In the shadows of the trainyard, Where dust swirls and echoes fade, Lies the memory of a hobo, Known as Shoestring the KZfaq renegade. With a camera in his hand, He documented life on the trails, Sharing stories of adventure, And the joys of riding the steel rails. He captured the beauty of the open land, From the mountains to the deserts, with a steady hand. His videos were a window into a world unseen, A glimpse into the life of a wanderer, a man with a dream. So rest in peace, dear Shoestring, ride on in the sky, May your videos live on, may your spirit never die. For the hobo in you will forever remain, In the hearts of those who loved you, and in the rhythm of the train.

I had tears in my eyes at the end....we've lost one really special person. RIP Shoestring 😢

Outstanding, there will never be another Shoestring. He was so knowledgeable about so many things. R.I.P, we miss you already . Thanks Matt 😊

Thanks Shoestring for giving us a view of America’s back yards from grainers, boxcars and intermodal. I know you will find that Cadillac grainer in heaven!

God most assuredly broke the mold when He made Hobo Shoestring.

Really gonna miss this guy even though I didnt get to meet him in real life

He's missed by thousands of fans!!!

This is how I chose to remember Shoestring. His knowledge combined with his warm and comforting personality. Truly one of a kind.

At the end of his life he finally got the recognition he deserved which makes me happy. Thanks for the videos Mark

A true American hero 😊 we’re surely going to miss you shoestring, gone but not forgotten.

This is some wonderful footage of you guys, being yourselves! This is something you’ll treasure for the rest of your life! It is great seeing shoestring so relaxed and down to earth. May he be resting in peace.

Mark was a helicopter mechanic in the Army. I was a helicopter mechanic in the Navy. I wish I could have met him

Matt, We are all very saddened to hear of the loss of Shoestring. You were a great friend to Mark and he thought the world of you. Mark Nichols aka Hobo Shoestring will be missed.

I sit here thinking about how its too bad we all couldn't have helped him more, but to have "helped" him and tried to slow him down or change him for our idea of what was "for his own good", would have fundamentally changed the man. He might have lived longer, but something essential would have been missing. He lived how he wanted and inspired many people. RIP.

Thank you Matt for being a loving friend to shoestring. Rest Easy Mark my Condolences go out to his family.❤🤍💙🇺🇸🦅💪ML&R "LEGENDS NEVER DIE"

You're a awesome man, Matt

Awesome conversation to witness. Thank you for sharing this with us. ❤

I miss him so much!! His videos gave me peace!! Thanks for being a good friend to our friend hobo shoestring!!

Oh my i miss this man more than i ever thought i would. A wealth of knowledge, a warm, kind, thoughtful, interesting man, your friendship really shone through in this video. Your conversation about the moon landings & apollo missions was so cool, i remember the moon landings watched in on tv i was very young but its never left me. Shoestring was a man you could talk to about anything, a wise man too. Thank you Matt for sharing your time with Mark with us. RIP, Shoestring, Mark goodnight we love you. ❤😢

Gosh darn Matt. Special video. Thanks for giving us a look at your friendship . RIP Shoestring

I can watch his videos but nobody else will be like his

This video filled my heart and soul with so much joy. This truly shows the genuineness of Hobo Shoestring. And you Matt are such a good friend to Mark. The rapport between you two is truly awesome. Thank you for sharing your time with Shoestring with us. God bless you both. Much love and respect to you both

There is a whole lotta Shoestring packed into this 28 minutes. Thanks for sharing with us!

Enjoyed that so much. So very precious. Just shows what a wonderful human he was Thanks Matt

Never got meet the man in person but it still bring a tear to my eyes when i see his video's RIP hobo an GOD bless

I once watched Mark for the train riding. I now watch him for his thoughts and this segment is exhibit A.❤

Matt, it is great to have someone like you take the time to allow Mark to have a place to stop in. Had it not been for your friendship with him, I would have most likely not found your channel. Have a great visit, enjoy the company and stay safe.

Hobo Shoestring truly lived every second of his 53 years!

I loved his videos, packed with history and humor... I miss him.

My heart goes out to Mark's family,friends and all who loved this man. There is a truth in laughter and there is a truth in tears and between the laughter and the tears hopefully you will find some peace and healing. Heaven's train is now complete. Wherever you are shoestring i wish you peace, love and happiness you made the world a better place brother. Sincerely Timothy

Legends never die! Shoestring will live on forever in our hearts & memories. Thanks for being a great friend! He mentioned you several times in some of his videos. He's definitely gonna be missed & loved forever by all of us. Great videos, Matt. ❤

RIP Now he’s riding our fathers magic carpet made of steal. ❤

R.I.P hobo shoestring.. he's was good people I loved watching his videos

Thanks for doing this

Such a sweet memory 🩷thank you for sharing 🙏🏼Mr shoestring will be missed by all 🙏🏼

Thanks for the video already missi g his videos

Missing him R.I.P buddy

Matt you are so good to Shoestring :) you have a good heart and I am so glad you are in his life and he in yours :)

An inspirational video filled with truth, friendship and wise words. Thanks Matt and Mark Cheers from UK

Soo very glad you got to enjoy time with hobo shoestring, he is sorely missed by all of his subscribers. Matt i hope you are doing well through all of this i csnt imagine the pain from his passing. God bless you & your family (huge shoestring fan here i have a playlist just shoestring only )

Proof that being free with your thoughts and away from worldly ways clears the mind and you become human again. Rip Hobo Shoestring

it was very gut-wrenching news to both of Aussie (Australia) & Kiwi (New Zealand) Train & Railway Fans (Fanatics) to find out of this very tragic news about the death of train ride loving friend &/or mate of Hobo Shoestring of Mark Nichols which was very unexpected & very sad of course. He's (1 One) hell of a real Fair Dinkum American Legend of United States America in his own way a sort of a bloke when it comes to Railways just seems like that, he knows all about the Railway Industry Sector either, Upside Down, Inside Out & Back the Front, & Especially & Mainly about Travelling on Trains from Place to Place & also the Passion & the Love of Trains of course.

We loved you shoestring

Love hearing his soft deep southern accent and the sound of the train wheels and then I fall asleep

Mark nichols will be part of america history. Thank you mark for all your videos, They will be treasured forever. Rest in peace on the back of a train waving at hobo shadow.

Absolutely love that smile at the end of the video, just goes to show how much we all need love and appreciation 😊

RIP brother we’ll miss you so much, a lot of people loved you

RIP ShoeString and Stobe. 2 of the best Train Riding Hobo's that ever lived.

The man made himself a star,he is and will be sorely missed.

Going to miss Mark so much rip from the uk

I miss this great man-HOBO SHOESTRING I LOVE YOU MAN

Man it's just heart breaking. I never got a chance to know Shoestring personally. But my wife and I followed him for 3 years. A good man gone. Thanks for sharing this Matt

***Totally a treasure to keep!*** RIP Shoestring!! You're loved & will be missed! You gave us all a lifetime of travels & adventure!! ❤💔

Been watchin him on and off for a few years. Dang Ill miss him...for now

Dude this is awesome! I LOVE ALL THE LOVE! Shoestring and all those that show him love are just incredible souls!

Beautiful video Matt. A frozen moment in time to be cherished. Friendship, history, wisdom, etc..Nice..

An awesome video! So happy to have found it! Thank you Matt, for giving us this unique view of a wonderful human being! All of us who have known him through his videos, will miss and never forget him. RIP Shoestring!

I've been watching his videos for years from my home in France 🇫🇷, with my dreams of one day visiting America. He was a guy. I believe i would have gotten along with. Im sure i thanked him more than once in the comments section of his video's, for showing me otherwise unseen parts of your amazing country. I hope he found peace and🙏 i send my sincere condolences to all his friends and family ❤. I Will mis your videos shoestring 😢. Raz, the English man from France.

Yes he was a good dude… Gentle Soul.. RIP buddy

Never got to meet shoestring always looked on trains for him one great person thanks for the video gone but not forgotten

Rest in peace shoestring

Here today, gone tomorrow 😢 Matt you were so blessed to have that time with Mark aka Hobo Shoestring ❤😊

Thankyou and R.I.P. Shoestring ❤

Really liking you and Shoestring videos together. I went to a camp store here in Sydney and saw those buckets kitted out same as yours and associated them to be like Shoestrings. Was my introduction to Yeti products. I've got the gallon flask which is a beaut ice preserver and bought the 35ltr Yeti eski. Yeti is getting huge in Australia with Yeti stickers I see more often than not displayed on vehicles people take to bush or outback Australia

I grew up hanging around Train Yards and Arcades in the 80's -- just outside of Columbus OH. Moved to New York city in my 20's for college and work, and to chase the typical American Dream. I'm still living in the big City; and yet I always find myself watching Shoestring's or Matts videos in my spare time because I now realize time is passing like a hand waving from a train I want to be on - You guys are so awesome!!!

Awesome video Matt. Thank you for sharing with us what a true friendship is all about and the importance of being a kind and caring person while we still have time in life.

How cool is it that Shoestring got to become like a Rockstar in his final years? All the fame, money, and attention couldn't have been more well deserved and better recieved by a kinder soul.

Great stuff Matt, thanks for sharing that one

God bless 'String. I pass through his basecamp area quite a bit and live not too far away. Hope I run into him someday. Thanks for this behind the scenes view.

Rest in peace 😞

Thanks Matt for this post it is heartbreaking to think Shoestring is gone…this was a fantastic video of two friends having a wonderful conversation and sharing it with us all!

Peace be with you Mark ,Loved your video s ,may god bless your soul,miss you.

😅Good to see this video. Hard to believe Shoestring is gone. He was one of a kind and the last of a kind.

One of the smartest guys I never knew personally rip Hobo Shoestring

You weren't kidding about that shirt. It's Priceless now. I would frame it.

R.I.P. Hobo Shoestring

Shoestring taught me to be calm, and gentle towards everyone. I miss Mark already.

rest easy Shoe

Great interview

I sat in a hospital bed for 9 days...couldn't see out a window...I thought it wasn't looking great...Had my phone and I'd watch videos...Shoestring, well he kept me company in the middle of the night when no one else was awake....I sure will miss that man. Yeah...He was a GOOD DUDE. He was REAL.

Thanks for sharing , Wow what I guy Shoestring was!

He was such a good man .. even though I never met him….rip mark

RIP Mark. I hope you found what you were looking for. This one hurts 😥😥

Best video I have seen all year ! Thanks man , wish i was there ...

He was a good o'l boy i had a uncle that passed away the same age as Shoestring but i can say this man and my uncle both truly got to live the American dream this man got to travel and see almost the whole United States of America while my uncle got to travel around the world.

Was just thinkin about Shoestring the other day, Then I heard the news....Hope he is found soon and is ok.

ONE OF A KIND WILL BE MISSED GODSPEED BROTHER 🙏

Priceless, Yes. 👍🤠

R.I.P. Shoestring

Love to take that bucket for a spin...

RIP Shoestring

It's always so ironic talking about time people and places. That's why you need to tell everyone you love them . Also that we need each other more than we realize. Idk anyway thanks that was nice video chat i started watching Stobe them Shoestring and one more vigrant holiday. That are real people doing real life stuff, and now almost have of them are gone now. Hopefully there riding the rails with good people and amazing mountains and golden magnolia trees, v🎉alleys were you can rest, clean spring water set up camp, have a fire for a night or two or whatever works its all up to you

R.I.P. Hobo Shoestring 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I was stopped at a RR crossing the other morning and I swear for a brief moment I caught a glimpse of a lanky Texan wearing a gi joe cover and setting in the shadow of an east bound Cadillac grainer.

God bless you SHOESTRING 🙏

We didn’t go to the moon but out of respect I would pretend we did so shoestrings bubble was never burst! 😊❤👍🏻

Great video, Matt.

Keep thinking how to I if find myself,out there,then know one must a code, something still to tie,like a shoestring,learning it don't forget. The teacher.

“Hobo Jedi” indeed ❤️🙏🏻💗💯 Rest in Peace Shoestring!

Has anyone thought of getting blood hounds to search for Shoestring?