Myths and Legends of Our Own Land — Volume 07 : Along the Rocky Range

The Rocky Mountains have long been imagined as a gateway to hidden wealth and otherworldly realms. Early prospectors chased the promise of “golden hills” beyond the divide, their hopes tangled with stories of treasure caves and the perilous wilderness that guarded them. Native legends add a deeper layer, describing a “happy hunting ground” that lies across dark rivers, where the moral quality of a life determines a soul’s passage. Together, these myths paint the range as a place where ambition, danger, and the supernatural intersect.

Among the many tales, the legend of the phantom train that haunts Marshall Pass stands out. An experienced engineer, tasked with guiding a locomotive over snow‑laden heights, suddenly confronts an unseen, faster train that seems to chase him through icy tunnels and rattling bridges. The eerie pursuit, filled with phantom whistles and a looming red light, captures the restless spirit of the frontier, where the line between reality and legend blurs with every mile of track.