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Message
RIP Hobo Shoestring
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:06 am
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:06 am
Hobo Shoestring YT link (about 5 minutes)
Really good dude. Loved riding freight trains, his videos are interesting.
I’m fairly certain he’s from Louisiana he talks about New Roads and other areas. His sister definitely lives in LA.
He was found in a lake behind his apartment in Johnson City, TN.
Check him out sometime. Blessings to his family.
Really good dude. Loved riding freight trains, his videos are interesting.
I’m fairly certain he’s from Louisiana he talks about New Roads and other areas. His sister definitely lives in LA.
He was found in a lake behind his apartment in Johnson City, TN.
Check him out sometime. Blessings to his family.
9
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:15 am to WalkonQB
Used to watch some of his train hopping vids. Unique guy, who fought some mental illness.
In a world of frauds on social media, he was a breath of fresh air.
In a world of frauds on social media, he was a breath of fresh air.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:15 am to WalkonQB
I live up in NE Tennessee and he was low key celebrity. He lived life his way. RIP
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:16 am to WalkonQB
HoboDickCheese is in mourning.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:23 am to RogerTheShrubber
Yeah, according to him the train somehow helped his mental condition.
Very open and honest gentleman.
Very open and honest gentleman.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:25 am to WalkonQB
quote:
He was found in a lake behind his apartment in Johnson City, TN.
Foul play?
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:27 am to 0x15E
No indication that chickens or ducks were involved.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:27 am to 0x15E
They are still investigating.
Here’s his obituary in case someone might know these folks:
Mark Wayne "Shoestring" Nichols, 53, of Johnson City, TN, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Mark lived his life on his own terms, bound only by his desire for adventure and love of the rails. Through hundreds of online videos, Mark shared his life and knowledge of traveling with hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide.
Mark was a diligent and loving son to his mother and a steadfast friend to his siblings. He is preceded in death by his father James Nichols, grandmother Mertice Montgomery, and grandfather Guy Montgomery. He is survived by his mother Karen Montgomery, siblings Ross Nichols, Mary Nichols, and Jessica Nichols, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are being made and will be announced at a later time.
ETA: Jessica or Mary lives in Louisiana
Here’s his obituary in case someone might know these folks:
Mark Wayne "Shoestring" Nichols, 53, of Johnson City, TN, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Mark lived his life on his own terms, bound only by his desire for adventure and love of the rails. Through hundreds of online videos, Mark shared his life and knowledge of traveling with hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide.
Mark was a diligent and loving son to his mother and a steadfast friend to his siblings. He is preceded in death by his father James Nichols, grandmother Mertice Montgomery, and grandfather Guy Montgomery. He is survived by his mother Karen Montgomery, siblings Ross Nichols, Mary Nichols, and Jessica Nichols, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are being made and will be announced at a later time.
ETA: Jessica or Mary lives in Louisiana
This post was edited on 5/10/24 at 7:29 am
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:29 am to WalkonQB
Used to see shoestring's graffiti on quite a few freight cars. I have photos of a few.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:30 am to chinhoyang
Can you post one?
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:31 am to WalkonQB
Has chinyohang been questioned yet?
He was known to ride the rails.
He was known to ride the rails.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:31 am to WalkonQB
quote:
Mark Wayne "Shoestring" Nichols, 53,
Lord. I can't believe he and I are the same age
Based on his videos I thought he was in his 70s.
I loved his stuff. Watched one where he ended up on a ferry to Alaska.
Seeing the places he would sleep and camp reminded me how little we really need to get by.
He's one of those guys that 100 years from now people will be writing PhD thesis about and analyzing his travels etc. Very unique guy.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:34 am to WalkonQB
The little marks made by hoboes are interesting. Shoestring's are in the top five for frequency (at least around here).
ETA: The marking was 1992. The photograph was like around 2008.
ETA: The marking was 1992. The photograph was like around 2008.
This post was edited on 5/10/24 at 7:40 am
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:36 am to No Colors
quote:
Watched one where he ended up on a ferry to Alaska.
One of my favorites. He was so happy on that Alaska trip.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:38 am to chinhoyang
I used to take a lot of railroad photographs. I would quit taking pictures once the train passed. Then, to pass the time I started taking graffiti photographs.
I wish now I had taken more of the hobo markings on the cars.
This hobo (and another called raildog) seem to have the most common marks. This guy puts a different saying on every mark.
I wish now I had taken more of the hobo markings on the cars.
This hobo (and another called raildog) seem to have the most common marks. This guy puts a different saying on every mark.
This post was edited on 5/10/24 at 7:42 am
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:46 am to chinhoyang
I think they call them “tags.” What was amazing was everywhere he went he’d show his tags from being there previously.
God only knows how many miles that man traveled.
Like No Colors said, everything he owned at one point fit in a backpack and five gallon bucket but he was free.
God only knows how many miles that man traveled.
Like No Colors said, everything he owned at one point fit in a backpack and five gallon bucket but he was free.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:47 am to chinhoyang
Some random hobo marks - I have 1000's of graffit photos but I wish I had made more of these hobo marks:
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:49 am to WalkonQB
In the early 2000s, I was taking some train photos in Shreveport on a bone chilling day. I was downtown under the Common Street overpass. I hear a woman's voice say "are you a rail aficionado?" I answered "yes." "We're rail riders." They came out and we visited. I went and brought them some hot coffee.
Later, they were on the South side of I-20. His name was John, the girl was Samoan. They lived in Washington state and they would ride the trains up into the mountains, spend the day away from everyone else, and then return. He had a job in Baton Rouge and they decided to take the train. At one time, I had their email (they wanted copies of the photos).
Most of the people you see in Shreveport riding the trains are local bums hitching a short ride through town.
Later, they were on the South side of I-20. His name was John, the girl was Samoan. They lived in Washington state and they would ride the trains up into the mountains, spend the day away from everyone else, and then return. He had a job in Baton Rouge and they decided to take the train. At one time, I had their email (they wanted copies of the photos).
Most of the people you see in Shreveport riding the trains are local bums hitching a short ride through town.
This post was edited on 5/10/24 at 8:06 am
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:54 am to chinhoyang
quote:
chinhoyang
You should publish a book, I would buy a book of these photos. shite is the last folk history that resembles the old days.
In a world of seconds-generated art, these matter more, imo.
Posted on 5/10/24 at 7:54 am to WalkonQB
I've watched quite a few of his videos. He battled a lot of health problems, iirc. Interesting guy. Loved the trains.
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