HOBOS & MAIN STREET'S RAILROAD TRACKS

Hobos used to be sort of like leprechauns in downtown Norman. We talked about them a lot, but nobody ever saw one.

One time a guy told me that the awful smell at the annual Lion’s Club Carnival, held on the southwest corner of Main Street and the railroad tracks, was a Hobo who’d been run over by a train. And that the police couldn’t move him until the carnival was over.

Despite that big fat lie, and nobody ever having seen one, I had it on good authority that Hobos really did exist. Cops talked to firemen like my Dad about them a lot.

Hobos weren’t bums, who never worked. They were poor transients who “travelled to work and worked to travel” aboard the super-long freight trains, especially at planting and harvesting times.

They had no money, so when freight trains stopped, slowly backed up, then chugged forward again as cars were added or uncoupled, some would hop off for a while.

That’s what bothered Norman policemen. Because some Hobos would walk into unlocked houses, help themselves to a sandwich, and steal an item or two before jumping back on the trains...

#oklahomastories #humor #railroadhobos #normanrailroadtracks #mainstreetrailroadtracks #memoriesofanokieboomer3 #thehistoryofnormanoklahomafacebookgroup

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Amazon Reviews

Sudie
Sudie
Reviewer
5/5

Just finished reading your book. I was laughing out loud so much my husband asked what was I reading! And I kept thinking, “Bless his mom's heart”! My dad also read it and said he found it delightful. Looking forward to the second book. Thanks for the entertainment!

2 years ago
Tktjtj
Tktjtj
Reviewer
5/5

Fantastic!

Fun and great read!!! If you grew up in the 60 and 70 you will be able to relate to many fun stories the author tells!
Bill Moore is a very talented and entertaining author with a great sense of humor! I highly recommend this book!!!

3 years ago
Susan B.
Susan B.
Reviewer
5/5

Couldn’t put it down. A total joy to read.

The author was a classmate of mine in high school, and is still a great Facebook friend. I knew this book would be awesome b/c of the way Bill writes his posts on Facebook telling his friends of his life in New Zealand. This book touched my heart in soo many ways. Bills writing is so descriptive, that in your mind you see what he’s writing about or transports you to the place. I couldn’t put it down. Bill, thank you for letting me go back to my days of innocence as a child in Norman, Oklahoma.

3 years ago
Debra
Debra
Reviewer
5/5

Having known the author all our lives I expected nothing less than stellar from him and he does not disappoint. It brought smiles and loud guffaws as I tripped down memory lane with him. It was so much more personal to me as I knew the characters in the book but all will enjoy reminiscing about that magical time in Norman . Give it a read you wont be disappointed!

5 years ago
ProudDad
ProudDad
Reviewer
5/5

I think anyone who grew up around the 1960s will enjoy this trip down memory lane!

5 years ago

Bill Moore, Writer

Norman-born Bill Moore spent four decades as a newspaper reporter and P.R. guy, writing at least 900 gazillion words in Texas, Washington, D.C., Singapore and New Zealand.
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