Sure you miss you Shoestring. Watching these videos just to hear your voice again. Rest easy

Will miss You Brother, had not seen this video before, every time I hear the lonesome sound of a train horn I will think of Mark!🛤🚂

Wow. You have enough stories for a book for sure. Yes a movie or documentary would be great but we enjoy these!

R.I.P MARK SHOESTRING NICHOLS

Loved this video made me feel like I was really sitting with you talking have a good one be happy stay safe

Great stories. You should keep doing these out on the road when you think of them. Stay safe and happy travels.

amazing stories i could listen to you for hours totally engrossed in it , its a shame here in the uk theres not much old stuff left or abandoned buildings etc they knock them down or burn them i miss the sense of adventure . guess that comes with " growing up" which im still refusing to do ! peace out stay safe !

Please share more! Your stories are great. Good imagination for me

Wow. That could have turned out horribly. I'm glad you got saved!!!

I realized after hearing you're great story that you've got over thirty years ridin' the rails. That's what I call a survivor. Have you ever met anyone that even comes close to matching that amount of time?

I've been binge watching your videos all morning, and these longer ones with the stories are great! you kind of remind me of my wife's grandpa.

It was real good of that male nurse to drive your gear to you! Loving the stories, thank you for this one and others - stay safe

Missing your videos shoestring. 😢

Thanks for telling the story about your fingers , I (like many others I suppose) wondered about how you actually lost them! Now we know! Great stories and video! Thanks again!

You know this? I watched quite a few of your latest videos and I never noticed you were missing three digits! That male nurse was very kind, it gives me hope in mankind when I hear things like that 👍😎

awesome to see you back to riding!

Who else sat sat up and leaned forward with your chin in your hands when he said Well...It was April 1991. ..His spitting every 30 seconds made the story more AWESOME. God bless you brother.

Excellent shoestring stories, I bet you have a ton more stories to tell

I love hearing your life stories. You live a life I could only dream about in my mind. I found a few videos when you’ve came through Columbus, Ohio and know exactly where you were filming from. God bless you and I thank you for your service in the Army 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I'm making a list of things not to do when I take my cross-country train hopping trip, First, don't drink on the train Second, don't ride in boxcar's Third, watch for Frost/ ice Fourth, absolutely under no circumstances should you ever drink wild Irish Rose or mad dog 20-20 of any flavor..lol Fifth , if you lose your phone try to replace or have a backup

Great stories. Stay safe and I really enjoy your videos.

I love hearing your stories shoestring ,it makes me feel like I'm there with ya , hope you are feeling better soon . God bless you man and I'll keep you in my prayers.

I know everyone who lives this lifestyle says it's not glamorous, but it looks like so much fun minus the losing digits and almost dying parts.

Wow. That nurse is awesome! And you are too! Thanks for sharing stories that we would never know except for guys like you!

Shoestring your videos are a source of amazing entertainment and they really help me learn more about the railroad and I pray you stay safe out there on the rails

The Boxcar story is Priceless

Fascinating stories, as always. Hope you are doing well, Shoestring. Godspeed

Good lessons. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing your story! So happy you are back out and riding again!

Interesting story! Thanks for sharing!

Hi Shoestring, Yeah that would be all it would take, that would drive a mad man sane. Take care Shoestring.

Great stories! Your delivery is impeccable. These need to be preserved for posterity. Stay safe Mark! Check out StoryCorps! It might be a great way to expand your KZfaq audience.

Thanks for the stories Shoestring. You’re a fascinating dude!

Wow, that was nice of that nurse to drive all that way with your gear.

This story regarding being locked in has to be one the best. A classic.

They were doing some work near this building last week. Not sure what's up but I can find out for you.

great story Shoe, i was curious how you lost your digits.✅😎✌️i guess the railroad ‘gods’ needed the fingers as sacrifice.

Lucky you didn't die that day. I was train hopping with my buddy Ralph Monk when we were kids approx. 45yrs ago in South Buffalo, N.Y. and he slipped walking between the couplers on a freight train goin' about 20 mph and his head was just about to get run over & I yanked him up with one hand & saved his life. A few years ago he left a very wonderful moving comment on FB thanking me for it; that was really nice of him. Thanks for sharing with us, be safe out there Shoestring and GOD Bless.

My youngest child is 12. If you are still riding get in 2026, I'd gladly ride a few miles with you. My retirement plan is... your life. You lucky sonamabish! Good luck to you, my friend. Here's to hoping I run into you one day. Until then, stay safe & ride on!

My dad rode when he was young and used to tell me stories about it, You help bring those back to me, Thanks

Damn man that was deep. I'm glad it was just your fingers and nothing else. I really enjoy your stories. God bless you my brother.

Thanks so much... great stuff

You’re a Great Storyteller! Great Details! 👍

You live a fascinating life. I'm curious, in this day and age of high security....what are the legal consequences if getting caught ?? Have you even gotten caught before???

Great show thanks👍🏻

Hah, I know those paper rolls very well. Used to drive for Schneider and hauled those all the time from paper mills in Alabama. Love your stories!! Thank you.

Outstanding. love your content.

Really enjoy your stories. Keep'm coming. I've read your blog of when you were in Flomaton, Al the day before you got arrested in Pensacola. Im from Flomaton and live just down the road from the tracks. Your stories are good and make your audience feel connected.

We need more people in the world like off duty cop and the male nurse

I always wanted to hear "the hand" story but didn't want to disrespect by asking. Thanks for sharing! Also, I hope we all could be like that nurse and do something extraordinary when given such a blatant opportunity. God bless and Godspeed!

Thank you for your stories Mark! I had been wondering how you had hurt your hand.

Those were Great stories and riveting ShoeString 😎 You are Soooo lucky to just lose but 2 fingers, OUCH, Dammit 😳 😪... A teenager near me was playing on a coupler ( yeah, dumb ) and when he got knocked off the coal train, the poor lad lost his entire left side arm & leg, from the wheels... He was lucky in the respect that another train appeared in only a couple minutes on the next track as he would have surely bled to death... He recounted afterwards that he counted 104 wheels ( 26 cars ) rolled over before the end of the train... He lived through all of that just to die from being hit on his wheelchair some 10 years later... He was a neighbor of my Aunt & Uncle...

That's What I Call Living free God bless your shoe string stay safe out there

That hoboin' is dangerous bidness.

You gotta get a book written my man! Your book in your words.

Wow man some crazy shit!! Love your channel! 🤟🏾

LOL....shades of Karl Childers at 2:52...... "Got any french fried per-taters in there ?" Great movie...John Boy and Billy radio show do a great Childers imitation.

Wow. This is the very 1st video I decided to watch on your channel. Crazy how I felt this was a good starting point to get to know just what you're about. Gained a subscription from me !

I have started to watch your posts and loving the story's of the past well with all in good thoughts I hope you continue to live your life for happiness, so I bid you a great day all the way from Ireland 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇺🇸

Very interesting to hear how you lost the fingers.

Man, I can see living this way by not having a choice, but to CHOOSE this. I've been homeless before. And the thing that strikes me most about these videos, are that most of the things that riding the rails must deal with are the same things that homeless deal with. And having been homeless before, I'd NEVER choose to go through all of that. I don't know whether to admire those who choose this, or to advise them to seek mental health. Living that life is harder than having 2 or 3 jobs. I guess you gotta respect that. Whatever it is, bless you brutha.

I love your Carl Impression

I watch your videos everyday.thanks shoestring ,ur so free ,stay safe..

Thank you for your service

these are excellent Hobo. love these specials and stories.

Shoestring your funny your impression of sling blade what you got good in there to eat lolol 🤣

IF I was staying there , I'd damn sure try and clean that place UP ! Just cause a body is POOR , doesn't mean they have to live in filth . Stay safe SS , you're King of THE Hobo's........

I love watching your videos it makes my day alote better

MD 20 20 used to send everyone asleep lol man that crap was heavy back in the day.

my dude, you are hooked up with the snacks, imma start trainhopping with you lol.

THANKS BUD.

Awesome stories

Ya got any french fried pataters in there? uhhm. Classic flick. 👍🏻

Holy f&@k, Shoestring! You left your fingers with the railroads! Such a price to pay for hopping freights!😔

Boxcar story very funny. Good u were ok. 👏🏾😎🇺🇸👏🏾

I worked with shipping containers. If I had to go inside, I always re closed and locked the latch closest to the hinge. Sometimes the wind would blow a door shut and If you didn't have that first latch closed on the open door, the momentum of the door moving would lock the door. No way out.

I was just tellin my brother paper rolls we seen em.

'WHAT CHA GOT IN THERE THATS GOOD TO EAT' Slingblade - got a good chuckle out of that --- LOL thanks for that laugh...

Looking good man cool videos you've been putting out lately. Perfect timing too man. This should be a good summer

Damn shoe that sucks! But at least you lived to tell the tale.

Great stories! Thanks Shoestring.

Hey bud, I just looked for 45 min trying to find this story lol. New subscriber here. Hope you pull through the covid bud. Much love from Maine!

Oh man, I'm so glad you stopped that drinkin....... Your very necessary for humanity to live and tell the story... of the Hobo....For real. Your teachings are necessary for humanity.

You always put a spike in the door track to stop it from slamming shut on you

Love those stories

Yep paper and paper dust on the floors too

I remember seeing a huge 🐻 bear in the James river one morning when crossing over it.

Enjoying the stories.

Those damn things go into storage more often than not. Lucky.

Howlin' Wolf "Smokestack Lightning" Live 1964 (Reelin' In The Years Archives)

please do not open plug door cars. The reason that worker closed that door is that it can slid off the end of the track and fall off. It puts railroad works at risk of death as well as the public near crossing and station platforms. I know because it happened to someone I worked with. Those doors are around 4000 ILBs

Thank goodness you are ok

Nothing worse than the yard in Topeka Kansas... I ended up walking 30 miles to catch out...

U sound like a cool dude could tell some amazing stories

I’m from Pittsburg, KS most of the people around here are good folks! I’m sure the police didn’t have much else to do but give you a trespass ticket not a heck of allot going on around here!

You should write a hobo story book. I also thought you lost your fingers in the car accident. Crazy.

cool content bro. im glad to see people respecting eachothers things

Love you shoestring!!!!

My great uncle fell off a train and lost his leg, almost. They put him in a boat and brought him across the river in small boat and took it off the rest of the way on the couch in the living room.

I always wondered what happened to shoestrings hand but I didn't want to ask. Glad your ok though.