On August 25th at 9 p.m. in Fairfax Station (off Henderson Road), I believe that I heard a phantom "ghost train" whistle in or near my yard. I have lived in my home for 13 years and I have never heard something so loud or so close to my home. On rare occasion, over the years, I have heard a very distant train whistle from what I assume would be from the VRE or Amtrak trains (Burke or Clifton) but nothing as loud as what I heard that night.

My husband happened to be walking the dog in the backyard at the time & I was already in bed. When he came inside, he said the hair on his arms was standing on end and that the whistle sounded like the train was in the backyard. I'm wondering if anyone else has ever experienced something like this.

I've since done a little research & wondered if our experience had something to do with something paranormal, a residual energy imprinted in the environment. I have learned that Fairfax Station was originally a station of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. It was known as "Lee's Station" during its first year. During the Civil War in August 1862, Clara Barton tended to wounded Union and Confederate troops at the station after the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), with headquarters at nearby St. Mary's Church (not too far from our home).

I am a very logical person & I just can't explain what I experienced. Maybe there's a connection considering the timing of this happening in late August of this year? It was obviously a very traumatic time during the Civil War and particularly in August of 1862 in this immediate area. A time full of pain & suffering. I can't help but think that maybe the environment absorbed some of that energy & the conditions must have been just right on the 25th for me to possibly hear that ghost train whistle so loud and clear. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else has a similar story to share. Thanks for reading.

Mystery solved Scooby.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GCseAN5V2g

@Mystery Machine. That is a horn, not a whistle.

Steam v Diesel Wrote:
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> @Mystery Machine. That is a horn, not a whistle.


It sounds like a train. Trains don't use steam whistles anymore either.

They said 'train whistle' when they appear to mean a modern horn as on an Amtrak train. The only distinction made being how loud:

"On rare occasion, over the years, I have heard a very distant "train >whistle from what I assume would be from the VRE or Amtrak trains (Burke or Clifton) but nothing as loud as what I heard that night."

I hear them in NW DC from time to time. The closest train tracks are miles and miles away, but given the right atmospherics, sound can travel much further than you’d think it could. If there are train tracks within 25 miles of your location, you could possibly hear a whistle from them every now and again.

No such things as ghost trains Wrote:
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> I hear them in NW DC from time to time. The
> closest train tracks are miles and miles away, but
> given the right atmospherics, sound can travel
> much further than you’d think it could. If
> there are train tracks within 25 miles of your
> location, you could possibly hear a whistle from
> them every now and again.


I live less than 100 yds from the B&O Baltimore Main in NE DC and swear I keep hearing the distinctive horn tone and and noise of Baldwin RF-16 shark nose diesel engines except B&O didn't run those here.

They are called "Whistles," "horns," and "chimes" you glum cunts.