From the Associated Press:

I guess he did not stand a ghost of a chance :(

Nor was he spooked by it.

For what it's worth that would be Norfolk Southern's Bostian's stone/concrete arched bridge near Statesville, North Carolina.An account of this ghost story is found in the book "Ghost Train" by Tony Reevy on pages 38 thru 41.

Although i find some of these old RR ghost stories to be somewhat interesting myself.Being a RR engineer for NS it doesn't suprise me of the stupidity of people going out on a RR bridge or trestle.I really feel sorry for the fellow NS train crew that hit this guy along with just seeing 12 people out on the bridge in front of them fleeing to get off the bridge as they rounded the curve that had to be quite a suprise.

The thing that urks me in most cases is how the news and press alway's blame the train when someone is hurt or killed.They seem to forget that in most cases these people are trespassing on RR property to begin with! In this case maybe the guy who was killed can now join the other ghost's from that Aug.27th 1891 wreck but the train crew who hit this guy will see this unfortunate incident over and over again for the rest of their lives.

I myself have had some close ones with people walking out on bridges and had a guy do a suicide act in front of me under a highway overpass in the shadow of the curve.Hitting a human being at 35 mph and only seeing him when he's less than 150 ft. in front of you and not being able to do a damn thing,then hearing their bones crush underneath your engine is one of the worst things to experience! Not only is that moment etched into your memory for life but you can remember what the person was wearing,the exact time,day,and year,along with the conductor you worked with and your engine number and train symbol.

You can then also during your career find yourself passing that same engine or possibly even climbing aboard it on another train years later.I had old #3549 a second time in my RR career and it was very unpleasant.The way she idled and ran reminded me of some wild black stallion hungry for blood.I couldn't wait to get off her that second trip as she was like the black horse of death.I havn't seen her in a long time and hope i never do again.

I love railroad folklore, and ghost stories are a big part of that.

Here in NJ, we are blessed with a magazine Weird NJ, which has covered many of the local rr myths and oddities. The authors have done books on other states, but none get the in depth coverage our dear Garden State does.

The Hookerman is probably the best known of NJ railroad legends, but there are a bunch. They are part of the colorful history of railroading. And I have heard more than one railroader "confirm" some pretty freaky stuff that happens in the wee hours of the morning.

Rob

Truly Phan-tastic.

That makes this photo just a little more creepy Do any of you ever wonder if that pice of rolling stock in your collection has a dark past? I rember hearing something about F40PH 231 takeing a few lives.