They rambled along for some distance at a reasonable pace considering the condition of the track in many places. For long stints at a time they travelled in silence. But now they were becoming weary and their pace had slowed dramatically. It was a welcome relief when the hedges seemed to move further apart, increasing their distance, with the area in front of them widening rapidly. An old rusty sign hung crookedly from an equally rusty old rail post. The words ‘NO TRESPASSING’ could just be made out. Up to now only a light rain had been falling, but now it started to increase. Andy paused, waving his finger from left to right to indicate the open space before them, said, “Hey, this looks like it was a siding or a shunting yard.” The rusty old rails split from this point into many other tracks, mostly hidden by the growth of vegetation over the years. Trees had even sprouted from between the tracks, which now towered metres high.
“Look, there is a small building down there on the left. It’s almost hidden by the trees,” said Kaz, pointed in the direction of a brown brick building, almost totally engulfed by the encroaching trees and brambles on three sides.
“It looks like an old railway signal box,” responded Andy.
“Let’s ‘ope there’s a tap or somefin’, ‘cos I could kill for a drink,” said Titch.
“Oh yes, let’s hope so, but what’s a signal box doing way out here?” queried Kaz. There was no immediate response.
“C’mon,” said Andy, as he took lead once more, “It’s starting to rain harder so it could be a good place to shelter.” They all picked up their step once more as they headed towards the signal box, like a ship to a beacon. Andy with his lanky legs arrived first and stopped at the foot of a rickety wooden stairway. He waited for the others to catch up. The building was not a full size signal box but a rather cut-down version. It was constructed of reddish-brown bricks with a gabled grey-slate tiled roof. Andy gazed up at the door at the top of the steps, then stood back to survey the building properly. With the rain falling gently on his face he narrowed his eyes to protect them. Andy seemed fascinated by the rotting, white painted window frames and green moss-tinged glass of the signal box. The others had arrived and were now milling around the building.
“Boo!” shouted Titch, suddenly appeared from around the back of the building.
Andy jumped back with a start. “I say, you little upstart, you nearly made me jump out of my skin.” Kaz and Dave thought it was hilarious, especially to see the look on Andy’s face.
“Oh sorry,” said Titch, trying hard to keep a straight face, “Fought yer might like to know there’s a tap round the back … dunno if it works.” They followed Titch around to the back of the building while carefully trying not to get stung by the mass of stinging nettles that grew in thick beds all around, not to mention the vines of the outstretched briar bush that sported thorns like barbed wire. They arrived single file and queued at the tap where Titch was already waiting. Once they had all gathered, Titch proudly turned on the tap. They all looked on intensely. Nothing came out. Titch turned the tap handle as full on as it would go.
“It’s useless!” said Kaz disappointed. “It must be disconnected.” They looked at each other momentarily in subdued silence, and then turned to head back the way they came. Then there was an almighty ‘chug-chug’ sound and they swung around quickly to see the intermittent gushes of dark brown water pumping its way out of the narrow outlet. They all gazed in amazement at the ferocious display. Slowly the ‘chugging’ noise eased and clear water eventually started to flow. They all cheered in unison as if they had discovered the eighth wonder of the world.
“Okay who wants to go first?” asked Andy, looking around. “The worst you can get is lead poisoning.” There was an eerie silence.
“I will,” said Titch, thinking it could not be any worse than the brown tap water back home. He cupped his hands and put them under the tap. He brought his hands to his mouth, and after having a good sniff, he drank some. “Seems alright,” he said as he refilled his hands for another drink. The others quickly followed in turn, all except Dave, who strangely decided that he wasn’t that thirsty. Then the heaven’s really opened up and the rain started to bucket down.
Andy raced to the cabin’s steps and within moments was rattling the door at the top. The door was chained and padlocked. From this loftier position, Andy looked around the immediate area, scouting like a hawk. “Hey Tiny, be a good chap and throw me that dog-spike,” he directed, pointing at a small rusty bar lying near Titch’s right foot.
“It’s Titch,” replied Titch angrily.
“Oh yes, sorry,” said Andy smirking.
Titch threw the bar at Andy with more than the required force, which made Andy have to duck quickly to avoid being hit. “Thanks! You’ll keep,” Andy scolded.
“Well, you did say throw it … so I did,” retorted Titch, “ … and it don’t look much like a dog.”
“Yes, but how many dogs do know called Spike,” teased Andy as he set to work bashing the padlock.
“Oh yeah,” replied Titch, not realizing Andy was mocking him. With a clunk the corroded padlock fell to the floor. Andy unraveled the chain and threw it clear. Turning the knob the door gave a little but then stuck. So with a little help from his shoulder he buffeted the door till it gave way. The others were already on the stairs, and as soon as the door was open they bundled in, glad to get out of the rain.
“Whoa! This is wicked,” said an excited Titch, as he gaped in awe at all the levers, boxes, dials and bells. There were a row of twelve levers, mostly painted red and black, with an odd green and light blue. Directly above the levers was a timber shelf that ran the full length of the lever frame. Sitting on the shelf were a number of boxes. Some had bells on top, and others just had dials. A track diagram was centrally fixed above the shelf, framed and sheeted with glass for protection. A flash of brilliant white momentarily filled the room and lit up the cobwebbed railway clock on the back wall. It had long stopped, the cobwebbed laden hands displaying the time of ‘ten minutes past four'. Seconds later a loud clap of thunder shook the building.
“Ooh, that felt close,” Kaz said, peering from behind Andy.
“You can let that grip on my arm go a bit if you like,” grimaced Andy. The intensity of the rain turned into a downpour. From the roof the rain fell over the edge like miniature cascading waterfalls. Dave closed the door and the noise eased slightly. He immediately cased the room.
“This place looks like it’s still fairly intact,” observed Dave. “You’d think the railways would have cleaned everything out years ago. He then attempted to pull the nearest signal lever. It gave easily. Putting the lever back, he commented, “It’s okay, it’s not connected to anything, as there are no signals or connecting rods outside to operate.” Titch, on hearing this, eagerly started to pull at the nearest lever to him, but it was harder to move than Dave had made out. Kaz inspected an old torn leather armchair in the far corner which threw up a cloud of dust when she patted the seat. A mahogany desk was located conveniently next to the chair. She dusted off the green padded seat with some tissues from her pocket. She sat down watching the other three tinkering with the derelict equipment. Dave pressed the button under the right-hand bell and rang it three times quickly in succession, repeating it three times, and each time the bell ‘dinged’ loudly. He then looked out of a gap in one of the windows at the west end of the room as if looking for something.
On the desk, Kaz had noticed an old brown book and inspected the dusty cover. In fancy curved graphics were the letters GWR and the inscription ‘Train Register’. She opened the book and flicked through the pages. She came upon the last entry. “Hey guys,” she said gaining their attention. “It says here that the last train arrived on Saturday March 3, 1945, and there’s a comment stating ‘War Consignment’. In fact,” she continued, “… many of the entries mention ‘War’ or ‘Military’.”
Andy was first to comment, “Of course, this part of the Pembrokeshire coast was very active with military outposts and training camps during World War Two. This must have been a military branch line during the war which has probably been long forgotten. In fact, Castlemartin, an old military training ground, is not that far from here. It was one of the places I had on my list to visit.” Kaz was again impressed with Andy’s knowledge and seemed to be taking quite a shine to him. Dave continued to tinker with objects on the shelves and Titch begrudgingly thought Andy was a bit of a ‘know-it-all’.
A number of bright flashes once again lit the cabin, followed by more rolling thunder. Andy was checking the contents of a small cupboard. He took out an old signaling lamp, behind which revealed a paraffin tin marked by corrosion around the lid and base. He grabbed the tin and was pleased when some liquid could still be swished around. He unscrewed the tight lid after a couple of strained attempts and smelt the contents. “Phew! Yes that is paraffin alright,” he said, taken back by the strong fumes. He glanced around. Behind him Dave and Titch were trying to make out the writing on the track diagram and Kaz was rummaging through her bag. Andy poured some of the liquid carefully into the receptacle of the lamp. He checked his own bag and removed a box of matches from a side zip pocket. He lit up a match, which instantly made the others turn and look. “I found a lamp and hopefully …” He never finished his sentence as the lamp flickered into life and provided some much needed illumination.
“Well done!” praised Kaz.
“Can you bring the lamp over here … we can’t quite make out the words,” asked Dave who had returned to examining the diagram. Andy held the lamp as close as he could to the diagram. “Someone has scribbled the word Bunker with a circle round it,” said Dave pointing to the position, “We should check it out when we get a chance.”
“These sidings must have been for unloading munitions and heavy equipment,” noted Andy.
Titch who had been unusually quiet asked, “Has anyone got anything to eat I’m starving?”
“Yes, great minds think alike,” said Kaz. Andy sneered at the comment. Kaz had already started to place some shortbread biscuits and half a large bar of chocolate on the table. Andy dropped a box of six muesli bars on the table and a packet of fruit chews. The storm outside raged unabated.
“I did have some food in my bag, but as you know, I seem to have misplaced it,” Dave said wryly.
“Aw, what did you ‘ave?” Titch asked cheekily.
“Um … can’t remember actually,” replied Dave somewhat hesitantly.
“No problem … you can some of this,” offered Kaz.
They gathered to share the offerings spread out on the table. A branch from a nearby tree knocked loudly at a side window, which made Titch wince. The rain continued to pound the roof and the group had to raise their voices just to be heard at times. Kaz checked her phone again and still no signal. She checked her watch and it was still showing 4:10pm. It had obviously stopped. “What time do you have Dave,” she asked.
“Uh, looks like it’s permanently fixed at ‘ten past four’,” replied Dave.
“Yes mine too!” said an astonished Andy, trying to think of some logical reason. “There must be some interference in the area causing the problem. That’s why the phones are also not working,” he concluded. Andy took more notice of the wall clock and commented, “Huh that’s funny, just a coincidence I suppose.” He then dismissed his observations as everyone else was busy tucking into the food.
“Looks like we’re stuck here for the night,” said Dave, trying to peer through the gaps in the white-wash window panes.
Kaz checked the cupboards under the table and retrieved two folded grey blankets. “These might be useful,” she offered. After they had finished their impromptu meal, the blankets were laid out on the floor. Although the blankets were stained and had numerous holes, nobody seemed to mind. They placed their bags as pillows in the centre. Andy and Dave took up position with their feet at the door end, and Kaz and Titch at the other, with their heads meeting the middle resting on the bags.
“You can share my bag Andy,” said Kaz realizing he could do with the extra length.
“So it’s agreed then,” said Andy, “We check out the bunker first thing in the morning and then head back to the main road.”
They all agreed, not having any other real option.
“I don’t know about you, but there’s something weird going on if you ask me,” said Kaz, as she stared up at the dusty cobwebs hanging from the ceiling boards.
“Like the bloke on the ‘orse,” said Titch.
“Yes, that makes me nervous just thinking about it. I mean, how can he have been in front of us, and then come from behind us again like he did?” asked Kaz.
“I think he was just having us on. He probably did a loop around us and came past again just to scare us,” replied Dave, lightly dismissing the mystery.
“Yeah, well it worked. It frightened the shit out me,” said Titch.
“Yes, I’d have to agree,” said Andy, “… and how about that driver of the train just vanishing into thin air.”
“Yeah that’s right,” agreed Titch.
“He may have got the runs and needed some time out,” said Kaz smiling, “… or maybe, he just didn’t want to be a driver anymore.”
“Maybe he was taken by Aliens,” added Titch.
“That’s just stupid,” responded Dave.
Okay, okay, let’s try and keep it in perspective. It might be a long night,” said Andy trying to calm everyone. They eventually fell silent as the turbulent storm outside eventually drowned out their conversations. One by one they succumbed to the eventual peaceful lull of sleep.
Sometime during the night, Titch was awoken by a huge clap of thunder which made him sit bolt upright – eyes wide open. He stiffly stood up and peered through a window pane as lightning flashed intermittently. Heavy rain was still falling, with fierce gusts of wind buffeting the adjacent trees. As Titch studied the overgrown railway yard below, a slight movement caught his eye. At first, he thought it was just his reflection off the glass, but as he strained to focus his eyes through the poor visibility, he was sure he could see a red light being swung from side to side in a low arc. A brilliant flash of lightning suddenly lit up the sky. Titch took a huge gasp as the figure of a man dressed in a dark uniform and hat appeared clearly for a brief moment – and then was gone. Titch dropped back down shaking and took refuge in the company of the others and was certainly not game enough to look out again that night.