The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE LEGEND OF THE HEADLESS MAN

IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, THERE ARE RAILROAD TRACKS RUNNING
THROUGH THE CITY UPON WHICH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL TRAINS
USUALLY TRAVEL. THEY USUALLY GO ABOUT 90 MPH SO WHEN A
TRAIN COMES, YOU'D BETTER STOP. THE FOLLOWING IS A LEGEND
WHICH IS TOLD ABOUT THESE TRACKS:
IN THE OLD DAYS, A RAILROAD WORKER IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THESE TRACKS IN WHICH HE LOST
HIS HEAD AND IMMEDIATELY WAS KILLED. SINCE THEN, MANY
PEOPLE IN THE AREA SWEAR THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A HEADLESS
FIGURE ROAMING UP AND DOWN THE TRACKS. IT IS THOUGHT
TO BE THIS RAILROAD WORKER LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD.

Submitter comment: HEADLESS GHOST OF DECAPITATED WORKER ROAMS RAILROAD TRACKS IN
MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 03-04-1972