 adds her to during the podcast that are not in my voice or placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and is intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised. Welcome Weirdos, I'm Darren Marlar and this is Weird Darkness. Here you'll find stories of the paranormal, supernatural, legends, lore, the strange and bizarre, crime, conspiracy, mysterious, macabre, unsolved and unexplained. Coming up in this episode I'm bringing you a classic horror story from Charles Dickens called The Signal Man. The story is so popular that it's been adapted multiple times, especially on old time radio. In the United States the story was adapted for radio for the Columbia Workshop in 1937, then for the radio show The Weird Circle in 1945, Lights Out in 1946, Hall of Fantasy in 1950, Suspense in 1956, Beyond Midnight in 1970 and CBC Radio's Nightfall in 1982. Suspense also had a TV adaptation in 1953 starring Boris Karloff and Alan Webb. The story was adapted by Andrew Davies as the BBC's Ghost Story for Christmas for 1976. Elements of The Signal Man are used in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 2004 musical The Woman in White, and more recently in 2019 the story was adapted into an audio drama as part of the debut season of Shadows at the Door, the podcast in which it was touted as arguably the greatest ghost story of all time. I guess we'll find out tonight if that claim is true. If you're new here welcome to the show, and if you're already a member of this Weirdo family, please take a moment and invite someone else to listen. Recommending Weird Darkness to others helps make it possible for me to keep doing the show, and while you're listening be sure to check out WeirdDarkness.com or you can find the show on Facebook and Twitter, and you can also join the Weird Darkness Weirdo's Facebook group. And now, Charles Dickens, The Signal Man. So, bolt your doors, lock your windows, turn off your lights, and come with me into the Weird Darkness. When you heard a voice thus calling to him he was standing at the door of his box with a flag in his hand, furled round its short pole. One would have thought, considering the nature of the ground, that he could not have doubted from what quarter the voice came. But instead of looking up to where I stood on the top of the steep cutting nearly over his head, he turned himself about and looked down the line. There was something remarkable in his manner of doing so, though I could not have said for my life what. But I know it was remarkable enough to attract my notice, even though his figure was foreshortened and shadowed down in the deep trench and mine was high above him, so steeped in the glow of an angry sunset that I had shaded my eyes with my hand before I saw him at all. Hello, below! From looking down the line he turned himself about again and, raising his eyes, saw my figure high above him. Is there any path by which I can come down and speak to you? He looked up at me without replying and I looked down at him without pressing him too soon with a repetition of my idle question. Just then there came a vague vibration in the earth and air, quickly changing into a violent pulsation and an oncoming rush that caused me to start back as though it had forced to draw me down. With such vapor as rose to my height from this rapid train had passed me and was skimming away over the landscape, I looked down again and saw him refurling the flag he had shown while the train went by. I repeated my inquiry. After a pause during which he seemed to regard me with fixed attention, he motioned with his rolled-up flag towards a point on my level, some two or three hundred yards distant. I called down to him, alright, and made for that point. There, by dint of looking closely about me, I found a rough zigzag descending path notched out, which I followed. The cutting was extremely deep and unusually precipitant. It was made through a clammy stone that became oozier and wetter as I went down. For these reasons I found the way long enough to give me time to recall a singular air of reluctance or compulsion with which he had pointed out the path. When I came down low enough upon the zigzag descent to see him again, I saw that he was standing between the rails on the way by which the train had lately passed in an attitude as if he were waiting for me to appear. He had his left hand at his chin and that left elbow rested on his right hand crossed over his breast. His attitude was one of such expectation and watchfulness that I stopped a moment, wondering at it. I resumed my downward way and, stepping out upon the level of the railroad and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark, salo man with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows. His post was in as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw. On either side he wall of jagged stone, excluding all view but a strip of sky. The perspective one way only a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon, the shorter perspective in the other direction terminating in a glooming red light and the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous, depressing and forbidding air. So little sunlight ever found its way to this spot that it had an earthy, deadly smell and so much cold wind rushed through it that it struck chill to me as if I had left the natural world. Before we stirred I was near enough to him to have touched him, not even then removing his eyes from mine he stepped back one step and lifted his hand. This was a lonesome post to occupy I said and it had riveted my attention when I looked down from up yonder. A visitor was a rarity I should suppose not an unwelcome rarity I hoped. In me he merely saw a man who had been shut up with the narrow limits all his life and who being at last set free had a newly awakened interest in these great works. To such purpose I spoke to him but I am far from sure of the terms I used for besides that I am not happy in opening any conversation. There was something in the man that daunted me. He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the tunnel's mouth and looked all about as if something were missing from it and then looked at me. That light was part of his charge was it not? He answered in a low voice, Don't you know what it is? The monstrous thought came into my mind as I perused the fixed eyes and the Saturnine face that this was a spirit not a man. I have speculated since whether there may have been infection in his mind. In my turn I stepped back but in making the action I detected in his eyes some latent fear of me. This put the monstrous thought to flight. You look at me I said forcing a smile as if you had a dread of me. I was doubtful he returned whether I had seen you before. Where? He pointed to the red light he looked at. There I said. Intently watchful of me he replied but without a sound. Yes. My good fellow what should I do there? However be that as it may I never was there you may swear. Yeah. I think I may he rejoined. Yes I am sure I may. His manner cleared like my own. He replied to my remarks with readiness and in well chosen words. Had he much to do there? Yes that was to say he had enough responsibility to bear but exactness and watchfulness were what was required of him and of actual work manual labor he had next to none. To change that signal to trim those lights and to turn this iron handle now and then was all he had to do under that head. Regarding those many long and lonely hours of which I seemed to make so much he could only say that the routine of his life had shaped itself into that form and he had grown used to it. He had taught himself a language down here if only to know it by sight and to have formed his own crude ideas of its pronunciation to be called learning it. He had also worked at fractions and decimals and tried a little algebra but he was and had been as a boy a poor hand at figures. Was it necessary for him went on duty always to remain in that channel of damp air and could he never rise into the sunshine from between those high stone walls? Why that depended upon times and circumstances? Under some conditions there would be less upon the line than under others and the same held good as to certain hours of the day and night. In bright weather he did choose occasions for getting a little above those lower shadows but being at all times liable to be called by his electric bell and at such times listening for it with redoubled anxiety the relief was less than I would suppose. He took me into his box where there was a fire, a desk for an official book in which he had to make certain entries, a telegraphic instrument with its dial face and needles and the little bell of which he had spoken. On my trusting that he would excuse the remark that he had been well educated and I hoped I might say without offense perhaps educated above that station he observed that instances of slight incongruity in such wise would rarely be found wanting among large bodies of men that he had heard it was so in workhouses in the police force even in that last desperate resource the army and that he knew it was so more or less in any great railway staff he had been when young if I could believe it sitting in that hut he scarcely could a student of natural philosophy and had attended lectures but he had run wild misused his opportunities gone down and never risen again he had no complaint to offer about that he had made his bed and he lay up on it it was far too late to make another all that I've here condensed he said in a quiet manner with his grave dark regards divided between me and the fire he threw in the word sir from time to time and especially when he referred to his youth as though to request me to understand that he claimed to be nothing but what I found him he was several times interrupted by the little bell and had to read off messages and send replies once he had to stand without the door and display a flag as a train passed and make some verbal communications to the driver in the discharge of his duties I observed him to be remarkably exact and vigilant breaking off his discourse at a syllable and remaining silent until what he had to do was done in a word I should have set this man down as one of the safest of men to be employed in that capacity but for the circumstances that while he was speaking to me he twice broke off with a fallen color turned his face towards the little bell when it did not ring opened the door of the hut which was kept shut to exclude the unhealthy damp and looked out towards the red light near the mouth of the tunnel on both of those occasions he came back to the fire with the inexplicable air upon him which I had remarked without being able to define when we were so far asunder said I when I rose to leave him you almost make me think that I have met with a contented man I'm afraid I must acknowledge that I said it to lead him on I believe I used to be so he rejoined in the low voice in which he had first spoken but I am troubled sir I am troubled he would have recalled the words if he could he had said them however and I took them up quickly with what what is your trouble it is very difficult to impart sir it is very very difficult to speak of if ever you make me another visit I will try to tell you but I expressly intend to make you another visit say when shall it be I go off early in the morning and I shall be on again 10 tomorrow night sir I will come at 11 he thanked me and went out at the door with me I'll show my white light sir he said in his peculiar low voice till you have found the way up when you have found it don't call out and when you're at the top don't call out this matter seemed to make the place strike colder to me but I said no more than very well and when you come down tomorrow night don't call out let me ask you a parting question what made you cry hello below there tonight heaven knows said I I cried something to that effect not to that effect sir those were the very words I know them well admit those were the very words I said them no doubt because I saw you below or no other reason what other reason could I possibly have you had no feeling that they were conveyed to you in in any supernatural way no he wished me good night and held up his light I walked by the side of the down line of rails with a very disagreeable sensation of a train coming behind me until I found the path it was easier to mount than to descend and I got back to my inn without any adventure strange creatures gruesome murders oozing organisms unfathomable abductions enigmatic expeditions an age old malevolence and much more author jc more delivers a collection of dark horror tales that are both chilling and poignant dark intrigues book one is filled with horror fiction for fans of short story anthologies horror collections ghost fiction suspense possession and more dark intrigues book one by jc more available on kindle or as an audiobook narrated by darren marlar find dark intrigues book one on the audiobooks page at weirddarkness.com that's weirddarkness.com slash audiobooks punctual to my appointment I placed my foot on the first notch of the zigzag next night as the distant clocks were striking 11 he was waiting for me at the bottom with his white light on I have not called out I said when we came close together may I speak now I all mean sir good night then and here's my hand good night sir and here's mine with that we walked side by side to his box entered it closed the door and sat down by the fire I made up my mind sir he began bending forward as soon as we were seated and speaking in a tone but a little above a whisper that you shall not have to ask me twice what troubles me I took you for someone else yesterday evening that troubles me that mistake no that someone else who is it I don't know like me I don't know I never saw the face the left arm is across the face and the right arm is waved violently waved this way followed his action with my eyes and it was the action of an arm gesticulating with the utmost passion and vehemence a god's sake clear the way one moonlight night said the man I was sitting here when I heard a voice cry hello below there I started up looked from that door and saw this someone else standing by the red light near the tunnel waving as I just now showed you the voice seemed a horse with shouting and it cried look out look out and then again hello below there look out I caught up my lamp turned it on red and ran towards the figure calling what's wrong what has happened where it stood just outside the blackness of the tunnel I advanced so close upon it that I wondered how it's keeping the sleeve across its eyes I ran right up to it and had my hand stretched out to pull the sleeve away when it was gone into the tunnel said I no I ran on into the tunnel 500 yards I stopped and held my lamp above my head I saw the figures of the measure distance and saw the wet stains stealing down the walls and trickling through the arch I ran out again faster than I had run in for I had a mortal abhorrence of the place upon me and I looked all around the red light with my own red light and I went up the iron ladder to the gallery atop of it and I came down again and ran back here I telegraphed both ways and alarm has been given was anything wrong the answer came back both ways all well resisting the slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine I showed him how that this figure must be a description of his sense of sight and how that figures originating in disease of the delicate nerves that minister to the functions of the eye were known to have often troubled patients some of whom have been conscious of the nature of their affliction and had even proved it by experiments upon themselves as to an imaginary cry said I do but listen for a moment to the wind in this unnatural valley while we speak so low into the wild hop it makes of the telegraph wires that was all very well he returned after we had sat listening for a while and he ought to know something of the wind and the wires he who so often passed long winter nights here alone and watching but he would beg to remark that he had not finished I asked his pardon and he slowly added these words touching my arm within six hours after the appearance the memorable accident on this line happened and within 10 hours the dead and wounded were brought along through the tunnel over the spot where the figure had stood a disagreeable shutter crept over me but I did my best against it it was not to be denied I rejoined that this was a remarkable coincidence calculated deeply to impress his mind but it was unquestionable that remarkable coincidences did continually occur and they must be taken into account in dealing with such a subject though to be sure I must admit I added for a thought I saw that he was going to bring the objection to bear upon me man of common sense did not allow much for coincidences and making the ordinary calculations of life he again begged to remark that he had not finished I again begged his pardon for being betrayed into interruptions this he said again laying his hand upon my arm and glancing over his shoulder with hollow eyes was just a year ago six or seven months past and I recovered from the surprise and shock when one morning as the day was breaking I standing at that door looked towards the red light and saw the specter again he stopped with a fixed look at me did it cry out no it was silent did it wave its arm no he leaned against the shaft of the light with both hands before the face like this once more I followed his action with my eyes it was an action of mourning I've seen such an attitude in stone figures on tombs did you go up to it I came in and sat down partly to collect my thoughts partly because it had turned me faint when I went to the door again daylight was above me and the ghost was gone but nothing followed nothing came with this he touched me on the arm with his forefinger twice or thrice giving a ghastly nod each time that very day as a train came out of the tunnel I noticed at a carriage window on my side what looked like a confusion of hands and heads and something waved I saw it just in time to signal the driver stop he shut off and put his brake on but the train drifted past here 150 yards or more I ran after it and as I went along heard terrible screams and cries a beautiful young lady had died instantaneously in one of the compartments and was brought in here and laid down on this floor between us involuntarily I pushed my chair back as I looked from the boards at which he pointed to himself true sir true precisely as it happened so I tell you I could think of nothing to say to any purpose and my mouth was very dry the wind and the wires took up the story with a long lamenting whale he resumed now sir mock this and judge how my mind is troubled the specter came back a week ago ever since it's been there now and again by fits and starts at the light at the danger light what does it seem to do he repeated if possible with increased passion and vehemence that former gesticulation of for god's sake clear the way then he went on I have no peace or rest for it it calls to me for many minutes together in an agonized manner below there look out look out it stands waving to me it rings one little bell I caught it that did it ring your bell yesterday evening when I was here and you went to the door twice why see said I how your imagination misleads you my eyes were on the bell and my ears were open to the bell and if I am a living man it did not ring at those times nor nor at any other time except when it was rung in the natural course of physical things by the station communicating with you he shook his head I've never made a mistake as to that yet sir I've never confused the specter's ring with the man's the ghost ring is a strange vibration in the bell that it derives from nothing else and I have not asserted that the bell stares to the eye I don't wonder that you failed to hear it but I heard it and did the specter seem to be there when you looked out it was there both times he repeated firmly both times will you come to the door with me and look for it now he bit his underlip as though you were somewhat unwilling but arose I opened the door and stood on the step while he stood in the doorway there was the danger light there was the dismal mouth of the tunnel there were the high wet stone walls of the cutting there were the stars above them do you see it I asked him taking particular note of his face his eyes were prominent and strained but not very much more so perhaps than my own had been when I had directed them earnestly towards the same spot no he answered he just not there agreed said I we went in again shut the door and resumed our seats I was thinking how best to improve this advantage if it might be called one when you took up the conversation in such a manner of course way so assuming that there could be no serious question of fact between us that I felt myself placed in the weakest of positions by this time you will fully understand sir he said that what troubles me so dreadfully is the question what does the specter mean I was not sure I told him that I did fully understand what is this warning against he said ruminating with his eyes on the fire and only by times turning them on me what is the danger where is the danger there is danger or the hanging somewhere on the line some dreadful calamity will happen it is not to be doubted this third time after what has gone before but surely this is a cruel haunting of me or what can I do he pulled out his handkerchief and wiped the drops from his heated forehead if I telegraph danger on either side of me or on both I could give no reason for it he went on wiping the palms of his hands I should get into trouble and do you know good they would think I was mad this is the way it would work message danger take care the answer or danger where message don't know but for god's sake take care they would displace me what else could they do his pain of mind was most pitiable to see it was the mental torture of a conscientious man oppressed beyond endurance by an unintelligible responsibility involving life when it first stood under the danger light he went on putting his dark hair back from his head and drawing his hands outward across and across his temples in an extremity of feverish distress why not tell me where that accident was to happen if it must happen why not tell me how it could be averted if it could have been averted when on its second coming it hit its face why not tell me instead she is going to die let them keep her at home if it came on those two occasions only to show me that its warnings were true and so to prepare me for the third why not warn me plainly now and I lord help me a mere poor single man on this solitary station why not go to somebody with credit to be believed and power to act what I saw him in this state I saw that for the poor man's sake as well as for the public safety what I had to do for the time was to compose his mind therefore setting aside all question of reality or unreality between us I represented to him that whoever thoroughly discharged his duty must do well and that at least it was his comfort that he understood his duty though he did not understand those confounding appearances in this effort I succeeded far better than in the attempt to reason him out of his conviction he became calm the occupations incidental to his post as the night advanced began to make larger demands on his attention and I left him at two in the morning I offered to stay through the night but he would not hear of it that I more than once looked back at the red light as I ascended the pathway that I did not like the red light and that I should have slept but poorly if my bed had been under it I see no reason to conceal nor did I like the two sequences of the accident and the dead girl I see no reason to conceal that either but what ran most in my thoughts was the consideration how ought I to act having become the recipient of this disclosure I had proved the man to be intelligent vigilant painstaking and exact but how long might he remain so in his state of mind though in a subordinate position still he held a most important trust and what I for instance like to stake my own life on the chances of his continuing to execute it with precision unable to overcome a feeling that there would be something treacherous in my communicating what he had told me to his superiors in the company without first being playing with himself and proposing a middle course to him I ultimately resolved to offer to accompany him otherwise keeping his secret for the present to the wisest medical practitioner we could hear of in those parts and to take his opinion a change in his time of duty would come around next night he had apprised me and he would be off an hour or two after sunrise and on again soon after sunset I had appointed to return according if you or someone you know is struggling with depression dark thoughts or addiction please visit the hope in the darkness page at weirddarkness.com there I gather numerous resources to find hope and solutions for those suffering from thoughts of suicide or self-harm there's the suicide and crisis lifeline as well as the crisis text line both have trained counselors at all hours to help those in need and the page even includes text numbers for those in the U.S. Canada United Kingdom and Ireland those struggling with depression can get help through the seven cups website and app and there's information for anyone to read more about what depression truly is and how to identify it through our friends at ifred.org there are resources for those who battle addictions be it drugs alcohol or self-destructive behavior along with help for those related to addicts the page has links to help you find a therapist or counselor to find help for those who have a family member with Alzheimer's or an adventure help for those in a crisis pregnancy and more these resources are always there when you or someone you love needs them on the hope in the darkness page at weirddarkness.com next evening was a lovely evening and I walked out early to enjoy it the sun was not yet quite down when I traversed the field path near the top of the deep cutting I would extend my walk for an hour I said to myself half an hour on and half an hour back and it would then be time to go to my signal man's box before pursuing my stroll I stepped to the brink and mechanically looked down from the point from which I had first seen him I cannot describe the thrill that seized upon me when close at the mouth of the tunnel I saw the appearance of a man with his left sleeve across his eyes passionately waving his right arm the nameless horror that oppressed me passed in a moment for in a moment I saw that this appearance of a man was a man indeed and that there was a little group of other men standing in a short distance to whom he seemed to be rehearsing the gesture he made the danger light was not yet lighted against its shaft a little low hut entirely new to me had been made of some wooden supports and tarpaulin it looked no bigger than a bed with an irresistible sense that something was wrong with a flashing self-reproachful fear that a fatal mischief had come up my leaving the man there and causing no one to be sent to overlook or correct what he did I descended the notched path with all the speed I could make what is the matter I asked the man signal man killed this morning sir not the man belonging to that box yes sir not the man I know you'll recognize him sir if you knew him said the man who spoke for the others solemnly uncovering his own head and raising an end of the tarpaulin for his face is quite composed how did this happen how did this happen I asked turning from one to another as the hut closed in again he is caught down by an engine sir no man in England knew his work better but somehow he was not clear of the outer rail he was just a broad day he had struck the light and had the lamp in his hand as the engine came out of the tunnel his back was towards her and she cut him down that man drew with her and was showing how it happened show the gentleman Tom the man who wore a rough dark dress stepped back to his former place at the mouth of the tunnel I'm around the curve in the tunnel sir he said I saw him at the end like as if I saw him down a prospective glass there was never time to check speed and I knew him to be very careful as he didn't seem to take a heed of the whistle I shut it off when we were running down upon him and called to him as loud as I could call what did you say I said below there look out look out for God's sake clear the way I started I was a dreadful time sir I never left off calling to him I put his arm before my eyes not to see and I waved this on to the last but he was no use without prolonging the narrative to dwell on any one of its curious circumstances more than on any other I may in closing it point out the coincidence that the warning of the engine driver included not only the words which the unfortunate signal man had repeated to me as haunting him but also the words which I myself not he had attached and that only in my own mind to the gesticulation he had imitated thanks for listening if you like the show please share it with someone you know who loves the paranormal or strange stories true crime monsters or unsolved mysteries like you do you can email me anytime with your questions or comments at Darren at WeirdDarkness.com Darren is D-A-R-R-E-N and you can find the show on Facebook and Twitter including the shows Weirdo's Facebook group on the contact social page at WeirdDarkness.com also on the website if you have a true paranormal or creepy tale to tell click on tell your story stories on thriller Thursday episodes are works of fiction and links to the stories of the authors can be found in the show notes the signal man was written by Charles Dickens Weird Darkness is a production and trademark of Marlar House productions and now that we're coming out of the dark I'll leave you with a little light James 4 verse 7 submit yourselves then to God resist the devil and he will flee from you in a final thought from Gary W. Reitz out of the depths of our anguish anxiety and despair we come to appreciate and cherish the gift of life and come to care and have compassion for ourselves compassion and care are the healing balm that make the journey possible I'm Darren Marlar thanks for joining me in the Weird Darkness by sharing this video with someone you know who loves all things strange and macabre if you want to listen to the podcast you can find it at WeirdDarkness.com slash listen