Coshocton in Coshocton County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Troop Train Accident

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 23, 2025

1. Troop Train Accident Marker

Inscription.
Troop Train Accident
On the morning of September 11th, 1950, a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train collided with the rear of a train carrying troops near West Lafayette, Ohio.

The collision killed 73 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard 109th Field Artillery Battalion and injured 278 others. Dr. McConnell and other local dentists were asked to help identify the dead after the crash. Teeth are remarkably durable and dental records are sometimes all medical examiners have to go on.

young Dr. McConnell DDS responds
Young Dr. McConnell was practicing dentistry in his office on the 2nd floor when he received a call asking him to drive 7 miles east. He had not been out of military for very long.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Military • Railroads & Streetcars • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1950.

Location. 40° 16.407′ N, 81° 51.825′ W. Marker is in Coshocton, Ohio, in Coshocton County. It is on Main Street just east of South 5th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 441 Main St, Coshocton OH 43812, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Amish Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Richard Nixon addressed a crowd of 3,000 at Coshocton (here, next to this marker); The New Selby Building (here, next to this marker); The Chair (here, next to this marker); On This Corner (here, next to this marker); Edgar O. Selby (a few steps from this marker); J.J. Newberry (a few steps from this marker); The Selby Building (a few steps from this marker); The Pet Department (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Coshocton.

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 3, 2022

2. Troop Train Accident Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 3, 2022

3. Troop Train Accident Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 3, 2022

4. Troop Train Accident Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 794 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 13, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 19, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.