High above the railroad yard! (Helper, Utah) 

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

I’m a railroad engineer. And hobo shoestring knows far more about the RR than I.

Shoestring, My cousin lives in Helper. I just sent him this link. I told him if he ever see's you offer you a meal or your favorite, Coffee! He's a Great Man just like yourself.

I stopped off in Helper a few years ago looking for coffee and was happy to find such a nice little town. The people were super friendly to me and the coffee was good. It's been on my mind ever since. Thanks for letting me see the town again and much love to ya, Shoestring! : )

Love those old brick businesses/buildings.

Shoestring I have a family story about Helper Utah. My Dad, of Blessed Memory, once told me a story his Dad told him. "He was working night shift and he was under a coal hopper, Someone opened the gate to the hopper not knowing or not caring that he was under the hopper. Ganddad jumped back as soon as he heard the gate open. The hopper emptied and by the grace of God, he was safe. He lost two buttons off his shirt and that was tge worst of it. Thanks for sharing Helper and Grand Junction.

Welcome to Utah brother!! You always have a home here with us, never forget that. God Bless and stay safe 💯✌

I live on your road via your videos, I can’t chase them very well in my wheelchair these days, so I am out riding in your pocket . Old school train chaser from days gone by passed down from my old man . I live just off CSX main line in Pa by GE ( the only thing between me and the main line is GE test loop , so I get to see all the rebuilds before they return to fleet duty . Keep it safe my brother enjoy the high iron for us both .

The world is Shoestrings oyster. And your always out there shucking the hell out of that oyster man. You seriously give alot of us inspiration and motivation to push ourselves every day. No shit man. Seeing you and knowing your story and all you've gone through and yet you're still out in the world running around enjoying yourself. It inspires me to always do my best every day knowing you're out doing your best every day. Stay motivated dude.

That is a beautiful place being from East Tennessee I don’t get to see many places like this . The backdrop to the town of Helper is awesome . Thanks Shoestring

What a view from up on that mountainside! Thanks for taking us up there.

Really nice,clear camera work! It's like i could walk in my tv,and I'd be right there with you. Enjoy, stay safe. Thanks for the videos.

Hope your well mate, I watching from Perth Western Australia

I can not even explain how happy I am You made this video. Unbelievable scenery, fantastic quality, both video and sound. Thank you so much for being you and sharing who you are and what you do. Much love.

SS. Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your Service….B safe and warm out there. 👍

Shoestring I love your videos Brother! Your stories and knowledge of the rail system and our great country are captivating! You are a true Freebird Brother !! Keep the videos coming and stay safe my friend! Thank you for sharing your Incredable journeys with us all !

shoe string is neat what beautiful eyes he has.he knows a lot about trains

The best camera 📸 action pictures pics never before seen . talent plus every one has a positive love❤ for Mark shoestring, extraordinary brilliance.once in a lifetime 😊

The 4k is really beautiful, Shoestring!

That old town looks like something on my trainset. Cool looking and I could see a coal train in the distance while you were walking

Shoestring that is some great camera work, so clear it's like I'm walking beside you . Stay safe my brother 🙏

You look so happy on the rails. I’m glad.

Woww... this was an amazing time. Thanks for this Hobo...🚂... On too the next!!

I'm on my way from Houston to Daytona on my motorcycle. A train ride that I could lay down in sound just as thrilling. Safe travels buddy 💙

Keep ‘em coming Shoestring, that looks like a great place to explore!

Ha! Shoestring recalling the Baytown Tunnel and then name dropping Freeport, where I was born (raised in nearby Angleton). That was awesome! Went through that tunnel many times growing up. Safe travels, Shoestring! Love your channel! Happy Veteran's Day!

Every morning at the mine you could see him arrive he stood 6 foot 6 and weighed 245 broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip and everybody knew you didn't give no lip to Big John

Hell yeah!!! Im loving these videos String. Great quality and always very educational.

I liked the part where you fought off the mountain lion with your fists.

The story teller of the rails! Seriously write a book! Stay safe Shoestring! Watching from Moorhead, Mn. Yeah I hear those damn trains every night the windows are open. My lady snores so she needs fresh air. Now it’s about to snow. So no train horns, but damn snoring will be back. Damn good thing I love her! Be safe & Happy Veterans Day. Find a free dinner, they’re everywhere. 🇺🇸😎

So many nice enclosures, I'm surprised you didn't run across any critters. If I lived there I would be climbing all the time.

Missed so much ✌️❤️ from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Amazing and beautiful footage. Not at all what I am accustomed to seeing being from upstate-ish NYS. And so much knowledge in that brain of yours no matter where you go. Love the Spaceballs reference! Aiiiiiir!!!!!

Shoestring, I'm living vicariously through you and your travels. I've wanted to do a Western US visit forever. I went to Arizona back in the early 1990s but was just a little kid and have spotted memories of it. I do however remember the terrain looking like this and seeing Santa Fe trains still rolling strong! I'm only 31 right now, so hopefully I can make this trip happen. I'll keep enjoying your videos in the mean time! Stay safe out there brother. Safe travels!

Wow the 4K is fantastic great video String looking forward to the next one stay safe!

Have a blessed veteran's day, Mark. Thanks for your service!

Great scenery, great stories. Just want more.

I too love red vines when on the road! The video quality is spectacular. I could see every pebble on that mountain side.

Big John "Big Bad John". Now you got that song stuck in my head Shoestring.. Be safe out there Brother.

Hey Shoestring, love your channel! Only tried hopping a freight one time in Amarillo in the 70's, one of the crew came by and told me I'd freeze my ass off where I was and said to get in the number five unit, 'cause it was heated. Guess they spotted me, they pulled off on a siding and one of the crew ran back and started checking each unit, when he found me he said, Boy, when we get to Clovis your ass is going to jail! By the time I'd grabbed my sleeping bag and stuff he had it moving again but I jumped off - - listening to your stories makes me want to try it again!

The Baytown tunnel, yes. I remember passing through it on the high school football bus anytime we played the Baytown teams. Its been imploded.

Your story's just keep getting better .. Thanks !!

Dudeeeee. Your footage is looking really great!

What a beautiful location. Mark, your health has drastically improved since this time last year. Stay safe in your travels.

Hobo on the hill!! Awesome scenery!!!

You showing those rocks reminded me of The Old Man of the Mountain rockface (literally !) in New Hampshire. I saw it on 3 seperate occasions- incredible to think that it would crumble in our lifetime, after being there for hundreds of thousands of years, who knows- maybe millions !!?.....🚬😎

I live close to Helper Utah and know all these spots you are showing us. Thanks for the video Shoestring!

The short coal train you thought was the BNSF, was the Utah Railway.

Thank you Hobo Shoestring.

Out of all your videos, this is one of my favorites. I loved that little cave up on the hill and I wish you could have stayed there Shoe!!!

Your in my home state. I am from Provo and just came back from Durango. I love trains. Your videos are so fun to watch.

I was on the crew that set the tall light poles in the Helper yard. Also built powerlines for the yard too. A lot of that yard (including track) on the north side is sitting on top of several feet of old cinders from the steam trains.

Love the historical guided tours. Especially grand junction ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻

Safe travels Shoestring!!

Spectacular scenery in that area. Love that old town. Especially the gas station that's a step back in time. The hike footage was a lot fun. Looking down in the valley looked amazing. These are places most of us never get to see. Appreciate it Mark for sharing this and the amazing stories. They are priceless. Take care. Canada.

I think if I was train hopping I would get me some boiled peanuts. Throwing shells the whole way. Man I love boiled peanuts!!

This trip across the west is mesmerizing!

Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Excellent video quality. The 4K does your adventures justice.

Now you are as close to my neighborhood as you can get by rail. I'm just on the north side of that range of mountains and a little bit east. I have had an itch for years to ride a coal train from Spanish Fork to Helper but never had the b's to do it.

That short coal train was Utah Railway. The locomotives were painted in the standard Geneese & Wyoming colors. All of their shortline railroads have that color scheme with the actual railroads initials in the yellow circle logo

Pretty cool Shoestring. 👍👍👍❤️

Interesting area/town. Glad you didn't encounter any rattlers up in the rocks.

"Air.....!!" Lolol. You're a wealth of knowledge brother. Inspired me to finally get out backpacking again. Ain't nothing like the sky without light pollution!! God Speed and God Luck.

Wow a 4k shoestring! video looks amazing!

Holy crap you look so clear!

Those orange locomotives belong to Utah Railway, I used to be a conductor there! Awesome content Hobo!

Finally had the opportunity to see the video

You are the best hobo shoestring

Hey Mark, thank you for your service to our country. Your service mattered. YOU matter. I'm really digging the HD camera. Keep up the great feeds and stay safe, warm, and healthy!

Shoestring was a mountain goat in one of his past lives. Great Video!

and I just love your video bro! keep it up! what a bunch of fun!! and i learn so much from ya

Beautiful spot, great video. I really appreciate what you do. Be safe!

4K LOOKS AWESOME ON MY 4K MONITOR AND AUDIO IS NICE ALSO

Excellent video Hobo Shoestring! the scenery you saw was totally amazing! :)

Yeah, to be able to summon trains at will, now that, would be something!

I love watching u all the way from Melbourne Australia

Wish I could do what you do brother. So much freedom. Keep it up love ya….

Lots of fun seeing that thanks 😊

😱That 4K though... WoW Mark.. I thought the still shots were nice.. That video was extremely beautiful, crisp and clear.. 😉👍 Stay safe Mark..

Wow! This video brought back a lot of great memories. The big building is the civic auditorium and on the right is St Anthony Catholic Church.

Makes me feel like a kid again watching this! Love all the 4k footage!

You got big bad john stuck in my head! Nice Video

America is truly a beautiful country.

Hi Mark! Thank you for sharing. Just figures, two train's go by and neither one blew their horns. After that big climb up by those pines, you're in good shape. LOL 😆 The little small town tour was nice.👍

All the tunnels I remember around the ship channels around Houston were tiled with that mustard yellow tile.

Peaceful in the hills

Another great vid. Glad you are feeling so well you can climb that big mountain. Story about the split rock was very cool. my grandfather was an engineer with NASA and designed many things for the Apollo missions. There is a tripod or stick thingy( I can’t remember exactly) on the moon with my sister and brother’s initials, I wasn’t born yet. In fact, most items you see left on the moon had names and sayings etched on em. Mr shoestring, I was wondering if you’d do a vid with some insights about the train derailments. No prob if you’d rather not, I know it’s not a fun topic. Anyways, great to watch your travels and listen to your stories. God bless and stay safe.

Waited till the end. 👍🏼

Nice to know you are here in my home state. I used to hitch hike to Price and Wellington every other weekend years ago, that is until my Mama caught me.

Mark is time to get a little bit closer to home now. We need one to dawn a Santa Suit and have all the little kids sitting on one's lap. With one going what does so and so want for Chirstmas ? Just have one some real fun. The little kinds want momey and dady to stop fighting. I did . They want their familys to be happy and together again. I just listen to the little kids and what they have to say. Its wonderful Santa.

Thank you for another awesome video!

Shoestring, thank you for your service.

Learn so much about the country and the people, thanks, i am livin in Europe

Another good one, Shoestring. Keep em coming ! I almost expected to see a big rattler coiled up underneath some of those big rocky areas you filmed.

Fascinating video! I really dig seeing out west again. I briefly lived in Aurora, Colorado yrs ago. Its def worth watching all the way to the end. I looked up Helper, Utah, I read that it was a hideout for Butch Cassidy at one time. Pretty cool! Enjoy your ride out.

Thanx for the tour of Helper and other areas of out West.beautiful country! Stay safe Shoestring and safe travels!

***** WOW He's in better shape than we thought! Glad he didn't break anything😍

Hi Shoestring, Utah local here. Those engines at the end of the video are from Genesee & Wyoming's Utah Railway, the letters being 'UR' around the beehive logo. BNSF has trackage rights over the UP here in UT and the UR often hauls their freight. Run though BNSF locos can sometimes be seen but are less common. Safe travels in the beehive state 🚂

Happy Veterans Day Shoestring, thank you for your service!

3.19.22 god bless and keep you. thank you for your beautiful content