The Crash At Crush

Planning

The planning of the train collision event was a spectacle in itself. Gary Arndt explains that William Crush, a passenger agent for the Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad, proposed crashing two old 30-ton steam engines into each other to draw crowds and boost revenue during the economic downturn of 1896 1. The event was set up like a carnival, with a circus tent borrowed from the Ringling Brothers, food, souvenirs, and even medicine shows 1. The location was a pop-up city named Crush, Texas, where two steam engines, painted in vibrant colors, were prepared for the collision 2.

   

Execution

The execution of the train collision was meticulously planned. Each train was set on a special four-mile track, designed to ensure a dramatic crash at a central valley 2. Arndt notes that the conductors started the engines and jumped out after setting them in motion, leaving the trains to collide at an estimated speed of 45 mph 3.

The rumble of the two trains, faint and far off at first, but growing near and more distinct with each fleeting second, was like the gathering force of a cyclone.

--- Gary Arndt

Despite assurances from engineers, both trains' boilers exploded on impact, sending debris flying and resulting in fatalities and injuries 3.

   

Aftermath

The aftermath of the collision was both tragic and surprisingly positive for the railroad. Although the explosion killed three people and injured many others, the event did not generate significant negative publicity 3. The railroad quickly settled with the victims' families, and Crush was rehired shortly after being fired 3. The spectacle inspired a trend of staged train crashes in the U.S. for the next 30 years, with Joe Conley famously destroying 146 trains in similar events 3.