Being born in 1948 I saw steam engines every day as I walked to grade school until 1956. My father worked for the PRR. I've always loved trains. Dad knew every type of locomotive the Pennsy had. Shoestring, I LOVE what you're doing. You're a magnificent fellow! rked
My Dad was born 1948 and worked on the communication systems for Union Pacific RR in southern WY many years. Unfortunately he died pretty young at 60 yrs old of cancer.
Yep!! Back to skool for Shoestring! 😃😉😉 I do have to say that shoestring has an enormous amount of railroad knowledge and I’ve learned lots from his channel.
Many of us see a train track and wonder were it goes. Shoestring always amazes that no matter where in the US or Alaska he is in, He knows not only where the track goes but what they haul, how many trains a day and what stores are in the next town.
I have a friend of a friend, bullet, who hopped trains for years. She has this manual that is THICK and has a ton of information on which train leaves which yard heading where at what time. For most trains in north america. Such a fascinating community
Shoestring, that's not a diesel turbo going on and off, that is the air compressor. It cuts on at 130 psi and cuts out at 140 psi. Im a machinist for norfolk-southern for 20 yrs. I change them out all the time. Thanks for making the videos. I really enjoy watching them. You take care.
Shoestring this is a GREAT idea.. Your years of knowledge / experience is invaluable.. Probably very very few could relate. There has to be a way to document / memorialize this legacy in other mediums
Definitely the air compressor kicking on and off pumping up the train as air leaks off and gets to a certain pressure. Not the turbo only time you hear the turbo is when it's out of idle and in power notch 1 thru 8. I know that sound working as a conductor for UP for 16yrs.
@@jtmilliken then what is enough time to understand sounds? You a old head know it all?LOL🤣🤣🤣 I've worked all over and guys like you are the ones I hated getting called with. Working almost 3% grade over Donner summit for years taught me alot!
Ahh to be correct. The air compressor is always running when the engine is running. That noise was the unloading valve releasing on the compressor when the air is at maximum pressure. Some systems have a blow off valve that exhausts extra air. Some systems just unload the valves inside the air compressor, to have the air compressor un able to compress any more air.
Just finished watching this, and boy can I say I've never become a fan of someone so fast in my life. Shoestring, you inspire me, and I'm so grateful to be living through your camera. Being a young almost 28yo, it makes me realize I have so much to see and do in life. If you ever make your way to Salt Lake City or anywhere in Utah, I would love to do what I can to support your travels. Hot meal, comfy bed, and I'd be more than willing to take you to any one of the yards in the state. Happy riding!
My first time watching him was about 6 yrs ago,met him several times,and then some.Just a good human being,that lives life, his way.He is very respectful and intelligent.
Another good un. Keep em coming. Never know what going to happen next. But always seems to lift my spirits up. Just had my second covid-19 shot today and I felt like I was going down and then shoestring stepped in and now I'm just fine. Thanks for taking me alone.
I have respect for you, you never cause damage, you don’t touch dangerous equipment, you are educated. Sometimes I don’t have the attention span for your longer videos, but this was nice. Thank you for not damaging anything, and thank you for the good video!
Another learning lesson in by Professor Shoestring! Learned alot with this video! Congrats on 70k subs Shoestring!! We are growing fast!! Nice video and I enjoyed the tour of the maintenance yard.. And your lesson paid off for you at the end with the dinner! B Safe.....
👍👍🤠🤠 thank you shoestring I appreciate your show. Makes it feel like we're right there with you. As always may God richly bless you! Keep Rollin brother!
Thank you shoestring your knowledge of riding trains is priceless your a great storyteller and teacher if you're not making 70k a year you will be brother keep it up you deserve it
When they outshopped a loco here in the UK the Timken Roller bearing box ends were painted bright yellow. It looked really sharp on the old British Standard class steam locos. Nice video, thank you fella.
Really interesting episode . I remember back in the seventies setting some pennies on the track while the train sat for a while in Paw Paw West Virginia and one of the fellows that ran the train walked by , I suppose he saw them . 😄 thanks for the time 👍👌
The EOT/FRED used to be powered by rechargeable batteries that would limit how long they could be working, plus batteries had to be regularly charged or changed out. The newer versions, like the one featured in this video are powered by a small dynamo driven by the PSI in the brake pipe. You can hear the hiss/wine of the dynamo in this video.
The last time I learned this much about trains was when I read the instruction manuals that came with my HO locomotives. And that was a long time ago...
Those plates on the tie ends bring back some painful memories lol. I worked at a roof truss mill for years and we used the same plates, in 100+ different sizes, many much bigger than these down to 1"×1.5", and if anyone else has had to pull thousands of those plates a day out of their boxes for jobs, you know why the memories can be painful. 😂 havent thought about that in a long time until i saw them in some of your videos.
Thanks $hoestring for explaining wheel bearings. I always wondered how they worked! You are a fountain of knowledge. I wish you all the best on your travels.
Very impressed with your memory retention from long ago. Of all the places you’ve been to and passed through, it is interesting to know of your attachment to the James River area of South Dakota (Aberdeen, Wolsey, Mitchell). I believe you used to live in Sioux Falls too. I was always curious how you ended up in Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls had the only nursing home for people of any income. Berakhah House it was called. Almost died in that place. Ran by Sister Mary Anthony Menting.
Another great video shoestring. Really enjoyed the tour of the yard. Hope you like Bojangles it's one of my favorite places to eat. Looking forward to seeing you again, thanks for sharing
Good info. When I was a kid back in the 1960’s I lived next to the B&M tracks and the railroad ties had nails in them with the year they were laid down on them. I had a collection of them. I don’t know what happened to them. I also had a sign in my room that I took off a boxcar that said DO NOT HUMP. You ever see those? Love your videos. Be safe out there. ☮️
I got to get busy and clean all these fish Hobo. I was starting to think you wouldn't get any coffee but see you did finally and a box of HoboJangles chicken to boot!
I directional bored power in a yard here in Chicago many years back and we hit one of the yards air lines. Let me tell you that is one hell of a sound. Scared the crap out of the crew!!!!
I love your videos, AKA the "Hobo Shoestring Guide To Everything" . You have helped me learn about the insides of the railroads, given me some good songs to listen to (Brother Jukebox) , inspiration, tears, and laughs. You're a great man, and a great storyteller l. Write a book!!!
I worked at the Erwin Yard as the Yard Taxi for 10 years and I'm here to tell you there was NEVER any sleeping rooms at the yard office. Crews were local at Erwin and they went home.
I love it Shoestring has his own names for things👌 it may not be the technical name but it works for him & probably any other riders know what he’s talking about. In the world of parts & tools I think most of us older folks knew just about what everything was called ..now there’s sooo many different types of tools for every trade, it’s not as obvious as it used to be. I have learned a ton watching Shoestrings videos. ~~My dad was a train clerk back in the day (60s, 70s & 80s). His main job was sitting a desk looking at a wall of cards - they were like the old time cards - each card was a color/train and he kept track of which train ran on which railway. It was how they did it before computers. He’d call other train clerks all during his shift & compare notes about those cards to keep trains from being on the same rails, preventing wrecks. He also took an old flashlight (the kind with the huge square rectangular battery, the battery was most of the unit) and he’d walk up & down the trains inspecting wires & hookups etc.. I did it with him many times as a kid. I remember him chatting with hobos about where they were headed & he gave them information about which trains were going where & approx times. He was so nice to them & a few times he walked back to his lunchbox & tore his sandwich in half to share & got them drinks. He said when he retired he was going to run the rails & live as a hobo for a while but he suddenly passed on in 1986 which was a couple years before his retirement. I like to think that he’s doing that as he wishes. ~~My dad was over half Native American so I always thought it was weird he worked for the (Union Pacific) railroad company considering his parents used to tell him stories about the railroad & how Indians were done wrongly, when they took over America. He was a smart man who knew he’d make money.. & back then company’s were loyal to their employees. He started working with Union Pacific in Ft. Smith Arkansas/Oklahoma border and transferred to Reno, Nevada years later with an upgrade in pay & tenor. Thanks for reading this. It’s nice to have the memories and share it with you.
I got into watching these Train videos because of 'Stobe the Hobo'. I probably watched 15 or 20 videos of his before I found out that he was accidentally killed while catching a ride. I got to know him a little from his Hobo videos and then Bang, he was gone! It hurt me like I had lost a friend. Shoestring, you mentioned in one of your videos that someone said, "why don't you stop doing what you're doing, get a job and stop living like that?' It struck me as funny because I remembered back to when I read a book by 'Thor Heyerdahl' called, "Kon Tiki". They asked him the same thing, " Mr. Heyerdahl, why do you want to build a Raft made out of Reeds in South America and sail it across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian islands?" We all know the answer now since it would easily rank among the top adventurous expeditions of the 20th century! You know, I see you as an explorer. Not unlike any of the explorers who set out to find out what lies beyond. The people who ask why you are doing what you're doing are locked up in the 9 to 5 world and they know it! It's the most secure prison cell ever built. The rules are simple, 'you can't do what we say you can't do.' I understand fully what you described as that feeling you get when the rails and wheels are clanking and clattering underneath you as you ride. I, (we) are right there with you, through your eyes! So thank you for sharing and allowing us to ride with you for a while, your friend Ethan. (p.s. I'm a Veteran also and boy could I tell you some stories)
Hello Mr. Shoestring! Its a shame to see Erwin shut down, had a buddy who was an engineer out of that yard. Last time I was there it was still very busy with limited access without an employee. Have a good time and stay safe!
Hi Shoestring! Hey, just wanted to correct you on something. To start, I work at the GE transportation engine plant and I am a test cell operator. I test run the locomotive diesel engine before it goes into a loco. When you were up on the locomotive at the radcab end and said that noise was the engine turbo kicking on and off, that's not what that was. I'm not 100% sure what it was that you heard because I dont know the locomotives very good, my guess is it was the air compressor, but I can assure you it was not the engine turbo. The turbo would be more towards the front of the locomotive and it can not kick on and off. That was probably at low idle, around 330 rpm, and you won't hear the turbo at that speed. You won't hear the turbo start to whine until aroung notch 4 or so, or 800ish rpm. Full throttle, or notch 8, is 1050 rpm. Just wanted to let you know that definitely wasn't the engine turbo you heard. Keep up with the videos. Love watching and I'm usually jealous of your lifestyle.
Shoestring- That Aberdeen Line on the BN That was old Milwaukee Road, CMStP&P to the Pacific from Mpls. That hat I sent ya was a modern type representation of that. I was at Aberdeen and in that depot a few weeks ago. All offices. Visit my FB page and all the old Doors that were not replaced have the old names, logos and markings of such. You get back there, the high line-Minot or Bismarck, email me. Good to see a Soo Line sticker again you got. If I find my stash I’ll pass one off. Along with a Milwaukee Road one. Take care Sir!
@@duaneg3074 I know (Because I live beside the tracks), that Every night about 11 pm to 2 am there is a southbound. During the day there is one every other day or so.
@@duaneg3074 Nah, Not abandoned. Just most of the frieght is heading north. Typically, I see 5-6 trains in a 24 hour span. The traffic has slowed since the shutdown of the shops but it's used every day.
Most of the time the Track Maintenance Train Equipment are not hooked together but are separate because they do separate jobs and some of those take longer than others so the others move on ahead. Also when you were talking about the bearings that are in the wheels that is called needle bearings. Needle bearings can vary in sizes depending on the equipment they are installed in. A car has needle bearings just like a train for example but they are much larger on a train. When you said that the turbo was kicking on and off, a turbo doesn't kick on and off but stays on continuously as long as the engine is running. What you were probably hearing was the air compressor turning on and off. The air brakes always have some leakage and the compressor will turn on and off to keep the brakes tight.
Cool video shoestring. The amount that you’re able to just stroll around always sort of cracks me up. Thanks for keeping me entertained while I’ve got this broken collarbone.
I wish I could say that it is but within the last couple years the infrastructure is starting to fall apart because the investors took over and cut most of the man power and are letting g it fall apart
The ultimate freedom rider! Wow, it’s like you own the yard! I think the train lines should employ you to train their staff!!! Be safe out there and hope you come down to the Rio Grande Valley sometime! Enjoy “riding” with you!
Pal's Hamburgers are awesome.. you should give it a try.. their customer service is sorta like chic-fi-la.. Always top notch and the burgers are delicious.. their Frenchy Fries have a special seasoning so they are tasty too.. They also have hotdogs and milkshakes.. We actually eat at that one in Erwin from time to time when we ride over to Eastern TN..
Another cool video Shoestring. We’ve got a Bojangles chicken here in Mobile. When I saw your video I got a craving and call my wife to stop and bring some home for supper. They got great chicken.
Chessie system sticker! Man I miss those small lines and their cool colors and logos. I am an Illinois Central Gulf guy myself. The old orange and white.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
Being born in 1948 I saw steam engines every day as I walked to grade school until 1956. My father worked for the PRR. I've always loved trains. Dad knew every type of locomotive the Pennsy had. Shoestring, I LOVE what you're doing. You're a magnificent fellow!
rked
My Dad was born 1948 and worked on the communication systems for Union Pacific RR in southern WY many years.
Unfortunately he died pretty young at 60 yrs old of cancer.
That’s the air compressor kicking on and off not the Turbo.
I thought so to as well.
Yep!!
Back to skool for Shoestring! 😃😉😉
I do have to say that shoestring has an enormous amount of railroad knowledge and I’ve learned lots from his channel.
I just commented that and then I see you already did.
Dang! I posted before i seen ur comment. Lol!
Yeah I was like no that’s the air compressor cutting on and off to keep pressure for the breaks.
Many of us see a train track and wonder were it goes. Shoestring always amazes that no matter where in the US or Alaska he is in,
He knows not only where the track goes but what they haul, how many trains a day and what stores are in the next town.
I have a friend of a friend, bullet, who hopped trains for years. She has this manual that is THICK and has a ton of information on which train leaves which yard heading where at what time. For most trains in north america. Such a fascinating community
Shoestring, that's not a diesel turbo going on and off, that is the air compressor. It cuts on at 130 psi and cuts out at 140 psi. Im a machinist for norfolk-southern for 20 yrs. I change them out all the time. Thanks for making the videos. I really enjoy watching them. You take care.
Thanks for your update on that information
You should write a hobo guide to the railroad. Your knowledge of the trains and where they go is incredible.
I'd buy that book in a heartbeat!
Shoestring this is a GREAT idea.. Your years of knowledge / experience is invaluable.. Probably very very few could relate. There has to be a way to document / memorialize this legacy in other mediums
Please do it.
I agree that would be a great seller
I'll second this aswell. Wouldn't be a bad Idea to write down all the stories and wisdom while there still fresh in your mind.
You gotta respect a gentleman who knows his trains but also has a moment for the daffodils.
We can all agree that the CABOOSE was the REALL DPU back in the day. Plus, love your videos shoestring
That's the air compressor kicking on not the turbo, turbocharger only kicks in when power is applied to the diesel engines
Turbo spins all the time as the engine exhaust powers it.
It kicked on right before I started the camera. Made that cool sound... I noticed I didn't catch it
Definitely the air compressor kicking on and off pumping up the train as air leaks off and gets to a certain pressure. Not the turbo only time you hear the turbo is when it's out of idle and in power notch 1 thru 8. I know that sound working as a conductor for UP for 16yrs.
@@michaelmcguigan5369 16 yrs is not enough years to understand sounds! Lol!😆😆😆
@@jtmilliken then what is enough time to understand sounds? You a old head know it all?LOL🤣🤣🤣 I've worked all over and guys like you are the ones I hated getting called with. Working almost 3% grade over Donner summit for years taught me alot!
The turbo whistles. You are hearing the air compressor.
Good show String. Be careful we all care for you
Obviously Shoestring has an incredible amount of real world knowledge. All from years of experience. My new favorite channel!
No that is a air compressor, it goes on and off to keep air pressure up
Thats right. Turbo is always running as long as the engine is on.
GE's have that distinct sound when that compressor kicks on
Ahh to be correct. The air compressor is always running when the engine is running. That noise was the unloading valve releasing on the compressor when the air is at maximum pressure. Some systems have a blow off valve that exhausts extra air. Some systems just unload the valves inside the air compressor, to have the air compressor un able to compress any more air.
@@iand8738 correct.
Turbochargers whine to a whistle
Just finished watching this, and boy can I say I've never become a fan of someone so fast in my life.
Shoestring, you inspire me, and I'm so grateful to be living through your camera. Being a young almost 28yo, it makes me realize I have so much to see and do in life.
If you ever make your way to Salt Lake City or anywhere in Utah, I would love to do what I can to support your travels. Hot meal, comfy bed, and I'd be more than willing to take you to any one of the yards in the state.
Happy riding!
My first time watching him was about 6 yrs ago,met him several times,and then some.Just a good human being,that lives life, his way.He is very respectful and intelligent.
Welcome aboard!
I frequent Ogden often
@@TheHoboShoestring Aww, editing the comment for a typo takes off the heart. Makes sense. Next time you visit Ogden, let me know!
@@Jessekin32
,.. lol you said it. I hate having to edit anything because it also takes out authenticity.
Another good un. Keep em coming. Never know what going to happen next. But always seems to lift my spirits up. Just had my second covid-19 shot today and I felt like I was going down and then shoestring stepped in and now I'm just fine. Thanks for taking me alone.
Great video! Railroads, coffee, and a head full of information! Don't get much better!
King string .!! You are the BOSS 😜.,,..GOD LOVE YA 💞
SHOESTRING YOU ARE ONE OF THE SMARTEST RAILROAD AFFICINATOES.EVER....man you are smart keep up the good work im watching you
Your kidding right?
I have respect for you, you never cause damage, you don’t touch dangerous equipment, you are educated. Sometimes I don’t have the attention span for your longer videos, but this was nice. Thank you for not damaging anything, and thank you for the good video!
'Stranded as bad as Neil and Buzz on the moon'. Another Shoestring perfect explanation that I can understand! : )
Great up close video, have a good one Shoestring.
Another learning lesson in by Professor Shoestring! Learned alot with this video! Congrats on 70k subs Shoestring!! We are growing fast!! Nice video and I enjoyed the tour of the maintenance yard.. And your lesson paid off for you at the end with the dinner! B Safe.....
Really like the way explain everything about the yards keep making them videos man we can't get enough of them
Thanks for all the great ideas for me to model on my O-Gauge layout...
👍👍🤠🤠 thank you shoestring I appreciate your show. Makes it feel like we're right there with you. As always may God richly bless you! Keep Rollin brother!
I saw one of your videos you had a piece of fried catfish and four 🦅slices of white bread it looks so good I could’ve reached in and took a bite🐟
Thank you shoestring your knowledge of riding trains is priceless your a great storyteller and teacher if you're not making 70k a year you will be brother keep it up you deserve it
I always liked the Erwin yard...loved to watch the traffic years ago. Hate they shut down most of it.. 👍
I miss Erwin Yard also, those old Clinchfield crews are the best!
At least trains run there daily. Mostly at night though.
What would we do without our coffee?
Always enjoy your videos, sir.
Another excellent video Shoestring,
All the best from Scotland 🏴👍
When they outshopped a loco here in the UK the Timken Roller bearing box ends were painted bright yellow. It looked really sharp on the old British Standard class steam locos.
Nice video, thank you fella.
Really interesting episode . I remember back in the seventies setting some pennies on the track while the train sat for a while in Paw Paw West Virginia and one of the fellows that ran the train walked by , I suppose he saw them . 😄 thanks for the time 👍👌
Just when I thought your channel was the best, you had to make this video. Darn it, cause there is no word to describe something better than the best!
The EOT/FRED used to be powered by rechargeable batteries that would limit how long they could be working, plus batteries had to be regularly charged or changed out. The newer versions, like the one featured in this video are powered by a small dynamo driven by the PSI in the brake pipe. You can hear the hiss/wine of the dynamo in this video.
Yeah it spins to generate the power.
I remember old school workers back in the day changing the batteries
I used to put on brake control bars under box cars at a Pacific car when I was young,
That was a nice little infomercial you took us on today mr shoestring.Glad to see your doing well.
The last time I learned this much about trains was when I read the instruction manuals that came with my HO locomotives. And that was a long time ago...
I'll be checkin' out this place and Johnson City as well next week. Thanks for the ideas!
This man should be working for the railroad, he is so knowledgeable.
No, he isn’t. That wasn’t the turbo. That was the locomotive compressor. Source? I’m a freight conductor for a class 1.
Sir, I send greetings from England. My brother swore by Bojangles, when he was in America.
Excellent orientation video Mr String. Love it when you explain railroading
Summer of ‘69 I worked for C&NW in the Huron yard. Spent most of my time pouring oil into journeyman boxes.
Those plates on the tie ends bring back some painful memories lol.
I worked at a roof truss mill for years and we used the same plates, in 100+ different sizes, many much bigger than these down to 1"×1.5", and if anyone else has had to pull thousands of those plates a day out of their boxes for jobs, you know why the memories can be painful. 😂 havent thought about that in a long time until i saw them in some of your videos.
Thanks for the video tour. Looking forward to the next one, allso I hope u catch your train. 1🇨🇦👍☕
Awesome stuff Shoestring thanks
Thanks for the great video. I've learned so much by watching your videos. Thank you Professor Shoestring 🙂
Thanks for another video Shoestring! You make my life happier stay safe out there on the tracks ONE LOVE
Always love seeing an upload from you!
I’ve learned so much from your videos. Thanks. Keep safe!
Thanks $hoestring for explaining wheel bearings. I always wondered how they worked! You are a fountain of knowledge. I wish you all the best on your travels.
Thanks for making these videos very entertaining.
interesting video there.Gives me ideas on what to add to my layout....thanx Shoesting....AGAIN.
Looks like a nice quiet town... I hear they have some good tastin' chicken too !!!!
He already thanked you.
As always I enjoyed all your input and information. It was nice of that subscriber to pick you up and buy lunch. Have a good day. 👍👍👍❤️🙏🏻
Really enjoy your ADVENTURES take care God Bless
Absolutely fantastic video as always! Keep up the great work!
Hey just to let you know I'm loving all the extra content shoestring thanks for the uploads👍👋
I love it when you teach us stuff about railroads and railroading!
Love your instructional videos Shoe💕 I always learn so much I would not otherwise even thought of 😁💕
Very impressed with your memory retention from long ago. Of all the places you’ve been to and passed through, it is interesting to know of your attachment to the James River area of South Dakota (Aberdeen, Wolsey, Mitchell). I believe you used to live in Sioux Falls too. I was always curious how you ended up in Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls had the only nursing home for people of any income. Berakhah House it was called. Almost died in that place. Ran by Sister Mary Anthony Menting.
My grandfather was the rip track foreman in Huron retired in 1964 after 38 years.
When was that, Shoestring? Got plenty people in Sioux Falls.
What do you know about the James River in Virginia Shoestring?
Keep em coming!!!! You're Videos are awesome!!!!
Another great video shoestring. Really enjoyed the tour of the yard. Hope you like Bojangles it's one of my favorite places to eat. Looking forward to seeing you again, thanks for sharing
Good info. When I was a kid back in the 1960’s I lived next to the B&M tracks and the railroad ties had nails in them with the year they were laid down on them. I had a collection of them. I don’t know what happened to them. I also had a sign in my room that I took off a boxcar that said DO NOT HUMP. You ever see those? Love your videos. Be safe out there. ☮️
Great video as always !
I frickin love talking to you speak Shoestring, idk what it is about it but its just chill af
I got to get busy and clean all these fish Hobo. I was starting to think you wouldn't get any coffee but see you did finally and a box of HoboJangles chicken to boot!
I'll help clean
@@TheHoboShoestring I will pick you up at the catch out and we can do a catch, clean, and fry Hobo style crappie fillets!
I love the way you talk and explain how things work on the engines, rolling stock and railroading in general. Very informative.
I directional bored power in a yard here in Chicago many years back and we hit one of the yards air lines. Let me tell you that is one hell of a sound. Scared the crap out of the crew!!!!
I love your videos, AKA the "Hobo Shoestring Guide To Everything" . You have helped me learn about the insides of the railroads, given me some good songs to listen to (Brother Jukebox) , inspiration, tears, and laughs. You're a great man, and a great storyteller l. Write a book!!!
I worked at the Erwin Yard as the Yard Taxi for 10 years and I'm here to tell you there was NEVER any sleeping rooms at the yard office. Crews were local at Erwin and they went home.
I love it Shoestring has his own names for things👌 it may not be the technical name but it works for him & probably any other riders know what he’s talking about. In the world of parts & tools I think most of us older folks knew just about what everything was called ..now there’s sooo many different types of tools for every trade, it’s not as obvious as it used to be. I have learned a ton watching Shoestrings videos. ~~My dad was a train clerk back in the day (60s, 70s & 80s). His main job was sitting a desk looking at a wall of cards - they were like the old time cards - each card was a color/train and he kept track of which train ran on which railway. It was how they did it before computers. He’d call other train clerks all during his shift & compare notes about those cards to keep trains from being on the same rails, preventing wrecks. He also took an old flashlight (the kind with the huge square rectangular battery, the battery was most of the unit) and he’d walk up & down the trains inspecting wires & hookups etc.. I did it with him many times as a kid. I remember him chatting with hobos about where they were headed & he gave them information about which trains were going where & approx times. He was so nice to them & a few times he walked back to his lunchbox & tore his sandwich in half to share & got them drinks. He said when he retired he was going to run the rails & live as a hobo for a while but he suddenly passed on in 1986 which was a couple years before his retirement. I like to think that he’s doing that as he wishes. ~~My dad was over half Native American so I always thought it was weird he worked for the (Union Pacific) railroad company considering his parents used to tell him stories about the railroad & how Indians were done wrongly, when they took over America. He was a smart man who knew he’d make money.. & back then company’s were loyal to their employees. He started working with Union Pacific in Ft. Smith Arkansas/Oklahoma border and transferred to Reno, Nevada years later with an upgrade in pay & tenor.
Thanks for reading this. It’s nice to have the memories and share it with you.
I got into watching these Train videos because of 'Stobe the Hobo'. I probably watched 15 or 20 videos of his before I found out that he was accidentally killed while catching a ride. I got to know him a little from his Hobo videos and then Bang, he was gone! It hurt me like I had lost a friend. Shoestring, you mentioned in one of your videos that someone said, "why don't you stop doing what you're doing, get a job and stop living like that?' It struck me as funny because I remembered back to when I read a book by 'Thor Heyerdahl' called, "Kon Tiki". They asked him the same thing, " Mr. Heyerdahl, why do you want to build a Raft made out of Reeds in South America and sail it across the Pacific Ocean to the Polynesian islands?" We all know the answer now since it would easily rank among the top adventurous expeditions of the 20th century! You know, I see you as an explorer. Not unlike any of the explorers who set out to find out what lies beyond. The people who ask why you are doing what you're doing are locked up in the 9 to 5 world and they know it! It's the most secure prison cell ever built. The rules are simple, 'you can't do what we say you can't do.' I understand fully what you described as that feeling you get when the rails and wheels are clanking and clattering underneath you as you ride. I, (we) are right there with you, through your eyes! So thank you for sharing and allowing us to ride with you for a while, your friend Ethan. (p.s. I'm a Veteran also and boy could I tell you some stories)
enjoy the beautiful weather man
Hay Shoestring, do a video of you early days.......where you’ve lived, what took you to Johnson City, etc. love the channel!
I've been hiking the Appalachian trail thru Erwin. Wish I could meet you. I'd buy you breakfast.
Always wanted to do a hike like that but at 64 I’m rapidly running out of time😂. Good luck completing!
@@garyhoe466 Hey, I'm just 65. Keepa Rockin my friend
@@terrypaschal348 I’m impressed! Was always on my bucket list. I just retired so who knows. Stay safe!
@@terrypaschal348 I did 1,500 miles of the AT back in 1994. Life changing event for me!
Very cool. Shine on and stay safe.
Hello Mr. Shoestring! Its a shame to see Erwin shut down, had a buddy who was an engineer out of that yard. Last time I was there it was still very busy with limited access without an employee. Have a good time and stay safe!
Hi Shoestring! Hey, just wanted to correct you on something. To start, I work at the GE transportation engine plant and I am a test cell operator. I test run the locomotive diesel engine before it goes into a loco. When you were up on the locomotive at the radcab end and said that noise was the engine turbo kicking on and off, that's not what that was. I'm not 100% sure what it was that you heard because I dont know the locomotives very good, my guess is it was the air compressor, but I can assure you it was not the engine turbo. The turbo would be more towards the front of the locomotive and it can not kick on and off. That was probably at low idle, around 330 rpm, and you won't hear the turbo at that speed. You won't hear the turbo start to whine until aroung notch 4 or so, or 800ish rpm. Full throttle, or notch 8, is 1050 rpm. Just wanted to let you know that definitely wasn't the engine turbo you heard. Keep up with the videos. Love watching and I'm usually jealous of your lifestyle.
It's amazing the love this guy gets out here. See what being a decent person does folks.....
Thanks for the tour and education.
Thank you for your videos.Love your Content
Omg ShoeString!! 😂😂😂 LOVE IT!! 💕🤗😇
Thanks for your wisdom,Stay safe my brother.
Shoestring-
That Aberdeen Line on the BN
That was old Milwaukee Road, CMStP&P to the Pacific from Mpls. That hat I sent ya was a modern type representation of that. I was at Aberdeen and in that depot a few weeks ago. All offices. Visit my FB page and all the old Doors that were not replaced have the old names, logos and markings of such. You get back there, the high line-Minot or Bismarck, email me. Good to see a Soo Line sticker again you got.
If I find my stash I’ll pass one off. Along with a Milwaukee Road one.
Take care Sir!
Im from Erwin. So nice to see you come visit!
Hello neighbor, I'm in Unicoi myself.
Does anyone know how often a south bound train leaves erwin?
@@duaneg3074 I know (Because I live beside the tracks), that Every night about 11 pm to 2 am there is a southbound. During the day there is one every other day or so.
Thanks so much for the info, seems this line is almost abandoned
@@duaneg3074 Nah, Not abandoned. Just most of the frieght is heading north. Typically, I see 5-6 trains in a 24 hour span. The traffic has slowed since the shutdown of the shops but it's used every day.
Most of the time the Track Maintenance Train Equipment are not hooked together but are separate because they do separate jobs and some of those take longer than others so the others move on ahead. Also when you were talking about the bearings that are in the wheels that is called needle bearings. Needle bearings can vary in sizes depending on the equipment they are installed in. A car has needle bearings just like a train for example but they are much larger on a train. When you said that the turbo was kicking on and off, a turbo doesn't kick on and off but stays on continuously as long as the engine is running. What you were probably hearing was the air compressor turning on and off. The air brakes always have some leakage and the compressor will turn on and off to keep the brakes tight.
Cool video shoestring. The amount that you’re able to just stroll around always sort of cracks me up. Thanks for keeping me entertained while I’ve got this broken collarbone.
Its reassuring to know our rail system is in good repair & being maintained I really hope we don't ever lose our heavy industry its vital
I wish I could say that it is but within the last couple years the infrastructure is starting to fall apart because the investors took over and cut most of the man power and are letting g it fall apart
Apparently neither one of you watched the " crumbling of america" that was on the history channel years ago.
The ultimate freedom rider! Wow, it’s like you own the yard! I think the train lines should employ you to train their staff!!! Be safe out there and hope you come down to the Rio Grande Valley sometime! Enjoy “riding” with you!
Shoe Railroad Encyclopedia String. Thanks, man.
good stuff string. enjoy the dinner smells good. enjoy bro thanks much,,
Pal's Hamburgers are awesome.. you should give it a try.. their customer service is sorta like chic-fi-la.. Always top notch and the burgers are delicious.. their Frenchy Fries have a special seasoning so they are tasty too.. They also have hotdogs and milkshakes.. We actually eat at that one in Erwin from time to time when we ride over to Eastern TN..
I walked down lvky & in tracks in Columbus indiana today with my dogs and noticed rail damage to rails not played down so long ago. I love railroaddin
Shoestring - man you gained like 15,000 subscribers in the last couple weeks!?!? You are on FIRE!
Another cool video Shoestring. We’ve got a Bojangles chicken here in Mobile. When I saw your video I got a craving and call my wife to stop and bring some home for supper. They got great chicken.
I can't get enough of trains and also you tell great stories too i love all video
Chessie system sticker! Man I miss those small lines and their cool colors and logos. I am an Illinois Central Gulf guy myself. The old orange and white.
IC&G me too
How about the GMO line?
Sending love,prayers and beautiful Blessings from God Shoestring....Safety first my dear friend 🚞💗🚂💗🛤👨✈️xoxo Diane from PA
I love vids teaching about the intermodal system and the industry/work/equipment part of the rails. I figured out a bit when i rode but this is great.
I wanna visit Erwin, looks like a peaceful town with lots of trains.
thanks again for sharing your travels with some who cant