PHILLIPS — Screams echoed through the woods as the Ghost Train made its much–anticipated return to the Phillips Sandy River and Rangeley Lake Railroad the evening of Oct. 12. With a sold-out crowd of more than 360 attendees, the event, hosted by the Phillips Chamber of Commerce, delivered a spooky spectacle that left passengers thrilled.

“This year’s Ghost Train was a huge success,” said organizer Mikelle Davenport, president of the Phillips Chamber of Commerce. “We sold out 48 hours in advance because people were messaging us looking for tickets. The trains were so packed it was hard getting through the cars.”

The evening kicked off around 6:30 p.m., with children and adults lining up for face painting, fortune telling, caramel apples and glow-in-the-dark toys. The Chuck Wagon restaurant offered dinner favorites and baked goods as attendees eagerly awaited their turn to board the haunted train.

As the train moved through the darkened woods, passengers were treated to a series of live and projected scenes designed to evoke fear. A standout was the “Rosemary’s Baby” scene based on the classic movie, which featured a “doctor” removing a baby from a person on a table amid screams. The terrifying portrayal earned first prize for best scene. “It was the whole theatrical package,” Davenport said.

Another chilling moment came as the train passed a chainsaw-wielding figure lurking in the forest. “Being such a cold and windy night gave it an extra eerie feeling of Halloween and that winter is not far off,” Davenport said. “A few of the pumpkin carvings had some real time and effort put into them.”

The event, organized by the new chamber committee, revived a tradition that had been dormant since Phillips’ eighth grade class fundraiser ended years ago. “This year, the Phillips Chamber of Commerce took on a whole new committee, and we knew we needed to raise money and do more events for the town,” Davenport said. “This was one of the events, and we will also be doing Winter Wonderland on Dec. 14.”

Volunteers, many of them chamber members and their families, worked tirelessly to set up, serve food, and staff the attractions. “It would have been unachievable without these people and the railroad,” Davenport said. “They decorated their end of the station and dressed in costume too.”

By Sunday morning, the town’s cleanup efforts were in full swing. Davenport said by 10 a.m. it was all picked up, packed away, and carried off.

With plans already in motion for next year, Davenport is hopeful even more residents will join in. They hope to spark more interest in people creating their own spooky scenes. Next year, they might even offer a grand prize of $250, she said.

The Phillips Chamber of Commerce expressed their gratitude to the railroad and Phillips Fire Department for helping to make the event a resounding success.