The Ghost Train of Bostian Bridge

TALES TOLD IN THE DARK
TALES TOLD IN THE DARK
241
0
Published 2024-03-29
On August 27th, 1891, a passenger train in North Carolina was trying to make up for lost time. It was the Richmond & Danville engine number 9. The train was pulling six cars which included a baggage car, a second-class car, a first-class coach, a tender, a private car for R&D’s superintendent, and a Pullman sleeper. It departed Statesville (Iredell County) around 2:30 am. They were already running 34 minutes late, so the train was going much faster than it should.

Only 5 minutes later, the train lurched off the Bostian Bridge. It fell 60-feet and hit the creek below, known as Third Creek. Because the train was going so fast, survivors say that the train was actually airborne! The sleeper car ended up hitting the ground 153 feet away from where it left the bridge.

Survivors ended up walking and running back to Statesville to report the accident. The entire town dedicated itself to rescuing survivors and recovering the deceased. They cut people out of the wreckage. Approximately, 20-23 people lost their lives, and 30 people injured. If people didn’t die from the crash, they drowned because the creek waters were high. Sadly, Statesville didn’t have a hospital at the time. So the injured were treated by the locals in their homes. The deceased was laid out in the Farmers’ Tobacco Warehouse so they could be identified.

An investigation was conducted to find the cause of the accident. It was discovered that rail spikes had been removed. Others blamed it on the poor maintenance of the R&D railroad.

music:    • Sinister Dark Ambient Music -  Dark Road  

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
All Comments (21)
  • @scratchinpetepa
    Enjoyed in full my friend. Hope you have a nice weekend. Thank you for sharing 🙂💞
  • @CrimSyn_Skies
    Great tale . Definitely would enjoy listening to these near a bonfire while kicking back some cold brews . Great work
  • @Beatlesfanize
    This was SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Love Train Stories... Spooky Train stories. :) ♥
  • @DixieAfterDark
    Such as sad story! You deliver it perfectly. Thank you.
  • @megsmysteries8968
    Good morning it's cloudy and dark out great time for your story.💀👻💀. Full watch.
  • @mekay235
    Very interesting, great story. thank you.:hand-orange-covering-eyes::hand-purple-blue-peace::face-red-heart-shape:
  • @co.agmusic
    Thanks for dropping into the live stream . Appreciate that liked and subscribed to your channel . Brilliant , Work
  • @lulubelle24
    I love spooky train stories. Thank you Cassie ❤
  • @LUCKYDUCKY1965
    I'm here listening while cleaning windows for spring 😂❤ Playlist Time 🥳
  • @kimfitzgeraldrockfam8973
    some of the accidents back in the days could of not happened if they inspected the lines back then Happy Easter Cassie
  • @bella_Areghostsreal
    Happy Easter . Oh this was awesome. I loved how creepy this was. I loved how you told this Cassie. I could just imagine this. It's a shame that this didn't have to happen if only people checked on the lines and checked the spikes. Also, the fact it took so long to find the suspects was horrible too. I would not want to be in the car on my own and broken down and then seeing an oncoming train crashing into a bridge cause I would literally be horrified too. Also, those ghost hunters flipping heck! That woman was so lucky to survive.