I see many of the forums users are railway workers, and i wondered if anyone had any tales to tell of mysterious happenings/hauntings while on duty, or if anyone has any railway ghost stories.
I appreciate this thread may not be everyones cup of tea, but i would love to hear any stories/experiences you guys may have
I love that sort of thing and have a large collection of railway haunting books, I did some research and wrote a piece a few years ago when I was a volunteer for the East Lancs Railway, we`d started the Halloween trains off at the time, here it is,
East Lancashire Railway Ghosts and Phantoms.
The East Lancashire Railway and the towns that surround it have a long association with ghostly happenings, apparitions, manifestations, shades, familiars, and other ghoulish entities, some which date back to the earliest days of the railways earliest times. The location of the railway lies in the shadows of “ William Harrison Ainsworths” enchanting “Lonkyshiar Witch Country” which echoes the cries of the unfortunates, Nutter, Chattox and Demdike and the Lancaster WitchTrials of 1612. We hope you enjoy your visit to the railway, which can be a very haunting and unforgettable experience for some.
The Bury Waiting Room Phantom
The waiting room on platforms three and four have a rich history, when built occupying the originally Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway workshops at Horwich, the structure was later taken down and moved to Miles Platting carriage sheds. On closure of the shed it was acquired by the east Lancashire railway and was erected on its present site. History clearly records that Lancashire Phantoms and Bogart’s are known to move with structures and it is believed that the waiting room phantom now resides here.
Evidence is supported by the sightings of several orbs over the years, some which have appeared on photographs by accident. Indeed as recently as the Christmas period 2007, customer John Philps who was visiting his daughter in Heap Bridge, Bury. On taking a picture of grandson, John says his photo, snapped around Christmas 2007 of the East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Train Station waiting room may show the ghostly image of a sleeping railway worker. At the time he was photographing his grandson who can be seen peeping through the back window of the waiting room.
"Tom was peeping and waving at me through the waiting room window and I clicked a few shots off. I am almost sure there was only one lady in the waiting room at the time. It wasn't till the Monday after Christmas I captured my photographs to Joyce's computer and noticed the ghost face. It gave my goospimples at the time and still does."
In addition many strange sights and sounds have been recorded by volunteers working in the waiting room since the railway obtained the structure.
Another record suggests that a ghost has occupied the site of Bolton Street station for many years, and it is affectionately known locally as Billy the Guard, the contributor suggests that any pensioner from the Welly will most certainly have heard of him.
Another source writes, I now live in Dorset but originally came from Bury. My friend has just printed and posted me this page and I have rushed to the library to see it in person. An extremely haunting and disturbing picture to me. My reason for saying this is my sister whom has now sadly deceased told me a story of her younger years. She was courting a young man who helped with baggage on the trains at this very station. One night, during a dark winters evening he passed the waiting room and saw a man seated inside on the bench. The door was cracked open ever so slightly. Thinking the man would be cold, he promptly walked over to the door to close it. Looking through the glass he saw more clearly a man dressed in overall who was in a deep slumber. As he went to take hold of the handle there was a very sharp, cold breeze and the door suddenly slammed shut. The surprised caused him to jump and blink. On opening his eyes he saw the man had disappeared. The young man felt very frightened that night and slept with a candle lit in his room. The very next day he told the story to the guardsman who looked shocked. The guardsman told him the figure he saw was the ghost of Billy the Guard. Billy had been seen several times by passengers and drivers soundly asleep in the waiting room. I never found out anything else out about Billy or indeed, why he resides in the waiting room. Maybe someone who was told the same story knows why?
Another contributor writes; Christmas 2007. We took our granddaughter on the Santa Special. I have a decent digital camera which, are necessary to capture orbs or they are sometimes called anomalies. These appear as small light orbs. When I got home and downloaded them onto my computer, there were plenty of orbs upstairs and sure enough, they followed us right down to the platform (as if to escort us) but, none on the platform. Some people will argue that it is the fairy lights reflecting but, when I got home, I switched on our lights which were pretty similar but I got no orbs. I had also taken plenty of pictures and there were many second shots of the same area or place where the orbs had moved. If there are spirits at Bolton Street, I can only imagine that they too are enjoying the Christmas occasion as well. (Source;
http://www.ilovebury.com/Latest/Bury-Ghost-East-Lancs-Railway.html).
Has anyone else ever witnessed ghostly goings on at Bolton Street Station?
The Horwich Phantom
Horwich Railway Works has been well known for apparitions and strange happenings over the years, W.B Herbert writes of a phantom witnessed by a young apprentice Bill Morris, this began with an invitation to a footplate ride on a new locomotive in recognition for his work, the engine was an 0-6-0 tank loco was taken out on a snow covered wintery evening. On the return trip, Bill was asked to act as look out as the loco traveled bunker first on the 4 mile spur back to the works. When suddenly Bill noticed a figure walking along the lines in the dim twilight, Bill quickly shouted to the driver to stop, the driver responding quickly and sounded the whistle, the figure ignored the warning whistle, but it was too late the engine had passed over the figure. As the engine stopped Bill quickly jumped down from the footplate and walked back to where the figure had been hit, and was surprised to find no sign of anyone or indeed no footsteps in the snow. Bill was ridiculed for sometime forcing him to leave the area. However the story doesn’t finish here. Many years later Bill returned to the town and on visiting a local hostilely related his story to the publican, who produced an old leather bound book, which contained a tale of a man seen walking along the tracks on the works spur who had been oblivious to the warning signals of an approaching engine in the thick snow, and was killed instantly. It was 15 years to the date before Bill had seen his apparition. Horwich. The Horwich Phantom, (Herbert W. B. (1989), Railway Ghosts and Phantoms, David and Charles, Newton Abbott).
Many think that Bills apparition could be the phantom that now occupies the Bolton Street, waiting room.
Buckley Wells Engine Sheds and Works, Bury.
Part of the Buckley Wells complex of the 1840s was a primitive engine shed cum locomotive works built by the ELR; this was a timber building and stood along side the up main line, the then new locomotive works was later built in 1855/56. A large part of the original building still stands and is used to house the present ELR`s locomotive stock and also shares with Ian Riley and Son’s locomotive workshops and the building, because of its historic relevance holds a grade 2 listing. Over its long history it has however been witness to strange sounds and happenings, mainly associated with footsteps in the darkness with no visible explanation. Many believe the building is still host to a number of entities.
Castlecroft Goods Shed, Bury
Now host to the East Lancashire Railway’s recently refurbished museum. The Castlecroft Goods shed dates from 1848 and was built by the original East Lancashire Railway Company to handle local based freight traffic being transported around what was then a growing railway network. The building was still in use in the 1960`s by British Railways and after a period of dereliction and when the present East Lancashire railway relocated from Helmshore, members soon set about turning the old warehouse into the Bury Transport Museum, although in later years, because of the deteriorating condition of the building closure of Transport museum took place in 2003. In November of 2008 following an award of 2.9 million ponds of Grant Aid Funding, work began to restore this grade 2 listed building to its former glory.
Over the years the goods shed has been host to a number of ghostly haunting, apparitions and footsteps, even in its refurbished form, it still appears to be occupied with unexplained and possible supernatural accounts. Mr Andy Coward the East Lancashire Railways General Manager records. A couple of years ago we had a paranormal investigation at Bolton Street station, that was an interesting session. A few people have spoke about seeing things in Bury Transport Museum and on the numerous times I got called out to re-set the alarm at night I was always glad to get out again, as always had a very uneasy feeling in that building when on my own.
For my own part, as a volunteer with the Civil Engineering department, a permanent way gang worker, I was involved with some of the refurbishment work. I was working late one winters afternoon in one of the dark recesses of the building cleaning out fish plates, the light was fading rapidly and most of the team had left early, crouched on my knees and gazing towards the doorway of the shed, I caught a glimpse of what looked like an hideously looking tall figure carrying what looked like an axe and moving towards me in the twilight, breaking into a sweat, and with the hairs at the back of my neck standing upright against my collar, I was relieved to realise, as the figure came closer, it was none other than Gaffer Bailey carrying a key hammer, phew!
Market Place Station (1866-1888), Bury.
Later renamed Knowsley Street Station or the Low level station and was recorded of the site of a serious accident in 1871 and was reported by the Middleton Albion on the 14th October 1871.
At an early hour on Tuesday morning, a somewhat serious accident occurred at Knowsley Street station, Bury. On the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, whereby one poor fellow lost his life. It appears that a goods train from Liverpool to Oldham which arrived here at 4.15am, was standing on the proper metals, and had passed the points, with the exception of four wagons, when the goods train from Preston to Oldham came dashing along the East Lancashire line at such speed as to prevent its driver pulling up in time to prevent a collision. Greasy rails and a miscalculation of speed by the Preston-Oldham driver caused the smashing up of four wagons and the death of the stoker of the other goods train. Significantly, the reporter of this accident referred to the station as Knowsley Street, despite the official Market Place title of the time. (Wells, 1995).
The ghost of the unfortunate stoker however is still said to roam the site of the former station, which is now occupied by the Ski jump over the Metrolink line and PW gang workers have noticed significant changes in temperature while working under the bridges in this section of line.
The Murder Cabin (Ramsbottom-Helmshore Line).
The tale is related to a platelayer’s cabin between Ramsbottom and Helmshore, in the late 1950s, which was the scene of another specter which is still known to haunt the East Lancashire Railway and is known by the name as George. The account is related by Mr. C Whitehead, who at the time was a platelayer with British Railways working in the area. The story is recorded by W.B Herbert in the chapter, The Visitor, (Herbert W. B. (1988), Phantoms of the Railway, David and Charles, Newton Abbott). , the hut was used for break periods when the small gang of PW workers would sit and eat their sandwiches, on one particular evening while the lads are sat in there eating their lunch, in walks a strange and unknown figure who stands opposite at the other end of the hut tale gazing into the dark recesses of the hut without saying a word. This was a common sight for the platelayers.
The story tells of an argument between two platelayers. Shortly before Mr. Whitehead arrived to take part in the maintenance of the line, two members of the gang were having a go at each other. It started with niggling at first, but feelings were strained between these two men and matters were getting worst.
Then one day the two men were nearly at one an others throats and it took others in the gang to keep them apart. One of the gang walked the full length of the section looking at the condition of the track, checking for broken fishplates, rails and the general condition of the track when he came across the platelayer’s cabin and found the door was ajar. Fearing that the cabin had been broken into and the tools stolen, he ventured inside the building. He had hardly gone inside the cabin when he was killed by a vicious blow from an axe wielded by one of the quarrelling men, who had killed the wrong man. From them onwards the cabin was known as the Murder Cabin.
The base of the original cabin is still in evidence and it has been suggested that it is ill advised to walk this section of track alone and particularly at night, so be warned.
The Pot Hall Ghost, Heywood
This area of the railway is well known for his haunting by various entities, black dogs, footsteps and manifestations, when on closer examination nothing has been there. Of interest it is also recorded that steam trains have been heard in the night, nothing unusual here, but on these occasions, this was after the line was closed by British Railways and before the line was opened by the East Lancashire Railway.
Railway Inns, Rawtenstall and Waterfoot
The Railway Inn at Rawtenstall has also recorded a ghost over the years, it takes the form of a tall, lean woman in grey, and this shade likes to haunt the guest bedrooms and the cellar. She is responsible for the strange sounds which occasionally echo around the building at night. Of interest a similar tale is recorded at the railway inn at Waterfoot, the next village up the line from Rawtenstall, which is also believed to be haunted by what is described as a tall lady dressed in gray that appeared in a particular bedroom at the Inn and walked through a partition wall. She was known as Jane by the licensees and blamed for interfering with bed close by pulling them completely off the bed. A bricked up room has been associated with the ghostly occurrences, although there is nothing unusual or macabre in the room, (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Bradley Fold West Signal Cabin Haunting
The original line from Bury Knowsley Street, Bury`s other station, now closed and demolished, was located on the line between Castleton and Bolton. Between the Bury to Bolton section was a station called Bradley Fold, whose signal cabin was host to another specter. Jack Rothera fulfilled his childhood dream of training to be a signalman and took up his first post at Bradley Fold West, an isolated cabin which catered for the then busy line. It was some weeks later that Jack was working on the night turn, after allowing a train through his section, he return to book the trains passage in the register, when he heard footsteps passing under the adjacent bridge and over the point catwalk and continuing under the box. As no one was due to visit the box at this time of night, Jack considered it could be a prowler, as problems had occurred at the box in the past with coal and tools being stolen. Grabbing his torch he raced down the steps and shone his light into the dark corners, but there was no one to be seen.
The strange occurrence was uppermost in Jacks mind the following night and he was determined to catch the intruder, should he again be visited. As on the previous night the mail train roared past the signal box at the usual time and Jack again heard the footsteps in the still of the night walking under the box. Taking a heavy poker on one hand and a torch in the other, he charged down the steps once again, feeling certain that the intruder had entered the store room below the box. He opened the door and shone the torch, but as before no one was there. Feeling frightened he scurried back up the stairs and sank bewildered into his armchair. Jack was convinced that the uninvited visitor was a light-fingered local looking for free coal. The thought that he might be dealing with a supernatural force did not enter his mind.
The next day Jack pondered the mystery of the unexplained footsteps and laid plans to catch the intruder. On commencing the night-shift, a sinister and inexplicable atmosphere was evident. Jack felt edgy but convinced himself that his nerves were playing tricks on him. He then heard strange clicking noises at the windows and footsteps coming up the steps. Flinging open the door, he shone his torch, but nothing stirred. Returning to his chair, he sat and waited. Now he heard a low whistling sound which seemed to come from the rear of the box. With his poker and torch he sought out the noise. He found nothing.
An hour later he opened the door and shone the torch. Although fresh night air was welcome, Jack was again aware of an unusual feeling of dread and fore boarding. He had never been afraid or apprehensive before, but now he realised that something was amiss. He closed the door and opened the sliding window looking across the tracks, the clear air showing the gleaming metals of the line. Looking right then left he saw the signals with their warning lights reassuring him of their presence. Suddenly he felt that he was being watched. Turning around quickly he saw a shadow moving across the ceiling light. He pinched himself and warmed his hands on the fire, shuddering against the extremes of the cold night air and the warmth of the signal box. What was the shadow and the feeling of being watched? He looked forward to the end of his shift.
As the mail train thundered past and disappeared into the distance he heard the familiar sound of footsteps. Rushing down the steps, he turned the corner to the store room which was fitted with a safety lock requiring four turns of the key. Again nobody was there, but the air was heavy with a sense of foreboding. Then an agonizing cry rent the still night. Jack hastened to the front of the box shining his torch across the tracks. To his horror, he discerned a recumbent shape at the side of the line. He ran towards it fearing the worst, but to his amazement the figure faded and disappeared as he stood near the line side. His mind began to wonder, had someone been killed by the mail train in the past, the footsteps, the mysterious whistling noises, the shadow and the figure of a resembled body lying by the track. Why had he been witness to these events? In a state of nervous confusion, Jack was unable to answer these bewildering questions.
Jack now turned and walked slowly back up, the stairs, numb and shivering. It had turned cold now, but the air remained still. Huddling by the fire he waited impatiently for daylight and his relief. By now jack was determined to relinquish his night shift duties. The thought of undergoing such a traumatic experience again was unthinkable. He later left the railways.
Many years later, Jack was told before his tenure of Bradley Fold West signal box that a man from a nearby village was killed on the line. According to reliable sources, but unknown to jack at the time, at least three other signalmen had had similar experiences at the box and later also left the railways. (Herbert W. B. (1989), Railway Ghosts and Phantoms, David and Charles, Newton Abbott).
Footnote. The route of the line which once passed Bradley Fold West signal box is now a footpath and can still be walked, but it’s not advisable to walk this route in the darkened hours.
Haunting Manifestation, Ashton Moss Junction.
There would appear to be a considerable number of strange events concerning signal boxes and their environs, more so that other areas of unexplained activities. In spite of many attempts to allay fears and promotion of the normal working conditions by the railway authorities, signal boxes are rather emotive places and one doesn’t have to have a very fertile imagination to get into the feeling of unease and expectancy.
Not too far from Bury and part of a mainline route from Manchester to Leeds, and which ELR locomotives still traverse, is Ashton Moss Junction, as told by Mr Ian McGill. The year is set at 1975, while prior to this date at least two signalmen have reported a strange figure walking along the track that vanishes if approached.
The informant who wished to remain anonymous, but never the less records these events in truth, had spent a short time in his early days as a signalman on the OA & GB Junction signal box. Whilst on duty one Saturday afternoon during the early part of 1975, he heard the sound of footsteps ascending the steps leading up to the box, then he became aware of the figure of a man about to enter the ,lobby or vestibule outside the door. Expecting the visitor to knock to gain admittance, the signalman walked towards the door to see what the visitor wanted. However, the anticipated knock never came and on opening the door of the box he found the lobby was silent and totally devoid of anyone, the strange visitor had vanished without a trace. The signalman went down the steps to search for signs of the visitor but there was no one about. A complete mystery.
The brief glimpse the signalman gained of the stranger was not sufficient to give a good description except that he was male and he appeared to be carrying a bag. Was this the shade of a railway man visiting his former work place? Could he have been a signalman who had met an unfortunate death and still haunts the place of his end?
The following Saturday afternoon the informant was again on duty when the light began to fade, he hated the short winter days; suddenly he heard a sound, a strange sound of movement below the box. He went to the top of the steps and looked around; he couldn’t see anyone or anything untoward. He looked out of the window and he thought he saw a figure on or around the track. In the vicinity of the road bridge, which spanned the line near Ashton South junction, about 200 yards away to the south? The signalman at Ashton Moss north also became aware of someone out on the track whom he took to be trespassing. After conferring, the two signalmen decided to try and apprehend the person concerned, and after making sure that the control had been told of the situation and that the boxes were safe to leave, they walked towards each other, approaching the trespasser from opposite directions, so keeping him in view all the time and affording him little chance of escape. Nevertheless, on reaching the spot where the trespasser had been loitering, there was no one to be seen.
The person they had sought had disappeared into thin air, it was only then that they puzzled and wondered if the dusk had conned them into imagining that they could be mistaken. The mystery remains and perhaps will never be solved, but one thing is for sure, those two signalmen were absolutely certain of what they had seen and were unshakable in their beliefs. (Herbert W. B. (1988), Phantoms of the Railway, David and Charles, Newton Abbott).
Haunted Diesel Locomotive, D1501
Its not only the environment of the East Lancashire Railway that tell a story, the Class 47 Diesel locomotive, D1501 (changed to 47402 at TOPPS), the railways magnificent diesel locomotive which now carries its original two tone green BR livery and number, has somewhat of a chequed history and somewhat dark past. On September 5th 1977 the second built 'Generator' was in trouble; 47402 was stationary at Farnley Junction (Leeds) at the head of the 21.50 York to Manchester mail train, when it was hit head-on by the 20.40 Liverpool to Hull DMU service. Both drivers were killed and 15 passengers on the DMU were injured, some seriously. The cause of the accident was discovered to be a fault in a lineside electrical cabinet which had resulted in the junction signals and points being incorrectly set, causing both trains to be directed onto the same running line; with the inevitable and tragic consequence. Despite extensive front-end damage, 47402 was fully repaired and continued in operational service for a further 15 years, and is today preserved at the East Lancashire Railway. The loco was rebuilt but it is said that the driver still haunts the loco.
Mayfield Railway Station, Manchester
Bury and the East Lancashire Railway, lie just a few miles from Manchester city centre, once a major rail centre of Northern England. Mayfield station, Manchester was built as an annex for Manchester’s London Road station, now renamed and rebuilt as Manchester Piccadilly, Mayfield station was closed to passenger traffic many years ago, and was converted into a major parcels depot for the railways. Sadly the building now lies in a derelict state, but is home to a number of ghostly happenings over the years. A dilapidated building with crumbling walls, rusty iron work, cobwebs, broken roofs and decaying platforms, it is an idea setting for a ghostly experience, especially on a wild winter’s night. In its more active days, the then foreman Fred Jenks knew a man had hanged himself in the electric indicator box and that a former station foreman had also hanged himself in the station lavatory. Also a night workman had opened the baggage hoist thinking the lift was at high level and he had fallen 50ft to his death down the shaft. Fred Jenks heard footsteps on three occasions, passing the foreman’s office and continuing towards the baggage hoist, but he never saw anyone on the deserted platforms. Porter Ted Dyson, a tall tough man said, I was sitting here alone when suddenly I felt a prickly feeling up my spine, and then I heard footsteps. Shunter Charlie Movey also had a similar experience. At about 3.00`clock one morning he was about to go off duty and heard footsteps close behind him, about a fortnight later he heard them again. He flooded the platform with light by switching on every light as light usually gives courage in times of stress. He looked everywhere but could find no explanation for the mysterious events, the sound of the ghostly footsteps seemed to pass very close to him, and then within seconds they would cease.
To this day no explanation has been found to solve the mystery of this strange sequence of events that has puzzled everyone who knows the old building and has worked in or around the station complex. (Herbert W. B. (1989), Railway Ghosts and Phantoms, David and Charles, Newton Abbott).
Other Ghostly Manifestations in the area
Although not strictly railway ghosts, there’s nothing to say theses entities don’t use the railway on occasion.
The Ashworth Valley Haunting, Heywood
On the 30th July 2008 at 22.15, the sighting of black animal (either a dog or a large cat) was seen running across this road followed by a woman in her thirties is recorded. The animal disappeared into a wall, and the woman vanished as a car braked hard to avoid hitting her. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
The Flowers, Public House, Bacup
Bacup lies at the top of the valley and was once the terminus of the East Lancashire Railway, the line has long gone, but the town still has its share of ghosts. This location was investigated by the Paranormal Activity Research Team of Lancashire; the pub is home to the ghost of 'Molly', a spirit who has manifested along the corridor leading to the toilets. Several other entities were also detected by the team, including an elderly man with a limp and a little girl who died of scarlet fever. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Royal Court Theatre, Bacup
Recorded on the 12th April 2008. A full investigation of this theatre was carried out by the Paranormal Activity Research Team of Lancashire. Numerous entities were detected by the team, including a woman named Kitty and a man named Jackson by the Circles seating area, a doctor-like figure in reception, and other presences throughout the building. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
The railway once continued up the valley along the branch to Accrington and beyond, after the junction of Stubbins, passing through Haslingden, home to a number of ghostly happenings.
Bank House Haunting, Haslingden
The sounds of a child talking and running through the house were reported, and he was once seen in the basement. Another shade may also haunt the building, an older man dressed in black. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Green Lane, Phantom Dogs, Haslingden
Recorded in winter at dusk, 2006 and 2007. Twice over a period of two years one witness watched two phantom dogs run along this lane. A black hound is chased by another dog - both a slightly out of focus and move thirty centimetres above the ground. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Griffin Hotel Bogart, Haslingden
Said to be the ghost of an old lady, and recorded sometime in the twentieth century.
This spook has been known to play with the juke box and to generally create mischief as associated with Lancashire Bogart’s. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Tor View House, Haslingden
Emma Walton is said to haunt this house. Again recorded sometime in the twentieth century, Emma was said to look like an old photograph that was slowly fading. Dressed in Victorian clothing, she would be seen in the bedrooms or climbing the stairs. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
The Old Cobblers Inn, Rawtenstall.
The Inn can be seen from the train as Rawtenstall, the present east Lancashire Railways Northern terminus is approached. Site to another grey lady manifestation. Although it has been several years since this public house was last disturbed by the ghost. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Macpherson’s Paintworks Entity, Bury
Recorded in the 1970s. A security guard and his dog encountered a large man dressed in an old German army uniform - the entity caused the dog to whimper and cower. Cleaning staff also reported lights flicking on and off, and of something which would tap them on the shoulder as they worked alone. The site was said to have been a PoW camp during WW2, and the ghost a former prisoner who hanged himself. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
The Pack Horse Inn, Bury
The site of the legend of the screaming skull, George Whewell, which dates back to much earlier times. If removed from the public house, this discoloured skull is said to scream until returned. (Source,
www.paranormaldatabase.com/lancashire/lancs.htm).
Of Lancashire Bogart’s.
“Boggarts”, which are household spirits, appear to have some relationship with to both Brownies and Bogies (the Bogie-man). Although, it is said, they are more malicious than Bogies, they are not as helpful as Brownies. Their appearance betrays the Bogie/Brownie relationship. They are gnomish little creatures, dressed in tattered dusty clothing, dark and hairy with meddling fingers and clumsy feet. The presence of a Boggart around a home is betrayed by an unusual number of minor mishaps and persistent noises after dark. They tip over milk jugs, break cups, frighten cats, cause dogs to bark senselessly, slam doors, blow out candles and awaken sleepers, by tweaking their noses or pulling their hair.
The problem with Boggarts is that no-one has yet learned how to appease them or get rid of them. Households afflicted by Boggarts have no choice but to move to a new home. The move should be made quickly and with little discussion, or the Boggart will hear and ride in the cart to the new house.
In 1829 a story was published in “Traditions of Lancashire” by Croften Croker, that tells of Boggart-Ho (Boggart Hall) and its owner, a farmer called George Gilbertson. The story basically tells of the activities of a Boggart that occupied a farmhouse, the two most usual observations being the noise of the Boggart stamping up and down all night and a game the children used to play. This game involved posting a shoehorn through a hole in the boarding under the stairs, from where it would fly out with great force. There’s the mention of a moonlight flit normally associated with this type of story (and the usual failure of the move).
A Brief History of Halloween
The history of Halloween goes back more than 2,000 years. The earliest celebrations of Halloween were among the Celtic people who lived in the areas which are now Great Britain and Northern France.
The Celts were people who worshiped the beauty of nature. They worshiped a Sun God and believed that without him, they would not live. They also worshipped Samhain who was the lord of the dead and of the cold, dark winter season. They believed that on October 31 Samhain would call together all of the dead and these souls would take on the shape of an animal. They believed that all creatures wandered the Earth on that night. This was called the Vigil of Samhain.
The Druids, which were the priests of the Celtic people, would build fires on the hilltops in belief that the large fires would help to strengthen the Sun God, and give him power enough to overcome the lord of darkness so that the sun season could continue. They believed that the fires were sacred; therefore they burned dried crops and sacrificed animals to help strengthen the Sun God. At midnight they stop worshipping the Sun God and start to worship Samhain because he will be the ruler for the next six months. This is the starting of the New Year. They perform ceremonies through the night to ask the spirits to tell the future of the upcoming year. In the morning each household receives an ember from the fire, this ember is used to start fires in their own homes with the belief that it will ward off evil spirits in the New Year. They believed the night before the New Year, that the wall between the living and the dead was open, allowing spirits of the dead, both good and bad, to mingle among the living. Some of these spirits were thought to possess living people, cause trouble, ruin crops, or to search for passage to the afterlife.
The Celts continued with their ceremonies until they were conquered by the Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholics brought with them their own customs and traditions. They had established All Saints Day or All Hallows Day on November 1. This was a day in which all saints who did not have their own declared holiday were honored. The church had hoped that by establishing this holiday, it would do away with the Vigil of Samhain and the other ceremonies and celebrations held on October 31 through November 1. But this was not so. Soon witchcraft came about, and October 31 was renamed Night of the Witch. It was believed that the devil and all of his followers (demons, witches) would come out on this night to perform unholy acts to make a mockery of the All Hallows Day celebration. These ceremonies and celebrations continued and October 31 was then called All Hallows Even. It was a night for superstitious beliefs and mystery. Through the years the name was shortened to Hallowe'en and then to Halloween. (Source; http:// Neitz J. teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes celebrations/halloween.html).
The East Lancashire Railway Halloween Ghost Train
The East Lancashire Railway celebrates this old tradition at the end of October each year with the Halloween Ghost Train, this is a family event were both customers and staff dress in authentic costume, a very haunting and electrifying experience, but be warned booking in advance is advisable please.
References and further reading
Brooks J.A. (1992), Supernatural Steam, Jarrold Publishing, Norwich.
Herbert W. B. (1988), Phantoms of the Railway, David and Charles, Newton Abbott.
Herbert W. B. (1989), Railway Ghosts and Phantoms, David and Charles, Newton Abbott.
Michell W. R. & Fox P. (Date unknown), Ghosts on the Settle and Carlisle Railway, Castleberg Publication, North Yorkshire.
Morgan B. Ed, (1975), Crime on the Lines, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London.
Pattrick W. Ed, (1984), Mysterious Railway Stories, W.H. Allen, London.
Peyton R. Ed, (1990), the Ghost Now Standing on Platform One, Phantoms of the Railway in Fact and Fiction, Souvenir Press, London.
Wells J. (1995), An Illustrated Historical Survey of the Railways In and Around Bury, Challenger Publications, Nottingham.
Westcott-Jones K. (1992), Rail Tales of the Unexpected, BCA, London.
Visitors to the East Lancashire Railway might wish to visit the various secondhand railway book shops found on the site, who occasionally have copies of the books listed above.
Nick Melling, November 2010.
