vale to a hobo

Hobo Shoestring, as he was known on YouTube until his passing about a month ago.

Hobo was a veteran &, from the best of my knowledge, suffered a few missing fingers as well as depression. 

He claims, he rode 2,700,000 miles on the rails in mainland USA, Canada & Mexico since 1989. He had a house somewhere, but chose to hit the rails as often as possible. This looked like him carrying his pack, & invariably a "5 gallon bucket". He bivouacked or slept on goods/freight trains. Hobo tagged a bit, but was no burden to anybody. He enjoyed 197,000 followers that he called friends, who often passed on rail movements information, camping equipment & food. 

But, although rail employees of old supported him & lbey him ride in comfort, Hobo was as often scorned by rail security & police. He was run out, harrasssed, & I believe, charged for riding the rails. Hobo feared the authorities & others, & often mentioned the need to remain out of sight least he be bashed in his sleep. 

On his side, he had supporters & was armed with an encyclopaedic knowledge of trains. There movements, schedules, lay byes & driver changeover sites as well as types of cars & what they offered with regards safety & comfort.

I am no rail fan per se, but really enjoy Hobo's videos & the way he encapsulated the hobo spirit of the early 1900s America.