Podcast Summary: Beyond Midnight – The Train

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Air Date: March 13, 2026

Overview

This episode features a dramatized adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic ghost story “The Signal-Man,” as presented on the vintage horror anthology series Beyond Midnight, complete with atmospheric narration and period performances. The story follows a haunted railway signalman (William Bendy) who is troubled by supernatural warnings and unexplained apparitions. Listeners are transported back to the golden age of radio with immersive audio drama, reflecting the eerie tension and psychological depth of Dickens’ original tale.

Key Discussion Points and Story Breakdown

1. Atmospheric Introduction and Setting

• [01:06–04:04] Charles Dickens (narrator/visitor) meets the mysterious signalman at a remote, shadowed railway cutting. The setting is described as lonely, eerie, and foreboding—hallmarks of a classic ghost story.
• The signalman stands in the deep trench, foreshadowed by the “angry sunset,” establishing the episode’s unsettling tone.

2. Character Introduction: The Signalman

• [04:40–06:54] Dickens’ visitor is struck by the signalman's unusual demeanor and apparent overqualification, hinting at a troubled past.
  • The signalman admits:

    “When I was younger, I was a student of natural philosophy. ...But I have made my bed, sir, and now I must lie on it. It is too late to make another.”
    (William Bendy, 06:54)

• The signalman reveals both his malaise and his intellectual striving, making him a tragic and sympathetic figure.

3. First Hints of Supernatural Disturbance

• [07:19–08:42] The visitor’s curiosity is piqued by the signalman’s cryptic references to being “troubled.”
• The signalman alludes to recurring distress brought on by mysterious occurrences, requesting a return visit to share more.

4. Supernatural Manifestations and Ominous Warnings

• [10:44–14:47] During the next night’s visit, William Bendy confides in Dickens about the apparitions:
  • The first ghostly appearance “waved violently,” repeating the words:

    “For pity's sake, clear the way.” (Narrator/Interjector, 11:17, 17:50, 18:01)

  • After each apparition, a real tragedy follows—a train crash and a sudden death.
  • He describes a chilling sequence:

    “I ran up to it and had my hand stretched out to pull the sleeve away when it was gone.”
    (William Bendy, 12:13–12:29)

5. Struggle Between Rational and Supernatural

• [13:33–14:47] Dickens attempts rational explanations:

  “Figures such as you describe sometimes originate in the delicate nerves administer to the functions of the eye ... the wind which sometimes sounds well in this unnatural valley.”
  (Charles Dickens, 13:33–13:57)

• The signalman is unconvinced, insisting the supernatural signs are real and preceded calamities directly.

6. Escalation and Emotional Crisis

• [15:44–21:58] The signalman grows increasingly distraught:

  “It is not to be doubted this third time after what has gone before. But surely this is a cruel haunting of me. What can I do at this?”
  (William Bendy, 20:05–20:27)

• He is tortured by a sense of helplessness—convinced there is danger, but unable to act without risking his job and reputation.

7. The Final Apparition and Tragic Revelation

• [22:37–27:39] Dickens resolves to help, but upon his return, witnesses a group at the tunnel—another tragedy has occurred.
• The signalman has been killed by a train, in precisely the manner previously seen in the apparitions.
  • Key reenactment:

    “I said below there. Look out. For pity's sake. Clear the way.”
    (Charles Dickens & William Bendy, 26:47–26:56)

• The cyclical tragedy and echo of the ghostly warnings provide a devastating finale.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “When the signal man heard my voice thus calling to him... there was something remarkable about the man…the way he stood, something strange, perhaps uncanny.”
  (Charles Dickens, 01:06)
• “I used to be [content], But I'm troubled, sir. I'm troubled.”
  (William Bendy, 07:19)
• “There is danger overhanging somewhere on the line. Some dreadful calamity will happen. ...But surely this is a cruel haunting of me. What can I do at this?”
  (William Bendy, 20:05–20:27)
• “He was cut down by an engine, sir... I called to him as loud as I could... ‘Below there! Look out! For pity's sake, clear the way!’”
  (William Bendy & train driver, 25:58–26:56)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Setting the scene/First meeting: 01:06–05:17
• Signalman's background & troubles: 06:00–08:42
• Supernatural visitations explained: 10:44–15:44
• Debate (rational vs. supernatural): 13:33–14:47, 19:03–19:48
• Signalman’s rising anxiety: 20:05–21:58
• Climactic resolution (death of the signalman): 22:37–27:39

Overall Tone and Presentation

The adaptation remains faithful to the unnerving, melancholy tone of Dickens’ story, with characters speaking in measured, period-accurate rhythms. The performances are quietly intense, underscored by train sounds and haunting ambient noises, amplifying the sense of tragic inevitability.

Conclusion

This haunting installment of Beyond Midnight captures the essence of a classic ghost story, blending period drama with existential unease. Listeners are invited to ponder fate, duty, and the helplessness of those who witness disaster looming—while being fully transported to a timeless evening beside a flickering radio.