Spook Train On The Central

Editor's note: The following is from the March 13, 1906 issue of the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman. Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing this article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

Not the Central Hudson Spook Train, but Engine number 36 in a Hartford station, late 1800s - University of Connecticut Libraries, Thomas J. Dodd Research Center and Connecticut History Illustrated

SEEN MANY TIMES AT LINLITHGO BY REPUTABLE WITNESSES. MADE ITS FIRST APPEARANCE  FORTY YEARS AGO. ALWAYS VANISHED AT BRIDGE OVER A STREAM.
One night, some forty years ago, says the Hudson Republican, when the Central Hudson was a single track road to Albany, two men were fishing on the banks of the Hudson river on the east side at a point just north of Linlithgo, when they saw coming around the bend on the railroad track a short distance north of North Germantown a train fully lighted, the headlight of the engine throwing a bright glare on the track and also reflecting upon the water.  They watched it, thinking it was a regular train, but as it came nearer they could hear no noise; they were struck with wonder and amazement when it reached the bridge which crosses the Rolief Jansen Kill at Linlithgo to see it disappear.  When they returned home they told the story.  That it was a phantom train all believed; some believed that it was a warning that some of the families of those who saw it would meet with sudden death within a year.  

There had been an accident the previous winter where the train was seen, and some one had been killed.  This bend of the road projects out into the river, so that one has a side view of the entire train as far as Linlithgo, which is about a mile or more, and this part of the road can be seen anywhere on tbe track as far north as Catskill station.  A few years after the fishermen saw the train the watchman Catskill station one evening saw a train coming around the bend with headlight on and coaches lighted, under full steam: the southbound train was about due, and knowing nothing of the train that was coming up, he rushed down to the south switch to open it and run the "extra" on the side track, so that the southbound train could pass, and fearing a collision he stood with his hands on the switch watching the unknown northbound train, but she never came up above Linlithgo. 

One of the fishermen who first saw the "spook" train became watchman at Catskill station some years after, and he says that he saw it twice while he was employed there.  Again some years later a gentleman one evening was coming to Catskill station to take the train to Hudson.  He had almost reached the station when a light flashed on the track from behind: he turned and saw a train coming below Linlithgo; thinking it was his he started and ran for Catskill station, fearing it would overtake him and he would miss his trip to Hudson.  But when he looked back tor it there was no train in sight.  Afterward he saw the regular train coming around the bend just where he saw the phantom train, but this one came, and he took it and went to Hudson. 

There are others who have seen the ghost.  Ten years ago three men stood in the tower just south of Livingston's dock, between 10 and 11 p. m.; the night was bright; one of the men was looking out of the south window.  This piece of track from the bend to Linllithgo which is s mile or more, is in plain sight from this tower.  He said "There comes a train around the bend." at which they all looked; the train's headlight showed in the track and also on the water and the coaches were lighted up in the regular way; the towerman at Linliithgo had not unlocked the signals for the north tower, where the men were looking at the train; the towerman was frantic as on came the train nearing the tower at Linlithgo; he rang the bell to the Linlithgo tower to unlock the signals for the train coming, but imagine how this man felt when he got the answer, "No train has passed here, nor is there any in sight. 

While they were sitting gazing at it, it vanished at the Rolief Jansen Kill bridge and they insist to this day that it was a spook train. 

There is still another witness which brings it down to within five years; one night the towerman at Linlithgo says it was somewhat misty and he saw the train coming around this often mentioned bend with its headlight showing the track some distance in front; he was holding a train in the block and he did not know what to, for he realized that there must be a fearful collision and he was helpless to avert it.  The distance from the bend to the tower is about one mile.  On, on, the train came and already in his distracted mind he could hear the groans of the injured: those few moments seemed ages to him. 

It seems this train is like Tarn O'Shanter's spook; "it dinna dare to cross a stream." 

There is still another case of a man who was walking south one evening on that part of the track when he saw a train coming under full speed; he got off the track on the river side to let it pass, but just before it reached him it vanished. 

These are the facts as narrated by reputable residents.  Most of those who have seen the spook train, as they call it, are alive today.  Will some one explain this strange occurrance?  If it is a mirage, how can it happen, as nothing on any part of the track south could cast a shadow on that portion of the track where the train has been seen?

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