Every city has their own myths, their own legends of ghosts and haunted buildings. San Antonio is no different. And while it may not be the hotels here in San Antonio that are misty with transparent figures or loud bumps in the night, the city roads, train tracks and bridges more than make up for it, giving thrills and late night chills to all those who may be lucky enough, or not depending on your stance, to catch sight of one of these legendary figures. One particular area in the city that has been attracting ghost hunters from around the world for years, is a set of tracks at a railroad crossing near Highway Loop 410, at the corner of Villamain and Shane. It is easy to locate the site, all you have to do is ask anyone in town where it is and they will point you directly to it, although depending on their own superstitions, they most likely will not be taking you there.

This is a legend that was born out of a factual event that occurred in the 1940′s. A school bus filled with children was making its way across the tracks when the bus stalled. A train was moving at high speed and was not able to stop in time. The driver and all of the children were killed instantaneously. It is said that not only are the tracks haunted by the driver and by the children, but the surrounding neighborhood seems to be as well.

Folks in town will swear that if you pull your car just up to the tracks and put it in neutral, the ghosts of the children will push you and your car across safely to the other side, even when going in the uphill direction of the road. Some folks will even say that just before they did this, they sprinkled powder on the bumper, and once they were on the other side, inspected that bumper and found the tiny hand prints of the tiny spirits. Although some report terrible weeping and moaning, all the stories told are of the children helping the drivers to safety. So next time your in San Antonio, stop your vehicle the tracks on Villamain and Shane, don’t forget to powder the bumper, and let me know what happens…