Farewell, A Story on the Trans-Siberian Polar Express (English Version)

The snowstorm grows stronger and stronger, so much so that the freezing cold freezes the bones of anyone who dares to step out onto the streets of Moscow. But this does not stop the old and stubborn machinist Igor Tunosky in his prized work of driving the locomotive of the most important railway in the Soviet Union, the Trans-Siberian Polar Express.

It is the year 1907, the central railway station is packed with passengers awaiting the departure of the train that crosses the modern silk route, for a distance of almost 9,300 kilometers. 

Meanwhile, in the dressing room, the door of the main train operator's locker opens, the mirror in the door shows a man close to 60 years of age covered in snow, his tall stature and corpulence barely allow the reflection to be seen Of his broad face with severe features, a thick gray-yellow beard conceals his weak chin, the skin of his face is red, tanned by the cold air and full of impassive wrinkles, carved in the contrast between temperatures from the boilers of the train to the exotic landscapes that he has traveled during 40 years of uninterrupted work. The small olive-colored eyes of that man denote great fatigue, prominent dark circles hang in cavernous dark pits that deepen his gaze.

He laboriously changes his clothes doing a kind of orderly and meticulous ritual, cleansing his face with moisturizing cream, finely adjusting the knot of his tie, placing the blue wool vest on his body, tempering the lapels so as not to leave any visible wrinkles on the cloth, a peculiar cap then crowns his head and adjusts the pins that hold a gleaming bronze insignia, which he looks proudly in the mirror while smiling, on it can be read

Igor Tunosky

Main Engineer

Trans-Siberian Polar Express 

Today is his reinstatement day to the work of the railroad after the serious accident that marked his life forever, and that was planted within his memory as an atrocious memory that will haunt him for the rest of his days.

That afternoon, the night was beginning to fall on the white glaciers of the Ural Mountains, the railway with strength overcame the rising slope at full throttle, then suddenly and without warning, just as it came out of a sharp curve, the main locomotive stopped. He found a wooden cart stuck on the train tracks, in it was a peasant of about forty years of age, who apparently was trying to remove the leg of the animal that was pulling the load from the sleepers. 

There was not much that the train conductor was able to do, apart from honking the air horn, at that speed the fatal fate was inevitable. Igor can almost swear he saw when the man had time to jump off the wooden hulk before colliding with him, but he didn't.

Arriving at the station in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. Already more than two hours on the way after reporting the accident that left the train without the slightest damage, the driver was informed by the authorities of the discovery of the torn remains of a large animal, the cart, and part of the body of a man without identify, which was cut to pieces by the locomotive's wheels.  

Again the tireless train begins the journey today, accompanying Igor is another novice operator trained to replace him one day, as always, the experienced driver leans his huge body from the side window of the train to enjoy the cold on his face, and take a drink of the best Russian vodka to tone the body, meanwhile, the locomotive forcefully conquers the solitude of the mountain, the natural silence is broken by a powerful carbon bronze piston engine, which leaves behind a trail smoke visible from a distance.

It is just at that moment when a strange feeling takes over his entire being, it is a chill that runs down his back and reaches his hands, something indescribable that he had never felt before, but that causes him unease, uneasiness, and confusion at the same time.  

He slowly removes his thick brown leather gloves worn by the time of use, only to see his strong hands full of calluses tremble like jelly, the snowstorm raged, darkness took over everything around him with the fall of the sun in between. the immense mountains, the dense forest surrounding the railroad was barely visible. Although it was only for an instant, a faint flickering yellow light caught his attention next to a large tree, from there an almost transparent, ghostly figure, glowed, staring at him silently, with a farewell smile, while waving his blurry arm in a sign of a distant greeting.

If the old driver will tell what he saw that day, surely no one would believe him, but he was sure that the spectral silhouette was the man from the accident who said goodbye expressing his forgiveness.

It wasn't premeditated, but Igor Tunosky looked directly at his wristwatch and remembered. It was exactly the same time the accident occurred and on the same day December 3 only a year later.  

 Thank you for reading

A Christmas Story.

I hope you like this ghostly Christmas story based on real events, which its protagonist Igor personally told me, who is the grandfather of my friend Sergey during my trip to Russia in the winter of 2017, with her, I also hope to participate in the #Christmas #contest #ChristmasChallenge2021

proposed by @TengoLoTodo

Ah I forgot the photo of the special requirement is at the end of the post

Remember that my sponsors also make interesting content that you will surely like a lot, please visit them!

This is an Original Story written by @susurrodelmisterio for Read.Cash

Based on real stories and events

All copyrights reserved.  

© Copyright 2021 Susurro del Misterio

 My Horror Stories book is available for you, visit it!

"SCARY STORIES TO TELL ON SLEEPOVER NIGHTS AND CAMPING TRIPS " 

Royalty-free images provided by Pixabay, Google and Pexel