Need your help with a terrible situation

[Autonerd]

Friends, it occured to me this morning that we have a really bad situation at our club, and I need your advice as to the best way to resolve it.

My fingers are shaking so badly I can barely type.

We have one of the largest HO scale layouts in the country, if not the world. We have fantastic members and a lot of beautiful models, but it just occurred to me...

We don't have a boxcar with hobos in it.

I cannot tell you how this situation fills me with shame. I was tempted to post under a pseudonym, lest some of my fellow club members see this and I inadvertently start a panic. It was all I could do just to type the words. I had to stop for a quick cry mid-way through. Twice.

Needless to say, I must remedy this posthaste. I have a Branchline double-door boxcar kit that will serve, but I was hoping you could post pictures or a description of some of your favorite hobos-in-a-boxcar projects.

Thanks in advance for your help. Meanwhile, if you see me walking by, and the tears are in my eyes, look away, baby, look away.

Aar-- er, I mean, John Doe

[mbinsewi]

A quote from the "Forum Policies":

- No discussions about train-hopping, hobos, or the hobo lifestyle. It’s dangerous, illegal, and sets a poor example for the youth that visit this forum. Plus, like graffiti discussions, it usually leads to arguments.

I'm sorry Mr. Doe, but my lips are sealed.     

    Now have fun with your project!

Mike.

[dknelson]

You were wise to confide in us, my son.  It may not be too late for you.

Old cartoons, and some old movies, show stereotyped hobos riding the trussrods on freight cars, obviously an earlier era.

Note for example the extraordinary realism of this superb railroad documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DxXeG0x1GQ

 

I have seen hobos in boxcars that had the doors open.  It was a group of them.  One was a woman.  They seemed to have backpacks but apart from that did not dress like "Freddy the Freeloader" or the circus clown sort of hobo.  Rough but not tattered clothing.  Like, well ... college students now that I think of it.

I have also seen hobos riding on covered hoppers, the kind that have a protected area near the end that they can crawl into.  More creative.

And I have seen an unauthorized rider on an empty autorack car.  I do not believe he was an actual hobo.  I believe he was a foolish teenager.  I know this because he yelled "help!" as the car rolled by me.  

Dave Nelson

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

Meet Hobo Joe.  He is a colorful character who rides the rails for free.  He is not a bum, nor is he FTRA (Freight Train Riders of America, an outlaw gang who travels by rail). He is a railroad enthusiast and likes to travel in style.  He loves the simple things in life, like eating a meal cooked over an open fire and sleeping under the stars each night while he sees the country. He was inspiried by Red Buttons.

[ROBERT PETRICK]

Autonerd

Friends, it occured to me this morning that we have a really bad situation at our club, and I need your advice as to the best way to resolve it.

My fingers are shaking so badly I can barely type.

We are have one of the largest HO scale layouts in the country, if not the world. We have fantastic members and a lot of beautiful models, but it just occurred to me...

We don't have a boxcar with hobos in it.

I cannot tell you how this situation fills me with shame. I was tempted to post under a pseudonym, lest some of my fellow club members see this and I inadvertently start a panic. It was all I could do just to type the words. I had to stop for a quick cry mid-way through. Twice.

Needless to say, I must remedy this posthaste. I have a Branchline double-door boxcar kit that will serve, but I was hoping you could post pictures or a description of some of your favorite hobos-in-a-boxcar projects.

Thanks in advance for your help. Meanwhile, if you see me walking by, and the tears are in my eyes, look away, baby, look away.

Aar-- er, I mean, John Doe

Hey Aardvark-

I assume your club models the steam- or the steam-to-transition era because we don't see many hobos these days, or at least we don't call them hobos anymore. Economically challenged, or Sartorially distressed, or something.

What we do have is plenty of pinheads with selfie sticks telling their buddies to "hold my beer and watch this!" Darwin will deal with them in due course.

Might as well enjoy this thread before it gets locked and tossed.

Robert 

[tstage]

mbinsewi

A quote from the "Forum Policies":

- No discussions about train-hopping, hobos, or the hobo lifestyle. It’s dangerous, illegal, and sets a poor example for the youth that visit this forum. Plus, like graffiti discussions, it usually leads to arguments.

I'm sorry Mr. Doe, but my lips are sealed.     

    Now have fun with your project!

Mike

As Mike correctly pointed out, discussions about hobos/hobo lifestyle - even tongue 'n cheek - violates our forum policy.  Over the years it has been proven time and time again that this and the other taboo topic above cannot be discussed without it inevitably leading to arguments.

So, with that being the case, I'm required to lock this thread.  Thanks for your understanding...

Tom