The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College will host a book talk featuring "Ghost Tracks, Haunting Tales along the Rail" at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. in the center's Lyceum. This event is free and open to the public.

Rumors of ghostly goings on in the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad's depots, rail yard, and cars have persisted for years. A cell phone photo taken during a concert in the roundhouse two years ago spawned open debate. Could the railroad be haunted? If so, who were the ghosts, and what did they want?

Could the answer lie in the tragic events that have happened along the train route through the San Juan Mountains?

Former journalists Elizabeth A. Green and Suzy Garrison Meyer were skeptical, but willing to listen. They collected the stories and explored the length of the route with railroad employees and paranormal investigators. They researched historic events along the Animas River corridor between Durango and Silverton. In the course of their work on Ghost Tracks, they saw and heard and felt things that were difficult to explain: a woman's pained gasp at the site of a tragic drowning, whispers, shadows, footsteps, flying objects and more. Were ghosts clomping about, locking doors, throwing things, and rearranging supplies in the cars? 

In addition to sharing some of those stories, Green and Meyer will discuss the pervasive belief in ghosts from ancient to modern times and the enduring popularity of ghost stories, including the perspectives of both skeptics and believers. At the conclusion of their talk, they will answer questions and sign books.   

The Center of Southwest Studies, now in its 51st year, provides an active program of free public lectures and events year-round at its museum, research library, and archives facility on the campus of Fort Lewis College in Durango. For more information, please contact the Center's business office at 247-7456 or visit http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu. 

 Ghost Tracks is available at the Durango & Silverton depot, the Center of Southwest Studies, and Maria's Bookshop in Durango. It also may be ordered at http://www.durangotrain.com/gift-shop/ghost-tracks-haunting-tales-along-rails.

Copies will be available for sale at the event.