The Phantom Brakeman - Other Railroad Stories

abandon old train tracks as opposed to abandon new train tracks must be time for another railroad story from everyone's favorite the Phantom brakeman ridden of course by Freeman Hubbard who wasn't a freemason all the Hubble telescope the Hubble telescope Hubble telescope at him I digress the phantom brakeman the train that never came back everybody knows that when a railroad train pulls out of a station at one end of the line it runs to a station at the other end and then it turns around and runs back again but there was a train once that never came back and it never even reached the other end of the line the story takes us back a good many years to a hot September day in 1894 a thin bluish gray haze drifted in from the Big Woods of Minnesota it filled the railroad station the whole city of Duluth and the Duluth limited a crack train waiting at the depot old Jim root senior engineer on the scent Paul and Duluth railroad wiped the sweat off his brow and climbed into the wooden cab of his engine number 69 his young fireman Jack McGowan stood in the tender breaking up huge chunks of coal with a pic ahead of them was the long ride to San Paul the woods must be burning pretty bad said Mr root I've seen plenty of brush fires but this smoke has a mall beat Jack laid aside his peak I'm not surprised we haven't had any rain worth speaking of since April mr. rout leaned out the cab window waiting he watched the passengers pile into the three wooden coaches then he heard Tom Sullivan the conductor call out all aboard and saw him raise his arms in the go ahead signal that railroad is called the highball mr. rout glanced at his watch two o'clock let's go it was then that Jack asked mr. rout do you think it's safe to make this trip suppose a forest fire the old man rested his hand on the throttle he had known danger since he first went railroading at 14 and he wasn't afraid of anything he'd been under fire in the Civil War had pulled General Sherman's advance train in the raid through Georgia and had seen wrecks and floods and snow bound trains and forest fires and he felt sure that number 69 his old girl he called her would bring them through anything but he knew that Jack was young you don't have to go out today said mr. root say the word I'll find another fireman for this run Jack flushed he wasn't a quitter his only answer was to yank the whistle cord and hold it down for too long he is splitting whales that meant in whistle talk we're leaving town mr. rout grinned his right hand swept open the throttle while his left eased the air brake jack rung the engine bell and there rolled out into the smoky sunlight heat waves filled the air the bluish gray smoke from the big woods grew thicker and thicker the red glare of the Sun changed to a strange lemon color by the middle of the afternoon the sky had become so dark that Jack had to light the lamps in the engine cab when they stopped at the next station he got off to light the headlight up front there were more than a hundred and forty passengers on board the limited that day and not one of them felt at ease some were leaning back in their red plush seats trying to sleep others coughed and fidgeted small children kept digging into lunch baskets and fussing for drinks of water by-and-by the break man and the porter went through the cars lighting the gas lamps conductor Sullivan calmly told the people not to worry we'll be all right as soon as we get past the smoke area he said after a while he called out next stop Hinckley Hinckley was a clearing in the forest that boasted about 200 houses there were three churches in a school a few stores and hotels one restaurant and a round house where four steam engines could be kept all the buildings except the round house were made of wood the Train that came from Duluth that afternoon never reached the Hinkley station engineer root stopped beside the grindstone River this was a shallow Creek on the edge of town near the Brannan lumber mill he had to stop because the bridge just ahead of him was full of people running towards the train some were carrying babies but most of them were empty-handed mr. rout shouted to his fire men you stay here jack don't let anyone get on board the engine I'll go see what's wrong he swung down from the cabin and walked quickly up the bridge men women and children crowded around him their faces were grim and sad you've got to save us mister they cried the whole town is burning up for the first time he took a good look up and saw that it was true flames were sweeping across the big woods into Hinkley fire blew from the top of one tall trees or another dropping great showers of sparks on the ground beneath flames kept shooting up on all sides for hours the Hinckley Volunteer Fire Department had fought to save the town the people told mr. rout almost every man and boy in Hinkley had been carrying pails of water but nothing could stop the fire and it burned up one house after another people choked as the air filled with smoke and sparks and gray powdery ashes the fire chief sent to another town for more hose but he couldn't even wait until it came he saw that the fire had them beaten mounting a horse he galloped down the Main Street shouting we can't save the town it's burning on three sides run to the gravel pit the gravel pit was a large shallow pool near the center of town many of the frightened people rushed there to safety and a few found shelter in barrels of water until the danger passed mothers and fathers and children ran wildly toward the Duluth limited about 200 people crowded into the three coaches and the baggage car beside the passengers who had come from Duluth mr. rout talked it over quickly with mr. Sullivan what do you say Tom can we run them back to skunk Lake the conductor nodded sure thing it's the only safe place around here now American we can make it we'll try the old engineer said to firmly skunk Lake was just a marshy pond about 60 feet wide that lay on both sides of the track six miles north of town bullfrogs and dragonflies live there and sometimes a few wild ducks mr. root had seen the muddy green water hundreds of times from his engine cab window he knew that the forest fire banned by the high wind was headed that way he knew too that number 69 was a good engine and would run as long as she had coal in her firebox and still rails under her eight wheels the old man climbed into his cab stragglers were still running through the woods to board the limited he waited for them as long as he dared then a low whine warned him that the unrushed flames were very near he couldn't delay any longer mr. rout released his brakes opened the throttle and moved the reverse lever Jack pulled the whistle cord choo choo old number 69 started backing up on the six mile trip to skunk like pushing the cars behind him suddenly just as they were getting started a blast of scorching hot wind swept over the engine and cars then a great explosion of gases in the air broke all the windows flying glass cut the face of the old engineer but he didn't even notice it not until later only one thought filled his mind to get away from him CLE as fast as possible a sea of flames swirled up from the creek even the air seemed to be burning he took his overcoat out of his seat box and pulled it on as a shield against the Sparks and blazing twigs that blew into his cabin the overcoat itself caught fire his face was red and blistered he grew dizzy and felt as if he couldn't last much longer he did not see JAC but realized that he must be in the water tank on the tender now the engineer was too weak to shout to help pretty soon he toppled over five maybe ten minutes later he became conscious again he struggled back into his seat and looked around the train was still going even with no hand on the throttle but the time jack poked his head out of the water tank and had a look into the cab mr. rout was dizzy again from the heat jack saw right away what had happened and scrambled over to him just in time to catch the old man before he fell again jack dipped the bucket down into the tank and poured the water over him that's fine said mr. rout give me more all right mr. rout you're going to be all right yes jack but I've got to keep going the engine cab was blazing so were the rubes of all four cars the last coach which had become the hand of the Train running backward was burning both inside and out frantic passengers pushed their way into the already crowded cars behind time was running out unless they could reach skunk lake very very soon it would be too late mr. Sullivan the brake man and the porter did all they could to keep the panic from get worse but soon it was clear that there was nothing else they could do all four cars were on fire even the ties were burning and the rails actually began to melt from the awful heat there was real danger that the limited would jump the track mr. rout kept straining his smoke-filled eyes until at last he caught the glint of water beside the track skunk Lake he shouted thank God he brought the fiery train to a stop then he fell over again to the deck of his cab Jack McGowan tried to lift him up get the passengers off gasped the old man help them off come back for me later so Jack led the fried and panicky people through the heavy smoke to the water many of them laid down in the shallow water others sat on it splashing their heads and shoulders in all some three hundred and forty men women and children found refuge in skunk Lake and all because of Jim root and Jack McGowan but the people weren't alone they shared the pond with animals horses cows and a pig even deer Timberwolves a large black bear and some ducks were seeking shelter there it was a strange and wonderful sight to see all the people huddled together with the animals or the fire raged around them not one of them showed a sign of fearing the others Jack and mr. Sullivan helped their engineer out of his cab and into the water there the old man soon revived he sat beside Jack watching sadly as the train kept burning can't we save any of the cars he asked the fireman shook his head not a chance but what about my old girl pleaded the engineer her wooden cab is done for but the rest is still good let's try to move her to a safe place the cab fire will soon burn itself out but that awful heat from the burning coal in the tender is likely to melt her beyond repair all right mr. rout I'll go but you stay here no answered the engineer I've got to try to save her carefully they made their way through the shower of sparks till they came to the engine Jack managed to pull out the coupling pin from the front of the tender then the engineer got into his cab and stayed there just long enough to run old 69 a short distance from the rest of the Train she was safe at last now I feel better said mr. rout then they both rushed back into the water they're the people and the animals stayed for most of the night as the forest fire burned itself out the wild beasts slunk away one by one about three o'clock in the morning her rescue party arrived some time afterward Jim root and Jack McGowan were each given a fine gold watch engraved with the story of their heroism in the big fire both men returned to work old 69 was rebuilt with a new cab and mr. rout drove her again but nothing else was ever saved from the train that never came back [Music] the broken Lantern it isn't often that a train stops right at your own front door to take you where you want to go but that's what the Chicago and northwestern did for Kate Shelley for many years and no wonder anyone who ever heard the story of Kate Shelley could understand why on a wild July night in 1881 Kate Shelley looked anxiously out the window never in all her life had she seen a storm like this one it had been raining for a whole week thunder and lightning raged wind rattled the windows sometimes it felt as though their old Iowa farmhouse might be picked up and blown away the Shelley's lived between the railroad tracks and Honey Creek tonight Kate watched the dark foaming water on the creek rushed down on its way to the wide Des Moines River she had heard that the river was rising she wondered how many bridges would be washed away by the flood mother she said suddenly the creek is coming up to the barn I'd better get the animals out before it's too late Kate was 15 and the oldest of five children ever since her father had been killed in a railroad accident she had done most of the hard work around the farm she carried pails of water from the pump scrubbed floors milked the cow and weeded the long rows of vegetables Kate put on her coat and an old weather-beaten rain hat her feet sloshed through the great puddles of mud every step she took was an effort against the wind her feet were soaked and her face felt bruised by the fierce Gale opening the barn door she drove out an old horse the cow and its calf and the two little squealing pigs the pigs burrowed into her haystack the other animals found shelter from the driving rain by standing close to the house Kate had done all that she could for them so she ran back inside the house the clock that Kate's father had brought over from Ireland ticked away the long hours this Dom kept right on sweeping across the valley Honey Creek rose higher and higher Kate heard the familiar sound of the yard engine rumbling onto the wooden bridge that crossed the creek her father had been a railroad section bus so she knew what was happening she knew that men were testing the bridge to find out if it would be safe for the midnight train above the wail of driving rain came the ding dong of the engine bell then the loud crash of breaking timbers then a tremendous splash as the train fell into the surging waters Oh mother she screamed they've gone down the whole family rushed to the window and stood still as a graveyard as they looked on helplessly Kate broke the silence mother I'm going out and see if I can help no Kate not in all this storm mrs. Shelley's voice sounded troubled Kate answered the only way she could but we can't just stand here and watch somebody has to go to them some of them may still be alive her mother hesitated then slowly nodded and walked into the kitchen she took down her husband's old railroad lantern that was still hanging behind the door and handed it to Kate all right go Kate but be careful and do what you can Kate lit the wick put on her coat and hat and then hurried out into the storm the wind had gotten stronger making her way through the beating rain she climbed over the tracks until she stood just above the spot where the engine had fallen to the deep water hello she shouted anyone down there a voice came back to her through the darkness two of us we're safe for the time being caught hold of a tree but the midnight train will be wrapped Kate thought quickly she knew that the midnight passenger train was almost Jew if nobody warned the engineer it would fall through the shattered bridge into Honey Creek and a hundred or more people would be in danger of drowning I'll go to mine garnet and get help for you she yelled I'll try to flag the Train and stop it before it gets here all right but hurry when Ghana was only a mile away but it lay on the far side of the raging Des Moines River the only way to get there was to cross a long wooden railroad bridge even in daylight it was dangerous to walk on that bridge there was neither a foot walk nor a railing there are only rails and ties with nothing underneath them except a few piers and the black rushing water the ties were spaced far enough apart for a girl like Kate Shelley to fall through Kate stopped when she came to the bridge she had never seen the river so high before her lantern flickered in the howling gale she trembled her father had been killed in a train wreck beside that River and her oldest brother Mike had been drowned there Kate remembered an old superstition about three deaths in a row it was no time to think about superstitions but still Kate started across the bridge somebody had to stop that train before it was too late rain lashed her and drenched her to the skin the bridge shook violently she stumbled and fell onto the slippery ties smashing her Lantern glow and putting out the dim her floppy hat was blown away after that she crawled on her hands and knees through the blackness flashes of lightning cut the sky splinters dug into her hand and left them bleeding rail spikes caught on her dress and almost threw her into the river I must get across she kept telling herself most of all she was afraid she would see the locomotive headlight shining into her face that would mean she was trapped on the bridge but she kept on it seemed like hours at last she reached the other side and stood safely on the solid ground she stopped just long enough to catch her breath and then tried to run against the wind but she finally reached the one-room Magana Depot she looked like a crazy person her hat was gone she was dripping wet her hair was stringy and her eyes were wild she was so excited she could hardly talk the station agent recognized her and asked what's the matter Kate what's wrong the bridge at Honey Creek she gasped it's broken into and the engine went down two men in a tree I I this train had been too much for Kate Shelley she fainted and slumped to the floor still clutching the broken Lantern in that instant a long whistle signal and now that the Express train was coming and coming fast the Express had never been scheduled to stop at the small Montana Depot but it stopped there that night for the agent left Kate lying on the floor and rushed outside swinging a Red Lantern the midnight train ground to a stop sparks flew from the wheels where the brakes was clamped against them the engineer a big man swung down from the cab and strode over to the station agent he didn't like to be stopped at a small village like this what's up he demanded Honey Creek bridges washed-out said the agent that girl saved your train she brought me the news how she got here I don't know the engineer couldn't find anything to say but this time Kate had regained his senses crew men and passengers piled off the train and crowded around her they all wanted to hear what had happened Kate's told her story but come on she urged the important thing is to get back to those men the engineer went back to his cab and pulled the whistle cord giving an alarm signal a series of short sharp notes that woke up the village people swarmed out of their houses when they heard that two men were trapped in a tree above the flooded Creek some of them went back for rope then they all climb aboard the Train the engineer ran slowly across the Des Moines River and stopped above the place where the men from the yard engine crew were waiting using the rope the people hold them up the side of the bluff to safety after that they escorted Kate back to her home by this time the girl was worn out she went to bed and slept around the clock when she woke up she found that she was a national heroine newspapers all over the country were telling her story visitors came to the farmhouse to see her reporters asked her all kinds of questions letters for Kate poured in from every part of the country there were letters of praise letters offering their jobs letters asking advice even love letters the railroad company gave her a lifetime pass and a supply of coal and flour for the family the state of Iowa presented her with a gold medal a public drinking fountain in Des Moines was named in her honor later on a fine new steel bridge called the Kate Shelley bridge was built across the Des Moines River and when Kate grew up she lived in the same old farmhouse by the railroad tracks and went to work as the station agent at one ballads were written about Kate Shelley the broken Lantern that Kate had carried was put in the Iowa State Museum Kate had become a legend but of all the things that people did to honor her there was one tribute that Kate liked the very best as long as she lived anytime she wanted to get on or off the train the engineer would stop the train right at her door even though she lived a mile from the nearest station well hope we all learned something I didn't [Music]

Channel: Shaun

Views: 4,874

Rating: 4.9550562 out of 5

Keywords: Ghost Train, narration, Phantom Brakeman, Railroad magazine, Freeman Hubbard, Kate Shelley

Id: JTMtUzNp974

Length: 26min 0sec (1560 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 16 2017