Re: hobos and train hopping

[chris <chris@enet21.com.au>]

Why would hobos travel on freight wagons? they usually drive the locomotive, or
have a employee pass to travel free.

Chris

David Bromage wrote:

> tony bailey (mercuryworldtvl@one.net.au) wrote:
> > It fairly obviously is if you are a septic dh - who also need to be taught
> > that good old aussie swaggie!
>
> Swaggies often rode in box vans, or sometimes even in the guards van.
> Trains also travelled a bit slower then, so despite jointed rail, screw
> couplers and fixed wheelbase wagons it wouldn't have been nearly as rough
> as a container flat.
>
> > Although a swaggie was always a far more honourable expression (and
> > occupation) than a hobo
>
> Also known as a bum. From the German bummel meaning ramble. Interestingly,
> there is a German word Bummelzug meaning "slow train".
>
> Cheers
> David