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

The Crash at Crush

(0.5 Mi. E)

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, September 14, 2025

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 and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1839.

Location. 31° 48.258′ N, 97° 5.527′ W. Marker is in West, Texas, in McLennan County. It is on N Washington Street near W Broadway Street, on the right when traveling north. Located next to the Katy Depot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West TX 76691, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds 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 walking distance of this marker: Best Theatre Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Groppe Building

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(about 700 feet away); West (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of West (approx. ¼ mile away); First Baptist Church of West (approx. ¼ mile away); St. Mary's School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Church of the Assumption (approx. half a mile away); West Brethren Church (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West.

Also see . . . Lone Star Junction - Crash at Crush -- 1896. Within hours, the Katy cranes had removed the larger debris; souvenir seekers took care of the rest. Crush (the town), which that afternoon had been the second largest city in Texas, was fully depopulated by midnight. (Submitted on September 22, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Potentially marker was moved here from closer to crash site.
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 near the crash site to the center

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 15, 2012

2. The Crash at Crush Marker

of town near the Depot.

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

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 15, 2012

3. The Crash at Crush Marker

The Katy Depot at West image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 15, 2012

4. The Katy Depot at West

The Crash at Crush Marker, far end of Katy Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, September 15, 2012

5. The Crash at Crush Marker, far end of Katy Depot

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 7,139 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 29, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 22, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.