This man has left such a great legacy through these videos and didn’t even realize it at the time. What a treasure of Americana… a train hoppin hobo.

RIP Shoestring. Thank you for of these videos which are ours to remember you by. I may even buy one of your shirts

I literally just went to look for any Hobo Shoestring videos I haven't finished or seen yet and see this was uploaded two minutes ago. What a pleasant surprise.

Godspeed Mr. Nichols, We Thank you for all you gave, and have given.. R.I.P Shoestring,, You will be missed..✌

RIP Shoestring 😥. I pray your riding in luxury on the big train in heaven. Thanks for the years of memories.

"RIP Mark Nichols aka "Hobo Shoestring" In the shadows of the train yard, 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 joy 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. You will always be missed Hobo Shoestring...🥲🚂❤️💯 Sincerely, Lynn Cagle

Good to see you Hobo, hope you are doing well!

Shoestring, you are truly “free”. Most of us wish we could be free like you. Glorious eternal journeys. Peace.

I remember couple years back you were in north Dakota outside Bismark, it was cold 🥶 and you stayed between those two little buildings near the tracks, then you stayed under that semi trailer, had crates on the sides to hide you, stay safe out there shoestring. 👍

I still can't get over, you out free and easy enjoying life , after all those health problems.

A “milk train” or “milk run” was common in the northeast where farmers sent fresh milk to larger dairies by train, the stops picked up milk cans with cars refrigerated with ice. Because they stopped at nearly every small town, all along the route they were the ultimate stop&go trips

Glad to see you're still livin the dream Shoestring~!!

Greetings from London U.K..my dad was born in South Dakota in 1909. My grandad was a Cornish tin miner who went to South Dakota to mine ..came back to Cornwall in 1911

nice - thanks for the vid sir. My daddy rode that line as a child after they lost the farm outside of Minot. Ended up in Seattle and g'ma worked at the veterans hospital out here.

Keep your buns out of sight Shoestring!! And stay safe out there!! I pray things start rolling smoother for you along your way. ✝️🙏💜🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🇺🇸💜

Awesome ride Shoestring! Beautiful countryside there! Thanks for sharing it with us! Stay safe and Happy Rails!👍

Such a great video! I love seeing Hobo Shoestring riding a 130 ton ‘grainer’ and telling a story with his deeply melodic voice and uniquely storytelling prose. I get hooked every time! Keep it up Shoestring! You mean a lot of different things to a lot of people. We all enjoy your travels and stories on the railways… ❤

That was fun and nostalgic for me. Thanks, Shoestring! I road this line in the opposite direction from Chicago. Got off in Havre, MT 2 or 3 days later because I ran out of water and food. I ate at Pizzahut. I remember being able to see my train I got off of while eating pizza. Went back hoping to catch the same train then got busted, but thankfully he just escorted me out of the yard with advise to catch out in the early early morning. It was the same day Mike Tyson bit Holyfield's ear, June 28, 1997. I remember, because I got a room at a motel and watched a White Sox game. Also went out to some old lounge that had great locals. The next morning caught the hi-line to whitefish and then went on to Portland. Still one of the longest most beautiful rides I've taken. Now I gotta watch your Sandpoint and Idahobo vid!

Great to see Shoestring again and back on the tracks doing what he loves and riding the trains.🤠👍 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🇺🇸💨

You are a classic hobo, shoestring. You make us folks wish we were as seasoned a train hopper as you are.

It was 2024 when I started watching you walking that line didn't know where you were ending but you knew you had the time you riding im watching can't even walk now you entertained us when you went out to ride from the bull's you knew how to hide so happy you looked in high heat and snow R.I.P hobo Shoestring till we meet again and continue your Great Show!!!

Your videos are better than 95% the shit on Netflix, thats why we and YT are lucky to have you

Yay Montana, and also North Dakota. Grew up up there as a railroading family. Trains rule!!!!!! Father worked for the Great Northern at Whitefish.

RIP SHOESTRING! He was missing for a few days in March 2024 and his body was found by some fishermen in the lake close to where he lived.

Great ride Shoestring, thanks for taking us along!

Good day mark i am happy you are doing very well. Stay safe my friend. 👍🙏🚂🚃🚃🚃 🇨🇦

Who really knows what lurks in the hearts of men? The Hobo Shadow knows. Hobo experiences the high line of Mr. Hill and the Great Northern Railway system across Montana. Route of the famous Empire Builder and Glacier Park and Rocky the mountain goat.

Spent the night in Williston in the middle of a big snow storm in April, 1986. We were driving to Minot from Great Falls for Air Force business - TDY for 179 days.

Thanks again for the ride along Shoestring, you're good company 😊😊😊😊

wow, theres some peaceful scenery out there! great video, hope you stay well!

June 1st and I just found out about Shoestring....... Coolest guy I've never met but, his spirit will live on with all of us that have watched his YT channel!

Some people love the ocean or the high seas. I love the high plains. Especially where there are buttes and mountains in the distance. Kinda like an island sticking up out of the water.

If your Boxcar a'rockin...don't bother knocking..thanks Shoestring

That was just plain pure- D good train riding . Hobo Shoestring an expert. One of the greatest hobos of our era.

Beautiful but desolate country out there in the Upper Plains. Very different from here in Tennessee. Safe travels Shoestring. I love watching your videos. God Bless.

Watching your Videos sooths my troubled soul and sets me free through your travels and adventures. Thank you. Safe travels Shoestring 🙏

My life is dull as dirt. I appreciate your videos.

Looky here,,,a brand spankin new video from my favorite Hobo shoestring / aka Brother M !! i love the crap outta that coffee !!!

He is great n so are y’all 🤟👍

22:15. LOLOL!!! Anyone Else Catch The Missed Easy 10 Yard Field Goal?? LOL.. Come On Shoestring you have better aim than that... Lololol.. Your The Best Buddy, Great Laugh...😂

Glad to see your still out doing what you love most in life!!!!

I rewatch all your old videos an enjoy watching your new videos Hobo Shoestring. Safe travels.

That's good stuff Shoestring. I bet the heart was pumping fast when you thought the Police was waiting on you.

Just watching Marks videos that I haven't seen yet, RIP Shoestring.........miss ya

Lookin good old mate!

Hay S.S. in BIG SKY country. Real glad to see you back,I was getting fobick 😉〰️〰️happy trails 👣 my friend,,be safe.

north dakota- where you can watch your dog run away from home for 3 days

Been through the yard at Shelby a bunch of times on Amtrak's Empire Builder....absolutely love Shelby and especially Whitefish.....safe travels Hobo

Wow just mind blowing seeing the vastness of the great plains. Thanks for sharing and safe travels sir.

One thing I love about Shoestrings vids, if I’m in a bit of a crush for time, I can play at 1.25 or 1.50 and get through it and enjoy just as much. Love the content.

Great video. This is what it is all about. Thank You, Shoestring, stay safe.

FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! Hope your doing well Shoestring :)

Awesome video Shoestring. It’s amazing how much knowledge you’ve accumulated over the years and how much you need to rail-ride. I’d love for you to do more videos about your camping and survival tips. It’s really interesting! Stay safe

41:00 the train crossing the bridge sounds like the Terminator music 😀

Shoe shine don't forget to stop at grand forks nd its very exciting

Just think Shoestring, you were traveling in the footsteps of the 7th Cavalry under Custer which they traveled in the days before Little Big Horn. Its pretty cool to see the Dakota territory in all of vastness.

Watch your videos all the time, I love the knowledge you share with everyone about trains. Watching your videos allows me to do what I can't lol. I would love to try it sometime but I would end up with my luck south of the border. The views are my favorite of the places you go through. Will keep you in my prayers. Thank you for the videos Shoestring. Best regards ,RJSELBY

Shoestring Army 4 Life

Always enjoy your videos - thank you for sharing your experiences and railroad terminology 🚂🚞🚞🚞🚞

This is awesome, I rode the empire builder amtrak from Fargo to Seattle and back and saw all of this, incredible scenery, it's awesome to see a Hobo's pov vs a passenger!

Good to see you old time✌🏽 I wanna roll with ya so bad🤣 Been 20 years since I hopped a freight but damn it feels like yesterday when I watch your videos. Been to lots of the places you reveal🤙🏽 Safe travels mister

A classic. Great weather. Love the blue skies and prairie scenery. Nice smooth axle on the ride.

THANKS SHOESTRING

Just finishing my railfan trip in the east. Currently in Dalton,GA. Was in Bulls Gap a couple days ago and they have a small museum there. Not very much traffic north of Roanoke in Shenandoah Valley

The life I couldn't do,but wish I could....thank you shoestring, I bet many would say this.

Killer bra another GRATE‼️ production by the one and only‼️ ya🤘✔️

Hey, I know your route! Me and my sisters were bike tramps for 2.5 months going from Portland, OR to Portland, ME. We took an Amtrak from Whitefish to Shelby since Glacier was looking expensive. We paralleled the BNSF for the first half anyway. I wonder how easy it would've been to stash a road bike on a grainer? Take care, thanks, Mr. Shoestring!

Awesome and I just ran out of stuff to watch on you tube! 🤠

Shroom says: Thank-You Shoestring, my carcus wouldn't last long hopping the tracks these days. But I feel like I'm traveling again when I watch your videos😂❤😊😊

How this video has brought back memories of my past. Haven't ridden since 96 but seeing some tags brought me a smile, Boone & Jane, Big Bubba, Modoc have shared a boxcar or 2 with me miss these people and many more maybe one day I'll see my tag sometime out west or the highline. DoG with a joint hope to see it one day.

Like new t shirts , grab some merch. HAPPY RAILS . OH YEAH been on amtrack thru once . SAFE RAILS SHOWDOW MAN 🎉

9:54. April 1990, I was a young (21 yo) army specialist going through phase 3 of 3 eod school Redstone Alabama .😅😅😅😅And today(sep'23) I'm going on almost 3 million miles of trucking... Thanks for the memories

Thanks HOBO SHOESTRING. A lot of fun and interesting things going on your train hopping. Hope your Sunday dinner is a good one. From New York

Beautiful scenery! TY!

Mexico has a train ride thru Cooper Canyon! The El Chappee! I would like to go on this ride with one. Yet, Paul is just too sick to go, the liver and the kidneys. Am doing my best to care for me. Just staying at home is not much fun. Yet, I do what I have to do. The packs are on the front purch. Ring the bell for me to bring down the stuff to put into the pack. I really don't want much company either. This fifteen-hour course started at sea level, crossed the Continental Divide, and eventually stopped in the high plains of Chihuahua. For 400 miles, through 86 tunnels, and five climactic zones, over 37 bridges, up and down steep grades, el Chepe rumbled along its track. It is recommended to get three or four stops on the ticket along the way. The cooper canyon has nine canyons inside of it or mountain ranges. They mine gold and silver from this canyon too. No cooper. The stuff I have for one is free. One is just getting a friendly hand up from me that's it. Enjoy the riding and go as far as one can go. I always came back to Youngstown Ohio after most of my trips. Paul in Ohio

Welcome to ND! If you get to Fargo by Thursday, you will have to check out Big Iron in the West Fargo Fairgrounds.

Hey Mark, I came across your gold panning video in alaska a couple of weeks ago and I couldn’t help but noticed you look really familiar minus the grey hair & missing fingers. I use to ride the rails between Casper & Billings back in the mid to late 90’s and went by the name Weasel or DocHollywood. If I couldn’t find an open boxcar then I’d try to find a grain car w/those open cubbyholes so the bulls cant see ya and if those weren’t available then I’d have to wait for the next train rolling thru. Safe travels Shoestring 🍻

Thanks for the video

You stopped in Devon; my Grampa is buried just north of the tracks!!

Mr Shoestring, I would like to suggest you put a book together of your stories, rememberances of past riders and expirences from your years on the rails. I think you have a lot to share, and are a thoughtful person.

Belting over the prairie,you could feel the power of your ride,I enjoyed that journey as much as you did Shoe!

28:29 Sadly yes, yes it is Shoestring. But lucky for us you've got the barn full so we can feast for year's on your bounty. Peace Brother.

Love these videos , your enthusiasm, knowledge and insight Shoestring! What an amazing way to see our beautiful country. Although I don't have any career regrets I do wish I had joined the railroads or at least been a train Hopper! KeepSafe and as always thank you for your service!

What a beautiful view 😍😍 Mr. Shoestring, thank you for giving me the opportunity to travel with you on your adventures 💯🙌 God's speed my friend & safe travels 🥾 🥾 🙏

I had a great great uncle who was a sheriff in a county in South Dakota back in the early mid 20th century. He knew just about every person in the county. He had permission from the farmers and ranchers to cut across their land in an emergency. He'd go through a gate and just barrel across their land rather than add time following the roads as some of those farms and ranches are huge.

Looks like it was nice ride! Take care out there.

One of his last good trips better than most for ever a legend rest in peace shoestring 2024

Nice!

Hobo shoestring you might want to write a couple of books. think about it man I really think they'd do good thanks 🇺🇸✌️

I will remember back in sixty eight going through That part of the country on highway 2 going to micbegin.

The last time I was in Shelby on a train was the Empire Builder. Whew, that was a classy ride ❤

That made my evening

Great video Shoe. Good to see you out there enjoying life and the freedom that so many of us wish we could. Take care brother. Be safe, stay warm and watch out for the bulls. God bless💕

A lot of history and good memories on that wall!!

Any chance you can show us how to tape up a water jug ? and maybe a couple other little tricks you might know ....Thanks Shoestring !

Those old tags are cool!👍

A#1 highballing sitting on the porch look out for shack hes always lurking enjoying riding the lightning. 😮🎉

Happy Rails ole buddy. 👍🏻

Beautiful country we live in. You're lucky to get to experience it like you do. Stay safe my friend. God bless.

I was driving through Shelby on 15 September westbound up to Glacier and spent night in Kalispell. The security fellow in Havre gave me a nice overview of the big yard and the depot. Had been on US2 The Highline all the way from Minnesota to Idaho. You be careful.