West in McLennan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Crash at Crush

(0.5 Mi. E)

Photographed by Gregory Walker, September 17, 2010

1. The Crash at Crush Marker

Inscription. A head-on collision between two locomotives was staged on Sept. 15, 1896, as a publicity stunt for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad. Over 30,000 spectators gathered at the crash site, named "Crush" for MKT passenger agent William G. Crush, who conceived the idea. About 4 p.m. the trains were sent speeding toward each other. Contrary to mechanics' predictions, the steam boilers exploded on impact, propelling pieces of metal into the crowd. Two persons were killed and many others injured, including Jarvis Deane of Waco, who was photographing the event.

Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5315.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1803.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 31° 44.816′ N, 97° 6.227′ W. Marker was in West, Texas, in McLennan County. It was on I-35, North-bound frontage road. 1.3 miles north of Farm to Market Road 3149, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: West TX 76691, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It was also in the American South.

Globally, it was in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Groppe Barn (approx. 1.6 miles away); Former Site of St. Peter's Church

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(approx. 1.9 miles away); St. Mary's Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); 36th Division Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away); Milan Dujka (approx. 2.2 miles away); Ross (approx. 2.3 miles away); Bold Springs Cemetery (approx. 2.8 miles away); White Rock Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West.

Also see . . . Article with photos of the crash at TexasEscapes. (Submitted on September 19, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas.)

Additional commentary.
1. Potentially marker was moved from here to near Depot of West.
There is another "Crash at Crush" marker in the database (# 35909, see nearby markers). Potentially these two entries are the same as they share the same THC number (5315). Potentially the marker was moved from here near the crash site to the center of town near the Depot.

— Submitted August 4, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.

Location of Crash at Crush Marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, September 17, 2010

2. Location of Crash at Crush Marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 16,850 times since then and 376 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2010, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.