Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine

As reported by the Seattle Press-Times, 1892

The folklore of the American West is rich with tales of spectral encounters, unexplained phenomena, and the enduring spirits of those who met untimely ends. Among these captivating narratives, one particularly chilling account revolves around the legend of Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine, a spectral locomotive said to haunt the Northern Pacific Railroad, particularly near the treacherous Eagle Gorge in the Cascade Mountains. This eerie story, documented in an 1892 edition of the Seattle Press-Times, continues to fascinate and intrigue those drawn to the mysteries of the rails and the supernatural.

The story unfolds through the eyes of J.M. Pinckney, a seasoned railroad man known and respected within the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Pinckney, unlike many of his peers, harbored a skeptical view of ghost stories and tales of apparitions that often circulated among railroad workers. He considered himself a man of logic and reason, resistant to the allure of the supernatural. However, a particular Sunday night would challenge his skepticism and leave an indelible mark on his understanding of the unseen world.

Pinckney found himself aboard an eastbound Northern Pacific overland train, riding in the engine cab as a guest of the engineer, a fellow member of the Brotherhood. The two men engaged in the customary practice of swapping stories, recounting experiences from their years on the rails. The fireman, a relatively inexperienced newcomer, listened with growing unease as the veteran engineers vividly described past wrecks, disasters, and the inherent dangers of their profession. The atmosphere in the cab grew thick with a palpable sense of foreboding.

The night was clear, with the powerful beam of the locomotive’s headlight cutting through the darkness, illuminating the track ahead. Despite their engrossing storytelling, both engineers maintained a vigilant watch, acutely aware of their approach to Eagle Gorge, a particularly hazardous stretch of the Northern Pacific line nestled within the rugged Cascade Mountains. This location was notorious for its history of accidents and was widely considered the most dangerous point along the entire 2,500-mile route.

As the engineer reached a critical point in his narrative, a sudden and dramatic action shattered the storytelling atmosphere. Without warning, he seized the throttle and swiftly reversed the engine, simultaneously applying the air brakes with considerable force. The train screeched to a halt, stopping just a few feet short of the very spot where Engineer Tom Cypher had tragically lost his life two years prior. The abrupt stop startled the passengers, who, understandably, began to voice their concerns and demand explanations. The engineer, seeking to avoid panic, offered a vague excuse about loose machinery and, after a brief delay, the train resumed its journey toward its destination.

Pinckney, however, was not easily fooled. He pressed the engineer for the true reason behind the sudden stop. "What made you stop back there?" he inquired, "I heard your excuse, but I have run too long on the road not to know that your excuse is not the truth."

The engineer, initially hesitant, responded by pointing ahead into the darkness, his voice laced with a mixture of fear and excitement. "There! Look there! Don’t you see it?"

Pinckney peered out of the cab window, straining his eyes to penetrate the darkness. "Looking out of the cab window," Pinckney recounted, "I saw the headlight of a locomotive about 300 yards ahead of us."

Alarmed, Pinckney instinctively reacted, crying out, "Stop the train, man," and reaching for the lever.

The engineer, however, remained strangely calm, dismissing Pinckney’s concerns. "Oh, it’s nothing. It’s what I saw back at the gorge. It’s Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine, No. 33. There’s no danger of a collision. The man running ahead of us can run it faster backward than I can this one forward. Have I seen it before? Yes, twenty times. Every engineer on the road knows that engine, and he’s always watching for it when he gets to the gorge."

According to the engineer, this was not an isolated incident. The apparition of Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine was a known phenomenon among the engineers of the Northern Pacific, particularly when traversing the treacherous Eagle Gorge.

Pinckney, despite his initial skepticism, couldn’t deny what he was witnessing. The spectral engine ahead of them moved silently, yet smoke billowed from its stack, and its headlight emitted an eerie glow, casting rays of red, green, and white light. The phantom locomotive maintained a consistent distance ahead of their train for several miles, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

At one point, the witnesses observed a fleeting figure on the pilot of the phantom engine. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the engine rounded a curve and vanished from sight, leaving the engineers in stunned silence.

As their train continued its journey, they passed a small station. At the subsequent station, the operator warned them to maintain a safe distance from a "wild engine" ahead. The engineer, however, remained unfazed, exhibiting no fear of a collision. His continued calmness implied an unsettling familiarity with the situation.

Driven by a need to verify what he had witnessed, Pinckney sent a telegram to the engine wiper at Sprague, inquiring about the status of Engine No. 33. The response he received only deepened the mystery. The reply stated that Engine No. 33 had just arrived in Sprague, its coal supply exhausted, and its fireboxes burned out. This confirmed that the engine could not have been the one they had seen running ahead of them on the tracks.

Pinckney concluded his account with a note of caution, anticipating skepticism from his audience. "I suppose you’ll be inclined to laugh at the story," he said, "but ask any of the boys, although many won’t talk about it. I would not be myself if I were running on the road. It’s unlucky to do so."

Following his unsettling experience, Pinckney boarded a passing caboose and traveled to Tacoma, Washington. The tale of Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine became further ingrained in the lore of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Many engineers believed that the spirit of Thomas Cypher continued to linger near Eagle Gorge, forever bound to the site of his tragic demise. The story serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by railroad workers in the late 19th century and the enduring power of local legends.

The legend of Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine stands as a testament to the enduring power of folklore, particularly within communities bound by shared experiences and inherent risks. The railroad, a symbol of progress and connection, also carries with it a history of accidents and loss. The story of Tom Cypher and his spectral engine serves as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the fragility of life and the potential for tragedy to leave its mark on a place and its people.

This account, originally published in the Seattle Press-Times in 1892, provides a fascinating glimpse into the beliefs and anxieties of railroad workers during a period of rapid industrial expansion. The legend of Tom Cypher’s Phantom Engine persists, offering a chilling narrative that blends elements of historical tragedy with the enduring allure of the supernatural.