Main Maine freight train

[@TheBigdog868]

RIP Hobo Shoestring 😢

[@billglaser]

Never clicked faster on a video. Your videos, It’s difficult to explain, it’s like I’m traveling with you, it’s therapeutic in a strange way Shoestring. God Bless you brother, you gotta good soul, safe travels man 👍🏼

[@leonardprovost2634]

If you’re still in Portland it’s gonna be nippy tonight!

[@jtworxs1094]

i agree hes awsome

[@dubvtrainman1869]

100

[@clems6989]

Exactly !

[@chuxproductions1090]

RIP🙏🤲🕊️ I’ve seen your tags on Railcars for years !!!

[@JoshuaMichael53]

This guy is a national treasure

[@TerraExplorations]

A Folk Hero 😁

[@j.t.cooper2963]

My mom was from Bangor Maine. She was French and spoke the language perfectly.

[@danland7551]

Shoestring somebody should make a movie about you !! Your amazing!!

[@melindapratt2660]

Damn I miss you so damn much my friend 😢

[@annpoitras7875]

Nonsuch river. My Dad fished there as a little boy in the 20’s

[@Hooftimmer]

Bittersweet. For a moment there I was smiling and laughing with you. RIP Mark.

[@lowenbrau915]

Hobo, The line you were on actually splits just north of Portland at Royal Junction. You were on what’s referred to as the the “Back Road”. At the Royal Junction split you can take the “Back Road” that you were on toward Lewiston, Waterville and the paper mills to the north, or the “Lower Road” which Amtrak and Pan local freights takes as far North as Brunswick. The line is inactive just North of Brunswick to Waterville. Even though it’s hardly used except for Amtrak, the lower road is in excellent condition as it was completely rehabbed less than ten years ago for the Amtrak Downeaster extension to Brunswick. The main line you came into Maine on was as in as equally poor condition as the Back Road prior to 2001 when Amtrak service from Boston commenced and the line was overhauled. Come back to Maine and ride Saint Lawerence and Atlantic from Auburn to Montreal, crossing border at Norton, Vermont. It’s a former CN line. Use to originate in Portland, but these days the line is inactive until Danville Jct, where they interchange with Pan Am. (Looks like you were on the siding, holding at Danville Jct in Auburn right before you crossed the river into Lewiston) www.benchmasters.one/words/2018/12/28/nbsppoors-journey-and-beyond-the-st-lawrence-amp-atlantic-railroad

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

Hello, from Durand Mich.!

[@TheHoboShoestring]

I just went through Durand this late summer. Stopped in Flint and went to Port Huron and back to Chicago riding CP..... Was Grand Trunk I believe back years ago

[@Wildwilly207]

Man I was homeless on those tracks a year ago. Just right up the tracks a little you probably saw my camp site. I always dreamed of doing this

[@rxramblingrose4857]

Ahh I'm grabbing a soda and gonna really enjoy this video Thank you shoestring I'm excited 😁

[@Redgonetogray]

Wish I was in Maine right now. Love it there !

[@d1001]

Great place to live

[@brianrice6993]

Lol never knew this channel existed. I’m a machinist for pan am rail. Dangerous out there. You can wait for ever with my railroad. I’ve only seen a handful of riders in my 20 years here. Pan am bought the old retired csx locomotives in 2017. Funny now because csx has bought the railroad just waiting for the sale to pass the stb

[@120acrewood7]

I have put coins on the tracks at my job and it never gets old to see the different shapes they turn into.

[@just4kicks950]

Always appreciate the videos shoestring 💯🚂🚃🚃🚃Safe Travels. Salute 👍

[@TheMainecadillacman]

3:51 I went down there yesterday morning, just for curiosity, to see if the coin was still there....it's gone, don't know who found it but, I did get a picture of your signature on the utility box....

[@james_robnett]

Sure appreciate you mentioning the river (Nonesuch btw), it makes it easy to pin exactly where you were outside the yard, nice to be able to see it on the maps.

[@KevlarVTX]

Don't see many of those old Guilford-painted GP40s pulling around here anymore. Last one I saw was out in Ayer. And CSX just bought Pan Am so hope some of them are kept as is.

[@sirarnie9837]

I had a nice laugh when you joked about plate techtonics. Haha.

[@maineboy1979]

Welcome to Maine! Hope you enjoy your time here 😀

[@shawn2strong]

I'm thinking about leaving out of Springfieldmass bit worried. Going to start scouting yard tomorrow, really want to meet some one to help me. But if not I will figure it out

[@Utubin]

Be very careful brother.

[@TheHoboShoestring]

At the railroad river bridge that crosses into West Springfield.. .. that's where I catchout

[@Utubin]

@@TheHoboShoestring you awake.

[@Utubin]

I'm catching up on your vids.

[@TheHoboShoestring]

@@Utubin Easier talking through my email address... [e-mail]

[@shittalkerskywalkertm9430]

Keep on riding brother

[@kens.3729]

Class, Today we’re having a “Trains 101” Discussion with Hobo Shoestring, Master of Trains. 😬👍

[@02bigd84]

Be safe bro. Had the pleasure of being in Portland twice for work. Thank you for uploading

[@Stephtones-75]

Best Hobo shoestring video everrrrr...... 😂

[@thobbs4526]

I remember camping in the desert right next to the Santa Fe tracks and my kid getting such a kick out of flattened pennies that we put on the tracks.

[@johnscherf1228]

We have a coin shortage! Haha! Nice video Shoestring as always!

[@TheThom01]

I live in south portland next to the yard That train just pulled in

[@annpoitras7875]

thom dauphin years ago I lived on Gerry Ave as a baby until I was 5... that was 60 years ago and I still remember the sounds at night especially.

[@alexdoucette887]

Im from Portland

[@chrisbrown6945]

Shoestring thats pan ams motto. We will get you. “Eventually”

[@TheHoboShoestring]

I never think or worry to the eventually point in time.... Minute by minute..... lol

[@malfunctionjunction6212]

Hey there Mr. Shoestring. I just learned how you stretch your money. One nickle at a time. Bsafe. Love and Peace.

[@wicked1172]

The Nonesuch River flows nearby through Scarborough, Maine. Blue skies and fair winds Shoestring, RIP.

[@user-tb2jy9lu3d]

5:20 I wonder if it's possible to buy several of those exact straps online and put them up on the box car after getting in the door. That would be interesting. That's the main Maine freight train, mane.

[@boaboy8052]

I grew up right outside Jeannette Glass's sandgate, it had tracks that engines would slowly backup sand hoppers. I must of flattened a million coins outside The glass plant sandgate.lol.. cool you did that Cheers Shoestring

[@justtl5885]

;nky

[@bryantcurtis2665]

OK I’ll subscribe. Good way to fall asleep better than meditating.

[@dominicm2175]

I drove by Rigby Yard yesterday and yeah I noticed all the tracks torn out....there’s a great view of the yard from the Main Street bridge/ overpass right by the dollar store

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

GReat work....Big like from Romania

[@jec9126]

You traveled through my hometown, Lowell. You're right on about trains on Pan Am. I've seen trains idling for days, going nowhere fast. Hopefully that will come to an end soon. CSX is in the process of buying Pan Am. The deal should be done relatively soon

[@eezyclsmooth9035]

Aw shucks! I was waiting for big finale with the coin. Shoe left us on a cliff hanger ! It sure seems like these RR guys all know who you are and always let you be.

[@annpoitras7875]

When I was born, my first 5 years were spent listening to the trains couple and uncouple in Rigby Yard So. Portland. Our home was just up the hill. I can still remember the sounds of the trains squeeling and banging all night. Since I was very young I thought nothing of it.. sort of lulled me to sleep. My family grew up there... three generations.

[@gordylande1711]

Don't forget your coin on the track !!

[@TheHoboShoestring]

I actually forgot

[@gordylande1711]

Always another track and another coin 😁🇺🇸✌

[@Globerson]

Hobo Shoestring dang I was looking forward to seeing it. Maybe if you get back down there it’ll still be there.

[@RamblinVan]

@@TheHoboShoestring Once the snow thaws, I'll go grab it! I'm in portland maine.

[@jackson97wc]

@@RamblinVan Get it yet

[@billhenry1117]

Your in Maine, I live in Ayer and a few days ago I heard one of the train crew say over the scanner “ we have a hobo”!!

[@vrmntthb]

Bill Henry I posted earlier on the Pan Am site acouple of days back to find no interest in all this going on...

[@billhenry1117]

Todd Brown this is a channel I watch all the time and he posted a video a few days ago featuring 16R and tallied about heading this way. Most people would not care about a hobo but then when you know who it is.....

[@vrmntthb]

Bill Henry that I did see and had stumbled onto Mark years ago to look at all he’s seen to record and learned about some of his life he led to lead up to this here. Wild stuff and some great footage to see...

[@jeremys5904]

I wanted to see the coin!!! Please do another one. Looks like a lot of fun!

[@GeorgeJansen]

3:39. I bet you could sell the coins on line. After placing them on the tracks nationwide. (IE horseshoe curve, or Moffat tunnel tracks)

[@mattvance5237]

Great video, stay safe !

[@larryabrams3559]

Found out what Shoestring does in his off time. He watches train videos. I saw where he commented on bullrun rr video with the emergency stop yesterday. Have to talk to my engineer buddy Sunday about this. Love me some Shoestring

[@PatriseHenkel]

looking at the satellite pic I can see where they tore down their roundhouse. Here in Johnstown I swear the number of trains has dropped nearly in half... when I got her last October there were constant freight trains (the town has overpasses so you never need a grade crossing.) My dad and I used to make flat pennies. :-) Its the Nonesuch River.

[@hinspect]

Back in the 1980's I worked for the Oliver Springs, TN Park Department cleaning and lining off the Baseball Fields. A train track is close by there and a spring from a Boxcar flew out for some reason. I grabbed it and kept it for years. THAT was a stiff Spring! You could jump on it and it wouldn't even budge!

[@Peasmouldia]

When I was a kid we had these 2-10-0 locos (BR 9f) that squidged a penny so it came out like foil.

[@markwitzig6390]

Hello sir. I'm new to your channel and I love it. I'm near Minneapolis and it would be really coo too know if you've ever been to the northtown train yard north ot the twin cities. Stay safe and get well soon Shoestring!!

[@MrJohn714]

The coin on the track sure brought memories, as a kid back in the 50's I crossed a set of tracks on my walk to school in the morning and I would often lay a penny on the rail and pick up a squashed penny on my way home!

[@jacobpoucher]

THAT WAS AWESOME QITH THE COIN SHOE!!!!

[@djmattson6491]

When we had the pan am re route i caught both those diesels came threw bellows falls VT. They're C-40 dash -8s. Ex CR

[@JMACK1]

That's one way to stretch your money

[@terrypbug]

My brother lives in Jackman Maine and CP just bought out the track through Jackman and stack trains running on it already he said

[@lawrence3680]

Your videos certainly takes your mind off many problems in the world. I love your stories but worry about your safety. I'm 71 and worked all my life and enjoy the security of my house. How long do you plan to ride? And where will you finally settle down? Stay safe and warm.

[@royahold1966]

The rain in Maine falls mainly on the main train.

[@user-tb2jy9lu3d]

That's true, mane. It stays out of the plains because it hates the fame and flames.

[@johnludwig5866]

Ha shoestring don't forget the lobster thanks for the video have a good night

[@coloradostrong]

At 03:47 where you put the coin on the track, you can see that piece of rail was made in 1937. Could not read the company that made it though. Man that is old.

[@fortsdetectingfinds854]

hi shoestring, the river is, nonesuch river. i was born and raised and still live in sanford maine. so if your ever in the area again, message me and ill get you with the truck and show you some of the history and folk lore sights that alot of the locals dont even know.

[@granny4190]

Son of a birchwood..... almost as good as holy chandelier 😁

[@charlesmiller000]

I figure when I've seen most of your videos, I'd be able to get a job with the RR... Now, if only I wasn't 73 and retired !!! LMAO Thanky Kindly Good Ol' Guru Shoe. (BTW, previous comments from "Will T" & "Ken S" say it all)

[@BruceGordon925]

I have been in everyone of the lower 48 states, My last state was Maine (Portland). Never rode the train there.

[@jorgeorozcomusic3954]

Man that's a cool pan am Locomotive it look relatively new to me too bad he didn't stop to say hi #hoboshoestring

[@beeble2003]

Does look good in that fresh paint, but it's over 30 years old -- built 1989.

[@gilljo1]

That box car looked a good ride. Stay safe.

[@danielsee1]

We put coins on the track when we were kids. Sometimes a box of caps. Not often, it would cost too much.

[@Blueriverfarms]

Name of the river is Nonesuch River on the Scarborough-South Portland town line. Your at the US Route 1 overpass just North of the Rigby Yard.

[@dozer1642]

Ha! I pictured you riding a kids tricycle and passing a train.

[@rickcooper6817]

Yea tooting the little rubber horn while passing!

[@josephwilliams8046]

Thanks for the video

[@Peter-bg5gy]

It’s the ‘Fore River’ running inland from Portland Harbor just up the way from where your at

[@darrynlewis3252]

RIP.

[@Brandonishome2024]

Hey brother good morning hope you have a good day 🤗

[@arachnonixon]

the term "it's a milk-run" referring to a task being slow & easy comes from the British railways. Engineers that would spend most of their careers on the important mainline commuter trains absolutely always had to be on time, & it was a very stressful & high intensity job. the last few years before their retirement, they'd be transferred to smaller branch lines, often trains carrying daily milk for delivery. it was a much less intense job, & didn't matter if the smaller branch trains ran exactly on-time. the job was given as sort of a reward for their years of service, to let them take it easy for a few years before they retired

[@larrymaynard]

You are a lucky dude

[@mikepierce1724]

A milk run is 90 stops in my world

[@frankmackey2419]

I would like to see you camping out near the tracks ..in a spooky area. Still enjoy whatever your doing.

[@tooling_engineer]

R.I.P. Shoestring. I wonder why he didn’t walk the first train to see if it had an EOT. He would have seen those open boxcars and waited nearby one of them for the train to move along. The EOT would have indicated the direction it would eventually take.

[@chrishavnotz]

Hey man just rode out of rigby and there’s usually a once daily southbound but is definitely confusing cause they back the thing in and out a bunch. Actually had to bail cause three kids got pulled off behind me. If ya make it north to Bangor I’ll come grab you and take you to my cabin out here. Slow going on trains up here.

[@mikepierce1724]

You in my area .you go to Bangor go to Dysart truckstop Hamden. They still should have room upstairs 25 night ask fuel desk. Best food nice people if no room go across the road behind their garage and trailer you can sleep in nevr move. Might even be old truck sleep bunk .

[@RailBuffRob]

Have you tried scanning the FRED frequencies? The signal isn't that strong, you have to be real close to it to hear the sound. It sounds like a buzzing noise, and that's the sound of the data being sent from the FRED to the engine.

[@navigator902]

OOOO I love the tripod.... no finger action, and better to hold and pose.

[@georgewilson1184]

You are living a life style that most people just don’t have the courage to pursue I suppose because society deems it wrong and looks down on it it is dangerous and mysterious and exciting at the same time I guess HoBos live by a code but I’m sure it takes moxey and fire in the belly

[@stevenconnolly7907]

The Maine Central is a mere and sad fraction of what it once was. But it's now for sale...the promise of the future. 🚂

[@drush406]

Stay safe Brother! 👊😎👍❤🚂🚃🚃🚃

[@skhateanddestroy1252]

Hell yeah some moniker action!!!!😎

[@stevenconnolly7907]

Actually, not getting this train might not have been a bad thing. Thinking this is the Westbook local that runs nearby Westbrook to switch paper mill there. 🐧

[@taco472]

Did you forget to pick up your coin...” a quarter smashed flatter than a dine “. I remember once when I lived just south of Santa Barbra, Calif. where the main line runs right along the beach I heard a train coming so I run up and put a bunch of coins on the track like I’d done time’s before. Well when it came into sight it was the “Coastal Starlight’ , the north south passenger train and he was doing about 70 mph. I should have been standing back a little further, when it hit those coins the air was full of silver and copper. I won’t do that again, slow freight trains are the best for coin smash’n. I did manage to find most of them. Stay safe out there, see you later.

[@dominicm2175]

13:35 nonesuch river ??

[@TheHoboShoestring]

That's the one

[@dominicm2175]

Hobo Shoestring Wow small world I drove through there yesterday and first thing this morning your video was in my recommended feed

[@phillipbakken4884]

Stay safe and enjoy your trip

[@shawnlittle3184]

I use to walk Rigby yard every day as a kid. And yes they've taken a ton of lines out.

[@Guokas0422]

I hope you get back OK there can't be that many trains out of main even in this day and age

[@jackshittle]

Served in the Navy out of Brunswick, Maine.

[@ralphlengacher2792]

I’m so sorry to hear about Shoestring, he will be missed…

[@timothyxv171mmmpertinentgamer]

Boy you know it Makes a lot of sense either or are or the train is going bound also is gonna be Cool you gotta make it

[@rogerhaag9069]

Love your videos! Maybe you could comment on the DATE....at the beginning of EACH video.... Would help keep all your videos in order for us watchers!

[@Mark-iy4no]

See the date on the rr track ? 1937 ( where the coin was )

[@mizzo_beeto]

They dont do much track maintenance in New England lol

[@tomy6917]

That's the year the rail was manufactured & is usually followed by vertical lines in a row for the month of manufacture (i.e. 5 vertical lines = May). :)

[@washguy9577]

I live in lowell ma did you go under big green bridge in the woods ? its only thing my hometown just north of lowell is known for i would have heard that train going by thats funny lol it only goes by at night blows horn every night

[@beeble2003]

6:00 "I coulda had that sunnova... biiiirrchwood." True fact: I live near a village called Birch. Every time I see it on the map, I misread it.

[@douglasnoddin966]

"Third boxcar midnight train, destination Bangor, Maine"

[@dmithsmith5880]

You should a put a big hunk of that red sumac blossom in your water Shoe.. if they are sticky they are ripe, could've had some nice sumac tea ! Lots of vitamins, taste like lemonade, just keep your teeth shut when you drink it 🙂👍

[@deanow3631]

Thank ya Shoestring