I was got stuck in Havre in 1991 - the Amtrak train stopped to refuel and the conductor said I had a half hour. There was a bar/package store right across from the fuel station so I went over there to buy a bottle to take back to the train. I heard the whistle blow and hauled ass only to watch it speed west! So I got the stationmaster to call the train and drop my pack at Glacier. I stayed on some guys couch that night and caught the next westbound Empire Builder and they had my pack waiting for me when I got there! I started riding freights after that and wound up in Yosemite, worked for 3 months and caught an Eastbound stack train in Roseville and made it all the way back to Virginia by way of Chicago, Pittsburgh and Cumberland. I hopped a few times out of Roanoke after that but haven’t ridden much since. I met a lot of awesome folks on the rails but some shady ones too. I kind of miss it - my wife would split if I caught out! Nice to live vicariously through your videos. Thanks Shoestring!

I've come across some tough times and your videos help me. Thanks.

I really appreciate your work and all of your hard earned knowledge. I love getting to go with you like this. Thank you for sharing. I pray the Good Lord gives you many more years. Safe travels old buddy

Awww yeah a 24-minute video. Hope you're doing well and still having a fun trip Shoestring! Those cinnamon sticks are good.

I worked on the production line that built The last two red BNSF hopper cars at the Diesel filling station. I welded the sides of those cars together. We did those cars about 3 years ago. We built about 300 of them. Stay safe Shoestring.

Hey Shoestring! Greetings from Willmar! I was born and raised in this area. If you have any questions, i'd be happy to answer. If you are still in the area tomorrow, or in the future, send me a message and I can bring you supplies if needed. Love your channel!

Your videos are great. I feel like I've learned so much from you, and not just about riding. Stay safe, warm and healthy, Shoestring. Glad you have a place to call home and family.

classic Shoestring video RIP

This is where my life begin, Willmar, Minnesota. lived not far from that bridge. Used to hear the trains all the time.

Awsome video and great footage shoestring! Yea that UP was a 70MAC and the CP in front either was a Dash-9 or a AC4400 and the CP behind was a GP-20...looking good in the winter gear! Overall a great video! Thank you! B safe

You’re living a life that most of us would love but you’re the only one brave enough and smart enough to actually do it !! Greatly Enjoy your videos

GREAT VIDEO..I SURE WOULD buy a Hoody with the Shoestring tag on the back if I knew where to get one 😳 hint hint 🤣😂😂🤣😂😂🤣from what I understand all the channels that have Merch dont have to handle ANY of it. The company that makes it does all the shipping and orders and you just get a royalty off everything they sell 🤔 I think I it would be WAYYY COOL with your full size tag on the back and a pic of a Locomotive on the left breast ya know?

Glad to see you still going. The phone works great hardley heard the wind, heard you very well, stay warm, stay safe.

The old Burlington Northern green locomotives were cool Used to see them all the time in Cohoes NY

Beautiful hat and warm. Wish you had the long coat to go with it. Then they would think you were the KGB. Lol. Great Update 🚂🚂🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

True freedom is no fear

Hello Mark! Thanks for the Update on your Adventures. Be Careful and stay Safe with Virus. 👍

"Line Up" Yard worker who I asked about where the trains were going. He says "HERE" pulls a lineup of which and when trains were coming thru Dillworth. Ya in the 90s.

Originally from Nebraska but in kentucky for work. You are making me feel anxious that I won't be able to take an actual winter when I go home shoe string lol

The sound is really great with the new camera. I hear almost no wind noise! You should be teaching geography- you know more about how this country is put together! I love getting the map to connect the dots. Head for Pennsylvania- our colors are glorious!

That Twistred Tea Half and Half is AMAZING.!!!! Half lemonade half iced tea YUM

Those are my parts! I took the train from Wilmer to Sioux Falls about 8 years ago. Goes right thru Camden State park. Lots of beautiful sights and you can really watch the landscape change in such a short trip.

Still sufferin down here in Mesa, AZ. Another 100°+ day, supposed to break soon though into I think the mid 90° range. Still hot but not too bad with a breeze, take care brother safe rails. 👍🏼

Lookin good champ and the audio was awesome no worries on the wind noise at my end. Thats a real nice winter hat you got too. Thx for making these👍

Shoestring that UP unit is an SD-70 MAC

Man I wish winter would get here in California. I’m tired of these fires.

I am very happy and honored to see the salt still has plenty of seasoning.God bless you💕🙏🌄

I’m literally 20 minutes from Willmar. Damn just missed yah. Another good video

You were north of me. I'm near Helena. You just missed winters start, been the most beautiful fall here in the Northern Rockies. God Bless and Be Well!

Animals and most humans don't like wind.

God bless both you and Jacob

Wow shoe!! The camera quality and filming is awesome! Next level!

So many dope names on that dumpster! Pear, Forte, fario, and now the legendary hobo shoestring🤘

Nice 24 min video s t a y warm and safe need to hobo down to the warm soon thanks for the view in your journey

Another great vid. I enjoy spending my mornings over coffee watching your latest posts...keep on rollin' and stay safe sir!

Thanks for the update Shoestring, stay warm my friend, safe travels.

Twisted Tea good drink! Thanks for sharing another non-boring show!!!👍👍👍👍

Great to see you posting. I was just talking about you at work today and wondering when you were going to upload.

I retired from CP 2 years ago…in calgary ab Canada ! Love your videos ..Stay safe 🤗😊

Sir, You are real gentleman of the railroad 👍

Wow, I like that pedestrian bridge over the 18 tracks at Willmar! That would be an awesome video all by itself showing a train going under it and showing a walk over it.

excellent video diary. i really enjoy seeing the tags and camps. thanks Shoe✅😎✌️

Hey! I live near the Willmar rail! Very cool area for photography! Willmar is known for Jennie-0. Let me know if you are ever in the area again!

I was out on the rails today too. Went to visit the Fostoria Ohio, Iron triangle railpark. that Hobo Strobe highlighted in one of his videos

Shoestring I always find it amazing how you just walk around on property and nobody bothers you. Not the engine crewman not the yard office guy in the background. I can't even drink a cup of coffee within 100 feet of looking at trains around Jacksonville Fl without a pickup truck driving up to investigate who I am and what I'm doing. Maybe the secret is to have a phone out and be filming ;) Stay safe continued good luck to you.

Btw, its Kandiyo(hi) as in "hi, how are you?" Not he. ❤

The St Cloud line ends a couple miles outside of town. They turned it into a bicycle, ski, snowmobile trail to Cold Spring Mn. They still use the turntable by the roundhouse to turn power units around.

Awesome video it made my day. Here in Amboy Ca. It will be 98 degrees. Dang it. I wish it was cold here for a change.

I know you know this but for those that dont, cross ties are extremely flammable from the creosote baked into them for durability. A few slivers with your knife and you can start a fire in wet conditions, however avoid breathing the creosote smoke. ✌ *Happy Rails* #HoboMeistro🎵####￦

My grandparents used to live in sight of that pedestrian bridge. My grandpa and I would walk across the bridge and look at the engines. We would find stuff like sleeping bags and lighters under the bridge. I even have a rail road spike sitting next me right now, that we picked up some 8 years ago. I was even at that Mcdonald's two weeks ago!

Shoestring we would have hired you in a minute , your sharp. Conrail steel gang Elkhart In , Retired!!

these sheds are now fenced off and no trespass signs posted all over..too many people blowing it up.. Ride safe Shoestring

Great video. Love the new phone.

From MN amazing videos!

I enjoy watching your adventures winter is coming fast soon the snow fly's

this Ol' Florida boy would be shivering to death up there....keep safe brother

Good to see you again shoestring. Had not seen you post in a few days and was wondering about ya. Glad to see your ok. God Bless.

FWIW...rain which evaporates prior to hitting the ground is called "Virga". At least that's what we called it out west.

Panama Coushatta said hi good job and be safe

Love the videos shoestring. Keep them coming!

I live in Willmar. Born and raised. Loved the video!!

Spent a couple cold nights at that Havre campout, nice to see I still got a tag there. Safe travels.

CP is cool. I like the all blue locomotives, I think those are MT Link. I really miss D&H and B&M

Thanks for the update!

Just found this. This video is as good as many of those documentaries on public TV. I hope you find a good warm place to hang out. They're saying it's going to be a cold La Niña this time. Stay safe!

Your narration of the cold and windy raw weather there in Willmar made me put on a sweater while watching this in my 75 degree living room... Brr!

Just found your channel and thought "oh, I wonder if he's ever been in havre".... and here we are

10:48 crazy seeing the walking bridge on a youtube video. I'm just a few blocks away from that very location. Been watching trains from it since a was a child. Very interesting breakdown which about the lines and where they go. Lived here my whole life and never knew this much about those lines. My grandpa retired from that very yard in '87 and told me a bit about it, but not in this kind of 1st hand detail. Thank you for that.

Glad your having fun. Stay safe

#4519 is an SD70-M. The Loco type is usually located on the cab side somewhere.

Shoestring, the Union Pacific locomotive 4519 is a SD70M. It was new in December of 2001.

Your phone works good,cant hear wind,on bridge ect....safe travels....

God bless safe trips

I live about an hour north of Willmar I've walked on the same tracks that he's riding on, pretty amazing

UP unit is a SD70M. Model Type is below and to the right of the number on the cab. That will tell you the designation of the unit.

You make riding the rails seem like a lot of "excitement and adventure" ! Being in North Dakota on a windy, cold, drizzly and dreary day seems like a long way from fun ! As you can see from the comments, Everyone is always concerned about your safety. It's always sad when the video ends.

That audio and video work.... Mark, your a natural... Sounds great even in the wind...

Awesome length video my friend, keep on keeping on shoestring!

Shoe, I sure would buy one of those cards with your tag on it I seen em in one of your videos there made of cardboard completely original,Ive gotta have one bruv!

Yes, it is a SD 70 M. (under the engine number and slightly to the rear. Above the access door by the cab corner.

Be Safe brother.

Very Education

Hey Shoestring, You were in my area [ Minot ] again. Be glad you got out when you did. It got down into the teens last night Fri. Oct.16, with windchill in single digits. Today Sat. Oct.17, it only got up to 26° with a windchill in the mid teens. I hope we can meet up some time. Stay Safe. BTW I have a hat just like that. Up north, here you have to have them, if you don't want to freeze your head, face, & ears. You will really like it.💂‍♂️

We did find your tag under the bridge in willmar this summer.

I saw that yard recently. It surprised me how massive it is.

Just stay safe, make it back, and start planning the next hop. PBWU

I live in Willmar. Train tracks use to be behind the old crib

Stay safe shoestring, those cinnamon sticks looked delicious 👍👍

Hope you're doing good shoestring, great video ✌️

Awesome!!! I'm from Havre montana, will follow you

Yeah, its starting to turn cool weather old pal. Winter be here soon. Z Dartt

Dang Shoestring I'm two years late but the next time you come around I'd like to have coffee with you & I'm buying TB:

Just seen dude on train from California to Florida. Was 12 hours on train thru cold conditions

Last time I was in Minot was during September probably 15 years ago. I still remember it got down to around 25 degrees that night. Minot is a cold and windy place.

Another interesting Video Sir your Knowledge is incredible have you been pursuing this Lifestyle many years , knowledge of Locomotives, types of freight hauled directions of the routes by different rail freight Companies If you ever get to billings Montana some big Coal hauling Trains up there

I dream of doing this all the time, you are living my dream!

good role model for someone tired of trying to fit in

Excellent ! Keep 'em com'in !

Willmar was the longest trip I took going west when I drove trucks out of central IL. Sucked because it was a Saturday delivery so I was gone most of the weekend when I wanted to be home

I live in webster SD between aberdeen and Watertown, the rail to aberdeen is 1 block from my house . I will keep my eye out for you next time I'm waiting at the tracks.