A True Story of a San Antonio Railroad Tragedy

Have you heard the Legend of the San Antonio Railroad Tracks?

If you are from San Antonio or it's outer reaches, you have more than likely heard about the story of the San Antonio Railroad tracks. The story goes that in the 1930's there was a school bus full of children that was tragically hit by an oncoming train. And legend today states that if you put your car in neutral, at the site of the accident, your car will be slowly pushed over the tracks (by the spirits of dead children) to safety. You can also put baby powder or flour on the back of your car and some say you can see the tiny prints of children's hands.  
 Unfortunately this story is merely a San Antonio legend. This train accident never did happen in San Antonio, but rather in Salt Lake City, Utah. Below is a clipping from a newspaper: 

"On Dec. 1, 1938, a school bus was heading to Jordan High School through a dense winter storm as a loaded Denver and Rio Grande freight train rolled north toward Salt Lake City, according to information posted on the city's website.
Near the railroad crossing at 10200 South and 400 West, the driver stopped the bus. He opened the door to look beyond the thick fog, but did not see the 80-plus car "Flying Ute" train approaching at over 50 miles per hour.
At 8:43 a.m., the bus pulled slowly forward across the tracks. Upon seeing the bus, the train crew immediately applied the brakes, but the collision was inevitable.
The collision claimed the lives of 23 children and the bus driver. The 15 survivors faced a lifetime of serious physical injuries and emotional scars.
In the wake of the horrific crash, came railroad crossing laws, mechanical crossing arms and national regulations that are still in place today — including the mandatory requirement for bus drivers to not only stop at railroad crossings, but also to open their door and driver side window to look and listen for oncoming trains, according to the city's website."

How could a story like this from half way across the country make it's way into San Antonio's history? ​Some say it was because the news of the school bus tragedy made San Antonio's newspaper headlines and over the years it slowly turned into one of our city's legends. Perhaps a thrill seeker or two also made up the story and it eventually gained momentum.  
Whatever the reason is, the Haunted Railroad Tracks is merely a legend and never did truly happen in San Antonio. 

A Real Railroad Tragedy

On March 28th, 1920 there did occur a train accident outside of San Antonio in a small city called New Braunfels. It was Easter Sunday and the Smith Family were out for a Spring drive in their Model T car. They had left their home in New Braunfels to visit family in Seguin. As they were crossing the railroad tracks, they were struck by a train at full speed. The car rolled over and over again as the train dragged it and pulled it to shreds till it eventually came to a stop. A mother, her daughters and a small child were killed instantly but the son-in-law, who was driving the car, survived one more day before he eventually passed away from his injuries. Below is a newspaper clipping from the San Antonio Express News: 

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"TRAIN WIPES OUT PARTY OF 6 MOTORISTS
 Mother, Her Three Daughters, a son-in-law and Granddaughter killed when Flier Hits Auto. Car Struck Directly in the Center. Dead: Mrs. K. W. Smith, 54 years old, 330 Mission Street; Mrs. William Alex Garrett, 30 years old, 330 Mission Street; Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Krueger, each 28 years old, 405 Stieren Street; Katherine Adele Krueger, their 3 year old daughter, Miss Mary Smith, 24 years old. Fatally injured William Alex Garrett, 31 years old. 

All of the bodies will be lowered into the graves at the same time. The little Krueger girl will be buried in the same grave with her mother."

Daughter and her child buried together after their car was struck by a train.

This event occured 96 years ago today. So the next time someone asks you about the Haunted Railroad tracks, make sure to tell them about the true story of the Smith Family and their tragedy. 

The Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours visits this site and many others on their Haunted Ghost Bus Tour