The Cohoke light has been sighted for decades. Not far from West Point, nestled deep in King William County’s dark, it is suspended strangely over train tracks. Multiple explanations have been put forward over the years, from ghosts to atmospheric phenomena, yet none explain the occurrence entirely.
Described by some as a fuzzy, circular light that floats feet above the railroad tracks, the light has drawn generations of thrillseekers and local teenagers hoping to witness the uncanny event.
Read on to uncover the stories surrounding this bit of Virginia folklore and discover the many legends stemming from this odd light. Interested in hearing more tales of the bizarre and chilling in person? Book a ghost tour with Williamsburg ghost tour with Colonial Ghosts.
What Is The Cohoke Light?
In rural Virginia, a strange luminescent ball of light is seen over King William County’s train tracks. Known as the Cohoke Light, it is said to appear and disappear or sometimes approach like an oncoming ghost train. Many are unsettled by the unnerving light that drifts above these seemingly haunted train tracks.
The otherworldly glow seen near the railroad crossing along Mt. Olive Cohoke Road is a long-occurring phenomenon. Its presence stretches back many years, with generations of Virginians being both frightened and allured by the mysterious Cohoke ghost light.
The Uncanny Glow That Drew Crowds
Tales of the Cohoke Light stretch back decades, with some news sources saying that people have been gathering at the railroad crossing for 100 years, hoping to spy the mysterious light hovering above the tracks.
In the ’60s and ’70s, the Cohoke ghost light was quite the local attraction. It was so popular that the sheriff regularly had to shoo people away. Locals would take their beau or a few friends and head down to the railroad crossing on Route 632. After settling in, they would stare down the dark railroad tracks, awaiting the appearance of the unearthly, glowing light.
Those who saw the ghostly light reported it would appear and vanish, looking distinct from the known train headlight that regularly approached the tracks. Some described the light as oddly shaped and eerie in nature, instilling anxiety in many upon its sighting.
The occurrence drew more than just Virginia locals, with license plates spotted from every state in the country. However, not all visitors to the site were respectful.
The curiosity drew rowdy party-goers, leading to alcohol-infused antics and the occasional firing of shots. A nearby house and a local store burned down by the tracks. Local authorities began ticketing people for trespassing, eager to dissuade the unruly behavior.
Over the years, the crowds thinned and dwindled. Today, the Cohoke ghost light has seemingly faded into the background of local lore. At times, you’ll see a few parked cars and onlookers sitting in lawn chairs waiting for the elusive light to rise, but the gatherings are nowhere as thick as they once were years ago.
Still, those dedicated to the weird and wondrous remain drawn to this bizarre light, curious to explain its presence and lay eyes on this unnerving phenomenon.
Ghost Stories: Confederate Trains and Headless Brakemen
There are numerous stories tied to the phantom light of Cohoke. Some attribute the light to the lantern of a train worker decapitated on the job. In this tale, a brakeman from the 1800s fell victim to a fatal misstep. While performing his duties one evening, he sprang off the train with his lantern in tow to check the cable connecting two cars.
When the train moved unexpectedly, it beheaded the poor man, leaving him a headless, lantern-holding spirit left to wander the tracks forever. Others link the ghostly glow to a train of Confederate soldiers that mysteriously disappeared.
A popular tale combines the two legends into one. This version of the story begins with a train in Richmond, filled with Confederate soldiers wounded after the battle of Cold Harbor in 1864. The ill-fated train departed Richmond, intending to travel south to deliver the soldiers to West Point. But it never reached its final destination.
As the train neared West Point, it was supposed to switch tracks. Tragically, the worker charged with maneuvering the lever so the train could safely do so had dozed off. As the train’s oncoming roar awoke him, he attempted to stop the fast-approaching disaster by waving a red brake lantern.
Yet it was too late. Unable to stop, the train crashed, decapitating the train worker outside and killing all aboard.
Some believe the strange ghost light of Cohoke is that of the train worker who lost his head due to his grievous error. As punishment for his grave mistake, he is cursed to perpetually wander the tracks with a lantern in search of his head.
Others believe the distant light on the tracks is that of the ghost train itself, riding in a strange, ghostly loop along the haunted train tracks.
Possible Theories That Explain the Cohoke Light
Ghost lights exist all over the world, inspiring fascination and fear across the globe. As the years tick by, several theories have arisen attempting to account for the mystifying phenomenon that occurs in Eastern Virginia.
One possible theory put forth attributes the odd light to swamp gas or marsh lights. Sometimes also known as a will-o’-the-wisp or ignis fatuus (meaning foolish fire in Latin), this occurrence leads to strange lights over bodies of stagnant water.
Believed to be a type of phosphorescence produced by gases from decaying plant matter in these marshy locations, they result in a light that hovers for a few moments before disappearing. Many legends stem from the will-o’-the-wisp, with some believing those who follow these strange lights will be lured to their deaths in the marsh.
Other theorists trace the glowing ball of Cohoke to a specific set of weather conditions, such as distant lights reflecting off the atmosphere. Far stranger explanations exist as well. Some even suggest the light is alive.
A 2021 documentary entitled The Cohoke Light proposes the incandescent glow might be explained via bioluminescent atmospheric organisms. This out-of-the-box theory suggests the uncanny occurrence is a living entity residing in the atmosphere, like some type of giant aerial firefly.
The theory is strange but intriguing. After all, organisms inhabit the sea, the land, and everywhere in between—why not the sky as well?
Haunted Virginia
The ambiguity of this unearthly ghost light continues to captivate those near and far. Whether the enigmatic glow above these haunting Virginia train tracks is that of a phantom train or some phenomenon, science has yet to explain, either concept is equally disconcerting. To those who wish to see the light for themselves, beware. You just might find yourself face to face with a headless trainman—or something far worse.
In search of an excursion nearer to the comforting light of the city? Book a haunt-filled Williamsburg ghost tour with Colonial Ghosts and discover more odd tales and eerie happenings in and around the Revolutionary City.
Keep reading on our blog to unearth more strange stories in one of America’s oldest states, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok for more spooky and chilling content.
Sources:
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/virginia/cohoke-crossing-haunted-railroad-va
- https://www.wtvr.com/2014/10/25/holmberg-the-legend-of-the-ghost-light-of-cohoke-west-point
- https://www.dailypress.com/2017/10/25/ghost-light-legend-haunts-king-william-railroad-crossing/
- https://virginiaoutdoors.com/history/ghost-storiesghost-train-of-west-point
- https://www.popsci.com/jack-o-lanterns-marsh-lights/
- https://thelivingsky.com/the-cohoke-light-new-documentary-now-available/
- https://ghostlytalk.com/ep-155-scott-deschaine-the-living-sky