Hightstown rail accident

When railway accident of Hightstown derailed due to a hot runner, followed by broken axle on November 8, 1833 between Hightstown and Spotswood on the railway line South Amboy Bordentown a train the Camden and Amboy Railroad. A car overturned, another derailed. Two passengers were killed and 21 beyond the 24 therein travelers injured. It was the first railway accident in which passengers of scheduled trains running train were killed.

Initial situation

The accident occurred only two months after steam engines instead of horses were hitched to the trains on the track. The train was initially at about 55 km / h on the way, with about 35 km / h after the axes had to be re-oiled.

Course

At this rate, there was nevertheless a hot box on one of the coaches, which in turn led to a broken axle, the car overturn, leaving a further derail. The rest of the train remained on the track and was able to continue the journey later.

Victim

A passenger was killed instantly, another died of injuries suffered later. Among the survivors was Cornelius Vanderbilt, who broke a leg and a month needed to recover from the injuries again. He was later the New York Central Railroad. Unhurt, because he traveled in a front car, congressman was former U.S. President John Quincy Adams, now on the trip to Washington, DC He caused that ad hoc was conducted an official investigation on site to preserve evidence. Another passenger in the train was the Belgian ambassador to the United States.