On September 15, 1896, a collision occurred between two trains approximately 14 miles north of Waco, Texas



On September 15, 1896, a collision occurred between two trains approximately 14 miles north of Waco, Texas. This collision resulted in the boilers of the locomotives exploding, sending debris flying across a wide area and causing the unfortunate deaths of at least two onlookers, with many more sustaining injuries.

However, what makes this incident truly remarkable is that despite the chaos, no one in the vicinity attempted to flee. Instead, in the aftermath of the crash, a multitude of people from the surrounding area rushed toward the scene, eagerly collecting fragments of the scattered debris. The reason for this unusual behavior was that the enormous crowd of around 40,000 individuals had actually anticipated this collision and had paid to witness the spectacle.

From 1896 to the 1930s, orchestrated train collisions became a major attraction at numerous U.S. fairs and festivals. This unique phenomenon predated the concept of demolition derbies or monster truck rallies, drawing large crowds who were enthralled by the dramatic crashes.

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