The 158 Man
Member
I would like to echo what Kernowfem has just said, I would also gladly sit and talk to you all night Old Timer. 
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Are our railways haunted? (ghost stories)
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Old Timer
Established Member
This is a re-post of last night's story, three quarters of which just disappeared for whatever reason after it was posted
OK Chaps (and Chapesses) here is a story of something that happened one night to Old Timer.
Now you have to set your minds back to a time when there were no computers, when radio and TV closed down at midnight, apart from Radio 2 and Radio 4 for the World Service.
We are in a time when signals were lit by oil, and the footplate crews would stare hard through the darkened night trying to locate the dimly lit signals.
A time when locos had no headlights, just dimly lit reporting number boxes.
So, this one night finds Old Timer called out to work a box deep in the Countryside. The night is cold and windy, the rain is blowing across the fields, inside the box it is warm, the coal fire spreads its furnace heat in competition with the draughts coming through the lever frame.
"Nothing overnight until the Tanks about 0500, Old Timer" says the afternoon man, as he heads out into the night, and home.
As the wind blows and the windows rattle, the last passenger trains pass and soon all is quiet. Old Timer puts some more coal onto the fire and it flares up red as the fire consumes the coal dust, then dies down, smoking black as it does so.
As is OTs practice,the box lights are put out, leaving only the solitary lamp on above the train register desk.
Outside the wind howls away,
As OT has been working days, and is now on a night shift, the gentle murmur of the World Service soon fades, and the blowing wind soon brings about an inevitable lowering of the eyelids, and a gentle doze.
TING
The Block Bell rings out loudly and sharply against the quiet of the box, rousing OT with a start.
TING
Quickly OT walks to the Block Shelf and taps back a reply on the Block Bell tapper.
THUNK
TING goes the bell, a little less sharp this time.
He must not have heard me thinks OT and once again sends "Call Attention" in response.
THUNK
TING
What on earth is he up to ?
OT taps again, this time THUNK pause THUNK THUNK (1-2) the unofficial come to the phone.
"What's up OT" says the man in the Junction box at the other end of the section.
"YOU belled me!"
"No I didn't !"
"You did,that's why I replied to you!"
"Sorry,mate, not me"
"OK, chap" says OT somewhat mystified.
Putting some more coal on the grate, Old Timer sets the kettle up on the grate to boil. Time for tea and a slice of cake !
Soon the tea, the warmth and the sophorific noise of the wind now much calmed down soon exact their toll and once again OT is comfortably dozing.
TING
The Block Bell rings out loudly and sharply against the quiet of the box, rousing OT with a start.
TING
Quickly OT walks to the Block Shelf and taps back a reply on the Block Bell tapper.
THUNK
TING goes the bell, a little less sharp this time.
THUNK
TING
What on earth is he up to ?
THUNK pause THUNK THUNK (1-2)
"YES OT" says the man in the Junction box at the other end of the section.
"YOU belled me AGAIN !"
"No I didn't !"
"You did,that's why I replied to you!"
"Sorry,mate, not me"
"Look I am buggered if I know what's going on, you're not pulling my leg are you ?"
"No, honestly OT, its not me"
"OK Chap, look if you really want me you had better bell 1-2, otherwise I shall ignore it"
"OK, OT"
A little later.
TING then a puse then TING TING
OT walks to the Block Shelf.
THUNK
TING TING TING TING TING
Five bells, its the first tank train.
THUNK THUNK THUNK THUNK THUNK returns OT as he turms the Block Instrument Commutator to "Line Clear"
In due course the night is wrent by the sound of a 47 working hard at full power as it storms across the flatlands, the cab light flickering momentaril as the footplate crew wave as they pass the box.
A quick acknowledgement and then it is gone, only the dying sound of the loco and the flickering of the oil tail lamp fading quickly into the gloom.
Soon it is daybreak, and with comes OTs relief !
"I say Chap, what's your mate at XXXXX Jct like ?"
"Why, you have trouble ?"
"Not as such, its just I think he was pulling my leg earlier. He sent me Call Attention a couple of times, then said he hadn't"
"Ahhhhhhh"
"What do you mean AHHHHHHHHHHH ?"
"About 0300 hours time was it ?"
"Yes"
"Two separate call attentions ?"
"err...Yes"
"Ah....someone should have told you. That happens from time to time.....WE got so used to it we ignore it now....Sorry Chap someone should have mentioned, mind you its been a long time since I was troubled. Not sure why but about 0300 we get a couple of call attentions which were never sent by GGGGGG Jct"
I never had need to work that box again but I have heard of this ringing of the block bell from other sources since.
Signalboxes can be strange places, emeshed as they are in the history of 150 years. Things happen signalmen come and go, maybe not all of them leave.
The ringing of the block bell can never happen again. The box is now long gone replaced only by field mice and the memories of old men, and maybe those who worked there long ago, in a different age....maybe
No-one knew why it happened, the block instruments were in good order.
As time progressed and the line and pole route went so it was transferred to underground cable, yet still on a morning at around 0300 just occasionally could be heard the sound of a lone block bell.
TING
This is a true story, not a wind up, not a tale. Simply a story from the days when I had a full head of hair, when signals were lit by oil and tail lamps were sometimes hard to see even as the train passed.
OK Chaps (and Chapesses) here is a story of something that happened one night to Old Timer.
Now you have to set your minds back to a time when there were no computers, when radio and TV closed down at midnight, apart from Radio 2 and Radio 4 for the World Service.
We are in a time when signals were lit by oil, and the footplate crews would stare hard through the darkened night trying to locate the dimly lit signals.
A time when locos had no headlights, just dimly lit reporting number boxes.
So, this one night finds Old Timer called out to work a box deep in the Countryside. The night is cold and windy, the rain is blowing across the fields, inside the box it is warm, the coal fire spreads its furnace heat in competition with the draughts coming through the lever frame.
"Nothing overnight until the Tanks about 0500, Old Timer" says the afternoon man, as he heads out into the night, and home.
As the wind blows and the windows rattle, the last passenger trains pass and soon all is quiet. Old Timer puts some more coal onto the fire and it flares up red as the fire consumes the coal dust, then dies down, smoking black as it does so.
As is OTs practice,the box lights are put out, leaving only the solitary lamp on above the train register desk.
Outside the wind howls away,
As OT has been working days, and is now on a night shift, the gentle murmur of the World Service soon fades, and the blowing wind soon brings about an inevitable lowering of the eyelids, and a gentle doze.
TING
The Block Bell rings out loudly and sharply against the quiet of the box, rousing OT with a start.
TING
Quickly OT walks to the Block Shelf and taps back a reply on the Block Bell tapper.
THUNK
TING goes the bell, a little less sharp this time.
He must not have heard me thinks OT and once again sends "Call Attention" in response.
THUNK
TING
What on earth is he up to ?
OT taps again, this time THUNK pause THUNK THUNK (1-2) the unofficial come to the phone.
"What's up OT" says the man in the Junction box at the other end of the section.
"YOU belled me!"
"No I didn't !"
"You did,that's why I replied to you!"
"Sorry,mate, not me"
"OK, chap" says OT somewhat mystified.
Putting some more coal on the grate, Old Timer sets the kettle up on the grate to boil. Time for tea and a slice of cake !
Soon the tea, the warmth and the sophorific noise of the wind now much calmed down soon exact their toll and once again OT is comfortably dozing.
TING
The Block Bell rings out loudly and sharply against the quiet of the box, rousing OT with a start.
TING
Quickly OT walks to the Block Shelf and taps back a reply on the Block Bell tapper.
THUNK
TING goes the bell, a little less sharp this time.
THUNK
TING
What on earth is he up to ?
THUNK pause THUNK THUNK (1-2)
"YES OT" says the man in the Junction box at the other end of the section.
"YOU belled me AGAIN !"
"No I didn't !"
"You did,that's why I replied to you!"
"Sorry,mate, not me"
"Look I am buggered if I know what's going on, you're not pulling my leg are you ?"
"No, honestly OT, its not me"
"OK Chap, look if you really want me you had better bell 1-2, otherwise I shall ignore it"
"OK, OT"
A little later.
TING then a puse then TING TING
OT walks to the Block Shelf.
THUNK
TING TING TING TING TING
Five bells, its the first tank train.
THUNK THUNK THUNK THUNK THUNK returns OT as he turms the Block Instrument Commutator to "Line Clear"
In due course the night is wrent by the sound of a 47 working hard at full power as it storms across the flatlands, the cab light flickering momentaril as the footplate crew wave as they pass the box.
A quick acknowledgement and then it is gone, only the dying sound of the loco and the flickering of the oil tail lamp fading quickly into the gloom.
Soon it is daybreak, and with comes OTs relief !
"I say Chap, what's your mate at XXXXX Jct like ?"
"Why, you have trouble ?"
"Not as such, its just I think he was pulling my leg earlier. He sent me Call Attention a couple of times, then said he hadn't"
"Ahhhhhhh"
"What do you mean AHHHHHHHHHHH ?"
"About 0300 hours time was it ?"
"Yes"
"Two separate call attentions ?"
"err...Yes"
"Ah....someone should have told you. That happens from time to time.....WE got so used to it we ignore it now....Sorry Chap someone should have mentioned, mind you its been a long time since I was troubled. Not sure why but about 0300 we get a couple of call attentions which were never sent by GGGGGG Jct"
I never had need to work that box again but I have heard of this ringing of the block bell from other sources since.
Signalboxes can be strange places, emeshed as they are in the history of 150 years. Things happen signalmen come and go, maybe not all of them leave.
The ringing of the block bell can never happen again. The box is now long gone replaced only by field mice and the memories of old men, and maybe those who worked there long ago, in a different age....maybe
No-one knew why it happened, the block instruments were in good order.
As time progressed and the line and pole route went so it was transferred to underground cable, yet still on a morning at around 0300 just occasionally could be heard the sound of a lone block bell.
TING
This is a true story, not a wind up, not a tale. Simply a story from the days when I had a full head of hair, when signals were lit by oil and tail lamps were sometimes hard to see even as the train passed.
It's 'speaking', not 'speeking'.
And did you note how OT's post was disrupted?
IT WAS ME! I CAST A SPELL!
Wibble!
CS
AlexS
Established Member
Heard of a few stories around and about.
The dead GCR former president has been seen wandering about a few times around Loughborough for example.
There's also a rather disturbing figure in a railway uniform that seems to be fond of standing on platform 1 at Loughborough Central next to the shop with an oil lamp. Except it's not quite as solid as it should be.
Also seen some extremely odd lights floating around a particular set of dolly signals.
And the final one I can remember easily is one that's had me getting back in my cabin and locking the door shut - an extremely oppressive feeling of not being particularly alone, under Empress Road railway bridge (where an unfortunate fireman bounced off it and was brought back to the adjacent PWay cabin to die). Not trespassers either, got rid of those more than once and they don't make my spine shiver!
One bloke who used to come into the station at Loughborough between its closure and reopening is adamant while having a sly few minutes with his missus you could hear a very vocal argument going on in the empty room next door.
The sightings have come about through various people from various walks of life (and some very senior professional railwaymen) and the general consensus is that despite all the stuff that gets put about Rothley station (which gets the ghost hunters in), Loughborough Central is not a nice place to be knocking around at night on your own.
We came to a more important consensus for our own peace of mind though. If there really are spirits knocking about the railways, there's not really likely to be much to fear from the railwaymen of a previous generation who for some reason didn't want to leave it. If anything the fact they may still be there is almost a comfort at times, people move on and pass on but the railways keep moving.
Uncomfortable yes. Scary no. Just perhaps a deep feeling of sadness.
I certainly do not have any worries in my mind about running into a old boy who spent his life on the railways and never left.
Not quite so keen on the idea of running into a punter that met an untimely end though
The dead GCR former president has been seen wandering about a few times around Loughborough for example.
There's also a rather disturbing figure in a railway uniform that seems to be fond of standing on platform 1 at Loughborough Central next to the shop with an oil lamp. Except it's not quite as solid as it should be.
Also seen some extremely odd lights floating around a particular set of dolly signals.
And the final one I can remember easily is one that's had me getting back in my cabin and locking the door shut - an extremely oppressive feeling of not being particularly alone, under Empress Road railway bridge (where an unfortunate fireman bounced off it and was brought back to the adjacent PWay cabin to die). Not trespassers either, got rid of those more than once and they don't make my spine shiver!
One bloke who used to come into the station at Loughborough between its closure and reopening is adamant while having a sly few minutes with his missus you could hear a very vocal argument going on in the empty room next door.
The sightings have come about through various people from various walks of life (and some very senior professional railwaymen) and the general consensus is that despite all the stuff that gets put about Rothley station (which gets the ghost hunters in), Loughborough Central is not a nice place to be knocking around at night on your own.
We came to a more important consensus for our own peace of mind though. If there really are spirits knocking about the railways, there's not really likely to be much to fear from the railwaymen of a previous generation who for some reason didn't want to leave it. If anything the fact they may still be there is almost a comfort at times, people move on and pass on but the railways keep moving.
Uncomfortable yes. Scary no. Just perhaps a deep feeling of sadness.
I certainly do not have any worries in my mind about running into a old boy who spent his life on the railways and never left.
Not quite so keen on the idea of running into a punter that met an untimely end though
Kernowfem
Member
IT WAS ME! I CAST A SPELL!
CS
Do you have one to make yourself disappear??
Joking CS...honest
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Heard of a few stories around and about.
The dead GCR former president has been seen wandering about a few times around Loughborough for example.
There's also a rather disturbing figure in a railway uniform that seems to be fond of standing on platform 1 at Loughborough Central next to the shop with an oil lamp. Except it's not quite as solid as it should be.
Also seen some extremely odd lights floating around a particular set of dolly signals.
And the final one I can remember easily is one that's had me getting back in my cabin and locking the door shut - an extremely oppressive feeling of not being particularly alone, under Empress Road railway bridge (where an unfortunate fireman bounced off it and was brought back to the adjacent PWay cabin to die). Not trespassers either, got rid of those more than once and they don't make my spine shiver!
One bloke who used to come into the station at Loughborough between its closure and reopening is adamant while having a sly few minutes with his missus you could hear a very vocal argument going on in the empty room next door.
The sightings have come about through various people from various walks of life (and some very senior professional railwaymen) and the general consensus is that despite all the stuff that gets put about Rothley station (which gets the ghost hunters in), Loughborough Central is not a nice place to be knocking around at night on your own.
We came to a more important consensus for our own peace of mind though. If there really are spirits knocking about the railways, there's not really likely to be much to fear from the railwaymen of a previous generation who for some reason didn't want to leave it. If anything the fact they may still be there is almost a comfort at times, people move on and pass on but the railways keep moving.
Uncomfortable yes. Scary no. Just perhaps a deep feeling of sadness.
I certainly do not have any worries in my mind about running into a old boy who spent his life on the railways and never left.
Not quite so keen on the idea of running into a punter that met an untimely end though
Great stuff, cheers for sharing. Really enjoyed the post.
Ah, when it was still a proper railway.
Thanks for a splendid account OT. I've been present when there's been a rogue 'one' a couple of times. I'm sure you have too and are aware of all the possible causes. These are fault or circumstance related. What you describe here certainly can't be explained away like that.
I hope one day to share a pint with you and hear about the places you have worked.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Don't underestimate Rothley Alex. There is something more sinister about some of the goings on there. Some of it is not railway related either and that always makes me feel uncomfortable.
Old Timer
Established Member
Time for a Captain Sensible visit there then I suspect !...Don't underestimate Rothley Alex. There is something more sinister about some of the goings on there. Some of it is not railway related either and that always makes me feel uncomfortable.
The 158 Man
Member
Time for a Captain Sensible visit there then I suspect !
Not a Captain Speaking, then?
Old Timer
Established Member
Would he come, one wonders ?Not a Captain Speaking, then?
And what if he SAW something !
ladydsm
Member
I was staying round a friends house walking up the stairs with my friend in front of me an old man came from a bedroom and went into the bathroom my friend fell back asked me if i saw him i said yes it was his dead grandad .
Kernowfem
Member
A closed mind is a starved one or so they say
Do you have any more tales to tell us Old Timer?
At the weekend my husband and i visited fiskerton and rolleston in nottinghamshire. The signal box at fiskerton is quite distinctive as it tilts at a dramatic angle, Story has it that footsteps can be heard walking around the box at night. We spoke to the signal man on duty (he was on till ten that night) but we only passed a good evening and made comment on the traditional crossing gates that are still in situ there. Rolleston has been connected to several ghost tales in the past, one of the sound of a steam engine being heard on the long closed branch line that ran from rolleston junc through southwell and then onto mansfield. Another tale is one of a vehicle that used to be seen at the crossing...when the crossing keeper would make his way to the crossing the vehicle would disappear. Now a modern station rolleston seems to have lost some of its charm, although the old station house still stands, and the crossing is still not automated, certainly worth a visit. Both a lovely spots, and the character of fiskerton box is wonderful, although soon to be short lived, the signal man told is it is to be demolished within the next couple of years. What a shame.
SouthEastern-465
Established Member
It's 'speaking', not 'speeking'.
And did you note how OT's post was disrupted?
IT WAS ME! I CAST A SPELL!
Wibble!
CS
I am a quick typer so sorry for the mistake!
Anyway I have got no problem with you at-all I just get very p**** off with people who are disruptive to others when there saying or doing somthing.
Yet another great story from OT keep them up to!
I'm up for a ghost hunt any time! If I SAW something totally inexplicable by any rational cause, I'd be gobsmacked. But it would have to be something totally inexplicable.
Remember - its good to be open-minded, but not so open minded that your brain falls out!
Kernowfem
Member
I'm up for a ghost hunt any time! If I SAW something totally inexplicable by any rational cause, I'd be gobsmacked. But it would have to be something totally inexplicable.
Remember - its good to be open-minded, but not so open minded that your brain falls out!
Ill do some research, find the most 'supposedly' haunted railway site, then arrange to do a 'ghost hunt' when are you free??
DescendingSadly
Member
Could I recommend to any newcomers to ghost hunters to seek professional and religious advice before doing so. You can never know what you're letting yourself in for. Above all though, please have respect for the dead. They aren't playthings.
Kernowfem
Member
Sceptics would not need to either seek professional or religious advice before hand as they wouldnt believe in either. You cant seek advice on something you dont believe to exist.
Im sure everyone respects the dead, and i for one would never disturb graves etc etc, its simply light hearted fun, along with a light hearted challenge to CS.
There would be no harm in a little ghost hunt which would i presume involve a lot of sitting around and waiting as long as A, you werent trespassing. B, you were not in danger or causing danger to others etc and C, you were not causing a disturbance to others
I take it from your post you are a believer in the paranormal DS?
Do you have any stories you would like to share?
What? Ask the advice a professional Wibbler about doing something Wibblish? You've been taken in by the Established Church's jealous guarding of all wibble for itself (catholics are the worst for this). The church is (or was) a power base, a very powerful one in the past when most of the population believed in Wibble and would therefore kow-tow to the church, and give them 1/10 of their dosh (tithes) for wibblish favours. The church therefore frowned on its members getting involved in any 'competitive wibble' and threatened those thinking of investigating 'non-church Wibble' with dire consequences. Thankfully, for most folk, education has swept fear of Wibble aside, and those days are gone.
The dead are dead. They aren't around any more to be 'played with', and outside of Bram Stoker books they have never been known to cause any harm to any living person, which isn't surprising since they have either been cremated or have rotted away (ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that).
The very worst that could happen on a Wibble hunt would be you'd die of boredom. Unless the company is good, in which case we would keep each other amused with 'ghost stories'.
Last edited by a moderator:
Kernowfem
Member
CS, i think you have a 'wibble' obsession....
I have asked you to join me on a hunt, but alas you seem to have missed the post. I am excellent company...and i have many ghost stories to tell...so bordem would be fairly limited :
I have asked you to join me on a hunt, but alas you seem to have missed the post. I am excellent company...and i have many ghost stories to tell...so bordem would be fairly limited :
DescendingSadly
Member
Kernowfem - I recommended that because I know on the forums there are younger members who are easily sucked in to this sort of thing, I know this stuff can have a detrimental affect on people. It's meddling in the unknown.
I do have stories but don't wish to share them with certain people who wish to ridicule only. (Not aimed at you)
I do have stories but don't wish to share them with certain people who wish to ridicule only. (Not aimed at you)
Kernowfem
Member
Kernowfem - I recommended that because I know on the forums there are younger members who are easily sucked in to this sort of thing, I know this stuff can have a detrimental affect on people. It's meddling in the unknown.
I do have stories but don't wish to share them with certain people who wish to ridicule only. (Not aimed at you)
I fully understand DS, thanks for the reply
Spagnoletti
Member
There have been a number of posts on this thread mentioning locations that are associated with feelings of unease and dread. An explanation that does not invoke the supernatural can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrasound
That's more like it, Spagnoleti. A rational explanation for a strange 'feeling'. And that's just one possible explanation. If something seems inexplicable, it just may be that one hasn't looked hard enough for the rational explanation, and it might be tempting to take the easy (and perhaps more interesting!) option of attributing it to 'The Supernaltural' (Wibble!).
SouthEastern-465
Established Member
CP did you get our message!
This is a ghost thread not non-ghost-beliver thread remeber that!
CP did you get our message!
This is a ghost thread not non-ghost-beliver thread remeber that!
Absolutley take and agree with your point, SE-465;374922. Just putting a rational view in from time to time to counter-act the one or two on the thread who are pushing the 'ghosts and wibble are real' viewpoint.
I love a good ghost story and some of OP's are great! But let's keep 'em as stories.
Spagnoletti
Member
Indeed nothing wrong with a good spooky tale and sometimes being sure there is a rational explanation doesn't stop the old sphincter twitching in the right circumstances
OT's post about the block bell was quite creepy and reminded me of 'The Signal Man' by Charles Dickens - a TV version usually gets repeated around xmas time most years.
OT's post about the block bell was quite creepy and reminded me of 'The Signal Man' by Charles Dickens - a TV version usually gets repeated around xmas time most years.
Kernowfem
Member
I continue to sit on the fence. Theres no definitive proof either way...yet.
Does anyone have any underground tales?
Does anyone have any underground tales?
FlyingScot
Member
Im not just here to tell you that this thread hasn't been posted on for a long time, I also have two stories! The first one is for all you tay bridge accident fans. It is said that a train can be seen running along it at night, and disappears at the part where he train fell in the water.....The other one is about President Lincolns funeral train appearing at the same place at the same time on the same night every year.
Sorry kernowfem, but no underground stories.
Got these from a book called ten best ghost stories ever, and it said that they were true.
Sorry kernowfem, but no underground stories.
Got these from a book called ten best ghost stories ever, and it said that they were true.
Kernowfem
Member
Thanks flyingscot, its kinda nice to see this thread resurected, although im sure some would disagree. I loved the stories that were coming through especially old timers tales.
Ive also heard of the tay bridge disaster train and president lincolns funeral procession, but whether theres an element of truth in either who knows. Only those who claim to have seen them can be sure of that!
Ive also heard of the tay bridge disaster train and president lincolns funeral procession, but whether theres an element of truth in either who knows. Only those who claim to have seen them can be sure of that!
Polls
Member
You are all freaking me out. I am going to poop myself when I am left on my own in the dark in my lonely cabin at the front of the train. eek! .... Has anyone ever gone on one of those ghost hunts that are more common now since Most Haunted started?
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