The Vander Light
If you happen to pay a visit to the quaint little town of Vander, located in Cumberland County, you may be welcomed with a well known ghost story. But if you're really lucky, you might actually get to witness the Vander Light, which appears on the train tracks in town, for yourselves.
The phenomenon, which has been observed since the 1800's, is thought to be the ghost of Author Matthews, a resident of Vander. Matthews was employed as a ticket master at the railroad, where he later met his untimely death.
One rainy night, as he sat waiting for the train, he noticed that the train was running behind by more than a half an hour. Concerned, he gathered his lantern and headed out to the tracks to take a look, hoping that he may either see or hear the approaching train. Unfortunately he could neither hear nor see anything in the thick darkness. As he turned to go back inside, however, a strange rattling noise coming from the other side of the tracks caught the ticket master's attention. No one knows what he saw or heard that night, and he didn't live long enough to find out himself. As he lifted his lantern to investigate, his foot slipped on the slick platform, and Matthews fell to the unforgiving tracks below, knocking himself unconscious on the steel.
As the train engineer approached the station, he noticed something out of the ordinary. His attention was drawn to a light shining brightly in the middle of the tracks. As the train grew closer, the light illuminated the face of Author Matthews, and the surprised engineer scrambled to apply the brakes as quickly as he could.
Though the wheels spit out sparks as it tried to come to a halt, the train inevitably continued on, right over Matthew's body, and past the Vander train station. When it finally rolled to a stop, the horrified engineer raced back down the tracks to the body, but it was too late. The train had crushed and mangled Author Matthew's body, leaving only his head and his lantern-still glowing-in tact.
Since that day, a mysterious light has been appearing to locals and visitors. The apparition begins as two balls of light, but one fades out rather quickly. Some say that the disappearing light is Matthew's cigarette, which he dropped as he leaned over the railing to investigate the noise. The other light is thought to be his lantern, which is reported to glow a yellowish brown in color.
Witnesses have reported seeing the “lantern” light from far away, and that it disappears as they get an arms length away, only to reappear right behind them when they turn around, and then “falls” to the ground and disappears completely.
Does the light at the Vander railroad tracks belong to the late Author Matthews? No one knows for sure. But the townsfolk have been telling this ghost story for years, and as long as the Vander Light keeps appearing, the story is sure to be told around the campfire for generations to come.
Comments
Scary...I feeel sad for him...
This story sounds alot like the hookerman legend in NJ. Turns out that the lights in NJ are nothing more than headlights and tail lights of cars crossing the tracks miles away. Gives the illusion of a swinging lantern coming toward you. But that don't stop the ghost stories and even HBO had a show saying it was real.
There are no less that 4 ghost lights in North Carolina alone. While some(maybe this one) can be explained by headlights and such. Others like the Maco Light predate the automobile.
You call BS and that's cool. Everyone's got their opinion. I'm still not convinced yet ;-)
-Jason
My Brother, while stationed in Fort Bragg during the mid 1960's, was fortunate enough, along with another soldier, to view this. He was given a pretty precise location by a local, as where to look for it. The local also said that the Army had previously used infra-red equipment and other stuff in a futile attempt to identify the reason or source behind the light. My Brother said that they saw only one light, not the smaller one, and that it would stay in between the rails, and never move outside of them. He's never been a ghost believer, and wondered if there's some weird sort of energy that used the metal in the rails themselves, since the light would always stay inside of them. Anyway, it was a fairly popular attraction, at the time. I'm wondering if the sightings still continue these days? Also, if that's a picture of the actual track area, it looks pretty well maintained, as if it's still used.
I've been several times and seen the light 4 or 5 times. However, there was just one light each time I seen it. Just as it says, it appears, gets closer and then reappears behind you. There is def a light but I am not sure if it's a ghost or spirit. I'm not really a beleiver in such things. I have often wondered if there is a scientific explanation for it all. There is no possibility that it could be cars because it does come closer and closer til it is almost within reach. The picture provided does not look accurate to me, but I've only been at night. There is certainly something to be seen here, but I am not sure what it is.
I took that photo the week before posting the story. I asked several people where the light appeared (And found only one person who tried to help me). This was where she pointed me. It has to be around there somewhere because the town of Vander is VERY small.
-Jason
When my Brother was directed to it, decades ago, there was a boxcar along the side, and that was given as the general vicinity. That's probably long gone, and he only remembers that the track area seemed like it was in a tunnel because of the heavy woods on both sides.
By the way, I like that picture you took, and have it presently as my computer wallpaper.
Excellent site, Jason, and the others, too!
A few quick comments.
- The picture is from the correct location.
- The light is still seen today.
- Looking down that crossing there are no streets that cross the tracks for at least seven miles. The tracks run through woods and farmland.
- Do a search at the Fayetteville Observer's web page for stories about the light.
- Numerous scientific studies have attempted to explain the origin and cause of the lights without success. (Check the newspaper accounts for more information.)
- At least one other death, in 2002, has occurred in the area whereby a migrant worker was killed by a train. Why he didn't get off the tracks when the train was coming is unknown.
- I've personally seen the light on one occassion. I have no explaination for it. It was not moving at a speed that would register on the Pro 1000 radar unit in my car. (Which I had positioned so has to cover the vicinity of the tracks where I was seeing the light. Yes, I'm a sworn officer.)
It makes me feel better knowing I did get to the right location.
Im also a sworn officer, I also am a ghost hunter. Ive been ghost hunting now for about 15 years. I have interest in doing an investigation at this location. But have legal questions. Any No Trespassing signs or No Parking signs or anything else I may need to be aware of before going to this location. A (M)charge is all it takes to loose everything. Please email me back with info 10-14 thanx...housej84@yahoo.com
To the 'BS' commentor, yes you have your right to disbelieve just as much as those who do believe. I am from the Vander area but yet to have gone to see the light, but it is on my "bucket list" of things to do. As was stated in previous note, there is only one road that crosses the railroad track near the lights and you have to park at this road and walk down the track, next possible road is too far for head lights to come that near to you, so it is not car lights. My Mom & her brothers saw it in the early 70s, they had to drag one of her brothers to the car, it scared him so bad and he was not the type to be easily scared. And many other people I know have seen it and then again, some have gone and never have seen it. So another point, if it is cars, then it should be seen at least every night at some point, but it isn't.
I don't lie and I don't intend too, some have beliefs and I have a belief that it is real. What I saw not to long ago going along that railroad track vander in the car with my mom it was dusk probably sevenish, odd for a ghost to come out at the time yes it seems. Not normally am I scared by such things but what I saw was an apparition, tall figure, totally white, 2 lights from the cigeratte and the latern, and headless. The apparition was walking towards the car when we went over the railroad track. I was the only one to pay attention to it because my mom was driving and I was passenger seeing it. It was fairly close not even three yards away. As I said belief lies in the readers hands of this but if you must see this look for your selves.
Here is my email if you need more info or if you see the same thing
gruntsstinkathalo@yahoo.com
this is cool i would love to visit here and hear more ab out this story
In the mid nineties, myself and and at least 50 other people saw a UFO one night fly over the house by the tracks on top of the trees and hover for a few minutes then it took off. It was not a plane nor a helicopter.The vander light is also real. I have seen it it several times it appears as a white light way down the tracks and it comes up the tracks rapidly with thin reach. The light really messes up your eyes you have to look away just to get focus back on it to make sure its not a train. I have seen a yellow to white light also swing up and down both sides of the tracks along the trees from the top to bottom. Also sometime a shadow appears walking along and across the tracks. Good luck with your viewing. The area is now over grown with pines so viewing may be limited but I still think you can see something.
How did the rattling noise get into the legend? I've always been curious how certain details get into the story of ghost tales. It seems like if Matthews went back out to see what the rattling noise was, then lost his life, how could anyone know he went looking for a rattling noise?
I may be reading into the legend too much,I know. I guess, if this happened at the depot, Matthews might have mentioned the noise to someone else that was there, but then why didn't they help him off the tracks? Is this part of the legend that most people hear?
Most of the reports of the legend are anectdotal; they only mention a man getting his head knocked off, and then haunting the tracks. This one seems more thorough. Is that the correct spelling for his name, Author, not Arthur? And the tracks are still active, right?
I'am very much a believer in this sort of thing so I'm going to investigate and if I see or don't see this light I will report back...
I just found this article and it appears no one has written in lately but I wanted to chime in on the subject. I was raised near the same railroad in question here and since I was very young I have seen this light (or some such light) several times over the years. I was living on a farm near the town of Stedman which is about 5 miles east of Vander. From there you would look up the tracks west toward Fayetteville to see the light. About 3 miles or half way from Stedman to Vander there was a little path road going into some swamp area which is now cleared and farmed. Back in the 60's it was all grown up with briars and bushes but the road did cross the tracks on it's way to other people's property and we would sometimes drive into that area to look for the light. From that point we would look east toward Stedman and see it. I have seen it from that loction 2 or 3 times over the years and it appears to be maybe the size of a basketball hovering about 3 or 4 feet above the ground but I didn't ever see it moving or appearing to get closer to me. Weather never seemed to be a factor as I have seen it on clear and cloudy nights. The strangest thing I have ever seen on that same stretch of tracks was one Sunday night when I was driving back to my house just west of Stedman. When I crossed the tracks which are about 1/2 mile from my house I saw what I can only describe as Christmas lights. There were many small colored lights that ranged from ground level to tree-top high. White, red, green, blue, yellow, and orange lights filled the area between the trees on either side of the tracks. They appeared to be about a mile or so away and were west of me in the direction of Vander. The lights were moving around and had the appearance of a swarm of bees around a hive but they moved much slower and kinda mingled with each other...some rising from the ground to the trees, some moving side to side, but all moving around. I had ice cream and had to get to the house to put it away but I went right back out in about 10 minutes to look again and they were still there. I tried to get my wife to go with me but she wouldn't so I had no witness but I did sit there and watch the show for about 30 minutes. I finally left and the lights were still there. I was 22 at the time which would have been 1979 and I haven't seen this since nor did I see or hear anything on the news the next few days about anything like that being seen by anyone else that night. I also have not seen the original light since then either. Ocassionally the military will drop yellow flares out at Fort Bragg for night maneuvers and these flares can be seen clearly from my location and appear to be right down the center of the tracks but this is ABSOLUTELY NOT the "Vander Light" We locals all know the difference in those flares and the real thing! Something is there.
Moose
I lived in Fayetteville, NC for 5 years. I went to see the lights with some friends in the summer of 1988. We were all hammered on cheap wine and beer. We proceeded down the tracks at around 10:30-11pm. It was so dark it made it hard to walk. We only had one flashlight and didn't want to use it because we thought it might scare off anything that was out there. I'd say we ventured into the unknown for about a mile and a half until we decided to turn around. Everybody was tired and ate up by mosquitoes. Then out of nowhere off in the distance we saw it! It was the Vander light. It did swing in an awkward side to side movement yet kind of all over. We decided to chase the mysterious light but it seem to run from us. We quickly gave up due to we were banging our feet on the tracks when we gave chase. As we took a moment to catch or breath, it appeared again! This time not swinging but pulsing. We all stood in amazement and in awe as the light seemed to wait for us to leave. Then it made a sudden movement toward us. We all screamed and ran back towards our cars. As I said earlier we had been drinking and running a mile and a half is no easy feat in that condition. Soon enough we stopped to catch our breath and enjoy some nervous laughter with one another. Then it appeared again! This time going in and out of the woods. It was moving closer and closer and closer. We were all so scared that my friends and I became paralyzed by this sight. It got about 50 feet away and then vanished into thin air. As we stood with our hearts in our throats hoping that the worst was over, the woods became deathly silent. Every insect and creature seem to cower at the exact same moment. Someone said, "Is it gone??" Before anyone could answer the light bursted on right in front of all of us!!! This time in total terror we ran non stop until we reached the safety of our rides. This light, ghost, specter or whatever you want to call it does exist. This is a night I will never forget and still gives me the chills up and down my spine when I think back on this incredibly frightening evening.
I'm from Fay. N.C In the late 70's me and some friends went to Vander to see the light. We walked the tracks a couple of miles and never saw the light. It was fun anyway.
i've been a lot, the first time i thought it was a buncha of bs, until i seen what appeared to be a man walking down the tracks. it almost looked like he was walking in place then just disapeared. never saw a light that night but then the second time i went i seen a light. my friend shined her flashlights down the tracks, turned it on and off real fast and it appeared far off, went away, and then came back a little closer. every time i've went back i've seen it. it's never really gotten close to me, but honestly i wouldn't want it too, it scares the shit out of me being far away, i would hate to see what i would do if it came up on us.
Can you tell me which road to take that will cross the tracks!
In 1969 I was visiting Fort Bragg and the Fayetville area at the Navy,s request. At that time, my Father was active duty Army, living in town and I was staying at his house rather than on post during my Fort Bragg deployment. My sister mentioned the story of the light and that she and her friends from FHS would go over there to see the light frequently. She insisted that it was real. I wanted to see for myself, but it took some pestering to get her to take me over there. I had just returned from a deployment in Viet Nam where I had experienced several frightining moments, so I wasnt aprehensive of anything that could happen. After we left the car and made our way to the area where she had seen the lights which was about a mile west of vander. It was around 2200 when we parked and it took about 15 min trudging thru the blackberry brambles to reach the tracks. We were there for about 10 min and saw a glow from the east that appeared pulsating. Shortly it became apparent that it was the ocelating headlight of a westbound train. After it passed, I decided to leave. As we started back into the briers, my sister squeeled, and I looked and there was light suspended in the air about 4 ft above the ground between the tracks, that were about 20 meters away. It was about the size of a greapfruit and low magnitude and amber and defused. Sort of like head lights in the fog, but the air was clear. Before I realised it my sister was half way to the car. The light appeared to be hovering with slight movement. I tried to approach it and its magnitude appeared to fade and retreat. If I tried to flank it to get a better perspective It would stay at the relitive bearing. When I stepped back it would move closer and increase its briteness. This gave me the chills After "dancing" with the light for about 5 min, it just dissapeared in an instant. I always wanted to go back and check it out again over the years, but forgot about it completly til today when I heard the word "Vander" on TV and googgled the legeond and found this forum
1965, I was just a kid. My father was a fan of the occult and drove us to the spot. I brought binoculars. We walked down the tracks through the trees and the light appeared suddenly, about 50 meters away, and seemed to be approaching us slowly. Through the binoculars, it appeared a little fuzzy, but it was definitely a solitary solid light source (not a group of smaller lights). It was also undulating or vibrating slightly. At first I felt it was my hands shaking, but when I steadied them up against a tree the motion was still there. It approached to within about 40-50 feet, then suddenly disappeared, then that was it.
In 1970 went there with friends several times. Always saw the light comming towards us, got chicken and we all ran away. Until the one time I and my friends brother got brave and decided to see what would happen if we just stayed where we were on the tracks. Everyone else was off to the side. The light came right at us and appeared to get bigger as it approached, then seemed to go right through us and appear on the other side of us. We felt frozen and unable to move for about 2 minutes afterwards. We were told by our observers that it appeared to pass right through us while glowing a wierd light and then dim as it got to the other side, then it simply dissapeared. No drinking involved in this experience! Skeptics beware.....
While attending Fayetteville Senior High, about 1965, two friends and I drove to Vander to see what all the talk was about. We did not drink (just to clarify that) and we got there about 8:00 PM. Walked about half a mile due east on the tracks and saw the distant light, but was not sure that was what we were seeking. Getting bored, we sat on the tracks and started tapping on the steel rails with rocks. All of a sudden, we saw the lantern glow appear several yards to the east and moving slowly towards us. We thought it was some jokesters, so we quickly hid in the brush alongside the tracks thinking they would pass us. Well, pass us it did. The glow got eerily strange looking as it passed by and I looked up and saw a tall headless person walk past holding the lantern. My mind went blank with fear as I jumped and ran full speed the half mile back to our car. When I got there, my two friends were right behind me and we excitedly compared notes. Seems we all saw the same thing. Funny thing was they remembered seeing the lantern glow moving away from us as they ran, but it was in the opposite direction back to the east, so whatever it was, had to pass right by us (or through us) as we ran to the west where the parked car was. Needless to say, we never went back again. I count this as my one and only supernatural experience.
love to know where its at if anyone can tell me e-mail me please dora_06_bigbunz@yahoo.com
I went to vander and we did not see any lights. But we were walking the tracks me and some friends. All of a sudden we see this big black figure come out from trees on left side and my friend is first to notice she yells oh sh*t and we all take off. Next thing we know she's on the ground and looked like she had been smacked and knocked over. She was only like 100 lbs if that and two guys could not pick her up and they are both pretty strong. It was like something was holding her down. We went another time and before we got to light by tracks we saw this light way down the road and when we got a lot closer it zoomed to the right.
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