The Hobo Jungle

[Euphod]

It has been made clear in another thread that some of our non US natives are unaware of the historical occurrence of rail riding here. After a little research I have found that it is common most in the US, then Australia, and only infrequently found in Europe and the UK. I propose we post links here to consolidate the many sources of information available on the subject.

First: http://www.hobo.com/ but there are many others, and books and movies and folklore as well.

 

[SharkNose]

The movie "Emperor of the North" comes to mind. A little over-dramatic maybe, but definitely about hobos.

At IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070030/

 

[Euphod]

Great movie, thanks for adding it!

 

[Paulsw2]

It's a tradition I've always associated in the US with the Great Depression and the 'hungry Thirties', but I guess it goes back to the birth of railroads in America. There's no great tradition of it in the UK, perhaps because of the much shorter distances to travel from district to district but also maybe because welfare before the 40s was based on 'local relief' through the Poor Law Guardians, so maybe this served to keep destitute people located within their home districts where they could obtain some measure of relief or support rather than moving around the country?

Anyway, a fascinating social history, so thanks for Ed for acting as curator!

Paul

 

[SharkNose]

Glad to see there are a couple of hobos on the download station:

KUID:78865:35007
KUID2:7592:107158:3
KUID2:7592:107170:3

On my first HO scale layout (35 years ago ), we had a little scene of 2 or 3 hobos sitting around a campfire cooking their evening grub in a clearing. The fire effect was a little flicker bulb embedded in the wood with a pile of wood on top. I'll have to recreate that scene in Trainz.

 

[Euphod]

Oddly enough, those last two were made my yours truly, a long time ago. I'm thinking of making some new people, but only on a single plane, not an intersecting one. They may be useful, if not right next to the tracks. I will try with a bunch of Hobos around a fire first.

Thanks Paul, for your comment!

 

[Thai1On]

Ed,any chance of a moonshine still to go with that possible group of hobos?

Dave

 

[Euphod]

I thought there was already a still made for trainz?

 

[Thai1On]

The one on the DLS is far too nice :hehe:. I was hink more on the line like these.

 

[Euphod]

This looks like a project for Deane. Of course, I can put anything on a 2D plane to make a scene, but the scene would have more depth if at least part of it was 3D.