[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Norfolk Southern locomotives still rumble periodically over Bostian's Bridge trestle, 300-foot long stone bridge that rises 30 feet off ground near Statesville, North Carolina. But supposedly, those aren't only trains on track. As I legend goes, on anniversary of wreck that occurred at site on August 27, 1891, ghost train hurtles off bridge and crashes to ground below. Visitors have claimed to see uniformed man with gold watch, or to hear screams of doomed passengers and clang of crashing metal. Statesville has thus played host to hordes of ghost hunters and paranormal researchers, who converge on site every August 27 hoping to catch glimpse of haunted train. In 2010, tragedy struck annual gathering when party of ghost hunters encountered an actual freightliner barreling down track. The group fled, but one man was struck and killed. (1) The accident garnered national attention, but was hardly first event to put Bostian's Bridge in news. When train number nine on Western North Carolina Railroad tumbled off Bostian's Bridge in 1891, it ignited media frenzy, as well as firestorm of outrage, detailed investigation, compelling mystery, and series of unanswered questions. Just what had caused train to derail and who was ultimately responsible for twenty-two deaths that occurred? Was it railroad's fault for poor maintenance of bridge, or had gang of robbers removed rail to deliberately wreck train and rob passengers? Regardless of source, southerners were haunted by wreck at Bostian's Bridge and idea of train wreckers--gangs or individuals who intentionally derailed trains and threatened region's railroads in 1890s. The basic facts of disaster were clear enough. In middle of hot August night in 1891, train number nine, heading west toward mountains on Western North Carolina Railroad, pulled into Statesville an hour later than scheduled. Ten new passengers boarded train. Then five minutes after it left station, riders experienced jolt and falling sensation as freight tumbled off Bostian's Bridge and dropped 60 feet into creek below. Statesville citizens rushed to disaster where morning's light revealed ghastly scene. As Statesville Landmark later described, it was a charnal-house in Third creek on its banks. Early responders encountered a harrowing spectacle and harrowing sounds near engine, which was turned on its side just to west of stream. In water, first-class car was piled on top of combination second-class and baggage car. Killing twenty-two, it was deadliest train wreck to date in North Carolina. (2) THE MOST COMMANDING THEATRE OF CAPITAL The wreck at Bostian's Bridge occurred at critical moment in history of capitalism in South. The gospel of New South, which promoted industrial development, aggressively sought infusions of northern capital, and advocated break with patterns of antebellum agricultural economy, was sweeping region. And for New South boosters, expansion of regions railroad network provided most tangible example of southern progress. Between 1880 and 1890, South's railroad mileage almost doubled. In North Carolina alone, it expanded from 1,486 to 3,128 miles, providing countless communities connection to national rail network. M. B. Hillyard, writing in special 1887 edition of influential booster publication Manufacturer's Record, called southern railroad development the most commanding theatre of capital which strikes eye of world not only for its colossal combinations of money, but prestige of its participants. According to Hillyard, South's rapid rate of railroad construction was proof of development and of confidence of capitalists of civilized world. …