The haunted Railroad Bridge was originally called the Woodstock Bridge. It is located near Hartford, Vermont. The current bridge is built of steel. However, the original bridge was made of wood. In 1887, the “Night Express” headed for Montreal, Canada was speeding along the countryside in an attempt to make up for delays. One of the sleeper cars jumped the track as it approached the bridge. The Woodstock Bridge was a covered bridge. When the derailed car came into contact with the bridge it began to break apart. The Conductor of the train tried to get the train through, but three cars were lost. Train cars at the time were lit with oil lamps and heated with wood-burning stoves. These fire hazards caught the train cars on fire. In turn the bridge caught on fire. Twenty-four passengers died in the fire along with five train workers. Later that year, they built the steel bridge to replace the wooden one that had burned.
With such a tragic history it is no wonder the area is haunted. More than one local, and plenty of tourists, have seen ghostly figures around the bridge. One common ghost sighting is that of a young boy standing by the riverside. It is said he is the son, of a father and son pair, who died in the crash along with his father. Another popular ghost sighting is that of a ghostly railroad worker standing on the riverside. As if watching the tragedy occur. Another common phenomenon has been reported. The smell of wood burning lingers at the site of the accident. Some have even reported hearing the wailing and screaming of those who died and those who survived but lost loved ones.
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