{"id":45222,"title":"The Signalman: A Ghost Story for Christmas","description":"The Signalman is a BBC television adaptation of the 1866 Charles Dickens short story of very nearly the same name. It was filmed as part of the 'Ghost Story for Christmas\u2019 series of short films broadcast sporadically over the festive period since 1971. Filmed in 1976, The Signalman tells the story of a railway worker haunted by a spectral figure that appears on his rail-tracks whenever disaster is imminent.","content":"

\"slymak426kpl4ezbdqcwwvnfk3rcyyjjimmd3fsuirgjdk8n.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"The Signalman<\/em> is a BBC television adaptation of the 1866 Charles Dickens short story of very nearly the same name.<\/p>

It was filmed as part of the 'Ghost Story for Christmas\u2019 series of short films broadcast sporadically over the festive period since 1971.<\/p>

Filmed in 1976, The Signalman<\/em> tells the story of a railway worker haunted by a spectral figure that appears on his rail-tracks whenever disaster is imminent...<\/p>

\"ilsitxr9ilfn7wuobxhp7gansgkqtoztdyahzo1y4turndvq.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"We open on a solemn-looking rambler with a walking stick and cape ambling about a field, until he suddenly stumbles across a country railway station.<\/p>

Peering down the crest of a hill, the smoke from a steam-engine drifts across a nearby a railway arch.<\/p>

The camera pans down on a figure standing motionless by the side of the railway track.<\/p>

\u201cHello, below there..!\u201d shouts the rambler, waving his stick about. (So far, it feels a bit like one of those train-safety public information films from the 70s, accept without the cockney children wearing shorts over their tracksuit bottoms.)<\/p>

The camera pulls in on the man on the railroad track \u2013 hang on, it\u2019s only that Denholm Elliot from Trading Places<\/em> in a Victorian train-guard\u2019s uniform!<\/p>

\u201cIs there a path, by which I can come down and speak with you?\u201d the rambler calls out.<\/p>

Denholm says nothing, but continues glowering back at the man, just as a steam train, with over-worked engines, chugs out of a nearby tunnel and rumbles by.<\/p>

\u201cI saw you from above, and couldn\u2019t help watching...\u201d says the man, clambering down the hillside. Denholm steels. (In fairness, as opening gambits go, it really isn\u2019t the best.)<\/p>

\u201cYou look as though you have some fear of me. There is nothing to fear \u2013 I am simply a man.\u201d Again, slightly odd thing to say.<\/p>

\u201cI thought perhaps I had seen you before,\u201d responds Denholm finally, gesturing across to an orange lamp by the side of the train tunnel.<\/p>

\u201cOver there<\/em>\u2026?\u201d \u00a0The rambler throws his head back and laughs at this rank foolishness: \u201cMy dear man, I have never been over there<\/em> before in my life!\u201d<\/p>

However, now, with the whole lamp-based misunderstanding finally cleared up, the two men head off to Denholm\u2019s guard-house, pull up chairs to the hearth, and settle in. Despite what you might think, that whole lamp shit, is a serious ice-breaker.<\/p>

Midway through a conversation about how he manages to pass the time (um, reading, if you\u2019re interested), Denholm pauses and looks across at a bell \u2013 which isn\u2019t doing anything, apparently conspicuously.<\/p>

With a grim expression, he gets up and ambles across to the window.<\/p>

Another train rattles by the station-house. As its last carriage disappears through the mouth of the tunnel, the orange lamp can be seen through the trail of smoke, glowing ominously. (It really is a very ominous lamp.)<\/p>

Denholm returns to his chair to discover that his companion has fallen asleep (not unreasonably, considering the conversation). Like the terrible host he is, Denholm shakes him and demands to know why he has come. The man responds, groggily, by saying that \u201che was drawn\u201d.<\/p>

Apparently satisfied by his companion\u2019s peculiar response, Denholm mooches to the kitchenette and fixes a cup of tea.<\/p>

After a moment\u2019s idle chat about train wrecks \u2013 culminating in Denholm developing a far-away look and muttering whimsically that \u201cin a crash the train tunnel becomes like a smoke flew\u201d \u2013 his visitor unsurprisingly decides it might be a good time head back to his inn.<\/p>

The two men decide they will reconvene the following night. (Evidently, they are both extremely hard-up for company.)<\/p>

Before they part, Denholm fixes the rambler with a squinty eye and asks if he thought the words \"Hello, below there...\u201d may have been conveyed to him by some supernatural means.<\/p>

The man shrugs: \u201cI may have said something to that effect -\u201d \u201cNo<\/em>!\u201d interrupts Denholm. \u201cThey were those exact words \u2013 I know them well.\u201d<\/p>

\"3xce1pluxzj7dph1vahggoou9won4npkffhdqcmdhxprbjsa.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"The following night, the two men meet once more by the train track \u2013 and say \u201cGood night\u201d to each other in greeting. Clearly, they\u2019re both very socially-awkward people.<\/p>

Back in the guard-house, Denholm tells his visitor that he had mistaken him for someone else the previous day \u2013 but he doesn\u2019t know who that person is, and never saw his face...<\/p>

Once again, it\u2019s getting off to a good start.<\/p>

Denholm explains that he saw the figure only once, beneath the lamp, but one arm had covered his face, whilst the other was violently waving.<\/p>

The rambler responds: \u201cas though to say \u2018my God, clear the way!\u2019\u201d \u00a0(Er...yeah, if you like.)<\/p>

We cut to a flashback. Denholm is staring out at the foggy train tracks from the guard-house window, hearing a voice calling out \u201cHello, below there...\u201d repeatedly.<\/p>

With his trusty bulls-eye lantern in hand, he heads out to the tracks and has a quick shufty about - but can\u2019t see anyone...<\/p>

Back in the guard-house, Denholm becomes visibly more rattled, as his visitor explains that, in his loneliness, he probably just imagined the voice \u2013 and urges him not to abandon his reason. (Oh, the arrogance!)<\/p>

More flashbacks ensue, and Denholm explains that within six hours of hearing the voice \u201ca memorable crash\u201d took place on the line.<\/p>

From his expression, it\u2019s clear that memorable crashes are the worst type of crashes.<\/p>

As smoke pours out of the tunnel\u2019s mouth, a league of coughing extras in brown coats and hats are removed from it on stretchers.<\/p>

\u201cA remarkable coincidence, my friend!\u201d remarks the rambler, adding, without any apparent irony: \u201cBut we are men of good sense.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cBut I have not finished yet...\u201d growls Denholm. (He\u2019s getting into his stride now.)<\/p>

We cut to another flashback. Denholm is whiling away another morning by staring across at the lamp (it\u2019s a full life) \u2013 when, suddenly, he notices a dark figure standing beneath it.<\/p>

Heading over to the figure, it suddenly drops its arms to reveal a perfectly white face stretched into a helpless leer, its mouth gaping open...<\/p>

Most train guards would have chastised the man for this kind of horse-play next to the train-tracks \u2013 but, instead, Denholm pleads with him to let him know where the danger is.<\/p>

Suddenly, a steam-train whistles at him from inside the tunnel and Denholm leaps out of the way. As he waves about his red flag about limply, one of the carriage doors is flung open and a woman in a wedding dress is thrown onto the sidings...<\/p>

\"ymbku3ayspsgcjpstwbq2nikysliuzcubkkumkr6fdganu7l.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"No one likes resorting to a dead bride anecdote \u2013 but, with it, Denholm has finally got his companion\u2019s full attention. Getting up to do some train-guardy stuff (pull some levers, ring some bells \u2013 there\u2019s really nothing to it), he says faintly: \u201cNow, sar, mark this, the spectre came back a week ago...\u201d<\/p>

The rambler asks Denholm to go with him to the window and look across at the lamp \u2013 to see if the spectre is there.<\/p>

It isn\u2019t.<\/p>

Returning to fireside to further anguish over his problems, Denholm hits out about the spectre\u2019s entire rubbish operation. And, frankly, he\u2019s right to \u2013 what\u2019s the point in warning him about non-specific danger? That\u2019s really no system at all! This ghost is a prick.<\/p>

The rambler concurs and tells him not to worry about it: \u201cYou can\u2019t be called upon to interpret these signals!\u201d<\/p>

Denholm squints, and then, finally, acquiesces.<\/p>

The rambler bids Denholm farewell and heads off back to his inn for the night \u2013 telling him he will come again.<\/p>

\"gakfrcdqbuvby2fil4tdehhy9hyzxcdqateveiiqyzfertj4.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"It is the following morning \u2013 and a series of quite protracted and entirely unnecessary montage scenes ensue, in which we see that both men are going about their business.<\/p>

Denholm is doing some train guard stuff and the rambler is out striking out across the fields and indulging in a bit of casual whistling. (The arrogance! When will he learn...?)<\/p>

Suddenly, the rambler stops in his tracks and presses his finger to his ear. Turning, he then pegs it off across a hill.<\/p>

\u201cHello, below there...\u201d calls the ghostly voice \u2013 as a spooked-looking Denholm pricks up his ears and heads cautiously to the window of his guard-house.<\/p>

Denholm walks towards the glowing red lamp \u2013 but the spectre is nowhere to be seen.<\/p>

Though its voice can still be heard calling out, it\u2019s voice now it seems to be coming from within the tunnel.<\/p>

Clearly, the best thing to do in this situation would be to pad nervously about on the train tracks. And, yes, that\u2019s exactly what Denholm does...<\/p>

The rambler reaches the top of the grass verge by the top of the railway arches and sees Denholm standing in the mouth of the tunnel. \u201cLook out!\u201d he advises. Pertinently.<\/p>

Denholm ignores him and, instead, continues to stand in front of the oncoming train. Presumably, he\u2019s got some sort of plan...?<\/p>

Oh. No\u2026<\/p>

No plan.<\/p>

\"l9122mwbva4zmmgqpdqvnnv5nmncak67mmqvhpvzdycircuk.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"Getting down from the hill, the rambler approaches a train driver who is standing over Denholm\u2019s twisted body on the railway-track.<\/p>

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d asks the rambler \u2013 presumably rhetorically, since he just have just seen what happened.<\/p>

\u201cWell, \u2019e didn\u2019t seem to heed the whistle, sir,\u201d responds the train driver sheepishly. \u201cSo, I cut it off and called to him.\u201d<\/p>

Turning his back to the mutilated corpse on the track, the driver breaks off mid-explanation and wanders off to the wall of the tunnel and stands below the red lamp.<\/p>

\u201cWhat did you call to him?\u201d urges the rambler.<\/p>

\u201cI was saying \u201chello, below down there\u2026\u201d and I was waving at him!\u201d<\/p>

Standing beneath the lamp, the driver goes on to demonstrate his waving style \u2013 putting one hand across his face and throwing the other violently about. (Most people probably would have left it at: 'and I was waving to him!\u2019 \u2013 so it\u2019s nice that he\u2019s so thorough\u2026)<\/p>

Grim faced, the rambler turns, and \u2013 in a close and heavy fog \u2013 departs the scene.<\/p>

Well, that was a shit holiday.<\/p>","urlTitle":"the-signalman-ghost-story-for-christmas","url":"\/blog\/the-signalman-ghost-story-for-christmas\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/the-signalman-ghost-story-for-christmas\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/abovethelore.co.uk\/blog\/the-signalman-ghost-story-for-christmas\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1735331326,"updatedAt":1735388735,"publishedAt":1735388734,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":330023,"name":"Above The Lore"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nnw483yv8tgx7aggb0wauvf6t5els7xdf34dcho2vsbzgt6d.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nnw483yv8tgx7aggb0wauvf6t5els7xdf34dcho2vsbzgt6d.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/nnw483yv8tgx7aggb0wauvf6t5els7xdf34dcho2vsbzgt6d.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":56077,"title":"Why Folk Horror Is Trending Again (And Why It Matters)","url":"\/blog\/the-quiet-persistence-of-folklore-and-why-weve-started-wearing-it\/","urlTitle":"the-quiet-persistence-of-folklore-and-why-weve-started-wearing-it","division":330023,"description":"It usually begins, as these things do, with something faintly unsettling. Not frightening, exactly. Not in the way modern horror insists upon being frightening\u2014with noise, with urgency, with a kind of theatrical desperation. Instead, it lingers quietly, much like the enduring pull of British folklore, where ancient stories, symbols, and myths continue to shape modern culture. This exploration of folklore clothing and the rise of the folklore t-shirt UK trend delves into the subtle power of folk horror aesthetics, occult-inspired design, and gothic graphic tees rooted in history and myth. Discover how folk horror t-shirts, British folklore symbols, and independent UK clothing brands are redefining fashion through storytelling, atmosphere, and meaning.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qi7bnqju3tbppzzopwutvv1r1uwokr2viokt0otjkrgtzbcy.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qi7bnqju3tbppzzopwutvv1r1uwokr2viokt0otjkrgtzbcy.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":56334,"title":"Ten Tales of the Unexpected Episodes \u2014 From Lowest to Highest IMDb Rating","url":"\/blog\/the-ten-best-british-episodes-of-tales-of-the-unexpected\/","urlTitle":"the-ten-best-british-episodes-of-tales-of-the-unexpected","division":330023,"description":"A deep dive into 10 of the best Tales of the Unexpected episodes ranked by IMDb rating, from underrated psychological curiosities to Roald Dahl\u2019s darkest television masterpieces. This literary retrospective explores classic episodes including The Flypaper, Lamb to the Slaughter, The Landlady, Parson\u2019s Pleasure and Wink Three Times, with verified IMDb ratings, cast details and richly atmospheric plot analysis. Blending British television nostalgia, psychological horror and dark comedy, the article examines how Tales of the Unexpected transformed ordinary middle-class life into a landscape of paranoia, manipulation, revenge and dread. Featuring Peter Davison, John Gielgud, Susan George, Julie Harris and more from the iconic ITV anthology series.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sgh4iopkxgq4tbwfxldcqp1g6k2o1kfy1eutd289ufuihyg6.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/sgh4iopkxgq4tbwfxldcqp1g6k2o1kfy1eutd289ufuihyg6.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":56098,"title":"Hands of the Ripper (1971) Review \u2013 Hammer Horror\u2019s Most Disturbing Victorian Nightmare","url":"\/blog\/hands-of-the-ripper-1971-review-hammer-horrors-most-disturbing-victorian-nightmare\/","urlTitle":"hands-of-the-ripper-1971-review-hammer-horrors-most-disturbing-victorian-nightmare","division":330023,"description":"Hands of the Ripper (1971) is a chilling Hammer Horror film that reimagines the Jack the Ripper legend through psychological horror, following his traumatised daughter as she inherits his violent legacy in Victorian London. Combining gothic atmosphere, shocking violence, and themes of repression and identity, it stands as one of Hammer\u2019s most disturbing and underrated films.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/dkp3ehvuakq6es4qqxnjwf0pfukyuyz3k0b9z73akot068lv.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/dkp3ehvuakq6es4qqxnjwf0pfukyuyz3k0b9z73akot068lv.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}