James STOBIE passed away on November 8, 2017 in Thornton, Colorado. Nichols has developed a following on Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. I’m not sure why his death has effected me so much emotionally, but I am mourning him. 21 You obviously murdered Slap, boulder terlit hobo at May 28, 2017 11:15 PM Stobe light lightening effect going on and heavy downpour. Why did dave rubin delete patreon. Pedestrian railroad accidents are the leading cause of death on railways. The typical protagonist of a fantasy role-playing game, who is a homeless guy who goes around killing people and taking their stuff. The family eventually let Nichols live with them for a while, and in the spring he moved into his first home, an apartment in Johnson City. I am not sure what attracted me the most from him. Girl Hobo went about her tasks of getting ready for bed, drinking water from a nearby spring, washing her face and hands, and brushing her teeth, then piling up some leaves and curling up in them like a puppy dog. “I didn’t really even know it happened,” he recalled. Nov 18, 2017, 8:24 am* A few railroad employees have even complimented him on them, he said. Nichols said many people want to experience adventure and excitement when they get out of school and decide to train hop, despite it being a crime. Hitchhikers, Trainhoppers, Rubbertramps, Backpackers, and more! History. “They have to stop in Bristol for a crew change. The older hobo asked Nichols where he wanted to go. “There aren’t really more real riders anymore,” Nichols said. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The term originated in discussions of tabletop role-playing games by authors seeking to create games aimed at styles of play not supported by traditional games like Dungeons & Dragons. Day-labor can be found in larger cities, those with at least 50,000 people, he said. 2 years ago Our friend James Stobie, aka Stobe the Hobo, died Wednesday the 8th of November, 2017. He was putting it on YouTube and was arguably the most popular guy doing it. “It weighs on me really bad. The 48-year-old former U.S. Army helicopter mechanic is one of just a handful of modern-day railroad hobos — a longtime American lifestyle that had its heyday in the Great Depression but has since lost popularity. His videos have been viewed about 1.3 million times. Just the thrill you get out of it, the freedom and not being tied down.”. I can't see a train without thinking of him now, or especially finding that local store near the trainyard that sells the beer. “After about seven or eight years of 24/7 doing that, I pretty much learned the North American continent,” Nichols said. It’s just not possible, it’s not possible to feel the real rush of things when your doing the same thing as the thing every body else is doing.” How? His accomplishments were many, but … This group is for Stobe related content from Stobe fans, there are lots of groups for riders and foamers to post things about trains and your personal trips. So do I man he was a real legend and true philosopher, I visit the track in Baltimore where he got laid up on. His death just scares the shot out of me really. There’s some sort of lesson here but I’ll be damned if I can figure it out. During that first trip, Nichols spent $23 on canned food and a loaf of bread. Mark Nichols boarded a boxcar to find that he had been in the same car once before. Gives me chills every time. He’s also ventured into Canada and Mexico. “I’ve done and tried almost everything on Earth, and nothing makes me more happy and sound than riding trains and being free,” Nichols said. But really, I miss the fuck out of Stobie. After being transported to Kansas City, Nichols stayed in the hospital for three weeks. “Rarely do they ever stop in Johnson City,” Nichols said of the trains. JeffreyJames Halvorson. I never road the rails, never had the balls to be perfectly honest. Like other full-time hobos, Nichols often gets jobs while traveling. In recent years, Nichols began filming some of his trips, including one from Bristol to Knoxville, and sharing them on YouTube. Just discovered Stobe around six months ago and was so sad to learn he had passed. They get to see scenery most of us can only dream about and watch on Youtube. “It’s fame for a certain crowd. Then Stobe’s mother says: “we just love having a hobo in the family…” “Your giving up being really enamored with life at some point. The small town hosts a parade, entertainment, arts and crafts, food and the election of the King and Queen of the Hobos. Today, however, he often talks with his family, and he tries to visit his mother at least once a year. “The railroad police don’t check them out that much.”. You can cancel at any time. James "Jim" William Stobie "Stobe the Hobo" Seattle, Washington / Thornton, Colorado; October 23, 1984 - November 8, 2017 Gone But Not Forgotten. Goddamn it now I have his piano song in my head. Fuck all I think about is Stobe when I do that now. rsorrell@bristolnews.com | 276-645-2531 | Twitter: @RSorrellBHC | facebook.com/robertsorrelltn. 2 AM and the bull was there, they got all my stuff, but not me. It makes me look back at all my accidents on the rail and I don't know how I'm even alive. He was last incarcerated in Regina, Saskatchewan. The hobo also sells items on eBay, like his $7 harmonica and an old hat that he said went for $156. “We moved 28 times before I graduated in ’89.”. “We moved a lot when I was a kid, being a military family,” said Nichols, who was born in Freeport, Texas, but grew up in Port Arthur. It’s unknown, but the Norfolk Southern Railroad passes through the center of the city. There's been so many stories and it just doesn't make any sense to me. I guess that’s what they see on TV and reading books.”. “That’s usually how I survive,” Nichols said. I think about it happening to me, or to others on here. But as time passed, Nichols continued to hop aboard trains — landing a couple times a year in jail for trespassing — and his family made him an outcast, he said. Stobe the Hobo, the internet’s most famous train hopper. Mark Nichols shows how he judges if a boxcar is empty. “He showed me what train to get on and the next thing I know, I stayed on through Denver and stayed on to Stockton, California,” Nichols said. He rode his first train while traveling through Laramie, Wyoming. I think about it too much, I know. “If they do, it’s an overnight for trespassing.”. level 2. But Nichols is looking forward to returning to the rails. Always wanted to see what it was really like. Stobe The Hobo. He remembers going through Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Stobe landed into town by way of the rails and shared some of his adventures with me, we then decided to road trip south and venture beyond the border. He recalled another train hopper, known as James “Stobe the Hobo” Hobie, who was struck and killed by a train. Remember when he played Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks on piano in that one video? They also note that train hopping is dangerous and illegal. “I don’t know what to compare it to.”. It bothers me a lot. “You can enjoy the scenery and not be in a rush,” Nichols said. I can't see a train without thinking of him now, or especially finding that local store near the trainyard that sells the beer. Like many hobos, medical problems have kept Nichols from riding recently. “I was hooked right then,” he said. Feel free to share stories and pictures about your adventures on the road, or share advice and tips with newbie greenhorns and curious lurkers! If you can place your finger between the springs, the boxcar is most likely empty. Had a few friends that did, but back in 2008, those people didn’t have YouTube channels, let alone phones that took pictures. Most people look down on people like me. I was a big follower of his life, his videos, and his quest for beer and trains. Mark Nichols — aka ‘Hobo Shoestring’ — finds freedom, danger in train hopping. I have to get out and do something.”. Before this chapter turns into an entire damn book of its own (A Hobo's Guide to Finding Jobs) let's get back to the story here: Bozeman or Bust. He died doing what he loved, bringing the world his train riding films. Mark Nichols inside a boxcar traveling from Kansas City to Nebraska. He estimates that two decades ago there were likely a couple hundred full-time hobos around the country. Stobe was an artist and played the piano for all his videos. Why between those two tracks. I digress. Girl Hobo munched on some trail mix while Wingman brewed some tea, then he rolled out his sleeping pad and sleeping bag. Do any train hoppers call Bristol home? Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. We planned to meet once in Wyoming but he got drunk and took the wrong train. Stobe the Hobo, the internet’s most famous train hopper Stobe the Hobo James Stobie – Stobe The Hobo This was almost one year ago when I first consider Stobe the hobo videos on youtube. “I’ve ridden with other riders through Bristol,” he said. His favorite train car: the boxcar. Stobe touched many lives with his YouTube videos of his train hopping experiences and will continue to … Just finished watching a lot of Stobe the Hobos videos on Youtube. You're 100% right, and the only good thing that comes out of that strategy is just that: this life can kill you, whether you're a greenhorn or a seasoned hobo like Stobie. Mark Nichols prepares to board a boxcar in the Shreveport, Louisiana, KCS Yards. “To give myself a challenge, it just keeps me focused on one thing, even though it’s a bad way, a hard way of living. His body was found on the tracks near Baltimore and the circumstances of his death are unclear, although the injuries reported are consistent with his being caught on a train and dragged. They don’t want to be around him. The boxcar is slow moving, Nichols said, and can travel up to 48 mph. Fuck all I think about is Stobe when I do that now. Your subscription makes our reporting possible. This group is for Stobe related content from Stobe fans, there are lots of groups for riders and foamers to post things about trains and your personal trips. The hobos come to town and set up a hobo jungle, sell their crafts and provide free entertainment to visitors, according to the event’s website. Since 1900, hobos and their supporters from around the country have gathered in Britt, Iowa, each August for the National Hobo Convention. He recalled another train hopper, known as James “Stobe the Hobo” Hobie, who was struck and killed by a train. He has set up a GoFundMe account to raise funds to fly northwest and hop on a train in Alaska, a state he fondly remembers. That’s usually where I go to catch a train out of here.”. Nichols said he wasn’t aware of any other hobos — someone who hops on trains and works for a living — who use the rail yards in Bristol or Johnson City, but they do pass through. Funeral Home Services for James are being provided by Olinger Moore Howard Chapel. Nichols’ videos led him to befriend a local family because the son watched them and became fascinated with the railroad lifestyle. Like many, he looked for ways to occupy himself. I wish I knew how he died. Eventually, Nichols said he’ll retire and possibly settle down, but not yet. “Usually they don’t throw you in jail,” Nichols said. Nichols has also encountered two bodies while traveling. Nichols said he started train hopping nearly 30 years ago. He was trapped on a bridge with an on coming Amtrak train, and while he got to the side of the bridge the best he could, the train caught his backpack and and pulled him into the train. “I was hitchhiking and trying to get to Denver. I will watch his videos for a long time. On both occasions, Nichols said he contacted authorities. A tramp is an individual who wanders, or travels, by foot, hitchhiking or train, to find work or beg, and a bum is a person without a home, does not work and typically begs for a living, according to the Urban Dictionary. Railroad police, known by hobos as “bulls,” often check trains as they stop at yards. I just discovered Stobe the Hobo 2 days ago and this morning learned that he was killed in Baltimore by a train. A digital community created by vagabonds, for vagabonds! ... What I’m referring to is how did stobe avoid charges when it was clear he was doing something illegal. Catching the BNSF ZCHIDEN out of Willow Springs on 06/15/2017 then {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}} per month. I just sit there and look at the walls [of his apartment]. “The railroad is my home,” Nichols said. “I just hopped on trains and went wherever it went,” said Nichols. The greenhorns, ya know? Please be careful out there, folks. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. He said many participants move on with their lives away from the railroad, while others continue the railroad lifestyle. In recent years, hobos, like Nichols, have used social media and gained many followers. Riding on trains is a dangerous lifestyle, Nichols admits. Surgery this summer is keeping Nichols in Johnson City. I only knew stobie online. First post. Stobe was an artist and played the piano for all his videos. He said railroad staff often don’t care when they find him aboard trains. Upon recognizing him as a seasoned hobo, they’ll allow him to ride, he said. I learned by myself.”. This old hobo and his dog, I was waiting on an overpass and he was waiting on a train down below.”. He also said he enjoys riding trains in New England, especially in Maine. It's hard to get over a fellow hobos death, but Stobe was something else, and his death hit me in a way that's harder for me to get over. These days, young train hoppers get help from others, or guides, and learn the ins and outs on how to find the right train to ride, he said. Hobos have been taking free rides on America's freight trains since Civil War days - they have always been a law unto themselves. He died doing what he loved, bringing the world his train riding films. As I begin this chapter, I have a red-wine hangover that is enough to drive me to a bullet in the head. He often will get jobs moving furniture from homes and storage units, which allow him to be paid regularly, rather than waiting weeks at a time for a paycheck. Mark Nichols riding on the pusher-unit of a shuttle grain train bound for the Port of New Orleans on the "KCS.". It’s got its ups and downs. You have permission to edit this article. “It’s not really big enough for a place to get a shower or a job.”. Few live as long as Nichols due to derailments, murder, prison, alcoholism and drugs, he said. Stobe the Hobo, the internet’s most famous train-hopper, dead after apparent accident James Stobie was the most famous train-hopping hobo on the internet. The tune’s lyrics are practically about Nichols’ life, he said, one that has taken him along the rails to every state except Hawaii. He fell and had a pinky and ring finger on top of the rail. RIP Stobe the Hobo. Mark Nichols is arrested in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, while riding Florida East Coast railway. He also had a half gallon of water for the trip. Nichols has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing about two dozen times, he said. He usually caught a train in Washington, D.C., and traveled south, through Roanoke, Virginia, the Tri-Cities and Knoxville, Tennessee. Hobie, 33, who became a YouTube star, died in 2017 near Baltimore, Maryland. He goes by the moniker “Hobo Shoestring” — a name pulled from the lyrics of an old Mel McDaniel country music tune from the 1980s. All respect for the men and women who train hop. There are lot of thoughtful posts... Remembering Stobe the Hobo, Jim ( James) Stobie Robert Silveria, suspected member of a gang of railriding hobo killers with a penchant for white supremacy, told police in 1995 that he'd bludgeoned a dozen drifters to death with rocks and axes. I made a pot of coffee only to puke it back up on my hands and knees in front the porcelain thrown. At the time of her disappearance, Holly Bobo was a 20-year-old nursing student in the Registered Nurse program at the University of Tennessee at Martin Parsons Center in Parsons, living with her parents and brother in Darden.Friends described her as shy and … Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Trump is acquitted on charges of incitement of insurrection. He worked on Bell helicopters and was stationed at various bases in the continental U.S. “But after I got out, I went straight to the rails,” Nichols said. After high school, Nichols said he joined the military and served for about two years. In the United States there are some 180,000 miles of track. According to data maintained by the Federal Rail Administration released last week, it seems that Stobe was far from alone in 2017. Nichols said his mind never shuts off; he’s always on the move. He was hurt one time while traveling on the Kansas City Southern Railroad in Pittsburg, Kansas. “It just got in my blood and I never stopped doing it. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Mark Nichols lives in a small apartment near downtown Johnson City, but four static walls aren’t what he’s used to — home is on the rails. James William Stobie gained considerable notoriety during his all too short life of thirty-three years as a filmmaker who self-produced documentary styled videos portraying life as a rail riding traveler-- AKA 'Stobe the Hobo." This group is for Stobe related content from Stobe fans, there are lots of groups for riders and foamers to post things about trains and your personal... Remembering Stobe the Hobo, Jim ( James) Stobie ‘He stinks. He continues to encounter other train hoppers, but they are getting few and far between. Pedestrian railroad safety is concerned with the protection of life through regulation, management and technology development of all forms of rail transportation. Nichols said his family was concerned about his new adventures at first and thought he was going through a phase. Currently streaming Sunday afternoon into the evening (pacific time). Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Hobos often get confused with other individuals living on the streets, Nichols said. Hard to see in the dark but this is Pasco, WA Stobe the Hobo, the internet’s most famous train-hopper, dead after apparent accident James Stobie was the most famous train-hopping hobo on the internet. “I just can’t play the harmonica and guitar anymore,” Nichols said. Get a job.’ People like that are misinformed. It really is a loss. That and Shoestring's accident should serve as a reminder that even experienced riders aren't immune to freak accidents.