It is no secret that Cleveland is filled to the brim with spectacular history. It is a sad truth, though, that some of our history is tragic. In the early 1940s, a railway accident claimed far too many lives, and it has hung over the region like a black cloud ever since. Now, locals can get up close and personal with this moment in history, and it will make a spooktacular way to celebrate Halloween.
Hiding in the Cleveland Flats is a remarkable structure.
Located at 2800 West 3rd Street is the Baltimore & Ohio Roundhouse, a site formerly used to house and service locomotives. Once upon a time, it operated 24/7, just as the other local roundhouses did. The other roundhouses in the Flats, including the New York Central, Nickel Plate, and Pennsylvania, are no longer standing. A similar fate may have befallen the B&O Roundhouse if it was not for the Midwest Railway Preservation Society (MRPS).
On the roundhouse premises are sleeping behemoths of the railroad past....
With a goal of preserving and celebrating Cleveland's railroad history, the MRPS has acquired over 20 pieces of vintage rolling stock. Iconic models include the Mount Baxter, a 1930s parlor coach which was used in the filming of TriStar Picture's The Natural, and the 407, a 1918 Grand Trunk Western steam locomotive whose history will surprise you.
...And a few ghosts are said to linger too.
The roundhouse was constructed between 1905 and 1919, employing up to 400 people when it reached its height of operations in the 1940s. At the same time, a tragic accident shook the region.
In 1943, a Lackawanna passenger car collided with another locomotive.
The Lackawanna was traveling around a bend at 80 miles per hour when it collided with another train on the same track. Dozens of lives were lost and some believe a few of those souls still linger in the "death car."
The "death car" now calls our local roundhouse home, where it has been maintained. The volunteers that work on it report interactions with spirits.
In August of 1943, a scheduling issue caused the loss of around 200 lives, six of which were confirmed to be Clevelanders. Professional ghost hunters and visitors have both reported experiences... could they be from this tragic accident?
Are the ghosts of the roundhouse just from the death car, or did other local tragedies contribute to the haunting?
The infamous Torso Murderer would often dump victims on the railroad tracks, and tragedy often befell employees, especially brake men. Perhaps these events contributed to the group of souls that purportedly linger at this local gem of a location.
Now, you can tour the roundhouse just in time for Halloween.
Hoping to see a specter this spooky season? Stop by October 21 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and consider leaving a donation for the MRPS. A special paranormal night will take place October 27. To reserve your spot, call the MRPS at 216-781-3629.
Plan your visit today... if you dare.
To experience more haunted Cleveland check out this terrifying tunnel.
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