White River Railroad Bridge disaster site

The Story

The railroad crossing’s legend centers on a boy called Joe McCabe, seen playing beside or above the White River in old-fashioned clothes. HauntedPlaces connects him to the 1887 Montreal Express wreck, although versions disagree about whether he died there. Witnesses also describe a smell of burning near the replacement bridge.

The Hauntings

The railroad crossing’s legend centers on a boy called Joe McCabe, seen playing beside or above the White River in old-fashioned clothes. HauntedPlaces connects him to the 1887 Montreal Express wreck, although versions disagree about whether he died there. Witnesses also describe a smell of burning near the replacement bridge. Historical wreck and location independently documented by Dartmouth Digital Library and Hartford Historical Society. Death totals and the boy’s biography vary, so numerical and biographical assertions are omitted.

A sense of place.

Visitor Experiences

Have you experienced something here?

This future chapter will bring together stories from the PHASM community. An unexpected encounter, a lingering feeling, or a quiet visit—your experience will be welcome.

Submissions are not open yet.

Sources & further reading.

• White River Railroad Bridge disaster site — haunting account (reports)
• White River Railroad Bridge disaster site — haunting account (visiting)
• Dartmouth Digital Library — Wreckage of the Montreal Express (history)
• Dartmouth Digital Library — Wreckage of the Montreal Express (reports)

Plan Your Visit

Railway infrastructure is restricted. Never enter the tracks, bridge or right of way; no safe public viewing point was verified.