"The ghost train."

My name is Glen Harper. When it comes to exercise, I love to walk. I've developed a routine that I do every day, and Ridgecrest Road, near where I live, is the perfect place to do it. It's quiet, and the scenic beauty is unbeatable.

Well, get this. One day, a half-mile down the road, behind thick trees where the old rusty abandoned rails sat, there moaned a chug-a-chug shuffle with a whistle's high-pitched squeal loud enough to wake the dead.

A train? Here? How could that be, I thought?

And yet, a train rolling behind those trees shook the ground like a small earthquake.

Now, years ago, when locomotives were still the boss, a freight train rear-ended a passenger train one night on these very rails. The collision caused a kerosene lamp to ignite in the rear-end sleeping car, causing a fire that killed seven people. The engineer driving the freight train never had a chance.

Years later, a newer, more advanced line with updated signals and less travel time took over about a mile from Ridgecrest Road.

So, you can understand why the hiss of brakes at the road crossing meant the train stopped ahead, which couldn't be. I even saw a black cloud of smoke lift into the air above the treetops. Yet, when I reached the crossing, I was met with only empty tracks in both directions and silence. Boy, did I get a chill.

But here's where it gets really scary. As I turned to leave, I swear to you by God, I heard a voice cry out that sped up the heartbeat in my chest tenfold...

"Train ahead! Train ahead! We're gonna hit! We're gonna hit!"

The little clap of thunder that followed on that perfectly sunny day gave me a shiver right to my bones that I'll never forget as long as I live.

I turned around and ran home that day as quickly as my legs could carry me, but not without a ghostly tale no one in town would ever believe.

Now, if you're ever down this way, you're more than welcome to join me for a walk. But if by chance you hear something behind those trees that shouldn't be, well, don't say I didn't warn you.

Author's Note

I like writing stories, I just don't know all the elements of it yet. In five years I'll retell this again until I get it right. lol

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I love how your story teeters on the edge of being spooky & fantastical, but mostly it's your matter-of-fact & realistic storytelling that draws us in & keeps us compelled to read on. Over the years, I've re-written stories & they always get better & better . . . I'm sure this one will continue to thrive! I hope you write & share more stories! You're great at this! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Relic]

Thanks very much for the inspiring review, Margie.

[Einstein Noodle]

oh you have hit on something very wise me thinks... i took an on line writing class and one of the things i took away with me that was said is that there is creativity in spontaneous writing but the genius is in the re-writing ..over and over until..like you say .. one gets it right ;)
i enjoy the narrative quality you use in the story .. it kind of reminds me of a TV program William Shatner hosts .. about strange happenings around the world .. ghostly trains if you will ;))) and if your speaker had this hair raising, bone chilling experience in broad daylight .. i can't imagine the fright at night ;)
E.

[Relic]

Thanks for noticing the story, Einstein.