Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail,I Wasn’T Interested Or Impressed

by Aaron Houx inspiredinspired byby Michael Gentry First, let me say that this game is my own attempt to flesh out an idea and game created by the tal- ented Mike Gentry, so all credit goes out to him. As this wraps up, Mike has begun posting Hard Travellin’, his own take on the hobo genre. Check it out at http://www.edromia.com– it’s really quite good.

When I first saw the seeds of Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail,I wasn’t interested or impressed. I thought to myself that it was yet another attempt to fill a tiny niche in role-playing, catering only to a few who would tire of it easily and lose interest when the story ideas dried up. The word wrong does not begin to describe this preconception.

After seeing the Coen Brothers’ movie O Brother Where Art Thou, I must say that I saw the fascina- tion inherent in the time period,as well as the opportunity to explore the situations that people faced during Depression-Era America. I began to obsess over this subject myself. After doing some research on both the Internet and at the local libraries, I found myself enthralled with those men and women who felt the call of the roads and the rails. I encountered people who still ride the rails and call themselves hoboes, as well as those who strive to keep the memories of days gone by.

The project quickly swelled, incorporating a lot of history and flavor into it. I searched for pictures to tell the story, and stories to tell about the pictures. I could have kept writing, but I finally set a page limit for myself and I stuck to it. So the text may not be entirely complete, but for those who want to play this game, let me say that your local library or internet connection can provide any missing pieces.

So now, 82 pages later, with my 31st birthday approaching (no real relevance, just an aside), I commit this book to all those who are interested and may have some fun with it. Most of all Mr. Gentry, this is for you.

While situations and other attributes of this time have been embellished for game purposes,the basis of this game remains no less interesting and magical in its own right.

Any reproduction of this book without the express written consent of the author is prohibited. Table O’ Contents

Introduction ...... 4 The Hobo in America ...... 4 America in the 1930s ...... 8 Institutions of the Depression ...... 10 Life and Culture ...... 11 Railroads in America ...... 15 A Partial Timeline ...... 17 Related Books, Music, etc...... 18 Tales from the Jungle Fire (Fiction) ...... 19

Player Section ...... 20 Character Creation ...... 20 Hard ‘n Fast Traits ...... 23 Skills ...... 27 Tools of the Trade ...... 30 Hobo Magic ...... 31 Archetypes ...... 36 Game Mechanics ...... 45 Character Advancement ...... 49 Hobo Myth & Legend ...... 51 The Real World ...... 52

Game Master Section ...... 53 Running KOTR2 ...... 54

Story Seeds ...... 60

Appendix ...... 61 Glyphs ...... 61

Glossary of Hobo Terms ...... 63

Character Sheet ...... 82 The Hobo in America

According to Ben Reitman, “A hobo works and open cars, refrigerator cars– and run alongside. wanders, a tramp dreams and wanders, and a bum Then he would find a handhold and pull himself up. drinks and wanders.” The hobo has existed in both the European and the Western cultures, but while the Hoboes would also find different places on the European hobo is held in contempt, his American trains to ride. Some would settle down on the counterpart enjoys a more romanticized place in bumpers– the spaces between the cars. While com- peoples’ minds. fortable, a hobo could be more easily spotted there. But he also had a better chance for escape. Others The hobo has wandered North America for many would ride flat on the tops of the cars, a maneuver years, but the heyday of the hobo is considered to be called “decking.” But this could only safely be done from 1870 through 1940. Following the Civil War, in good weather, as ice, snow, wind or rain could men and boys packed up meager belongings and set cause a hobo to lose his grip. forth on the roads and rails for better opportunities. They criss-crossed the country performing different Still other hoboes would ride on the cow catcher sorts of jobs, many of them temporary. They on the front of a train, or under the train. “Riding worked as bridge builders, carpenters, loggers, rail- the rods,” as this was called, was extremely danger- road men and mule drivers. ous as it took a lot of skill and balance. One wrong move and the hobo would be crushed under the Once a job was completed, the hobo was on the train. move. At times, the job situations became few and far between, especially during economic depres- Once the hobo secured his ride, he would travel sions. During the depression of 1873, almost four along until he either reached a suitable destination million men were out of work. Hoboes who came or was “ditched.” This meant that he was discov- into towns would sometimes have to move on ered by a railroad worker and thrown off the train. immediately because of the surplus of workers. It was at this time that the “worker” role of migrant worker came into play. Travelling Work and Battering While some hoboes would walk from town to town, most preferred riding the rails. With the When a hobo arrived in a new town, he would completion of the Transcontinental railroad, a sys- size up the situation and begin looking for work. He tem was set up for not only the traveller, but also the would sometimes go to the railyard water tower, migrant worker. which was something of an information booth to hoboes. Because of their migrant nature and innate poverty, hoboes didn’t tend to pay for their passage. Hoboes had an elaborate system of language and “Flipping freights” was an art form for the hobo. markings, called glyphs, which they used to com- He would jump aboard a train, either stationary or municate with other hoboes. Glyphs would tell of moving, and find himself a place to sit or sleep. easy marks where hoboes could get food or hand- While it was easier to board a car while it wasn’t outs or of places hoboes needed to avoid because of moving, hoboes who did so ran more of a chance to dogs or dangerous people. get caught by railroad workers. If a town was friendly towards hoboes, then new- Instead, they would try to catch a ride when the comers would fan out in search of jobs. Potential car was pulling out of the railyard. The hobo would places of employment included farms, orchards and stake out a car that he wanted to board– boxcars, docks. 4 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail In addition, hoboes could go to employment warrant a whipping from the jungle or a one-on-one agencies, where for a fee they would be pointed to fight against the offended party. places that were hiring. In some cases, these agencies would try to con hoboes. With an influx of Jungles weren’t known only to hoboes and massive migrant workers, an agency might collect tramps, though. Sometimes hoboes would be fees from 2,000 men and send them to a job site accosted by local residents or the town law, “sug- where only 400 men may be needed. gesting” that they clear out and move on. Some- times the police would come back with a larger If work was scarce, hoboes might turn to beg- group and arrest everyone in the jungle for ging. Hoboes would go to the back doors of houses, vagrancy, or shoot up all of the utensils and cans in asking for a handout or a meal from the lady of the hopes of scaring the ‘boes off. house. Still others would work the missions or nuns. A hobo always had a story ready in case of an Dangers easy mark. In addition to the law and the locals, hoboes Finally, other hoboes or tramps might set up beg- faced a number of potential dangers. The first was ging on the streets, posing as blind men, cripples or the railroad bulls, hired to keep non-paying riders deaf-mutes. off the trains. While most bulls would just roust a group of hoboes and either eject them from the train The Jungle or ask for a small charge to ride, some were more forceful. The bulls carried a lantern to look in box- When not seeking work or handouts, hoboes and cars and a club or a sap for protection. Some bulls tramps would find their way to the “jungle” to rest. would use the sap to crack a hobo in the head, then The jungle is an area where hoboes and tramps con- toss them off the train. gregate in the open. Most jungles are located outside of a city’s limits so the town law has no juris- Other bulls would carry guns. Two of the most diction. They are usually near the railroad or rail- notorious Depression-era bulls were Texas Slim and yards to make it easier to hop a train, and are almost Denver Bob. Texas Slim worked the railroads in always near a water source. Longview, Texas, and boasted about how he killed seventeen men. Denver Bob was known to shove Most jungles are inhabited throughout the year, people under the wheels of moving trains. Still so a newcomer will be able to find cooking utensils, other bulls would roll hoboes at gunpoint. some form of food, a local newspaper and a little company if he wants. Some jungles have almost a Another danger was the train itself. The potential “full-time staff”– hoboes who have given up travel- for injury in just hopping a freight was great, as slip- ing and have settled in the jungle. They act as the ping on a foothold or losing your grip could propel a unofficial keepers of the equipment and food. person under the wheels.

Jungles operate under a code of conduct, often Trick riding, such as decking or riding the rods, just common sense, enforced by the permanent resi- was also dangerous. A good wind or a low clear- dents. This code includes cleaning up after one’s ance could cut a man down from the roof of a car. own messes, washing cans and turning them upside Some men suffered injuries such as shaved skulls down to prevent rust, and above all respecting the from a low tunnel or a branch. Riding the rods was other ‘boes. This includes no stealing from sleeping inherently dangerous, since one could fall asleep people, contributing to meals in some way, and under the train and shift position, sending him down respecting another man’s privacy. onto the tracks below. In addition, the area under If these codes were broken, a hobo could expect the train was a blind spot for hoboes. Sometimes. swift justice. Failure to keep the jungle neat would bulls would lower a rope with a piece of metal down result in expulsion and stealing from another could the side of the car. Then they would feed it under

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 5 the cars where it would become a rattling weapon, their chosen lifestyle. They were “profeshes”, pro- bouncing around and potentially destroying any- fessional criminals. They traveled the same roads as thing it encountered. the hoboes, occasionally getting the better of one. They would rob and beat the hobo, then toss him off Just riding in a freight car had its perils. Freight the moving train. could shift in route and crush anyone who was under or behind it. Refrigerator cars or boxcars Hoboes and the Depression could be closed and locked, trapping a person inside. Riding the bumpers of a train could cost a Perhaps the greatest blow to the hobo way of life person his foot if the cars moved together, and a was also the thing that introduced many people to man could be blinded while sitting in the blind area that way of life. The Great Depression, its results behind the tinder car. and events following the Depression did much to bring the heyday of the hobo to an end. However, most of the problems the hobo faced were of the living kind. Vicious dogs, farmers with The Depression forced many people out of work. shotguns and sheriffs. Hoboes who were arrested Businesses closed, banks failed and confidence could expect harsh sentences for vagrancy. In the plummeted. The Dust Bowl buried farms, fields and Midwest, many were turned over as slave labor to people in black dust. Crops withered and animals farmers who needed bodies for work. In the South, died. Some lost their farms to the banks, while oth- judges regularly sentenced men to labor at prison ers sold them. Men, women and children could no farms or on chain gangs for upwards of thirty days. longer live the way they had and in the places they Black hoboes in the South could also suffer the hor- had. People moved into the cities and others took to rible fate of a lynching if the town had a crime it the roads. wanted to pin on a transient. Even up North, hoboes could be charged for unsolved crimes and be sent to Fleets of automobiles filled with entire families prison or worse. and their possessions rolled across the country to larger cities and to California, in search of hope and On the road, the biggest danger was other travel- prosperity that was “right around the corner.” ers. During the Depression, upwards of 250,000 Teenagers set out on the trains to make their own children under the age of seventeen took to the rails way and unburden their parents. to find work. Along the way many met up with “wolves”– hoboes or tramps looking to exploit the All of this poverty and tragedy swelled the num- youth. The wolf would take the road kid in and bers of the migrant worker. Hoboes who had trav- offer to teach him the ways of the road– much like elled the rails in search of work now had to compete Fagin in Oliver Twist. Once hooked up with the with 20, 40, 100 or 1,000 other people for a job wolf, the road kid would be forced to beg for the whose wages were a mere pittance. The “home older tramp, turning over money and food. He guard”– people who lived in a town and were out would wash the wolf’s clothes, cook the food, and of work took precedence in many places, and in some instances, the kid would become an object while the compassion was still there, the handouts of a homosexual relationship with the wolf. were smaller.

For those who were able to avoid the wolves, The Depression changed the face of America, as there were other shady characters. Tramps , or FDR and Congress created new programs, blazed yeggs, who traveled the rails in “pushes” or gangs, new trails and tried to pull the country back from the looking for a victim. They were criminals, some of edge. Then came World War II, and with the mobi- the worst type. Safecrackers, murderers, robbers lization for war and the institution of the Draft, the roaming from town to town. Dubbed the “vampires migrant ranks shrank once again. of the road” by many hoboes, they dressed in black and took great pride in their appearance as well as Finally, following the War, the heyday of the

6 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail hobo ended with the advancement of technology. engines, signaled a new age. While the hobo still America’s new prosperity and the reliance on auto- exists, he is considered a throwback to a simpler mobiles, as well as the onset of electric and diesel time, outdated and no longer a force in the work- locomotives replacing the slower steam powered place or in American society. New Deal Network Rondal Partridge, photographer

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 7 America in the 1930s

In 1929, The United States, and indeed much of did exactly the wrong things to fix the problem. the world, were hit by a major economic depression The Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930 caused other that lasted through much of the 1930s into World countries to pass tariffs, driving down the world War II. During this time, the United States saw trade economy. unemployment rise to almost 25%, which translated to roughly 13 million people. In addition to the depression, the United States was also hit by extreme drought in the Midwest, Leading up to the most thought-of event of the particularly Oklahoma and Texas. Several individu- Great Depression– the Stock Market Crash of 1929– als and families took to the roads and rails, heading the United States was enjoying a fairly healthy post- west to California, taking jobs as migrant workers WWI economic period. The markets were doing on the produce farms. well, production and employment was good, and people were looking to purchase luxury goods to mark their new status.

With the rosy outlook shared by many, the idea of buying on credit became a very seductive way to “have it all.” Larger purchases were made in durable goods such as cars and appliances– all on credit– with the promise to pay in installments at a later time. In addition to credit purchase for durable goods, many investors took the opportunity to begin purchasing stock in companies on credit. With a small payment, a lender would pay the balance of a stock purchase. As the stock rose in price, both parties would receive a good return on investment. But no one discussed the idea that stocks may fall at some point. This led to mass investment in the market, and also to future disaster.

This rampant speculation came to a halt when the Areas hit by the Dust Bowl market took a dip. Speculators– unable to make the margin payments when stocks dropped– were forced into bankruptcy. Lenders, unable to get any repay- In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt was elected Presi- ment for their investments, also lost money. With a dent of the United States, and set about rebuilding drop in market confidence, the upper class stopped the American economy. Congress and FDR passed buying luxury goods, and the middle class stopped the Emergency Banking Act of 1933, which abol- buying on installment credit. When banks began ished the gold standard. Prior to this legislation, the failing in some places, people started a run on the value of the dollar was tied to the amount of gold rest of the banks, pulling money out and hoarding it. that it could be exchanged for. With this Act, the This slowed bank investment in the U.S. economy. value of the dollar became tied to the confidence of the American people. This also allowed for a more Slowed spending following a period of increased fluid money supply. In addition, the Federal prosperity and production caused many companies Deposit Insurance Corp., or FDIC, was created to to cut jobs, raising the unemployment rate. The protect depositors’ savings in the event of a bank Hoover administration, attempting to stop the spiral, failure. 8 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail The Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, which contributed to Exchange Act of 1934 instituted agencies and stan- a drop in supply. While these policies did help dards to protect market investors and restore confi- farmers, they had the unfortunate effect of perpetu- dence in the stock market. In the short run, FDR ating a time of hunger. Jobless people were unable instituted his “New Deal” policies and agencies to to afford food due to the elevated prices, and farm- boost employment and get America back on its feet. ers were being encouraged to plow under their crops Such agencies as the Public Works Administration to keep supply down. and the Tennessee Valley Authority put people to work creating large-scale projects such as dams, power plants, highways and parks. The Civilian All in all, the United States continued to muddle Conservation Corps put young men to work in refor- through and work its way through the depression estation and bridge building, as well as providing until 1941. America’s entry into WWII is considered room and board. to be the end of the depression, as the government and the economy began to mobilize for war. Spend- Roosevelt’s administration also tried to assist ing for equipment and other wartime needs, the insti- farmers. The Agricultural Adjustment Administra- tution of the draft and newfound patriotism spurred tion was created to boost prices for farmers. It the United States back to full-scale production. encouraged farmers to hold back on supply to influence the market. Prices were further raised because

List of Items and Prices - 1932

Apples- 3 lbs/10¢ Green Beans- 15¢/2 cans Pork Chops- 15¢/lb. Bacon- 13¢/lb. Ham- 8¢/lb. Potatoes- 15¢/15 lbs. Bananas- 15¢/lb. Hamburger- 10¢/lb. Red Beans- 5¢/can Beans- 25¢/can Ketchup- 25¢/bottle Roast- 13¢/lb. Bread- 5¢/loaf Lettuce- 10¢/head Salmon- 25¢/2 cans Butter- 24¢/lb. Lima Beans- 25¢/3 cans Salt- 73¢/lb. Cabbage- 10¢/lb. Milk- 20¢/3 tall cans Sausage- 20¢/3 lbs. Carrots- 15¢/2 bunches Navy Beans- 29¢/10 lbs. Spinach- 25¢/2 cans Cheese- 19¢/lb. Oats- 10¢/3 lbs. Steak- 20¢/lb. Coffee- 20 to 32¢/lb. Onions- 17¢/3 lbs. Strawberries- 19¢/box Corn- 5¢ to 15¢/can Oranges- 29¢/dozen Sugar- 47¢/10 lbs. Corn meal- 10¢/5 lb. Peaches- 50¢/3 cans Sweet Potatoes- 25¢/2 cans Fish- 19¢/lb. Peanut Butter- 10¢/jar Tomatoes- 25¢/4 Franks-10¢/lb. Peas- 15¢/2 cans New Car- $500 Gasoline- 10¢/gallon Tune-up (Complete)- $4.95 New Pickup- $450 Motor Oil- 15¢/qt. Used Car- $200 Engine, Rebuilt- $40 Set of 4 Tires- $6.35 Used Pickup- $175 Candy- 1¢ to 2¢ Meal (Restaurant)- 50¢ Theatre- 10¢ to 20¢ Circus- 25¢ Newspaper- 5¢ Haircut- 25¢ Popcorn- 5¢/bag

Boots Men's- $2.98/pair Overcoat- $18.50 Sweater- $1 Coat- $28 Pants- $1 Suit- $15 Dress- $1 Shoes Ladies'- $3.50 Work Shirt Men's- $0.65 Galoshes- $1.69/pair Socks- 25¢/pair New Deal Network, FSA Photo

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 9 Institutions of the Depression

Relief and Charity and used some to fund charities where they could feed and house the needy, and in some cases provide At the onset of the Depression, then-President vocational training. Herbert Hoover believed it was only a temporary event. Consequently, he expected city relief pro- Other Institutions grams and charitable organizations would take care of any who were dispossessed. He stated that the The I.W.W. business of the federal government is not welfare. While missions and other charities did their job, the Industrial Workers of the World continued to do Even as the Depression continued, Hoover still its job. Founded as a Social Anarchistc Labor maintained that these were the best institutions for Union, the I.W.W. was concerned with helping help. Only after Roosevelt’s election in 1932 did laborers get a fair shake. They encouraged (and the federal government enter the arena of relief. sometimes intimidated) workers to join the union, protested unfair wage and work conditions, and City Relief organized strikes in many facets of unskilled labor, In the beginning, individual cities had their own such as fruit harvesters, loggers and cannery work- programs in place to assist those out of work. People ers. who were “on the dole” lined up to receive money from city coffers and opportunities for work. How- The New Deal ever, as the Depression worsened, more and more people applied for relief. This, coupled with the Many organizations came out of the New Deal to infusion of rural inhabitants seeking better opportu- combat the Depression. The acronyms used to iden- nities in the city, put a strain on relief programs. tify the agencies led to their moniker of “alphabet Some cities, such as Philadelphia, ran out of money Soup.” Their goals were largely to assist people by to fund the programs. creating jobs and providing basic necessities.

The Salvation Army One such agency was the Civilian Conservation Charities and missions did what they could as Corps (CCC). The CCC took young men and put well. One of the most prominent charities was the them in camps, providing room and board, as well Salvation Army. Founded as a Christian mission as $35 per month. In return, the young men worked with a military structure, the Salvation Army was a on reforestation of park land, beautification of place that people could turn to in need. The Salva- national forests and construction of parks and shel- tion Army set up temporary housing missions for ters across the country. those who had no homes, offered soup kitchens for the hungry and provided clothing for those who In addition, the Works Projects Administration could not afford it. In return, the Salvation Army (WPA) headed up the building of highways, roads, would ask those it assisted to attend church services parks, bridges and buildings. Men worked from and help out in its missions. project to project, and in return they got to earn money for honest work and retain their dignity. Jewish relief agencies In addition to Christian missions and charities, The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) served a Jewish organizations took it upon themselves to twofold purpose: the projects gave people employ- assist Jews who were displaced by the Depression. ment and provided electrification of regions through They collected money from Jewish businesses and the construction of lakes, dams and hydroelectric individuals. They distributed some of the money plants.

10 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Life and Culture

Life during the Depression was largely day-to- to show support for a relief bill that would have day, and the circumstances of one’s life depended on given veterans $250 to $500 per month. The bill the region. Each area faced hardships and problems sailed through the House and Senate, but President that were unique, but the Depression united every- Hoover vetoed it. Some vets returned home, but one’s experiences. others remained in protest. As a result, the President called out the Army to forcibly remove them. The Northeast Out of Boston, Father Coughlin, a Canadian In the densely populated areas of the Northeast Catholic priest, used his CBS radio show as a pulpit and New England, city dwellers faced problems for politics. He picked up the banner for the com- relating to population and unemployment. At the mon man, and announced his support for FDR in the beginning of the Depression, the Hoover administra- upcoming Presidential race. Announcing that “the tion placed its faith in charitable organizations and New Deal is Christ’s Deal,” Coughlin became a city relief programs, keeping the federal government staunch supporter of the Democratic nominee. This out of relief. As a result, charities became overbur- support was short lived, however. By 1935 Father dened and city relief rolls swelled. People left rural Coughlin was vilifying FDR as a Socialist and creat- areas to search for non-existent jobs in cities. They ed his own political party, which garnered a small set up tent communities, dubbed “Hoovervilles”, number during the 1936 election. After that, the and joined the breadlines. Good Father’s popularity began to decline as an Anti-Semitic, Fascist streak became more eminent. In the early 1930s, the relief program in Philadel- phia was tapped out. In New York, the unemploy- There were other calls for people in the North- ment figures topped one million people. People east, both politically and religiously. The German turned to jobs such as selling apples, which was American Bund began to assert itself in the mid facilitated by the International Apple Shippers. An 1930s, after Hitler and the Nazi Party’s rise to power oversupply gave the company the idea to allow peo- in Germany. Their doctrines held a seductive mes- ple to have their own business. By 1932, there were sage in the wake of Germany’s rebuilding and blos- street vendors on almost every corner of every soming economic prosperity. major city in America. Meanwhile, the cult of Father Divine on Long In addition to the Depression, there was also the Island attracted many followers. People came to the cultural problems of discrimination. The hard eco- compound for large and lavish feasts, fashioned nomic times gave people the opportunity to use their around the Last Supper, with Father Divine in the prejudices more easily. Blacks were often among prominent role. the jobless, as employers used the “last hired, first fired” mentality to get rid of them. Consequently, in Midwest/Ohio Valley/Great Lakes the Northeast, blacks made up a large number of people on relief. They began to suffer from a label Chicago, the land of gangsters, Capone and Pro- of laziness. They were also evicted from apartments hibition, was also famous for its railroads. So much by unscrupulous landlords. In order to make rent, so that it became known as the Hobo Capital of the the Harlem “rent parties” were invented. People United States. The railroads provided a way for would hand out cards with an address, and for a fee, hoboes to come into the city to escape the winter. guest could drink and listen to local entertainment, This, coupled with Chicago’s already 500,000 able to forget about their troubles temporarily.. unemployed, created large areas full of hoboes and homeless. Flophouses popped up, as well as rescue In Washington, D.C., jobless veterans set up a missions and employment agencies. Hooverville on the Anacosta river. They were there Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 11 In 1933, Chicago played host to the World’s Fair. went through Long and his opponents found them- The event brought in great amounts of tourism and selves crushed or buried politically. When FDR made more than $1 million for Chicago. In fact, the assumed the Presidency, Long found out that he was Fair was so popular that it was held over for another unable to influence the new President. He began to year. oppose FDR, and as a result, lost New Deal patronage and projects. Not to be outdone, Long created The Midwest was also a prominent player in his own New Deal-like program in Louisiana, and national labor relations. Workers in Detroit and started his steps toward unseating Roosevelt. How- Ohio staged several protests and strikes during the ever, in 1935, the Kingfish was assassinated, bring- Depression. In Detroit, Ford plants were laying off ing his political ambitions to an end. workers and cutting wages by 50%. In March 1932, Ford workers marched on the Dearborn plant in For the rest of the South, life was one day at a protest. They were met with police, fire hoses and time. As in the pre-Civil War days, much of the bullets, leaving four dead and more injured. In South’s economy depended on agriculture, specifi- 1937, Ford workers staged a sit-down strike in a cally cotton and tobacco. With the plantation sys- plant, bringing their plight to light without violence. tem gone, most farming was done by tenant farmers. In the case of white tenant farmers, they could The South expect to earn about $200 to $250 on a cotton crop when expenses were taken out. Black sharecrop- The South, with its history of bad race relations, pers, however, were still trapped in a legalized slav- found those relations heightened in the Depression. ery. For an average crop yield of $700, a black During the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan enjoyed a sharecropper could expect to see $85. The rest of revival of sorts under the leadership of Atlanta, the money was given over to the landowner, who Georgia, native “Colonel” William J. Simmons. provided the land and the tools to plant and harvest. Simmons used the tool of public relations to deliver In addition, the sharecropper often borrowed money the Klan’s new message. In addition to the anti- from the landowner over the course of the season, black rhetoric of the Klan, Anti-Semitic, anti- which came out of the harvest at a healthy inflated Catholic and anti-foreign stands were espoused. rate. This, coupled with the Jim Crow laws and Klan activity, helped to keep blacks in a deep hole The Klan controlled several political factions in of poverty and disenfranchisement. several Southern states, and branched out into the business community as well. Businesses placed But things could always be worse. In Mississip- signs in their windows that read “Klan friendly”, pi, the institution of slavery was still going strong. and they made life hard for Jewish business owners. In West Central Mississippi lay Parchman farm, the Blacks were lynched all around the South, a favorite state’s penal institution. Rather than being an actual scapegoat for crimes against decent white folks. prison, the farm was a business, run like a business. Parchman farm was a plantation, using inmates as Simmons reign in the Klan ended in 1923, when slave labor. Many a prisoner suffered heat and his PR man and his wife were arrested in an Atlanta exhaustion on the chain gang, strapped to a ball and brothel. He was replaced by Hiram Evans, who led chain and beaten down by prison guards. the Klan until the mid 1920s. At that point, leadership and focus shifted to Indiana, and Grand Dragon Texas had its own work farms along the Brazos David Stephenson. As the 1930s unfolded, the river in East Texas, where prisoners toiled for the KKK faded back to a small regional organization state. In West Texas, the Dust Bowl decimated the wielding less political power. farms and demoralized the farming population, sending them to California. In Louisiana in the 1930s, however, “Kingfish” Huey Long was gaining power. As Governor and The Great Plains then as Senator of Louisiana, Long’s political machine held great sway over the state. Patronage The Great Plains suffered during the Depression 12 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail from not only the general economic problems, but their strikes and protests more than once brought pro- agricultural related problems as well. Many Plains duction to a halt in an effort to strengthen workers. states were hit by the Dust Bowl, a near decade-long drought and dust storm caused by poor farming prac- As far as culture and life in the Northwest, Seat- tices. A strip from the Dakotas, down through tle’s Repertory Theater opened in 1930 and its art Nebraska and Kansas into Oklahoma and West Texas museum opened its doors in 1933. Seattle also was devastated. Many families, seeking a new life, became home to an early gay movement in the headed west to California, abandoning farms along the 1930s, as well as Japanese and Jewish movements. way. Thousands of kids left their homes, taking to the rails to earn money for their families and ease the In Oregon, FDR’s Civilian Conservation Corps financial burden of their parents. worked to improve, reforest and beautify parkland and public land in the state. In addition, WPA pro- In Iowa, however, the problem was of a different jects in Oregon used architects and engineers for nature. The corn crop in Iowa was just fine. So many projects. fine, in fact, that it became worthless. A surplus of corn caused prices to drop to -3 cents a bushel. California Farmers would actually have to pay to sell their California was seen by many as a golden land of crop. As a result, it was burned by many instead of opportunity. The possibility of jobs on fruit farms coal because it was far cheaper. lured Dust Bowl victims along Route 66. Once there, they found a different reality. In Missouri, the relief efforts fell under the aus- pices of the Pendergast political machine. New Agriculture in California was controlled by cor- Deal patronage was dispensed through Tom Pender- porate monopolies. Big business controlled the land gast’s political network of “old boys”, and political and thus, the workers. The huge number of fortunes were made and broken according to his migrants from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas drove whims. The rise of future President Harry S. Tru- the pool of workers up and kept wages low. The man is tied to the Pendergast machine. average worker was paid by the amount of fruit he or she picked, which usually amounted to $2 a day. Of course, the Depression in the Plains created The days were long and living conditions were poor. its own folk hero. Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” People lived in tent and shack communities, or Floyd was viewed as a Robin Hood by some and a sometimes in barracks compounds. They were hoodlum by others. Leaving Oklahoma and setting reliant upon the employer for supplies and ameni- out on a life of crime, Floyd would often help those ties, and did not protest work or living conditions as who helped him, paying mortgages of people who another person or family was ready and willing to hid him and giving money to the poor. He robbed take their spot. banks and held up people along the highway, but his most notorious criminal involvement was in the The migrant population got so out of hand that Kansas City Union Station Massacre in 1933, where the Los Angeles Police Department took it upon he and two other men killed 5 people in an attempt themselves to remedy the problem. Police patrolled to free Frank Nash from federal custody. Floyd’s the Arizona/California border, waiting for migrants. exploits ended in October 1934 when he was shot They would inform them that California was already by FBI agents in Ohio. crowded and ordered them to turn back. They threatened people with jail or beatings in an attempt The Northwest to stem the flow of Dust Bowl refugees. In Washington and the Pacific Northwest, the As in the Northeast, people went looking for chief industries included logging, fishing and can- answers and comfort. In Los Angeles, the cult of ning. These industries and their workers in the past Aimee Semple McPherson gave people hope with had provided a foothold for the I.W.W. and their her preachings of the “lighter side” of religion. practices. Labeled an inflammatory union by many, Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 13 Thousands flocked to her church to witness miracles In literature, writers such as Pearl S. Buck, and faith healings, or just to bask in her glow. She William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway enthralled preached about Heaven and love from a radio show readers. Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind until her ministry collapsed in the weight of scandal, was adapted into a major motion picture in 1939. sex, lies and hypocrisy in the mid to late 1930s. John Steinbeck brought the social problems of America to print with The Grapes of Wrath and Of Culture in the Depression Mice and Men. But the Depression was not all gloom and doom. Turning to sports to amuse themselves, Ameri- Hollywood continued to put out movies of all sorts. cans were able to listen to their favorite college Sound was added to movies, and the new “Talkies” teams’ exploits on their radios, as well as tennis, foot- gave way to a rush of films. People wanted to be ball and boxing. The Brown Bomber Joe Louis held uplifted by stories starring Mickey Rooney and Judy the Heavyweight Boxing crown through the Depres- Garland,laugh at the Marx Brothers antics or aww at sion. Baseball legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig the musicals of Shirley Temple. In addition, sexpots ended their storied careers in the latter half of the such as Marlene Dietrich and Mae West brought in 1930s, but were replaced with such names as Joe moviegoers, and the action of gangster movies & DiMaggio. horror films took viewers to worlds they had no contact with. Tarzan films also took the ‘30s by But perhaps nothing had such a profound effect storm, chronicling the adventures of the ape man. on people than the radio. What started off as a communications device had evolved into entertainment. On Broadway, plays and musicals were still In the 1930s, there were 25 million radio sets and being produced. Among them were Cole Porter’s more than 700 radio stations broadcasting in Ameri- Gay Divorcee and Anything Goes, the musicals of ca. Each evening, people could settle down next to Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Rodgers & their sets and listen to the network stations NBC & Hart. CBS, with their serial programs. Comedies such as Amos & Andy , Jack Benny, Burns and Allen. Little Music was another diversion for people in the Orphan Annie, the Lone Ranger and the Shadow Depression. Jazz clubs abounded, with artists such captivated audiences with cliff-hanger adventures. as Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong. Swing People could get news and commentary from Walter found itself in the latter 1930s. And among those hit Winchell and Father Coughlin. hardest by the Depression, there was blues and folk music. Robert Johnson & W.C. Handy recorded the In addition to the network stations, local radio blues, which had its roots in old Negro spirituals stations also broadcast to regional audiences. They and field hollers, while Woody Guthrie sang about brought music and amateur programs to listeners, the plight of the Okies in the Dust Bowl. often bringing acts into the studios to perform. Broadcasting also became a way for politicians to Even the government saw the need for cultural reach their constituents, both locally and on a advancement. The WPA provided grants for several national scale, with FDR’s “fireside chats.” different projects, including a federal writers’ project to record individual histories. Art grants were given, music and literature, plays and photography. The WPA made it possible for Walker Evans, Ron- dal Partridge, John Vachon and Dorothea Lange to chronicle the dispossessed and migrant workers of the period.

14 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Railroads in America

Because of the vast size of the United States, the railroads were a necessary system of travel and trade. With the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, linking the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads, people and businesses now had easier access to interstate trade. The linking also fostered the age of the hobo, allowing him to traverse the country in search of jobs and adventure.

Until the 1950s, the primary mode of rail travel was via steam engines. Several rail companies operated thousands of trains over tens of thousands of miles of track. They hauled freight, passengers and foodstuffs across the country.

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 15 Rail lines in the U.S.

Union Pacific– 3,765 miles; 750 locomotives Southern Pacific– 8,800 miles; 1,480 locomotives Serving Western States Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe– 9,500 miles Serving Chicago to the West Coast and Gulf © Andy Laurent collection Refrigerator (Reefer) Car of Mexico Atlantic Coast Line– 5,100 miles; 840 locomotives Serving the Southern States Chesapeake and Ohio– 3,100 miles; 1,000 locomotives Serving the Eastern States Chicago & Northwestern– 8,470 miles; 1,678 locomotives Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific– 10,400 miles; 1,312 locomotives Caboose ©1994 John Kohlberg Serving the Rocky Mountain region with electrified trains and other regions via steam travel

The existing rail lines during the 1930s

16 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail A Partial Timeline

March 1917 - Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as Presi- March 1933 - Emergency Banking Act passed– dent gold standard abolished

April 1917 - America enters World War I May 1933 - Agricultural Adjustment Administration created January 1919 - The 18th Amendment (Prohibition) is added to the Constitution May 1933 - Tennessee Valley Authority created

June 1919 - World War I ends June 1933 - National Recovery Administration created August 1920 - The 19th Amendment (women’s suffrage) is added to the Constitution June 1933 - Public Works Administration created

March 1921 - Warren G. Harding is sworn in as December 1933 - The 21st Amendment (Repeal of President Prohibition) is added to the Constitution

August 1923 - Calvin Coolidge is sworn in as June 1934 - Securities Exchange Act passed; Securi- President ties Exchange Commission created

March 1929 - Herbert Hoover is sworn in as Presi- May 1935 - NRA declared unconstitutional– agency dent dissolved

October 1929 - The stock market crashes on Black April 1935 - Works Progress Administration created Tuesday– October 29 August 1935 - Social Security Administration created June 1930 - Smoot-Hawley Tariff passed March 1936 - Germany invades the Rhineland 1930 - The “Dust Bowl” era begins, as drought hits much of the Midwest September 1939 - Germany invades Poland

January 1933 - Adolf Hitler becomes fuhrer of September 1939 - France and Britain declare war on Germany Germany

January 1933 - The 20th Amendment (Presidential June 1940 - France surrenders to Germany and Congressional term fixation) is added to the Constitution December 1941 - Japanese forces attack Pearl Harbor March 1933 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt is sworn in as President December 1941 - The United States enters World War II March 1933 - Civilian Conservation Corps created

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 17 Related Books, Music, etc. Books Big Rock CandyMusic Mountain Allsop, Kenneth. Hard Travellin’: the Hobo and Louis Armstrong and King Oliver Creole Band His Histor————————————————————————————————————y Woody Guthrie, Dust Bowl Ballads and various Anderson, Nels.One eveningOn Hobos as and the Homelessness sun went down andother the recordings jungle fire was burning Down the track came a hobo hiking and he said boys I’m not turning Andrist, RalphI’m K.headin ed. The for American a land Heritagethat’s far His away- Soundtrack,beside the O cr Brystalother, fountainsWhere Art Thou? tory of the 20’Sos come& 30’s with me we’ll go and see the Big Rock Candy Mountains Soundtrack, Songcatcher Burg, David.In Thethe GrBigeat Rock Depr ession:Candy An Mountains Eyewitness there’s a land that’s fair and bright History Where the handouts grow on bushesV andarious you Artists, sleep Beyond out ever Nashvilley night Where the boxcars are all empty and the sun shines every day Lee, HarperOn. To theKill birdsa Mockingbir and thed bees and the cigarVariousette Artists, trees Nothing but the Blues Where the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings London, Jack. The Road Various Artists, Roots & Blues Retrospective In the Big Rock Candy Mountains Nishi, Dennis. Life During the Great Depression Various Artists, Times Ain’t Like They Used to Be In the Big Rock Candy Mountains all the cops have wooden legs Steinbeck, John.And theThe Grapesbulldogs of Wallrath have rubber teethand and scores the of hens others lay soft boiled eggs The farmer’s trees are full of fruit and the barns are full of hay Steinbeck, John.Oh, I’m Of Mice bound and to Men go where there ain’Wt noebsites snow Where the rain don’t fall and the windhttp://newdeal.feri.or don’t blow g/ Stone, Jon andIn the Mark Big Davis. Rock W Candyisdom of Mountains. the Road http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/London Uys, Errol. Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the In the Big Rock Candy Mountains youhttp://www never change.angelfire.com/folk/HoboBoxcar/ your socks Move DuringAnd the the Great little Depr stressioneams of alcohol come a-tricklin’ down the rocks The brakemen have to tip their hats http://wwwand the railr.hobo.com/oad bulls are blind Wormser, Richard. Hoboes:Wandering in America, 1870-1940 There’s a lake of stew and of whiskeyhttp://www too .hobonickel.net/ You can paddle all around ‘em in a big canoe http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/ Movies In the Big Rock Candy Mountains Robert Aldrich Emperor of the North (Pole) http://www.slackaction.com/ In the Big Rock Candy Mountains the jails are made of tin http://www.worldpath.net/~minstrel/index.html The Coen BrothersAnd you O canBrother walk, Wher righte Ar outt Thou? again as soon as you are in There ain’t no short handled shovels,http://www no axes.ahnapeeandwestern.com saws or picks Uys, MichaelI’m and a goinLexy Lovell.to stay Riding wher ethe you Rails sleep all day Where they hung the jerk that inventedhttp:/www work .trainweb.org/tnvalley In the Big Rock Candy Mountains I’ll see you all this coming fallCr in editsthe Big Rock Candy Mountains Photos used in KOTR2 were obtained from the New Deal Network archives, primarily Rondal Partridgetaken essays, fr andom: the Har Libraryry ofMcClintock Congress, Dorothea Lange, John Vachon and Arthur Rothstein. Other photos came from Wisdom of the Road, published by the Free Look Bookstore. The hobo nickel is from Sam Alfano. Railcar photos ©individual owners. Glyphs taken from Fran the Hobo Minstrel. All photos are used entirely for flavor purposes and in no way reflect any disrespect to copyright holders.

18 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Tales from the Jungle Fire

Oh, I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow Where the rain don't fall and the wind don't blow In the Big Rock Candy Mountains. taken from: Harry McClintock New Deal Network Rondal Partridge, photographer It was our last mornin’ in the Big Easy. We had as a way to get some scratch. That night, Joe made been about three months in New Orleans, me and up some forty-fives and bacon, which we washed Savannah Joe, but the rails was callin’ to us again. down with some good hooch. I got out my bedroll and went to sleep, while Joe sat around and bumped We had been workin’ the docks, loadin’ and unload- gums with Slim. in’ freight. Me and Joe had put in a lot of work, and the dock foreman said we was two of the best guys The next mornin’ I woke up to fresh biddles and hot he had in a long time. He offered us more work, but coffee. Slim slipped out early to find fixin’s for Joe was gettin’ the itch. I knew I wouldn’t be far breakfast, and damned if the old ‘bo didn’t come behind him. through. He always has been a lucky cuss.

Joe talked about the grape harvests in California, As Joe finished his coffee and we put our bindles and the stories he told about the West got me all together, we heard the sound of a hog comin’ down worked up to get out there. Mind you, I wasn’t the track. Me and Joe slipped into the railyard comfortable with the notion of ridin’ through West through a loose board I found and we hotfooted it Texas. Gettin’ throwed off by a bull in some towards the tracks. I caught sight of the writin’ on podunk middle-of-nowhere town ain’t exactly a the car, and from the looks of Joe’s eyes, so had he. thrillin’ proposition. But Joe had a plan, and he had done this a few times before. “Shake a leg, Joe,” I yelled as I started hoofin’ towards the train. “That there’s an Indian Valley So we got our stake, said our goodbyes and made Train. We’re on our way to the Mountain.” our way back to the jungle for our last night. Flat- foot Slim and the Kid had just got to New Orleans a From a story told by C.K. “Alabama” James couple days earlier, and we pointed ‘em to the docks an Old Airedale Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 19 Character Creation

"All 'boes are different, all are alike - like the rest of humanity. Wisdom Of The Rails - by Jon Stone New Deal Network Rondal Partridge, photographer

Players of KOTR2 take on the roles of hoboes in Attributes 1930’s Depression-era America. These hoboes can Attributes are the common features all ‘boes and be of any shape, form, personality or type that play- regular folks have. They are split between physical ers can put together, or players can use the arche- attributes– Brawn, Hot Footin’ and Gumpshun– types listed later on. Either way, ‘boes are going to and mental attributes– Brains, Learnin’, Horse be distinct individuals. Sense and Sociability. To create a character from scratch, players will need Brawn is a measure of your hobo’s physical power the character sheet from the back of the game. All and strength. Brawn rolls would be asked for when- of their stats, traits, skills and abilities will be listed ever your ‘bo is doing something that would require on the sheet. physical exertion, such as heavy lifting or pushing open certain boxcar doors. To start with, players need to get a handle on their characters’ look. Male or female? Tall or short? Hot Footin’ is the hobo’s ability to move quickly Thin or fat, or somewhere in between? Put together and nimbly. Players would roll for this attribute if a description of your ‘bo as far as how you want s/he is running to hop a train or trying to dodge a him/her to look. This may give you an insight into railroad bull. what skills, traits and abilities s/he will have. Gumpshun is your ‘bo’s measure of willpower and From there, players have 50 (inexperienced) or 75 stamina. Gumpshun rolls are for things like will power (experienced) points to stat their ‘boes. Here’s a and gauging the effects of drinking and the like. breakdown of each section.

20 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Brains is a general term for a hobo’s intelligence. James has settled on a few descriptors for his ‘Boes check brains whenever they are faced with a hobo. He decides that his hobo is from Back mental test of a general nature. East, so he takes Boston Bum. His ‘bo is probably also a little shady, since his physicality is Horse Sense deals with a person’s common sense less than average, so he goes with Con Man and Flim flam Man. To go with Con Man, he also and general wits. picks Streamliner, so his ‘bo can leave town quickly if he has to. Learnin’ is the measure of what your ‘bo has picked up specifically, whether it is book learnin’ or This has cost him 18 points, so James wants a nega- teachings from other ‘boes. tive descriptor so he can spend some more on skills. Not wanting a lot of points, he takes Glims for 3 Sociability is how a ‘bo gets along with others, points and decides his ‘bo is a little nearsighted. whether it’s other ‘boes, regular folks, potential employers or railroad folks. Skills Once a player has chosen his/her descriptors, s/he When determining attributes, each attribute is rated may move on to skills and/or spells. The skill list is from one to five, with one being mighty poor and a number of skills that a ‘bo may be able to call five being incredible. No attribute can be lower upon during his/her life, work or adventures. than one or higher than five.

James is ready to set his hobo’s attributes. He Each skill is rated from one to five. To purchase a has already decided he is playing a male hobo, skill level at character creation requires one point for a and James wants to go the route of the highbrow first level skill, two for a second level, four for a third hobo. He gives his ‘bo 4 points each in Brains level skill, eight for fourth and sixteen for fifth. Keep and Learnin’, 3 points in both Horse Sense and in mind that players can only buy into a multiple skill Sociability, and 2 points each in Hot footin’ level at creation. To improve a ‘bo during the game, Brawn and Gumpshun. Not really physical, players can only advance one skill level at a time. but not too bad. James has 40 points to put toward his skills. Now, take your ‘bo’s Brawn and Gumpshun and That’s quite a few points, so James splits it add the two together. This is your ‘bo’s Teeth. among several skills. Glyph Reading - 4th James’‘bo has 4 Teeth, 2 Brawn plus 2 Gumpshun. Hoodwink - 4th Barber - 3rd Descriptors Cooking - 3rd Road Wisdom - 3rd Now that you have your ‘bo’s attributes, it’s time to Soft Soap - 3rd flesh him/her out some more. Remaining points are Water Tank Wisdom- 3rd split between descriptors, skills and spells. Not all Goy - 2nd players will have ‘boes who can do magic, and not Hobo Nickel - 2nd every ‘bo is going to be a master of everything. Spells and Wrap-Up The list of Descriptors is a list of Hard ‘n Fast rules that apply to your ‘bo. You’ll notice that the list of Finally, for any ‘bo who has taken the Magical descriptors has a cost or an additional point value Descriptor, s/he may now use remaining points to next to each one. This is how many points you have purchase spells. Like skill purchases, a player can to spend to take a descriptor or how many points purchase multiple levels in a spell at this point. you get for taking a descriptor. You can only take fifteen additional points using the descriptors, and Look at each spell and see if there is a required skill no descriptor may contradict another one. for the spell. If so, a ‘bo cannot use this spell without having the skill as well. A character can have a Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 21 spell, but not the related skill, but the ‘bo may not Since ‘boes travel light, there’s no set of rules for cast the spell until s/he learns the required skill at a picking equipment. Just sit down with the later time. Gamemaster, or Airedale (that’s a term for an experienced hobo), and put together your bindle. When all points have been allocated to your ‘bo, it’s time to put a name to him/her. Most ‘boes have James and his Airedale sit down and discuss monikers that reflect something about them, Snake Oil Jack’s bindle. Since he chose Stream- whether it’s a personality trait, something physical liner, James only takes the tramp essentials plus about them or a place associated with them. a balloon and a couple of tin cans. With all this done, James and Snake Oil Jack are ready to hit the road. James is done with all numbers, so now he needs a name for his ‘bo. Looking at his descriptors and stats, James settles on the moniker Snake Oil Jack. New Deal Network Rondal Partridge, photographer 22 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Hard ‘n Fast Traits

"Most people define themselves by the money they have; the hobo defines himself by the miles he's traveled. Wisdom Of The Rails - by Jon Stone New Deal Network, John E. Allen, photographer The following list of descriptors are unalterable your sinful ways of stealin’, cussin’ or otherwise traits for your hobo, good or bad. Each descrip- damnable actions, sooner or later you’ll be your old tor has a cost (in the case of favorable traits) or self again. You must pick a problem area and take a additional points granted (in the case of unfavor- one die Gumpshun penalty when called to resist able traits). While a player may spend as many your need. Additional 3 points for small things like or as few points for positive descriptors as s/he cussin; 5 points for larger things like drinkin’ or wishes, s/he may only spend 15 points for nega- drugs. tive descriptors. Bad Actor - You have a reputation, and not one o’ Another tip is to look at the descriptors and not pick them good kinds. Trouble follows you like stink on contradictory traits. For example, a hobo who is a dog. ‘Boes tend to shy away from you if they find Hot or a Bad Actor wouldn’t necessarily be consid- out who you are. Additional 3 points. ered an Emperor among many hoboes, unless he was traveling in the company of a bunch of Yeggs. Beefer - ‘Boes don’t like to talk to you because Your Airedale is the final judge of whether or not you’re either whinin’ or you’re apt to go tell what descriptors may be used together. you’ve heard, whether it’s to the authorities or another interested party. You suffer a one die penalty whenever you try to get info from ‘boes in a American Nomad - You have been across the social setting. Additional 3 points. country and back again, several times over in fact. You have a great knowledge of this nation’s scenery Big Ole - ...You got more power in your little finger and rail or highway systems. You gain a one die than most folks do in their whole body. You gain a bonus whenever any roll is called for for railway one die bonus for any Brawn rolls. Cost 3 points. destination knowledge, direction or customs/land- marks of the locality. Cost 5 points. Boob - You sure ain’t a smart one. Any test of intelligence or general knowledge results in a one Backslider - You have very little willpower. die penalty. Additional 2 points. Whether its jumpin’ off the wagon or returnin’ to Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 23 Boozehound - You have a hankerin’ for the bottle. Circuit Rider - You have a steady income of Vet- You need to feed your addiction at least once a day, eran’s benefits or Social Security, as long as you or else you lose one die per day in either a physical keep on the same traveling circuit. You get a guar- or mental trait. Additional 10 points. anteed amount of money every month, as long as you can get to it. Cost 10 points. Boston Bum - You’re one o’ them fellers from Back East. Most ‘boes consider you a little more Coast Beggar - You don’t like the cold, so you sophisticated. You gain a one die bonus to any keep to the West Coast. Your knowledge of the social rolls when in the company of regular ‘boes. Coast gives you a one die bonus on any die roll Cost 3 points. relating to coastal knowledge. Cost 2 points.

Bumpkin - Most ‘boes (and regular folks) consid- Con Man - There’s a sucker born every minute, er you backwards and countrified. You get a one die and you know how to find him. Whether it’s telling penalty in social rolls. Additional 2 points. the right story or hustling a rube alongside your companions, you are able to get a little extra without Cabbage Head - Too many drugs during your workin’ for it. Cost 5 points. life have taken their toll. You need to feed your addiction at least once a day, and you suffer a one Cracker - Most folk consider you poor, Southern die penalty on all mental rolls. Additional 10 points. White Trash. You have a lot of intolerances, you’re pretty rude and uneducated. What’s more, you don’t Cajun Hobo - They don’t wear shoes back where care. Any time you’re dealing with uppity folk or you’re from in Louisiana. You have a knack for get- colored folk, you suffer a one die penalty. Addition- tin’ round the bayous and swamps, as well as fora- al 5 points. gin’ for food in those settings. Cost 3 points. Dead Picker - Yeggs like you give an honest ‘bo a Card Man - a card-carryin’ member of the I.W.W. bad name. Your forté is rollin’ drunks or dead folks You get a one die bonus whenever you deal with for whatever you can find. Most ‘boes keep their potential employers or other I.W.W. members. Cost eyes on you and won’t trust you. You suffer a one die 10 points. penalty in social settings. Additional 5 points. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-020789-E DLC Dorothea Lange, photographer 24 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Dodger - Honest work makes you itch. You get a one Gimped - You’ve lost some portion of your anato- die penalty when dealin’ with potential employers, hon- my– a finger, hand, leg or eye. You suffer a -1 est folk and I.W.W. members. Additional 5 points. penalty(minor) or a one die penalty (major)when it would affect a roll. Additional 2 points for -1 penal- Emperor - Your experiences across this country ty, 5 points for one die penalty. are the talk of many a ‘bo. Any time you come across ‘boes, they give you the royal treatment. You Glass Jaw - If there’s ever a fight, folks know get a one die bonus when dealin’ with ‘boes on any where you’ll be– somewhere else. ‘Boes know level. Cost 10 points. you’re a coward. You suffer a one die penalty if you’re ever involved in a fight, and you take dam- Fall Guy - Any time somethin’ bad goes down, age half again what normal folks take. Additional you’re always takin’ the blame. But even if you get 10 points. fingered by the cops, you still won’t give up who really done it. Additional 5 points. Glims - You can’t see so good without you spectacles. Pick either far- or nearsighted, and suffer a Fink - Any time there’s a strike, you see an oppor- one or two die penalty for any rolls that require tunity. Consequently, most ‘boes don’t want to lookin’ when you don’t have your glasses. share in your wealth. You get a one die penalty Additional 3-5 points. dealin’ with I.W.W. members and union sympathiz- ers, but a one die bonus dealin’ with employers. Gummy - Somethin’ for nothin’, that’s your Additional 5 points. motto. You’ll hang around the jungle and let other folks do the work, just as long as they’ll share. You Flimflam Man - You got fast hands, and a fast suffer a one die penalty any time you roll for a skill mouth. You can hustle folks pretty well at gamblin’ you don’t have. Additional 5 points. or three card Monty. Cost 5 points. Gypsy - Your people came from Eastern Europe, Fruit Tramp - Most of your work experience comes and the wanderin’ was born into you. So were other from followin’the harvests. You get a one die bonus whenever things. You get a one die bonus for magic rolls. your dealin’with crops or crop related folks. Cost 2 points. Cost 10 points. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-019233-C DLC Dorothea Lange, photographer Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 25 Home Guard - You’ve found a city you like, and on all matters West and for any roll for tramp nothin’ will make you leave. You gain one die oration. Cost 5 points. bonuses for any roll dealin’ with the city you call home. Cost 3 points. Scalawag - Good-for-nothin’. You’ve got a bad reputation as a yegg and as a lazy bum. ‘Boes tend Hooligan - You’ll make a fine yegg someday. to leave you alone and watch their bindles around Most honest ‘boes consider you a punk kid and a you. Additional 5 points. petty crook. Additional 2 points. Slob Sister - Moochin’ is one thing. but nobody Hot - The law is after you, whether you did it or likes a moocher who complains about it. ‘Boes just not. ‘Boes won’t travel with you if they know who don’t like to listen to you, and neither do most hon- you are, and the law will come after you if you cross est folks. You get a one die penalty dealin’ with them. Additional 10 points. honest folks, and two dice when dealin’ with ‘boes in a social setting. Additional 5 points. Looloo - You’re sure one purty woman. You get a one die bonus to any social or persuasion rolls. Cost Sterno Drunk - It ain’t just for cookin’ and makin’ 2 points. fires. You’ve imbibed a lot of Sterno in your day, and it shows. You have a hankerin’ for the stuff and need Magical - Not just pullin’ rabbits out of hats and it every few days. You suffer a one die penalty to all doin’ card or coin tricks. You’ve discovered the your stamina rolls. Additional 10 points. magic of the hobo’s world. Cost 15 points. Stool Pigeon - Any time the railroad needs infor- Moocher - There’s a difference between honest mation, they come to you. You’re more than willing work and spongin’ for handouts. You’d rather do to give up a ‘bo if you can benefit. You suffer a one the second one, so most ‘boes think you give them a die penalty around ‘boes, but a one die bonus bad name. You suffer a one die penalty whenever around railroad folks. Additional 5 points. you’re dealin’ with honest folks or ‘boes in a social setting. Additional 3 points. Streamliner - When that whistle blows, you’re already packed up. You tend to travel light, and Palooka - You used to be a heckuva boxer in your gain a one die bonus to your quickness when hop- day. You get a one die bonus in a fight. Cost 5 points. pin’ a train or gettin’ out of town. Cost 5 points.

Poison - There’s somethin’ about you that makes Trombenick - Jewish hoboes are rare as hen’s you a dangerous woman. Any ‘bo who gets teeth, but here you are. You gain a one die bonus involved with you is courtin’ disaster. You have a when dealin’ with other Jews. Cost 3 points. one die penalty when dealin’ with male ‘boes. Addi- tional 3 points. Wet Head - Too much alki over too much time. You need to drink at least once a day, and you suffer River Rat - You spend most of your time around a one die penalty to all mental rolls. Additional 10 rivers and waterways. Your knowledge gives you a points. one die bonus whenever any rolls relate to rivers or docks. Cost 3 points. Yahoo - You’re not all that bright about most matters, but who cares. A full head makes for a full Sagebrush Philosopher - Out West, a man plate o’ troubles. You suffer a one die penalty to can... blah, blah, blah. You’re from the West some- mental rolls of higher thought and reasoning. Addi- where, and you have a lot of knowledge– that you’re tional 2 points. more than willin’ to share. You gain a one die bonus

26 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Skills New Deal Network, OWI Photo Due to traveling and performing a variety of work, Blinks - Pretending to be blind to get a handout most hoboes are pretty versatile. Foraging and liv- 1 You still get distracted pretty easy ing in the open make being well-rounded a big 2 You’ve had a lot of practice necessity. 3 It takes quite a surprise to get you to look 4 Punches can be thrown at you Skills cost one point for the first level, and double 5 Nothin’s gonna make you flinch the points to buy additional levels beyond that. So, the first level of cooking would cost one point, the Boxcar Art - Graffiti work in boxcars, watertowers, second would cost two, the third four, and so on. bridges, etc. Below are a list of skills that most ‘boes may have. 1 You’re able to do some markings and Pick any skills you think your hobo may have drawings acquired, and list them on your character sheet. 2 You have a definite skill and style 3 Your work is very nice indeed Barber - Small Talk 4 ‘Boes want you to do the signin’ in 1 You feel comfortable talking around ‘boes, 5 Other ‘boes can recognize your work just general stuff instantly 2 You can make a little small talk around respectable folks Cadging - The art of imposing without mooching 3 You can talk with ‘boes all night and day 1 You can sidle up to a mission easy 4 Most Folks feel comfortable around you 2 You can get food from the average person 5 You can strike up a conversation with any- 3 You could get lodging, too body, anywhere 4 You could impose on anyone, and still get a smile and kind word Batter - Begging 5 You could get a free lunch from the Queen of 1 You can approach Sallies and Mission folk England easy 2You’re able to beg on the streets Cooking 3 You can work your way into most missions 1 Coffee and grits are your specialty 4 You have cards made up for begging and 2 You can make enough to get by everything 3 You make some mighty mean dishes 5 You could get money from a miser 4 Cookee - second only to the Crumb Boss 5 Crumb Boss - the designated jungle cook Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 27 Deafie - Pretending to be deaf & dumb to get a handout Goy - Hobo who can work Jewish agencies 1 It’s pretty easy to see you’re faking 1 You know a few customs 2 You’ve done this a lot 2 You know some Hebrew, and what to say 3 People really have to work to trip you up 3 You can do some small talk 4 Loud noises don’t startle you 4 You can understand the Torah and make con- 5 You can convince anyone versation about it 5 Accomplished - either Jewish or practically a Jew Doughnut Christian - Pretending to get saved to get food Hobo Nickel - Carving ability 1 Not too tough to spot you’re faking 1 You’re a fair whittler 2 You can spit back Bible verses 2 You can make trinkets and simple stuff 3 You can fake it in front of most 3 You can make good carvings 4 You can fool most Sallies 4 You can do elaborate work 5 Hallelujiah! Praise the Lord! 5 Carve anything and it looks great

Fakir - Part con man, part repair man Hoodwink 1 Your repair skills are okay 1 You can fool only the dumbest hoosiers 2 You do a good job 2 You can scam a lot of folks 3 Your reputation precedes you 3 Someone really paying attention can spot you 4 Not many people do work like you 4 Most folks get caught up in your tricks 5 Folks look for your return 5 How did he do that?

Flopper - Pretending to be crippled Jerry Rigging 1 It’s pretty easy to see you’re faking 1 You can fix something temporarily 2 You’ve done this a lot 2 You can figure most things out and do a good fix 3 People really have to work to trip you up 3 You can engineer a fix given a little time 4 You can lay down in traffic 4 You can put something together on the fly 5 You can convince anyone 5 All you need is a knife and some balin’ wire

Gamblin’ - Cards, Dice, Horses Light-Fingered 1 No poker face or strategy 1 You do best if no one is around 2 You break even a lot 2 You can filch small items well 3 You know your way around a deck o’ cards 3 You are a good pickpocket 4 Shame Vegas isn’t around yet 4 You can plan good-size thefts 5 Did you know Hoyle personally? 5 You could steal an elephant from the zoo

Ghost - Pretending to be tubercular Music 1 It’s pretty obvious you’re faking 1 You can carry a tune 2 You’re pretty convincing 2 You got a good singin’voice around the jungle fire 3 It takes something to tell you’re not sick 3 You can play an instrument 4 Wow, that sounds bad 4 You got the sound of Heaven’s choir 5 Was that a lung? 5 You shoulda been a professional

Glyph Reading Pill Peddler - Camp doctor 1 You can make out a few glyphs 1 You can patch a small wound 2 You can read most of them 2 You know some home remedies 3 You know all of them 3 You know some herbs and treatments 4 You can even tell if their magical 4 You can treat a lot of ailments 5 You can size up a town at a glance 5 You’re a good field medic

28 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Possum Drunk - Faking drunk to get information Soft soaping - Hobo gift of oratory 1 It’s pretty obvious you’re faking 1 You can tell a good story sometimes 2 You’re pretty convincing 2 You can be counted on for a story 3 It takes something to tell you’re not drunk 3 You’re fun around the jungle fire 4 I’ll have what he’s having 4 You are one B.S. artist 5 Check to see if he’s still alive 5 Hands down, the best stories

Riding Tricks - moving around on cars and riding Surfing - Riding the tops of cars in odd places 1 You have to lay down a lot 1 You lose your balance easily 2 A good stiff wind will take you down 2 You have some agility 3 Only curves and sudden stops faze you 3 You can move with some ease 4 You can walk up and down with ease 4 You can navigate cars and rods 5 You were born on a train car 5 You’re part circus monkey Tinker - Able to work with tin Road Wisdom - Having road knowledge and skills 1 Apprentice level 1 You know about a couple of cities 2 Some good skills 2 You know the customs of ‘boes and folks in 3 Journeyman level a particular circuit 4 You can do a few things most can’t 3 You have a lot of knowledge about a region 5 Master worker and repairman 4 You know somethin’ about most everywhere 5 There and back, you’ve seen it all Trappin’ - catching small game animals 1 You know how to build a box trap Romany Rye - Understanding gypsy language 2 You can fashion snares or ropes traps 1 Just a few simple words 3 You’ll never go hungry 2 You know quite a few phrases 4 Go into the woods, come out with three 3 You can understand it and speak some rabbits 4 You can carry on a pretty good conversation 5 You can feed a jungle in a couple hours time 5 Like a second language Trombo - Hobo Pugilist (sweet science) Scrappy - A fondness for fighting (toughness) 1 You’re one tough palooka 1 You throw a mean hook 2 You look good throwin’ a punch 2 You can hold your own 3 You have fightin’ skills 3 Not just skill, but dirty fightin’ too 4 You could have been a contender 4 ‘Boes know your reputation 5 You could have been Champ 5 You are one tough sonofagun Water Tank Wise - Using a water tower to mark Sell it to me - Able to convince folks your arrival and read other ‘boes’ stories 1 People can still see through you 1 You don’t know much about the towers 2 You’ve got a good song and dance 2 You know the etiquette behind the tower 3 You can fool some of the people some of the time 3 You are pretty well-versed in how to read it 4 You can fool all of the people some of the time 4 You can spot monikers and understand the glyphs 5 You could sell sand in the desert 5 You can read everyone’s story from here

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 29 Tools of the Trade

A hobo's assets are portable: his brain, his brawn, and what he has in his bindle. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-002394-E DLC Dorothea Lange, photographer Most ‘boes tend to travel light. Hoppin’ trains, Glad Rags - Fancy clothes. movin’ from place to place doesn’t give a fella much chance to acquire a lot of stuff. Gumboat - Gallon sized can used for cooking.

Consequently, most ‘boes will only carry a bindle– a Hobo Stove - made from a 5 gallon bucket that was small bundle containing all his worldly possessions– used by the railroad for carrying spikes. You would and improvise everything else. put openings in the bottom with a knife or pliers, cut out a door in the side and dig a small hole. You The average bindle consists of maybe a blanket or made a fire inside and could cook on it. A person bedroll, money or food that the hobo carries along also couldn’t see the fire past 20 feet. with him, and the essentials– a can opener, knife, spoon, tobacco and something to start a fire with. No. 10 gunboat can - a coffee can used for brewing Many hoboes will also try to pack candles for light coffee, cooking, urinating or defecating. and warmth. Railroad Spike - not necessarily used as a weapon. The following is a list of items hoboes find useful. The spike is used by hoboes to keep railroad workers from closing doors on them so they can move Balloon - A bedroll. about freely.

Banjo - A small portable frying pan. Red Card - I.W.W. Card. This red card signifies that a ‘bo is a member of the Industrial Workers of Benny - an overcoat. A vest is called a ben. the World, or “I Wobble Wobble” in hobo speak.

Bug - a lantern made by putting a shirt tail wick into Tin Can - Ordinary tin cans that food comes in. a tin can filled with oil. Also called a bitch. Used for drinking or cooking. Three different sizes meant a full set of cookware. Donicker - a chamber pot.

30 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail

Hobo Magic

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The life of a hobo is more than just a life of travel. Using magic is pretty simple. When a ‘bo wants to The brotherhood of the road also possesses in it a do a spell, s/he just announces that s/he’s performin’ kind of magic, magic known to a few particularly a spell. Then, if all the necessary stuff has been intuitive ‘boes. This magic is what makes it easier done, s/he rolls a number of six-sided dice equal to for a fella to spend all of his time goin’ from place his/her level in the spell. Then compare the highest to place, hoppin’ trains, scroungin’ for food. die roll to the spell result listing to see how s/he did. ‘Course, sometimes the bones come up all 1’s. If The magic is available for any ‘bo who took the this happens, then the spell completely backfires and Magical trait during character creation. Magical it’s up to the Airedale to come up with a result. It ‘boes can take points and spend them on levels of may not always be readily visible when a spell hobo spells. Buyin’ into spell levels is different backfires, but somewhere down the line, the ‘bo is from skill levels in that it don’t take as many points gonna know it. to up your spells. Each level of a spell costs that number of points, so a first level in Wooden Nick- On the next page are a list of spells available to the els would cost one point, while the fifth level of magical ‘bo, what each of them does, and what kind Wooden Nickels would cost five. This is because of requirements are needed to take the spell. Good most of the spells require a regular skill to go along luck, ‘bo. with it.

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 31 Evil Eye - Sometimes you really want someone to Glyphs - All glyphs tell a story, and most ‘boes are have bad luck. Gypsies can put the whammy on able to look at a set of glyphs and read a town. folks just by lookin’ at ‘em. With Evil Eye, so can ‘Course, sometimes a ‘bo gives his glyphs a little you. All you need is to be able to look the fella in extra somethin’, hopin’ he can pass on a little good the face, and WHAM! ‘Course, a fella who uses for the next ‘bo down the line. With Glyphs, you can this a lot is gonna get a bad reputation among other tell if a particular glyph is magical, and imbue your ‘boes... own glyphs with some kind of spell if you want.

In the event that a ‘bo gets the evil eye, it can only Glyphs provide an insight to a town or a particular be lifted by the person who cursed him/her, or it person or building. So tryin’ to mess with the order may wear off naturally. Charms like Wooden Nick- of things can bring bad consequences. If a ‘bo rolls el and Rabbit’s Foot provide a little relief from the all 1s when tryin’ to imbue a glyph with magic, it effects, but the Evil Eye is too strong. Depending changes the glyph and creates an effect detrimental on the roll, the ‘bo will suffer penalties to his/her to the one hoped for. rolls and will be the victim of any bad luck that the GM wants to throw his/her way. For instance, if a ‘bo tries to warn others of a mean dog, s/he may actually make all the dogs in the town 3 Minor bad luck, like clumsiness, that wears off mean. Or a mark indicating a kind-hearted person in a day or two (-1 penalties) may repel ‘boes from a potential handout. 4 Bad luck that stays on for a couple of weeks Required skills Boxcar Art, Glyph Reading or Water 5 Bad luck that affects everything the person does Tank Wise. for a month 6 Major bad luck, like accidents and poor work 3 The glyph calls attention to itself, so any ‘bo leads, until the curse is lifted can see it 4 The glyph actually calls to ‘boes, so an easy Hobo Luck - It’s been said that the first bit o’ mark is readily found 5 The glyph becomes fact. So a glyph indicating luck a fella has when he gets into a town, be it good a kind-hearted lady would become accurate, or bad, is the kind o’ luck he’s gonna have his whole even if she was mean time there. To use Hobo Luck, the ‘bo needs to pick 6 The glyph can open a hole into the Yonder what skill s/he wants to perk up when s/he first gets to a town. Then s/he rolls Hobo Luck and adds the appropriate modifier result to any rolls s/he makes using that particular skill. Requires a skill to be modified.

3 Roll an extra die when using the skill 4 Add +1 to any rolls relating to the skill 5 Add +2 to any rolls relating to the skill 6 Automatic success to any roll, successes become Amazing successes

32 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Hobo Proof - Some railroads do a lot to keep Hobo Walking Stick - Dogs may be man’s best ‘boes outta their cars and railyards. But it seems friend, but some of ‘em can be a ‘bo’s worst night- that no matter what they try, you seem to slip in and mare. Now an ordinary stick might be good for hop the trains. Maybe you’re a ghost, maybe you’re some ‘boes to fend off a dog, but Hobo Walking just lucky. No railyard is hobo proof where you’re Stick lets you make a carved stick that can keep concerned. Hobo proof lets you break into a rail- dogs away before they show their teeth. A success- yard and hop any train easier than the average hobo. ful roll on Hobo Walking Stick creates an artifact Roll your Hobo Proof when you need to get into a with magical powers that any ‘bo can use. railyard or when you need to catch that train. To use Hobo Walking Stick, a ‘bo must first roll at 3 Lets you find a way into a railyard in a few least a success to carve a regular walking stick. The minutes stick will usually have a figure of a dog’s head on 4 Lets you find a way into a railyard immediately the end, and the rest may be carved very elaborately. or eases hoppin’ a train (+1 to Hot footin’) Then the ‘bo rolls for Hobo Walking Stick, and the 5 Entry into railyards and a +2 to any Hot footin’ outcome determines what kind of charms have been rolls to catch a train imbued on the stick. The stick may be used by any- 6 Automatic success onto a train or into a railyard; one, but if the stick is broken in any way, the charm success becomes an Amazing success dissipates. Required skill Hobo Nickel. Hoodoo - Money is the root of all evil, at least 3 The stick can repel smaller dogs according to some Jerusalem Slims out there. With 4 The stick can repel small and medium sized dogs Hoodoo, a ‘bo can make any item the root of bad 5 The stick can repel any dogs, and it can calm a luck. To use Hoodoo, a ‘bo needs an item to jinx. vicious dog S/He rolls his/her Hoodoo spell and, if successful, 6 The stick allows the wielder to command up to the item brings bad luck to anyone who holds it. three dogs, no matter the size Hoodoo works the same as Evil Eye, except the target is not a specific person, but an object. That object will bring bad luck to anyone, even the person who cast the spell, as long as they have posses- sion of the object.

3 The object will cause minor bad luck for a few days (-1 penalties) 4 The object causes bad luck for several weeks 5 The object causes major bad luck for months (-2 or -3 penalties) 6 The item is forever cursed. Anyone who holds it will have spectacular bad luck (-4 or -5 penalties) or constantly get into scrapes.

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 33 Moniker Wise - ‘Boes like A No. 1 and J.B. Mulligan Stew - It ain’t the Miracle of the King command a lot of respect in the brotherhood Loaves and Fishes, but to a jungle full of hungry of the rail. Most of this comes from their monikers ‘boes, it’s just as good. With Mulligan Stew, a bein’ scrawled on every train from New York to group of ‘boes are able to create a satisfying dish California, and all points in between. With Moniker that leaves everybody’s belly full. As long as every Wise, a ‘bo can use the power of his/her name to ‘bo contributes somethin’, no matter how spare, the influence other ‘boes. The more a ‘bo’s name is stew will be delicious. scrawled in train cars, on fences or on water towers, Required skill Cooking. the more s/he can command the attention of other ‘boes. 3 A good stew that makes a good meal 4 The most delicious stew you have ever had By castin’ Moniker Wise on your signatures, any 5 A filling stew that will tide you over till dinner time you meet a ‘bo who has seen your mark s/he tomorrow night will treat you like you had the Emperor trait. 6 A meal fit for a king that sticks to your ribs for several days Of course, just like glyphs, monikers have a special magic all their own. If a ‘bo casts Moniker Wise Playing the Spoons - A person’s future can be and rolls all 1s, s/he gets an effect opposite of what found in the rhythm of the spoons, some folks say. s/he wanted. Other ‘boes will treat him/her as if You have learned to tell fortunes by playing the s/he had the Hot trait. And who knows, some folks spoons against your knee. might try to fink on you to the police. Required skill Music. Required skills Boxcar Art or Water Tank Wise. 3 You can divine something about the personality 3 Treat as though you have the Emperor trait of the person 4 Treat as though you have the Emperor trait 4 You can tell a vague idea of his/her eventual 5 Treat as though you have the Emperor trait fortune 6 Treat as though you have the Emperor trait, 5 You can answer a specific question s/he has except all the ‘boes in the jungle will treat you regarding the future like an Emperor, even if they haven’t seen your 6 You can see actual events that may happen in mark. However, at least one ‘bo must have seen the person’s future the mark

34 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Rabbit’s Foot - Some folks are just lousy with Wooden Nickels - ‘Boes are known for their luck. Rabbit’s foot is a charm that allows a ‘bo to carving, and the most famous item is the wooden turn an ordinary rabbit’s foot into a lucky foot. This nickel. When the U.S. minted the Buffalo Nickel, spell is different from Wooden Nickel in that it ‘boes saw this as an opportunity to open up their allows a ‘bo to be the recipient of his own charm. creativity. ‘Course, magical ‘boes saw this as a way All a ‘bo needs is the foot of a rabbit. to help folks out and pass a little luck along. With Wooden Nickel, a ‘bo can create a little artifact that Of course, a little foot like that can only hold so comes with somethin’ extra– luck, traveling mer- much luck. Whenever a ‘bo rolls all 1s on the dice, cies, protection, direction. the foot loses some luck. The initial magic roll is lowered by one–a 6 becomes a 5, so automatic suc- To use Wooden Nickel, the ‘bo must first carve a cess becomes only a +2 to rolls, 5 becomes a 4 and wooden nickel, then decide what to bless it with. a +1, and so on. When the number goes below 3, Then the ‘bo casts the spell, and if a person accepts the foot is no longer magical. the Wooden Nickel without knowing of its magical properties, the charm will work. 3 Add an extra die to any rolls 4 Add +1 to your rolls For example, a ‘bo makes a Wooden Nickel and 5 Add +2 to your rolls blesses it with monetary prosperity. He rolls a 6 for 6 Automatic successes to your rolls; Successes his Wooden Nickel roll, and gives it to a widow become Amazing successes woman who has given him a meal and a room for a few days in payment. The woman may then start to experience luck in the form of an inheritance from a Reading the Rails - By hunkering down and long-lost uncle, or she may have a string of paying putting your hand on a rail that’s still warm from a guests if she operates a boarding house. train’s passage, you can sometimes divine some- Required skill Hobo Nickel. thing about the train that just passed, or about a specific person on it, or about the places the rails even- 3 The Nickel will give an extra die to rolls it is tually lead to. charmed towards, or will give luck, for a week 4 The Nickel will give a +1 to any rolls it is 3 You can see where the train has been, and where charmed towards, or will give luck for a month it is going 5 The Nickel gives automatic success to any roll 4 You can determine if a particular person was it is charmed towards for several months aboard 6 The Nickel will give Amazing Success to any 5 You can see any person on the train, and what rolls it is charmed toward, or will give amazing their plans are good luck, for several months 6 You can see the future of the train for this trip

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 35 Angelina

Attributes Brains 3 Horse Sense 2 Learnin’ 2 Sociability 2

Brawn 2 Hot Footin’ 4 Gumpshun 3

Descriptors Bumpkin -2 Con Man +5 Hooligan -2

Skills Batter 2 Deafie 3 Glyph Reading 1 Hoodwink 3 Music 3 Riding Tricks 3 Scrappy 3 Sell it to me 4

Bindle Tramp Essentials Juice Harp

Yeah, I’m young, but I’m learnin from Osage Pete. Nah, it ain’t nothin’ like that. He’s just teachin’ me the ropes, ‘sall. We move from town to town, hoosier to hoosier. One thing I’ve learned, them Sallies will fall for anything long as a cryin’ kid is tellin’ the story.

What do I care if we’ve had to run out quick like a couple of times? Ain’t that the hobo’s motto, when the road calls, it’s time to get movin’.

36 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Breshun

Attributes Brains 3 Horse Sense 4 Learnin’ 2 Sociability 3

Brawn 4 Hot Footin’ 2 Gumpshun 4

Descriptors Big Ole +3 Fruit Tramp +2 Palooka +5 Yahoo -2

Skills Barber 2 Cadging 2 Cooking 2 Glyph Reading 2 Scrappy 4 Trombo 3

Bindle Tramp Essentials

Well, I started out fightin’ guys in New York, but I ran up against a couple who were real good. When my record dropped into the toilet, nobody wanted to watch me fight no more. So I hopped on a train and headed out West..

Suitcase McGraw took me under his wing and we started followin’ the harvests. He shows me things about the towers and the glyphs and such, and I provide the muscle in case we run up against any yeggs. Sure, I would have liked to be champ, but this is my life now.

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 37 Jocker

Attributes Brains 3 Horse Sense 3 Learnin’ 2 Sociability 4

Brawn 4 Hot Footin’ 3 Gumpshun 4

Descriptors Card Man +10 Cracker -5 River Rat +3

Skills Cooking 3 Fakir 3 (Umbrellas) Jerry Rigging 4 Road Wisdom 3 Scrappy 3 Soft Soaping 4 Surfing 3 Water Tank Wise 4

Bindle Tramp Essentials Banjo Balloon Red Card Tin Cans

Next stop is down to Florida, what with winter comin’ and all. But first I’m plannin’ to put together a nice little stake here. I know the docks always need fellas who ain’t afraid of some honest work.

There’s lots of us all ‘round the country. Workin’ hard, gettin’ by , movin’ on. But we’re all in this together. That’s why it’s called the brotherhood of the rail. Everybody looks out for his fellow man...

38 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Master of the Road

Attributes Brains 3 Horse Sense 4 Learnin’ 3 Sociability 4

Brawn 2 Hot Footin’ 3 Gumpshun 4

Descriptors American Nomad +5 Glims -5 (nearsighted) Magical +15

Skills Boxcar Art 4 Cooking 3 Glyph Reading 4 Hobo Nickel 3 Tinker 2

Magic Glyphs 3 Hobo Luck 3 Moniker Wise 1 Mulligan Stew 2 Wooden Nickel 2

Bindle Tramp Essentials Railroad Spike No. 10 Gunboat Can

I been on these rails a long time, and I seen some strange stuff. And I ‘member it all. I helped a lot of ‘boes in my years, and I aim to help more before I’m done.

Pull up by the fire, and tell me your stories. Here, have some stew. It’s really very good...

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 39 Petticoat Hobo

Attributes Brains 3 Horse Sense 3 Learnin’ 3 Sociability 4

Brawn 2 Hot Footin’ 4 Gumpshun 4

Descriptors Boston Bum +3 Coast Beggar +2 Looloo +2

Skills Barber 4 Boxcar Art 3 Cadging 2 Cooking 2 Music 3 Pill Peddler 5 Road Wisdom 3 Water Tank Wise 3

Bindle Tramp Essentials Harmonica Tin Cans

Sit down and introduce yourself, stranger. The ‘boes ‘round here call me Doc, on account of I know how to treat sick folks. I been makin’ the rounds for a couple of years now, ever since...

Well, I don’t want to bore you with sob stories. We all got one. Why don’t you get some grub and settle in. We was just gettin’ set to kick up some music...

40 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Remittance man

Attributes Brains 4 Horse Sense 2 Learnin’ 4 Sociability 3

Brawn 3 Hot Footin’ 5 Gumpshun 2

Descriptors Dodger -5 Circuit Rider +10 Trombenick +3

Skills Barber 2 Cadging 4 Goy 5 Music 3 Road Wisdom 2 Sell it to Me 3 Tinker 4

Bindle Tramp Essentials Balloon Railroad Spike

What about me? Well, it all started when the Crash hit, we found out that we could get more money by my not bein’ there. So, my wife gives me a little something every month when the check comes and then I’m out again.

It’s the best of all worlds really. My family’s all taken care of and all I have to do is stay away most of the time. ‘Course, my littl’un doesn’t look like she rec- ognizes me when I show up...

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 41 Rubber Tramp

Attributes Brains 3 Horse Sense 3 Learnin’ 2 Sociability 4

Brawn 3 Hot Footin’ 2 Gumpshun 3

Descriptors Boozehound -10 Fruit Tramp +2 Gypsy +10 Magical +15

Skills Glyph Reading 3 Road Wisdom 4 Tinker 4 Trapping 3

Glyphs 4 Hobo Luck 3 Hoodoo 2 Rabbit’s Foot 4

Bindle Tramp Essentials Glad Rags Beat Up Model A

Railroads ain’t the thing for me, no sir. A fella has more freedom to move around if he has his own car. Yessir, if I wanted to get up and head for Frisco tomorrow, all I’d have to do is hop in and go. Them railway hoboes really need to reassess their methods.

By the way, when do you think you can have her up and runnin’? Thursday, hmmm. Yeah. I got the money to pay for the repairs...

42 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Wolf

Attributes Brains 4 Horse Sense 4 Learnin’ 3 Sociability 1

Brawn 2 Hot Footin’ 5 Gumpshun 3

Descriptors Con Man +5 Glass Jaw -10 River Rat +3 Streamliner +5

Skills Blinks 4 Glyph Reading 4 Hoodwink 3 Possum Drunk 3 Riding Tricks 5 Romany Rye 2 Water Tank Wise 4

Bindle Tramp Essentials Railroad Spike

Alright, kid, here’s what I want you to do. When we knock on the door, I want you to turn on the water- works. Look real pitiful while I give the story. Maybe if you’re good, we can get a little extra handout. And if you’re real good, maybe I’ll let you have a little more than your share.

Just remember, kid, you wouldn’t have nothin’ without me...

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 43 Yegg

Attributes Brains 4 Horse Sense 4 Learnin’ 3 Sociability 2

Brawn 3 Hot Footin’ 4 Gumpshun 3

Descriptors Bad Actor -3 Con Man +5 Dead Picker -5 Flim flam Man +2 Streamliner +5

Skills Cooking 3 Doughnut Christian 3 Glyph Reading 4 Hoodwink 3 Light-Fingered 5 Riding Tricks 2 Road Wisdom 3 Sell it to Me 3 Soft Soaping 2

Bindle Tramp Essentials Benny Balloon

Yeah, I do honest work every now and then. But this kind of work is more rewardin’. All a fella has to do is keep his eyes and ears open and he’ll do real well.

Gamblin’, dice, safecrackin’, connin’ the rubes and Sallies... all it boils down to is havin’ a good time. So what if I can’t set foot in Akron no more? There’ plenty of other towns to visit...

44 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Game Mechanics Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF33-T01-001307-M2 DLC John Vachon, photographer

‘Boes in KOTR2 will be called upon at various times 1 - Down on your Luck. Botched. The to roll to check performance. Whether it’s for a Hot character has totally blown the attempt. Footin’ roll to catch a train or a magic roll to create a 2 - Failure. The character did not achieve charm, players will need a way to gauge success. his/her goal. 3 - Marginal Success. The character KOTR2 uses six-sided dice for all rolls. Charac- succeeded, but just barely. In certain cases, ters’ successes or failures are interpreted against a the player may have to check the success at system dependent upon the type of roll asked for. a later time. 4 - Success. The character achieved his/her Unopposed Rolls intended goal. 5 - Solid Success. The character did better When a ‘bo is trying to accomplish a task that than expected. involves only him/her, such as hopping a train or 6 - Amazing Success. The character did an cooking, s/he will make an unopposed roll. The play- incredible job at the task. er will roll a number of dice equal to the number s/he has in the attribute or skill called for by the Airedale Subconscious Connors and his partner have just (GM). S/He will also factor in any bonuses or penal- arrived in Topeka. They have jumped off the ties from the character’s descriptor(s). train and are in front of the water tower. Sub- conscious wants to see if this will be a good place to stop, so he checks for glyphs on the In the case of penalties relating to descriptors (ie. tower. Seeing some, he rolls his skill in Glyphs Bumpkin, 1 die penalty to social rolls), just roll one (3) and Water Tank Wise (2). The five dice fewer die instead of subtracting the highest die. come up 5, 3, 2, 1, and 2. As the 5 is a solid success, Subconscious sees that not only is The player then looks at the highest number on Topeka a good city for ‘boes, his old friend the dice s/he has rolled. S/he then compares them to Spikes Elroy found a person who is good for a the following chart: meal and work. Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 45 In the event that a character lacks a specific skill Botches and Amazing Successes (ie. Glyphs or Riding Tricks), then the Airedale will ask for a related attribute (Learnin’ or Hot Footin’, Occasionally a player will roll either spectacular- respectively). The resulting roll will drop the high- ly well or spectacularly bad. Such rolls are handled est die and use the next highest die. differently than regular outcomes.

Opposed Rolls When a player rolls all 1s, s/he is considered to be down on his/her luck. The attempt has gone as bad Sometimes a character will be attempting an as possible. The player is then called upon to nar- action that is being opposed by another character– rate the outcome of the roll, rather than letting the trying to outrun a railroad bull, attempting to scam or GM do it. convince another person of something. These actions are handled differently from unopposed rolls. Subconscious Connors is at the Salvation Army mission, attempting to get a meal. He’s pretty When two characters come into this kind of con- hungry from a lot of traveling, so he listens to flict, each party involved will roll his/her appropri- the sermon and decides to help his case along. ate dice and compare the highest die result. The He rolls his Doughnut Christian skill (2) to influence their good feelings. He rolls and both person who has the higher die result wins the con- dice come up 1. The GM tells the player he is test. Any ties can either be re-rolled or considered a down on his luck. The player then says that standoff. This should be resolved by players and while Subconscious is “gettin’ religion”, he is GM before play. overacting so badly that he starts screwing up Bible verses and leans in to the Sallie, who gets Subconscious Connors is in Topeka. He has a whiff of some strong alcohol. Sensing she is found a glyph from an old friend and is attempt- being played, she has Subconscious escorted ing to get some work at a place he suggested. from the mission. He is given a Bible, but no Subconscious gives his spiel and rolls his socia- food. bility, which is used for talking with folks. His sociability is 3, but he has the descriptor Card On the other end of the spectrum, sometimes a Man (an I.W.W. member). This gives him a one player will roll all 6s. When this happens, the play- die bonus. His roll yields 4, 2, 6 and 1. er is once again expected to narrate the outcome. The potential employer has a 3 die horse sense. However, this time the player tells the best possible He is wary of hoboes, but he has listened to Sub- scenario for him/her. conscious’ speech. His roll comes up 4, 2 and 2. Subconscious is back around the jungle after a Since the 6 is the highest die, the determination day of workin’. He hasn’t got any money yet, so is that the mention of Spikes Elroy brought up a he’s on his own for supper. He decides to try to favorable response in the potential employer. catch something, so he uses his Trappin’ skill Subconscious has a job, and a supper with his (3). He sets his traps and rolls all 6s! With this new boss. amazing success, the player figures that all of Subconscious’ traps sprung, and he has rabbits Some common traits that may come up for for him and his partner, plus another two for a opposed rolls: family that has set up camp in the jungle.

Brains - matching wits with another person Hot Footin’ - trying to outrun or run down another person (bulls, other ‘boes) Combat Horse Sense - Seeing through a con Sociability - dealing with people on a social It gets rough out on the road, and a ‘bo may be level (jobs, other ‘boes, Sallies) called upon to defend him/herself from bulls, yeggs 46 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail or just mean folks. When this happens, the rules for or blocked, and the defender may make an attack. fighting are as follows. Subconscious is more of a talker than a fighter, Initiative so he lets the yegg make the first move. The When two or more parties get involved in a fight, yegg throws a punch and Subconscious tries to they need to determine the order of actions. In the dodge it, so he rolls Hot Footin’. The yegg’s case of a sneak attack, the person sneaking up highest roll was a 5, so Subconscious must roll a 6 to dodge the punch. decides his/her actions first. Otherwise, the players roll their Hot Footin’. The player with the highest If a player rolled a lower initiative and attempts roll goes first. In the event of a tie, players look at to use his/her action this turn to defend, then s/he the next die, and so on. defends as described above, except s/he may not attack after a successful defense. Subconscious Connors and his partner are headed back to the jungle after a week’s work. With their stakes in their pockets, they are accosted by Damage a group of yeggs. Knowing they’re in for a When attacks and defense have been made, the fight, Subconscious and his partner roll Hot players and GM must resolve any damage. Any suc- Footin’, as do their opponents. cessful attacks– not blocked or evaded– will yield damage. This damage is taken from a character’s Teeth. Subconscious highest roll is a 5, while his partner rolls a 4. The yeggs roll 3, 3 and 1. So Sub- Normal fists and feet damage are one point per conscious will declare actions first, his partner hit. Attacks made with weapons– saps, clubs, second , then the yeggs. knives, etc.– are handled using the chart on the next page. In the event of an unblocked attack of 6 or a Actions botched defense of 1, damage is considered double. Once initiative is determined, the players may then announce what they are doing that turn. If a If a ‘bo takes damage that reduces his/her Teeth player tries to run, s/he must succeed in an opposed to zero, then s/he is considered unconscious. If a Hot Footin’ roll against his/her opponent. ‘bo has been knocked unconscious during a fight, s/he rolls a six-sided die and will be considered Attack unconscious for that many rounds. If s/he is attacking, the player rolls his her Trom- bo or Scrappy skills to try and hit the other person. If a ‘bo takes weapon damage that reduces If a character doesn’t have these skills, s/he rolls his/her Teeth to zero, s/he may be critically wound- Brawn, taking a -1 penalty on the roll. Any other ed and may die without medical attention. modifiers (Glass Jaw, Palooka) are taken into account at this time. Subconscious and his partner are faring pretty well against the yeggs. His partner has knocked Subconscious and his partner are facing down one of them out, and Subconscious is just finish- the yeggs. His partner is a former prizefighter, ing up a second. He connects with an so he attacks one of the yeggs. He rolls his unblocked punch of 6 that knock’s the yegg’s Trombo skill (4) plus one die for Palooka. Teeth to zero. The third yegg realizes he’s out- numbered and attempts to run, making a Hot Defending Footin’ roll of 4. Sometimes a ‘bo may hold back and try to defend an opponent’s attack. If so, s/he makes an Healin’ Up opposed roll against the attacker’s roll. The player After a fight, any damage that a conscious ‘bo may roll Scrappy or Trombo if s/he has the skill(s), has taken is lessened by half, then s/he gains one or may dodge (Hot Footin’) or block (Brawn) at a - point of Teeth back every round until s/he is back 1 penalty. If the result is equal to or higher than the to full strength. attacker’s roll, then the attack is successfully evaded Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 47 Any ‘bo knocked unconscious will regain half of must make a successful roll to treat the wounds– or his/her Teeth when s/he regains consciousness, and by an actual doctor. Then the wounds will heal over then will heal as normal. a few days in the case of lesser wounds, or several weeks in the case of heavier wounds. During that A ‘bo who has been injured by weapon damage time, the ‘bo will not have all of his/her Teeth, and will only regain half of his/her Teeth. The wounds any physical rolls will be made at a -1(lighter) or must be treated by a person with Pill Peddler– who -2(heavier) penalty.

Damage Chart for Weapons Range Close Short Medium Long

Club (or staff) 2 1 0 0

Sap 2 0 0 0

Bottle (unbroken) 1-2 1 0 0

Bottle (broken) 1-2 1 0 0

Knife 1-2 1 0 0

Gun Pistol 3 2-3 2 1-2 Rifle 3-4 3 2-3 2 Shotgun 3-4 3 2 1 Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-001830-E DLC Arthur Rothstein, photographer

In the case of multiple values shown for weapons damage, the GM may choose the damage value based upon any factors s/he may want to take into account (strength of wielder, distance, thrown or not thrown, etc.).

48 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Character Advancement

At the end of each session or adventure in New Skills KOTR2, the GM may award a number of points to each player for his/her involvement or contribution To purchase a new skill, a ‘bo must have access to the game. This is called a player’ s Stake. The to either someone who is knowledgeable of the skill, number of points is recorded on the character sheet or s/he must have paid close attention while some- in the appropriate place. one performed the skill at an earlier time. If the ‘bo is being actively taught, then s/he may spend 2 The points awarded by the GM will vary, but a points of his/her Stake to buy a first level of the guideline is as follows: skill. If the ‘bo is trying to take this skill based on a memory of someone else doing it, then s/he must Just showing up - zero or one point roll his/her Learnin’ attribute and gain at least a good roleplaying - one point success (4). Then s/he may spend 2 points and buy consistently good roleplaying - two points a first level of the skill. made a difference - two or three points Contributed to the story in an integral Once s/he has purchased a first level of the skill, way - three or four points s/he may raise it at a later time by purchasing additional levels as normal. The points in a character’s Stake may be used to purchase additional skills, skill levels or spell levels for the ‘bo. These things may be purchased by the player only at the end of an adventure.

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 49 Raising Existing Skills To buy a new spell is much the same process as learning a new skill. The ‘bo must spend two points If a ‘bo wishes to raise a skill, s/he must use to purchase the first level of the spell. Then, the ‘bo his/her stake to purchase one level at a time. The must have either another ‘bo teach him/her the spell points to raise a skill level are as follows: or must have paid attention to the spell. In both cases, the ‘bo must roll his/her Learnin’, and earn a 2nd level: 2 pts. success (4) for a spell that is being taught, or a solid 3rd level: 4 pts. success (5) to pick up a spell from scratch. 4th level: 8 pts. 5th level: 16 pts. If the roll is successful, s/he gains the first level of the spell, and the Stake points are used. If the Keep in mind that a single skill level may only roll is unsuccessful, the points are not spent, but the be advanced one level at a time, but a player may spell can not be learned. use his/her Stake to advance multiple skills at once. To boost a spell by a level, the ‘bo must spend a Spell Levels number of points equal to the level s/he is wanting to reach. A ‘bo may also use his/her Stake to increase a spell by one level at the end of an adventure, or s/he may choose to buy a new spell. from “The Road”, by Jack London

50 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Hobo Myth & Legend

Big Rock Candy Mountain Indian Valley Train Line Immortalized in the song by Harry McClintock, The Indian Valley Train line is another railway the mountain is considered a story by some, fact by myth that has become a namesake. Unlike the real others and legend to all. It is the hobo’s paradise. It Indian Valley Line, this line starts at the end of the is a huge mountain made of candy, and the sur- rainbow and runs to a place where work is always rounding areas contain all the things that make life available and the land is good. good (and easy)– free food, no work, no railroad or farmer troubles. While this may or may not be the Big Rock Candy Mountain, the land at the end of a Valley Some ‘boes have claimed to have seen the train is an enticing thought for any ‘bo who comes Mountain, but no one who has ever actually been across it. there has returned (presumably because it is ‘bo Heaven on Earth). The other interesting fact is that The Yonder no two ‘boes have ever gotten there the same way, The most spectacular and the strangest part of nor can they remember quite where it was that they hobo legend is the Yonder. The Yonder is the world found it. that exists on top of the real world. It is a place where figures such as Johnny Appleseed, Robin However, despite all the conflicting stories, those Hood and Casey Jones become legend, then myth. ‘boes who believe in its existence always keep an eye out for some clue to its whereabouts, and those The feats of John Henry, Paul Bunyan and Pecos old ‘boes who have seen it try to get back there Bill are attainable in the Yonder, and like Don before they cash in. Quixote, those who dream can change the world.

Wabash Cannon Ball No one is quite sure how to get to the Yonder. The Wabash Cannon Ball is a special train, not to Those who go actively searching for a way in may be confused with the actual train that bears its name. never find it. Regular folks almost never find them- It is a mythical ghost train that travels the country selves in the Yonder. Most folks are too linked to on any tracks and on any line. Those that travel on their possessions and their way of life to move the Cannon Ball travel at unheard of speeds to any- freely into the other world. where in the country. A ‘bo may jump off a train into a hole, they may There is a catch, however. Those ‘boes that talk pull it up over themselves along with their blanket, of the Wabash Cannon Ball say that it is a ghost or they may turn left instead of right and find them- train under a curse. The Cannon Ball cannot stop at selves smack dab in the Yonder. any station. It keeps barreling over the rails, moving ever faster. Some say the train derailed along But the Yonder is also a place of darker myth. the way to its original destination, and the engineer– Fairies and Gremlins call the woods home, and filled with the need to complete his run and con- Haints and Spooks are just as real as flesh & blood sumed with guilt over causing the crash– resurrected folks. The dark secret in the farmer’s barn may be the train. Others say the engineer was drunk or too much to handle, and the Jersey Devil stalks trav- asleep, and the train rolls on as his punishment. elers in the woods near Leeds.

Whatever the story, it takes a mighty brave ‘bo (or mighty stupid) to hop the Cannon Ball for a ride.

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 51 The Real World

The America of the 1930s that the hobo lives and the excitement inherent in sneaking onto a train, travels in is a strange and magical land in and of stealing a pie or some eggs from a farmhouse and itself. Most ‘boes live from hand to mouth, not camping out in a different place every week can planning anything beyond a couple of days or a few provide players with a satisfying role-playing expe- weeks. They work at whatever jobs they can get, rience. and when the work ends or the wanderlust hits, off they go. That said, the life of a hobo is not all adventure and freedom. Being itinerant workers and trav- Most ‘boes travel by train, hopping onto boxcars ellers, ‘boes are looked at differently and looked and hiding from railroad employees. They move to down upon by many regular folks. To some, the a new destination, sometimes chosen by the railroad term “hobo” is just another word for “bum”, and bull who finds them and throws them off the train. people clutch their purses and children a little clos- Some hoboes travel by car, but they are few and far er when they see them. between. Most of these travellers are the itinerant workers best characterized by the Joad family in Hopping trains is also not the easiest thing. Rail- Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. roads employ security people– bulls, in hobo language– to keep free riders off of trains. Armed with The hoboes often set up camp in a communal lanterns and saps or guns, the bulls search the box- hobo “jungle”– an area usually outside city limits to cars for riders, roughing them up and throwing them keep out of reach of local vagrancy laws. There, out of the railyard when they find any. Some rail- ‘boes commune with other ‘boes, drinking, swap- roads and bulls go a little farther– they would just as ping stories, sharing meals and generally socializ- soon shoot a ‘bo dead as let him ride a train. ing. Many jungles are left stocked with several essentials– a hobo stove, cans for cooking, spare In addition to bulls, ‘boes are likely to run across food– for the next ‘boes who come along. yeggs– hobo criminals. Some yeggs may not give any trouble, but others will try to roll a ‘bo for In addition to trying to find work in a particular shoes, money, liquor or anything else of value. town, ‘boes often test out other factors. The local Salvation Army mission and other shelters, any local Finally, ‘boes have to deal with the basics, find- people who might be good for a meal or a handout, ing work and money, staving off illness or starvation other places of lodging– all of these are noted and and just generally getting by. In Depression-Era recorded by ‘boes. Railroad water towers and build- America, this was common for most folks, but the ings may bear hobo marks to let others know of ‘boes compounded this with their lifestyle. potential windfalls or warn of potential dangers. All in all, KOTR2 can bring the fantastical a little Players in KOTR2 should be on the lookout for a closer to home. Rather than roving medieval fanta- magical adventure in the Yonder, but they should sy adventurers, ‘boes are figures from American also try to find the magical in the mundane. The life folklore who fill much the same role in society. So of a hobo is far different from our regular lives, and enjoy, and happy trails!

52 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Game Master Section (All o’ You Yeggs Keep Out!)

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 53 Running KOTR2

As the GM (or Airedale)in KOTR2, it is your job trains, mainly for places west. The Dust Bowl years to flesh out the world your players’ ‘boes call home. in the Midwest and Texas displaced entire families. This involves planning the seeds for adventure, playing all of the supporting cast and keeping things In 1933, the average weekly wage for production running smoothly. Of course, your players must workers was $17.71, while California produce help with this last part as well, otherwise your job workers earned about $14.00 per week. In the may become a lot less fun than it should be. South, cotton harvesters earned wages for cotton picked– an average of 75¢ per 100 lbs. You also act as the final judge and arbiter of the game, as well as the primary storyteller. In the best FDR’s “New Deal” and projects such as the case scenario, the dice will help you in the former WPA were created to provide employment and relief and your players will help you in the latter. Howev- for those hit by the Depression. Work projects such er, some situations may arise that require the above- as dams, roads, zoos and buildings were instituted, mentioned skills. In those cases, use your best and camps sprung up to house those employed. judgement and look to the impact on the story. Relief programs were put in place to assist jobless people, and charitable organizations such as the Sal- Think about what will drive the story on best. vation Army helped provide assistance. This is not intended as a validation to constantly hose the players, but as a dramatic license. If a cou- This is the land in which the hobo travels. From ple of ‘boes are attacked by railroad bulls wielding the California fruit harvest to dock work along the saps and the dice all come out ties, then make it Mississippi. Cotton fields in the South to factories exciting. You can run the gamut from having one of in Seattle, where I.W.W. members strike against the ‘boes get hold of a bull’s sap and fight back, or unfair wages. Staying warm, staying healthy and maybe the ‘boes will wake up unconscious and staying alive. Hoboes work until they are called to without any possessions in a jail cell. Just keep the next place, then they are off. your players in mind. You have probably gamed with them on a few occasions, and you probably Adventures should reflect how the ‘boes deal have a little insight into what they like and don’t with their surroundings, with other people, and with like. themselves. ‘Boes have become a part of folklore, and the folklore among ‘boes is important to That being said, the rest of this section will pre- KOTR2. The hobo could be traveling to Florida on a sent you with a few facts and figures of Depression- boxcar and wake to find him/herself in the Yonder, Era America, as well as a couple of archetypes and facing down a more monstrous personification of a samples of adversaries your players ‘boes may run railroad bull. up against. The final page is story suggestions to help get you started. Setting is important in KOTR2. Everywhere the ‘boes travel, they will see some reflection of the Life in the Depression Depression. They will meet other people struggling in their own surroundings and may choose to help or During the mid 1930s, the nation’s unemploy- not to help. To make the gaming experience truly ment rate reached 25 percent. Given the 1930 popu- magical, give your players NPCs to care about or lation of roughly 125 million, this figure represents fear, and make the cities, towns and farms come about 13 million people. People had difficulty find- alive for them. ing work, and many took to the roads and rails to find employment. Hundreds of thousands– several of them children and young adults– started hopping

54 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail The Yonder But this exaggerated look and feel is a double- edged sword. While one may revel in the beauty of Use of the Yonder in KOTR2 can be as major or the Southwestern desert in the Yonder, lurking by as minor as you wish. If you want a more fantasti- the water holes is a fifteen foot rattlesnake that only cal game feel, then quite possibly you will want Pecos Bill would find amusing. The openness of your players to shift in and out of the Real World West Texas and the Midwest give way to a sense of and the Yonder often. profound loneliness and isolation, and the Klan activities in the Yonder are even more heinous than The Yonder is more of a feeling than anything in the real world. else. It is that area where ghost stories are true, where Casey Jones barrels down the tracks at Above all, the Yonder is larger than life. NPCs tremendous speeds and where danger is a little more and adversaries are characters from stories and leg- “dangerous” than usual. ends, or they may be folks who have passed into the Yonder and decided to stay. Legendary hoboes like Getting in and out of the Yonder is tricky, the Leatherman, a wanderer from back East, yeggs though. It’s not as simple as wishing yourself in. or even things like the Wendigo or Loup Garous call The openings to the Yonder are everywhere, and it’s the Yonder home. possible just to slip under a loose board in a fence or jump off a train and find yourself there. As GM, Design story ideas in the Yonder so that charac- make it special. You can use the Yonder as a spring- ters will tell tales of their exploits around the jungle board for adventure or as a sudden escape from real fire, awing the wide-eyed Breshun or causing the world danger. old Airedale to give an “I know exactly what you mean” grin. The Yonder looks much like America, with a few notable exceptions. First, everything has a slightly NPC Archetypes different color cast to it, depending on where one is at. Wider, open sunny places like beaches and fields You’ll notice that the list of possible NPCs are all have a golden cast, while forests would tend to be non-hobo characters. They also have different skills more green and rich. The more mysterious and and descriptors than ‘boes. The reason for this is darker places in the Yonder would have a touch of simple– these are just “regular folks” doing their blue or red to them, and the area around the Big jobs, which require different skills than most ‘boes Rock Candy Mountain glows with a pinkish hue. will have. Any ‘bo NPCs you wish to make will be generated using the lists or picked up from arche- The other feature of the Yonder is that areas tend types. to be exaggerated according to their features. For example, Yonder California is made up of golden Railroad Bull beaches (actual gold) and huge fruit tree orchards and vineyards, with plants and trees as big as red- Brains 3 woods. The Pacific Northwest has trees and forests Horse Sense 3 that stretch to the heavens, such that the tops of the Learnin’ 3 trees are not visible. The Rocky mountains in the Sociability 2 Yonder stretch up and out for miles, while the Mid- west is full of wheat, corn and sunflower fields that Brawn 4 wave in the wind. The South is full of cotton fields Hot footin’ 3 and plantations, while the trek through the lush Gumpshun 3 Appalachians full of mountain folk leads you to a darker New England, filled with mills and farms Descriptors that seem to have a darker supernatural feel to them. Railroad Employee Intolerant (hoboes)

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 55 Skills American Nomad Scrappy’ 3 Leader (Spiritual) Railyard knowledge 3 (hiding places, general layout) Magical (optional)

Equipment Skills Weapon (Sap or gun) Religious Training 4 Lantern Soft Soapin’ 5 $6.50 in pockets Rilin’ up a crowd (Spiritual talk) 4 Road Wisdom 5 Railroad Employee Magic Brains 3 Loaves & Fishes 3 (like Mulligan Stew) Horse Sense 4 Callin’ Down the Rain 1 Learnin’ 3 Convertin’ hard hearts 2 (changing people’s evil Sociability 2 ways from the inside)

Brawn 3 Equipment Hot footin’ 3 Bible Gumpshun 4 Tent & Truck Collection plate Descriptors American Nomad (well-traveled) Mission Worker or Sallie Railroad Employee Brains 4 Horse Sense 2 Skills Learnin’ 3 Specific job 5 (Engineer, Brakeman, Conductor) Sociability 4 Train knowledge 4 (general knowledge, some hiding places) Brawn 2 Road Wisdom 4 Hot footin’ 3 Gumpshun 4 Equipment Train Descriptors Lantern Kind hearted (will help most folks out) $4.50 in pockets Religious Shovel (possibly) Sucker (for a hard-luck case) Sap or club (possibly) Looloo Preacher (Circuit Revivalist) Skills Brains 3 Cookin’ 4 (can feed many people) Horse Sense 3 Local knowledge 3 (potential employers, communi- Learnin’ 4 ty figures, etc.) Sociability 4 Religious or Bible Training 4

Brawn 2 Equipment Hot footin’ 2 Mission Gumpshun 5 Bible $5 in pockets Descriptors Religious (Fire & Brimstone) 56 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Klansman I.W.W. Representative Brains 2 Brains 3 Horse Sense 4 Horse Sense 4 Learnin’ 2 Learnin’ 2 Sociability 3 Sociability 3

Brawn 3 Brawn 5 Hot footin’ 4 Hot footin’ 3 Gumpshun 3 Gumpshun 3 Descriptors Descriptors Double Life (Klan and regular life) Card Man Intolerant (Negroes, Jews, other minorities) Manual Laborer (good at anything that requires hard Cracker work) Big Ole Hard Workin’ Skills Leftist Scrappy’ 3 Leader (Union men) Music 2 Trappin’ 2 Skills Local Knowledge 2 (Area, other Klansmen) Soft Soapin’ 3 Rilin’ up a crowd 4 (convincing workers to strike, Equipment drumming up support, getting new recruits, etc.) Truck and/or horse Rope Equipment Shotgun Red Card Klan Robes $2.50 in pockets

Jewish Agency Worker Farmer Brains 3 Brains 3 Horse Sense 4 Horse Sense 5 Learnin’ 3 Learnin’23 Sociability 3 Sociability 3

Brawn 2 Brawn 4 Hot footin’ 2 Hot footin’ 3 Gumpshun 4 Gumpshun 5

Descriptors Descriptors Religious Hard Workin’ Kind Hearted (toward Jews) Self-Reliant Tough as Nails (won’t take no guff from no one) Skills Protective (of family and land) Religious training 3 Local knowledge 2 (mostly Jewish related areas) Skills Goy 5 Jerry Riggin’ 4 Crop and livestock knowledge 4 Equipment Shootin’ 3 (rifle or shotgun) Mission $8 in pockets Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 57 Equipment ...And the Yonder Farm (Land, livestock and equipment) Pickup Truck The Yonder is a much more nebulous place than Shotgun or rifle the real world. The creatures and characters of the Pocketknife Yonder don’t have many firm stats or skills. Instead, since most are myth and monsters, you as Businessman Airedale are free to make up any stats and abilities for Yonder NPCs. Brains 4 Horse Sense 3 However, in the interests of starting you off, here Learnin’ 3 are a few things and people ‘boes might run into in Sociability 4 their adventures in the Yonder.

Brawn 3 Pecos Bill Hot footin’ 2 Brains 4 Brawn 7 Gumpshun 4 Horse Sense 5 Hot Footin’ 8 Learnin’ 3 Gumpshun 8 Descriptors Sociability 6 Nose for business Leader (community or business) The youngest of eighteen children, Pecos Bill was lost and raised by a coyote. He was the rough- Skills est, toughest cowboy to ever live. He invented Barber 5 many of the tricks of the ranching trade. He rode Sell it to me 3 mountain lions, tornadoes and a wild horse named Local knowledge 4 Widowmaker. Bill is the quintessential cowboy.

Equipment Johnny Appleseed Store Brains 4 Brawn 4 $10 in pockets Horse Sense 5 Hot Footin’ 10 Learnin’ 3 Gumpshun 8 Sociability 10 Born John Chapman in 1774, he blazed a trail ahead of American pioneers, planting apple trees in his wake. He roamed the wilderness and countryside of the American Midwestern frontier– no gun, no shoes, only a pot upon his head. He made friends with the Indians and the animals. He traveled the country until 1845, when he drifted into the Yonder.

Paul Bunyan Brains 4 Brawn 10 Horse Sense 6 Hot Footin’ 7 Learnin’ 4 Gumpshun 10 Sociability 7 A giant of a man, Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe helped cut the timber that opened the land, created the lakes of Minnesota and etched themselves into myth in American logging camps. 58 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail John Henry came out of her womb a horrible beast. It scuttled Brains 3 Brawn 8 into the woods where it became legend. When a Horse Sense 5 Hot Footin’ 5 person sees the Devil, he or she sees an omen of dis- Learnin’ 3 Gumpshun 8 aster to come. Sociability 4 Bigfoot In the state of Virginia was born an extraordinary Standing 7-8 feet in height and weighing 700- man. With the strength to toss hundred pound anvils 900 lbs., the Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, inhabits the with one hand, John Henry helped the railroads Western parts of America. Living in legends of forge their way across the East. With his twenty Native Americans and the White Man, Bigfoot is an pound hammers, John Henry drove holes for blast- elusive creature that concerns itself more with its ing caps through solid rock. own matters than seeking out the company of men. However, the most famous story of John Henry It is considered an intelligent creature of a temperate is what sent him to the Yonder. He was challenged disposition, always moving in search for solitude. by a man with a machine to drill through a mountain. After the time of the contest expired, John Wendigo Henry, victorious, died. Now he roams the Yonder In the northern woods of Minnesota, the Wendi- with his twin hammers, forging more railroads. go has wandered out of Native American legend and into the Yonder. A creature with a voracious Haint appetite for human flesh, the Wendigo stalks its vic- A Haint is a ghost or apparition that occupies a tims through the woods, often unseen. In fact, the particular area, home or building. The haint often is Wendigo is unable to be seen except for head-on as the spirit of a person who died in a particular place, it is terribly thin. Despite the emaciated appearance, and circumstances are such that his/her spirit the Wendigo is powerful and evil, and ‘boes need to remains in that place. remain on their guard. However, a haint may take several different man- ifestations. Some haints are just sounds and voices, Loup Garou (werewolves) while others are hazy apparitions. Haints may just The Loup Garou is a person cursed to roam the appear in a place, while others may get physically night as a supernatural beast. If a person comes involved with the living who are around. Some- across a loup garou, s/he may be attacked by the times a haint drives a reenactment of an event. beast, trying to turn him/her into a loup garou. To Dealing with haints depend on the circumstances break the spell, a person must draw blood from the surrounding it. loup garou in its animal form, upon which it will revert to human. Then, neither one must speak of Succubus the incident with any one for a year and a day, or The succubus is a demon that takes the form of a else s/he will become a loup garou. beautiful woman and has intercourse with men. Often the man will not be conscious during the Scarecrows attack, but will experience it and remember it in the In the Yonder reaches of Kansas and Nebraska, form of a nightmare. The succubus slowloy steals a scarecrows do more than sit on poles and frighten man’s soul. birds. Sometimes, they come down off the poles and go after ‘boes sneakin’ around their fields The Jersey Devil stealin’ crops. The scarecrow possesses a blood- The Jersey Devil is a creature with the head of a curdling shriek and vise-like grip, and it can call horse, large wings and claws, and a roughly four- down great black birds to attack unsuspecting folks. foot-long serpentine body. It is a creature of legend The scarecrow’s main weakness is fire, due to all the that resides in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Born stuffing. in the 1790s to a woman in Leeds, NJ, the child

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 59 Story Seeds

The following is a short list of story seeds for possible hobo adventures. The suggestions are in no way intended to be taken as they are. If you as Airedale wish to change circumstances or add to the stories, feel free.

Other possibilities for stories may revolve around legend and myth from American folklore, such as Paul Bunyan, the Jersey Devil, ghost stories and the like. Or you may take real world situations– work opportunities, brushes with the railroad bulls, railroad travel or prison chain gangs. The only limit is your own imagination.

The Neverending Night shine to one of the ‘boes. What the travelers don’t A group of ‘boes, escaping the rain, run into an know is she’s a succubus. abandoned farmhouse and straight into the Yonder. There they see the events of a tragic (or grisly) Down to the River to Pray night, and every attempt to leave results in reenter- The ‘boes come into a drought-stricken town ing the house and reliving the night again and again. being visited by a tent revival. The preacher man has put the Word of the Almighty into the towns- folk, telling them the end of the drought will be The Quest walking into town. All the people need to do is let One of the ‘boes old Airedale partners is dying. his blood flow onto the parched ground... He is carving a nickel with his own face upon it, and instructs the player to take the nickel to a certain Heaven at Last place (maybe the Mountain). He then breathes his Somehow, the ‘boes have made it to the Moun- last into the nickel. tain. All the stories are true– cigarette trees, streams However, unbeknownst to the ‘bo, a couple of of alcohol and lemonade, food growing on trees. yeggs have seen this... But the ‘boes on the Mountain are being forced into labor by someone or something. Can the players ... Out in the Barn liberate them? Will this change the stories of the The ‘boes have been given overnight lodging at a Mountain? farmhouse. The farmer’s daughter(s) has taken a

60 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Appendix Glyphs Hoboes used an elaborate system of signs and symbols, called glyphs. The purpose of the glyphs was to alert other ‘boes to potential dangers and opportunities, They were drawn with chalk or coal on railroad water towers, fences, buildings or anywhere ‘boes might congregate. Fran DeLorenzo

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 61 Fran DeLorenzo

62 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Back door bumming - To seek food at the back door to limit embar- Glossary rassment. Backslider - A weak person. Bad actor - A dangerous person. Bad road - A railroad line that would rather kill a hobo than to allow A him to obtain a "free" ride. Accommodation - A local freight train. It may also carry passengers. Baldy - Generally an old man "with a high forehead." Accommodation car - An old term for a caboose. Bale of straw - A blonde woman. Source: American Tramp and Adam and Eve on a raft - Two fried eggs on toast. "Wreck 'em" if Underworld Slang. they are scrambled. "With their eyes open," if not. Balloon - A bedroll. A roll of bedding carried on the back, a bindle. Adventure - The encountering of danger, exciting and dangerous Balloon juice - Idle talk. Source: American Tramp and Underworld undertaking Slang. Airedale - Someone who travels alone rather than with other tramps. Balling the jack - A freight train which is rolling fast. Also see high- Alki - Alcohol. ball. Alley - A clear track in a railroad yard. Balling the jack (verb) - To drive a train at a high rate of speed. They Amble, ambulate - "Walk at a leisurely pace" (because, one imag- were balling the jack at the time of the wreck. ines, of its similarity to the word "amble"), to ambulate is simply to Bangtails - Racehorses. walk. Banjo (1) - A short-handled shovel. Ambulanters - The proudly proclaim themselves to be American Banjo (2) - A small portable frying pan. Gypsies. They are families hoboing in wagons. They claim to be trad- Barber - To Talk. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. ing horses or moving from place to place. They often have a total Barnacle - A fellow who sticks to one job a year or more. absence of common household goods and sufficient equipment for Barrel house - An establishment of ill-repute, where you can drink, camping. They have often a full stock of children who are absolutely gamble, and dance the night away safe from the eyes of authority. illiterate. the are roving the land in search of employment. When Batter - To beg. asked what is their trade, they often answer a trade that takes no Battered - To get injured or hurt. apprentice or formal training such as window washer. Battering the stem - To beg on the main street or in public places. American nomad - A hobo who has been across the nation many Bazoo - A mouth. A term of derision. "Shut your bazoo!" times. Beachcomber - A vagrant living on what they can find or beg around Anchor - A pick. Companion tool of the shovel or banjo. See: Banjo. wharves and beaches. Angel - A person who gives more than you expect. One who takes an Beach tramp - Originally a tramp was one who found a spot to live interest without trying to reform you. and build a shack on a beach (or sleeps on the sand) because the Angel food - A mission house sermon. A mission preaching about the weather was generally good and warm. There was often a source of Bread of Life. tossed out picnic food in trash cans and by fishing. They could wash Angelina - Punk or road kid acting as a hobo's companion. off in the ocean but soap did not work in the salt water. Its easy to dig A-No.1 (1) - A famous tramp who writes his name on everything like a hole and go to the bathroom. The one problem was that there was no the later American GI who wrote "Killroy was Here!" Another hobo fresh water to drink but often they did not drink water. The term who also wrote his name on everything was everything like J. B. became later applied to people such as surfers who began to hang out King. His real name was Leon Ray Livingston born in San Francisco, on the beach and whose life revolved around the beach, water, the California in 1872, and took to the rails at age 11. He soon realized he surf and other young people. The surfing culture also would convert was trapped in the life of being a hobo but realized that many young the term into "beach bum." kids, both boys and girls would run-away and get killed on the trains. Beanery - A railroad eating house. Beanery queen is a waitress. He spent much time giving lectures on the evils of running away from Bearing the blinds - It means to ride on the main car next to the pas- home a become a hobo. A-No.1 wrote books about his adventures. He senger car or another car with railroad workers who don't know you was the greatest success story of someone who took to the trains and are there. learned to be a hobo. A-No.1 would not admit it but he actually taught Beat their way - To travel by trains. many people how to hop fright trains, because he spent much time Beat trains - To have ridden a train and not have gotten caught or killed. trying to convince young people to go back home. From money from Beefer - One who whines. Sometimes an informer. his books and lectures, he buys one way tickets home for these kids. Beggardom - One who makes a living at begging. Living in the His greatest success story was a young Jack London who when home world of being a full-time beggar. Beggars formed guilds in medieval to lead the straight and narrow live as an author. Many young hoboes Europe which adopted their own cant lingo. may also have written this moniker on water tanks, and chalk it on Beggar -"Beg" is one of those words which isn't derived from any- box cars. He died in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1944. Also see: J.B. King. thing; it has always meant exactly what it means. Any person who A-No.1 (2) - In hobo lingo it means "number one man," and later it won't work, and who lives by asking complete strangers for aid, is came to mean, that you are "all right (or okay) with me." The thumbs either lazy, mentally ill, or a saint. Don't assume you can tell the dif- up sign, "A Number One." ference. See: Bum, cadger, scrounger, and sponger. Apple knockers - Apple pickers. Beggars cards - These are cards and printed pieces of paper handed Ash cat (1) - A locomotive fireman. out by beggars asking form money. They are used so the beggar does Ash cat (2) - An old term for a railroad fireman. not have to actually come out in public and be overheard begging for Auntie - Angelina grown older. money or favors. This method is also used by the deaf, deaf and Axle grease - Butter. Sometimes called plaster. dumb, who cannot hear or speak. They often offer the stranger good luck and invite them to give what they want. This is one method of B avoiding John Law. Behind the eight ball - In a difficult position, in a tight spot. Babe - A woman. Belly robber - A boarding boss who tries to save money on food. Baby - A person, can be said to either a man or a woman. B-end - The end of any fright car which has a hand brake. Baby lifter - A brakeman. Bend the iron - To To throw a switch Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 63 Benny - An overcoat. A vest used to be called a ben. A winter over- as riding inside of a boxcar. Riding on top of the cars, between then coat. or on the rods, you can be seen. Bicycle tramp - A tramp who travels by bicycle. Sometimes they put Blind baggage (2) - Hopping a train and riding the foot board behind lawn mower motors on the bicycle so they don't always have to pedal. the coal car and in front of the first freight car (a baggage car on a They carry their belongs on the bicycle. passenger trains). Also riding outside on a passenger train. "Blind" Biddles - Eggs. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. because of reduce vision. Big four - A duck egg omelet. Blind, blind baggage (2) - The space between the engine and the Big hole in the sky - A westbound. mail or baggage car. Big house - Jail. Blind baggage tourist - A hobo or a tramp that is riding for free as if Big ole - The fellow who tries to show the boss how strong he is. he or she has a ticket. He'll do all your work if you praise him. Blind pig - A white liquor salesman. Big one, The - Death. Blinds - False door at end of baggage car. Hobo riding place. Big Rock Candy Mountains - Hobo's paradise, as described in song Blinkey - A blind hobo, or one who is "practically blind." by Harry K. McClintock. Blinks - A tramp who pretends to be blind. Big school or house - The state penitentiary. (the stir.) Blinky - One with poor eyesight. Source: American Tramp and Big sleep, The - Death (coined by Chandler). Underworld Slang. Bim - A woman. Blowed-in-the-glass - Someone who was born to be a hobo. Bindle (1) - A bedroll that contains all of the hobo's belongs. His in Blowing in your jack - Losing, spending, or gambling away all our which a hobo carries all his worldly possessions. Bedding roll slung money. on the back. An old term signifying the bag in which a hobo keeps his Bo, boes - A slang term used to describe an experienced hobo. A term belongings. Now, the bindle has been replaced with small suitcases or for a pal, "Hey, bo" Originally meant a natural exclamation intended duffel bags. to surprise or frighten. Bindle (2) - A small bundle of items rolled up inside a blanket and Bo chaser - A freight brakeman or railroad policeman. carried over the shoulder or on the back; a bedroll. Boes - A slang term for hobo. Bindle punk (1) - A hobo or derelict hired to do rough or unpleasant Bogyman or bogeyman - A goblin, bug bear, a hobgoblin. A real or work. imaginary object of dread. The bogeyman comes in the middle of the Bindle punk, bindle stiff (2) - Chronic wanderers; itinerant misfits, night with his sack and steals bad children out of their beds and they criminals, migratory harvest workers, and lumber jacks. Called so are never seen alive again. Mothers said this rhyme to scare bad chil- because they carried a "bindle." dren at night that ended, "The bogeyman will get you if you don't Bindle stick - A walking stick, used by hobos, sometimes hand watch out." carved, and used to carry a bindle. The stick is also used to clear paths Bohunk - A Polish or other Slavic laborer. through dense brush or for protection. Oftentimes it is autographed as Boil up - To cook one's clothes, or merely to wash clothes. hobos meet one another during their travels. Bone orchard - A graveyard. Source: American Tramp and Under- Bindlestif - Hobo (stiff) with a bedroll (bindle). Hobo who totes a world Slang. blanket and uses it wherever Bone polisher - An unfriendly dog. A vicious dog. Also called a tai- night finds him. (Bindle is a corruption of "bundle") lor's helper. Bindlestiff (1) - A hobo who carried his own bedroll (or "bindle"), Boneyard - Any graveyard. Also refers to a hospital, or to a medical and his mess kit, cooking supplies, and camping gear in a chuck sack. college where they practice on the bodies of departed hobos. Respected and generally warmly welcomed by potential employers, Boob, boobs - A simpleton. since they were generally on the lookout for honest work. Booby hatch - An insane asylum; a place designed to house people Bindlestiff (2) - An American slang word from the German words who are mentally unstable "bundle' and 'stick'. Many jobless Americans traveled the United Boodle - Cheap grafting, bribery money, loot, plunder, generally a States with their possessions tied in a blanket carried on a long stick. term of the yeggs. Those traveling by train or "riding the rails" were called hobo's, Kings Boodle jail - A jail that may be worked for a good winter's lodging. of the Road or Bindlestiff's. Boodle proposition - This is graft within the legal system. A judge Bindle stiff (1) - A hobo who carries a bundle, usually containing sentences someone to a fine and a jail term, but they then turn around shirts, socks, razor, etc. and let the person go knowing the person does not have the money to Bindle stiff (2) - One who steals a hobo's bindle. pay the fine. The judge gets paid for the sentence, the lawyer gets Bindle stiff (3) - A hobo. paid for the convection, the clerk of courts gets paid for the commit- Biscuit shooter - Camp waiter or hash slinger. Also a flunkey. ment, the arresting officer gets paid for the arrest, and the jail gets Bit or jolt - A term in prison. A long stretch is the opposite of a short paid for each day of your sentence. So if you are not actually serving term or sleep. your sentence in jail they can all steal all the fees to make a living. As Bitch - A tin-can lamp with a shirt-tail wick. See bug. Also more long as the same individual is not arrested too many times the system recently a lamb or preshun. continues to work. Black bottle - Deadly poison allegedly given hobos in hospitals. Book of rules - A rule book which governs all facets of railroad Many hobos believe this bottle exists. It was used to kill the sick and activity. Each railroad has its own book, which must conform to mini- the poor. The last place a tramp would want to go when he got sick mum Federal Railroad Administration safety standards. was a hospital. There the doctors and the nurses would force him to Bootlegger - A train that runs over more than one railroad. drink from a mysterious "black bottle" which would kill them. Boomer (1) - A drifter who went from one railroad job to another, Black snake - A solid train of loaded coal cars. staying but a short time on each job or each road. This term dates Blackjacks - Fifty-ton Santa Fe coal cars painted black. back to pioneer days when men followed boom camps. The opposite Blanket stiff - A western type of hobo who carries his bed. He is also is home guard. Boomers should not be confused with tramps, called a bindle bum.See bindlestiff. although they occasionally became tramps. Blazer - A hot journal with packings afire. Boomer (2) - A hobo who is always on the go. He has a travel itch. Boomer (3) - A bridge builder. Blind baggage (1) - To ride the train out of sight, not to be seen. Such Boomer (4) - A part time railroad worker.Bouncer - A mission 64 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail employee who keeps men awake during services. a "fast buck." They are untrustworthy but not dangerous. The "con Boozehound - Drunkard. games" used are quite clever and deceptive. Boston bum - One of those superior fellows, a high brow poser. Bum (3) - A tramp, vagrant, one who seeks of live off of others. To Many of them do come from Boston or thereabouts. live or acquire by begging or scavenging. To loaf. From the German: Bottle wagon - An iron coal-car. Bummler, meaning to loaf. Bouncer (1) - A caboose. Bum (4) - A term for a wandering mendicant has long since been re- Bouncer (2) - The strong man who throws the sleepers and drunks appropriated, as in the song, "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum." As opposed to out of the mission. He is usually a mission stiff. the guy who sits in the same spot every day asking for a Box - A boxcar. hand-out, the bum [from the German for "saunter"] roams freely Boxcar art - Hobo inscriptions of their monikers around handholds, throughout the city, the country, the planet: He is king of the road. and on inside walls of a boxcar. See: Beggar, loaf, and saunter. Boxcar hobo - A hobo that rides in boxcars. Bum (verb) - To live by begging or sponge off other people. "Can I Boxcar tourist - A hobo. bum a dime off you?" A person who engages in bumming. In literary Bozo - A person with no experience as a hobo, and does not know circles a person who drinks and wanders by riding trains. Also see what they are doing. A person who is trying to get a story or a quick hobo and tramp. thrill. Bummper - American slang meaning of one who was a hobo, tramp, Bracelets - Handcuffs. vagrant, or beggar, a person who lived by sponging off of other peo- Brake club - A three-foot hickory stick used by freight trainmen to ple. tighten hand brakes. Sometimes called sap or staff of ignorance Bumpers - Couplings between freight cars upon which hobos some- Brakeman - The person who tends brakes on a rail car and assists in times ride if there are no empties on the train. A narrow space on the operation of a train. which to lay. Bread line - A line of persons waiting for food to be given out as a Bump gums - To talk about nothing worthwhile. charity. Bumpkin - An awkward rustic or country person. Bread wagon - A horse drawn bakery cart or wagon. Bumming a ride - To hitchhike or the process of hitchhiking. Breshun - A young, inexperienced hobo, usually learning the ropes Bundle tosser - Hobo harvest hand who pitches bundles or bouquets. from an older jocker. Bunk down (verb) - To hide in an end or an ice compartment of an Brethren of the Road - These are male members of the hobo clan. old refrigerator car for safety. "Don't forget to bunk down heading Bridal chamber - A flop house where the guests lie on the floor. It is into the yards." also a mining term meaning the miner's workplace. Bunkhouse - A hobo term for a refrigerator car's end or ice compart- Bridge snake (1) - A railroad switchman. ment, which when empty provided a safe place to ride the train. Bridge snake (2) - A structural iron worker. Bunkie - A tent mate. Broad or brod - A woman, generally young and opposite of bat or Busting a gut - Your gut is your stomach area. To bust a gut is to blister, which means an old woman. engage in very hard physical labor so hard that you ache all over, Brother of the Wander Path - A wandering tramp who walks from even in your gut. place to place. Butts - Cigarettes. The stem of a cigar picked up on the street. Browning sisters - The Angelina sorority. "He belongs to the Brown- Buy a drink - To pour a drink. ing Sisters" or "to the Brown Family." By the book - When railroad workers work exactly as prescribed by Buck (1) - A Catholic priest good for a dollar. the Book of Rules, usually during periods of labor management fric- Buck (2) - My good old fellow, old buck which meant, bud or negro tion or about hoboes getting a free ride on the train. in Black-American slang. Bub means small boy or young brother. In Buzzards' roost - A yard office. the South the "Bubba" was used a nickname a white or a black person Buzzer - Policeman's badge. a negro. It meant my special or favorite negro. In Polish "Bubba" means grandmother or in Slavic it means old woman. C Bug - Same as bitch. These are lamps for the jungle. Bug slinger - A switchman or brakeman. Cab - The crew compartment of a locomotive. Buggy - A caboose; rarely applied to other cars. Cabbage head - A person who has used so many drugs in a lifetime Bull (1) - Special agent (railroad security person usually driving that physical recovery is impossible. white American cars and trucks) in around railroad yard charged with Cab-forward - A steam locomotive design that places the cab ahead security and with catching hoboes. A railroad policeman. Also called of the boiler and smokestack, to prevent smoke asphyxiation in long flatfoot or gumshoe, but the distinctive railroad terms are cinder dick Western tunnels. and 'bo chaser Cabin car - A caboose. Bull (2) - A railroad security guard who patrols the railyards. In the Caboose - The end of train, a non revenue car. old days, they would normally just evict hobos. Nowadays they are Cacklers - White collar workers. more likely to escort hobos directly to jail. Cadger, cadging - The ancient art of imposing upon the generosity of Bull (3) - A slang for a railroad police officer or railroad detective. others, is an essential skill for the would-be idler, since poverty is the Bull (4) - A non-union railroad employee hired to protect a railroad. easiest way to obtain a great deal of free time. “Mooching,” when Bull artist - A hobo with the gift of gab. Becoming a parlor term. performed without squeamishness or reservations, cadging is both Bull fight - A railroad worker trying to force a cow or steer of the exhilarating and instructive. So long as a cadger (from the Scandina- railroad tracks. vian word for “huckster”) is generous in turn (though not necessarily Bull cook - Camp flunkey doing the heavy work for the chef. in kind), he ought not to be considered a deadbeat, freeloader, or Bulls - Plainclothes railroad cops; uniformed police; prison guards. sponger. See: Beggar, and scrounger. Bum (1) - A non-migratory non-worker. A worthless or dissolute Cage - To beg or get by begging. A middle English term: Cadger loafer who would rather beg than work for goods or services. Lowest meaning peddler. in the "hobo hierarchy." It is a term of many meanings, but in its most Cages - The cubicle rooms in the cheap lodging houses. authoritative uses it refers to the lowest of vagrants. Cajun hobo - A hobo from Louisiana. A hobo who rides boxcars but Bum (2) - One who begs or cons people on the street, trying to make prefers to be bare foot and eat food with a knife. Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 65 Cake eater - The nice boy of the town. Not used much by hobos. Chase for the train - The act of running to catch or hop a train. Calaboose - The police station or the town lock-up. The jail (from Chow - Now a common word meaning food. “calaboose,” which derives from calabozo, the Spanish word for Chronicking - Begging from private homes. “jail”). Chuck a dummy - To pretend a fainting fit. Call boy - A messenger who ran messages from the depot to the train Circus - a railroad, as in go join the circus. crew and back. City bum - a tramp who hangs out only in the city and never leaves it. California blankets - Newspapers when used to sleep on. City Tramps - They don’t carry with them food, but condiments, Call (1) - A hobo dish: Baked potato mashed with butter and served plastic utensils, paper napkins and plastic bags. with liverwurst and onions. Claw - A clinker hook used by fireman. Call (2) - Has come to mean listen to stories of adventure about such Clown - A switchman or yard brakeman. places as the road or the City. The Call of the City actually has slums Clown wagon - A caboose. and the Call of the Road has its own brand of danger and despair Club - Same as brake club. Club winder is switchman or brakeman. The Call of the Road - See Wanderlust. A brakeman’s club was usually his only weapon of defense against Camp - See Jungle. hoboes. Camp refrigerator - The old time tramps dug a hole when they first Coal heaver - A fireman, sometimes called stoker. set up a camp, for refrigeration. Those holes used to keep food cool. Coast beggars - Tramps who limit themselves to travel only to the When folks broke up camp, they not only cleaned up, they left a little cities of the west coast of America. something in the hole for the next tramp who came along. Cock-loft- Cupola of a caboose. Also called crow’s nest. Candle eaters - A term sometimes used for the Russians. Code of the Road - It demands that each hobo or tramp hide his iden- Candy - Candy kid is the fellow who gets the good breaks. Candy job tity under a road name, a moniker. The code of the Road is the is the pleasant job. Candy team is the favorite span of mules in the unwritten laws by which hobo life is governed by. outfit. Coffin nail - A term for cigarettes. Can house - A bordello. Coke head - A cocaine user, or snow bird. Canned heat - The use of intoxicants to fend off cold weather riding Collar and shoulder style - Everything is put on the table and the on freight trains. Also called tokay blanket and hump. hobo guest helps himself. Cannon - a six-shooter. Combination stew - An ordinary jungle dish of vegetables and meat. Cannonball (1) - A fast freight train; also called a dicer. Combination train - A mixed passenger and freight local train. Is Cannon ball (2) - A fast train. “The Wabash Cannon Ball” is the also called an accommodation, or peddler. mythical hobo train that travels everywhere. Come-on guy - A fellow who boosts things along on the job, for Captain (1) - A conductor; often called skipper. This title dates from which the boss gives him on the sly a little more pay. Civil War days when some railroads were run by the Army and the Comet - Trailing behind another tramp or hobo, one who tries to conductor was in many cases a captain. catch up. Captain (2) - A hobo salutation of the head man or big shot. Con - A con is a tubercular person. The con is the conductor on a Cardboard soles - Thin, stiff pasteboard from cards, boxes, etc. used train. An ex-con is a former convict. to cover holes in your shoes. During the Great Depression more than Con game - This refers to any kind of graft involving trickery. just hoboes and tramps used cardboard soles. Con man - A grifter or trickster. It may mean ex-convict. Card man - A union man or a hobo with a red I. W. W. card. Connect - To make a touch. The reward for good panhandling. Carry the banner - To walk the street all night for want of shelter. Consist - What a train is made up of. Sometimes it is called to lead Bruno. Container - A modern term used by the railroad for the containers or Car-seal hawk- A railroad policeman. truck trailer boxes used in intermotal transport on trains, ships, and Catching or Caught the west bound - One who is dying or has died. barges. As in container freight. Catch out - Hop or jump on a freight train. Cookee - The second in command to the main stew-builder. Cat house - A brothel, which is sometimes called a notch house. Corn - Bourbon (as in corn liquor). Catter - A hobo who rides on platforms of cars, tenders of engines, Cornered - When a car, not in the clear on a siding, is struck by a and similar places. train or engine. Cat wagon - A brothel on wheels visiting the chaste villages of the Cornfield meet (2) - A head-on train collision. Also called a head-on middle west or following the harvest crews. and prairie meet. Catwalk - A plank walk on top of boxcars; sometimes called the deck Coupling pin - A metal pin used to couple the locomotive to the ten- from which comes the word decorate. der together. It is used by railroad workers with a length of rope to Checker-board crew - A mixed gang of white and negro workers. knock hoboes off the rods. See the movie: Emperor of the North. Cheese it - Put things away, hide. Shack uses one against A-No.1 and Cigaret bouncing it against the Cheesy - To be filthy with dirt. gravel of the roadbed. Cherry picker - A switchman, so called because of red lights on Cousin Jack - Generally refers to a Cornish miner, but, like the term switch stands. Cockney, may be applied to any Englishman. Chicken in the clay - Fowl rolled in mud for roasting. Cover with the moon - To sleep in the open. Source: American Chronicker - An abbreviation of a “chronic hobo.” Tramp and Underworld Slang. Cinder cruncher - A switchman or flagman. Cow catcher - A metal frame on the front of a locomotive to remove Cinder dick (1) - a railroad policeman or detective. obstructions from the tracks. Cinder dick (2) - See rail bull. Cow cage - A stock car. Also called cow crate. Cinder skipper - A yard clerk. Cracker (1) - A contemptuous name for a railroad worker who works Cinder trail - The path the hobo or tramp walks. below or underneath a higher grade person. A slang term for poor Circuit rider - A drifter who has a steady income from Social Securi- southern white trash. ty or Veteran’s benefits. They drift in a specific pattern from city to Cracker (2) - One who is lazy, brutal, inquisitive, intolerant, illiter- city, reaching their home base on the 1st of each month when their ate, ignorant, and of the lowest class. check is delivered to their post office box. Most often, the money is Cradle - A gondola or other open-top car. used for alcohol. Creep joint - A whorehouse where the girls are pickpockets. 66 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Crew Car - Another term for a caboose. to pay the fare. Crib - A caboose. Dodger - A person who shirks his duties and evades his responsibili- Crip, crips - A crippled person. A cripple. ties neither for purposes of graft, nor out of fear, but simply out of a Croaker or croacus - A member of the medical fraternity, a pill ped- overwhelming distaste for labor. dler. Doghouse - A caboose or its cupola. Crook, crooks - A thief. Doggin’ it - Traveling by bus. Crowbar hotel - A jail. Also known as a blue bar hotel or pokey. Dog robber - Boarding house keeper, sometimes a flunkey. Crum boss (1) - The man who builds fires in the bunk houses. Donicker - A chamberpot found in the house, often a bedroom while Crumb boss (2) - The designated chef in a hobo jungle. the privy is in the back yard. Crumbs - Lice. Dope - A drug user, or hop head. Crummy (1) - A caboose. Also called crum box, crib and many other Double-ended siding - A siding which leaves the mainline but comes names. back to meet it at the other end. Crummy (2) - To be lousy with lice. Also refers to the caboose on a Double-header - Two engines or locomotives. train. Double up - To travel in pairs, to move with a boy. Crums - What the hobo may get but never wants keeps: lice. Also Doughnut Christians - Men who fake being saved only to get coffee called gray backs and seam squirrels. and doughnuts sooner. Cupid’s itch - Any venereal disease. Source: American Tramp and Doughnut philosopher - A fellow who is satisfied with the price of a Underworld Slang. coffee and feed. He does not object to the doughnut hole getting larg- Cupola - The observation tower on caboose. A small cabin on the er because it will take more dough to go around it. He is the original roof of a caboose to afford a means of lookout for the train crew. breadline optimist. Cut-out (verb) - To drop off one or more freight cars for a customer on Down and out (1)- A term to describe the people living on the edge a siding or in a freight yard. I got cut-out in the middle of now where. of life. In this class of people are clerks and waitresses, factory laborers, itinerant workers, beggars, hoboes and tramps. They also can D include the working class of poor, the “underclass,” because if they died, the world would not miss them and go on without them. These Dangler - A hobo that rides suspended on rods of cars, trucks and individuals are also called, down-and-outers.” brake beams. Down-and-out (2) - Having no money or prospects for the future. Dark track - Track which has no signaling system. Drag (1) - A long, slow-moving freight train. Deadbeat - See: Sponger. Drag (2) - Hobo term for the main street of the town, as distinguished Dead-end siding - A siding which leaves the mainline and doesn’t from the main stem. come back to meet it at the other end. Drag turn- Work train - A train doing local delivery and pickups. Dead head - Heading straight for home with out stopping or making Drifter (1) - One who travels in no certain direction or path of travel. any side trips. Drifter (2) - A person who simply moves from community to com- Dead one - A drunken hobo. Also a hobo who has just spent all his munity with no purpose in mind. They travel by any means available. money. Oftentimes they are people who are mentally ill but under no care. Dead picker - A yegg who robs a drunk or dead one. He kicks him They usually have no relatives. They also are very likely to be alco- first to see if he is dead to the world and then robs him. holic. Dead soldier - An empty whiskey bottle lying beside the road. Drift a train (verb) To slow a train way down but it continues to roll Deafies - A tramp who pretends to be deaf. forward while the brakeman runs out in front to throw the switch. The Deafies and dummies - A tramp who pretends to be deaf and mute. way the bastard drifts I have to run like a dog! Deck (1) - The top of a rail car. The catwalk on roofs of boxcars. Drill - To walk the ties. It is much more comfortable to sit in a box- Deck (2) - The floor of a flat car. car and ride. Deck (3) - The roof of any railroad car (Freight and passenger). Term Drummer - A yard conductor. riding the deck. Drunkard - A late Saturday-night passenger train. Deck a rattler - To deck a railroad switchman or worker. Dry mission - A Mission which allows no one who has been drink- Deck ‘em - To ride the top of a passenger train. ing. Oftentimes, one must consent to a breath test to be admitted. If Deck her - To ride on top of the train. the test shows any alcohol whatsoever, the person is not admitted. Decked rattler - To ride on top of the train. Ducket - A ticket, or a card good for a feed or a flop. Decorate the mahogany - To buy the drinks; to line the bar with Dummies - A tramp who pretends to be mute. See: Deafies and dum- thirsty throats and brimming glasses. mies. Departure yard - The freight yard from which a newly-assembled Dummy - A dumb or deaf and dumb person. train leaves. Usually a special yard in a large railroad freight yard. Dump or joint - Hobo hangout or gathering place. It also applies to a Derelict - A social outcast. restaurant or flophouse. Dick (1) - See Bull. Dutch - As in “in dutch” - trouble. Dick (2)- A policeman. An older term for a railroad bull. Dutch act - To commit suicide. Dick or fly cop - A detective either in public or private employ. Dyed-in-the-wool hoboes - Hoboes who have years acquired knowl- Dingbat (1) - An old hobo who mooches off of other hoboes. edge and are accustom to the rough ways of the road. Ding bat (2) - A person who has no sense, often a railroad worker. Dyno or dino - A rock man who handles dynamite. On the Coast he Ding bat (3) - A down-and-out hobo. is a front and back man who carries his blanket on his back like a Dino - Out of date railroad equipment. western hobo and his cooking cans in front like an Australian tramp. Dip - A pickpocket. Dipsy - Workhouse sentence. See give him the works. Discard artist - One who carries around or wears picked-up clothes. E Distillery tramp - A tramp who has been claimed by the booze. Earwig - A ear beetle, from a widespread belief that it creeps into the Ditch a train - To get off a train. ear when you are sleeping on the ground or a dirty place. Then its Ditched - To be thrown off the train, to be caught without the money hatched eggs, the worms eat your brain cells. Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 67 Easy mark - A hobo sign or mark that identifies a person or place Flatfoot - A cop. where you can get food, money, or a place to stay overnight. Flat busted - Completely broke; without any money. Eat snowballs - To stay up North during the winter. Flicker - To faint or simulate fainting. Economic argument - Soap-box talk about economics. Generally Flimflam - To swindle, hoax or to trick. opposed to the religious argument called angel food. Flimflam man - A person who practices petty trickery or deception. Eight-wheeler - A box-car burglar, one who robs trains while in tran- They use nonsense and silly talk to con others out of their money or sit or while unguarded in a yard or station. A locomotive with eight goods. wheels. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Flip - To board a moving train. The word accurately suggests the Emperor - A term of royalty. There are Kings, Queens and Emper- motion used. ors. An emperor is a tramp royal, one who can to any where and Flipped, flipping frights - Hoboes who jumped aboard without paying. receives respect from other tramps. Flipping a rattler - To boarding a moving box-car. Emperor of the North (Pole) - A 1973 film by director Robert Floater - A tramp who travels or wanders around. Same as boomer, Aldrich. Lee Marvin .stars as ‘A’ Number One, Ernest Borgnine as only the floater is more casual. To get a floater is to be turned loose the train conductor Shack who would rather kill a hobo than allow by the judge. Also a dead body found in the water. Don’t try and pull him a free ride, and Keith Carradine as the young kid, Cigaret. the body out of the water by the arm, the entire arm may come off. End bunker - The compartment at each end of an obsolete ice refrig- Floaters - Hoboes. erator car where blocks of ice were placed to cool the perishable Floating fraternity - Transients. freight. Fog - Steam. Engineer (1) - The person or pilot who operates a train or locomo- Flop - To sleep or a place to sleep. To prone the body. tive. Flop house (1) - A cheap lodging house or any hobo hotel. Engineer (2) - The train crew member who drives the train (engine or Flop house (2) - American slang for a cheap lodging house, especial- locomotive) and is the crew’s boss. Also see conductor. ly one used by tramps. Engine house - The area where off-shift locomotives are stored, Flop house (3) - A cheap transient hotel where a lot of men sleep in inspected, repaired, maintained, and or refueled. Also known as a large rooms. roundhouse. Floppers - A tramp who pretends to have cerebral palsy or another Evil eye - Some people are supposed to have an eye for wishing bad muscle control disease. luck. Panhandlers try to avoid such. Flunkey - Camp waiter. Always male. A woman is a hasher. Exhibition meal - A handout eaten on the doorstep. The madam Fly-away - A deserter from the army or navy. wants the neighbors to witness her generosity. Foot board - The metal catwalk on locomotives and freight cars pro- Extra - A regular freight train which runs as an extra train when suf- vided for walking, standing on and riding along with equipment. ficient overload business stakes up. Forty-fives - Moniker for navy beans, givers of energy. Extra gang - A crew that works on the railroad track. Freeloader - A hobo. Eye doctor - A panhandler who can catch the eye of his client and Free lance passenger - Hoboes or train riders. hold it without quailing. Also a pederast. Freeloader - See: Sponger. Eye opener - An early morning drink, often begged from the bar- Free Mileage Fraternity - These are Brethren and Sisters of the tender when he opens up in the morning. Road, who often practice blackmailing tactics and confidences often practiced only by man hoboes. F Freight, freights - A freight train. Freight Train Riders of America (F.T.R.A.) - A member gang Faded bogey - A negro acting as an informer. whose reputation is analogous to the Hell’s Angels. The initials stood Fagot or fag - A road kid with homosexual tendencies. for Freedom Riders of America, or Freight Train Riders of America. Fakir - A person who was part con man and part repairman. The best The colors of the bandannas reflect three distinct F.T.R.A. factions, known was a mushfakir, an umbrella mender. Others sharpened scis- Grandinetti learned. Those who wear red mainly ride the rails across sors and knives. the Southern U.S. Blue means they stick to the old Frisco line across Fall guy - The goat. The fellow who gets caught. In the world of the country’s midsection, and black belongs to riders of the so-called crime he is one who takes the rap without squealing. high line that runs from the Twin Cities to the state of Washington. Fanner or fan - To be hit on the soles while sleeping on a park Many FTRA members are Vietnam vets and ex-bikers; many espouse bench. To get a fanner is to be moved on by the police. a racist ideology akin to that of the Aryan Nation. The black-bandana- Fell out - To fall off a moving train. clad high-liners, are the most violence-prone of the FTRA. A faction Fink - A scab. One who takes a striker’s job. Good hobos frown upon known as the Death Squad, enforces the gang’s agenda, which ranges this practice. from acquiring extra ID to taking revenge on squealers. Fireman - A person who tends the fire or stoker on an engine or Frisco circle - When a circle of hobos throw money in a pile and use locomotive. the money to buy as much communal booze as possible. The old Fired off - Forced off a train to either walk, camp or wait for another hobos used to make a ceremony of collecting money for the commu- train. nal pot of stew by throwing it into a circle, which became known as Fish - A jail term for new prisoners. the Frisco Circle, or just the Frisco. Fisheries - Missions along the main stem. Frisk or shakedown - To search. It usually means search by the Flag, flagman - A railroad worker who manually signals presence police. But train crews also go through the hobos. and movement of trains. Fruit tramps - A migratory (itinerant) who usually follows seasonal Flagged - It may mean to be driven out of town, to be turned down or harvests by freight train. to be hailed by someone. Frog or frog eater - A Frenchman. A Canadian Frenchman is a pea Flannel mouth - An Irishman. Sometimes called a chaw. soup. Flat (1) - Broke. Frog - The static portion of a switch which allows the wheel tread of Flat (2) - A slang term use by graffiti writers for a box car without a railroad car to cross from one track to the next. ridges on the the sides. Perfect for applying illegal graffiti by the Front (1) - A whole layout of new clothes. “Put on a front.” medium of spray paint. Front (2) - A con to take people of their money or their kindness. 68 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Most every young tramp had a story about a sick, dying relative, or other dark forces. There might also be certain glyphs that are magical needing to get to the next town where a job was waiting. in their own right. Front (3) - Personal appearance. Go broke - To arrive somewhere. Also known as to blow in. Full timers - Tramps who ride full-time for fun, for work, or for their Go-getter - A hobo who worries the social workers by writing to or own personal reasons. calling on the wealthy contributors. Fuzz tail - Name for unpopular fellow. He is also a ring tail. Such Goldbricker - See: Dodger. hobos are often under suspicion. Go with the birds - To go south for the winter. Going by hand - To walk. Hiking to the next water tank. G Going on the farm - When a train goes on the sidetrack. Also a railroad term. Galvinizer - A car inspector. Gondola - A short-sided, open-topped car used to hold scrap or garbage. Gams - American tramp slang for a girls legs. Gonger - An opium pipe. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Gandy dancer (1) - Railroad worker who laid sections of rail. So Slang. called because of the choreographed movements he made while lever- Good-dead - When applied to a criminal, much as the old frontiers- ing a section in and smoothing down the gravel. A track laborer. man declared: “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” Source: Name may have originated from the gander-like tremulations of a American Tramp and Underworld Slang. man tamping ties, or from the old Gandy Manufacturing Company of Googs - Spectacles. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Chicago, which made tamping bars, claw bars, picks, and shovels. A Gooseberry bush - The clothes line. Gooseberries are the garments hobo (meaning that they travel in their work) track laborer, tie tamper that adorn the line in the moonlight. and rail layer. Gooseberry lay: -Stealing clothes from a clothesline. Gandy dancer (2) - A railroad track layer. Also called a stake artist. Gooseberry picking - The act of a hobo who steals from clothes lines Gandy gumbo - A hobo dish. at night. They are called geese. Gang cook - The designated chef of a track laying crew in the 19th Goy - A hobo who can work the Jewish agencies. Plural, goyem. century. Grabirons - The handholds provided on all railroad cars which allow Gang up - To attack as a group. workers (and hoboes) to hold onto cars which ascending, descending Gaping - A sight-seeing tour to see if things are safe. Often the others or riding the cars. will lay low while one goes to check things out and see it the town is Graveyard shift - Night work, usually in the small or late hours. “hostile” to tramps. Graveyard stew - Hot milk and toast. Gay cat (1) - A tramp held in contempt by fellow vagrants because he Grease balls - A low life who lives off of things left behind by others. is willing to work if a job comes along. Grease the track (1) - Place grease on both rails so the wheels of the Gay cat (2) - A tenderfoot among the hobos. locomotive with spin and slow down the train on an uphill grade thus Gay cat (3) - A young punk who runs with an older tramp and there giving the hoboes chance to hop the train. is always a connotation of homosexuality. Grease the track (2) - To jump in front of a train. Source: American Gaycat or geycat - A slang term for a tramp or hobo who is new to Tramp and Underworld Slang. the road. Gaycats were commonly in the company of older tramps, Grease the track (3)- To fall off the underside of the train and die. implying a homosexual relationship. The term dates to at least the Greasy spoon - A railroad eating house. Bill of fare is colloquially 1890’s. Gaycats were employed as lookouts while other hoboes com- known as switch list, fork is hook, butter is grease pot, hotcakes are mitted crimes. blind gaskets, and beans are torpedoes. Gentlemen of the road - Hoboes that show signs of having been Geese - Hoboes who prowl the night, these Wandering Willie most once white-collar workers. often steal from clothes lines. Gentry - The leading natives of a place, the socially elect. Grifter - A petty swindler or confidence man. They may be one who Get into the world quick - A child possessed of Wanderlust takes operates a dishonest game of chance at a carnival or circus. They the first chance they can get to jump on a freight train. often drive a vehicle a stolen, unregistered, without insurance, not Get the bell (verb) - A familiar term for orders or signal to depart. inspected and without a drivers license. When they become estab- Get the bell, let’s get outta here. lished to one place they may become squatters, often illegally con- Getting by - deceiving someone. Also known as pulling over. necting to utilities and other services. They take advantage of other Ghosts - A tramp who pretends to be tubercular. people and that has become second nature to them in everything they Ghost story - A plausible tale told to the housewife. do. Gin mill - A hobo term for a speakeasy. The serve small quantities of Grinder, grinders - Your teeth. spirits dispensed in pitchers and pails. Grips - The bags trainman bring their personal belongs in for over- Give her the grit - A locomotive to use sand on the rails. the-road work. Often black in color. Give him the works - To be given a job by a social agency, or sent to Guard rail - An extra section of rail placed inside the rail opposite a the rock pile by the judge. switch frog which prevents wheel flanges from taking the wrong path Glad rags - Fancy clothes. at the frog point. Glass jaw - A coward. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Gumboat - Gallon-sized can used for cooking. Glauming - Refers to crop gathering. We have berry glauming, apple Gummy - A hanger-on. A bum who goes along with the crowd but glauming or knocking, cherry glauming, etc. never contributes. A sort of dead head. Glims - Spectacles, or a light. Gump - A chicken or a piece of meat. Glyphs - This is not a talent, but it is somewhat magical. Hoboes had Gung-ho bull - A bull who takes his job seriously and apprehends an intricate system of graffiti signs (you can see examples of it in the hoboes, thieves and trespassers. Also see bull. graphic on the main page) that they would leave to pass important Gunnells or guts - The truss rods or trucks of the train where hobos information along to others who might pass that way. “Mean dog,” ride. “work available here,” “this woman is generous with the handouts”- Gypsy - A wandering dark-skinned Caucasian people believed to those were the types of tips and warnings usually communicated. In have migrated to Europe from India, and known to be fortunetellers, Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail, there are also signs that musicians, etc. Also called Romany. To live or wander like a gypsy. point the way towards (or out of) the yonder, or that warn of haints or A person who lives on the road, constantly traveling. Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 69 H 19 August 1848: “A year’s bronzing and ‘ho-boying’ about among the mountains of that charming country called Mexico, Hack - A caboose. has given me a slight dash of the Spanish.” Haint - A ghost. Hobo (3) - The term is said to have originated on Burlington Route as Hand car - An old-fashioned railroad pushcart used to inspect track a corruption of “Hello, boy!” which construction workers used in or travel over it by pumping up and down on a see-saw hand lever. greeting one another. The highest form of the genus vagrant. The term The older pushcart was moved by pushing a long pole against the “hobo” is thought to have derived from “homeward bound” soldiers ground, much like a keel boat. or from migrant farm workers called “hoe boys.” Others say that it is Hand out (1) - A parcel of food given out by the housewife. A lump. a corruption of a Latin term which means, “good man.” A Civil War Hand-out (2) - The hobo credo to never enter a house of a person soldier may take years to work his way homeward bound. The sol- when seeking food. The food was handed out the back door. diers utilized the growing infrastructure of the railroads to return Happy Hooligan - The hero - antihero of a hobo comic strip of the home. In November 1889, The tramp has changed his name, or rather dame name, popular at the turn of the century and drawn by Zim and had it changed for him, and now he is a “Hobo.” Opper. Also see Weary Willie. Hobo (4) - A person who will work, but only until he has gained Harness bull - A policeman who wears a uniform. enough income or benefits to get what he desires. Once the goal has Hash house - A railroad restaurant or lunch stand. A cheap restaurant. been met he moves on. They are usually honest and trustworthy. Haywire - When everything is balled up. A haywire outfit is some- Hoboes travelled in order to work, tramps were professional wander- thing that is all tied and patched together. ers and idlers, bums were stationary and survived on handouts and Head end - The front of the train. In front of or near the engine. soup kitchens. Header - A freight yard worker who aligns track for arriving and Hobo (5) - Someone who lives on the road, has lived on the road for a departing trains. while, likes living on the road and intends to keep living on the road. Head lamp - One or more high intensity white lights on the head end Hobo (6) - 19th century Americanism (origin unknown) for migrant of a train, engine or locomotive. workers who travels by freight trains. Perhaps from “Ho! Beau!” Ho, Head light - See head lamp. pretty or beautiful in French, a call of greeting between such workers, Hearse - A caboose. or “hoe-boy” then “ho bo” out of consideration for manliness. In liter- Hermit - A hobo that travels by himself or sticks to himself. ary circles a person who “works and wanders (by train). In reality Hey Bo - A vagabond’s greeting. anyone who rides freight trains. Also see bum and tramp. Hide and seek - A hobo game practiced by traveling hoboes, now Hobo, hoboes, hobos, hoboing - One who wanders randomly from you see them, now you don’t. place to place looking for temporary homes and jobs. High-ball (1)- A train traveling at high speed. Signal made by waving Hobo alarm clock - A hobo term for a remote controlled switch hand or lamp in a high, wide semicircle, meaning “Come ahead” or which when activated awakens a sleeping hobo and alerts him to the “Leave town” or “Pick up full speed.” Verb highball or phrase ‘ball approach of a train. the jack means to make a fast run. Word highball originated from old- Hobo apple - Hobo apple is not a hobo expression or a food, it is an time ball signal on post, raised aloft by pulley when track was clear. apple with the core removed and filled with peanut butter. A very few of these are still in service, in New England and else- Hobo belt - These are areas in which you tend to find hoboes, or where. where they hang out. Such as, along railroad likes, streams and water- High-ball (2) A signal to start moving (forward). ways close to the railroad lines, etc. High-ball (verb) - To order a train to start, go faster or proceed at Hobo bill of fare - Messages left often on water tanks telling new- full-tilt speed. He highballed it right past the station master. comers information about the local area. High diver - A yegg who picks pockets. Hobo canteen - Made out of big gallon jugs, milk jugs and pop bot- High iron - The mainline track, so named because mainline track is tles used, but anything glass is an accident waiting to happen, and made of heavier poundage and train stands higher off the ties than on everything around a freightyard is metal. yard track or spur lines. Hobo Capital of the World - Chicago. The city was the railroad High jacker - Yegg who robs hobos with a gun or by brute strength. gateway between the east and the west. Hoboes and tramps came to High line - A term for mainline track. Chicago. Ben Reithman set up the Hobo College of Chicago. Highline (verb) - Hobo jargon for riding a fast freight train. The high- Hobo clan - These are members of the fraternity who share the com- line it down the track or highling it. mon situation on life, that of having a career of being a hobo. They Hijack - A robbery. are the Brethren and Sisters of the Road. Hillbilly, hillbillies - A person living in the backwoods or mountains Hobo clown - A clown in the make up of a hobo caught a lot of atten- of the Southern United States. tion, what they really did was depict a way of life in America, and Hitch - Prison term or army term. Same as bit. some people could relate to that. During the depression over 8,000 Hitting the grit - To be forced off a fast moving train. women & over 200,000 children rode the rails as well. Hitting the road - Getting back to riding the trains. Hobo cocktail - Hobo cocktail is not a hobo expression but is Black- Hobby Hobo - A part-time hobo. A person who engages in hobo-like American slang for a glass of water. behavior (hopping freight trains, spending the night in hobo jungles) Hobo code or rules - These are a set of unspoken rules that govern while on vacation from their full-time job and life. Also called: hobo gatherings. One, all pots lets should be clean for the next user. Weekend hobo. Two, no hobo was to rob or steal from a fellow hobo inside of the Hobo (1) - A migratory (itinerant) usually unskilled worker. Most camp. Three, avoid angering the town’s people who are a source of respected in the “hobo hierarchy.” The hobo is “independent.” Unlike odd jobs and handouts. Four, Thievery is to be avoided, or at least tramps or bums, the hoboes are usually very resourceful, self reliant kept to a minimum. Only an occasional pie, vegetables gathered from and appreciative people. They avoid long term work commitments, the garden, fruit from the orchard, a clean shirt from the clothesline. preferring to be free to follow the call of the open road when it comes. Five, breaking in to a house or threatening local people is a serious Hobo (2) - From “Hoe Boy” after the itinerant 19th century farm offense amongst hoboes, and can be punishable by death. Etc, etc. laborers, who trainhopped with their belongings in a bundle tied to a Other rules may be share work in camp, like volunteering to get hoe. The origin may be supported by a sentence that Barry Popik of water, gather firewood, share food for communal meals, etc. See: The the American Dialect Society found n the New Orleans Picayune of outside world. 70 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Hobo colleges - In 1912 James Eads How organized a series of hobo and others of their kind in finding help or steering them clear of trou- collages in many major cities. Mr. How believed that hoboes were ble. Usually, these signs would be written in chalk or coal letting oth- intelligent and knew from personal experience many economic and ers know what they could expect in the area of the symbol. The clas- social realities that the outstanding thinkers of the time were writing sic American hobo of the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries commu- about. They were not formal institutions of learning but lecture halls nicated through a basic system of markings, a code though which they where hoboes debated issues with speakers and each other. gave information and warnings to their fellow Knights of the Road. Hobo culture - Fundamentally the story of a hobo’s life. The hobo’s Today hoboes communicate with cellular phones, and e-mail. life on the rails by riding the rails embodies for him a distinct culture, Hobo signs (2) - These were a a variety of cryptic symbols scratched a way of life. Riding the rails was and is certainly a dirtier more dan- on the gate or a residence or barnyard, or somewhere conspicuous in a gerous, uncomfortable way of getting around than hitching, and it was rail yard. These symbols meant things like: Good place for a handout; this culture than kept it popular. The day of the hobo is gone, perhaps you can sleep in this farmer’s barn; doctor treats hoboes free; fake ill- forever. The hobo was essentially a wanderer. A free spirited human, ness here; set-down meal given here; good chance money given here; who put his personal freedom ahead of his desire for worldly gain. He work for a meal; hoboes will be arrested on sight; people who live was neither greedy nor competitive. The real hobo is purely and sim- here may treat hoboes violently; owner has a bad temper; religious ply a wanderer at heart and enjoys this way of life. To work a few people - be sanctimonious; kind woman; dishonest man - don’t ask days and get a few bucks in his pocket to pay his way, then move on, for work; bad bull -stay out of the yards; keep quit; poor water; get is a hobo’s idea of living in style. In the 1920’s someone said, “the out of here fast; these people will help you if you are sick; police offi- hobo works and wanders, the tramp dreams and wanders, the bum cer lives here; police watch for hoboes here; police do not bother drinks and wanders.” The hobo was keen to work and earn his way, hoboes here and a good jungle - make yourself at home. the tramps move around, but the bums staying put. Hobo stew - A stew cooked in a large pot made of small pieces of Hoboett - A female hobo. meat, potatoes, onions, carrots or other vegetables and herbs found in Hobo graveyard - The track side burial site of a deceased wayfarer, the area. Also see Mulligan stew. usually at or near the site of his or her demise. Hobo stove (1)- They are made out of discarded 5 gal. buckets that Hobo habit - The wandering life of a hobo that is especially danger- were used to carry railroad spikes. With a good knife and a pair of pli- ous affliction of minors. ers, you make a row of openings around the bottom like a can opener Hobo heart - People who share the same core beliefs and views that would, and flip it upside down and cut out a small door. Then you can of the hobo or tramp. It is where your heart is, on the road or riding scratch out a little ditch and set this over it and build a fire inside. the rails. They all share the same share our stew and fellowship. Gets hot enough to cook on and at night you can’t see the fire over Hobohemia (1) - The universe of the hobo. about 20 foot. Hobohemia (2) - The part of the town inhabited by transients. Hobo stove (2) - Camping near a junkyard is a good thing. The single Hobo identity - Part of American culture and mythology, which most useful item in building a stove is a refrigerator. The crispers can romanticized the frontier and rugged individualism, as well as techno- be made into stoves, the racks can be used over the fire, and the logical developments such as the railroad. As hobo culture developed refrigerator itself, if it’s got a good seal, can be used to smoke fish. an enormous amount of literature began to be published about hoboes Hobo sub-culture - A culture, a fraternity among hoboes so much by self-proclaimed hoboes. stronger than anything that ever existed among other groups. A dis- Hoboland - A term used to describe life or living in the world of the tinct hobo sub-culture which emerged in the 1890’s. A about 40 auto- hobo. biographies written by hoboes between 1880 ‘s and 1940’s, A-No.1 Hobo language - Hobos drew the symbols of this new language with being among the most famous and well known. An arbitrary defini- chalk on sidewalks, or carved them into trees, walls or doors to help tion imposed on hoboes in the creation of their sub-culture by some their fellow travelers. See: Hobo signs. academics. Hoboes do not form hobo clans, tribes, traditions, or Hobo lifestyle - The philosophy and personal experience with riding guilds. This is the reason that they have been forced to take up the rail the rails. A free spirit traveler. because they belong to no other group. The term “hobo” as a generic Hobo luck - When a hobo hits a new town, he believes that if he is term for any person who wanders though life. A lost soul out looking turned down at the first for something that you can neither chase down nor define who have place he goes to, his luck will be poor in that town, and vice versa. been grouped together by others. Hobo sub-culture is not a subject Hobo marks - Graffiti inscribed on train cars, buildings and railroad taught in college and used in role-playing games. See: Hobo culture. structures by hoboes placing their nicknames in chalk. In Germany Hobo symbols - The symbols or signs were usually used one at a this is now almost extinct. See: A-No.1 and J.B. King. time. Each of these symbols represents a particular direction or warn- Hobo moniker - See: Moniker. ing, such as “Beware of dangerous dog”, “A kind lady lives here”, Hobo News - A newspaper started by James Eads How with articles “People here will give you food for work”, “this is a safe place to on social and political issues along with puns and jokes. camp”, etc. While these crude symbols were almost humorous Hobo nickel - Originally carved nickels made out of wood, then later appearance, they served a deadly serious purpose. They helped travel- hoboes used actual US Minted nickels or 5 cent pieces. See: Wooden ers to find work, food, and safe shelter in a difficult, often dangerous nickels. world. See: Hobo signs. Hobo night hawks - Police who disguise themselves as hoboes and Hobo tent - Most ‘bo’s got a tent or tarp. You can lose your equip- search the trains at night for hoboes. The dead give-a-way is a lantern ment most any time out there, due either to misjudgement of a train, or flash light as they open boxcar doors searching for hoboes. or of people you’re around, so knowing how to make a tent or at least Hobo proof - A railroad line that offers a reward to any hobo who get a good ground cloth is good stuff to know. can successfully ride their hobo proof railroad. Hobo ticket - To hop or ride a freight train that is the price of the ticket. Hobo Road - Hoboes that are currently on the road at the present time. Some hoboes have done it in the past, but the time line has Hobo Times - A publication that was published by the National Hobo moved on and they are no longer on the Hobo Road at the present Association. time. Hobo union - A group of hoboes that have been crippled and disfig- Hobo signs (1) - Beginning in the 1880’s up until World War Two, ured hopping freight trains. Some tramps who had lost limbs or fin- hoboes placed markings on fences, posts, sidewalks, buildings, tres- gers had such monikers as sticks, fingers, lefty, or mitts. tles, bridge abutments, and railroad line side equipment to aid them Hobos versus Tramps - Some say hobos originally traveled to work, Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 71 and tramps traveled for the sake of travel. Others say a tramp is a Hot stuff - Stolen goods. Something that must be dropped. hobo west of the Mississippi and a hobo is a tramp east of the Missis- Hotel de Gink - A charitable or a municipal lodging house. A series sippi. Others use the terms interchangeably. of residences where hoboes could eat, sleep, shave, and bath when Hobo walking stick - A hobo’s is afraid of a big dog, dogstory, the times were tough. They were started by hobo Jeff Davis. carry a staff, walking stick. Many were carved and made into hobo Hot train - Train with a high priority, usually heavily loaded with art. goods going to market. Other trains must often pull over at sidings to Hog - A locomotive. allow hot trains to pass. Hogger - A term for an engineer. Hot yard - Rail yard actively patrolled by unfriendly bulls. Hoghead or hogger - The engineer. This is also a railroad term. House dog - A fellow who goes about hunting jobs, cleaning win- Hold down - To ride a great distance across the country without get- dows, beating carpets, etc. ting off to hunt for food, etc. How strong are you? - Meaning, How much money have you? If Hollowed out earth mound - A form of shelter built by tramps, and you have a pile you answer, “So strong, I stink.” hermits. They would find a mount, or a bank, then dig a tunnel into Hump (1) - Low hill in a switching yard used for sorting cars by the mound. Once inside they would open up the tunnel to create a gravity. In the hole - Waiting at a rail siding, usually for a train with room. They would brace it of using mine braces. Some of these would higher priority to pass. have stoves and stove pipe up through the mound to the outside. Hump (2) - “Over the hump” means to cross the mountains to the Some of these shelters looked like Victorian parlors inside with car- West Coast. It also refers to the elevation in the freight yards for peting, etc. They were warm in the winter because underground, they switching cars, a railroad term. remained a constant temperature all year around like a cave. Hump (3)- A hunch-backed person. Home guard (1) - Local tramps who don’t ride. Hump (4) - A term for a mountain pass which a freight train crosses Home guard (2) - A fellow who always stays in town. Some live over, often requiring warm clothing or other warmth-retention mea- their lives on a single block in the main stem. One who doesn’t travel sures taken by wayfarers. but knows all the organizations and “angles” to bleed unsuspecting Hundred proof - Meaning whiskey of the purest. organizations or individuals of all the benefits they can obtain. If Hunt a wampus - A wild goose chase. The wampus is a black cat something is given to them, they will oftentimes sell the items on the with a white tail and it lives in the tall timber. street for cash. Hunkydory - Everything is fine. Home guard (3) - The local people who can drive to and from work Hut - a brakeman’s shelter just back of the coal bunkers on the tender in their own cars. tank of engines operating through a tunnel. May also refer to caboose, Home guard (4) - In literary circles a person who drinks in freight locomotive cab, switchman’s shanty, or crossing watchman’s shelter. yards. In the 19th century a vagrant who never left town. In reality today a garden variety drunk who hangs out in freight yards but never I rides the trains out of town. Also known as hanger-on. Honey dipping - Working as a shovel stiff in a sewer, or any kind of Ice (verb) - To place blocks of ice into the end or ice bunker of an old unpleasant shovel work. reefer car. Honor of old age - A recognition of the Patriarch as a leader. Ice-boxes - A refrigerated box car. See Reefer. Hooch - Liquor. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Ice bunker - See End bunker. Hoodoo - Any thing that brings or gives bad luck. the jinx that brings Idler - A lazy person. bad luck. In heat - For a female animal (in this case, a dog), to be in heat is to be Hooker - A drink of strong liquor, as in “It took a stiff hooker of in a state of sexual excitement when she will accept mating from a male. whiskey.” In hot water -To be in hot water is to be in trouble. Hooks - Getting caught by the hands of John Law. As in, they will In the clear - A train is in the clear when it has passed over a switch get their hooks in you if you go into that town. and frog so far that another train can pass without damage. Hookshop - A brothel. In the hole - a train on a siding. Hooligan - A young hoodlum, a petty gangster. Indian Valley Line - An imaginary railroad “at the end of the rain- Hoosegow - Same as calaboose, jail. Often called a can. Also called bow,” on which you could always find a good job and ideal working the Hotel de (you add in the county name of the jail here) such as conditions. (Does not refer to the former twenty-one-mile railroad of Hotel de Erie, for Erie Country Jail. that name between Paxton and Engels, Calif.) Boomers resigning or Hoosier - The natives, generally simple fellows. Also called yaps, being fired would say they were going to the Indian Valley. The term hicks or rubes. is sometimes used to mean death or the railroader’s Heaven. (See Big Hoodwink - To trick or deceive. Rock Candy Mountains). Hopins - Potatoes and vegetables. Interloper - An outsider. Not one of the tramping fraternity. Hopper - Covered grain car, also called a grainier. In the hole, into the hole - A term for a train which is standing on a Hopping - Riding the rails. siding waiting for another train to pass, conduct business or repair an Horse-style - Any unfriendly hostile town to hoboes. Their way of equipment failure. A train is in the hole. saying: hostile style. Itineracy - Traveling, journeys. Following a planned route of travel. Host - The railroad line on which a hobo is riding. A detailed or record account of a journey. Hot freight yard - A freight yard which employs one or more gung- Itinerant - Traveling from place to place, wander about without a ho bulls. Also see bull and gung-ho bull. lived home. Hotel-de-Tramp - A “register” of tramp monikers on a railroad Itinerate - Traveling place to place. structure such as a water tank. A hobo or tramp must climb the water Itineration - A circuit tour. tank to register his moniker to be considered allowed to stay in the In transit - Riding the trains. In the summer the entire tramp fraterni- Hotel-de-Tramp. See: Name-de-road. ty may be said to be “in transit.” Hot - A person is hot when he is wanted by the law. No hobo will I-Wobble-Wobble - The I.W.W. whose nickname is “wobbles.” I go travel with a man who is hot. after “slave wages.” They take the lowest, most miserable labor that Hot squat - American tramp slang for the electric chair. industrialism produces.

72 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail J and the trains that is in charge and tougher than hoboes he encounters. He can take what any one, or any thing thrown in his path. Jack roll - To rob. Jungle-out (verb) - To wait or sleep in a jungle., I was jungled out Jack roller (1) - The “lowest of the low” and can be very dangerous. when the border patrol rousted me. They will befriend a drifter who is drinking at a bar and paying for Jungled up - Eaten mulligan. drinks with large bills. The jackroller will buy drinks for the drifter Jungle up - Many wanderers (hoboes and tramps) would settle for the until the drifter can hardly stand. Once this has taken place, the jack- night in groups. These areas would be known as hobo jungles. To jun- roller will walk his friend home. The walk ends with a mugging, or gle-up is to camp out for the evening in the company of other like even murder, as the jackroller walks away with money in hand. More companions of the road. often than not, it is never reported. Junkie - A drug user. A heroin addict. Jack roller (2) - A thief. Jumping a train car - Meaning to never go home again, like the life Jack rolling (1) - To rob a drunk. of a wander or a rover. Jack rolling (2) -Taking money from a man or a boy. Jack Wanderlust - The evil spirit of unrest.that makes boys copy the ways of the hobo. K Jail bait - A girl below the legal age of consent for sex; an underage Kangaroo court - A mock court held in jail for the purpose of forc- girl who tempts a man to sexual intimacy which is punishable by ing new prisoners to divide their money. A thief was stripped of all imprisonment his clothing except his underwear and shoes. If the thief was on a Jail bird - A fellow who brags about his vag record. train, he was told to “jump.” Jailhouse spuds - Waffled potatoes. Keister - A suit case. Not often carried by hobos. Jam nuts - Doughnuts. Kick - A pocket in the trousers. Java - Coffee. Kick it apart - To lay out the details. Source: American Tramp and Jazz - Sexual intercourse. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Underworld Slang. Slang. Kicks - Shoes. Also called slides. J. B. - A J. B. Stetson hat. Prized among hobos because the band may Kid simple - A nickname for a silly, stupid, foolish young kid with be sold for half a dollar. no experience of the road. J. B. King - A hobo who wrote his name J.B. King Esq. scrawled on Kid tramp - Another name for a young kid on the Road. boxcars the world like famous tramp A-No1. Killing time - Having nothing to do or no place to go. Jigger - A strong solution of lye (paint acid) used by hoboes on sores. King of the Hoboes - An unofficial title awarded by fellow hoboes to Jerries - Men who work on the section gang. They do maintenance a hobo on the road. work while gandy dancers work on contract jobs. King of the Road - A title given to celebrate the hobo experience on Jerusalem Slim - Slang name for Christian god-man. the open road, one who is best schooled and educated in the lifestyle Jiggers - A common name given to tramps that others should “watch of the hobo. The National Hobo Convention awards the title each year out!” for. and crowns a new King of the Road. In the golden age of the hobo Jocker (1) - An experienced hobo, usually in a kind of master- (1880 until World War 1) it was an honor given by an unofficial vote apprentice relationship with a breshun. of the hoboes on the road, to someone who survived, the most experi- Jocker (2) - A hobo who goes about with a road kid or punk. A pro- enced and respected hobo of them all. “King of the Road,” is also the tector or road father. title of a song by Roger Miller’s greatest hit. “Third boxcar midnight Jocker (3) - A road kid’s teacher and companion, the relationship is train, destination Bangor, Maine. Old worn out suit and shoes, I don’t often sexual. pay no union dues. I smoke old stogies I have found, short but not too John Family - A term is sometimes applied to the farmers, some- big around. I’m a man of means by no means, king of the road.” times to the police and again to the yeggs. Knight - A soldier of the “Road.” John Law - A name for the police or the legal system. Knights of the Road or Knights of the Rail - Another name for a Joint - The point in bolted-rail track or joint end where two rails meet hobo. and are bolted together. Joints cause the railroad’s clickity-clack. Knock about - See: Bum. Joint rail - A hobo term for bolted rail track. Knowledge box - Country school house where hobos sometimes sleep. Jolt - A jail sentence. Journal box - The point of contact between freight car tracks and axles where internal lubricants reduce friction heat and provide for a L smooth ride. A source for grease used in hobo first aid. Lamb - A boy tramp or road kid. Boy companion of the wolf. Jugs - Banks. Lambing - To herd sheep, a job avoided by respectable hobos. Jungle (1) - Hobo’s camp site. A hobo’s summer home. Layabout - A person who is an idler. Jungle (2) - Hobo camp, usually set up in a hollow or windbreak. Leather poke - A wallet. Close enough to the rails for easy access to the trains, but far enough Lee of a reefer - The ice-box in a refrigerator car. away from town so they wouldn’t be bothered by police or rail bulls. Library - A cupola of caboose. Trainman occupying it was some- Many wanderers (hoboes and tramps) would settle for the night in times known as a librarian. groups. These areas would be known as hobo jungles. Library birds - Down and outers who loaf or roost in libraries. Jungle (3) - The hobo- tramp community center where they ate, slept, Lighthouse - Stingy person. A procurer for a house of sin. Also one shared a common meal and stories of the road. who is placed to watch for the bulls. Jungle (4) - The place in or near a freight yard where hoboes wait for Limpy - A cripple. If he has a wooden leg he is peg. trains, rest, cook meals, read, sleep and congregate. Little Red Card - The membership card of the I.W.W. union. See Jungle buzzard (1) - A bum who loafs about the jungle begging from Wobblies. the hobos. Little red wagon - A dump wagon. Jungle buzzard (2) - These are low individuals who come into jun- Little school - A reformatory or house of correction. gles at night and steal from hoboes. Live off the fat of the land - The fat of the land is an expression that Jungle cat - A hobo that knows how to move through the jungles, refers to having the best of everything. A place where the land is so

Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 73 “fat” you will need nothing else to be happy. A place where you can Moniker wise - To be known to other tramps by your moniker and survive and prosper with out having to earn it, you just take what you because of that it gives you superhuman powers. need. Monkey - To act like a monkey, the fool. To play or trifle, meddle, to Lizzie tramps - The hitch-hikers and again to wandering families go around without any idea of what you are doing. traveling in automobiles. Monkey chasers - West Indians or other Negroes from the tropics. Loafer - From the German word for “land-runner,” one who wanders Montana bundle - A term for a hobo’s traveling accessories when around the countryside.” Loaf, as a verb, is a back-formation from they are substantial. Often includes tools of the trade, many changes “loafer,” and ought to be used to described someone who of clothing or footwear, and practically everything else the traveler travels around aimlessly. owns. Also see streamliner. Local - A trains that moves freight and materials on a short line. Mooch - To beg, usually at back doors, or to steal. Long haul trains - A long distance train, usually a minimum of 500 Moocher (1) - One who steals or takes without paying. miles. Moocher (2) - A beggar. Also known as a gladhander, or a ballylooser. Looloo - A sexy woman. Mooching (1) - A low form of begging. Louse - A fellow who will steal the shoes of a hobo who befriends him. Mooching (2) - The art of begging. Louse cage - a caboose. Moper - A bum who is even lower than a moocher. Lowball - An old signal positioning of a ball on a mast. When the Mop Mary - A scrub woman. ball dropped down the mast this signified sow down or stop. Also see Mouthpiece - A lawyer. highball. Mud - Strong coffee mixed with weak milk. Lusher - A drunkard. Mud chicken - A term for a railroad tunnel worker. Lump - Food received at the back door; a handout. Mug - A person’s face. Mulligan stew (1) - Stew made from the combined contributions of M everyone who wants some. A group of hoboes gathered around the jungle fire can keep a pot of stew perpetually refreshed by each con- M. & C. - “Marmon and Cadillac,” meaning morphine and cocaine. tributing one thing- a scrap of bacon, a half-biscuit, a withered carrot Main guy - Same as captain. Refers to the person in charge. stolen from someone’s garden. No matter how small or mean the con- Main stem - The chief hobo street in town. tributions are, as long as they are freely given the stew will be rich, Making the riffle - Succeeding. Source: American Tramp and warming, and nutritious, and the pot will stay full until everyone who Underworld Slang. contributes has had his fill. Man-catcher - The shark’s assistant who urges a job on the hobo - Mulligan stew (2) - A traditional railroad worker stew cooked in a usually to fill a shipment of men. large pot. Allegedly first concocted by a gandydancer named Mulli- Manifest - What the train is carrying. Fast freight carrying fruit or gan on the Union Pacific Railroad while building the first transconti- cattle. nental line in the 1860’s. The stew consists of large chunks of beet, Mark (1) - A mark is a person or place good for food, clothes or buffalo (when available) or hamburger, potatoes, onions, carrots, or money, but not advice. other vegetables and seasonal herbs. Also see hobo stew and gang Mark (2) - A hobo sign, indication a person or institution willing to cook. give food. Munie - A term for a municipal lodging house. Master of the Road - A hobo or tramp who knows the ways of the Mushfakir - A go-about itinerant repair man. He may solder pots or Road. He is an insider. mend umbrellas. Sometimes hobos follow the art. Medium of exchange - Railroad workers demand such things as pipes, neckties, tobacco, shoes, knives, etc., in trade not to be put off the train. N Mickey Finn - A drink drugged with knock-out drops. Nail - To hop a train. Midnight creeps - A freight car rolling silently though a freight yard Nailed - To successfully have hopped a train. (day or night) which can sneak up on an unsuspecting person too Names-de-rail - The hobo moniker, date, route and direction of close to its track and cause serious injury or death. hoboes traveling along the road. Midnight Shoppers - People that climb aboard moving trains and Name-de-road - To carve your hobo moniker, date, route and direc- throw merchandise off as the train proceeds. Some people consider tion of travel on such things as water tanks, and other structures them hoboes just because they board railroad trains with the intention where others would see it. It also is done in side jail cell walls to indi- of stealing merchandise. Thieves, gangs, and rail wanderers have sim- cate that were an inmate there. ply moved from boxcars to auto rack cars, covered hoppers, and pig- Newcomer - A hobo who has only recently arrived. gybacks. They think tracks and trains are public property and mer- Newspaper beds - Sleeping on a bed and covered with newspapers. chandise found in freight trains is free ride for anyone who can Nickel note - A five-dollar bill. remove it. These crooks give bums a bad name. Night scavenger - Someone who empties trash-cans for food and Milk wagon - A horse drawin milk cart or wagon. They drip water other useful items. A hobo who has transferred from railyards to from melting ice. urban alleys. Mission stiff - Tramp who stays in a mission or homeless shelter Night walkers - These are people who police believed do not belong most of the year. Man who gets “saved” for food and a flop. A to the area and have no means of supporting themselves. They were “retired” hobo or tramp who “gives up the road” for various reasons. often whipped and banished from town or sent to a workhouse Often, one will be forced to become a “stiff” due to health or age, but Noch - Hebrew shelter for homeless men. From hochnosis orchim, for some, this is the first step toward self-sufficiency and these per- which means a place to make welcome. They treat you fine if you sons become a vital part of society. know how to get by the gate. Moll - A woman who pals with hobos. This term is not used much by Nose bag - A lunch handed out in a paper sack. the hobos themselves. Number 10 gunboat can - A number 10 can used for brewing coffee, Moniker - A hobo’s nickname, how they signs his or her name. The cooking, urinating or defecating in. hobo’s informal name, his handle. They often tell a bit about the per- Nuttery - A hospital for the insane. Also a nut factory. son, like where they are from and other information. 74 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail O Picture frame - The gallows. Source: American Tramp and Under- world Slang. O. B. U. - One Big Union. The ideal of the soap boxers. Pie card - One who hangs around and lives on a remittance man or Obeys - Post offices. some other person with money. Ocean tramp - A type of tramp that travel from place to place by Pie in the sky - One’s reward in the hereafter. Source: American ocean travel. Often they get jobs working on commercial vessels, Tramp and Underworld Slang. working as part of the crew. When they land in port they shortly get Piggyback - A flat train car that holds trucks or containers. the urge to travel once again. It may not be for the love of salt air on Pig’s vest with buttons - Sow belly, or any fat bacon. their faces because often they have hard working jobs below deck. Pig train - A piggyback train, one composed of flat cars carrying Perhaps being on land makes them feel connected or tied down and truck trailers. they may simply love the feeling of open water below their feet. Piker - A hobo or tramp who walks. Odd fellows - A fraternal symbol meaning three doughnuts and coffee. Pile driver or Java - Coffee, but good strong coffee. Off-shift - A locomotive which is not in service. Pill peddler - The camp doctor. The label may fit any M. D. Oilcan train - A train made up of mainly or exclusively of tank cars. Pin-money - An allowance of money or money to be able to pay for Old timers - These are experienced hoboes, who have been on the minor incidental expenses. Road, and know the ways of the road. Pisshouse - A jail. Organ grinder - A profitable begging device, a barrel organ, that P. K. - The principal keeper of the little school. uses a trained monkey. Pimp stick - A cigarette. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Old Airedale - An old hobo who’s spent his whole life on the road. Pinched - To be jailed. Airedales seldom ride the trains at that age, instead walking wherever Playing the spoons - Some hoboes have learned how to read a man’s they go. fortune in the rhythm of a pair of spoons. These spoon men are usual- One-eyed bandit - A term for a boxcar with one door open and the ly old Airedales who have left off riding the crates... they stay by the other one shut. fires in the camps and jungles, tapping out the future against their On the hummer - Being on the bum but not down and out. knee in exchange for a half-can of beans or a strip of jerky. On the bum - Living the life of a vagrant. Pogey - The workhouse. Sometimes the poor farm. On the fly - Getting on or off a freight train which has slowed down Poison - A woman who is poison is one who can only mean trouble, but not stopped. Also called “on the run.” especially to a man. Also can be your favorite drink. On the road - Pertaining to a lifestyle whose adherents are on an Poke - A leather wallet. Also a gin mill. extended trip or have no permanent home. Poorhouses - A public run establishment maintained as a dwelling On the uppers - Being on the bum and nearly down and out. for paupers. Open-air navigator - A hobo riding freight on top. Poor roads of travel - These were the turnpikes of America after the Open Road - The system of railroad rails that can take you any where Civil War. It was easier to walk the railroad tracks, and then these you have a mind to go or travel. As in the call of the “Open Road.” train men discovered it was easier to ride the train than walk the Oscar - To walk away. Source: American Tramp and Underworld tracks. In Great Britain the hoboes had formed guilds that majority of Slang. the professional vagrants were taking lessons in jumping on and off Ossified - To get arrested. moving freight trains. By 1875, in the United States, the general Outside world, The - Any one not living in the world of Trampdom. felling was that it was everyone’s inborn willingness of every Ameri- It has its rules and regulations or code of ethics involves relations can to help a man in unfortunate circumstances. There was no reason with the outside world. See: Hobo code or rules. to keep the tramp off their trains, and by 1880’s it was accepted by Overland - A long distance train or a train used for traveling long railroad companies as an unavoidable nuisance upon the railroad’s distances. property. Over the road - Any track outside of the yard limits. Possesh - Road kid. The hobo’s boy companion. Possum belly (1) - To ride on top of a passenger train. Source: Amer- P ican Tramp and Underworld Slang. Possum belly (2) - The boxes under passenger cars where hobos Packing the mustard - Carrying the hod. sometimes ride. Padding the hoof - Going by foot. A practice good hobos avoid. Possum drunk - Playing drunk to obtain information. Paddy-sticks - Usually sledgehammer handles carried by shacks. Potatoes and with it - A western jungle dish. Palooka - A roving boxer who lives in the past. Potter’s Field - A burial ground for the destitute and the unknown in Pan, panning - To beg on the street, some times with a J. B. Stetson unmarked graves. felt hat. Pound your ear - To sleep in a bed. Pariahs of Society - A social outcast. Power - The engines powering the train. Panhandle - To beg on the street. Private varnish - A privately-owned beautifully appointed passenger Paul Bunyan - A chronic, but none the less interesting, liar. car which can be leased or rented to individuals or companies. Pay station - A social welfare agency that gives out money. Very rare. Prize Tramps - These are hoboes and tramps who have learned the Pay streak - To have a job that pays well. stock and trade of the Road. Pearl diver - A dishwasher. Prushin - A young boy on the road. Peanut farm - A workhouse where the inmates crack stones. Profesh (1) - Short for professional hobo or tramp. Peddler or bob tail - A short local freight train. Profesh (2) - An experienced hobo, sometimes a criminal. Pedicant - A young haughty or nasty male bitch. Prone the body - To lie down and rest. Peg - A one legged person. Proper tramp - One who follows the code of the Road. Peg house - A place where, if the hobo wishes, he may meet Angelina. Punk (1) - A road kid. Often used in derision. Pennsylvania salve - Apple butter. Punk (2) - Bread. Southern bread is called pone. Petticoat hobo - A female hobo. Punk and Gut (1) - Bread and cheese. Source: American Tramp and Peoria - A thin soup. Generally potato water with salt. Underworld Slang. Phoney man - A person who peddles cheap jewelry. Punk and gut (2) - Bread and sausage. Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 75 Punk and plaster route - Traveling among the Pennsylvania Dutch. Razor back - A circus roustabout. Also an Arkansas hog. Pusher - The straw boss. One in charge of the job. Reading the rails - By hunkering down and putting your hand on a Pussyfooter - A railroad policeman. rail that’s still warm from a train’s passage, you can sometimes divine Put the boots to - To have sexual intercourse. Source: American something about the train that just passed, or about a specific person Tramp and Underworld Slang. on it, or about the places the rails eventually lead to. Read your shirt - To examine your clothes for crums. Q Rear-on - The opposite of a head on collision, where one train plows into the rear of another. Queer - Crooked, criminal. Source: American Tramp and Under- Red ball - A fast fruit train. Good for long rides. world Slang. Recriders - Tramps who take short recreational trips. Red card - I.W.W. membership card. See Wobbly. R Red cross - Morphine. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Raggedly man - A person who wears torn or worn clothing into rags. Red lead - Ketchup. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. Wearing worn, frayed, or shabby garments. A person of rough or Redline - To condemn or scrap an old freight car. uneven character or aspect. Reefer - A refrigerated box car. Like many another railroad term it Ragman, rag picker - One who gathers and sells rags, and other junk also belongs to the hobo’s lingo. for a living. The rag man would go through the neighborhoods in his Regional railroad - A smaller than a Class 1 line haul railroad which horse drawn wagon, singing, “Rags! Rags!, Got any rags serves a specific region of the country. today?...... ” Regular freight - An over-the-road freight train of average length Railroad bull - A railroad policeman. See Bull. and speed which makes fewer business stops than a drag freight. Railroad cop - A railroad policeman. See Bull. Re-ice - To replace melted ice in an ice reefer. Railroad dick - A railroad policeman. See Bull. Remittance man - A hobo paid by his family to stay away from home. Railroad or road flare - Road signal torches or lights. Engineers will Ride the cushions - To ride in a passenger train. even give them to you. Made of phosphorous They’ll start wet wood Ride the bumpers - Riding a freight car by straddling its coupler on campfire fire in the rain. They will keep man or beast out of strik- with one’s legs. No longer popular by hoboes and not safe. ing distance for about 10 minutes. They are hot enough a drop of it Ridin’ ‘em high - Traveling on tops of boxcars. will go clear thru whatever it lands on. They can be used to bring Riding the cushions - Riding de luxe in a passenger train. water to a boil for coffee or soup, and they make a good firestarter Riding the deck - Riding any railroad car on the roof. Not safe. Rail rider - A person, most generally a hobo, who rides freight trains, Ridin’ the rods - An old-time hobo practice, now virtually obsolete. usually illegally. Some know the engineers and are able to ride in the The hobo would place a board across truss rods under a car and ride engine compartment rather than in a box care or grainer. on it. This was very dangerous even in pleasant weather, and the pos- Railroad fever - A malady for tramps call the victims of which there sibility was ever present that you might doze, get careless, become is no remedy. They are unable to settle down anywhere, and they too cramped, or lose your nerve-and roll under the wheels. must be constantly riding the trains. Only death ends their roaming of Riding the blinds -To ride a train by swinging onto the vestibule at hopping the freight trains. A sickness that even A-No.1 had that he the front end of the baggage car, usually just behind the engine ten- could never cure himself of but wanted to prevent others especially der. This practice was deceptively dangerous; if the train “slacked young kids. The only cure or rest was death. off” while you were trying to squeeze through to the vestibule, the Railroading - Not a railroad workers term but it means to take up rid- cars would come together and crush you in an instant. ing the trains by hobos. Riding the rods (1) - To ride a train by lying on a board set across Railroad spike - Not a term but the actual object carried by many the truss rods underneath, or sometimes just hanging on for dear life. hoboes, to keep the railroad yardman from closing the door on them, Not as common by the 1930’s, since train cars were no longer built which could result in him freezing to death or suffocating, as some with truss rods. freight cars were pushed into the rail yard and out of use for weeks at Riding the rods (2) - Riding a freight car underneath the floor of the a time. Hoboes some times painted the tips or heads a color so they car atop one of the car’s structural tie rods. No longer possible in could identify as theirs. modern railroad cars. Rail tramp - See: Tramp. River rat - Someone who spends their life around the rivers and Ramble - To ramble (a Middle English for “roam”) means to wander waterways. They would rather travel from place to place using inland for pleasure, without a fixed destination. waterways and rivers for travel. Also some one who lives in shacks, Rambler (1)- A through freight train. house boats, etc. along the rivers and waterways. Rambler (2) - Another nickname of A-No.1 Leon Ray Livingston. The Road - Living the life of a hobo. Rambler (3) - A hobo who rides passenger trains. Road bums - Another name for hoboes. Rank cats - The lowest of the genus bum. Road burn - A modern term, a state of mind one slips into after being Rat crusher- A box-car burglar. See “eight-wheeler”. Probably from “on the road” too long. the “rattler” or fast freight train in which the “rat crusher” finds his Road dog - Someone who hops trains. Someone who calls the road loot. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. home, such as a hobo. Rattler (1) - A fast train, same as cannonball. In the West a box-car. Road grime - The dirt, grease, and grit which railroad equipment A train. accumulates over time. The hoboes often become covered with it. Rattler (2) - A railroad worker that if you get too close they will bite Road-kid (1) - Young person who belongs to a gang. (back). Road kid (2) - A boy apprentice among the hobos. A young hobo. Rattler (3) - Riding decked, or laying flat spread eagled atop of one Road kid (3) - One who is not versed in the ways of the Road, an of the cars of a train. apprentice. Rattler (4) - A freight train comprised mostly or completely of emp- Road kill - A dead animal found on the road. A dead animals in gen- ties which rattle down the track at high speeds. eral. Rattlers - A hobo who ride freight trains. Road news - This is information about what is happening on the Rat workers - They are box car burglers. Road. This is spread from the campfire, word of mouth, and by infor- 76 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail mation left in hobo signs and monikers. Saunter - To walk in a slow, aimless, leisurely way. A Middle Eng- Road sisters - Woman who lived a genuine hobo existence. lish word for “walking about musingly”; it is derived from the word Roadsters - A name for hoboes or tramps (young and old) who travel “saint,” as holy men were thought to spend much of their time in this the road. manner. Road wisdom - Having enough knowledge to survive on the Road. Scalawag - A worthless person or scamp. Robbing the mail - Snatching food and milk delivered at the Scamp (1) - A rogue, or a good-for-nothing. doorstep early in the morning. Scamp (2) - Like “bum” and “loaf,” this obsolete verb meaning “to Rock and roll - A resonant rocking of cars which pass over a low roam about idly” has come to be a pejorative descriptor for any foot- joint, further damaging the underlying ties and ballast. loose and fancy-free person. Rock pile - A place, town or county lockup that puts prisons to work Scenery bum - A term for a voluntary hobo. on the rock pile. Scenery bums - These are hoboes who had money, so they avoided Rod - The metal struts underneath the floor of old freight cars, etc., begging, they did not stay around long and so they got off the road which provided for structural integrity. well before the fridged winter. Rods - The underside structure of a freight car. Scenery cruiser - A boxcar with two doors open. Roll (1) - To roll means to rob a sleeping drunk. Scissor bill (1) - Hobo who believes he can become President one Roll (2) - A wad of money. day. He never gets next to himself, or anyone else. Rolling a train - A hobo canvassing a train for prospective freight Scissor bill (2) - A strikebreaker. cars to ride, for a crew, inspecting a passing train for equipment or Scissor bill (3) - A knife and scissor sharpener or thief. cargo problems Scrape the mug - To shave. Source: American Tramp and Under- Rolling stock - All of a railroad’s engines, freight cars, cabooses, and world Slang. other equipment which rolls on a railroad track. Scrape the pavement - To get a shave. Also to get tossed out of a Roll in the sawdust - In the barrel house, now extinct, they put saw- building. dust on the floor for the convenience of the drunks. Scrapers’ school - A barber college where students practice on hobos. Roll out - To bed down for the night - by rolling out one’s blanket or Scrappy - Aggressive; fond of fighting and arguing. sleeping bag. Screw your nut - To get wise to yourself. Romany - A man, a husband, a gypsy. The indic language of the gyp- Scoffing - To eat. To scoff regularly means to miss no meals. sies. Scrounger - From an Old English word meaning “wander about idly,” Roofers - A hobo who lay stretched out full length upon the metal a scrounger is one who gets only what he needs, and only when he roof of a passenger coach. needs it, by foraging, scavenging, or cadging. Although it’s become Roof walks - Wooden catwalks down the center of old boxcar roofs, synonymous with sponging, scrounging is actually a noble art. used by 19th century brakeman to run from boxcar to boxcar in set Sea food - A sailor. and release hand brakes. Second nigher - A hobo refused entry into a rescue mission. Romany rye - A person not a gypsy but who associated with gypsies, Second hand - An over-the-road railroad track repair worker. speaks their language. Selling pencils - Begging for handouts, generally because you’ve lost Round house - A round building with a turntable in the center for your legs in a train- hopping accident. housing and switching locomotives. Sell it to me - Trying to make me believe. Roughneck - A freight brakeman. Set-down - To eat with your feet under the table. The reverse of the Rove, roved, roving - To wander from place to place. to roam over, handout. through, or about. The act of roving, a ramble. Sewer hogs - Ditch diggers. Rover - One who roves. Shack - A brakeman, occupant of caboose. Shacks master is a con- Rubber hobo - A hobo that travels across the country in a rubber ductor. A railroad term. tired automobile, usually an older vehicle. Shack fever - Tired feeling that comes in the spring. It is also called Rubber tire hobo - A term for a hobo who travels by motor vehicle itching feet. rather than by train. Shacks - The brakemen. Rubber tramp - A tramp who owns a car, usually rusted out and unde- Shackles - Soup. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. pendable. They spend a lot of energy begging for gas money, but also Shakedown - The same as frisk. provide transportation to other cities to bums, hobos and tramps for a Shanty - A hastily built shack or cabin, a ramshackle dwelling. fee. In a sense, they become a nationwide “taxi” service for transients. Shanty man - The same as gyppo contractor. Rum dum - A drunk. Shanty queen - The wife of the shanty man. Any woman around a camp. Run the line (verb) - To ride freight trains. That old bo’s been run- Shanty town - A group of ramshackle dwellings, often hastily built ning the line since the time you were knee-high to a grasshopper. structures, and just placed randomly in the environment. Rustling the bums - Searching a freight train for hobos. In bygone Shark (1) - A man who sells jobs to the hobos. His assistant is called days it was common practice for trainmen to collect money from a man catcher. freight-riding ‘bos, often at the rate of a dollar a division. Shark (2) - A dishonest operator of a slave market. Shatting on the uppers - To be broke, penniless or clean. S Sheets - Newspapers for a bed. Shellacker - Booster or promoter who puts on the varnish. Sagebrush philosopher - A gabby fellow from the West. Shifty - A thief. Sallies - Salvation Army hotels and industrial workshops. Shine (1) - A black hobo, also known as a dingy. Salve eater - A snuff-chewing Swede. He is also a roundhead. Shine (2) - A Negro. Also called a burr head. Saly tramp - A tramp who uses only the Salvation Army establish- Shiner (1) - A brakeman’s or switchman’s lantern. ments. They know their rules, requirements, policies and locations. Shiner (2) - A ten-cent piece. Seldom will they use the services of other organizations. Shiv - A straight razor. A blade but never a safety razor. Sap - The policeman’s persuader. To get sapped means to be clubbed Shop master - A railroad employee who oversees the work of shop by the bulls. workers. Also see shop worker. Saps - A blackjack used by railroad bulls to beat hoboes. Shoo fly - A railroad detour, when a track is built around some obstacle. Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 77 Also means to avoid passing through a town if the police are hostile. Spider web plan - To more out in an ever growing larger circle as in Short line railroad - A very small railroad with track from 1 to 150 searching for a friend. miles in total length. Many are owned by a mine or manufacturing Spittoon philosopher - A hanger-on about the gin mill or along the company. curbstone, but an opinionated fellow withal. Shuttle bum - A hobo that uses a transportation system to get from Splinter belly - A man who works on bridges and trestles. one point to another. May have originally applied to an out of work, Spot (verb) - To position a freight car at a desired location. The itinerant textile worker. brakeman always spots a car dead-on target. Side-door Pullman - A box-car, a closed car. A boxcar used by Spotter - A late 19th century and early 20th century railroad hobos in stealing rides. Hobo’s home en route. employed bull whose job it was to infiltrate railroad unionization Sister of the Road - A woman who has a nomadic life and a career as efforts and identify the perpetrators for blackballing. Also see bull. a hobo. Often she has taken to the Road in search of a baby she had Squatter - One who settles on a piece of land or in a building without given up or her missing man. title, ownership or payment. Sitdown - An invitation to the kitchen table. Stack of bones - A cheap hash-house dish, mostly boiled spare ribs. Skinner - A worker on construction jobs who drives the mules. Stack train - A train made up of mostly flat cars or well cars, loaded Skinners - A mule driver. with standardized shipping containers, sometimes “double stacked”. Skinner’s delight - A hobo jungle dish. Also known as inter modal freight. Skipper - A conductor. Stake (1) - Earned money or wages. Slippery - An engine which is too light for the load its hauling. Also Stake (2) - Money in the pocket after leaving the job. The pile. see wheel slippage. Stake artist - A railroad track worker. Also see gandydancer. Sketch of a comb - A hobo sign, that shows the teeth of a comb, Stake-man - One who only works long enough to get a “stake” and which means “beware of a dog that bites tramps.” then go off on a trip again. Sky-pieces - A hat or hats. Stake pockets - They are pockets on the sides of flat cars which Sky pilot (1) - A highbrow preacher. Not one of the mission kind. upright wooden stakes are fixed into to prevent loads from shifting Sky pilot (2) - A mission-house preacher. sideways or falling off a car. Slave market (1) - That part of the main stem where jobs are sold. Stamp collectors - Tramps who travel from town to town collecting Slave market (2) - A employment agency. food stamps along a circuit. Sleep - A short term in the workhouse or jail. To be buried deep is a Stamp tramps - Tramps who ride between multiple cities, collecting long term. food stamps at each stop. New restrictive food stamp policies have Slob sister - A moocher who weeps to his clients. greatly reduced the number of stamp tramps. Sloughed - To be arrested; pronounced “slowed.” Standard gauge - A track gauge of 4 feet 8 1/2 inches (1435 mm), Slow order - An order requiring engineers to reduce speeds over bad adopted throughout many industrialized countries. order track. Stellar hobo - A hobo who sleeps under the stars, under the astral Slow order track - A railroad track which is in bad order. Engineers blanket. are ordered to reduce speeds over this track until it is repaired or Stem - A street. replaced. See slow order. Stemming - Panhandling or mooching along the streets. Slum - A derisive term for an uninviting stew or slumgullion. Sterno - A dangerous alcoholic drink made by heating sterno can. Smell from the barrel, bottle or bag - To have a drink. Sterno drunk - A transient who drinks steno, cheap wine, shoe polish Smoke - A strong liquor. Denatured alcohol. or anything else he can get his hands on. Also see sterno stove. Smoke and headlight rule - A primitive railroad signaling system Sterno stove - A hobo’s portable cooking stove. Usually fueled with which contains none. The engineers are required to watch for sterno, an alcohol-based flammable which was often imbibed when approaching trains’ smoke by day or headlights by night to avoid money was short. meetings. See cornfield meet and prairie meet. Stew builder - A hobo camp cook, a kitchen mechanic. Smoker - See hotbox. Stew bum (1) - A hobo that hangs out with other hoboes in a jungle. Smoke wagon or gat - Same a gun. Rarely carried by hobos. Stew bum (2) - A booze fighting bums that never leave the stem. Smoky hole - A tunnel. Stew bum (3) - An old hobo wasted by alcohol. Snag - This is anything (metal straps, loads, wood or wire, etc.) hang- Stiff (1)- A hobo worker. Any kind of hobo worker. There are harvest ing off the sides of a freight car which could hit and injure someone stiffs, bridge stiffs, hospital stiffs, and many others. walking or standing nearby. A brakeman’s and hobo’s headache. Stiff (2) - A tramp. Snake - A railroad switchman. Hobo and railroad term for switch- Stir - A state prison. The big house or big school. man. A snake is more friendly than a shack to the hobos. Stirrup - A metal step shaped like a flat “U” which is affixed to the Sneaky Pete - Cheap wine. underside of each end of both sides of a freight car, used to step onto Snapper rig - A second-hand suit of clothes. and off of the car. Snipe - A section hand or jerry. A section boss is a king snipe. Stool pigeon - An informer, a rat, one who betrays to the police. See Snipe or navy - The butts of cigarettes and cigars. bull and spotter. Snipes - Other people’s cigarette butts (O.P.C.B.) Straight and narrow - The way to eternal life and salvation. A term Snipe shooting - To hunt for snipes in the gutter. often used by A-No.1. Also to lead a clean life and stay off the tracks. Snowbirds (1) - These are hobos who travel South looking for a Strap-down - To secure a load on a flat car by use of flat metal warm place to roose until the arrival of spring. bands, or cable tightly strapped around the load. To strap-down the Snowbirds (2) - A junker, or a person who uses drugs. lumber before the load gets loose. Soapboxers - One who always has a story to tell. Streamlined jack roller - A hobo thief who travels light. Also see Soft soaping -The art of oratory. streamliner. Son of Adam -A hobo willing to do a chore for a handout. Streamliner - A hobo who travels light or with next to nothing (or Song and dance - To give the madam at the backdoor an interesting nothing). and entertaining argument. Street Arab - One who travels mainly by the use of the open road or Spearing biscuits - To fish food out of garbage cans. uses streets as a main means to get one one place to another. Spider - A small frying-pan with a long handle. Stinker - A hotbox. 78 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail Stirrup - The first step of freight car, under the lowest grab iron. wrecks. Stock pen - A yard office. The biscuits hang high - There’s a scarcity of food handouts in a Stogy - An inexpensive cigar. locality. Streamlined (1) - Traveling with little gear. Thin ones - Small coins; dimes, nickels and pennies. Streamlined (2) - Travelling light with little to no baggage or gear. Throwing the feet - Panhandling. Streamliners are often mistrusted, since other tramps expect them to Throw your guts - To squeal. To give information to the bulls. mooch. Ticket - A board board about a foot or a foot and a half long, with a Streamliners - Hoboes who ride fast trains for no better reason than groove cut in it. The groove would fit down over the rod, and made a to satisfy their wanderlust, and who carry nothing they can’t fit in seat for riding the rods. their pockets. Tie pass - A fictitious permit from the railroad president to walk over Streamlining - Traveling without a pack, extra gear or bedroll. the ties. Street urchins - Abandoned children living on the streets. Tiger milk - Some sort of liquor. String-lining - The tendency of cars toward the middle of the train to Timber beasts - Loggers. jump the inside rail on a curve because the head end is pulling harder Timber wolf - A worker in the woods, a logger, or wood tick. than the rear end travel. Absent a break-in-two string-linings leads to Tin cans - Used by hoboes as cookware and as drinking cups. Tin derailments. cans they use for fruits, you know, the kind that are coated on the Sudden takeoff - A stationary freight car or string of cars suddenly inside. They’re safe to cook out of, without fear of poisoning, and jointing into motion, by collision and coupling by a car, string of cars about 3 in different sizes can make up a whole cookin outfit. or an engine causing serious danger to a person on a car. Tin horn - A petty sport hanging around the main stem. He is some- Submarines - Doughnuts. Source: American Tramp and Underworld times called a rustler. Slang. Tinker - The itinerant mender of household utensils (tinker is a con- Sun times - Over 50 different time settings throughout North Ameri- traction of “worker in tin”) come to be synonymous with “unsuccess- ca before the adoption of Standard Time in 1883. Local times were ful mender” and bungler. Someone would rather fiddle around than over 100 different time settings throughout America and Canada, by hold down a steady job. regions, communities and railroads, before the adoption of Standard Tin roof - A free drink. So-called because it is “on the house.” Time in 1883. Tip the office - To warn a fellow hobo by giving some signal. Surfing - Riding on the tops of rail cars while they are moving (a Toadskins - Paper money. Source: American Tramp and Underworld good way to get killed. Rarely done by veteran tramps unless they Slang. must get to another car). To be on the nut - To be broke. Swamper - The person who cleans out the bar-room. Togs- They are shoes. Sweet back - A hobo sheik who is only sampling hobo life. Tomato can stiff - One of the lowest bums. Source: American Tramp Switch - A section of railroad track which allows a train to change and Underworld Slang. tracks. A danger to anyone walking along the track in a line or freight Toot the ringer - To ring backdoor bells. yard which catches a foot by wedging or movement of remote switch Toppings - The dessert. Something toothsome to touch off a meal. tracking when a train suddenly comes along. Touching hearts - Begging. Also known as panhandling, putting the Switching - The process of moving a car or train from one track to rigging on, and putting the touch on someone. another, or assembling or reassembling the consist of a train. Town clown - The village constable. The town policeman. Switchman - A freight yard worker who assists in assembling of Train-hoppers - People who ride trains without paying. trains and alignments of tracks as ordered. Train-hopper’s kit - Such things include ear plugs, goggles, gloves, Switch stand - A manual (hand-thrown) or automatic (power-thrown) cardboard, a board, etc. mechanism located at the points end of a switch. This mechanism Trainman - Any member of an over-the-road train crew. See engine throws switches from one track to another by means of the operating man. rod. Train time - The clock tramps live by, characterized by train sched- ules rather than a 24-hour day. T Tramp (1) - A migratory non-worker. Tramp (2) - A person who travels the land but is willing to pay his Tallow pot - The fireman on the train. Also see ash cat and fireman. way through hard work. They will work for others as well as them- Tally - Meaning, “I understand,” or “Count me in on it.” selves. They are not afraid of hard work or long hours. They are very Tamp up - To assault or beat. Source: American Tramp and Under- trustworthy and honest. world Slang. Tramp (3) - A poor wanderer, a vagrant or vagabond. A sexually Tape - The tongue. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. promiscuous person. Tar paper shack - A crude shack or structure covered with tar paper Tramp (4) - One who travels aimlessly about, vagrant. To travel on to keep out the weather and the rain. This is the method used in the foot, to hike. A walking trip. To use a cargo vessel that has no regular construction of many chicken coops. Some times in the winter to keep schedule but takes on freight and passengers wherever it can. From from freezing to death, residents would drap a blanket over a table, the middle German: Trampen. and sleep underneath the table all night with a candle burning. Tramp (5) - In literary circles eulogizing the hobo a person who Tear baby - A person who bums women or men with women. Often “dreams and wanders.” In common usage a person who travels about puts up a pitiful story, even weeps. by foot doing odd jobs or begging for a living, a vagrant. In reality a Temple of knowledge - A term for a caboose. minuscule yet notable minority of Americans seeking a better way of Tender - A steam locomotive’s fuel car (wood, coal or oil). life. East of Chicago hoboes supposedly work, West of Chicago Testify (verb) - To accept the pastors’s call at a religious rescue mis- tramps works. Also see bum and hobo. sion to admit the error of one’s ways and ask the lord to come into Tramp (verb) - To ride freight trains. I have been tramping for years. one’s life. I have been drinking and running around for years and I Tramp art (1) - Art work made by itinerants and hoboes. Generally ain’t ashamed to testify that the good lord don’t look any too kindly made out of wood and is carved making use of simple tools, such as a on it. pocketknife. hoboes making pieces in exchange for room or a meal The big hook - A giant railroad crane used to clean up railroad became the romantic myth for tramp art. Tramp art is usually made Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 79 anonymously. The most famous tramp artists is Wilhelm Schimmel U who create many folk art objects who worked in the Heishman’s Mill, Carlisle, Pennsylvania area. He would use tossed pieces of yellow Umbrella mushrooms - The itinerant umbrella fixers who travel pine from the saw mill, and carve his art work in exchange for food or around as hoboes or tramps. drink while sleeping under a nearby bridge or in a shed. His work has Uncle Sam - A railway Post Office clerk. become faked because it demands such a high price. Although the Undercarriage - That portion of a freight car underneath the floor or term tramp art suggests a nomadic and nonsedentary tradition, tramp chassis. art is more related to railroad boxcars and the open road. Tramp art Uneducated - The act of confessing something you should not or did has existed solely due to the craftsmen’s imagination and skill in not do, having no smarts. using found material or objects and creating art out of them. Underscrub - This 19th century slang for an undergrown or insignifi- Tramp directories - Water tanks where tramps would carve their cant person. monicas, dates, and courses of travel. Underslung - To get underslung means to ride under a train and have Trampdom - The world of the tramp, the entire tramp fraternity may the shacks throw things at you, or to have them drag a piece of iron be said to be “in transit.” on a string under the car so that, bounding up and down, it will punish Tramp essentials - They are: water is one of them, because if you’re you plenty. out it’s the hardest thing to find. Every self-respecting tramp should Unit - A engine or locomotive. carry a can opener, a knife, a spoon, tobacco, something to start a fire Unit train - A train comprised of only one type of car which travels with. Candles are used to keep warm on wintertime trains. There’s an back and forth from one customer to another. For example a coal amazing amount of heat cast by one candle, if you huddle in blankets mine to power plant and then returns. around it. Urban underbrush - The term applied to homeless, street people, Trampified - The way a boomer looked after being out of work a beggars, hoboes and tramps, people who are down and out. long time. His clothes were “ragged as a barrel of sauerkraut” and he needed a “dime’s worth of decency” (shave). V Tramplife - Living the life of a tramp. Trampology - To study and to investigate the tramp. Often they see V - Five dollars. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. the tramp problem and work to eliminate it but not the reasons that Vag - A vagabond. caused it in the first place. They only see it as transportation of beg- Vag or vag ‘em - To be jailed or fanned out of town for being a vag. gars from place to place free of charge. Vagabond (1) - One who wanders from place to place without any Tramp orations - Talks around hobo campfires are notorious for visible means of support. A tramp who wanders aimless. their exaggeration. Vagabond (2) - A person without a permanent home who moves Tramp problem - The tramp problem might be a result of character from place to place. A wander, tramp or vagrant. flaws within the tramps themselves. Others saw the tramp problem Vagrant (1) - A person without a settled home, vagabond or tramp. only one of confinement and forced hard labor upon the tramps, and Many be one who wanders about or just has no place to go. passage of “anti-tramp” and vagrancy laws. They are intent on elimi- Vagrant (2) - One who wanders from place to place without a perma- nating trampdom without see that unemployment is a problem.. nent home or livelihood. One who lives on the streets and constitutes Tramp-royal - A experienced or well known tramp. a public nuisance, wondering from place to place, roving, moving in a Tramps - Migrating non-working vagrants. A grade higher than random fashion. scenery bums, dingoes. Vagrant (3)- From the Latin for “wander,” vagrant should be used as Tramp traveler - One whose main occupation is to travel, a tramp. a romantic adjective for “undecided.” Tamp up - American tramp slang for to assault or beat. Vampires of the road - These are gangs that often stick to one railroad Transposed rail - Rail shifted from the high rail or low rail side of a line. They rob from hoboes. They wear black shirts and slouched hats. curve or to a different location to prolong rail life. Varnish - A passenger train. Also see ride the cushions. Transient - The word “transient” is basically a work used to describe Vic - Convict. Source: American Tramp and Underworld Slang. individuals who do not fit into other categories. When one gets to know a bit more about the individual, it can be determined what kind W of transient he might be. Wagon tramps - The families who travel in covered wagons or Transverse fissure - Minuscule cracks which develop within the rail- schooners. road of a rail owing to impurities or air in the steel. Over rail life Wallies - The town bums who never lose sight of the city walls. these cracks expand outward under intense usage, ultimately causing Wander, wander, wandering - To move or travel about without des- the rail to bread. tination or purpose, to roam or rove Trapeze artist - A hobo who rides the gunnells or rods. Wanderlust - An impulse to travel. Comes from the German system Traveler - These are persons who are very similar to a hobo or tramp, of apprenticeship, where the apprentice has to leave his master mid- but do not relate to being a hobo or tramp. They are usually antiestab- way in his apprenticeship and go off in search of a new master to lishment much like the “hippies” of the 1950’s and 1960’s. complete his apprenticeship. There is a German children’s song: “Das Traveler or traveller - A person who travels. Wandern ist des Mullers Lust.” Traveling or wandering by foot it the Tread - Wheel tread. joy of the miller. Words to this song in German were put to music by Trombenick - A Jewish hobo. They are scarce as hen’s teeth. Franz Schubert (1797-1828). A German quasi-scientific concept of Trombo - Refers to a hobo pugilist, or one who hopes to be. compulsive person and popularized by some tramps that this affliction Trunk route - Any major rail thoroughfare which connects distant is inherited the from his mother. They are trying to conquer the call of regions. the road. A notion widely discussed by modern scholars. On the Turkey - A bundle, a suitcase or a canvas bag. addictive qualities of tramping, see also A-No.1 Leon Ray Liv- Turned down - Refused a mean or handout. ingston, “The Curse of Tramp Life,” 4th ed. Cambridge Springs, Pa., Twist a dream - To roll a cigarette. 1912. A-No.1 was a reformer, a person who tried to reform others, Two-bit (1) - Two-bit is American and Canadian slang for worth next even though he realized that he was trapped within the system and to nothing; cheap. Smalltime. that he himself could not change. Two bits (2) - Twenty-five cents, a trifling sum in today’s terms. Wandering Willies - A hobo. One who lives a very lonely, solitary 80 Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail lifestyle. This character or idea inspired Emmett Kelly to create his charm will only work for someone who accepts the nickel in fair famous clown persona: Weary Willie. trade, without knowing that it’s magical. In 1913, a new 5 cent coin Water-tank-wise - A gay-cat who has picked their moniker knowl- was minted, the “Buffalo Nickel:.” It featured the profile of a large edge by memorizing the trade-marks of passing roadsters left at the Native American’s head on the front, and a buffalo on the reverse. Hotels-de-Tramp and other places where hoboes register their names- Because the designs on this coin had such large figures on both sides, de-road. it allowed the hoboes a great deal of creative latitude. And did they Way car - An old term for a caboose. ever take advantage of it! The Indians’ head was transformed into sol- Westbound - A train a hobo dies on. Also see big hole of the sky. diers, clowns, ladies and even past president’s. The most popular sub- Weasel - See: Scamp. ject was an ethnic person, usually wearing a derby and sporting a Wet head - A person who has consumed so much alcohol in a life- beard. These are referred to as “Hobo Nickels.” time that physical recovery is impossible. Woolies - Sheep. Going with the woolies means to take a job as sheep Wet handkerchief - The putrid smoke curled down in from of the herder. engine after hitting the tunnel ceiling. A hobo trick of wetting a hand- Work - when a train has to either pick up or set out cars on a siding, kerchiefs for better air filtration. In spite of the wet handkerchiefs, a the train has work to do. hobo would cough, gag and their eyes would marted. Then not to Working for God - The job of being a mission stiff. To be actively mention that the heat was terrific, all they could do was to hang on engaged around the fisheries or missions. and bear it. Hoboes and train crews would call it for the first timers, a Work train - See drag train. baptism in Hades. Wet mission - A Mission that will allow someone who has been X drinking to be admitted as long as they are not legally intoxicated. However, any form of alcohol or drugs are banned while a guest at X - An empty car. Missions around the country. Whiffler - A person who whiles away the hours. A delightfully fool- Y ish variant of fiddling around who watches the world pass by. Whistle down - A short cadence of whistle blasts which signaled Yahoo - A hoosier who has no apologies for his ignorance. brakeman on moving trains in the 19th century to manually set hand Yard - An area where railroad trains are made up, stored or repaired. brakes. Also see whistle up. Yard billy - See billy goat. Whistle up - A short cadence of whistle blasts which signaled brake- Yard dick - A private policeman of the railroads who makes it his man on moving trains in the 19th century to manually release hand business to keep hobos off the trains. brakes. Also see whistle down. Yard foreman - A freight yard worker who supervises all aspects of White cross - Cocaine. Source: American Tramp and Underworld yard operations within yard limits. Slang. Yard limit - The two edges of a freight yard, delimited by yard limits Whiteline - A mixture of alcohol and water. boars or “Y’s.” White mule - Old-fashioned white corn whiskey. Yard limit board - A track side “Y” shaped sign delimiting the White puke - Muscatel. boundaries of a yard and the jurisdiction between a yard master and Willies - The Good Will Industries of the Methodists. road master. See road master and yard foreman. Wind ‘em up (verb) - To set hand brakes manually with a brake Yard man - A person or laborer who works in a rail yard. wheel and winding staff. The winding staff was also used to club Yard master - A railroad official having charge of a yard. hoboes over the head. Yard office - The nerve center of a switching yard’s operation. Often Wind that tramps the world - A tramp that has traveled around the a single depot, equally often a tower or communications center. world. Yegg (1) - A hobo criminal, usually one who made his living by steal- Wingey, wingy - A hobo with one arm or crippled arm. Also army. ing from working hoboes. Uncommon by the 1930’s. Wino - An alcoholic, a person who drinks cheap wine. A person who Yegg (2) - A turn-of-the-century moniker for a criminal hobo who begs or only works for that next drink. Those who drink the dago red preyed on other migrants. wine of California. Yeggs (1)- Criminals, or burglars. The crooks of Hobohemia; too W.P.L.J. s - White port and lemon juice, a favorite hobo concoction. mean to be bums and too lazy to be good tramps. The yeggs were the Wishy-washy - A person who can’t decide which way to go or what ones to be feared the most. They hopped trains in order to to do. rob banks, post offices and the railroads, but in ruthless fashion they Wobblie - A member of the I.W.W. union. See I.W.W. also preyed on the hoboes, tramps and bums. Wobblies - Hobos who belong to the I. W. W. Yeggs (2) - These are criminals of the road, usually burglars and safe- Wobbly or Wob - Member of the International Workers of the World crackers. An individual is a yegg. labor union. Often used strong arm tactics to recruit members. Y. M. C. A. - Meaning “You Must Come Across.” The hobo expects Wobs - Wobblies, members of the I. W. W. nothing from the Y. M. C. A. that is not paid for. Wolf - Older hobo exploiting the road kid. An older hobo who preys Yonder walk - Usually, when you slip back out of the yonder, you on young hoboes. The pair is known as the wolf and the lamb. wind up in more or less the same place you were where you slipped Wood butcher - A carpenter. A hobo who can do odd repair jobs. in. But a sharp hobo who knows his way around can slip into the yon- Wood chip gondola - A very high sided gondola used to carry wood der one place, and slip back out somewhere else. chips, sawdust and other wood products. It is secured for wind loss by heavy netting across the top stills. Z Wood tick - Same as timber wolf. Wooden nickels - Carved wooden nickels was a common hobby Zebra - A 19th century slang for a convict’s striped uniform; a con- among hoboes. Some of them were quite skilled at it and carried elab- vict wearing such a uniform. orate sets of carving tools with them, including tiny chisels, files, and Zook - A worn-out prostitute. Source: American Tramp and Under- clamps. They would trade these nickels for food, money, or a night’s world Slang. shelter. A few hoboes know the trick of imbuing these nickels with minor charms - luck, companionship, good traveling, etc. But the Knights of the Road, Knights of the Rail 81 Player name Permission to photocopy this sheet for personal use. Stake

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Attributes Brains Horse Sense Learnin’ Brawn John Vachon, photographer LC-USZ62-131423 DLC Hot Footin’ Descriptors Gumpshun Teeth

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