You’ve heard of the Crossroads, but what about the Railroads? Workings done at the Railroad tracks are typically used for protection magic and making an enemy leave town. The most important part of the railroad tracks are the spikes, which are made from Iron and over time, develop rust. Iron and rust have protective properties and are still used today for enemy work and to ensure protection of one’s home, property or vehicle.
What about the Spirits that Live at the Tracks?
You hear a lot about the Crossroads Spirits, but not so much about the Railroad Spirits. It makes one wonder why exactly it isn’t talked about. Sure, there are stories about haunted trains and the spirits that dwell around the tracks. But if Crossroads Spirits are stuck in between worlds, then what are Railroad Spirits? What sort of Spirits dwell there? What are their intentions within the Human world? And are they stuck here?
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a route of travel for runaway slaves, which started around the 1830s and reached its height around 1850. It was in essence, a metaphorical Railroad and had no actual connection to the railway system. However, like the Railroad, it was a means of travel and like a ghost train, it was enigmatic.
The purpose of the Underground Railroad was to secretly carry endangered slaves towards safety in the Free States and Canada. Along the way, one would follow a series of symbols and messages that would lead the way. One of the most popular messages was in an African-American folk song, entitled Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd:
Follow the drinkin’ gourd
Follow the drinkin’ gourd
For the old man is comin’ just to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin’ gourd
Here, the “drinkin’ gourd” represents the Big Dipper and North Star, which would lead the way to the secret route. Peg Leg Joe was a “conductor” of the Underground Railroad, which actually meant that he was a guide for those who wished to escape slavery. He would travel around to various Plantations singing the song. Within the song were directions on how to find the Underground Railroad and the path to freedom. Along the route were safe houses and markings on trees to ensure that those seeking refuge were on the right path.
Harriet “Black Moses” Tubman
Harriet Tubman, born Araminta Ross in March of 1822, was born into slavery in Dorchester, Maryland. At an early age, she received a traumatic head injury inflicted by an irate outsider who intended to throw a metal weight at another slave but missed. She suffered for two days, never visiting the doctor. The injury caused hypersomnia and resulted in her experiencing powerful dreams and visions, which she attributed as Revelations from God. After discovering her newfound gift, Harriet became highly spiritual. Even though she could not read, she taught stories from the Old Testament to other slaves.
At the age of 27, Harriet became ill, which diminished her value in the eyes of Edward Brodess, who owned Harriet, her mother along with numerous other relatives. He tried to sell Harriet to other slave traders, but due to her illness, he struggled to find a buyer. Harriet had later admitted “I prayed all night long for my master till the first of March; and all the time was bringing people to look at me, and trying to sell me.” When it had appeared that Mr. Brodess had found a buyer, she stated “I changed my prayer…First of March I began to pray, ‘Oh Lord, if you ain’t never going to change that man’s heart, kill him, Lord, and take him out of the way.’” It was only one week later, in 1849 that Edward Brodess had died.
After Brodess’ death, his widow had planned to sell Harriet and her relatives to other slave owners. Harriet ran away, at first with two of her brothers, but they decided that it was best to go back. The second time she left, she went alone, declaring “liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other.”
As Tubman left, she sang a song towards Mary, a fellow slave, “I’ll meet you in the morning…I’m bound for the promise land,” hinting that she would be back.
Although Tubman’s route is unknown, it was understood that she made use of the Underground Railroad, composed of free and enslaved black people, white abolitionists, and other activists.
The Quakers were a big part of the Underground Railroad, the Preston area in Maryland was a large quaker area and was most likely Tubman’s first stop on the Underground Railroad. From there, it was hypothesized that she traveled along the northeast of the Choptank River, through Delaware and north to Pennsylvania. The journey was 90 miles on foot and probably would have taken 5 days to 3 weeks.
Tubman mainly traveled by night, following the North Star, to avoid slave catchers who were eager to collect a reward for fugitive slaves.
In 1850, the US Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which forced law enforcement officials to assist in the capture of fugitive slaves. This law was even enforced in the states where slavery had been outlawed. This made Tubman’s efforts to help free those bound to slavery more difficult and many sought refuge in Southern Ontario.
Altogether, Harriet had assisted with the rescue of about 70 slaves in approximately 13 expeditions. She even carried a revolver on these expeditions to ensure protection of the people she transported and even threatened to shoot those in the group that could sabotage the journey to freedom.
Harriet was referred to as Moses by her people, because like Moses, she guided the way to safety for many families that were looking for freedom from slavery.
Railroad Bill
Railroad Bill was believed to be born as Morris Slater. He was notorious for his dramatic escapes from the law and was considered a Robin Hood figure within the African American community in the late 1800s.
Although he had many monetary rewards on his head during his lifetime, he was able to evade his capture with his ingenuity and athletic ability.
His true name, location and birth date are unknown. However, what is known is that his criminal career ended in 1896, when he was ambushed by the authorities and gunned down.
Railroad Bill had a personal vendetta against Louisville and Nashville Railroad, also known as L & N. This first started when he stole a ride to Mobile, Alabama, which had been noticed by the brakeman, who then threw him from the train. In return, he fired shots at the Brakeman. He ended up wounding several trainmen, commandeered the train and forced it out of the Station. He also threatened to end the life of James I. McKinnie, the superintendent of L & N’s Mobile and Montgomery Division.
In response to what he had done, L & N hired authorities to send out detectives to investigate the offender and ultimately placed a $350 reward on his head for Bill’s capture. Not knowing his real name, Detectives referred to him as Railroad Bill, which was the name of another L & N offender that lived in the Mobile, Alabama area.
Railroad Bill had later organized a freight car gang to steal merchandise from the L & N trains operating in southwestern Alabama. He did this by having a member of his crew on the train the night before and throw the cargo onto the tracks for the other gang members to retrieve. According to local legend, he had given the stolen property to the poor.
Ultimately, Railroad Bill had evaded numerous attempts of being captured by the authorities. Each miraculous occurrence was due to his athletic abilities and smarts. However, it is believed that he was also a conjure man and used his knowledge of local folk magic to protect himself from the law.
The Children of the San Antonio Railway
Around San Antonio, Texas there is a local legend of child spirits lurking around the San Antonio Railway. The location is just south of the San Juan Mission, where there is a road crossed by railroad tracks. To many it is unclear whether these are ghost stories or urban legends.
According to local legend, it was a rainy day. The conductor saw a school bus filled with children stuck on the train tracks. He tried to brake and frantically tugged on the train’s whistle. He could not stop the train in time, killing all the passengers in the bus. This was believed to have happened in the 1930s or 1940s.
It is believed that any vehicle that is stuck on those tracks, is pushed off the tracks by the children who died in the fatal crash. Even today, many people go to the site of the ill-fated crash, cover their vehicle with baby powder and sit on the tracks with their car in neutral. Every vehicle is pushed off the tracks to safety. But the evidence from the spirits that is left behind is most memorable. All over the back of the cars are tiny handprints from the children who died.
For the most part, railroad spirits are helpful and can offer guidance and protection. They can assist in reaching a point of safety or carrying enemies away. They are in no way “stuck,” as the railway keeps on moving. Spirits inhabit the area because they want to help others that are lost or need assistance.
Disclaimer: There are all types of spirits everywhere, including those with bad intentions towards the living. It is always best to protect yourself before, during and after working with any type of spirit.
Spiritual Folktails 
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