The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend NAGS Investigates

NAGS Investigates

As Internet rumors swirled about a fantastic haunted location, a new group set out to seek the tunnel. The Niagara Amateur Ghost Seekers (NAGS), started by local resident Kevin Valencourt, began investigating rumored haunts across the Niagara Region. Kevin, along with several friends formed the group to discover historical locations, uncover the truth and provide information to those who were disenchanted with other paranormal groups who showcased orb photos, sold trinkets or featured “Ghost Tours”.

NAGS was the only established paranormal group in the Region and after hearing about the tunnel on the Internet they set out to investigate for themselves. Here are the original notes and photographs from the earliest investigations. Please keep in mind when reading that this group was in its infancy and it is evident that the group was excited and eager to investigate the paranormal as they were indeed new to the study.

Blue Ghost Tunnel Investigation
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Arrival Time: 11:20PM
Team Members In Attendance: 7
Weather: -2C, Winds 10Kph, Slight Cloud Cover
Equipment: 35mm, 4 Digital Cams, A&V

Our first journey to the “Blue Ghost Tunnel” was an excellent one. Not only did it seem the perfect night, but it also seemed the perfect time. We entered the tunnel at exactly midnight. This was most of the team members first time at the tunnel.

Before entering, several team members took pictures directed at the mouth of the tunnel, as well as around the entrance. One picture seemed very interesting, as it caught a white mist with a blue mist in the middle.

We entered the tunnel and continued in about 400ft before hitting the walls of ice. These amazing creations of nature have to be seen in person to thoroughly enjoy. At this point we actually stopped and turned off all lights and tried to stay as quiet as possible. It wasn’t easy to hear anything due to the constant dripping of water. The ice around us had started to melt in the tunnel from the recent mild weather.

We all seemed to have different experiences when listening to the tunnel. Two members of the team heard music, which they described as being something that would be heard coming from a very old music box for jewelry. One member had specifically heard conversations in the tunnel coming from the east end. Several members also heard the cries as well as sobbing of what sounded like a young child, as well as whistling. The whistling was first dismissed as the drops of water falling from the melting ice, but as we listened closer, there was a distinct tune.

As for visual encounters, there were two separate sightings. Two of the members that stayed behind at approximately the 400ft mark, were in near darkness and could see the west entrance of the tunnel clearly. One member thought they saw a dark figure cross in front of the entrance, the other member had saw the same thing. This happened twice. While this was occurring, three of us continued to the very end of the tunnel, at least as far as we could go without swimming. We hit the 600 foot mark and couldn’t go any further due to the water level, but we could clearly see the east entrance, which was rumoured to be blocked. We can now confirm that it was not. At this point we all turned around and headed back towards the West entrance. We did not hear, see, or capture anything on audio or film on our walk back out.

Once we exited the tunnel, several members of the group witnessed one last possible paranormal activity. A ball of dim yellowish-orange light shot straight up above the tunnel, and then came swooping down and disappeared inside. No one at the time had a flashlight on or was using any sort of lighting or flash photography. There were also no other people at the tunnel that evening.

All in all it was an excellent night and for many a great first trip to the Blue Ghost Tunnel, everyone is very excited for a return trip.

Blue Ghost Tunnel Investigation
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Arrival Time: 10:00PM
Team Members In Attendance: 3
Weather: 0C, Windy 10Kph, Wet Snow
Equipment: 2 Digital Cams, A&V

If you remember, our first journey to the “Blue Ghost Tunnel” was definitely an excellent one indeed, however, this night seemed to draw the NAGS team to the tunnel, however seemed to be an almost risque night to go.

The evening was very wet, and very snowy for an April 2nd evening. We decided to go out to the BGT for a second investigation, only to find that the drive out alone was challenging, due to the amounts of snow that we had received in St. Catharines that same day. There was nearly a foot of snow on the ground within that day, when on April 1st, it was a pleasant and warm rich-green day of spring.

We found it interesting that we were going out to the Blue Ghost Tunnel, on the day between April Fools' Day and Daylight Savings Time. As it was also the very day that Pope John Paul II had died. God rest his soul. However, we also realized that when we first went to the tunnel, it was on the day after the First Day of Spring, the day after Palm Sunday.

After arriving at Gate 12 to park the car, we realized then that we had a bit of a hike to do through all the wet snow that we were receiving that cold night. As cold as it was though, we felt refreshed. Quite the exercise that hike had been, and by the time we got to the railing to go over and down to the tunnel, our adrenalin was definitely pumping. Perhaps driven a bit by what the tunnel was feeling to us at the time as well.

The hike down the steep incline at the mouth of the tunnel was quite slippery, as we found it advantageous to slide down on our rear-ends in order to safely make it to the bottom. As two of our members came into view of the tunnel, about 3/4 of the way down, they had to stop. The tunnel seemed inviting, yet seemed to pulse with a very strange energy.

As we all made it down the hill safely, and stood in front of the tunnel, we all paused and felt like we probably wouldn't be hiking too far into the tunnel that evening. As we all huddled together, kept close, and walked into the mouth of the tunnel, we felt a feeling that we certainly hadn't felt a week before on our first visit. A feeling of a cold emptiness, it was damp and cold to the bones, and even almost too quiet. We don't recall hearing much. However, one of the members of the team recalls hearing a little child's voice again, softly talking from the distant walls of the tunnel.

Around the same time that this was observed, we all felt at once that we should not be there. We had stopped walking about 30 feet into the tunnel when all of this was felt and heard. Deciding then to call it a night and that it was time to leave, we promptly turned around and exited the tunnel.

It was still snowing outside, as we started to climb back up the side of the escarpment. One of the members stopped at the same spot on the way up, as on the way down when the two members had felt the initial strange energy off of the tunnel. He had felt the same energy again, this time turning towards the tunnel and proceeded to take some pictures of the tunnel's mouth. It was not until later that evening and back at home, when he had realized that they had captured a very interesting shot indeed. What was in the picture was definitely not what he saw, but most likely certainly what we had been feeling since arriving at the Blue Ghost Tunnel that evening.

An eventful evening this was, and it was certainly quite spooky. We will always remember the feeling that tunnel had given us that cold and snowy night.

Blue Ghost Tunnel Investigation

Investigation: Blue Ghost Tunnel
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Arrival Time: 10:00PM
Team Members In Attendance: 2
Weather: 8C, Light Winds,
Equipment: 3 Digital Cams, A&V

Going out to the Blue Ghost Tunnel a week after our last strange experience, led to very different experiences this time around.

The weather was different, as the snow had all melted, and the temperature had certainly risen. This was the night we had met up for the first time with two of the team members from www.HauntedTunnels.tk

We had been greeted with more young teens, but not as many as the previous night, which was a probable benefit to us encountering paranormal activity. However this night was going to prove much different than any of the last times we had been to the tunnel.

As there were about 7 of us with guests included, we had set up two teams, with 3-4 of us posted at the end of the tunnel, monitoring the eastern entrance to the tunnel. The other three of us would alternate between the tunnel-end post and the front of the tunnel.

We thought we had heard distant moans and groans, and even a few times we thought we had heard footsteps. Closer investigation showed that it may have just been water dripping down from the week's spring melting.

At the East of the tunnel, where we had set up a post, we found what seemed to be a dark figure walking quickly from the one side of the tunnel to the next, across the eastern entrance. We couldn't make out a face, nor did we capture anything on film, but it did seem like “something was guarding the entrance to the tunnel”.

We remained at the tunnel for approximately two hours, but really didn't encounter anything.  Other than a few apparent moans, and the occasional shadowy figure guarding the eastern entrance, and the possible footsteps--it was a fairly uneventful evening.

Perhaps it is starting to recognize us as regular guests to its cold limestone walls, and decided to just let us pass through without giving us a sign.

With previous visits to the Blue Ghost Tunnel, we have pretty much confirmed that there is definitely a ghost there, and that the tunnel is haunted. Due to this uneventful night, we have come to the conclusion that even though a place may be haunted, doesn't mean you are always going to encounter something there.

For, you may just have to make another visit, as you never know what might happen.

NAGS continued to investigate several locations in the Region and as an active member of their message forums I was asked to join the group.

I met with two members, Kevin Valencourt and Gord Westwater, and found them to be honest and sincere in their approach. They were certainly amateurs in regards to paranormal investigating but they were eager to learn and unlike most counterparts in the field were not interested in acquiring fame and fortune as a result of their experiences.

Some earlier NAGS members lost interest. Kevin had assembled others to continue the investigations and the core team consisted of Kevin Valencourt, Gord Westwater aka Dr. Gord, David Horhota aka Makeajazznoise, Stephan Willet aka Naz and myself aka Ghostboy.

As we investigated private homes and historical locations across the Niagara Region we avoided conducting an investigation of the Blue Ghost Tunnel as we were simply tired of hearing about it on the message forums and in discussions. It was a location that was almost impossible to investigate properly.

Orb photos, as well as images of mists, were displayed as evidence. NAGS repeatedly suggested that Orb photos were simply dust particles, water droplets and objects close to the camera that the flash had reflected against. The mist photos, in which individuals saw dogs, ghosts and people, were also dismissed as pareidolia and the mist a result of the photographer's breath or cigarette smoke.

Investigating the location as a team would be rather difficult considering that on some nights as many as a hundred thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts were visiting. As a team we were also sick of hearing about the tunnel. It was the hot topic and it was fast becoming over-exposed.

We were also disgusted about how a significant historical structure could be exploited and destroyed in a few months after being displayed on television.

Earlier I had posted on Haunted Hamilton's message forum in an attempt to gain volunteers for a cleanup effort. The message posters who were so keen about the history and paranormal aspect of the tunnel simply did not make an effort, and not one person from Haunted Hamilton's message forum, nor the operators, attempted to come on the cleanup date. Instead, retirees and those who had an interest in history and not the paranormal, made the effort, and a cleanup was conducted. Afterward the tunnel was once again in decent shape, except for the graffiti that marked the tunnel walls.

Kevin Valencourt, also interested in maintaining the tunnel as a clean and decent historical location, proceeded to propose another cleanup event to be held on a weekend date.

His goal was not only to clean up the trash left behind by visitors and party-goers, but also to clean off the graffiti that covered the tunnel walls. He, too, posted on several message forums asking for volunteers, but no one, besides NAGS and friends, got involved. The general cleanup and graffiti cleanup were both successful.

As a newly formed group we had never assembled to investigate the tunnel together. Each of our encounters with the BGT were conducted as individuals or with people other than our core team. Kevin Valencourt contacted The Seaway Authority to seek permission to visit the tunnel at night and investigate it thoroughly.

The Seaway Authority provided us with waivers and allowed us, along with a news reporter, to document the investigation.

It was the first, and only officially sanctioned investigation, of The Blue Ghost Tunnel.

Here are the original notes and news articles that were produced:

Blue Ghost Tunnel Investigation
Location: Thorold, Ontario
Arrival Time: 9:00PM
Team Members In Attendance: 5
Weather: 20C, Clear, no wind.
Equipment: Digital Cameras, Audio, EMF.

Notes from GhostBoy:

This was my first visit as NAGS team member to the ever-famous Blue Ghost Tunnel. We had acquired express written permission from the Seaway Authority to be on the private property and conduct an investigation. Joining us was Petr Cihacek, a reporter with the Niagara News. This was his first visit to the tunnel and his first ghost investigation.

As we arrived there were already two groups of people descending into the tunnel or just about to. I always find it interesting that visitors go into the tunnel stick around for a few minutes and then walk out expecting a paranormal encounter to occur. They do not take the time, nor execute an investigation in a way that is respectful or tactical. Ghosts simply do not show up, wave a big “Hello” and then send you on your merry way. I am not saying I know the right way, but I know a way that works for me.

We allowed the other groups to go in and out and as another group exited I entered the tunnel alone. I made myself known of who I was and what I was there for. I immediately could feel something, but could not figure out what it was.

The team then joined and we walked the length of the tunnel and noted that it has deteriorated rapidly since my last visit. The tunnel it appears, will not last more than three winters. It will simply collapse under the stress of time and water erosion.

We decided to kill our lights and enter into a circle and try to communicate with the ghosts that reside in the tunnel. At first we started off generically asking questions and talking openly with the spirits. I then wanted to see if we could speak directly with the two firemen, who past on due to the collision of the trains outside of the tunnel. I called out for Charles Horning and tried to communicate with him. I didn’t get anything, nor felt anything at this time. Other team members replied that they had the same feelings. I then tried again for Abraham Desult and again, I did not feel nor sense that this spirit was here. In my opinion, these two gentlemen died, moved on and do not haunt the tunnel.
When we asked further questions Naz saw movement behind me and I also felt as if there was something behind me about 10-20 feet. Naz indicated that it was closer. At this time several EVPs were recorded and several team members heard distinctive voices (mostly female) coming from each end of the tunnel. The voices were not recognizable, however, they only occurred after a question was asked.

We then moved down towards the exit of the tunnel and conducted another attempt to communicate with whatever spirit that was at this end of the tunnel. Again, we could hear voices, but could not make them out. Several EVPs were captured at this location as well. I tried to communicate with the names I previously recorded by Pauline Raby during the work we were doing for Shadows of Niagara, but none of the communication attempts with these names were conclusive.

I decided it was perhaps a good idea to split our team up. I don’t know why I did, but I asked Dr. Gord to join me back at the first location we were at. At this location Dr. Gord had his own experiences which I will allow him to explain. At this location I could feel a cold spot in front of Dr. Gord. I also picked up the name of “Carrie” and that this ghost was looking for its mother. Naz joined us and indicated he picked up the name “Margaret” – I could attribute this name to the mother. It was like a recognition to the ghost. Naz confirmed he could feel the cold spot in front of Dr. Gord and indicated he could see something around his hand. Further questioning of the ghost of “Carrie” determined that the spirit is stuck in the tunnel. The words “Evil Bastard” also came forward. Perhaps this spirit is being held against its will by another.

In several of the communication attempts I asked how many spirits were present or in the tunnel and the number seven was coming forward clearly. At the front of the tunnel, again, Dr. Gord had an experience and I could feel what he was feeling. Naz confirmed the cold spot that we both felt.

At this time I asked both Dr. Gord and Naz concentrate on the spirit and ask how they died. I wrote down the words “Choked” on my pad of paper. I asked Naz and he said he couldn’t give me an answer. Dr. Gord said, “Strangled,” and I showed him the pad of paper and he looked dumbfounded. Independently, without knowing each others thoughts we both came to the conclusion that this ghost died of some sort of strangulation.

We then discussed the tunnels history and our experiences in the tunnel with Petr Cihacek and we concluded our night investigation of the Blue Ghost Tunnel.

Notes from Dr. Gord:

The NAGS Team accompanied with Petr, a local reporter for the Niagara News, went for an investigation to the Blue Ghost Tunnel. Upon meeting at a close destination, we all piled in to vehicles and with our trusty LEGAL WAIVER in hand, we set off for the tunnel at top speed. Arriving at the tunnel, we waited outside while some local tourists explored the tunnel for themselves as we wanted to investigate in peace and quiet with little to no interruptions.

After the tourists left, we ventured in as a group with cameras and recorders in hand. Upon arriving at the section just before the waterfall, which on a side note appears to be the beginning of the end for the old BGT, we gathered in a circle and attempted to communicate with the spirits that are said to reside there. John called out to the two boiler men that died in the train wreck to which we got no response. Upon uttering a general question a faint female voice could be heard from the end of tunnel.

Asking it to be louder the voice grew in strength but still was unclear, at this point; yours truly accredited it to the water droplets falling at the right time. Watching Petr scribble notes like a madman kept me fascinated as I tried to figure out the sounds in my head. We then moved as a group to just outside the trussels and again attempted communication.

Nothing could be heard physically but upon examining my tape I got some real good evp’s which will posted later this week. We then split up in to two groups. John and I went back to the first location and the rest went to the entrance of the tunnel. It was here that the fun began.

Now being the resident skeptic I have always downplayed the paranormal activity in the BGT until this night as stuff happened I still cannot explain. John called out to the spirits to communicate with us. All of a sudden I became very very cold. Thinking it was just a breeze being in a tunnel in all you would think that, so in true skeptical behavior I put my arm out to the left, it was cool but not as cold.

I did the same thing on the right and the same result. It was then that a vision popped in my head of a little girl to which I described to John as a girl aged 10 – 12, out 5ft tall with long locky light brown hair, dressed in a brown dress with a white aprony head piece. I could see it clear as day in my head and I chocked it up to imagination but something happened later that would question this. Steve then approached and the cold dissipated, John informed the spirit not to be afraid and it came back. Steve concurred that he too could feel the cold spot in front of me. I began to feel emotional of lost, sad and lonely and it was then that Steve got the name MARGARET. This would not prove anything to me except this 5 foot tall cold spot in front of me. It was then that we said our goodbyes and turned and headed for the exit of the tunnel. I kept getting this message that I was not wanted to leave but shrugged it off as active imagination. Exiting the tunnel we as a group hung around and answered Petr’s questions but still I was drawn to the tunnel.

Steve asked me what I was feeling and I said I felt that something did not want me to leave. Taking two steps back in to the tunnel there was a significant temperature drop, Steve called John over who again concurred the difference. It was then that the freakiest thing happened to me.

John asked me to in my head ask how she died and he would write down what he got. In my head I saw a man dressed in black jump her and strangle her to death. When John asked me what I saw I told him strangulation, he then showed me his piece of paper with the word “CHOKE” on it. Of all the ways you could died, it puzzled me that they matched. All in all was a very eventful night for yours truly and the whole NAGS Team.

Notes from nAz:

This was my first investigation of the tunnel with NAGS & my first time at the tunnel at night. I’ve been to the tunnel before during the day, but never at night, so I was looking forward to it. Also a NAGS first, a newspaper reporter for the Niagara News, Petr C. joined us.

As we were walking to the Tunnel, 3 people joined up. They didn’t have flashlights, so we showed them the way. As we got down the hill to the tunnel, several other people were coming the other way to the tunnel, so we let both groups go through as to not interfere with our investigation. Like the Screaming Tunnel, people seem to think that something paranormal is going to happen just because they take a quick walkthrough…

After the sightseers left, we entered the tunnel. As a group, we got down the tunnel to the 8^th support truss. The tunnel after the 8^th truss is leaking water very badly. Time has finally taken it’s toll on the Tunnel.

As a group we turned off the lights and stood in a circle to start attempting communication with the spirit’s there. GhostBoy was calling on specific spirits. He attempted communication with the two fireman who perished because of the train collision outside of the tunnel and also called on the names of the spirit’s that Pauline Raby had determined to be there during his investigation for Shadows of Niagara.

While in this circle, we as a group, heard these loud “booms” that seemed to be coming from the tunnel. Some of these noises almost appeared “thunder” like. It was interesting.

During the circle, I noticed movement towards the entrance to the tunnel. It seemed like that movement was coming towards us. At one point I squatted down & felt something brush past me, between the wall and I. Kevin and several members of the group also heard what sounded like a girl crying and talking.

We moved further down the Tunnel towards the exit and started another circle. Again, we could hear voices.

After attempting to communicate with the spirits in the Tunnel in the second circle, GhostBoy stated we should split up into two teams. GhostBoy and Dr. Gord went back to the original location, while Kevin, Makeajazznoise, Petr and I went closer to the entrance. Near the entrance I distinctly noted the presence of a spirit and started asking questions. Here is where I got an evp of a spirit answering me.

Kevin, Makeajazznoise & Petr exited the tunnel while I went to check on Dr. Gord & GhostBoy.

Upon joining GhostBoy & Dr. Gord, I could feel cold spots right in front of Dr.Gord. I was actually able for the first time, pick up a name of a spirit. I got the name “Margaret”. Also, while I was holding the recorder, I could see movement around it! I t was almost like my hand & the red light from the recorder was blinking on & off.

After we left the Tunnel, I noticed Dr. Gord standing just a couple of feet inside holding his hand out and snapping pictures with the other. I joined him and immediately noticed cold spots infront of Dr. Gord and myself. I called GhostBoy over to help investigate. He asked us both to ask the spirit how it died. At the same time, I got this strong impression that the spirits were detained or held against their will in the Tunnel itself. I was shocked! When GhostBoy asked us to ask the spirit that question, I couldn’t answer but Dr.Gord answered choked.  It was then that GhostBoy showed Dr. Gord his notes and they confirmed with each other “strangulation”.

Why are these spirit’s in the Tunnel? There is nothing on record (that we know of) of deaths inside the Tunnel. Why did GhostBoy and I both get the feeling at different times that they (spirit’s) are being contained in the tunnel? This is something worth checking into in the future. Hopefully we’ll solve the puzzle before the deterioration of the Tunnel is complete.

Notes from David:

Well. it was our first visit with the current group of N.A.G.S. team members to the B.G.T. I have been to this locale numerous times with various combinations of people... but this was the first time I went on a proper investigation. This was at the request of Petr Cichacek, a writer for a local newspaper, who wishes to write a story on the tunnel. Most of our current team members, myself included, have stated that prior visits lacked any significant paranormal events. I thank Petr for requesting we do this, as we had kind of disregarded the B.G.T. as a team... and the night turned into yet another noteworthy N.A.G.S. outing.

We arrived at the Grand Trunk Railway tunnel at approximately 9pm, amongst two other groups on their way into to tunnel. The N.A.G.S. team and Petr hung back and allowed the other groups to proceed which gave us a chance to advise Petr a little of what our group does and on the history of the tunnel. Once we proceeded into the tunnel it completely dark outside. We entered with magnetic tape recorders, digital cameras, an electro-magnetic field detector and notepads. The EMF detector went off a lot on this night, and all of us captured EVPs as well. I have seen at least one interesting picture from this night, and since I didn't have a camera with me on this night I'm eager to see the investigation pictures myself!

Sad but true...the tunnels decay is more apparent with every visit, it doesn't appear it will last another year. The instability of the ceiling kept us from going all the way in. We would have needed rubber boots and rain jackets/hoods. We gathered as a group and attempted to make contact about halfway in... after backing up from the noise of the water closer to the end. If any EVPs were to be captured on this night we had to step back.

During our session I audibly heard distant voices. They were unclear, but they were in time to our attempts to communicate. I felt a cold tingling sensation on my right arm and right side of my neck at one point... but otherwise I personally had no other contact to report from this evening. I do know that others had more intimate contacts on this night, and I look forward to reading the others' reports... as well as Petr's article in the Niagara News.

Note from Kevin:

I have to admit this was one of my most rewarding trips to the tunnel. I have been on several occasions in the past, during the day, night, winter, and I have experienced minimal paranormal activity.

The N.A.G.S. team, with granted permission and armed with signed waivers from the St. Lawrence Seaway escorted reporter Petr C. a reporter from the Niagara News Thorold edition to the well known Blue Ghost Tunnel aka Grand Trunk Railway Tunnel.

Once we got all of our equipment organized and the tunnel was clear of other visitors, we all trekked in as a team. We made it up to the area where the water leaks from the roof, and decided that the noise of the water would compromise any EVPs that may be caught on tape, so it was decided to move closer to the West entrance, just far enough away so the water wouldn't be a problem.

We formed a circle, and right away heard a loud rumbling, almost sounding like thunder; this repeated a couple times, I personally don't have an explanation for this. Once we turned of all our lights, John started asking questions, trying to get some spirit activity to contact us. John and I both hear foot steps in the distance on the wood floor, closer to the water, I asked if whatever was there could move closer, and hear the mumbles of what sounded like a young girl. John and I asked questions back and forth, David and nAz also tossed in some questions. What got my attention the most was the sound of crying from this young female, and as soon as I heard that, John asked the question, “Why are you sad” this leads me to believe that we both heard the same thing.

After a few more moments, the teams split up. David, nAz, Petr, and I headed toward the West Entrance, stopped for a few more moments of recording and headed out of the tunnel to discuss things with Petr.

Gord and John headed towards the East Entrance and as you can see by Gord and John’s notes, it was very eventful.

Note that both Gord Westwater and David Horhota were very skeptical about the paranormal and were often our voice of reason. Kevin Valencourt also felt that our trip to the BGT was rewarding and re-evaluated his previous experiences there.

The Blue Ghost Tunnel was visited by members of NAGS throughout the summer of 2005 and continued to produce some interesting results.

That same year an ex-member of NAGS, GhostDave suggested that he would seal the tunnel off to prevent anyone from visiting, however, Seaway Authority employees began work shortly before Halloween without the help of GhostDave (even though he claimed to have done the work). GhostDave was a self-proclaimed skeptic with no interest other than the historical aspect of the tunnel, and he was usually online stirring the pot and saying he was going to seal the tunnel once and for all. The sealing of the tunnel began with the West Entrance using cinder-block and mortar. The efforts to protect the tunnel actually defaced and destroyed the entrance of the tunnel as the cinder-block bricks were mashed into the tunnel walls and held together with a concrete mix that oozed out. Many were furious that someone had blocked up the tunnel and without delay, the next day of its announcement of being sealed, someone took a sludge-hammer and bashed an entire section out allowing access to the tunnel.

Some time later, the iron door was opened as the lock was cut and discarded and again, someone had bashed a new hole in the cinder-blocks and created a new entrance. And with a fear that someone would eventually seal the tunnel away in a proper manner, many more individuals, who postponed a visit, made their way down. On some nights there were as many as sixty or seventy people inside the tunnel and the entire grounds and tunnel became full of garbage, used condoms, hazardous needles and the walls were spray painted to a point where the tunnel looked pathetic. Individuals seriously considering doing a paranormal investigation were disenchanted. It was simply impossible.

GhostDave, who was expelled from the NAGS group months before his undertaking as an imaginary mason, decided to keep a low profile but then emerged and cried foul of his ousting to other paranormal groups, stating that members of NAGS had “fired” him because he believed The Blue Ghost Tunnel was not haunted. In fact, he was ousted from the NAGS group, not for being of a skeptical mind, but for driving to and arriving at residences we were investigating intoxicated. If this behaviour did not warrant terminating him, he then began befriending and acting strangely around the residences' children causing immediate concern. GhostDave has since faded from the paranormal community and his interest in the historical aspect of the tunnel abandoned.

The NAGS group visited the tunnel throughout the year, either as a group, as individuals, or in small get-togethers. Each time, the tunnel produced results and we were convinced that the tunnel was haunted. As a paranormal group however, NAGS dissolved shortly thereafter and the Blue Ghost Tunnel endeavor was abandoned.

Kevin Valencourt continues his interest in history, exploration and photography. Gord Westwater and Stephan Willett have continued investigating the paranormal with the group The Shadows Project. David Horhota maintains a strong friendship. As for myself, I continue to investigate haunted locations across Canada and the United States and occasionally revisit old haunts like the Blue Ghost Tunnel. 

The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend More Blue Ghost Nonsense

More Blue Ghost Nonsense

In the summer of 2005 a sealed plastic Ziploc bag was discovered at the mouth of the tunnel containing a VHS tape labeled #2. Several other tapes, sealed in plastic bags and numbered, were discovered.

The curious viewer would see a short clip containing visuals of the tunnel, The Welland Canal, rusty objects, dead animals and a man in a cheesy Halloween mask. The effect was to produce a tape similar to the one found in the movie The Ring. The majority of viewers found it amateurish.

Chad Irish was the person who actually found the tapes, and many speculated it was he who was responsible for placing, and ultimately finding, his own tapes. This was during the period that Chad was engrossed with the tunnel and visited daily and nightly for months. He was spellbound by the tapes and made extra trips to the tunnel simply, he said, for the chance of finding another tape. Several pages of his web site were now dedicated to the tapes themselves and he developed his own hypothesis about the tapes. They were, evil, he said, and the viewer would physically get sick, or even die after viewing them. He cautioned his web site visitors about the tapes and proceeded to amass a collection of plastic baggies and VHS tapes.

When the interest of the tapes faded, Chad devised another attention grabbing scheme. He made his own video tape and had to discover it himself after no one had noticed it sitting on one of the strengthening beams in the tunnel.

In the months that passed, yet another video was made, by an anonymous filmmaker, and mocked the whole videotape controversy. It contained images of the tunnel as well as Thomas The Tank Engine cheerfully smiling as he tooted his whistle. Speculation about the origin of this jeering video was centered on a local graphic artist and paranormal enthusiast known on paranormal forums as Toadfuss.

The original producer of the first video and Chad's distribution created yet another layer of the Urban Legend. Even though most people dismiss the tapes as a cheap-practical joke and Chad as an eccentric ghost hunter, the tapes still pop up in some conversations as pieces of the story:

“They found these old movies there of a man killing a girl.”

“They found parts of a snuff film, but the rest of the film was destroyed by water.”

“The guy who made the film was murdered.”

Not even a decade old and many people fail to delve into the truth. Instead, they read or hear about a video tape and somehow, somewhere along the way, decide it is historic truth.

Of course, each story, like branches of a tree, continuously grows new branches and leaves. The legend grows and grows.

The original creator of the video series, James Straughan, was recently exposed by Kevin Valencourt, founder of The Niagara Amateur Ghost Seekers. During the time in which Chad was infatuated with the tapes, James Straughan posted many entries onto paranormal discussion boards about the video tapes, marketing them and pretending not to know who did them. He lied about his involvement with the tapes and his credibility was tarnished.

On Hamilton Paranormal's Old Message Forum:

By James Straughan on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 10:03 pm:

Hey all, long-time no-post

Since spring I had not been back to the BGT, and wow has it changed. I guess it's become pretty popular since that tv show aired cause it's amazing what you'll find down there. I've been there three times in the last month, and found things ranging from bikes to fires in the tunnel.

One particular thing though, when I went tonight I found a vhs tape in a ziplock bag ...left seemingly intentionally in the middle of the tunnel. I took it home and watched it out of curiosity, and it is flat out strange. Actually, it can't be described. You want to think it's a joke, but there's such a frightening amount of effort and impact with it. Why?

By James Straughan on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 02:27 am:

I've been trying to get my tv input card to work so I can take some stills but to no avail. I'll try again tomorrow. To be honest, after viewing the video I just felt ...well, bad....not only is it menacing but it is also depressing.

It is relatively short...almost 3 minutes I think. I've decided the best word to describe it would be “montage”. Among the things shown are the tunnel itself, some VERY old gravestones somewhere, a destroyed car/truck in the woods, a dead fox, a rotten door standing on it's own, something emerging from the reeds wearing a policeman or conductor uniform, a human skull sunken in the mud, and a piece of paper in a tree that reads 27. The whole thing has unidentifiable audio, with what sounds like a young girls voice and an old man. I can't make out what they're saying though.

I know that all must sound strange, and it is. Hopefully I can get some stills tommorow. Night.

-James

When asked recently about the video and its purpose, James Straughan provided this statement:

“I made the film in 2004, hold all copyrights, original footage, soundtrack etc etc. If you have any follow-up questions talk to my lawyer at Wilson Opatovsky (905) 835-1163. I do not consent to my films usage, in whole or part, in any project/compilation/anything.”

The statement in itself reveals the character of the man behind the cheesy-Halloween mask in the video.

You may find the video online on YouTube. If the drivel does not entertain you, some of the comments left behind by more creative individuals will. Viewer discretion is advised, however, and this author is not responsible for any illness henceforth caused or immediate, and/or sudden death upon viewing. Perhaps contact Wilson Opatovsky to seek compensation for any damages. 

The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Schizophrenia

Blue Ghost Tunnel Schizophrenia

After the airing of the BGT segment on Creepy Canada, the tunnel became a tourist attraction with car loads of teens, families with small children and investigators as far away as Germany exploring the tunnel on a nightly basis. However, there are two people who shaped the BGT legend more than any others visiting the tunnel in the early days.

The first was a self-appointed “Ghosthunter” who frequented haunted locations across Niagara, but concentrated on Port Colborne and Fort Erie, Ontario. I met Mark “The Ghosthunter” at the tunnel one night where he was performing a “satanic ritual”. I've never witnessed a satanic ritual, but I got the impression that things weren't going the way they were supposed to when I saw a few dollar store candles and a few upside-down crucifixes, along with a man in his 50s sporting a scruffy, untrimmed beard and a flashlight chanting, or rather mumbling, magic words. After his ritual, nothing extraordinary happened.

Apparently, this “Ghosthunter” was opening a portal to hell, that he found under the 2 feet of water near the East-end of the tunnel. According to the “Ghosthunter” there was evil in the tunnel, and the only way to free the spirits was to open a portal and send the demons back. He didn't say if it worked out. The ritual ended without a flash, a bang, or acknowledgment. I kept my distance. Not from the presence of the portal, but from the sorcerer.

This same ghost hunter began telling his tales of evil inside the tunnel online on various message forums and spent days and nights at the tunnel trying to recruit members to his now defunct Yahoo! Group.

One person he did recruit was a Burlington, Ontario resident named Chad Irish. Chad's interest in the paranormal began when he attended a ghost walk conducted by Haunted Hamilton. Chad's interest in the paranormal grew and he soon suspected that Haunted Hamilton was simply a business, and not seriously interested in the paranormal. Feeling betrayed he looked to other sites on the Internet and befriended an investigating team called Hamilton Paranormal.

Here, he discovered The Blue Ghost Tunnel and quickly became obsessed with it. Driving daily from Burlington to Thorold, he would remain at the tunnel for hours, sometimes alone and other times with fellow investigators or people he befriended by chance at the tunnel.

At first, his discoveries were consistent with others visiting the tunnel: weird sounds, misty photos with orbs, etc. Each visit was the same as the last, so he began creating tales about the tunnel, the history and experiences.

Disillusioned with Haunted Hamilton, and the lack of investigating from Hamilton Paranormal, Chad began his own paranormal web site. He named it Haunted Tunnels and featured The BGT with updates regularly.

He said he befriended the original “discoverer” of the tunnel, Russ. However, Russ says he has no idea who Chad was, or is. Chad revealed that he explored the tunnel during the earlier days with Russ and again Russ' own accounts do not mention Chad whatsoever. Chad also suggested that Russ had burned his Ouija Board and ran away to Florida to hide from the ghosts of the tunnel, which apparently seduced and then raped him just before he made his escape to the holy-land of Tampa Bay.

Chad's focus was on the tunnel, but he needed to expand. Soon, he pretended to discover other tunnels around the BGT. He named one “The Devil's Tunnel” - and gave directions to a drainage tunnel near the BGT. He concocted a haunting and placed it on the Internet for the gullible to read:

“In 1978 a hooker by the name of Alice was doing her thing in the tunnel, screwing a GM worker, no doubt after a long shift. Well she didn’t get paid and then the guy sliced her neck open with a knife and stabbed her over 50 times! Both Alice and the dead guy haunt the tunnel. There is still a mattress in the tunnel that she used. Warning: don’t touch it.”

Next, he “discovered” caves near the Lakeview Cemetery. One was “The Creepy Cave” while another was christened “The Bat Cave”. The caves had once been accessible, but they had been filled in for safety reasons long before Chad knew of their existence. He kept their directions private on his web site because, well, the caves didn't really exist.

He also suggested that he found tunnels under the Welland Canal that are haunted as well. There are no other tunnels under the Welland Canal that were accessible, but Chad knew that in order to keep an audience he would need to keep adding haunted tunnels with ghost stories associated with them. These stories sometimes make their way into the fabric of the legend of The Blue Ghost Tunnel.

Growing in popularity, he needed to form a team. You've heard the expression before: There is no I in T-E-A-M. Well in Chad's world, there is. He had some lovely, well-endowed women on his team, along with a host of smart-looking men but none of them actually did exist. I am sure they did somewhere, as Chad lifted the images from the Internet and proceeded to make Team Member Profiles for each. Many fell ill or were away on business or vacationing each time he made a visit to the tunnel.

When members of NAGS questioned and exposed the none-existent haunted locations and fictitious Haunted Tunnel team members, Chad was furious and defaced the BGT in an attempt to anger the NAGS members.

Chad decided to change his online alias several times and was known as: Skully, GhostChad and Daddy-Long-Legs. This last one, he thought would be a hit with the ladies.

Chad's interest in the paranormal faded and he took down his web site in 2006. He has never made an attempt to visit the tunnel again.

Mark the Ghosthunter, however, is still lurking in the Niagara Region and is spreading more ridiculous lies. This time, he is concentrating on a historical cemetery in Thorold and visiting it with a crowbar (that glows!) in an attempt to banish the town of a vampire. I am not joking. I can't make this shit up.

The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend Paranormal Investigators Visit The Tunnel

Paranormal Investigators Visit the Blue Ghost Tunnel

Russ' goal was to attract as much attention to the tunnel as possible, either for promotional purposes or to obtain a different level of investigation, and he began asking other paranormal groups and individuals to join him on his quest.

Hamilton Paranormal, a very active group in the late 90s and early 2000s, decided to visit the tunnel and, with directions and information about the haunting provided by Russ, they made their way to the location. Previous to their visit, they researched the tunnel, the area, and the historical deaths and tragedies in the area that may have been the essence of the hauntings Russ was experiencing.

The investigations revealed similar, yet not as dramatic, encounters with the spirits of the tunnel. Hamilton Paranormal made several visits to the tunnel, all of which produced results, and online chatter about the tunnel.

Throughout the investigations Hamilton Paranormal presented what they believed was photographic evidence of spirits manifesting before the camera in the form of ectoplasm and orbs. It is unclear if they remain convinced of the authenticity of the photos. However, to this day, other paranormal enthusiasts have taken the photos at face value and still maintain the photographs are proof-positive of the hauntings at the tunnel. Others are unconvinced.

On Facebook and other social media sites, individuals and groups post these photos and discuss what they see in the mist that seemingly manifested before the camera. What the armchair paranormal investigators may not realize is that the photos can be recreated, not only within the tunnel, but in any particular location—haunted or not.

Orbapalooza

Orbs are pale and circular anomalies that have been linked with the paranormal. Orbs can be of any color, but are typically off white. They can be any shape, but are usually circular.

They can appear crisp or fuzzy, in isolation, multiples or clusters. Orbs are seen on still photographs (usually from digital cameras). With the mass distribution and consumption of digital cameras Orbs became evidence of “spirits” and paranormal activity.

Investigators, including myself, believed they were capturing a ghost on film. Orb photos within the tunnel were and still are extremely popular—we have orbs in groups, loner orbs, red “evil” orbs, blue orbs, moving orbs, “sad” orbs and the list goes on...but the truth is what we have is a reflection of dust, water, moisture and insects reflecting light from the close proximity of the flash back into the camera lens, causing an orb anomaly to appear.

Orbs are natural, and are not paranormal. But, still today, the orb photographs present themselves as evidence that the tunnel is haunted.

Ectoplasm/Ectomist

There are countless photos of ectoplasm, seemingly manifesting within the tunnel. Ectoplasm is a term originally coined by Charles Richet to denote a substance or spiritual energy “exteriorized” by physical mediums. Ectoplasm is said to be associated with the formation of spirits, but since World War II reports of ectoplasmic phenomena have declined and many psychical researchers doubt whether genuine cases ever existed.

However, the photographs that reveal “ectomist” at the tunnel, which have been circulated on the Internet as proof-positive of ghostly manifestations, in reality show one of two things:

1. Breath, or
2. Cigarette Smoke

The majority of the ectomist photographs were time-stamped in the fall or winter when the temperature inside the tunnel can be very cold. As the photographer exhales during the photographic process the flash bounces off the condensation of the breathe causing eerie and instantaneous photographs that somewhat resemble the historical photos we see of ectomist.

Cigarette smoke is another culprit in the creation of ectomist photographs. Cigarette smoke swirls around the camera unseen by the naked eye in the dark tunnel, but when one takes a photograph the flash bounces off the smoke, revealing what some consider a ghost. In many photographs of paranormal investigators we see cigarettes in their hands.

The bright white images are common among BGT enthusiast and many claim that they see faces, objects and animals within the swirl of breath and smoke. The vast majority of paranormal researchers have dismissed these photographs and have offered explanations ad nauseam on message forums, Facebook Groups and other web sites, but droves of photographers, paranormal enthusiasts and the like still believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that these photographs are proof-positive of the paranormal.

They claim that the photos must be that of a ghost because of the images they reveal. Some claim to see canine heads, faces of demons, butterflies, hammers, winged gremlins, grandfather clocks, locomotives, witches, cats, rocking chairs, recliners, Kirby Vacuums, Justin Beiber and images of Jesus Christ. These believers do not believe that the images they see may be the result of pareidolia.

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse. Pareidolia is a type of apophenia.

I believe that the investigators with Hamilton Paranormal currently do not believe that these photos are those of spirits or ghosts, but their web site remains a key attraction for those interested in the BGT. The web site has not been updated in a very long time and the early documentation of Hamilton Paranormal's investigations, as well as their photography, add to the legend and misinformation of The Blue Ghost Tunnel.

In 2005, not wanting to miss out on publicity, a ghost tour group from Hamilton, Ontario ventured to the tunnel:

Haunted Hamilton says “It's Haunted!”

The dark history of the Canal and the accident combined to make this place hauntingly intriguing.

Haunted Hamilton was just a baby when a paranormal explorer named Russ made his way to the Merritton Tunnel (Blue Ghost Tunnel).

According to the TGHRS (paranormal group out of Toronto), Russ was given directions to the Screaming Tunnel, but got lost and somehow stumbled his way to Merritton. He would return many times to investigate and take pictures of this historic find. During one of these investigations he captured a blue ghostly mist which would give Russ the inspiration for the now famous name, “The Blue Ghost Tunnel”.

The reputation started to grow and Haunted Hamilton wasn’t going to sit back and not be a part of it. Investigation nights were setup with our resident psychics and friends from two other paranormal groups.

We knew of the train crash, blue mist, and reports of a ghost dog that had been seen around the entrance of the tunnel. This was intriguing, but it was the tunnel’s reputation that brought us there for two nighttime investigations.

The investigations were quiet and uneventful; with only one experience I personally took part in - the sighting of the ghost dog.

We were halfway in when a member of our team noticed something walking back and forth at the entrance. A few of us (including me) ran as fast as we could to get closer, prove the ghost dog was real and maybe get a picture. And as we got close enough to confirm, we saw nothing. Whatever it was had vanished.

That was the “report” that Haunted Hamilton, a ghost tour company out of Hamilton, Ontario formulated. They claimed that The Blue Ghost Tunnel was haunted by a ghost dog, similar to the one Russ had wrote about in his online journals.

The droves of online visitors to Haunted Hamilton's popular web site read about the ghost dog, and for the crowd hanging out at Haunted Hamilton it was popular belief that the Blue Ghost was in fact a Blue Ghost Dog.

The rumor of a ghost dog weaved its way into the fabric of The Blue Ghost Tunnel once again thanks to the imagination of Russ and the hype of Haunted Hamilton.

Later Haunted Hamilton convinced viewers of a Creepy Canada episode that the Blue Ghost Tunnel was extremely haunted and that they had witnessed paranormal activity.

Recently, however, Haunted Hamilton came to the conclusion that their previous report of witnessing a ghost dog and their experiences while filming the Creepy Canada episode were, well, not umm, anything. In fact, Daniel Cumerlato, founder and operator of Haunted Hamilton, says the tunnel isn't haunted after all and they knew it all along.

Here is a recent statement and article written by Daniel Cumerlato of Haunted Hamilton concerning The Blue Ghost Tunnel. My personal comments follow.

Dear paranormal enthusiast…

Ignore The Blue Ghost Tunnel!

By Daniel Cumerlato

So why do we shun the tunnel today at a time when so many people are talking about it?

First off, we are unable to guarantee the safety of those going. The tunnel is falling apart. The space has always been flooded because of the supporting stones violently leaking from above. The overall tunnel may be sinking into the ground and it’s possible the structure could collapse. The previous statement is a personal viewpoint; something we would never expect the landowners to admit due to liability concerns. However before and after pictures would prove something’s not right.

Along with the unsafe tunnel, there’s the dark, steep and rocky decent and the abandoned Canal Lock located along side of the main path. The Lock is an over 50 foot drop and has little to no safety fences.

Not to mention the reports of a nasty element hanging around the area at night. People have been threatened and many cars vandalized while sitting in the make-shift parking lot.

And if that wasn’t enough… we find it hard to believe this place is truly haunted.

After the many years of random investigations, this location lacks results. As with many spots, there are orbs, strange sounds (and ghost dogs), but overall the results are insubstantial.

If we believe energy, experience and tragedy is what creates ghostly activity, then the Blue Ghost Tunnel would rank a mere 2 out of 10. One train accident causing the on-site death of one man, and the eventual death of another many kilometers away… a few other tragedies which didn’t actually happen in a tunnel with only 39 years of actual use, would not put this high up on the paranormal scale.

There is a submerged cemetery on the flooded end of the Tunnel. We at Haunted Hamilton feel this is a terrible disrespect, and is a huge reason for building up this historic landmark, but is no reason for ghosts.

The image of the Blue Ghost Tunnel made it perfect for legends and fictitious stories which have gotten out of hand. This has caused the legitimate and respected history / ghost hunters to run for the hills.

The Tunnel has become a location for drinking, partying and scaring girls, but not investigation.

Every history lover should see The Merritton Tunnel (Blue Ghost Tunnel) because this is a space frozen in history which may not be around forever. But if you go at night you’re missing the best parts.

Go during the day instead and see the Tunnel in all its glory. Take in the abandoned Canal Lock with the rusted out Ford at the bottom (How the hell did that get there!) and the calming hike down the rocky hill, ending at an amazing monument to Canadian engineering.

You will not miss anything ghostly, because if it hasn’t happened in over a decade, chances are it’s not starting with you.

Save yourself the hassle, the danger, the damaged car and possibly damaged friends, and go when the sun shines. After all, if there are ghosts at The Blue Ghost Tunnel… they’ll find you.”

Surprise. Haunted Hamilton says “The tunnel isn't haunted!” First, Daniel Cumerlato begins by telling the reader that the tunnel is sinking. In over 130 years the limestone rocks have yet to sink into the earth, one millimeter. This is a complete fabrication making no sense and one wonders where Daniel received his structural engineering degree.

Next, he explains that all the investigations conducted by the likes of Hamilton Paranormal, The Niagara Amateur Ghost Seekers (NAGS), Niagara Amateur Spirit Seekers, The Shadows Project and dozens upon dozens of other reputable paranormal groups and individuals were simply random and produced no results.

Again, this is pure nonsense. The investigations were not random, and it appears that the tunnel often produces results.

He then ranks The Blue Ghost Tunnel on a Paranormal Scale of 2 out of 10. A pretty low score for someplace he once was touting as “700 feet of Hell on Earth!” and describing on paranormal forums as “scary” and “very haunted.”

Then he goes on to describe a submerged cemetery on the flooded end of the tunnel. This clearly shows that Haunted Hamilton did not do any significant research and simply believed online rumors, taking them in as fact.

Let us rewind a bit and be witness to one of Haunted Hamilton's previous encounters with The Blue Ghost Tunnel.

700 Feet of Hell on Earth!

During the early 2000s, producers of Creepy Canada, a new Canadian paranormal show, began researching possible haunted locations across Canada. In the first seasons they had exhausted locations in Ontario that would allow filming and were looking for new opportunities.

The show featured recreations of haunted encounters at various locations with deplorable F-grade acting, false histories and script-written hauntings. The show was scoffed at by paranormal groups as misleading and exploitative.

However, the producers of Creepy Canada had read about The Blue Ghost Tunnel and proceeded to ask paranormal researchers and groups to be involved in the filming of the episode. Individuals and groups with a shred of dignity, not only to themselves but to the field of study, turned down the offer because they did not want to be associated with the show.

However, a ghost-tour operating group, who posed as “paranormal researchers” named Haunted Hamilton took the bait and were showcased on The Blue Ghost Tunnel episode.

Creepy Canada Transcript:

Promo:

“Up next! Paranormal researchers investigate 700ft of Hell on Earth!”

Narrator

“In St. Catharines, Ontario, paranormal researchers and outdoor enthusiasts alike have discovered a previously undiscovered haunted location. The 700 foot passage is known as The Blue Ghost Tunnel. Though the tunnel is off the beaten path, those that venture there are rarely disappointed. A hiker who had heard stories of the mysterious tunnel decided to investigate for herself. As she made her way through the dark interior she heard strange moaning sounds. She told herself it was the wind. The she saw a misty blue apparition moving in front of her. The shape disappeared and at the same moment, inexplicably her flashlight died. She knew she had just encountered the spirit of the Blue Ghost Tunnel.”

On Camera Host

“Serious paranormal investigators are willing to travel through the darkest depths and over the most challenging terrain to solve many of life's unexplained mysteries. This passion sent one group on a quest into the terrifying interior of the legendary Blue Ghost Tunnel in St. Catharines, Ontario, where a 700 foot passageway brought them face-to-face with the unknown.

Jeff Ostrander “Historian”

“When you go into the tunnel it’s a different world and it’s like, uh, you get eerie feelings, feelings of being watched, maybe looked over. People have seen strange apparitions in the tunnel, sounds of footsteps, uh, whispering that I've personally heard inside the tunnel. Photographs that are strange and sometimes unexplainable. In 1903 there was a fatal rail collision at the tunnel, umm, at the west end. Trains collided head-on and both engineers were killed. The train wreck, umm, very well may have something to do with the hauntings here.

Narrator

“Another hiker came upon the tunnel by chance. He saw a blue spectral figure whirling at the entrance. It moved inside and vanished. Curious, he followed. Many paranormal investigators feel the blue apparition is not the spirit of one particular individual, but the manifestation of the many trapped souls of the tunnel trying to remind travelers of the tragic accident that took their lives over a hundred years earlier. Suddenly, a strange light appeared aimed directly at the hiker. He swore for a brief moment he thought a ghostly train passed through the dark tunnel. He quickly turned to leave wishing he had heeded the warning of the mysterious blue apparition.

A paranormal research group volunteered to perform an investigation of The Blue Ghost Tunnel. They brought two experienced psychic-mediums and an array of night-vision cameras and electronic detection equipment. The mediums sensed the spirits of the two engineers that had died although they were not told about the train wreck prior to entering.”

Psychic #1

“Do you get anything about an accident?”

Psychic #2

“I do get the sensations of those two men. One is bleeding on his face. The other one has blood on his outfit, his clothes.”

Investigator

“I just had my third flashlight… the bulb has burnt out. I've been having problems with my infrared thermostat tonight for some reason. I've had two camera batteries go dead on me and that doesn't usually happen. Supposedly spirits drain power from batteries and until this point in time I have never experienced that.

Psychic #1

“This is my first night using this, uhh, little talisman. When I come in here with it though, it gives a very negative reaction. It’s spinning counterclockwise.”

Psychic #2

“This is similar to what Kate was using with her talisman. It picks up the energy, umm, the, of the spirit. It’s definitely not a happy energy. I asked if the spirits here were happy and it’s saying no they aren't happy. There is a sadness definitely in the air.”

Psychic #1

“I was just sitting here by myself because it is easier getting a reading on your EMF reader and your light was turned off and then I was hearing screaming and I was guessing there were kids out there playing but then something else started, a long high-pitched cry and turning around here you’re asking if you want to go further into the tunnel and I am getting a great big no. Stuff is going to start happening as soon as we go down there. They are not happy that we are here this late.”

Psychic #2

“There is a banging that we've been hearing down at the end of the tunnel and umm it has stopped for a while until we started talking about approaching this area again and, umm, as we got closer it started to, umm, bang again as if it was telling us yes, yes, come down this way.”

Psychic #1

“There is something else down here. It is not human. There is some kind of energy that comes down here at night like I said this is its spot and it’s rushing through the tunnel. I see this big black thing, ugly looking face flying through the tunnel, screaming, running right at us.

Stephanie Culamerao of Haunted Hamilton

“Coming into this place, umm, I don't think any of us expected it to be like this. So much stuff has been happening tonight and, umm, a lot of our equipment has been going wonky, umm, Kate and Michelle have been feeling a lot of weird things in here, umm, I'm personally, uh, am not psychic and I'm feeling uncomfortable in here, umm, it’s just really odd.”

Narrator

“Though the group did not make psychical contact with the spirits the mediums psychic impressions and the unusual photographs taken that night offer compelling evidence of paranormal activity in The Blue Ghost Tunnel. Whether the entities are the ghosts of those victims killed in the railway disaster or some metaphysical energy left behind by this tragic crash is unknown. Perhaps future investigations will shed some light on this unexplained mystery.”

Post Notes:

After the original air-dates and years of re-runs of the Creepy Canada episode, Haunted Hamilton and those involved were chastised for the obvious fakery and the amateur investigation of the Blue Ghost Tunnel.

Haunted Hamilton admitted that the time stamps of the video were changed by producers to enhance the dramatization of the episode. More glaring and eye-opening is that they admitted that the evidence was not real. Haunted Hamilton puts the blame on crafty producers while the production staff of Creepy Canada have said that they received all the photographic evidence from Haunted Hamilton.

Jeff Ostrander, the episode's “Historian” also was questioned about his involvement and he said that the camera operators simply put the camera on him and asked him questions and that he either forgot the information or did not know the correct information because he was nervous on camera. He also said that he did not know he was going to be labeled as an historian until he viewed the episode.

According to the show's producers, both psychics who were involved in the episode were told of the history of the tunnel by Haunted Hamilton and also by the production staff prior to and during filming.

In addition, a simple Internet search would have yielded hundreds of results about the tunnel's history and haunted legends and both psychics were active on the Internet and within paranormal message forums where the hot topic was The Blue Ghost Tunnel.

Later, Niagara News reporter Petr Cihacek interviewed The Seaway Authority about the trespassing and dangers of the tunnel. The Seaway Authority put direct blame on both Haunted Hamilton and Creepy Canada for exposing the tunnel to a mass audience and increasing the likelihood of a serious injury or death.

Both Haunted Hamilton and Creepy Canada deny they had trespassed on private property and that they are responsible for exposing the tunnel on National Television.

Regardless, countless viewers have endured the episode and the misinformation and “psychic impressions” are feeding a part of the legend.

Included in the back peddling article of Haunted Hamilton are further lies and misinformation, feeding more and more into the fabric of The Blue Ghost Tunnel's legend. 

The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend The Death of a 5-Year-Old

The Death of a 5-Year-Old

In 1912, the steamship La Canadienne suddenly lost power in lock 22 of The Welland Canal causing a huge rush of water to hit Lock 21 and flooding the entire area. The tidal wave rushed towards three children who were fishing along the canal. Two of the boys were rescued but tragically five-year-old Willie Wallace Tiffney, adopted son of the Tiffney family in Thorold, drowned in the tidal wave.

Some believe that the ghost of the child seen, heard and felt at the tunnel may be that of Willie. Many, however, believe the spirit is that of a female and not a male. And one wonders why the spirit of Willie would be haunting a tunnel that lies a considerable distance from the location at which he was drowned.

The Blue Ghost Tunnel: Making of a Legend The Real History of The Blue Ghost Tunnel

The Real History of the Blue Ghost Tunnel and the Surrounding Area

The Niagara Region of Ontario was beginning to see growth and prosperity in the late 1800s and in 1871 the Dominion of Parliament authorized the second phase of the Welland Canal to be built to suit large cargo and passenger ships.

The work commenced in 1873 and the new route now bypassed its traditional route in the natural river valleys next to St. Catharines. The new canal was aligned on a direct route from Port Dalhousie to Thorold, which necessitated a new rail crossing.

The railway would not accept the early plans for a swing bridge over the canal as they anticipated long delays and the potential for danger and accidents and therefore they insisted that a tunnel be built under the waterway to ensure safe and efficient passage of rail traffic. It was a grand proposition and many were opposed to the idea as it would take a great deal of engineering and hard labor.

As the Welland Canal was slowly being constructed it was clear the landscape would need to change significantly. When the land surveyors completed their first task, they came to agreement that an old burial ground near St. Peter's Anglican Church, as well as the church itself needed to be moved to accommodate the canal system.

Previously, a log-built Lutheran Church resided on the consecrated land and burials as early as 1752 had taken place within the churchyard. As the land was being surveyed and construction crews hired from nearby Slabtown (Merritton), the cemetery and church were spared, but future plans insisted that the land be used for the canal.

Meanwhile the canal developers and railway companies came to agreement of where the tunnel would be constructed and work began in the spring of 1875 with loads of Queenston rock being cut and delivered to the construction yard. Several hundred workers labored on the stone cutting and fitting while Irish immigrants, numbering near a thousand, entrenched the land and tunnel area. Teams of horses brought heavy limestone from the Queenston Quarry to the site.

There were several serious accidents at the construction site, including three reported deaths. In one report from 1875 a young Irish immigrant, aged 14, was crushed under the weight of the large stones. Other injuries occurred on a daily basis, but none serious enough to stop construction.

The tunnel curving on a gentle arc is 665 feet in length providing a semi-circular arch 16 feet wide and 18 feet high. A single track ran its length connecting lines of the Great Western Railway. The railway, now connected with points in the Niagara Region, could express cargo and passengers from New York to Toronto and almost all points in between.

During this time the Welland Canal construction was completed and several men perished building its walls and reinforced lock system. Many of the injuries and deaths occurred in the Thorold area, within miles of the tunnel.

The first train, loaded with dignitaries and engineered by Harry Eastman, ran through the tunnel in February 1881. Harry Eastman was also the last Engineer to blow the whistle and pilot a train through the tunnel.

To prevent cows and other grazing animals from entering the tunnel and causing a derailment, a post-guard was set up on each side of the tunnel. These men watched the rail, chased away animals and kept the track clear. Their wages were extremely low and they were often paid in pints of ale as well as wages.

Amalgamation of the Great Western Railway and the Grand Trunk Railway was approved by the Great Western Railway shareholders in 1882 and the post-guards received better pay as well as uniforms and small shelters which were built on either end of the tunnel.

These improvements, however, did not prevent a tragic accident occurring in 1903 just 100 metres shy of the western entrance to the tunnel. At 7:03am a light mogul train weighing 80 tons collided head-on with the Number 4 Express running at full-steam. The engines smashed into each other and the cars followed into an entanglement of iron and fire. Both train engineers survived the wreck and only suffered minor injuries.

BAD TRAIN WRECK, No.4 Express Collides with a light Mogul Near Merritton Tunnel.

Charles Horning, the fireman on the express train, was killed instantly when his body was pinned between two massive pieces of ironwork, the flaming hot boiler and the tentler. Attempting rescue, his badly mangled body was pulled on by engineers and post-guards, however, when they pulled at him, his arms and legs pulled from his body. One train worker commented that Horning's watch still ticked while he held the severed arm in his hands. His body was never fully recovered from the wreck.

The fireman for the mogul train, Abraham Desult, was smashed into the boiler of the train. He was rushed to hospital only to die of his terrible burns five hours later.

Mr. Armstrong worked in the express car that followed the engine of the Number 5 and regained consciousness in the roofless, upturned car. Covered in ruined goods he managed to crawl through the rubble to safety. He recalls that they were given clearance in Merritton by the dispatcher to enter the line and blamed the wreck on misinformation, a single track and poor visibility.

The line and the tunnel, however, were continuously used until plans for a double-track were developed. The track was returned to its original alignment when the Fourth Welland Canal was being constructed.

A double-tracked swing bridge was built in the late 1880s and the tunnel was used sparingly until the 1930s when the track was removed altogether.

The burial ground, now in disuse by Thorold citizens, was moved to the New Lakeview Cemetery (now called the Old Lakeview Cemetery). The land was needed to establish a pond area for excess water from the canal and in July 1923, Thorold residents were asked to pay and make arrangements for their interned family members to be moved. Only 253 of the 842 bodies interned in the burial ground were actually moved. Families simply could not afford the re-internment and many graves had no family members to care for them.

When excavation and re-internment of the bodies occurred, some corpses were misidentified and some went missing altogether. Adding to the confusion is the fact that some remains were not recoverable and only some body parts and coffins were moved to the new location.

According to the superintendent of Lakeview Cemetery, there were 118 graves full with no record of whom they contained and another possible 72 which may have contained only body parts with no further records. He also stated that a number of the monuments were damaged or destroyed when they were moved to the new location.

During construction of the Fourth Welland Canal several more men lost their lives, including ten during the worst accident in the history of the Welland Canal System.

On August 1, 1928, a roar was heard for miles around when at Lock 6 a large locomotive powered crane fell into the lock chamber taking with it a 500 ton steal lock gate. In less than a minute eight men lay dead while two others were dying from massive chest and head wounds. The two seriously injured men were sent to St. Catharines General Hospital and Homer Construction Hospital only to die of the terrible wounds two days later. Twenty-two others were seriously wounded and rushed to each of these hospitals. Thirteen would never return to work on the canal.

On August 1, 1930, exactly two years to the day, another accident occurred at Lock 6 and like the previous accident this one was fatal—eight men were killed while twenty others were seriously injured. It was rumored that the canal was cursed and some abandoned their positions, refusing to work on its construction and maintenance.

In total, the Welland Canal claimed the lives of 107 men and injured thousands of others during its construction.

Could the train wreck victims be haunting the tunnel? Or could it be the victims of the Welland Canal construction? What of the forgotten spirits of the cemetery? Could they be the source of the paranormal activity?