ON THE RAILS:

A CONTENT
ANALYSIS OF
CONTEMPORARY
HOBO ZINES
Nikki Witowski
Undergraduate
Saint Mary’s College
nwitow01@saintmarys.edu
November 26, 2007
Advisor: Susan Alexander
salexand@saintmarys.edu
Image by Justin Curtsinger
Introduction
• Hobo – A wandering homeless person who makes a
habit of freight train hopping
• (Freight) Train Hopping – The act of (illegally)
hitching a ride on a freight train
• Zine- Non-professional, non-commercial, self-
produced publication devoted to a particular
subject matter (Originates from the term
“magazine”)
• Hobo Zine- Zine created by hobos and devoted to
the hobo lifestyle
Purpose/Thesis

• The purpose of this study is to shed new light on

contemporary hobo culture by examining themes
found in current hobo zines.
Literature Review
• Hobo Literature
Anderson (1923)
Caplow (1940)
Allsop (1967)
Conover (1984)
• Zine Literature
Duncombe (1997)
Social Construction Theory

• Berger and Luckmann (1967)

• Gamson (1992)
• Duncombe (1997)
Methods
• Content Analysis
• Convenient Sampling Technique
• Total population of 210 articles (from 15 zines)
• Random sample of 40 articles
• Latent Coding for Themes
Methods
Themes Coded for:
• Relationships with People (railroad workers, railyard police
officers, outsiders, insiders)
• Motivating Forces (adventure, freedom, wanderlust, escape)
• Emotive States (discomfort, reverence for nature, content/joy,
comfort, alienation/the “other”, peace, loneliness/isolation)
• Other Themes (train hopping, alcohol use, hygiene, waiting,
concern for food/water, illicit drug use, begging, dumpster
diving)
Findings
Table 1: Hobo Relationships by Type and Outcome
Positive Negative Total
f % f % f %
Outsiders 15 37.5% 2 5% 17 42.5%
Railroad Workers 13 32.5% 2 5% 15 37.5%
Railyard Police 0 0 13 32.5% 13 32.5%
Insiders 9 22.5% 2 5% 11 27.5%
Total N 37 19 56
“I saw a worker inspecting a train and determined to
approach him. Before I could say anything, he asked where I
was headed. When I answered Minneapolis, he said: “This is
not your train. He said the train I wanted was called The
Superior. To my surprise, he picked up his radio and asked
what track The Superior was on.”

Photo by Nathan Ellis

Findings

Table 2: Motives for Living the Hobo Lifestyle

f %
Adventure 23 57.5%
Freedom 7 17.5%
Wanderlust 6 15%
Escape 4 10%
Total N 40

“I guess to the rail workers it’s just another night

at work, but to some of us (hobos) it’s more, this
culture of evolving nomadism with deep ties to
the past and an understanding of how fragile and
unsustainable the dominant culture is that we
find ourselves trying to escape.”

Photo by Crkt
Findings

Table 3: Author’s emotive states while traveling “I was craving the mundane and
familiar normal human interaction. I
f % felt disconnected and a little lost. I felt
small, lonely, and alone, and the
Discomfort 21 52.5% freight yard loomed large and
threatening. “
Reverence for nature 14 35%
Content/Joy 11 27.5% “I remember sitting alone in that
starlit vast beauty that is the desert
Comfort 8 20% at night with the warm wind rushing
past and feeling totally at peace.”
Alienation/the “Other” 5 12.5%
Peace 5 12.5%
Loneliness/Isolation 3 7.5%
Total N 67
Findings

Table 4: Other themes “We were so dirty and so

smelly from days on the rails
f % without any chance to bathe. I
smelled strong to myself and I
Train Hopping 40 100% could tell by the looks around
me that everyone else in their
Alcohol Use 13 32.5%
smart business suits in the
Hygiene 11 27.5% crowded bus could as well.”

Waiting 10 25%
Concern for Food/Water 8 20%
Illicit Drug Use 5 12.5%
Begging 4 10%
Dumpster Diving 4 10%
Total N 95
Discussion
• Relationships with people are characterized by interest and/or
charity
• Hobos value immediate gratification as opposed to deferred
gratification
• Hobos value adventure at the cost of personal safety and/or
financial security
• Wanderlust and freedom to go wherever/whenever override
fear of arrest, fine, or injury
• Hobos are conscious of yet willing to violate cultural norms
• Hobos devise unique methods to survive
• Drugs (illegal/legal) are a regular part of some hobos’ lives
Questions?