And while were on ghost stories involving Hitchin, heres a tale from the 17th March 1894 edition of the Hertfordshire Express: ‘Three years ago I was driving the 8:30 train to the North, and left Kings Cross four minutes behind time. I cant tell you what it was, but I never felt nervousness but once on an engine, and that was the night Im talking about. I dont know nothing about ghosts or spirits, or apparitions – call ‘em what you like – but Im ready to swear before any judge today that I saw something of the kind that night, and no amount of argument will change my belief. ‘It was just when we were passing through Hatfield when, I would take my oath for all I am worth, a man stepped from the platform to the footplate, just as easily as though we werent travelling about fifty five miles an hour. Aye, I can see his face and dress to this day. It was the saddest face I ever come across. The eyes seemed to look you through and through, and when on top of that I saw he was all in black, I was never so afraid in my life. ‘The curious thing is that Dick, my fireman, saw nothing of it. He coaled up for the hill by Welwyn just as natural as though all was fair sailing, and when I tried to shout to him I felt a great lump in my throat, and not a word could I speak. ‘I soon noticed that the strange-comer never went to any other part of the footplate except to the spot whereon I stood, and he even hedged up so close to me that I went cold all over and my feet were like lumps of ice. ‘I think I must have acted mechanically, for I watched the man put his hand on the regulator, and I put mine on with him. The touch of it was like the touch of snow, but I couldnt loose it, and before I knew what Id done, the steam was cut off and the train was slowing. ‘Dick, I know, thought I was mad. Hed been away on the tender, breaking up the coal, but he came down and craned his neck when steam was off, and he saw, as I saw, that the distant signal was off, and after that the home signal stood for line clear. ‘You wont believe, perhaps, but its Gospel truth, that although I knew the way was right, I was compelled to stop the express, and stop her I did just outside Hitchin Station. ‘For nothing you say? Well, Heaven alone knows how, but it proved to be for a great deal. There were two trucks across the main line, and although the signals were off, the way was blocked, so that me and the passengers behind me wouldnt be living to tell the story if I hadnt been compelled to pull up as I did.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 22:10:59 +0000
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