The Pope Lick monster seems to be a great allegory for the real dangers of the bridge. It either kills you with a strike from an axe(the front of the train), or convinces you to jump to your death(avoiding the train but dying from the fall). That is one creative urban legend.
Yep. The monster is basically the train itself. When Mr Ballen gave more history at the end about how dozens of other people dying on the bridge for the same reasons, that's pretty crazy.
Raquel could have had an extra 10 minutes to get down there and she still wouldn't have been able to hang on that long. Many men wouldn't have been able to do what this guy did, any much beyond the age of 25. The Pope Lick Monster story never includes the reason people jump, I guess. To avoid getting hit by a train...
I genuinely cannot understand how she couldn't climb down fast enough...she must have been one of the thrill-seeking types without much life/crisis experience so she just froze in fear and disbelief when shtf...
The unmentioned victim in this story is the train operator. If he, indeed, initiated the brakes he must have thought there was a chance. Not only is this heartbreaking for the operator, he watched the whole thing happen right in front of him while being powerless to do anything about it (Depending on weight/speed it can take a train over a mile to stop).
It is very likely that the conductor did not see them until it was too late, there is a sharp down hill turn and then a short straight strip where a road crosses over. They would already be slowing down coming off the bridge.
@@LuvBorderCollies I live in this community and have my whole life, drive straight over and under these tracks every day. I was not trying to insinuate anything I was just trying to give a visual of the area.
Do not depend on rust as a clue if its active or not. Rust can form in minutes under certain conditions, especially humid ones. If a track is abandoned the tracks are torn out fairly soon afterward. That's been my experience living around them.
The Pope Lick Trestle has always spooked me out bc there’s something about how so many people feel possessed to completely abandon their common sense when they get there. I know humans are complicated and social pressure/curiosity can make us do a lot of seemingly paradoxical things but you can also draw a straight folkloric line between the behaviors and the idea of a monster luring folks out onto the tracks.
@@___DRIP___ hahaha omg! Omg! I thought the same thing! Well immediately got a visual of that scene in Stand By Me when it turned the were on that railroad!
These people aren't possessed at all. They find themselves in trouble,just like these 2, and have only 3 choices, either (1) run and hope they make it, (2) jump and most likely get killed, or (3) stand there and definitely get killed. This is what happens when people ignore all warning signs and take their lives in their own hands.
I mean, it IS part of the lore that one of the ways the the Pope Lick Monster kills, is actually by somehow entrancing or enchanting people, and luring them up onto the trestle and tracks. Not saying it is or isn't true,. Just saying I see exactly where you're coming from.
i was afraid the rumble or wind would make him unable to maintain the hold. OR that he'd be too wiped out to pull himself back up. (idk if i woulda made it because of that.)
I live right near the tracks a few of my friends actually have videos of them hanging off the side while the train is going past they’re stupid asf but yeah a lot of people get a thrill from doing stupid shit
My father thought walking across an abandoned train bridge with us kids was a great idea. I walked up, looked at it and said it wasn't abandoned, so I went back to my mom and grandma. No one died, but a train did go by on it awhile after my dad and siblings finished crossing. Don't walk on train bridges. It's not safe.
My boyfriend and I almost got hit by a train a few years ago. It was only the 2nd time we had hung out and we were sitting on the tracks near my city's greenway getting to know each other and didn't hear the horn until the train was probably 15-20 feet away. We had to jump off the tracks. I actually have a picture my boyfriend took of me on the other side of the tracks (we jumped on opposite sides) waving underneath the train lol So yes, don't walk on train bridges and don't sit on tracks in deep conversation.
So true! Trust your instincts! Don't go places, do things, or trust anyone that makes you feel uneasy. There are more than enough ways to get a thrill without getting killed, assaulted, or injured by being stupid.
When I was a kid, my Canadian grand aunt, told me a story about her grandfather, who perished that way, he was told numerous times not to use the train bridge as a shortcut home, & one day a train that was off schedule, forced him to jump to his death…
Then also add the fact that it likely happens "often" and it's not just that one "train operator" that gets his life ruined because someone wanted to see a monster or whatever.
Watch all his intros. He pretty much 95% of the time will look to the bottom left of the screen and mouth both hands outward to each bottom corner. Once you see it you can't unsee it and now when he mixes it up and only does it once or twice it leaves me feeling unsatisfied 😂😂
I love how your stories not only entertain us but they also scare us into being smarter and more aware of the decisions we make in life that can help us avoid these dark, traumatic and tragic experiences! It's such a smart way to get our adrenaline pumping but also doing it while we're (hopefully) in the safety of our own homes or other places etc. Humans learn from our ancestors grave mistakes and it's how we adapt and evolve as people. That's what i really admire about this great channel!
@@AA-gd2tb That doesn't change the fact that people should just use their brains and follow the signs, though. But yes, more adequate signage should be put up, I do agree.
@@AA-gd2tb Are you serious? Maybe they had to recite all the ways stupid people can die here? I think that guy got off too easy for trespassing, the company should have fined more heavily as an example and a warning. No trespassing means no trespassing, no matter what danger could be behind the fence.
Hands down THE best scary storytelling channel on this platform or any other platform IMO. I literally stop whatever I'm doing to watch whenever MrBallen uploads. I can't say that about many other creators on this site.
My grandparents live in Pope Lick. After the passed, and climbed back over onto the track, he ran to my grandparents house. There my grandfather meet him standing next to the died girlfriend, screaming for help. My grandpa was the one who called the ambulance and police.
My mom and her brother were in a sanatorium for tuberculosis. They were quarantined together for nearly a year, seeing that picture breaks my heart. I can hear the tears in her voice when she talks about it. I believe these places are truly haunted with such sickness and sorrow.
That’s so sad. 😢 My mother & I are immune to TB. All the experts say it’s impossible. Fact is Mum may have been exposed to it and built antibodies to it, but when I was a kid and at high school, everyone was vaccinated against it. Except me. I reacted to the initial Mantoux skin test. Ended up having a chest X-ray to make sure I didn’t have it. 🤷♀️ Anyone else out there immune to TB?
As a life long resident of Lou Ky , I have also done the crazy thng of crossing the Poke Lick tracks . It was something we did as highschool kids . Scary AF because we knew the trains still ran the track but young energy sometimes makes you dumb. Thanks for the Story MrBallen
Seems part bad design. We have a similarly famous trestle here but it has "lookouts" spaced on both sides that you can easily run to and wait for the train to pass.
I was just thinking something similar. It's sheer luck that more of us didn't end up cautionary tales. I know my friends and I did some CRAZY things in our youth.
Always follow your own first instinct if you feel uncomfortable or super creeped out don’t do it. As I watch every episode I can of Mr. Ballen thank you John for the creepy adventures without actually entering in.
My mom is 72, and she absolutely adores you. I always hear her listening to your videos whilst she’s in bed in the next room. You make her so happy. She hasn’t smiled this much since my dad passed away. She thinks you’re very cute! ❤
I discovered you a year ago. I binge watched all your videos within a matter of a few weeks. I too am a Veteran who suffers from PTSD and depression. But, after watching your videos, i feel better and I look forward to seeing them. Keep up the good work battle buddy.
No trespassing signs are usually there for a reason. My folks had to put some up to cover their butts in case someone came on their property without permissions and got hurt. The kids from a nearby development thought it was fun to play in my folks' drainage ditch. For those that don't know, these drainage ditches can fill VERY quickly with water without warning. In that state at least one kid died every year playing in them. Once filled with water (very cold water BTW), the sides are quite slippery and it can almost impossible to get out without help. My folks tried going to the kids' parents, but their attitude was my folks had more land so their kids should be free to play there. That's when the "no trespassing" signs went up. Trains are no joke. Never try to chance it; someday you'll lose that race.
Yeah, hon, like what kept them from "hearing" that damned locomotive anyways?!? (Like they're not silent nor are they some miniature piece of equipment... unbelievable, really...) And such an unnecessary tragedy...LORD JESUS!!!
@@mikegonzales6910 Some people seem to think they're main characters on Star Trek or something and can't be killed. The poor first responders often have to scrape up what's left.
Strange that among all of these signs, none of them informed what the danger actually was. Since the fence and the signs were all there because of an urban legend, debunking it by writing that this is an active train bridge and trains come all the time would possibly prevent accidents where the "adventurers" presume it is derelict.
I know I am late to come here, but I like to know if those kids ever got hurt, and if they did, did the parents of those kids try to sue your folks after they put up the signs? I have seen it many of times where some one who thinks that they are entitled to do something that they are not supposed to do. And when something bad happens they try to play the victim. Was just wondering if that happened even though your folks was in the right by putting those signs up.
This is an old post but I still have to take the time to say I live for the far and few sponsor ads by Mr Ballen… He’s the only one to get me to listen allll the way thru.. I mean I GET to listen all the thru. Phenomenal, my dude. Well done, sir👏🏻❤️
As a retired deputy coroner I investigated several train deaths. Every time I had to go out and walk the tracks, if it was a double track, I triple requested and verified that both tracks were shut down. Didn't make the BNSF or Amtrak folks very happy because of the back up, but on the other hand nothing would be moving until I was done. Never underestimate the power and speed of a train.
The power of David is insane, crazy how he was able to hold on for the shaking of the train and seeing something horrific.. I hope he is doing well today 🤘🏻
@@themightybalian there was a place to sit basically. i doubt he used the 'holding a pullup' technique. at least the 'arms wrapped around one of the vertical attachments' method.
In 2000, six friends and I after watching the Blair Witch project wanted to become film makers. We all lived in Louisville and looking for a urban legend we stumbled across the Pope Lick Monster. All of us decided that is where we would do our filming, so a few of us went during the day to scout it out. It was surprisingly calm, but also a bit eerie, perhaps because we knew so many young people have died trying to cross the tracks. A commitment among us was made to never try to cross the tracks, or even go on them. So at 10pm that night in July we made our way there, and went under the same hole in the fence, and climbed up to the top to take a look at the Trussell and started filming. We could see a train making it way towards us so we went a little back down the hill and started filing the train as it went by. Afterwards we hear two guys tell us all to freeze and put our hands on our heads. Turns out the Rail Road police patrol the place every night as there have been many people who die there every month trying to cross the bridge. We weren't arrested but had to go to court and ended up getting 20 hours of community service. A few months ago my wife and I were out near the area and I wanted to see if they ever fixed the hole, and sure enough they really added much more fencing and many more signs about trespassing. Overall the place was a bit weird and being back in there at night was creepy, but I think it was just our heightened minds playing tricks on us.
The easiest way to tell if a railroad line is abandoned is if the tops of the rails are shiny. Rails rust over very quickly when not used. If the tops are shiny, there definitely has been a train recently. (Of course, still be cautious even on the rustiest rails..)
The only train tracks I ever hiked were in Madison In and they were shut down before I was born. I've seen Stand By Me too many times to want to walk a train bridge that might see activity.
@@rizkiramadhan9266 You may have misunderstood. Whenever a train passes, it’s wheels automatically cause the tops of the rails to become polished & shiny. Then with time, and rain/moisture, they slowly rust.
This may sound weird but when you lose a loved one you quickly disregard all that. Missing them far outweighs being annoyed with their antics. Just from my experience.
And the guy as well. Imagine the pure horror of finding the mangled corpse of your girlfriend on the hillside afterwards. I would wish it was me that got hit by the train.
@@donvito5647 She didn’t know it was active, if she would have known trains come through there and still did it then it would’ve been stupid. She was just looking for an adventure, and unfortunately her son will never see her again. Calling a dead mother stupid, is f**ked up..
The version I was told growing up, was that the Pope Lick monster ("The Goatman") would mimic the voices of loved ones in distress to lure you onto the tracks so that a train would hit you, or you would be forced to jump to your death. So those who heard this version were well aware of the dangers of being hit by a train. I believe it was to keep children afraid of climbing on the bridge since it was still in use and as you said extremely high up with a narrow single track.
People forget that these scary stories often start as cautionary tales begun to try to warn people away from avoidable disaster if only they'd just listen.
As a kid, my mother taught us that the best way to tell whether a train track is being used is to look at the rails. If the rails are sleek and shiny, it means a train goes past there pretty often. However, some tracks are aren’t used the whole year, so that doesn’t necessarily mean that once you get on the tracks, you wouldn’t be hit by the first train that is scheduled for that month.
I learned to always check the tracks by either sticking your head against the wall of the tunnel to hear the rumbling, or a hand/ear on the track itself to see if it was safe. Saved my rear a few times.
@@rustyhowe3907 My friend’s Mom taught us that too. She also told us to walk on the rails or jump from tie to tie so our feet wouldn’t possibly get stuck.
@@annegrey6447 Good thinking on your mum's part. We had a tunnel near our house in a seriously rural area thus we learned quick on how to cross tracks.
Dude was a beast for being able to dangle off the side and waiting for the train to pass through after watching his girl die right in front of him, and then being able to pull himself back up.
True but not really applicable here since a train coming down a railroad trestle is hardly unexpected. It's certainly more obvious than an alleged cryptid monster hiding under a bridge to kill you.
I've seen some people ask why there weren't signs that it was an active track. Tracks can become abandoned at any moment, and abandoned tracks can have operations resumed on them without any real notice as well, granted their condition is good. Also, tracks can change ownership, and overall, any track you see are privately owned by the rail company. It's always better to assume any tracks you see to be in operation.
I went to High School with a girl that found herself in that same situation. Her name was Savanna Bright (15). She went to the bridge at night with 3 other friends “looking for the monster” and died the same way.
Compared to other story tellers. Ballen knows how to string people along with a climate and ending. I've watched other people talk about the exact same stories but they drop the ball immediately which ruins the immersion.
I love how far Ballen has come... been here since he uploaded four, even fives times a week. Now, the weekly story gets me wrapped up nice and cozy in my blankets, ready for bed.
Be careful the Mr ballen msg is a scam, they tell you you won a prize but want you to pay shipping. Look up online and Mr Ballen himself warns about it.
@@karmatickenny they've msgd me repeatedly and it seems legit until they ask you to pay shipping and i hate to see people taken advantage of . Anyway I thought if I saw them again I'd warn people as the $160 shipping they want could really hurt people on low incomes but im glad your vigilant, have a great day or night depending where you are.
@@rorymoore4387 i just got messaged by mr ballen too and i won a prize! so happy i just sent them 500 dollars for shipping! cant wait to get my prize im so stoked
I feel bad that she died but I'm glad the conductor wasn't held responsible. He/She was doing his/her job on directing the train. More than enough warnings were put up.
That’s the kind of story everyone should hear, just to re-enforce how important it is to respect signs. ESPECIALLY if there are dozens of them hung on a huge bar wire fence, I think it definitely speaks of itself.
The thing that gets me most about your videos is how normal these people sound, that these bad things can happen to anyone. It really makes me try to think smarter
@@sajalshukla3150 NO they should have paid attention to the damn signs they got up signs for a reason. She didn't listen that's her fault they shouldn't have to put train bridge they already had other stuff saying it was caution, do not cross & other signs of cautionary. Folks didn't listen just like the other ones that's their fault... Can't feel sorry for stupidity 🤷🏿♀️
I was born and raised in Louisville. When I was a kid my dad took me and my brother up to the Pope Lick tressel, cut the engine off on his truck after he told us the story about the Goatman and we sat there listening to the crickets and wildlife. I still remember being completely terrified.
Pulling yourself in the manner im imagining is genuinely impressive. Like, from just your fingertips as point of contact, arms fully extended dangling to pulling yourself up. Am far from a weak person but idk if i could do it
Oh wow we had this exact situation happen with this young hipster couple at a rusted, abandoned-looking, railroad bridge in my hometown in Virginia too. We have this old railroad bridge stretching across the James River & we have a really good view of the train bridge from Riverside Park which is adjacent to the river & bridge in question so locals are very well aware that the tracks have been active there for many years & generally most of the tracks in town are all very active all the time but in this case I think locals do know that it's dangerous, there are signs & fences but they try crossing it anyways as a thrill-seeking adventure. The couple that crossed the tracks a few years ago went walking across it & the guy fell or jumped off the bridge into the river & he died but the girlfriend miraculously survived by hanging on to the edges of the underside of the bridge for dear life. The space between the bridge & the James River is a pretty far away down like 150ft with big boulders at the bottom hiding underneath the water so anyone who's ever tried saving themselves by jumping in there has never made it, (this is not the first time this has happened, only the most recent one that's happened in decades). We also have a huge chain link fence surrounding all access to the bridge outside the trails in the nearby park with danger warnings & no trespassing signs as well. It's one thing if you're not a local & just don't know things but to be a local & already aware of the dangers of walking on this particular bridge but people try doing it anyways. Just why? I think one of the saddest parts about the incident is the man who was operating the train. The extreme guilt literally broke his brain, I believe he now stays in some kind of mental care facility or something but I feel so bad for the guy because he feels that because he was operating the train & he saw this couple on the bridge with nowhere to go & he couldn't get the train to brake fast enough that he's responsible & ever since then he apparently can't function as a person anymore & he's been suicidal, the trauma was just too great for him. I know he can't help feeling guilty but I hope he knows that there was literally nothing he can do he would've had to have known long in advance about them walking on the bridge in order to make it come to a complete stop in time, I wish he didn't blame himself, that poor soul.
I know this is the general feeling of the masses but I just needed to say, Mr Ballen, you are more than just a RUclipsr. You are more than just a storyteller. You have given me joy and intrigue in times of deep depression and addiction. It's easy to see when someone is genuine and cares about their product. I think it speaks volumes that you never beg or slyly ask for appreciation, likes, etc. Instead you make it into a joke and that helps me put into perspective a lot of things. One being you are doing this for the people and entertainment and not just money. Yes your content is by far top tier and of the best on RUclips, but also the most genuine and light-hearted. Even telling these crazy strange, dark, and mysterious stories. So on behalf of us in the audience I think I speak for everyone when I say you are appreciated more than you know! Thanks for making the raunchy negative internet a better place.
Mr Ballen has helped me so much also. It’s one of my “safe shows” when having anxiety. They’re perfect for when I’m depressed, or even when I just am bored. Its nice seeing a channel like this.
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I don’t value my life enough to not seek thrills, but I prefer to not break laws or do things that could bother others. If I’m going to thrill seek I plan to do so in a way where only myself could be in danger, or in a moderated way such as with trained professionals
@@MrBallen hey whats up with the comment winner for that ballen shirt?!?!? We just got hit up by scammers!! Theres no DM in youtube?!?!!! Please address thissssss 🤞🤞
It feels like you're in the same room with him, whenever Mr Ballen tells a story. Rarely have I felt so "accompanied" by a TV or YT format. He already feels like an old friend to me.
props to the history team for opening the area up at night for people to come see so they dont break in at night and run into a risk of seeing something shouldnt of gangs or a homeless person just trying to squat and who knows who else.
John this was a great story. It is sad that Rachel ignored the warning signs that ultimately led to her death. Also thank you for the update on the Delphi murders of the 2 young girls. Glad to see they finally made an arrest in that case. God bless you and your family
@@sashadeea if you go to Mr. Ballen's RUclips page and hit the "community" tab you can find his post that has the link to the news article. Essentially, like others have mentioned, an arrest has been made. There will be more news coming out tomorrow (Monday 10/31) about it. In my opinion the guy that was arrested definitely looks like the guy in the video that said, "Guys, down the hill." But at the same time there are plenty of people in the world that fit the description. I'm hoping we will learn of what evidence brought them to finally be able to arrest this man.
Somehow these stories help me with my anxiety. It gives my anxiety a reason to exist while also showing me that I am just nervous and the people in these stories actually are the ones who have it bad. It just helps me remember that I am actually safe on my couch right now. If that makes sense. lol
Can't imagine how the engineer felt seeing two people, and no matter how hard he tries, the machine will come to a stop a half-mile after hitting them.
The way MrBallen tells his stories is so great and unique with all the information that probably took hours to gather. I will never stop being excited for the next video. Mad respects to MrBallen for all the efford he puts into his videos! ^^
@@jo-eo9ld 100's of others deserve it more than him...... he went from 3-4 uploads a week to 1 every other week its fucking jarring and disrespectful to his long time fans
Another great presentation. The ‘wooden slats’ are ties, and almost all of those bridges in KY and many parts of the country were built in the 1920s. With paint environmental regulations these days, you won’t find many railroads rushing to re-paint, so an appearance of abandonment is common. We have a long 80-ft high railroad trestle in east-central KY that is a magnet for trespassers (including me as a kid). There are four such bridges in the area but this was the only one of the four without a walkway for railroad workers. It has a curve on each end so there’s no sight distance and the wind disguises most noise from approaching trains. Three girls hiked up to the bridge and decided to cross, walking between the rails on the ties that are open to the ground below. A train approached and one girl was able to run off the bridge. A second jumped 20 ft. and broke bones. The third girl was far out on the bridge. The conductor exited the cab of the locomotive in an effort to grab her. She was struck and killed. A bad way to go and a traumatic event for the train crew.
This is a slap in the face to the people who were commenting nonsense in the previous video about the group who ignored the sirens to go swimming. Those people were really blaming the workers & company for “not putting enough signs” to not tresspass, smh.. I wonder what their excuse for this video is now..
exactly, i cant think of anything that would make me turn around and gtfo of the area/water than a full on siren wailing away, should be the most instinctively terrifying noise to us as humans by now
It was the responsibility of the dam operators to ensure there were adequate signs and safety protection. They were greedy and decided that creating deadly flash floods for tourists was more important than protecting people and wildlife. They could simply have let a smaller amount of water flow at all times, but instead they chose chaos. If they were only going to post one warning sign, they needed to make darn sure it couldn't be stolen or blocked. The bridge was different because it served an actual needed purpose. Also, there were huge fences and warning signs, so any sane person would have stayed away. Granted, they should have posted a sign at the beginning of the bridge explaining exactly why it was so dangerous. They could also add a warning siren, lights, or even require trains to slow down when crossing it. However, they at least tried to protect people.
@@wildflower1397 there were literal multiple loud ass sirens. If I were in an area in the woods and heard a loud as air raid siren, I would immediately leave.
@@michaelgoldstein8516 I've seen multiple people saying that, but even so, that's not quite the point. The important part with the siren wasn't just to "go away" but to get a certain range away from the flood zone. Without the sign, you don't know that, so even if you turn back, if you're walking along the water edge, you may still be in danger. The signage was majorly inadequate.
I’m from Dayton and have had the opportunity to go to Waverly Sanatorium. However I refuse to go because my great grandmother died there from TB. Last thing I need is a familial ghost following me home to haunt me. Lol! On a serious note, pay attention to signs, She left her child motherless because of her “thrill seeking needs.”
Even though I miss when we used to get videos of the strange dark and mysterious 2-3 or even 4 times a week I am extremely grateful for the effort that’s put into the weekly vids. Even if I’ve heard the case 50 times I’ll still watch for the extra details and of course the personality
Huge Congrats on all of your success! I absolutely love your content. Just last night I shared your “kid friendly” video about the sheep, turtle and ravens with our kids and friends kids. They were glued to the stories and didn’t move an inch. You never cease to amaze!
@@rumchata6569 nah just saw on someone’s stream that he’s nominated for top content creator in the world and a few other awards. Been watching him since he was a small channel so it’s cool to see he’s getting recognition on a critically acclaimed level
I know this bridge very well. Walked on it too but never very far as most locals know better. You can hardly outrun any train on it. I was born in Louisville and grew up in Jeffersontown just couple miles from it. Went up there years ago at night in my teens and twenties to hang out, drink and look for the monster. The only monster there of course, was the train. Lost friends up there. Very sad story. So glad you shed some awareness on it. Great story telling as always mrballen. Thanks!
My maternal grandmother was one of the first wave of t.b. patients who were cured when a cure was invented. She was in a sanatorium in Muskegon, Michigan for a year when her two children were teenagers. My uncle and mother remember going to wave up at her window from the parking lot once a week.
MrBallen is one of best narrators of the strange dark and mysterious delivered in story format. Sometimes when I see longer videos, it makes me want to “skip to the good part.” But because MrBallen draws you in on every word and really paints the picture, I’ll watch video after video to realize hours have gone by. Bravo! Btw, the like button hasn’t noticed how I loaded their dishwasher yet. Will keep posted.
Honestly, I do see where they're coming from, thinking that bridge is abandoned. Even so, unless I'm able to outrun a train I'm not walking on rails anyways. Aside of the "questionable" initial decision making, I do applaud David for his quick thinking under extremely high pressure and being able to actually pull it off.
A lot of the families of people like this act like the person did nothing wrong and it's the fault of whoever owns the place the person trespassed into. They refuse to believe their loved one did something stupid that caused their own death.
@@frankLedwith I mean...it's how the guy makes money. I agree, it's obviously forced, but, I'm not too bothered by it. His stories are so entertaining, it's very little to deal with.
@@frankLedwith Not sure how it ruins the video when none of his videos are posted Live, so you can just skip through the ad if you want to, same way you would with automatic ads
Really? He does a lot of things well... but sponsorships just like 99.999999% of content is done pretty poorly here. I've never NOT skipped those parts, ahh how I miss the good old videos focused on pure content rather than money. That said, it definitely IS possible for stuff like that to be done well, but I've only really seen it a couple times. Basically ONLY do sponsorship-type stuff if it's completely organic... as in the content is actually elevated BECAUSE of the 'advertisement' rather than lowering the content's quality. When it's done so that it's an integral part of a video (enough so that it would suck WITHOUT the product being shown)... then and only then is it acceptable. Just think about watching this video 50 years or 500 years from now. That's really the only test you need to determine if some sort of advertising would make any sense to include or not.
I love seeing the dorky advertisement in between his shows also. Makes for a good laugh and love that Ballen is such a dork that has the ability to also laugh at himself. Good stuff.
Mr. Ballen, I know you're a busy guy but you don't know how much I love watching your videos every week. As a college student, I wish some of my professors taught their classes with as much enthusiasm and attention grabbing energy as you.
It’s truly incredible how much joy MrBallen brings to so many peoples lives. I discovered his channel during the 1st lockdown in Britain. Thank you MrBallen for making the last few years bearable. He’s inadvertently helped me more than any other person I know
This bridge is about 5 minutes from house. Trains run through this area constantly and so many people have died on this bridge. My parents and a couple of their friends went on it back in the 70’s and one of their friends leg got stuck in the track. And of course, they soon saw a train coming in the distance. Luckily, they were close to one of the ends and my parents were able to get off safely, but this girl unfortunately did not. Also, Waverly is awesome - highly recommend checking it out via a tour. Don’t try to sneak in though, I did that in high school and they saw us coming a mile away.
It seemed like not so long ago that I found you when you were just starting. Posting 3, 4, or 5 times a week. You've come so far and it's been such an amazing journey to come along on. Now I listen to the podcast as well so I've always got some Mr. Ballen around. I've watched the like button endure SO much and seagull lung is really starting to grow on me. Congrats on all of your success. You deserve it brother! With love from Chicago.
There’s a train in my backyard. You could walk up on the tracks easily as there’s only a small amount of trees and brush. Probably 3-4 feet you can very easily walk through, no fences. Last year there was a woman who walked down the tracks while a train was going down, intending to be hit. I hear this train every day, see it every day. It barrels through everything. The woman was just..decimated. It’s heartbreaking to be honest. Someone I know laid down on the tracks but my best friend pulled him off. I also found myself staring at the tracks but I never stood on them. After that woman passed away, I was a nosy neighbor and I was able to watch the ambiance and police officers come by. I live in a valley and there are lots of hills, my friend’s house is on a hill and his yard goes down the slope, to the tracks. It’s a very long distance but when you sit on their porch, you can see a good angle of what’s happening down there. I’m pretty desensitized to everything but there was more than one white bag on a gurney. After this happened, I stared thinking about the train driver and I looked up how often this happens and it’s a lot. Those train conductors have to watch these people get hit by the train whether wanting to or not and there’s nothing they can do but look away when impact happens. The suicide rates are through the roof for these guys…
Had this happen to me in my early teens, walking the tracks in upstate New York with my bff. It was so much like the scene in Stand By Me. We were absolute idiots, it was a miracle we survived.
Common sense isn't as "common" as it used to be. Which is sad bc then we get stories like THIS👆. Your "gut instincts" will normally keep you safe.......IF you listen to it. That creepy feeling you get deeep down inside your core. That feeling of "something isn't right here" or "something feels off" however as a society "younger generations" will see gut instincts as "being chicken" or some other bs. 🤦♂️
I live right outside of Louisville ky and have been to the pope lick bridge, waverly hills multiple times!! It’s crazy to see you cover such a close occurrence to my home! Absolutely love the content you produce. It’s also amazing all the donations you provide for the families that have been affected!
It was so surreal seeing you talk about and display 2 places I've personally been to and grew up around. What's even crazier is I went to that bridge around 2015. I do a lot of exploring and paranormal research and one of the biggest rules I have is treat every train track as tho is active unless the tracks are actually disconnected or gone in spots. When friends and I went to this bridge, we were going research. 1 person out of the group wanted to go on the bridge. I told her we can take a couple steps, take our pics, and then get back to safety but we were to go no further. At that time I was pretty sure it was still active, 2 others thought it was decommissioned, and the other knew nothing about the bridge. So it was treated as active. As a thrill seeker myself, I've done stupid things and I've gotten hurt. But I always, at minimum try, to stay out of death's way. I can't imagine what he boyfriend was going through, hanging on the side of the bridge with the train rumbling what he's holding on to for dear life while watching his girlfriend die. That's so horrible. My heart goes out to her kids and family.
@@Freespirit435 Maybe because they had plenty of warning signs of NO TRESSPASING, DANGER, STAY OUT! If you're too stupid to head those signs nothing else if going to deter you. Even if they had a train operating sign I would imagine people would still try to temp fate and lose.
The smallest details in these stories you tell is something that so many storytellers miss, you never fail to disappoint THANKS MRBALLEN FOR THESE STORIES YOU TELL.
PLEASE ! PLEASE ! PLEASE ! PLEASE ! STOP ! STOP ! THE SOUND EFFECTS !!! YOU ARE THE BEST STORY TELLER EVER ! I GET SO INVOLVED IN THE STORY,THEN I HEAR NOISES. IT DISTRACTS ME,I THINK THE NOISE IS IN MY HOUSE ! I USED TO PAUSE THE VIDEO AND LISTEN ONCE I REALIZED IT WAS SOUD EFFECTS . I NO LONGER PAUSE , ANYONE ELSE FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE SOUND EFFECTS ? I WROTE THIS IN CAPS TO DRAW ATTENTION , DID IT WORK ? ? OH ONE MORE THING MR BALLEN YOU DO NOT NEED SOUND EFFECTS YOUR PERSONALITY AND GOOD LOOKS AND YOUR VOICE MAKES ME COME BACK FOR MORE !! ❤❤😆
@@Ty-1452 it doesn’t matter how detailed a warning is. Ppl are still gonna do it. No. It wouldn’t. Even people FROM there who know full well that it is an active train track, and a train could come through any minute, still cross it and have been killed. There are countless examples of ppl knowing, specifically, the danger of something and doing it anyway. It’s just human nature.
@@Ty-1452 Vague or not, they shouldn't have been there and ignored all the signs saying that. That includes the obvious, very specific, warning sign of the train tracks themselves.
The Pope Lick monster seems to be a great allegory for the real dangers of the bridge. It either kills you with a strike from an axe(the front of the train), or convinces you to jump to your death(avoiding the train but dying from the fall). That is one creative urban legend.
The train is the Pope Lick monster.
Bro summed it up perfectly
That’s perfect
Such a stupid idea. Raquel became the Raquailway Pink Mist
Yep. The monster is basically the train itself. When Mr Ballen gave more history at the end about how dozens of other people dying on the bridge for the same reasons, that's pretty crazy.
I give dude props for holding on while a train is shaking the hell out the bridge. That takes some real strength and luck
Made me think of The Lost Boys.
@@sgvincent100 i was about to say the same thing!!! how are your maggots? maggots, you're eating maggots michael!
@@sgvincent100 Sane here. So sad that the woman wasnt able to get on the ledge in time.
Raquel could have had an extra 10 minutes to get down there and she still wouldn't have been able to hang on that long. Many men wouldn't have been able to do what this guy did, any much beyond the age of 25.
The Pope Lick Monster story never includes the reason people jump, I guess. To avoid getting hit by a train...
@@mildyproductive9726 I think the wood has support for your feet. If you look at the picture it looks like you wouldn’t be using only your arms.
I feel bad for her son she left behind. What a senseless avoidable death. Also I feel bad for David who had to witness it all.
@Thrill1667 nobody deserves to die like that. have some respect.
@Thrill1667 her son didn’t deserve that.
@Thrill1667 Somebody didn't listen to TLC's 'Waterfalls' growing up and it shows.
I genuinely cannot understand how she couldn't climb down fast enough...she must have been one of the thrill-seeking types without much life/crisis experience so she just froze in fear and disbelief when shtf...
@Thrill1667 It's not that personal, we all do stupid sht (especially when we're younger,) some of us just get caught is all.
I always love the “so, that’s gonna do it” at the end of each episode.
Like yes, getting hit by a train, that’s gonna do it.
Its okay if you brace yourself.
I don't know how to brace😂😂😂
The unmentioned victim in this story is the train operator. If he, indeed, initiated the brakes he must have thought there was a chance. Not only is this heartbreaking for the operator, he watched the whole thing happen right in front of him while being powerless to do anything about it (Depending on weight/speed it can take a train over a mile to stop).
I live where there are a lot of suicides by train and and the personnel operating the train get really messed up when they hit someone.
@@thechloechronicles9688 That is incredibly selfish and horrible that people would make others suffer like that.
It is very likely that the conductor did not see them until it was too late, there is a sharp down hill turn and then a short straight strip where a road crosses over. They would already be slowing down coming off the bridge.
@@selenabaldwin4594 Read/watch the sources Ballen attached. Your comment is totally false.
@@LuvBorderCollies I live in this community and have my whole life, drive straight over and under these tracks every day. I was not trying to insinuate anything I was just trying to give a visual of the area.
Golden rule of train tracks: never assume the railway is abandoned
Ever.
Are they rusty or shiny
Love you brother
@@HubertofLiege that's the point it doesn't matter. You treat any track like it is a active track.
Do not depend on rust as a clue if its active or not. Rust can form in minutes under certain conditions, especially humid ones. If a track is abandoned the tracks are torn out fairly soon afterward. That's been my experience living around them.
The Pope Lick Trestle has always spooked me out bc there’s something about how so many people feel possessed to completely abandon their common sense when they get there. I know humans are complicated and social pressure/curiosity can make us do a lot of seemingly paradoxical things but you can also draw a straight folkloric line between the behaviors and the idea of a monster luring folks out onto the tracks.
Raquailway probably wanted her Stand By Me moment. Instead she got a Run Over Me moment
@@___DRIP___ hahaha omg! Omg! I thought the same thing! Well immediately got a visual of that scene in Stand By Me when it turned the were on that railroad!
@@___DRIP___ *Roquel
These people aren't possessed at all. They find themselves in trouble,just like these 2, and have only 3 choices, either (1) run and hope they make it, (2) jump and most likely get killed, or (3) stand there and definitely get killed. This is what happens when people ignore all warning signs and take their lives in their own hands.
I mean, it IS part of the lore that one of the ways the the Pope Lick Monster kills, is actually by somehow entrancing or enchanting people, and luring them up onto the trestle and tracks. Not saying it is or isn't true,. Just saying I see exactly where you're coming from.
Props to the guy for figuring out a way to survive at a near death situation
i was afraid the rumble or wind would make him unable to maintain the hold. OR that he'd be too wiped out to pull himself back up. (idk if i woulda made it because of that.)
I live right near the tracks a few of my friends actually have videos of them hanging off the side while the train is going past they’re stupid asf but yeah a lot of people get a thrill from doing stupid shit
Quick thinking from him. If only she whould have insisted in going to the bridge then mayby this could have been prevented.
Someone's got to live to tell the tale
@@ICYPROFITSthats sad and creepy how dare doing that at this time !!
My father thought walking across an abandoned train bridge with us kids was a great idea. I walked up, looked at it and said it wasn't abandoned, so I went back to my mom and grandma.
No one died, but a train did go by on it awhile after my dad and siblings finished crossing. Don't walk on train bridges. It's not safe.
Hell no it ain't safe
Tell your father a random stranger on youtube told you your father sounds just about as smart as Homer Simpson.
@@beacurnearecurvata188 I don't think Barney would even be stupid enough to play on train bridges
I crossed one once. Well, halfway. The train started coming so we jumped off into the river below. I’m lucky to be alive.
My boyfriend and I almost got hit by a train a few years ago. It was only the 2nd time we had hung out and we were sitting on the tracks near my city's greenway getting to know each other and didn't hear the horn until the train was probably 15-20 feet away. We had to jump off the tracks. I actually have a picture my boyfriend took of me on the other side of the tracks (we jumped on opposite sides) waving underneath the train lol So yes, don't walk on train bridges and don't sit on tracks in deep conversation.
This just goes to show you should never let somebody talk you into something if you have a bad feeling about it
So true! Trust your instincts! Don't go places, do things, or trust anyone that makes you feel uneasy. There are more than enough ways to get a thrill without getting killed, assaulted, or injured by being stupid.
Your gut instinct is almost 100% correct all the time
Just shows that you cannot fix stupid. It not worth it.
When I was a kid, my Canadian grand aunt, told me a story about her grandfather, who perished that way, he was told numerous times not to use the train bridge as a shortcut home, & one day a train that was off schedule, forced him to jump to his death…
Rawr
Sometimes when I feel off I listen to MrBallen tell stories and then I realize I’m fine. Really, really fine.
same bro
We’re not
ITS CALLED ADDICTION 😂😂
Shut up
why did i read this in mrballens voice
I know they shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but you have to at least admit that it’s impressive that David managed to survive that.
Sympathies for the train driver / engineer. Hope they're coping with seeing that
@Scheissenbergtrue
I hope
Then also add the fact that it likely happens "often" and it's not just that one "train operator" that gets his life ruined because someone wanted to see a monster or whatever.
Not only am I entertained by your story and storytelling, but I get to watch my cat chase your hands all over the screen too. Thanks!
OMG I thought my cat was the only one that did that! 🤣🙌🐾
This cracked me up. Now I can’t stop noticing how quickly his hands move around. My cats would enjoy that too hahaha
We need video of this.
Watch all his intros. He pretty much 95% of the time will look to the bottom left of the screen and mouth both hands outward to each bottom corner. Once you see it you can't unsee it and now when he mixes it up and only does it once or twice it leaves me feeling unsatisfied 😂😂
Hahaha that's cute
Many discover that all along the real monster was the 200 tons of steel moving at 60mph
that's foul 💀
The real monster was the friends we made along the way
The talking with the hands wildly is sooooo obnoxious. I can't watch this feminine behavior. I just listen. It's too much Mr Ballen.
@@lindabrennan4455feminine behavior?! 😂😂😂
@@lindabrennan4455 bro meny people talk with their hands 💀. It's a form of communication.
I love how your stories not only entertain us but they also scare us into being smarter and more aware of the decisions we make in life that can help us avoid these dark, traumatic and tragic experiences! It's such a smart way to get our adrenaline pumping but also doing it while we're (hopefully) in the safety of our own homes or other places etc. Humans learn from our ancestors grave mistakes and it's how we adapt and evolve as people. That's what i really admire about this great channel!
Ikr🙌🏿
People never cease to amaze me of the stupidity and the red flags they ignore
Natural selection
Which is why those people Die and the smart people who actually listen Survive
@@AA-gd2tb That doesn't change the fact that people should just use their brains and follow the signs, though. But yes, more adequate signage should be put up, I do agree.
@@AA-gd2tb Are you serious? Maybe they had to recite all the ways stupid people can die here? I think that guy got off too easy for trespassing, the company should have fined more heavily as an example and a warning. No trespassing means no trespassing, no matter what danger could be behind the fence.
@@AA-gd2tb but they still tesspassing you bafoon. Something they shouldnt have done in the first place
Telling someone in Mr Ballen's stories to read a warning is like telling a fish to climb a tree
Fish that climb wall: Am i a joke to you?
Lol.
Some fish can climb a tree, true.
And that one type of fish replies," hey..i'm offended." - a fish literally can climb tree.
Wait you guys can all talk to fish?
Hands down THE best scary storytelling channel on this platform or any other platform IMO. I literally stop whatever I'm doing to watch whenever MrBallen uploads. I can't say that about many other creators on this site.
DITTO
Not just storytelling, the best youtuber :)
For real.
But you gotta check out Humans!
She's right up there with Mr Ballen & chubbyemu!
☮️💜
I can't say that about ANY other channel, to be honest!?🤷❤💯
Same! My children love him too. Anytime I see a notification that Mr Ballen has uploaded, it's family time! ❣️😃
My grandparents live in Pope Lick. After the passed, and climbed back over onto the track, he ran to my grandparents house. There my grandfather meet him standing next to the died girlfriend, screaming for help. My grandpa was the one who called the ambulance and police.
💜
My mom and her brother were in a sanatorium for tuberculosis. They were quarantined together for nearly a year, seeing that picture breaks my heart. I can hear the tears in her voice when she talks about it. I believe these places are truly haunted with such sickness and sorrow.
Wow😞 I can't imagine the pain her and her brother felt
My grandma worked at one in California.. The area where it was is now a semi-popular offroading site called T.B. Sands
had to make it ab yourself ✌️
If the patients were being quarantined because there was no cure then how was the staff avoiding the same incurable disease?
That’s so sad. 😢
My mother & I are immune to TB. All the experts say it’s impossible. Fact is Mum may have been exposed to it and built antibodies to it, but when I was a kid and at high school, everyone was vaccinated against it. Except me. I reacted to the initial Mantoux skin test. Ended up having a chest X-ray to make sure I didn’t have it. 🤷♀️
Anyone else out there immune to TB?
This gorgeous man in flannel is a blessing to the world. Thank you all for being here, I'm glad you're well.
Agreed ❣
His flannel collection is amazing!
@@oAgL214 probably has stocks in Duluth Trading Company
What stupid comment above?
As a life long resident of Lou Ky , I have also done the crazy thng of crossing the Poke Lick tracks . It was something we did as highschool kids . Scary AF because we knew the trains still ran the track but young energy sometimes makes you dumb. Thanks for the Story MrBallen
When you're that age you think you are immortal
Seems part bad design. We have a similarly famous trestle here but it has "lookouts" spaced on both sides that you can easily run to and wait for the train to pass.
I was just thinking something similar. It's sheer luck that more of us didn't end up cautionary tales. I know my friends and I did some CRAZY things in our youth.
@@Kepi_Kei - Darwin Awards, to weed them out. (Old timers in rural Kentucky, 30yrs ago, when I moved to a No Zone County.)
Poke Lick?! lol
Always follow your own first instinct if you feel uncomfortable or super creeped out don’t do it. As I watch every episode I can of Mr. Ballen thank you John for the creepy adventures without actually entering in.
My mom is 72, and she absolutely adores you. I always hear her listening to your videos whilst she’s in bed in the next room. You make her so happy. She hasn’t smiled this much since my dad passed away. She thinks you’re very cute! ❤
I wonder if she will still smile now that she has to pay.
@Witty Witty dude you're creepy af
@Witty Witty she does with ur dad now
Aww 🥰❤️❤️🥺
@@bingefox4056 ??
I discovered you a year ago. I binge watched all your videos within a matter of a few weeks. I too am a Veteran who suffers from PTSD and depression. But, after watching your videos, i feel better and I look forward to seeing them. Keep up the good work battle buddy.
Monique, please take care and try to enjoy every moment of your life 😔 Love from Poland 😘
Thank you for your service! Take care of yourself!
Thank you for your service, and welcome to the community.
Thank you for your service, sir.
@@MsAubrey says Mom
No trespassing signs are usually there for a reason. My folks had to put some up to cover their butts in case someone came on their property without permissions and got hurt. The kids from a nearby development thought it was fun to play in my folks' drainage ditch. For those that don't know, these drainage ditches can fill VERY quickly with water without warning. In that state at least one kid died every year playing in them. Once filled with water (very cold water BTW), the sides are quite slippery and it can almost impossible to get out without help. My folks tried going to the kids' parents, but their attitude was my folks had more land so their kids should be free to play there. That's when the "no trespassing" signs went up.
Trains are no joke. Never try to chance it; someday you'll lose that race.
Yeah, hon, like what kept them from "hearing" that damned locomotive anyways?!? (Like they're not silent nor are they some miniature piece of equipment... unbelievable, really...) And such an unnecessary tragedy...LORD JESUS!!!
@@mikegonzales6910 Some people seem to think they're main characters on Star Trek or something and can't be killed. The poor first responders often have to scrape up what's left.
@@mikegonzales6910 He most likely lied. They probably planned to hang from the tracks from the beginning. It was done in "The Lost Boys".
Strange that among all of these signs, none of them informed what the danger actually was. Since the fence and the signs were all there because of an urban legend, debunking it by writing that this is an active train bridge and trains come all the time would possibly prevent accidents where the "adventurers" presume it is derelict.
I know I am late to come here, but I like to know if those kids ever got hurt, and if they did, did the parents of those kids try to sue your folks after they put up the signs? I have seen it many of times where some one who thinks that they are entitled to do something that they are not supposed to do. And when something bad happens they try to play the victim. Was just wondering if that happened even though your folks was in the right by putting those signs up.
This is an old post but I still have to take the time to say I live for the far and few sponsor ads by Mr Ballen…
He’s the only one to get me to listen allll the way thru.. I mean I GET to listen all the thru. Phenomenal, my dude. Well done, sir👏🏻❤️
I love how he laughs at his own jokes during his sponsor moments.
I laugh at them with him.
It’s adorable
As a retired deputy coroner I investigated several train deaths. Every time I had to go out and walk the tracks, if it was a double track, I triple requested and verified that both tracks were shut down. Didn't make the BNSF or Amtrak folks very happy because of the back up, but on the other hand nothing would be moving until I was done. Never underestimate the power and speed of a train.
The power of David is insane, crazy how he was able to hold on for the shaking of the train and seeing something horrific.. I hope he is doing well today 🤘🏻
It's amazing how staring death in the face will show you strength you never even imagined you had.
it's called: being able to do a few pullups...an ability that most current humans unfortunately don't have
@@themightybalian there was a place to sit basically. i doubt he used the 'holding a pullup' technique. at least the 'arms wrapped around one of the vertical attachments' method.
Hope he has a smarter girlfriend.
And then he was fined by the Govt.
In 2000, six friends and I after watching the Blair Witch project wanted to become film makers. We all lived in Louisville and looking for a urban legend we stumbled across the Pope Lick Monster. All of us decided that is where we would do our filming, so a few of us went during the day to scout it out. It was surprisingly calm, but also a bit eerie, perhaps because we knew so many young people have died trying to cross the tracks. A commitment among us was made to never try to cross the tracks, or even go on them. So at 10pm that night in July we made our way there, and went under the same hole in the fence, and climbed up to the top to take a look at the Trussell and started filming. We could see a train making it way towards us so we went a little back down the hill and started filing the train as it went by. Afterwards we hear two guys tell us all to freeze and put our hands on our heads. Turns out the Rail Road police patrol the place every night as there have been many people who die there every month trying to cross the bridge. We weren't arrested but had to go to court and ended up getting 20 hours of community service. A few months ago my wife and I were out near the area and I wanted to see if they ever fixed the hole, and sure enough they really added much more fencing and many more signs about trespassing. Overall the place was a bit weird and being back in there at night was creepy, but I think it was just our heightened minds playing tricks on us.
I usually skip through the sponsor mentions on youtube videos, but when it comes to MRBALLEN he adds so much flare and humor to it, that i watch it
Internet Historian is the same with sponsors.
The easiest way to tell if a railroad line is abandoned is if the tops of the rails are shiny. Rails rust over very quickly when not used. If the tops are shiny, there definitely has been a train recently. (Of course, still be cautious even on the rustiest rails..)
The only train tracks I ever hiked were in Madison In and they were shut down before I was born. I've seen Stand By Me too many times to want to walk a train bridge that might see activity.
@Terra bull they did that in my town too.
Condition of train tracks shouldn't ever matter, what should matter is how quick you are from getting to safety if train arrives unexpectedly
Doubt this applies to most countries. We don't maintain rails that well.
@@rizkiramadhan9266 You may have misunderstood. Whenever a train passes, it’s wheels automatically cause the tops of the rails to become polished & shiny. Then with time, and rain/moisture, they slowly rust.
I feel bad for her family. Understanding your loved one died over some dumb shit just fuses the tragedy.
Stupid is as stupid does
@@donvito5647 exactly
This may sound weird but when you lose a loved one you quickly disregard all that. Missing them far outweighs being annoyed with their antics. Just from my experience.
And the guy as well. Imagine the pure horror of finding the mangled corpse of your girlfriend on the hillside afterwards. I would wish it was me that got hit by the train.
@@donvito5647 She didn’t know it was active, if she would have known trains come through there and still did it then it would’ve been stupid. She was just looking for an adventure, and unfortunately her son will never see her again. Calling a dead mother stupid, is f**ked up..
The version I was told growing up, was that the Pope Lick monster ("The Goatman") would mimic the voices of loved ones in distress to lure you onto the tracks so that a train would hit you, or you would be forced to jump to your death. So those who heard this version were well aware of the dangers of being hit by a train. I believe it was to keep children afraid of climbing on the bridge since it was still in use and as you said extremely high up with a narrow single track.
People forget that these scary stories often start as cautionary tales begun to try to warn people away from avoidable disaster if only they'd just listen.
The pope lick monster and the goat man are not the same thing the goat man has a lot more iterations
As a kid, my mother taught us that the best way to tell whether a train track is being used is to look at the rails. If the rails are sleek and shiny, it means a train goes past there pretty often.
However, some tracks are aren’t used the whole year, so that doesn’t necessarily mean that once you get on the tracks, you wouldn’t be hit by the first train that is scheduled for that month.
I learned to always check the tracks by either sticking your head against the wall of the tunnel to hear the rumbling, or a hand/ear on the track itself to see if it was safe.
Saved my rear a few times.
@@rustyhowe3907 My friend’s Mom taught us that too. She also told us to walk on the rails or jump from tie to tie so our feet wouldn’t possibly get stuck.
@@annegrey6447 Good thinking on your mum's part. We had a tunnel near our house in a seriously rural area thus we learned quick on how to cross tracks.
Dude was a beast for being able to dangle off the side and waiting for the train to pass through after watching his girl die right in front of him, and then being able to pull himself back up.
Being slim, fit and strong helps very much.
☕️
Dangling down thinking you made it and then something grabs your leg..
that's that movie stuff yo
The guy must be good with pull ups. It’s survival instinct, it’s not his fault that his GF is slow and he can’t help her.
This is a life lesson really - it's not always the obvious monster that gets you, it's the one you didn't think of.
man is his own demise
Wow, that is painfully true. In my life as well.
True but not really applicable here since a train coming down a railroad trestle is hardly unexpected. It's certainly more obvious than an alleged cryptid monster hiding under a bridge to kill you.
I've seen some people ask why there weren't signs that it was an active track.
Tracks can become abandoned at any moment, and abandoned tracks can have operations resumed on them without any real notice as well, granted their condition is good. Also, tracks can change ownership, and overall, any track you see are privately owned by the rail company.
It's always better to assume any tracks you see to be in operation.
I went to High School with a girl that found herself in that same situation. Her name was Savanna Bright (15). She went to the bridge at night with 3 other friends “looking for the monster” and died the same way.
When did this happen?? Did they all died??
@@MegamanX50 2020 :/ u can google her name its in news
What's worse is the family tried to sue the railroad instead of accepting the daughter fucked up
That’s so sad 😞
@@Wavoki play stupid game win 🏆 👏 stupid prizes
Mr Ballen has been a cure for depression he is not just a storyteller you feel like you are inside the story seeing it unfolding.
Same
@@carach734 exactly I don't miss an episode
It's those hand motions, they draw you in 😉
@@MourningNihilist LOLLOL
Compared to other story tellers. Ballen knows how to string people along with a climate and ending. I've watched other people talk about the exact same stories but they drop the ball immediately which ruins the immersion.
I love how far Ballen has come... been here since he uploaded four, even fives times a week. Now, the weekly story gets me wrapped up nice and cozy in my blankets, ready for bed.
Be careful the Mr ballen msg is a scam, they tell you you won a prize but want you to pay shipping. Look up online and Mr Ballen himself warns about it.
@@rorymoore4387 I know, but thank you for warning me in any case.
@@karmatickenny they've msgd me repeatedly and it seems legit until they ask you to pay shipping and i hate to see people taken advantage of . Anyway I thought if I saw them again I'd warn people as the $160 shipping they want could really hurt people on low incomes but im glad your vigilant, have a great day or night depending where you are.
@@rorymoore4387 i just got messaged by mr ballen too and i won a prize! so happy i just sent them 500 dollars for shipping! cant wait to get my prize im so stoked
Totes a Mr Ballens mom scam😂
I feel bad that she died but I'm glad the conductor wasn't held responsible. He/She was doing his/her job on directing the train. More than enough warnings were put up.
That’s the kind of story everyone should hear, just to re-enforce how important it is to respect signs. ESPECIALLY if there are dozens of them hung on a huge bar wire fence, I think it definitely speaks of itself.
*barbed wire
Play stupid games , win stupid prizes
I see a barbed wire fence I'm turning around and going back to walk through an abandoned haunted building.
Could have a signs "active train Bridge"
Hello does anyone here believe in Jesus??
The thing that gets me most about your videos is how normal these people sound, that these bad things can happen to anyone. It really makes me try to think smarter
Don't bother. Anyone who uses a phrase like "think smarter" is already doomed.
@@meghanmisaliar 😂
@@meghanmisaliar Exactly
Normal people do not ignore warning signs, annd break through fences.
@@robotnoir5299yes we do
Mrballen makes horror stories actually spooky and interesting, keep up the great work!
the absolute joy and enthusiasm in which Mr. Ballen delivers his ad reads is truly something to behold
Right? I not only don’t skip them, I actually anticipate them.
@@mleh2512 i need more Seagull Lung lore
Ikr, its gotten to the point where I look forward to his ads as much as I do his stories.
Right? I never watch add reads, but damn it, I watch every one of his.
He's so talented, he should get a literary agent and become the next Stephan King, if he hasn't gotten one already.
Such a sad story but glad the train company wasn’t held accountable. There were plenty of signs and they should have turned back. Well delivered!
The fence should have informed that this is a train bridge.
I was thinking the same thing. Absolutely awful but the signs are there for a reason. Having him pay a fine is a bit harah but the law is the law.
@@sajalshukla3150 NO they should have paid attention to the damn signs they got up signs for a reason. She didn't listen that's her fault they shouldn't have to put train bridge they already had other stuff saying it was caution, do not cross & other signs of cautionary. Folks didn't listen just like the other ones that's their fault... Can't feel sorry for stupidity 🤷🏿♀️
you can't sue someone for your lack of intelligence....thank god
@@sajalshukla3150 One glance would have told them that.
What other kind of bridge could it be, with Railroad tracks on it?
I was born and raised in Louisville. When I was a kid my dad took me and my brother up to the Pope Lick tressel, cut the engine off on his truck after he told us the story about the Goatman and we sat there listening to the crickets and wildlife. I still remember being completely terrified.
😂💀 based dad
My dad only took me to boring places...donut shop and library
Pulling yourself in the manner im imagining is genuinely impressive. Like, from just your fingertips as point of contact, arms fully extended dangling to pulling yourself up. Am far from a weak person but idk if i could do it
Oh wow we had this exact situation happen with this young hipster couple at a rusted, abandoned-looking, railroad bridge in my hometown in Virginia too.
We have this old railroad bridge stretching across the James River & we have a really good view of the train bridge from Riverside Park which is adjacent to the river & bridge in question so locals are very well aware that the tracks have been active there for many years & generally most of the tracks in town are all very active all the time but in this case I think locals do know that it's dangerous, there are signs & fences but they try crossing it anyways as a thrill-seeking adventure.
The couple that crossed the tracks a few years ago went walking across it & the guy fell or jumped off the bridge into the river & he died but the girlfriend miraculously survived by hanging on to the edges of the underside of the bridge for dear life. The space between the bridge & the James River is a pretty far away down like 150ft with big boulders at the bottom hiding underneath the water so anyone who's ever tried saving themselves by jumping in there has never made it, (this is not the first time this has happened, only the most recent one that's happened in decades). We also have a huge chain link fence surrounding all access to the bridge outside the trails in the nearby park with danger warnings & no trespassing signs as well.
It's one thing if you're not a local & just don't know things but to be a local & already aware of the dangers of walking on this particular bridge but people try doing it anyways. Just why?
I think one of the saddest parts about the incident is the man who was operating the train. The extreme guilt literally broke his brain, I believe he now stays in some kind of mental care facility or something but I feel so bad for the guy because he feels that because he was operating the train & he saw this couple on the bridge with nowhere to go & he couldn't get the train to brake fast enough that he's responsible & ever since then he apparently can't function as a person anymore & he's been suicidal, the trauma was just too great for him. I know he can't help feeling guilty but I hope he knows that there was literally nothing he can do he would've had to have known long in advance about them walking on the bridge in order to make it come to a complete stop in time, I wish he didn't blame himself, that poor soul.
No way you wrote all that😭
That’s too long to read bruh
Is this the train bridge in the Belle Isle area? Or further up the river?
That's understandable how he felt after witnessing that
Appreciate your story bro. Some of us do read, and can therefore.....read pretty fast.
It’s amazing how he tells stories and it feels like we were all there.
I know right
Who’s we? I didn’t feel like I was there, I'm cozy in my own bed.
@@Leanne_w ok hater
Too true! 👍❤️
dude I even imagine the ziprecruiter story.. so horrific..
I know this is the general feeling of the masses but I just needed to say, Mr Ballen, you are more than just a RUclipsr. You are more than just a storyteller. You have given me joy and intrigue in times of deep depression and addiction. It's easy to see when someone is genuine and cares about their product. I think it speaks volumes that you never beg or slyly ask for appreciation, likes, etc. Instead you make it into a joke and that helps me put into perspective a lot of things. One being you are doing this for the people and entertainment and not just money. Yes your content is by far top tier and of the best on RUclips, but also the most genuine and light-hearted. Even telling these crazy strange, dark, and mysterious stories. So on behalf of us in the audience I think I speak for everyone when I say you are appreciated more than you know! Thanks for making the raunchy negative internet a better place.
I really appreciate this so much! Thank you!!!
Mr Ballen has helped me so much also. It’s one of my “safe shows” when having anxiety. They’re perfect for when I’m depressed, or even when I just am bored. Its nice seeing a channel like this.
🤦🏻♀️
@@bisexualfrenchfry1953 Cant be safer. I'm just a regular person in Boston media. WBCN 14YR. QUINCY Ma. 🛡️City of Presidents
Media. It started a revolution. 3/5/1770. DESKS?
Boston media's United States official 1.23.21
We lie about massacres. I got The FakeNewZ.
Ido3 1vote2020 AOC VP. #Boston2024
🛡️Airphone1 MEDIA BORDER SECURITY.
@@MrBallen I feel less alone, less depressed, and you help me cope with PTSD as well. Thank you so much for being here!! 🙏👏💛🥲
Maybe they could put up new signs saying "Warning: active train track"
As a thrill seeker myself I never ignore the warning signs. My life is more valuable than the thrill.
Which goes to say, the best places have absolutely no signs at all.
I don’t value my life enough to not seek thrills, but I prefer to not break laws or do things that could bother others. If I’m going to thrill seek I plan to do so in a way where only myself could be in danger, or in a moderated way such as with trained professionals
Idk there are warning signs on almost everything. Gotta just be aware of your surroundings and have common sense along with decent judgement.
Mr.Ballen is so good at giving teasers, the video just started and i’m already intrigued.
😎
Bro he can talk about makin a sandwich and I think I’d still be intrigued lmao
Same here
@@MrBallen how are u sir
@@MrBallen hey whats up with the comment winner for that ballen shirt?!?!? We just got hit up by scammers!! Theres no DM in youtube?!?!!! Please address thissssss 🤞🤞
It feels like you're in the same room with him, whenever Mr Ballen tells a story. Rarely have I felt so "accompanied" by a TV or YT format. He already feels like an old friend to me.
Your a teacher's pet
@@taylorjohnson9321 It's *you're, and you're probably a really unlikable person.
I wish. He’s a hottie 😊
@@taylorjohnson9321 *you’re
Yes he makes me feel less lonely.
props to the history team for opening the area up at night for people to come see so they dont break in at night and run into a risk of seeing something shouldnt of gangs or a homeless person just trying to squat and who knows who else.
John this was a great story. It is sad that Rachel ignored the warning signs that ultimately led to her death. Also thank you for the update on the Delphi murders of the 2 young girls. Glad to see they finally made an arrest in that case. God bless you and your family
can you be more specific? Was the bridge murderer found? can you share a link?
@@sashadeea They've made an arrest that's about all that is known
@@sashadeea if you go to Mr. Ballen's RUclips page and hit the "community" tab you can find his post that has the link to the news article. Essentially, like others have mentioned, an arrest has been made. There will be more news coming out tomorrow (Monday 10/31) about it.
In my opinion the guy that was arrested definitely looks like the guy in the video that said, "Guys, down the hill." But at the same time there are plenty of people in the world that fit the description. I'm hoping we will learn of what evidence brought them to finally be able to arrest this man.
Great news. I'll check that out
*Roquel
At least have the decency and respect to get her name right
Somehow these stories help me with my anxiety. It gives my anxiety a reason to exist while also showing me that I am just nervous and the people in these stories actually are the ones who have it bad. It just helps me remember that I am actually safe on my couch right now. If that makes sense. lol
That's a good point, haven't thought of it that way.
Makes perfect sense to me mate
Same here!
It makes complete sense!!
Can't imagine how the engineer felt seeing two people, and no matter how hard he tries, the machine will come to a stop a half-mile after hitting them.
It’s somehow tragically poetic, they searched for a supernatural monster, but instead got struck by the real dangers of life.
David really proved himself a BEAST!
He survived a real-life nightmare, straight out of The Lost Boys.
The way MrBallen tells his stories is so great and unique with all the information that probably took hours to gather.
I will never stop being excited for the next video. Mad respects to MrBallen for all the efford he puts into his videos! ^^
Congratulations on being nominated for creator of the year! Ever since I came across your channel I’ve been binge watching it like crazy 🙌‼️
Same
@@jo-eo9ld 100's of others deserve it more than him...... he went from 3-4 uploads a week to 1 every other week its fucking jarring and disrespectful to his long time fans
Another great presentation. The ‘wooden slats’ are ties, and almost all of those bridges in KY and many parts of the country were built in the 1920s. With paint environmental regulations these days, you won’t find many railroads rushing to re-paint, so an appearance of abandonment is common. We have a long 80-ft high railroad trestle in east-central KY that is a magnet for trespassers (including me as a kid). There are four such bridges in the area but this was the only one of the four without a walkway for railroad workers. It has a curve on each end so there’s no sight distance and the wind disguises most noise from approaching trains. Three girls hiked up to the bridge and decided to cross, walking between the rails on the ties that are open to the ground below. A train approached and one girl was able to run off the bridge. A second jumped 20 ft. and broke bones. The third girl was far out on the bridge. The conductor exited the cab of the locomotive in an effort to grab her. She was struck and killed. A bad way to go and a traumatic event for the train crew.
While none of your stories are boring or uninteresting, I really do miss those missing 411 stories 😭
Agreed.
The way he sets up the story is so unique and thorough! Makes the stories so fun to watch till the end!
Thank you!!!
@@MrBallen he like my comment!!!! Been wanting this forever!!! Whole week is made thank you!!!!!
@@Tejonesss congratulations for your recognition ☺️😄
@@thewatershopkeeper appreciate it bruv :)
This is a slap in the face to the people who were commenting nonsense in the previous video about the group who ignored the sirens to go swimming. Those people were really blaming the workers & company for “not putting enough signs” to not tresspass, smh.. I wonder what their excuse for this video is now..
The sign was stolen actually, so there was no way for them to know.
exactly, i cant think of anything that would make me turn around and gtfo of the area/water than a full on siren wailing away, should be the most instinctively terrifying noise to us as humans by now
It was the responsibility of the dam operators to ensure there were adequate signs and safety protection. They were greedy and decided that creating deadly flash floods for tourists was more important than protecting people and wildlife. They could simply have let a smaller amount of water flow at all times, but instead they chose chaos. If they were only going to post one warning sign, they needed to make darn sure it couldn't be stolen or blocked.
The bridge was different because it served an actual needed purpose. Also, there were huge fences and warning signs, so any sane person would have stayed away. Granted, they should have posted a sign at the beginning of the bridge explaining exactly why it was so dangerous. They could also add a warning siren, lights, or even require trains to slow down when crossing it. However, they at least tried to protect people.
@@wildflower1397 there were literal multiple loud ass sirens. If I were in an area in the woods and heard a loud as air raid siren, I would immediately leave.
@@michaelgoldstein8516 I've seen multiple people saying that, but even so, that's not quite the point. The important part with the siren wasn't just to "go away" but to get a certain range away from the flood zone. Without the sign, you don't know that, so even if you turn back, if you're walking along the water edge, you may still be in danger. The signage was majorly inadequate.
I love this guy, it is always a blessing to listen to you Mr. Ballen!
I think Mr.Ballen is the only RUclipsr that I actually watch when they tell about sponsors 😂
Thanks for the heart!
I’m from Dayton and have had the opportunity to go to Waverly Sanatorium. However I refuse to go because my great grandmother died there from TB. Last thing I need is a familial ghost following me home to haunt me. Lol! On a serious note, pay attention to signs, She left her child motherless because of her “thrill seeking needs.”
Her literal idea of a good time was to put herself in danger.
Even though I miss when we used to get videos of the strange dark and mysterious 2-3 or even 4 times a week I am extremely grateful for the effort that’s put into the weekly vids. Even if I’ve heard the case 50 times I’ll still watch for the extra details and of course the personality
I'm glad I'm not the only one who repeats that every time I watch these
The Why Files is a other great channel to binge while waiting for new MrBallen content 😁👍
I LOVE your ads. Your videos and stories are quite obviously awesome, but your ads make it that much better. Just Flippin tastey!! 😂😂😂😂
Huge Congrats on all of your success! I absolutely love your content. Just last night I shared your “kid friendly” video about the sheep, turtle and ravens with our kids and friends kids. They were glued to the stories and didn’t move an inch. You never cease to amaze!
So awesome!!!
What video is that?
Kid friendly? Please share!
Congrats on the streamy nominations! Very much deserved, we’re proud of you Mr Ballen!
So proud! He deserves it so much!
Cringe people watch or follow that?
Hoorahh for you Mr. Ballen well deserved.
@@rumchata6569 nah just saw on someone’s stream that he’s nominated for top content creator in the world and a few other awards. Been watching him since he was a small channel so it’s cool to see he’s getting recognition on a critically acclaimed level
Not until MrBallen got nominated lol
I know this bridge very well. Walked on it too but never very far as most locals know better. You can hardly outrun any train on it. I was born in Louisville and grew up in Jeffersontown just couple miles from it. Went up there years ago at night in my teens and twenties to hang out, drink and look for the monster. The only monster there of course, was the train. Lost friends up there. Very sad story. So glad you shed some awareness on it. Great story telling as always mrballen. Thanks!
Why do we need to where you were born? TMI
Seeing it from hatmakers is spooky
My maternal grandmother was one of the first wave of t.b. patients who were cured when a cure was invented. She was in a sanatorium in Muskegon, Michigan for a year when her two children were teenagers. My uncle and mother remember going to wave up at her window from the parking lot once a week.
MrBallen is one of best narrators of the strange dark and mysterious delivered in story format. Sometimes when I see longer videos, it makes me want to “skip to the good part.” But because MrBallen draws you in on every word and really paints the picture, I’ll watch video after video to realize hours have gone by. Bravo!
Btw, the like button hasn’t noticed how I loaded their dishwasher yet. Will keep posted.
Nothing as sweet as the storytelling skills of Mr Ballen to kickstart a Sunday morning!
Is that a siamese cat in ur profile pic. I love them 💗
LilyAna Rain we’re friends Now😂 As soon as I got the notification I said “Now My Sunday can Begin😉
@@neillp3827 Where's the profile picture of a Siamese cat? 🤣
@@Jared_Hangluah oh shoot... I'm sorry on a small phone and I thought th op was a cat. I'm sorry
@@neillp3827 That makes it more funny😂😂😂
Honestly, I do see where they're coming from, thinking that bridge is abandoned. Even so, unless I'm able to outrun a train I'm not walking on rails anyways.
Aside of the "questionable" initial decision making, I do applaud David for his quick thinking under extremely high pressure and being able to actually pull it off.
I love the way you tell stories. Keep up the great work. ❤️❤️❤️❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I feel bad for the families & loved ones of people like this. It has got to be especially rough to lose someone who died by being stupid or reckless.
She was a mom! Can you imagine?! "Train bridge walk" really isn't a good parenting choice 🤬💔
A lot of the families of people like this act like the person did nothing wrong and it's the fault of whoever owns the place the person trespassed into. They refuse to believe their loved one did something stupid that caused their own death.
@ville666sora yep this is how businesses and people get sued for stupid sh*t
I love how he's always laughing during his promotions and making them funny rather than just saying what it is all boring and plain.... 💙
It’s getting to be obvious and forced though. I have to skip through them
@@deneilbaker disagree.
It’s annoying how much louder he gets and how forced it sounds, not to mention it being in the middle of the story. Kinda ruins the video.
@@frankLedwith I mean...it's how the guy makes money. I agree, it's obviously forced, but, I'm not too bothered by it. His stories are so entertaining, it's very little to deal with.
@@frankLedwith Not sure how it ruins the video when none of his videos are posted Live, so you can just skip through the ad if you want to, same way you would with automatic ads
Mr Ballen is literally the only person that can make me pay attention to the sponsorships. Well played.
Lol nah, yall can shove your commercials up your ass we get bombarded around every corner to be sold something and most of the time it's a damn scam.
Same 🤭
LITTERALLY!!!!!!
Harry Mack too
Really? He does a lot of things well... but sponsorships just like 99.999999% of content is done pretty poorly here. I've never NOT skipped those parts, ahh how I miss the good old videos focused on pure content rather than money.
That said, it definitely IS possible for stuff like that to be done well, but I've only really seen it a couple times. Basically ONLY do sponsorship-type stuff if it's completely organic... as in the content is actually elevated BECAUSE of the 'advertisement' rather than lowering the content's quality. When it's done so that it's an integral part of a video (enough so that it would suck WITHOUT the product being shown)... then and only then is it acceptable.
Just think about watching this video 50 years or 500 years from now. That's really the only test you need to determine if some sort of advertising would make any sense to include or not.
I love seeing the dorky advertisement in between his shows also. Makes for a good laugh and love that Ballen is such a dork that has the ability to also laugh at himself. Good stuff.
loving the strange dark and mysterious for over a year now...thank you Mr ballen for your stories
Mr. Ballen, I know you're a busy guy but you don't know how much I love watching your videos every week. As a college student, I wish some of my professors taught their classes with as much enthusiasm and attention grabbing energy as you.
It’s truly incredible how much joy MrBallen brings to so many peoples lives. I discovered his channel during the 1st lockdown in Britain. Thank you MrBallen for making the last few years bearable. He’s inadvertently helped me more than any other person I know
Same Philip! And Britain here too.
Not in the same area, but he definitely helps me when I just wanna' escape the real world.
This bridge is about 5 minutes from house. Trains run through this area constantly and so many people have died on this bridge. My parents and a couple of their friends went on it back in the 70’s and one of their friends leg got stuck in the track. And of course, they soon saw a train coming in the distance. Luckily, they were close to one of the ends and my parents were able to get off safely, but this girl unfortunately did not.
Also, Waverly is awesome - highly recommend checking it out via a tour. Don’t try to sneak in though, I did that in high school and they saw us coming a mile away.
It seemed like not so long ago that I found you when you were just starting. Posting 3, 4, or 5 times a week. You've come so far and it's been such an amazing journey to come along on. Now I listen to the podcast as well so I've always got some Mr. Ballen around. I've watched the like button endure SO much and seagull lung is really starting to grow on me. Congrats on all of your success. You deserve it brother! With love from Chicago.
Mr. Ballen is such a great story teller. I can only imagine the horror of seeing that train bearing down on them.
@Deng Nicca bruh thats the best part
There’s a train in my backyard. You could walk up on the tracks easily as there’s only a small amount of trees and brush. Probably 3-4 feet you can very easily walk through, no fences. Last year there was a woman who walked down the tracks while a train was going down, intending to be hit. I hear this train every day, see it every day. It barrels through everything. The woman was just..decimated. It’s heartbreaking to be honest. Someone I know laid down on the tracks but my best friend pulled him off. I also found myself staring at the tracks but I never stood on them. After that woman passed away, I was a nosy neighbor and I was able to watch the ambiance and police officers come by. I live in a valley and there are lots of hills, my friend’s house is on a hill and his yard goes down the slope, to the tracks. It’s a very long distance but when you sit on their porch, you can see a good angle of what’s happening down there. I’m pretty desensitized to everything but there was more than one white bag on a gurney.
After this happened, I stared thinking about the train driver and I looked up how often this happens and it’s a lot. Those train conductors have to watch these people get hit by the train whether wanting to or not and there’s nothing they can do but look away when impact happens. The suicide rates are through the roof for these guys…
Had this happen to me in my early teens, walking the tracks in upstate New York with my bff. It was so much like the scene in Stand By Me. We were absolute idiots, it was a miracle we survived.
There’s one thing I learned from watching Mr Ballen’s videos, watch for warning signs unless you want to end up on his channel.
It would be an honor to be in his videos, but I wouldn't be around to feel the honor so I'll pass
It has nothing to do with watching for warning times,. It has everything to do with following the warning signs. Lol
@@pappazmurf Quite the ambivalent statement.
Common sense isn't as "common" as it used to be. Which is sad bc then we get stories like THIS👆. Your "gut instincts" will normally keep you safe.......IF you listen to it. That creepy feeling you get deeep down inside your core. That feeling of "something isn't right here" or "something feels off" however as a society "younger generations" will see gut instincts as "being chicken" or some other bs. 🤦♂️
I’m 24 now but in Highschool I used to love car Surfing! It was so scary but adrenaline inducing at the same time and it was like a drug in my veins
I live right outside of Louisville ky and have been to the pope lick bridge, waverly hills multiple times!! It’s crazy to see you cover such a close occurrence to my home! Absolutely love the content you produce. It’s also amazing all the donations you provide for the families that have been affected!
It was so surreal seeing you talk about and display 2 places I've personally been to and grew up around.
What's even crazier is I went to that bridge around 2015.
I do a lot of exploring and paranormal research and one of the biggest rules I have is treat every train track as tho is active unless the tracks are actually disconnected or gone in spots.
When friends and I went to this bridge, we were going research. 1 person out of the group wanted to go on the bridge. I told her we can take a couple steps, take our pics, and then get back to safety but we were to go no further. At that time I was pretty sure it was still active, 2 others thought it was decommissioned, and the other knew nothing about the bridge. So it was treated as active.
As a thrill seeker myself, I've done stupid things and I've gotten hurt. But I always, at minimum try, to stay out of death's way.
I can't imagine what he boyfriend was going through, hanging on the side of the bridge with the train rumbling what he's holding on to for dear life while watching his girlfriend die. That's so horrible.
My heart goes out to her kids and family.
Wow that’s wild!!
@@MrBallen can you please do a ad compilation for Christmas. I die everytime your ads come on
Why did not they post a clear warning there is a train operating on the bridge?
@@Freespirit435 Maybe because they had plenty of warning signs of NO TRESSPASING, DANGER, STAY OUT! If you're too stupid to head those signs nothing else if going to deter you. Even if they had a train operating sign I would imagine people would still try to temp fate and lose.
I read this comment before I finished watching the video :(
The smallest details in these stories you tell is something that so many storytellers miss, you never fail to disappoint THANKS MRBALLEN FOR THESE STORIES YOU TELL.
He never fails to disappoint? 🤔
PLEASE ! PLEASE ! PLEASE ! PLEASE ! STOP ! STOP ! THE SOUND EFFECTS !!! YOU ARE THE BEST STORY TELLER EVER ! I GET SO INVOLVED IN THE STORY,THEN I HEAR NOISES. IT DISTRACTS ME,I THINK THE NOISE IS IN MY HOUSE ! I USED TO PAUSE THE VIDEO AND LISTEN ONCE I REALIZED IT WAS SOUD EFFECTS . I NO LONGER PAUSE , ANYONE ELSE FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE SOUND EFFECTS ? I WROTE THIS IN CAPS TO DRAW ATTENTION , DID IT WORK ? ? OH ONE MORE THING MR BALLEN YOU DO NOT NEED SOUND EFFECTS YOUR PERSONALITY AND GOOD LOOKS AND YOUR VOICE MAKES ME COME BACK FOR MORE !! ❤❤😆
I wonder if it would make any difference if the fence sign said "Active train track" vs a vague danger warning. It's amazing that David survived.
Not in the UK 😅 idiots walk on the tracks all the time
I guarantee that there were signs that said that... but Mr. Ballen left that part out because he didn't want to give away the ending.
@@Ty-1452 it doesn’t matter how detailed a warning is. Ppl are still gonna do it. No. It wouldn’t. Even people FROM there who know full well that it is an active train track, and a train could come through any minute, still cross it and have been killed. There are countless examples of ppl knowing, specifically, the danger of something and doing it anyway. It’s just human nature.
@@Ty-1452 Vague or not, they shouldn't have been there and ignored all the signs saying that. That includes the obvious, very specific, warning sign of the train tracks themselves.
It is amazing he survived. had the woman been able to get down, there's no way she would have had the physical strength to hang on