when he might just disappear when the yearning took over, & it might be 6 months to 2 years before he'd suddenly show back up, out of the blue, happy as a lark to be home, & it was honeymoon time over & over again.". Of course, all kinds of thoughts went thru her head after he left..."Did I do something to make him leave?"..."Is he safe & well?"..."I need him here right now!" Of course, she hadn't really been fully aware of the life she was committing to when she married, yet she was happy when he was there, so they never split up. However, they were older now, & she was worried for his health & safety, which grew with the years...but the desire for freedom overrode everything.
She was a good woman, too. I often think of them.
I actually have experience in this fascinating culture. His name was Jack Fry and he taught me how to thrive as a hobo. I was just on my way to pick apples in Washington state where we met near a railway station. Got to learn how to travel the railways and make hobo stew- from garbage. In reality he was only interested in getting drunk, but actually came up with a meal that I did not partake of. He traveled light. I did not. Was he a bum? Probably. But still, I learned a few things. To be clear I do not recommend learning in this manner.
Very interesting. I'm sure there were all kinds of characters that rode the rails back in those days. Thanks for watching!
I am so happy I found and subscribed to this channel. I have learnt quite a lot and the presenter seems to be an affable and really laid back guy. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for watching and for the kind words!
I love your hobo video's, simpler times. Always been interested in pioneers an history......this kit just shows how basics kit is a staple thru the centuries! Apart from screw drivers an can opener, looks much like a legionnaires kit from roman times
That's very true! They actually even had multi-tools back then.
@WayPointSurvival the romans even used poles to carry a bed roll, leather sack/bag off a cross section. The pole had a netted bag which carried bread cheese etc, but the netted bag could also be used as a purse net for fishing or catching rabbits. The hobo using a stave for a extention to carry more gear must proved how it was helpful. I wonder if they used the carry pole as the first pole tent rig? You do a really good job with your videos sir, showing old skills to younger viewers of how the old ways still work an are tried an tested thru time.....good on you
In the early and mid-80s when I started avidly thrift shopping in very low priced non-profit shops, I would find shoe shine boxes, rolled up leather bags and other things that had these exact items in them.
And maybe a little bit more sometimes, as if someone had this kind of set up in a humble home or cabin.
But yes I found a lot of sets that were just like this. I'm 61 years old and grew up in a town that was behind times, around many old timers, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, so I was skeptical when I clicked on your video but I vouch that it's very legit!
I wished I had had a home where I could, as some people I know of have, keep kits like to hold onto history & people's lives and stories... like a small museum in my home!
im a vivid thrift shopper, i wish id find things like this. Im making my own from the every now so often tin cans i find. Canvas is impossible to find, if not bought expensivly. Its very learning this video and commen section
Giving the people what they want and need. A simple life in complex times. Can't wait for more.
Thanks so much, my friend!
Would love to see a series, similar to your 1700s story series.
Traveling from town to town using this gear and showing the way of life for a hobo.
Thank you for the fantastic content and historical knowledge behind it.
Thanks for watching and for the suggestion!
Thanks for another great video.
You're welcome!
Real good story. Im 70yrs and worked for Rail Road till 1987. The railroads have tightened it up well. I miss the one I came in contactwith I was always helpful letting them know witch track to get on. A lot of great guys those times went out in the 1980. I worked as a mud hopper. Ask an ole railroader what that is. Peace Out and Love. MMLZZZ Just watched Imperial Of the North. A number 1 was the best. Find movie great history and acting.
Thanks so much for watching the video, for the kind words and for all that you did to help the hobos back in the day.!
I find the similarities between modern "bug out bags" typical military personal loadouts, and what a Hobo would carry remarkably similar. This Hobo life skillset is something I never thought to look into while setting up and/ or preparing for when SHTF
Yes, there are many scenarios where these types of skills would stand a person in good stead in difficult times.
I hate the idea of a bug out bag. I have mission-specific pouches hooked up to slings that I can just toss on as many or few as I need, plus a couple different packs, one for urban scavenging, and one for forest recon.
But I'm also not required to go around with all my belongings strapped to my back, nor am I short on finances for said pouches and packs.
@@manictiger
The bags are a good idea, just not in the weird "Alone in the woods" context they're usually put in. A fire, flood, or storm, are all relatively reasonable things to expect to see at least once in your lifetime so having a bag with a change of clothes, some snacks, water, keepsakes, medications, copies of important documents (e.g. insurance documents, passport, things to essentially prove that you are you) along with a little cash are a great thing to keep by a front door.
Swap out the meds and snacks every few months, water twice that, and if the worst ever happens you'll find it a _lot_ easier to get back on your feet when you can claim insurance, access emergency grants, or even just get a job. Bonus points if you combo it with a wool blanket or two in your car and a bit more snacks and water. It's enough to get you to a hotel and back.
@@jillsjakes2519
Already saw a fire, lol. Was about a block and a half away from losing everything in my apartment at the time. All respect to those firefighters.
The only meds I pack are anti-diarheals, since it can happen and be completely crippling, and my "food" is P-38 can openers and vacuum-sealed corn starch (that doubles as anti-chafing powder).
I have no plans for extended op. Either it takes less than one day, or it's no longer an op. The risk/reward gets worse, and it's become a self-inflicted game of Russian Roulette.
I remember seeing hobos when I was a kid. Love the series
Thanks!
Nice
Thanks
My grandmother used to talk about the hoboes that would come to their back door asking for work in exchange for a hot meal. Her mother, my great grandmother, never turned them away. They grew all their own food and there was always enough to go around.
Later on, my mother remembers that the hoboes had drawn a simple cat on a fence that seperated their house from the railyard. The cat let other hoboes know that a friendly family lived there that would give them a hot meal. My grandmother had learned from her mother that helping someone in a time in need was very important. She never turned anyone away. She died a few years ago at the age of 102 and I will always be thankful that I live and learned from her examples. Finest person I have ever known.
What a wonderful story! Thanks so much for watching and for sharing!
My mother has distinct memories of hobos. She grew up in rural Illinois and their house wasn’t too far from the railroad. She said my grandmother would never allow them in the house but would still provide them some food.
That was very kind of her! I'm sure they were very grateful.
Another fascinating history lesson regarding hobo’s, thank you.
I worked at the RR in the 2000’s as a conductor/engineer and I don’t ever remember seeing any hobo’s. However, we would see quite a few young people who would “appear” after we yarded our trains.
those are oogles.
@@BryanSleaze interesting, thanks
Thanks so much for watching!
@@BryanSleaze What is an oogle?
@@slatsgrobneck7515 a panhandler who lives on the streets, most frequently a new or unserious one who is perceived as homeless by choice, rather than by necessity
Thank you James for a reminder of a simpler way of looking at life and survival. I always appreciate your videos. Please continue them.
Thank you, I will, Lord willing!
Cool video, always cool to see the gear and complete the mental picture of what it would have been like. This reminded me of when I used to watch Stobe the Hobo's videos. RIP Stobe.
Thanks. Yes, Stobe the hobo had some interesting videos
Myself I carry many of those things today. It's well rounded. Thank you for your video.
Excellent. Thanks for watching!
Fascinating. Another piece of history brought to life.
Thanks!
Internet is amazing, I woke up today knowing absolutely nothing about the hobo culture and history
I love your hobo videos. Let us know if you ever have a hobo course at your school.
That would definitely be an interesting thing to teach!
How about a deck of cards for when they were settling in the evening at the hobo jungle
Yes, I am sure that they did that as well.
And mabe a small bible. ✌💚🇬🇧
My dad left home at 15 in the late 1930s and traveled back and forth across the western USA by freight train for a year. I always loved listening to his stories. It was a very hard life.
Yes, indeed.
Nice video James, very nostalgic. I noticed that the pliers and flat screwdriver you carried in the pack are vintage items from the tool kit supplied with the ubiquitous Ford model "T". With 15 million of those built between 1907 and 1927, I'm sure there were lots of those laying around in any scrapyard or workshop. Got a few myself.
Absolutely! They still work quite well.
Great information. My grand father hopped a train in Texas and worked in California in the early 40's. Thank you for giving me a glimpse at some of the things he might have carried back then.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My Grandfather was a 'Bo for a few years in the 30s. He later served in the CCC as a cook. Because of this experience, when WW2 came around, he became a cook in the Army.
Needless to say, he had some amazing stories to tell!
I'm not looking to become a habitual hobo, but I've been fascinated with their way of life also. Honestly, hopping just one ride is on my bucket list. Where it takes me might make a long walk home.
Thanks for watching!
Lots of dead folks got that way hopping trains.
i hitchhiked which is a powerful experience yet I would not recommend train hopping ... it is really dangerous...
This is so good! Thank you for this! Too many people call bums "hobos" and they don't know what they're actually saying.
My grandmother was born in 1925. We live in a highly industrialized suburb of Pittsburgh with a lot of rail. Hobos would knock on her door every morning for breakfast and would be welcomed in. Every morning was a huge pot of oats on the stove to feed the whole family. My grandmother said she would be upset as a child that the hobos got to all eat in the dining room and all the children had to eat in the kitchen, lol. As an adult, she was always one to feed every kid in the neighborhood. No joke, kids would knock on her door every day for ice cream, popsicles, a soda, or even a whole lunch.
She sounds like a wonderful woman and such a blessing to her community!
Shared this on my FB friend's news feed which will attract many of his hobo friends to the channel. I hope it helps and leads to many more people supporting the channel
Excellent, thanks so much!
Interesting history distinguishing the hobos from the tramps & bums. I've watched all your hobo videos and am curious how many people today are by definition, hobos
I found it hard to get actual statistics on those who ride the rails. It keeps getting confused with the homeless. However, a lot of people that still live the hobo type life now do it living in vans and rvs.
@@WayPointSurvival I agree, far too difficult to get an accurate figure. I hadn't considered the fact that nomadic RV and van lifers could also be hobos, good point.
God bless.
The vintage camping/hobo videos are my favorites! Thanks for making these.
You're welcome and I'm glad that you like them!
"I'm not a stabbing hobo. I'm a singing hobo!
This is really great, I find this type of stuff fascinating
Thanks for watching!
I remember when I was young back in the early 70s.up in Dunsmuir, CA. us kids would watch trains go by . Some had hobos riding the trains we would wave to the hobos and they would wave back to us. Didn't have much in those days but life was simpler and better.
Yes, in some ways those days remind all of us of better times!
God Bless You James, have you ever attended the National Hobo Convention in Brit, Iowa if You haven't, please go some year. You'll have a great time there. Really enjoy all Your videos. 🕊🙏🐟🎣
Thanks so much! I haven't gone there yet, but it's on my list of things to get done. Perhaps next year!
Very Informative…thanks
Thanks for watching!
James, you’ve put together another amazing video. You’ve managed to take us back in time when life for many in this country was hard. Some men found themselves drifting from place to place, making do with what they had or could scavenge. Many migrant workers traveled as hobos. Some hobos were just wanders. Willing to work or not, these people found themselves adapting to their situation and surroundings. Here in your video, you’ve covered the most basic items a man might gather if he found himself homeless and wandering as a hobo. How interesting it would be to learn more about the minimalist lifestyle of these men. A step back in history, presented in a very authentic way. Thank you for your commitment to keeping your videos as real and informative as possible. God bless. - Tennessee Smoky
Thanks so much, my friend. God bless you too!
This culture is alive and well in America, and Canada. There's an entire subculture of people who ride trains and work seasonal jobs. They have large backpacks, often have dogs, and instruments. Easy to spot them apart from the normal homeless people you encounter. The gear has evolved as well. Most have modern internal frame packs, scanners to listen to RR communications, and smartphones.
That's very helpful if absolutely necessary and teaches living skills not outside of necessity.
Absolutely!
My grandfather (probably in the late '50s) moved the family to large developing centers and worked there for years before moving again for another developing city. Came a point where he couldn't find a steady place to move to, so he "Hoboed" it his way: weeks at work and weekends at home, he did some train riding, hitch-hiked for a while and finally ended up hiring someone close by as an assistant foreman so he could get a lift. He liked fishing, but not sleeping outdoors...
Thank you for your clear and honest (and truthful) definition of "hobo." Anybody that gets it right is good in my book.
You are most welcome! Thanks for watching the video!
@@WayPointSurvival don't worry. I'll be watching more and letting all of the outlaws and campers know about it.
There's a lot to be said for traveling light! Of course, I would take a few clean underpants with me, too. My mama told me to never leave home without them.
Remember, that not everybody wore them.
Yikes!
Really enjoy these vids. Thanks for sharing James
If life doesn't get cheaper, we will all be hobos
Right? I hope it doesn't come down to that.
Jack London was not so well equipped for his train journeys.
Indeed. Many people probably hit the rails with nothing more than the clothes on their back and a few items in their pockets.
We are all Hobo's life is a journey some of us are tied down to homes but... Life is still a journey.Happy Trails...
True! Thank you for watching!
Thank you for a great video. I really like the american hobo culture. I ride freight trains in Europe, mostly in my country (Czech republic) and you gave me an inspiration on how to do it in a more traditional way.
They were very resourceful, to pack out with items that had multiple uses. Enjoy your videos and as always Be Safe.
Thanks so much!
Good evening from Syracuse NY brother
Good evening!
Hi my friend any more history videos coming out soon?
@earlshaner4441 No, unfortunately, we had to wrap up the series after episode 16 as it was poorly supported and not very popular.