Silverpilen (Silver Arrow)

Many cities have their own local ghost stories tied to specific locations. Take Stockholm and its Kymlinge Metro Station, which is said to host a silver phantom train that passed through. Like many ghost stories, this one even has a kernel of truth.

The Silverpilen is a special model C5 metro train that was manufactured in the mid-1960s. It was made of aluminum as a proof-of-concept for lighter, and therefore more efficient, operation. For unknown reasons, the train was never painted the same green colors as the rest of the metro fleet, and was only used as a backup vehicle. After that use, it would go back empty, not stopping at any station. Passengers, expectedly, found this odd. Also the inside was different, as it held no advertisements, which gave the train a sterile look. The train was mostly used on the Red and later the Blue line. 

So sightings of the train were rare, with daily commuters going years between spotting it. Many people did not even believe that it existed. This was, of course, the perfect recipe for a ghost story.

That is exactly what happened in the 1980s. Stories started to spread about a ghostly train that would stop deep in the night, and spirit away anyone who dared to walk in. it was often connected to the Kymlinge ghost station, where only the dead disembark.

Despite its reputation, the train served for nearly 30 years, and was retired in 1996. All but the front car were scrapped in Örnsköldsvik, the remaining portion was preserved as a museum vehicle. It stood there until 2007, when the municipality decided that it had to be removed. This is where most people though that the train’s story ended.

Fortunately, this is not the case. It was rescued by artist Anders Åbergs, who brought is to his art park, Mannaminne, an operation that cost around 30,000 SEK. The car is still there today, covered in graffiti but otherwise well maintained.

It’s one of the few places in the world to see an actual ghost train.