Are there hobos that still ride freight trains?

Question

Are there hobos that still ride freight trains?

Answer 1

yes

but nothing like the "old days"

I dont see near as many as before, different car designs have removed some of their riding places.

A good deal of the people riding now are not anything like the old time hobos, there are quite a few gangs that use people riding the rails to smuggle drugs around the country.

It is a pretty violent world compared to say 20 years ago.

Hobos found dead along the railroad is not unheard of.

We have had RR workers attacked by hobos, unheard of in the "old days" so railroads and local police are more vigilant in removing riders.

I miss the old timey hobos, had some great conversations with them, would even let them ride a trailing locomotive if the weather was bad, always with the admonition "dont touch anything!!" and they were always grateful and gave us no troubles.

I wouldnt dare do that now.

Answer 2

The hobo's lived by a code of honor.  They would do work for food, and leave special marks near the homes of kind hearted people who would feed them in exchange for yard work or such.

They're gone.

Replaced by Bummies.  Most of them are slightly psychotic, and would kill you for your work boots if they had a chance.

Answer 3

I saw a guy last month. So I guess there still is.

Answer 4

Rango and Gromit give excellent answers, so, your question is already answered by this point.

But, there are still actually some genuine hobos left. They have not been forced onto the rails due to fearful economic exigencies such as were found during the Great Depression or "Dust Bowl" years, but prefer the "life-style."

They show up, en-mass, from time to time, usually to be found where there is some kind of railroad "festival" of one sort or another going on.

In the town of Dunsmuir, California, a town which was born of railroad necessity, there is held each year, "Railroad Days."  It is a weekend long festival that occupies the whole town for three days.  UP and other Historical Societies bring in vintage equipment each year.  This year past included a perfectly retored SP "Black Widow," EMD F7.  It was a big hit, this being SP country before the melt down.

These true hobos show up every couple of years or so, and, when in town, are themselves a part of the show, describing the life, telling tales, or offering up recipes for "Mulligan Stew," and gratefully accepting any donations one wishes to make.  Asking for money is forbidden.  It is outside the "code."  They are not panhandlers.

The reality is, most of the folks you encounter these days are not in any way, shape or form a "hobo."  They are dangerous people, usually on the lam from the law...

P.S.  Hey, gromit, where'd ya work out of?

Answer 5

mainly mexicans who crossed the border (on the southern trains)

Answer 6

Yep,done it my self back in the day. Wouldn't recommend it now though. it could be deadly.        Oh by the way if, you are thinking about it,bring plenty of food and water, because they don,t always stop when you think they will.