A collection of spooky short stories set in the north west of England, several on the Furness Line, will be launched on Halloween.

The Loco Vanishes – Northern Rail Mysteries is a collection of ten short stories written by Paul Salveson, retired railwayman and historian, and manager of Kents Bank Station Library.

The stories feature life on the footplate, in the guard’s van and signal box, as well as life at small stations. Places such as Oxenholme, Todmorden, Bolton, Farnworth and Kents Bank are among the settings.

The book is published by Kents Bank Station Library, a community interest company located on the scenic Furness Line between Lancaster and Barrow.

The Furness Line Action Group and ASLEF (the train drivers’ union) have sponsored the publication, which will be on sale from Friday 31 October at Kents Bank Station Library (open Friday to Monday 11am-4pm) priced at £10, or £8 if you arrive by train. A postage option is also available.

Several talks on the book are being planned, including Bolton, Kents Bank, Todmorden and Kendal.

Paul Salveson said: “Many of the stories reflect my own experience on the railway going back to the 1970s – as a guard and signalman, as well as tales that have been passed down by generations of railway people.

“Although some of the stories are loosely based on real events (including the title story), they are works of fiction. But I hope they will shed some light on what life was like on the railways from the 1950s to the present day.”

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: “Paul’s knowledge of and love for the railway shines through, both in the construction of the stories and also by introducing the reader to a world of which they would normally be unaware while retaining that special storytelling ability and they stand on their own as tales that should be read and enjoyed.”

Phil James, managing director of Network Rail’s north west route, said: “Paul’s stories capture the spirit of railway life in a way that’s both deeply personal and universally relatable.

“As someone who’s spent a career in rail, I see in these tales the humour, grit, and humanity that define our industry. From the signal box to the supernatural, this book is a celebration of the people and places that make the railway, and the North, so special.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Kents Bank Station Library via their website.