The Platform Edge

                           Uncanny Tales of the Railways edited by Mike Ashley-Review 
                                

The arrival of the railway network fundamentally changed the landscape, stimulated regional economies, and was a huge technological breakthrough. Time had to be standardised across the country so that rail timetables made sense. With the fate of dozens of passengers relying on the expertise of signalmen,train drivers and other railway employees, there was a mixture of technological achievement and vulnerability.  The introduction mentions that by 1860 there had been over thirteen hundred rail accidents including the death in 1830 of MP William Huskisson. The first  known account of a  railway ghost ASHLEY. 

There were further disasters such as Staplehurst in 1861, when a train derailed. It had unknowingly embarked on part of the line which was being repaired and tracks had been removed. There was also the Clayton Tunnel crash near Brighton, where signalling and a telegraph error led to three trains colliding in 1865. In 1863 the first British underground train line opened in London. 

This collection decides not to include The Signalman by Charles Dickens as being too obvious a choice. A prime text for today's Hauntology movement, and already heavily discussed, regularly dramatised and televised. The signaling system becomes a junction between dimensions. Quite a masterpiece. 

Amelia Edwards's A Railway Panic (1856) and Four Fifteen Express (1866) were also omitted which is more surprising, making the most of the fact that many trains, even into the later 20th century, had closed compartments: The first mentioned tale features sharing a compartment with an escaped murderer, the other with a ghost. 

The Platform Edge includes tales by British and American writers, male and female. About a third relate to the Underground. The collection opens with Reverend Whitechurch's The Strange Story of Engine Number 651, connecting a ghost, murder, and revenge. The 'strangers in the train' motif is well explored in A Smoking Ghost by W.G. Kelly, a humorous offering. Mary Louisa Molesworth The Man With a Cough uses the bewildering railway network as a background,a rather odd but appealing story nevertheless. E.F.Benson's In The Tube is incredible. Taking in some heavy philosophical ponderings about time, existence,remorse  and an apparition,centred round a suicide on the Underground. 

One is reminded that developing the railways was not always popular. Edgar Wallace's contribution The Barford Snake deals with railway staff being cursed. The Underground by R.Chetwynd-Hayes is another classic,is a timeslip or possibly an account of someone being haunted by the youth of a person who is still living. Including the fairground ghost train story The Companion by Ramsey Campbell, the only contributor who is still alive, was a good choice. Finally, The Underground People by Rosemary Timperley about possible ultraterrestrials who haunt the Tube, is short and haunting. 

"One day you will find that your movements are not your own,that you are doomed, as I am, to dwell Undeground for ever, in that world of roaring trains  and dark tunnels, moving staircases and bright platforms, crushing crowds and draughts that seem to come from nowhere.
Yes, it can happen to you! "

The Platform Edge makes the most of the realm of the railways. Taking in murders,accidents, ghosts, premonitions, second selves, and much more besides. Making the most of being trapped in a compartment with a potential murderer. Or being the only person on a crowded platform or in a packed train that can see some mysterious figure that everyone else misses. Highly recommended, 

The Platform Edge- Uncanny Tales of the Railways edited by Mike Ashley, is part of the 'British Library Tales of The Weird' series. First published in 2019, reprinted in 2026. 

Social Media @BL_Publishing.bluk 

Links of interest

The Signalman by Charles Dickens, Bite Sized Audio version, read by Simon Stanhope. 

The Staplehurst Rail Crash : Charles Dickens and the Staplehurst Train Crash Webpost from 'Voyager of History' website 

Thirteen Classic Railway Stories    (Youtube)  Bite Sized Audio version, read by Simon Stanhope.

The Clayton Tunnel Disaster        Webpage from the 'Blood & Custard' website 

Other Blogs from Michael Bully

A Burnt Ship   17th Century War & Literature

World War 2 Poetry  As it says on the tin

1685 Monmouth Rebellion   Started in 2021, currently getting revived -watch out for new posts soon. 

Always appreciating the visitors to this Blog from many different countries. Thank you so much for your interest. 

Michael Bully
Worthing
West Sussex
England 

21st October 2026 

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Michael Bully @bleakchesneywold.bsky.social