Before you delve into the spooky railroad stories and ghostlore, I would like to add this bit of caution. Railroading is a dangerous business. In my opinion, one of the reasons ghost stories arise from railroad history so frequently in the first place is because it’s so darn dangerous. Accidents have maimed and killed thousands of railroad workers and passengers over the years. You may be tempted to explore some of these railroad spirits on your own. Don’t. While researching this book, I came across at least one account of a ghost hunter being killed while conducting an investigation of a haunted railroad site. You don’t have to be worried about the ghosts scaring you; there’s enough real danger out there.
Beyond that, railroad property is often private, and you can get arrested or fined for trespassing.
There are plenty of ways to safely and legally research railroad ghosts. Railroad museums hold ghost hunts, and some are even open to allowing paranormal investigation teams to come in on off-hours to find evidence. Some abandoned railroad sites are now part of rails-to-trails projects and offer a much safer environment for finding out whether ghosts really do haunt the tracks and trains.
So be safe and be smart if you decide to investigate the connection between the paranormal and railroad history.