Don’t let the bulls find ya Shoestring!
Ride the eternal train.
Your spirit is free now my Brother, find peace wherever you go.
Seventy years ago when I was a kid our house was across the street from the railroad track, the Depot was just down the road and there was a lot of riders back then. The Hobos would walk across the street and ask my grandpa if he had any work and he let them mow the lawn with one of those reel hand push mowers and my mother would give them a meal and a cup of coffee and a lunch to go. "The good old days."
Very very decent respectable people. I love reading things like this. Full respect to you and your family. Sending love from the UK. 😊
My dad worked rail 30s said it was the best coffee ever loved to listen to his stories ..built the alaska highway maitained the telegrapg line near munch lake ..miss him 😊
Iam very thankful I live across the street from a main rail line although no hobos mostly just homebums…
I just want to say thank you for all the videos. I enjoy each and everyone of them and I appreciate the time you put into making it love learning about the whole operation how it works and just a great big thank you to you.
Once again I'm just astounded by the top-of-the-head knowledge of where all of these tracks lead, crew change spots, yard names...just unbelievable...superior hobo knowledge...have fun on those rails Mark...be safe and be well!!
A patient man rides a Cadillac.
Blessings, stay safe and much appreciation for showing us the real riding life.
Good morning Mark thanks for taking a tour with us. You are still the best👍👍🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃☕️☕️.🇨🇦
I find it amazing that I can sit for ages watching a slow talking old guy telling me about sitting around in trees and riding on uncomfortable steel carriages AND I LOVE IT ! Keep up the good work Mark,always glad to learn things new.
You will always be remembered for your stories and the kind person that you were. RIp Hobo Shoestring
I have to say I think these last few videos are by far and away the best you’ve ever produced Mark!
That trestle crosses the Gassman Coulee west of Minot and you captured it well. That was Glasgow where you were by that new bridge waiting. Thanks for the video!
Good morning brother M !! thanks for taking us along 🚂💨💨💨💨
Mark, you are a national treasure. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, we are all watchin' out for you.
Thats a great comment . Feel that way everytime i watch him want to be his ears and cook .More lentils less sugar go Mark ! Prayers
He is absolutely 💯 a national treasure. Love this man, wish he had a PayPal donation link
@@kimscheieagreed 👍. I am 48 and had too much sugar 😢, now I take metformin 😢. Yes , sugar seems harmless, but kills as much as booze 😢
Godspeed Mr. Nichols, We would like to Thank You for all you gave, and all you have given.. R.I.P. Shoestring, You will be greatly missed.. ✌
The View while you are Rolling Along must never get old. You are showing us the real America through your videos. The America we never see from the interstate. God bless ridesafe
SHOESTRING! This one of the 2 lucky kids that stumbled into you at your camp there in Glasgow 2 nights ago now. I can’t say how honored I am to of met ya! Shortly after we parted ways that IM rolled in and by the looks of this video we all got on! We were on towards the back, a mini well 53 with Amazon cans. stayed on to Minneapolis. So so fun to run into you🚂
Lmao I was just riding through there Aswell about 1 week ago. Rained the day I was in glascow
Glasgow, MT was home to a S.A.C. bomber base. Thank God for the Minuteman III ICBM's around Great Falls. We no longer need bombers to deliver nukes.
I only wish I was young enough to keep my shoe strings tied.. we love you . And say safe old man....
I'm so glad to hear from y'all...
Wondered if y'all got that first train after I went under the bridge or second train a hour later....I caught the second one because no rides on the first where I was
That new bridge needs a shoestring tag!
It always warms my heart to see you get good use from things I've sent you. This time was the gloves and matches. I guess it's about time to put on my thinking cap and think of something else you can use.
Never miss an episode. It almost seems like I know you. Much respect to you Brother.
Nice someone made you a special Shoestring glove. I left a comment maybe a year ago that you should do that to your glove.✌️🚂🤠 Brian
I hopped on an eastbound Santa Fe train in Las Vegas, NV back in 2001 & ended up stuck in a tiny town of Modena, Utah for 4 days train and all (think the crew went on holiday for Labor Day weekend). I ended up hitchhiking to Cedar City finding day labor to get a bus ticket to Omaha. Luckily the general store/post office/gas station & the only phone in Modena was owned by an FLDS family which they provided me w/some water & food while trying to wait for the train to get moving again. A couple of other hobos that were riding in a grain car 8 cars down from me left before I did hitchhiking to Cedar City. I eventually met up w/one guy at the rescue mission when I got there. Safe travels Shoestring 🍻
you guys over there look after this guy for he is bringing a ton of joy to us in england
Thank you for the videos shoestring we will all love and miss you now your riding up there we will never forget you and you you will always be in our thoughts and prayers r.i.p sir god bless you 🙏 🙏
Someday I'm hop on that train that sits on the side track near my house I swear. I don't know where it goes or how to even come back home but I know I'm gonna do it someday. Till then thank you for giving my soul some peace, thanks Mark
~O
SOMEONE THATS RODE SINCE
1973 OFF & ON AND WHO RIDES
EVERY SUMMER AT 66 YEARS OLD.
RIDING FREIGHT WITHOUT SAFETY
KNOWLEDGE IS VERY DANGEROUS.
IVE SAW A PERSON FALL OFF A
GRAINER AND FALL BY COUPLING
UNDER WHEELS. HE WAS HOLDING
LEASE OF HIS DOG AND DRAGGED
HIM TO DEATH AS WELL. I HAD TO
REPORT IT AND IDENTIFY HIS BODY
AND CLOTHES WHAT WAS LEFT OF
HIM. I SPENT 3 MONTHS IN JAIL AND
IF I EVER GET CAUGHT ON CSX PROPERTY
I COULD GET LONG TIME IN JAIL.
TO MAKE MY POINT- THEY LIFTED
THE SHEET ON RIGHT SIDE AND
SHOWED ME WHAT WAS LEFT OF HIS
ARM AND BLOODY SHIRT. THEIR WAS
BAGS WERE HIS FEET WERE , WHICH
I FIGURED WAS BODY PARTS. BUT
WAS COVERED PARTIALY WITH SHEET.
ONE SIMPLE MIISTAKE CAN KILL YOU
ON A TRAIN. ONE...
I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO RIDE.
IF YOU MUST, YOU SHOULD FIND A
EXPERIECED RIDER. AND THATS NOT
EVEN SAFE. THE GUY THAT DIED HAD
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
IVE WARNED YOU. I COULD TELL YOU
A STORY HOW I ALMOST DIED ON MY
VERY FIRST RIDE..
==DRIFTER==
Hey shoestring the sunset looks cool 😊
Morning Shoestring I hope the weather is treating you well. Hopefully not too cold.
Keep rolling boss, blessings from England.
Colder mornings but warms thru day too lovely sir ..thanks for vids made my day
Awesome ride Shoestring! Beautiful countryside! Stay safe out there and Happy Rails!👍
If anyone sees this message, please pray for this him. He's been missing since March 27th. Hobo Shoestring needs every single prayer he can get right now.
Sadly, his body has been found. RIP Shoestring. 🙏 Thanks for rail adventures
@@jaredhopper4713 Maybe reading an occasional newspaper would do you some good. But he's riding an open box car somewhere, just not in our world.
@jaredhopper4713 what the hell is wrong with you? His body has been found. Did you read an old comment or something pertaining to the time he had an accident?
I worked at a marine terminal in Galveston years ago. Many many grainers came through. Bozo Texino, The Rambler, Herbie, Colossus of Roads, etc.
nice. Autumn is upon us and the winds of change are here .....
😢😢 I know, here in Massachusetts it's finally sunny snd hot. But we know the cold is a week or so away 😢. Especially a el ninio winter 😢
The fact that you can travel anywhere in the country by train, but not actually riding inside, is amazing.
Loved this. You only live once! Enjoy sharing the seasons and listening to you.
Hi everyone. I’m sitting here on my sofa in West London U.K. just got totally engrossed in the latest film. Great work as usual man. From start to finish just felt I was along side you Mark. The cut to the adverts shocked me back to reality! Thank you for the posts, just awesome. Look after yourself.
I'm always impressed of your railroad geography of the towns etc the line go to or through.
Heh that would be a good start to a Hobo in Oz story, getting swept up by a tornado while crossing the tressel.
Real good to see you editing and uploading more again. (liked)
Good afternoon Shoestring! Those cars you saw with those "spines:" they are known in the trucking industry as IM Chassis. They are most likely being transferred from one hub or port to another. Transporting that many of them on a train is more efficient than pulling them with trucks, and much safer. Believe it or not, IM chassis are so lightweight they could potentially skid, especially during bad weather. Some are hauled on the road stacked, but again, easier and more efficient to haul that number on trains.
Probably new or refurbed also. Inventory was low at some facility.
S H O E S T R I N G !!!
Good to see ya, buddy
Central California watching
WOW, I know it's only been two weeks but I often catch myself watching old videos I've already watched. Keep up the good workings Shoestring ,thanks to you & channels like vise grip garage ,Scott Kilmore I know longer watch mainstream TV. Beleave that my friend,you are the reality show of my World...
I can't imagine just how good it feels to finally get a train after waiting for hours. You can tell it's a relief and shoestring gets back in tune. Patience is the lesson here.
The crop at 45;39 is canola, called rapeseed in Europe. Crushed to make canola cooking oil, leftover cake from the crusher used for livestock feed. Looks like broccoli when its first planted and comes up, leafy and green, but then it grows up into the spindly plants and flowers out solid yellow with small blossoms, then sets seed in those slender pods... small hard reddish/purplish/black seed. Either direct combined or windrowed and combined (older method). Hauled to an elevator and handled like any other grain.
Makes great fuel for diesel engines.
And you can use it twice: first to cook chips, then filter and pour it in the tank.
Praying for You dear Brother Shoestring. Please Lord Jesus keep Your Holy Angels all around Brother Shoestring 🕊🙏🚂🚈❤
Hey shoestring, thanks for the new video! I look forward to them so much when I'm laid up, kinda live through your adventures!!! I can almost feel like I'm riding with you. Keep up the good work sharing your knowledge of trains, freight train travel , the lore, but most of all, for taking us with you!! But above all else, please be safe and take good care of yourself and God bless you!!!
I appreciate you taking us on your adventures, thank you for the longer videos!
Good luck Shoestring! Thanks for all the knowledge!I admire your free spirit!
I learn something from your videos every time. Fascinating. Your patience is commendable in this nonstop world. Take care of yourself out there!
I'm a 70 year old female and watching this makes me wanna go jump a train! Total freedom ❤
If you're going to do it, now's the time. You're 70 years young.
Here's a poem I wrote about Hobos around 2006...
"Elements
Of Last Evenings Dinner"
As I woke next to the switch in the tracks...i had to retrieve my box of Sterno...boxcar buffet of spam ala carte' ...had me a serenade by Ol Willy and his harp....clapping hands and stomping feet to a clattered beat...as I crossed the Continental Divide i sang a hobo song of gypsy dreams flying high for all to see. This is Utopia! All Aboard!🎉 think a left a line or two out but you get probably get it.🎉
Thanks for sharing your rides & knowledge Shoestring. It's all very much appreciated.
I feel like I'm apart of a secret club watching this the way Shoestring is so criminally underrated
I kinda like being stuck with you Hobo SHOESTRING on the side of a track(s). I like your storys and talks. I'm right there with ya Mark. It is nice too when you make the longest videos. Well take care and be safe and patient, like you said. R✖️R
Great video Mr. Shoestring, stay warm and one step ahead of the bulls.
You’re Smart to Pack the Warm Clothes but you’re a Pro and are always prepared. Keep it Safe and Thanks, Mark. 👍🙏
Watching from Pahrump Nevada 🇺🇲 Be safe out there 👍😎
@cheeseburger9232 yep got the chicken ranch and Sherry's ranch still open 😁
Hey Shoestring!!! You are amazing in so many different ways! One thing people might overlook is your ability to capture such great footage on your phone!! You have an eye for sure.. God bless and keep you safe.🙏
Hey Mark! I grew up 32 miles NW of Williston ND, now live in Colorado, I so enjoyed this video as you were in my homeland of the prairie along Hwy. 2 from the Montana State Line and on east, I recognized the trestle west of Minot as I've driven by it quite a few times and have rode across it on Amtrak several times as well!
Stay safe and if you need anything along the way we'd love to help you in your travels when you're in our neck of the woods.
Hey Hobo Shoestring, on Sunday I went to watch some trains up in Cresson and had my first interaction with a railroad bull. But he didn't give me a hard time about nothing he just politely told me that I couldn't stand where I was
SS in the morning! Great way to start the day! Safe travels Brother!
Love these videos and adventures. Wish I could hang out with you for some Hobo Shoestring wisdom and learn mote about railroading. I worked at an intermodal yard, and didn't realize all the things that go on with trains!
***Shoestring's body was found today in the lake near his home. We wish you eternal peace, Hobo...
Safe Rails John E Ringo on the rails out west , eyes wide open. Happy Trails. 🎉
Your videos are fascinating. I often wake walks and there and CSX comes along my trails. I think of you abs your adventures. Be safe out there. 🚉
I LOVE REAL PPL.. this man is honest and i love him. Never met him, but love him😊
Great video as always brother 🤟
Hobo Shoestring mentioned Galveston Island, my hometown. Cool. I wish I was in Galveston right now, too. RIP Hobo Shoestring. May a good angel have been there with you at your demise.
Watching you reminds me if a good hobo friend I once knew. Watching you i feel like I'm with him. Your smart and practical thanks for your videos.
Wow! This guy was an encyclopdia of the North American rail network....RIP Shoe
He definitely was a walking encyclopedia. I always would say he would have been a great tour guide ❤
I admire your free spirit, love the Country side views and the soothing sound of the train rolling along, too cool man.
I did hear you say. You rode the crows nest once. Back in the 20s 😂😂😂 God bless
love that custom glove - kudos to it's maker. Sunset shots while riding are gorgeous too.
Beautiful scenery wherever you go
but be careful out there on those
tracks and highways.🤠👍
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🇺🇲💨
I hope everyone that was in a car, a town, their backyards sees it from this guys eyes and appreciates it. RIP Shoelace.
Really great video!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the honesty and realism. Need more like this from everybody. Excellent job!!!!
Hey brother Mark hope you're okay. I like a good Dakota fire pit, keeps it just right not to be seen but cook and get warmth. Do you ever get up close and personal with wildlife, snakes, racoons, wolves, bears, mountain lions? Good spot there in among the trees.
I was feeling not good and then all of sudden here comes Hobo Shoestring on the phone what a cool guy man. Shoestring I was getting those cotton gloves from the dollar store. Five for two dollars and fifty cents Thank you so much HOBO SHOESTRING that was a fun camping trip and train ride
Will always think of you and thanks for all you did you will be missed you you never be forgotten rip shoestring
Mr Shoestring I LOVE your videos. I especially like the ones where you show your camp and items you take along. Be safe my friend. I am in Kentucky. God bless
Every time I watch one of your videos I learn ATLEAST one thing new.
Thanks, Mark- you're my bedtime companion. Storytime and video gives me a restful sleep. Stay warm.
Wow, i myself felt a great relief at 34:I0 to see you back on the rails after the great wait. Imagine if just watching your video caused me this feelin, then can understand how much shoestring must have felt to be on the move. Enjoy the life that freedom brings.
Hope you see this Shoestring. If you ever get back in the Rocky Mount, NC area, let me know. I would love to meet you and help you out with supplies if you need them. Be safe as always!
wow, that veiw when you rode over that huge bridge was beautiful, great scenery in this video, theres no better way to see America.
Great video Shoestring. I just took a drive to an old ghost town right on the canadian border. there was an old rail road there I walked down for hours. Mostly hoping to find a gold panning spot but it was all private property and round these parts folk aint afraid to pepper ya.
While I have been only dreaming about it, you are really doing it, Shoestring, and I am really happy for you !! Love your excellent informative videos !!
Stay safe Hobo! Nice that you don't get caught anymore with all the security cameras everywhere. 🙏
I swear every time I see one of your videos the old Steve goodman song city of New Orleans starts playing in my head
Small world. My oldest sister briefly dated Steve Goodman right around the time he wrote the city of New Orleans.
Great video Shoestring. As usual, learned a lot. Love it when u show us your camp and explain the various lines and where they go. Stay safe!
Great video Mark- you are truly the modern day A No. 1..... glad to see you still out there riding the rails. Every time I hear a train whistle I think. - hey maybe Shoestring is on that one....
These last few vids have been very interesting. Really seems to show ‘the Hobo life’. A lot of waiting for the right ride, managing provisions, dealing with the outdoors and dashed expectations.
Beautiful morning scenery while riding through in ND too!
Good morning shoestring Surviving the game is the movie with ice tea where he is homeless hope you see this and glad to see you are doing so well stay safe and have a great day
Hey, Mark, Glad you,ve finally got a ride. Hang in there and God bless!
Shoestring... Your right! Them small towns can be tricky and the Waiting can be even worse.
It's Great to see your Riding and staying well... God Bless..
Another great video Shoestring. Safe travels.
200K right around the corner. Such great content even after all these years!
Safe travels on the Rails!! #shoestrings
Buy some land and purchase a caboose to live in when & if you should settle down Shoestring. Until then Happy Trails Buddy. Stay safe and wishing you much joy in your adventures.
Love the second half of video. My son died on his motorcycle just south of the Tussle bridge in 2015.
Thank you for your video.
If you've never had an instant Coffee and sugar sandwich, you ain't a true caffeine junkie! AGGHHH!!!!
Instant Coffee has come a long way since the days long ago when it was nasty stuff.
I start my day with the French Press then switch to instant Coffee and break up the day with a mug of Tea. Evenings after supper when all that food is making me sleepy, I've been known to put the espresso maker on and take a real "jolt" of caffeine.
But I'm "spoiled" these days.
Imagine, having an espresso maker let alone a stove to make it on and a roof to keep me dry while I do it.
I have my Cowboy Coffee pot but that's for "grid down" situations and it makes good coffee too.
A friend of mine used to travel light and move fast but he liked the big cities and would hit one with a pocketful of money and buy his clean undies and socks as he went tossing what was used. What a way to party.
Keep up the great work and good luck Shoestring.
I just found out that Shoestring passed away....I can't stop crying. Such a beautiful soul and the knowledge he shares. I'm watching from Alberta Canada. R.I.P. Shoestring ❤