New Jersey is a state with a lengthy history, and much of it is positive and fascinating. The first virtually complete dinosaur skeleton discovered in North America was discovered here, for example, and the world’s first boardwalk was constructed here, too! Of course, New Jersey also has some very dark and sad events that happened in the state, including one of the deadliest accidents in U.S. history.

The deadliest rail incident to occur during peacetime in United States history actually happened in New Jersey.
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The shocking and tragic accident is still remembered in the state to this day.
85 people died in what is now known as the Woodbridge train derailment, which occurred in 1951.
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On the evening of February 6, 1951, a Pennsylvania railroad train headed from Jersey City to Bay Head.
That day, rail traffic through Woodbridge was being diverted onto a temporary wooden trestle because workers were constructing the New Jersey Turnpike.
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Trains were instructed to run at 25 miles per hour instead of the usual 60 miles per hour.

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But this train didn't slow down, and instead hit the trestle at 50 miles per hour. It immediately derailed.
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The first two cars crashed and fell to the side, while the third and fourth cars fell over a 26-foot-high embankment. Most of the deaths occurred in the third and fourth cars.
The fifth and sixth cars dangled over the street in mid-air as passengers waiting to be evacuated.
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It's believed some people in those cars accidentally jumped to their deaths, believing they were hanging over water and not a dark, wet road.
The Woodbridge train derailment was one of the most horrific incidents in New Jersey history.
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This is the site of the derailment. A memorial is now there to honor the victims.

Hopefully, a train accident of this magnitude never happens again.

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