"My interest in the subject stems from my maternal grandfather, Clarence Daniel, who published several books such as Ghosts of Derbyshire and was a well-known historian in and around Derbyshire until he passed away in 1987," she readily volunteers.
You see, Faye is busily searching for people with stories about having seen ghosts in Ruddington, for a mini-series in the local newsletter.
"Initial research has already revealed details of a ghostly presence at several locations in the village, including the Hermitage, library, the former Horspool's bakery and the White Horse Inn."
And then there have been reports of a phantom train seen running along the old line to Nottingham that was removed decades ago. Records show that Ruddington Station closed to passengers on March 4, 1963, although it remained open to goods traffic until May 1, 1967, while the siding into the ordnance depot stayed in use until 1983. Since then, of course, the ordnance depot site has now been redeveloped as the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre, which now runs steam trains again.
Faye has been contacted by a lady who used to live near the old Ruddington Station, which is sited near the Clifton-Ruddington road, who told her of an experience she and her husband had after the passenger services were stopped. "Apparently, one morning at around 6am they heard a steam train approaching," she said. "Both of them definitely heard it.
"Her husband ran to the window to see which engine it was because the line had been closed and only diesels ran to the army depot – but there was nothing there. Just the sound of a steam train going by at speed.
"The lady added that in later years she was talking to another person who lived near the railway line and she actually saw a train go past her garden with all its lights on, no passengers, knowing the line went no further than Ruddington Station.
"She waited for it to return but it never did – and it wasn't at Ruddington Station.
"Another source described an evening when she was out with friends in the fields near the disused railway line. She had no idea of the exact time, but can vividly remember hearing a train in the evening, travelling where there was no current railway line."
Faye says that on top of these fascinating incidents, the first lady in question has hinted that there's much more to tell about spectral activity on Ruddington's old railway lines.
"She has told me that there has been a lot of talk over the years about odd things happening at the army depot and also around the Nottingham Transport Centre – but added that I would have to talk to people who were there in the early days."
Given Ruddington's size and the richness of its history, Faye feels that these stories represent the tip of the iceberg.
Source: This is Nottingham
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