Spooky Tale: The Devil's Diesel

I heard this ghost story from the area I live and thought I'd share this spooky tale with you.

It is quite common to hear trains as if they were running on the old shut down tracts in the Sidley area of Bexhill (a particularly haunted part of Bexhill, although haunted by what is somewhat debatable).

This is the story as to why these trains are still heard to be running, even today...

The Devil's Diesel

Many years ago, there was old railwayman who lived in this area who was a very bitter man, but he had a good reason.

He had lost both of his sons.

The older one had gone into the railways just like his father, but when the Great War came, he volunteered and drove trains to the trenches, but a stray bullet had his name on it.

All the railwayman and his wife got was a telegram and a medal from a supposedly grateful Grand Brittania.

The younger son also chose to work on the railways, but he was fond of the bottle, as years moved by and diesel and electric trains replaced Steam engines, the boy re-trained as a motorman.

One day there was a terrible accident with the train that this man was driving and the younger son died a horrible painful death.

When an inquiry was held, there was evidence that the company was negligent, but because of the son's history of drinking, the blame was laid at his door.

This saddened the railwayman and his wife, in fact, his wife died of a broken heart.

The railwayman held a massive grudge against the railway company, as they had put their reputation and profit before the life of his son.

The years passed and the railway man grew even more bitter.

Bexhill began to grow as a town, as there were the rich people in big houses, boasting of their riches, including the director of the old railway company.

The director was parading around in his Roll Royce and the railwayman saw him and felt that familiar anger rise in his chest.

That evening, he went down to Sidley train station and waited for the train to pull in. All the crew knew him so he was welcome on the train.

He removed a single coal from the firebox and carried it onto the tracks, muttering many curses and oaths against the rich people of Bexhill and he asked the devil to take them if he paid with his soul.

So he threw the coal onto the track and it made an ear piercing clang that could have easily reached the depths of hell. People say it sounded like the chime of hell.

They say that the devil needs no invitation, but he took this one and he claimed the railwayman's life that very night.

The devil always keeps a contract, so from that time onwards, there has been a train that runs through Bexhill that claims the souls of the dead.

It is said that every month, the Sunday before a full moon, that this train runs on the Crowhurst to Bexhill line. It is a black liveried class 202 diesel.

Nobody sees or hears it leave Crowhurst, and it is deathly silent over the viaduct.

But the devilish engines are turned up full volume by the demonic driver as he runs it runs through Coombe woods and the echo sounds throughout Bexhill.

The driver is said to be headless so he sees no signals and is condemned to danger. At night, the train runs into Sidley and stops, the headless torso steps outside the cab and appears by the look of his torso to be looking for someone. People say this is the son of the railwayman, looking to talk with him just one more time.

But its too late, the devil himself then shows up and berates the driver by pointing to a huge rusty pocket watch, as the journey must be completed by midnight.

Reluctantly, the driver goes back in the cab and the devil waves a black flag and the train is gone in second.

People know that this is what happens because when a child is especially naughty, they are taken by the ear to the bridge to be shown this horrible scene, as a punishment they will always remember.

The train then arrives at Bexhill West, where those people who are pure and forgiving are given the opportunity to see the departure of the damned.

The damned sinners of Bexhill are forced to haul their great bags of sin onto the train, as there are no porters, as there is no help left for them. It is standing room only with only the basic British rail refreshments of ham sandwiches, weak tea and pork pies, which are hellishly priced. The damned are forced to face the horror of these prices forever more.

When they have all boarded, the devil blows the whistle and the headless driver hurtles the train out at a furious speed and they are gone.

Even today this terrible train runs and it collects the faithless, greedy and uncharitable, even though the line has long gone.

Words by: @hopehuggs
Pictures courtesy of Pixabay

Do you have any great spooky tales from your area?

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