Rail knowledge while we wait to pull (See description) ~~~

[@tedhansen3846]

200,000 people agree that Mark "Hobo Shoestring" evokes an interest in His life. Would be an awesome movie

[@DanEBoyd]

These are my favorite videos, where Shoestring is not on a moving train, and is giving a lengthy lecture chock full of facts and knowledge of the rail world - especially the ones where he is just walking the yard checking out equipment.

[@benmussolini2284]

I like these videos ,he does everything nice and slow ,and explains things ,perfect.

[@rayfoley1966]

He's very knowledgeable ben mussolini. I'm a retired train engineer who worked 40years. Enjoy his presentations!

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Thank y'all

[@aakashhegde6440]

True dat!! Best channel hands down

[@MichaelMccune-d8k]

Shoestring seems like a very cool person very smart

[@jimhammer3055]

Ive studied railroads all my life and love your point of view and info.

[@rogermelancon3957]

Riding and learning , great combo. It proves that at 75 I can still learn.

[@ineverplay1]

I may have a good job and a decent home but you are living one of my fantasies everyday. I've always wanted to be free from expectations and enjoy traveling and sightseeing. Bless you shoestring! I hope you stay safe and keep uploading videos! ✌️👍

[@hushmonitor9150]

first time seeing shoestring, instantly like the gentleman , lot of knowledge ,,, subscribed and hit the bell ,, 2 thumbs up

[@camerakid76]

Well damn! Talk about a cliffhanger!

[@jungojerry1658]

I don't feel right when I'm clean. Luv it.

[@paulredinger420]

I envy the life you have and the country you've seen. Happy trails!

[@dingdingding4033]

You are a wealth of knowledge, thank you for making videos. I enjoy just listening to you talk about things, I know very little.. but I learn alot here!

[@Theleftroad]

Hi Shoestring! Love your videos. When I was younger, I used to jump the log trains heading from the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, heading to the mills of the Willamette valley.

[@Trainman-cw1zl]

you know what the best part about this is watching your videos remind me of when I was five years old used to hop on open-door box cars when they used to go by my Granny'sNorfolk Southern used to run a rail line in Canton North Carolina called the Murphy branch and there's one part of the line where my granny lives at where it's just a steep grade going up so one day a train a long train on a weekend came up that grade going around 10 to 5 miles an hour I decided to hop on an Open door boxcar took me a ride all the way into the rail yard of Canton

[@moregltfirephotography4857]

Wow how did u get home?

[@kainhall]

1 short horn = stopped and set 2 shorts = moving forward 3 shorts = pushing backwards long long short long = going over a road level crossing

[@KutWrite]

A couple of details for ya, Shoestring: 1. The air you heard was when the conductor reconnected the air hose and opened the air valve to the locomotive. That pumped up the air to something less than 90 PSI in all the hoses, pipes and those reservoir tanks. The train was probably in emergency when they separated the hose by uncoupling the cars to set off. So some air probably hissed into the brake cylinders by each pair of wheels to firm up the applied brakes. 2. To release the brakes, the engineer would open the "automatic" air brake valve in the cab. This would bring the brake pipe pressure back up to the max of 90 PSI. Each car's sensing valve sees the difference in pressure and bleeds air out FROM each brake's actuating cylinder (not the big tank, but a smaller one by each truck. That moves the piston which moves a bar which releases the brakes. 3. To apply the brakes, the engineer opens a valve to > reduce < the pressure in the brake pipe. That reduction opens a valve which bleeds air from the tank you pointed out on each car to the actuating cylinder I described in #2 to apply the brakes. 4. The coupler you pointed out is called a "shelf coupler." Its purpose is as you described.

[@KutWrite]

@Alverthorpe: You're doing so well. The therapy and meds must be helping!

[@joshskalicky779]

Shut up

[@tjprptchable]

Now this is a real hobo this man knows his nolage for trains and survival safe travel's.

[@akghound]

Welcome aboard! Good to see you back on a train. God Bless and Be Well.

[@rushmore120]

Shoestring, you know a lot of the parts of the cars...I spent 36 years as a Carman in Proviso..Good luck in your travels..

[@aaaricmondroofing1703]

much love keep on ,keeping on the Rails of the Legendary Hobo Shoestring

[@stevexray6253]

Safe Journey! That guy in the woods don't know it but he's on a Shoestring video.

[@birdman2673]

Needs to be more observant I suppose.

[@andrewnorris1514]

What guy?

[@coloradostrong]

@@andrewnorris1514 The guy in the woods wearing orange shorts at 14:20

[@marcelbourreau6174]

Hiya Shoestring. Thanks for the great commentary. Safe travels and look forward to your next video. God bless and keep safe.

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Thank you

[@eatonbeaver6083]

The air tank on the car you pointed out is what actually applies the brakes on the car. Each car has a "triple valve" assembly to control the brakes. When the engineer wants to apply the brakes the air pressure in the train line is lowered. This is the line connected to each car through the hoses between cars. When the air pressure in the cars air tank is higher than the train line pressure a slide valve moves to a position to allow air to flow from the tank to the cars brake cylinder. This pushes a brake piston out of the cylinder and through linkage presses the brake shoes against the wheels. The brake piston is the silver bar you have pointed out in a couple of your videos. Air continues to flow until the car tank pressure equals the train line pressure. So a 6 pound reduction in the train line results in a 6 pound brake cylinder pressure. When the brakes are released the train line pressure goes higher than the cars tank pressure and the slide valve moves into a position that blocks the air path from tank to brake cylinder and opens two other paths. One allows air from the train line to refill the car air tank. The other is connected to the brake cylinder and exhausts the air in the cylinder outside. Springs in the brake linkage push the brake piston back into the cylinder releasing the brakes. Its a fail safe design so if the train came apart or if the train line is disconnected the train line air will drop and the brakes on the cars will apply maximum pressure.

[@iraispreciado9641]

I will like to hear all the good storeys you have thru the years good job keep safe out there

[@charlie-talbottalbot5472]

Its just beautiful listening to you man

[@virginiaorganbuilder]

Clifton Forge! I helped build the organ in the baptist church there... AND you're a piano tech...And a railroad expert...

[@Wassupitsmike]

Love these videos. Lots of info.

[@jg-xx8oh]

85 pound knuckle they used plastic pins now! the pin just hold the knuckle to coupler from falling on your foot if you take the pin out with the coupler closed they still will pull anywhere you what to go.Railway conductor myself years ago

[@garyhotchkiss4207]

God bless you "SHOESTRING". Love the videos.

[@jbrat1967]

I wouldn’t mention yard guys at all. They could get made.

[@ResidentOfTheAbyss]

I’ve probably learned more about train stuff from watching your videos than anywhere else

[@rp7879]

Not all of it is accurate.

[@logosoul76]

Great to see you're back on the rails brother. A classic quote from a true hobo was, "Startin' to get the ol' hobo look back . . . Don't feel right when I'm clean." I'm sure that sense of freedom makes it all worthwhile. I pray God's blessings and protection over you.

[@sorrycharlie5773]

Skin yer in.. 😘

[@TILEBOSS]

Good to see ya back on the rails buddy !!

[@chrisherman7531]

I drive truck for UPS Freight...heavy freight division of UPS. I use the railroad horn patterns at work. 2 for moving forward and 3 for reverse....

[@uuuultra]

R.I.P. Shoestring 🕯

[@cobrasvt347]

Ya need a radio there shoestring ya'd know what the hells a goin on then. 👍and if they spotted ya ya'd hear bout it before they caught ya.

[@sorrycharlie5773]

He's old School..😎

[@tadheath5856]

I love these videos...they arent scripted!!!!...😂 ..yes and safe journey my friend!!!! Stay safe and take care!!!!!!

[@MarkInLA]

I believe the tall coupler at17:25 is not for bumping up and down. It's a safety coupler for cars of this type and tank cars. It prevents the cars from climbing and puncturing one another in a pile up from a collision..Tanks and hoppers can have flammable contents.

[@TheHoboShoestring]

That makes sense. I try thinking outside the box for logical answers and usually I'm right but that climbing coupler makes sense. I actually can visualize it. Thanks for the reply

[@herpnderpn2484]

You take about the couplers, figured I'd give some neat things. The jaw will typically break at 400,000 lbs and the draft gear can be ripped out at 500,000lbs. The design was put in some time in the 1870's I think. After the civil war, the north forced air brakes on the south. It wasn't because the civil war, more that the southern based companies didnt want to invest in them. The wheels used to be made of paper. The axle had a hub on each end, then about 4 inches of paper, then the hub for the tire. Rode fairly good too.

[@cdavid8139]

From my understanding the first real air brakes did not come into play until well into the 1870s. They were not mandated until the 1890s or so....well after the civil war.

[@herpnderpn2484]

@@cdavid8139 First air brake was 1869. The safety brake was in 72. By 74, most had adopted it. Nearly all of the hundreds of rail lines had adopted it by 1880, except in the south. Quite a few railways in the south fought it till the mandate. The newly formed Southern Railway (1894) fought it until 1911. They did not want to invest in the new technology. The southern states and citizens were still quite sore about the Civil War pretty much up to the Great Depression (and after to some extent) and most saw it as the North forcing things on the South. It was treated as a states rights issue till the end, the same way California fought the Federal gov for years from the 90's to the early teens about marijuana.

[@jeffgarrett2114]

A great Brakeman is always missing a few fingers because in the steam era they put the pin in the coupler manually when the locomotive was backing up and it would pinch off a finger or two when the knuckles met.

[@billglaser]

*Crunch! 😖

[@cdavid8139]

sounds like a brakeman with missing fingers was a lousy brakeman

[@risingpower]

stay safe out there shoestring!

[@mattmoschkau84]

The coupler on the tank car is called a double e shelf coupler. It’s a requirement and it’s design is to prevent the couplers from going above or below in a derailment, also during coupling. It’s basically to prevent end punctures on tank cars. Locomotives are required to have lower shelf couplers and all other cars can have a standard shelf coupler. The pins on couplers rarely break since there isn’t a high stress on them. The knuckle when closed actually has a protrusion behind it that locks inside the coupler, so the actually face that bares the load is a large area. Usually a busted knuckle occurs from an impact such as taking the slack out or running the slack in. The exterior face breaks off, it’s mostly operator error but overlooked because it happens.

[@levisweet979]

This Man inspires me.

[@cinama]

You’re a true inspiration brother! Sending you lots of love from upstate NY

[@chrisherman7531]

Thank you Shoestring!! I've learned so much from your videos!!

[@desktorp]

you're a dead ringer for master roshi, sir

[@brianchambers1515]

You could tell that guy seen you he squatted down and pointed his camera right at you and probably zoomed in I'm addicted to your videos now sir God be with you on your journey

[@johnroberts7924]

You fill the gaps Shoestring! Stay safe buddy!

[@SW-jw6il]

😎 i’m hooked !! keep on hoboin

[@garthgeitz2724]

Shoestring, your videos are so addictive

[@blazemcwolf2901]

I really love the video of u showing train stuff at your home I really love trains

[@Anchor-Tractor-Man]

It's interesting you mention Chillicothe, OH in this video. I live in Chillicothe and fish near the train trestle that crosses Scioto River. Lot of train and coal activity. I enjoy your videos Ol Shoestring

[@sorrycharlie5773]

Old brick's here in Virginia from them..

[@TIXX41]

Love watching this guy love his stories and it’s relaxing to watch his videos vary smart man. Hey shoestring if your ever in Alberta Canada let me know I got a bed for you and a hot meal

[@hadleymanmusic]

When you zoomed in he was bendin down lightin it up.

[@ohboy2592]

I’ve seen your sign on several cars. Stay safe out there.

[@cmphighpower]

Westinghouse invented air brakes

[@kman-mi7su]

Yes, George Westinghouse. He's also the man behind AC current electricity in houses today.

[@aone6540]

@@kman-mi7su No - Westinghouse bought the AC technology from Mr. Tesla.

[@KutWrite]

@@kman-mi7su: Yes he funded Nikola Tesla who battled Edison,who wanted only DC used in homes and for transmission.

[@bonnieblueflag5104]

@@KutWrite you can't push dc current nearly as far as you can a.c. current, that's why it caught on.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

I thought all technology came from India. I’m disturbed.

[@gingervytis]

I know about hiding from passing trains. As a kid, I'd visit the interconnect tower at Walkerton, IN. where four or five railroads crossed. The operator would let me hang around, but when a train would pass below, he'd tell me to duck down so no one would see a kid up in the tower. I still have a telegraph repeater from the old time era. During the depression, kids would throw rocks at the coal car; the firemen would throw coal at the kids- it was understood that those kids needed the coal back home. In Depression years, my grandfather used to remark about passing trains: "that's the sound of jobs!"

[@Qaudee]

7:10 this guy must be reading the national geographic or something 😂

[@HappyQuailsLC]

Could the coupler been covered with grease that time when you fell? I know you said you misjudged the distance. I can help you get some glasses...I know it would have been dark then, at 4am... but if you want some from the store I can get them for you and help you find them.

[@herpnderpn2484]

It's not impossible, but the knuckles are not greased. Just bare steel. Can be quite slick if there is morning dew.

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Decoupler bar was slick plus I misjudged the distance

[@2.2_films61]

Maybe shouldn’t be riding trains...doesn’t take cars to get to 90 psi for brakes to fully release...

[@mofo4what]

@@TheHoboShoestring Exactly why your ass should NOT be on railroad property.

[@mofo4what]

@@2.2_films61 Exactly. People egging this on like he's not trespassing. Tracks aren't public domain. Yards Definitely aren't!

[@stevebillo1723]

Every video every video 📸📷 different nothing is the same mark riden shoestring top hobo shoestring is the man

[@michaelleonard7613]

Hi Shoestring. That is called a shelf coupler. And yes used for keeping the car together but for rough track. In case of derailment it prevents to coupler puncturing the tank car.

[@nlsimm64]

How do you know all the info about the peticular trains? Do you have inside info?

[@blackwateroutdoors7364]

Sure wouldn't mind knowing about that restaurant in Lynchburg. I'm about 30min from there. I use to work for Freight car in Roanoke in the old Norfolk Southern until they closed up shop an went to Mexico.

[@rpdobbler]

What is Hobo Shoestring's choice of chewing tobacco?

[@MrGreatness412]

Ohh and the knuckle and the pin are designed specifically to fail first they are easily replaced even tho they weigh 75-80 ish pounds. Vs the actual coupler or draft connections. They (railroads) kinda frown upon broken components other than the knuckle. There are lots and lots of components from the 70s and 80s that are still in use. I think they are called Jenny couplers but there are variants E, H, and F. Locos, tankers, and freight i believe use different variants. almost sure they are compatible but not interchangeable.

[@stephendunford3430]

Clifton Forge is very close to me. Let me know if you ever in this area again. Be glad to have the wife cook u a good home cooked meal. C&S CATTLE COMPANY NARROWS VA

[@papazahn]

Wolf Creek is beautiful.. I've been to Burkes Garden several times as well

[@heathernoel3356]

The island in the river that used to have a rail yard is now a walking trail- pavement over the old rail bed with beautiful views of the river from the old trestles at either end.

[@generosen999]

That’s a lot of gear brother stay safe !!!

[@Allen21758]

2 horns moving forward; 3 horns moving backwards. Also air pressure disengages brakes. No air brakes applied. That reservoir keeps constant pressure to the brake system to keep the brakes off until the engineer dumps the pressure in the whole train.

[@roberthultman9691]

2 short blasts of horn-whistle means "When stopped, moving forward"; 3 short blasts means "When stopped, moving backward"; approaching hiway grade crossing, 2 long blasts, 1 short blast, then 1 long blast held until head end fully occupies the crossing.

[@martialmusic]

How do you get these videos up so fast now? Does your phone have the ability to just upload from anywhere?

[@sammymorso3448]

The hook up is called the knuckle shoestring have you ever road in a auto carrier I mean actually in one of the cars on the carrier. I did years ago going through the Adirondacks what a blast...

[@Rocknranchman]

Made me spit my beer all over the monitor with that Nat -Geo comment! Hate that when it happens! Lol!

[@johneastman1905]

Howdy, been with you a watching for some time now, much respect for who & how you be... That fellow just into the wooded bank is sporting orange running shorts and a close beard. If he was seeing you, he kept quiet and curious, perhaps with a small camera of his own.

[@ericbalthazor4044]

Thanks for the videos and all of your helpful information . I have a plan to do this someday also and if your still doing your thing maybe our tracks will cross other than that if your ever up by green bay look me up! Much respect 100%

[@coltonmiller4821]

Shoestring do you drink or smoke weed or anything?? Do you do all this sober??

[@phillipdrake4371]

I saw him spit some Tabacco

[@andrewnorris1514]

He is sober . He is ALIVE ! !

[@codiemiddaugh4193]

Shoestring I watch all the best of the best rail riders. You, stobe, ran out on a rail, brave dave, etc. Can you tell me pointers in the best details as possible for an inexperienced rider?

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Bring water..... Use your logica senses

[@codiemiddaugh4193]

Thanks for the reply man!!! Love the new vids btw 💪💪💪

[@fritzd2116]

I think it was Kadee that invented those couplers. ;)

[@Wombats-1]

Man that would be cool to ride trains across the country

[@aaa7189]

Good video.......Surprised you put this on line, Take care

[@MichaelMccune-d8k]

Hey shoestring how come you never applied for a job with the railroad

[@richbright540]

How do you know where to get off? The train yard is usually not center city

[@stevenjbeto]

Which of your videos deals with how to read a train yard? There are a few tracks. Some have a length of cars unattached to a locomotive; these most often on the outside edge. Which lane do you board on? How do you know which direction the train will go if it is so long you cannot see a locomotive and you approach in the middle through the river woods?

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Every yard is different. It's almost something one has to learn physically hands on. The bowl is where cars sit after being humped and classified then when long enough are moved to the departure tracks and hoses connected until they have a long enough train to leave. Each yard is built different but by physically watching the yards for a hour or two you know what is what and where is where. You don't have to worry about the yard layout if you hop on or off where trains crew change

[@edrefeen4006]

Shoestring how long is the trip to Alaska?

[@kens.3729]

You made us Nervous also. 😬 👍

[@alfordpelston790]

Hey like watching your videos I am from Kentucky

[@albertf.9198]

Yeah, I would ride those things if I had nothing better. Like an engine unit!🤣

[@hotmatchjack]

thanks for the knowledge brother shoe string

[@flashcar60]

A pianist, just like Stobe. Cool

[@jamesridoni]

What sub division are you on

[@johngetman1816]

Hobo Shoestring-"last American railroad adventurer & historian"!Dodging the foamers & the bull.Keep the noggin on a swivel!Happy trails.

[@Hercules718]

Great video, Shoestring. Many of us would like to talk to you someday. Do you ever get out West much ?

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Maybe once a year west of Colorado. Southern California hardly ever now. Washington and Oregon quite a bit

[@anythingbutthehighway867]

Mate the triple valve and Westinghouse system used in the USA among other places, doesn't mean getting air up releases brakes. Brakes full with air into the tank on each car and when air from the brake pipe is drained by the engineer in the loco, air released from the brake pipe allows the triple valve piston to move permitting air to flow to the brake cylinder. Hence a sudden escape of air through a burst hose or a break in the consist will apply the brakes. Look up Triple valve or Westinghouse braking. Like your videos mate I was wanting to be there in the USA by now riding trains too. Thanks Covid :/

[@hectorguzman8435]

He knows better about brakes than a lot of conductors I work with lol

[@mechanicmama]

Wow!! Play the piano want to see a video please!! If he is starring stare back lol

[@cmkism]

I like the Canadian Grainers, I am 5 feet 3 inches and fit right inside them. They have holes going to the right and left inside the first hole.

[@JoeyCampbell988]

How long of a journey to your next stop?

[@sorrycharlie5773]

Holy... I've NEVER heard or seen up close owl eyes..!!! I had this feeling when you said James river I thought Lynchburg..!? I live here..binge watching trains and you and syobe brought me here.. patience is a virtue..my first time seeing you on a train..😆 Love the sound of starting up..90 psi..nother history lesson.. thank you..

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Was my very first ride was in a owls eyes grainer from Laramie to Stockton. Don't see too many

[@sorrycharlie5773]

LOL..not that I Ride trains lately..;) frkn 10 yrs ago now..!! CSX in my backyard and ns up the way..😉😎💙

[@sorrycharlie5773]

Nor have I ever got to ride a Cadillac grainer..!!!! 😵

[@Udontsay948]

Do you use Deet? Mosquitos? Bad this spring

[@JawTooth]

I had one tick stuck on me so far this year

[@sammydechamplain9921]

I got it twice this summer

[@remb9614]

How do you know when the train is leaving and where it’s going?

[@TheHoboShoestring]

Depends on where you are.... Took me 8 years of solid riding anywhere to learn where they go and after 31 years of riding I can get anywhere now.

[@robertprice7246]

Would that be the Janney Coupler Sir ?

[@levisweet979]

Lets all keep Shoestring in our prayers, for the Spirit to guide and protect Him. For His Strength and health.