- Professor - the Hobo: Mr. Thorn, I'm a conscientious objector to any labor in any form!
- Dan Thorn: Get over there. Get over there!
- Professor - the Hobo: I yield only to superior force.
- Dan Thorn: People have got to marry the things they love best. You two, each other. Me, the railroad.
- Dan Thorn: [quoting Ed] "Not exactly handsome"? Why, my pan looks like a street before they laid the pavement down.
- Ed Ryan: [referring to Larry] Is that the, uh, boomer engineer you were talkin' about?
- Dan Thorn: Yeah, that's the kid. You shoulda seen him talk back to me - - tried to fight me, and him two days away from his last square meal. He's a game kid, I know that kind - - they wind up in a... jail or a general manager's job.
- Professor - the Hobo: The trouble with labor is the work that's connected with it. Now, I've figured that work is for workers! So, why bother your head about it.
- Dan Thorn: Come on, get the lead outta your feet!... This ain't no smoking room. This is a railroad!