re: RIP Hobo Shoestring

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.