Traveling as a hobo on a freight train

11/01/2021 English German

Edition # 140
San Francisco, 11-01-2021

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Traveling as a hobo on a freight train

Figure [1]: Stobe jumps onto a moving freight train.

Michael From American Wild West films, we are familiar with the scenes where penniless individuals travel half across America in empty freight train cars. You can watch mile-long trains with hundreds of cars sometimes chugging along at only 10 or 20 mph through the endless prairie, and often there is no cargo on a car or there is still room for an undemanding passenger in an empty livestock car. Towards the end of the 19th century, it was mainly traveling vagrants, known as Hobos, using this free, albeit neither comfortable nor entirely safe method of passenger transport. Although the railway police are working hard to deter unauthorized passengers from riding by being present at the loading stations, since the trains sometimes only travel at a slow pace, hobos often simply jump onto the moving wagons somewhere along the open track.

Fast forward to today, where riding on freight trains, the so-called activity of Freighthopping is of course, strictly prohibited. The railway police carefully ensure that no one sneaks into the partially fortress-like secured loading stations for freight trains. But a few daring individuals still are taking on the adventure today. For example, the YouTube personality "Stobe the Hobo," who not only traveled all over America in freight trains but also reported about it in captivating videos on YouTube. In these videos, you can see freight trains rushing through the endless expanses of the country in bright sunshine, while the protagonist films himself and his buddy "Wingman" camping in the open wagons, enjoying the ride.

Figure [2]: Don't be seen by the railway police!

Stobe accompanies the videos with self-played piano music, mostly classical interpretations of songs by local rock bands. In one episode in the American Northwest near Seattle, for example, he played pieces by Nirvana, and one other time, I recognized the piece "Heathens" by the band "Twenty One Pilots." The whole thing is presented in such a cheerful and at the same time calming way that some people in the YouTube comments have already admitted to using the videos as a sleep aid. As an introductory recommendation, I suggest you try "The Pacific Northwest" and I guarantee you that you'll be fascinated and go on an on and won't be able to stop until you've watched at least several dozen episodes.

Figure [3]: "Stobe the Hobo" waiting, drinking cheap canned beer.

Since freight trains run according to a secret schedule known only to the railroad workers, hobos often have to hang around near track junctions for hours, sometimes even days, until an opportunity arises to catch a ride in the desired direction. "Stobe the Hobo," or James Stobie, as he is known by his real name, camps as a homeless person under bridges and regularly indulges in his obsession of acquiring large quantities of cheap beer from local supermarkets. His declared enemies, by the way, are the nerdy railroad enthusiasts, known as Foamers, who, in the pursuit of their declared hobby, hang around railway tracks all day with a camera strapped on, photographing trains, and reporting hobos to the railway police if they discover them engaging in illegal activities.

Figure [4]: Stobe the Hobo in his element on a freight train.

"Stobe the Hobo" unfortunately had to learn firsthand that jumping onto moving freight trains is indeed life-threatening: In 2017, he died in a railroad accident. The sad end of a great man, but in his YouTube videos, he will live on forever. Peace out!

Greetings from the vast expanses of the country:

Angelika and Michael