Maco light
Encyclopedia
The Maco Light was a legendary light along a section of railroad track near Maco, North Carolina
that reportedly resembled the glow from a lantern
.
who is said to have been decapitated in a collision between a runaway passenger car and a locomotive
at Maco
along the Wilmington-Manchester Railroad in the late 1800s.
According to legend, Joe Baldwin was the sole occupant of the rear car of a Wilmington
-bound train on a rainy night in 1867. As the train neared Maco, Baldwin realized the car had become detached from the rest of the train
. He knew another train was following, so he ran to the rear platform and frantically waved a lantern
to signal the oncoming train. The engineer failed to see the stranded railroad car
in time, and Baldwin supposedly was decapitated in the collision. Shortly afterward, residents of Maco reported sightings of a light along the railroad track, and word spread that Joe Baldwin had returned to search for his missing head. The legend became widely known across the region, and the site was frequented by curiosity seekers. A 1965 investigation by paranormal investigator Hans Holzer
concluded that Baldwin did not realize he was dead, and was still warning oncoming trains of disconnected rail cars.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
that reportedly resembled the glow from a lantern
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
.
Legend
Legend associates the story with Joe Baldwin, a train conductorConductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
who is said to have been decapitated in a collision between a runaway passenger car and a locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
at Maco
Maco
Maco may refer to:* Maco , a German film company* Maco , an indigenous people of South America* Maco , which produced war-themed toys for children in the 1950s and 1960s...
along the Wilmington-Manchester Railroad in the late 1800s.
According to legend, Joe Baldwin was the sole occupant of the rear car of a Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
-bound train on a rainy night in 1867. As the train neared Maco, Baldwin realized the car had become detached from the rest of the train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
. He knew another train was following, so he ran to the rear platform and frantically waved a lantern
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
to signal the oncoming train. The engineer failed to see the stranded railroad car
Railroad car
A railroad car or railway vehicle , also known as a bogie in Indian English, is a vehicle on a rail transport system that is used for the carrying of cargo or passengers. Cars can be coupled together into a train and hauled by one or more locomotives...
in time, and Baldwin supposedly was decapitated in the collision. Shortly afterward, residents of Maco reported sightings of a light along the railroad track, and word spread that Joe Baldwin had returned to search for his missing head. The legend became widely known across the region, and the site was frequented by curiosity seekers. A 1965 investigation by paranormal investigator Hans Holzer
Hans Holzer
Hans Holzer was an Austrian-born, American pioneering paranormal researcher and author. He wrote well over 100 books on supernatural and occult subjects for the popular market as well as several plays, musicals, films, and documentaries, and hosted a television show, "Ghost Hunter".- Career...
concluded that Baldwin did not realize he was dead, and was still warning oncoming trains of disconnected rail cars.