28 October 2010

Ghosts on the Rails?

A ghostly figure appears to exit from a train car at the Strasburg Railroad.

East Strasburg Pennsylvania USA - Are there ghosts at the Strasburg Railroad?
 
Does the steam from the engine mingle with spirits? Are there still voices from lives lost long ago in the station?
 
Are the train cars filled with wandering, restless, wraiths?
 
Well, Friday and Saturday that will be the case when the Strasburg Railroad Walking Ghost Tour is held.
 
Visitors will walk the grounds of the railroad, stopping at different places to hear a story.
 
"We are not looking for something that will frighten, we don't want children to come away with nightmares," says Theresa Summers, of Strasburg Railroad, who wrote the program and will be leading the tours.
 
"All of our ghosts are nice, though some are sad," she says. "We're aiming for anyone over the age of 3. We really want families to come. There will be a little something for kids and for adults."
 
Unlike years past, the train will not be in operation.
 
"We wanted to do something different this year, so we are doing this walking tour," Summers says.
 
The hour long tours will stop at eight different sites on the grounds, including the engine house, the mechanic shop, a train car, the switch tower, one of the box cars in the shop and the station.
 
There is history behind all of the stories, though Summers has used her imagination in creating characters and wants visitors to do so as well.
 
"We've incorporated history with a little bit of spook and a little bit of fun," she says.
 
One of the stories involves a character named John Billingsly, who absolutely loved steam trains.
 
He loved them so much that he ignored the horrible storm that came with Hurricane Agnes in 1972.
 
"He was looking at the engine during the storm and decided he could take shelter in the engine," Summers says, "Unfortunately, he picked the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up drowning. He's decided that his final resting place is in Engine 89."
 
The ghost of John Billingsly may or may not exist, but Summers notes that there was an engine making its way through Wilkes Barre on its way to Strasburg that was flooded during Agnes.
 
Another tale that will be told has plenty of intrigue in it.
 
Mrs. Humbolt was married to the station master back when the station was located in East Petersburg in the 1920s.
 
She fell in love with Arthur, another railroader, but only from afar.
 
"Her husband thought otherwise," Summers says. "Being friends with the mayor of the town, Mr. Humboldt framed Arthur for theft and destruction of property. Poor Arthur went to jail and they found him hanging in his cell."
 
Was it suicide or did Mr. Humboldt have something to do with it?
 
Mrs. Humboldt was highly upset, of course, though she stayed with her husband.
 
"Mr. Humboldt was well liked and respected in the community," Summers explains. "But she did have her doubts."
 
Sounds like she had good reason. When the station was moved to Strasburg, her bones were found in the building.
 
"According to those bones, she did not pass away peacefully. It was an undetermined cause of death."
 
Mrs. Humboldt is one of the sad ghosts visitors will meet.
 
So, for real, are there any ghosts at the Strasburg Railroad?
 
"We have our suspicions," Summers says. "But we've never been able to confirm."
 
Walking Ghost Tour
 
Fri. and Sat. 6:30 and 7:45 p.m.
$14 adults, $8 children 3-11 (Not for children under 3)
Strasburg Railroad
Route 741, Strasburg. 687-7522
www.strasburgRailroad.com.
 
Jane Holahan.

A ghostly figure appears in a railroad car at Strasburg Railroad.

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