1855 — Aug 29, train going in reverse hits carriage, derails, Burlington, NJ –24-25
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-9-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
Blanchard: From reading accounts below, including material not produced below but accessible via the URLs in Sources section, cannot with confidence land on an exact death toll. It appears to us, however, that the death toll was either 24 or 25, thus our employment of a death toll range.
–25 Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh, PA. “Terrible Accident on the Camden…” 9-1-1855, p. 2.
–25 MA Board of Railroad Commissioners. Third Annual Report, Is. 9, Part 2, Jan 1872, cxxiii
–24 Interment.net. “Camden and Amboy Railroad Accident, 1855.”
–24 Sinclair, Donald. “Railroad Accident at Burlington in 1855.” Rutgers Univ. Library. p. 40[1]
–24 Warren. “The worst disaster in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.” NJ.com, 2-25-2019.
–23 American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1856. 1855, p. 376.
–23 Haine. Railroad Wrecks. 1993, p. 31.
–23 West Jersey Pioneer, Bridgeton, NJ. “Frightful Catastrophe on the Camden…” 9-1-1855, 2.
–21 Philadelphia Ledger, Aug 30. “Terrible Accident on the Camden and Amboy Railroad.”[2]
Narrative Information
American Almanac: “Aug. 29. – The cars of the express train from Philadelphia to New York, while at a high rate of speed, are thrown from the track, near Burlington, N.J. Twenty-three persons are killed and sixty wounded, some of them fatally.” (American Almanac for the Year 1856. 1855, p. 376.)
Interment.net. “Camden and Amboy Railroad Accident, 1855.” —
“24 people died, and some 65 to 100 others were injured, when a train backed up in reverse at a high speed, struck a horse-drawn carriage, and derailed.
“It started on August 29, 1855, when a passenger train carrying five cars along the Camden and Amboy Railroad left Philadelphia, and by 10:00 am, reached Burlington, NJ. It had stopped and waited for a New York train from Jersey City to pass by. After 5-10 minutes, after not seeing the expected New York train, the Philadelphia train continued. It went about 1 1/4 miles when the New York train came into view. The Philadelphia train stopped, sounded a whistle, and went into reverse towards Burlington at a high rate of speed.
“With the train moving backwards, the engineer and conductor could not see up ahead. By this time, a horse-drawn carriage carrying Dr. Heineken, his wife and two children, were in the process of crossing the track. The train struck the carriage. Four of the five cars derailed, sustaining numerous deaths and injuries.
“By this time, the Camden and Amboy Railroad company had amassed a long list of accidents, but this had been its worst to date. The railroad ran between Philadelphia and New York, and was arguably the most busiest and most profitable railway in the United States. The company had been long criticized for using a single-track system with numerous pull outs to allow for passing trains. Most other railroad companies started with single tracks, and then used profits to build a second track to allow for free-flowing two-way traffic. But Camden and Amboy Railroad owners opted to stick with the single track system and rely on a very precarious process of timing and waiting.
“Camden and Amboy Railroad eventually built a second track, but didn’t complete until after the Civil War.
“Names of Dead and Injured
“Names of passengers below were taken from Daily Dispatch, published in Richmond, VA, on the front page, dated Saturday, September 1, 1855. The image on the right is just a partial cutting of the full article, which goes on to provide details of the accident, and names other people involved. Copy of this newspaper can be accessed from: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
“Killed [21 names; we place in alphabetical order]
Edward P Bacon, Spring Garden street, above seventh, Philadelphia;
Mrs. Clement Barclay, Locust street, above Thirteenth, Philadelphia, on her way to Europe;
Catharine Bigelow, Philadelphia;
Chas Bottom, of the firm of Bottom & Co, Iron Building Manufacturer, Trenton, NJ;
Capt. Boyce, US Coast Survey, Washington;
Mrs. Boyce, wife of Capt. B;
Catharine Brown, colored servant of Commodore Smith;
Rev John M Connell, Presbyterian Clergyman, Wilmington, Del, died after being removed to Burlington;
John Dallam, Baltimore;
Mr.
D T Haywood, Charleston, SC;
Jacob Howard, Lebanon, Tenn;
Mr. George Ingersoll, son of Lieut. Harry Ingersoll, of Philadelphia, was reported to be dead when the boat left.
Alexander Kelley, queensware store, No 108 Market street;
Wilson Kent, of the firm of Dyott & Co, No 74 S Second street, Philadelphia;
Miss Jane Lincoln, aged 32, died at Agnew’s Hotel;
J Meredith, Baltimore; [Thomas J. Meredith[3]]
Mrs. Margaret Prescott, of Salem, NJ, wife of Rev Mr. Prescott, and sister-in-law of the historian;
Mr. Geo W. Ridgeway, oil merchant, Philadelphia, store No 30 North Delaware avenue;
Henry Rush, Georgetown, DC;
Baron de St Andre, French Consul, Philadelphia;
M J Stoughton, residence unknown.”
MA Board of Railroad Commissioners: “August 29th, 1855. A passenger train on the Camden & Amboy road while backing ran into a wagon, and the four last cars of the train were thrown down an embankment. Twenty-five persons were killed and some sixty injured.” (MA Board…Railroad Commissioners 1872, cxxiii)
Warren. “The worst disaster in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.” NJ.com, 2-25-2019:
“Burlington County: Camden & Amboy wreck
“It’s one of the worst rail accidents in New Jersey’s history. On August 29, 1855, 24 people died and more than 60 others were injured when a passenger train on the Camden & Amboy railroad wrecked in Burlington Township. The train had left Philadelphia and was waiting for a train from New York to pass. The New York train was late, so the Philadelphia train continued. Just a mile farther down the track, the New York train appeared and the Philadelphia train began to reverse at high speed in order to avoid a collision.
“But now moving backwards, the engineer of the Philadelphia train could not see a family crossing the tracks in a horse-drawn carriage. The train struck the carriage and four cars derailed.”
Newspapers
Aug 31: “Our city was startled, yesterday, by a report, which reached it about noon, of a terrible accident on the Camden and Amboy railroad, about a mile above Burlington, caused by the cars coming in collision with a light pleasure wagon and horses, which were attempting to cross the track. The Ledger sent a reporter to the scene of the occurrence, and the following facts, obtained on the spot, are derived from the passengers and officers of the railroad, and are as reliable as they could be obtained amid the excitement and distress which the terrible occurrence had.
“The train, which left Philadelphia at ten o’clock, consisting of five passenger cars, baggage car and locomotive, had reached Burlington just before 11 o’clock. It then stopped waiting for the arrival of the 8 o’clock New York train, from Jersey city, which passes at this place. After waiting for from five to ten minutes, and the New York train not appearing, the Philadelphia train went forward slowly, watching for the approach of the downward train. It had gone forward about a mile and a quarter, when the New York train came in sight. The Philadelphia train stopped, and commenced backing, and soon got under rapid headway for Burlington again. – In this reverse movement, the passenger cars, usually placed behind and coming after the locomotive, were now in front, and pushed forward by the locomotive. The engineer being with the locomotive, of course had not the advantage of seeing what was ahead of the backward going train. He had run but a quarter of a mile, and a mile from Burlington, when the first passenger car came in collision with a light pleasure wagon, driven by Dr. Hannegan, of Columbus, N.J., who attempted to cross the track in front of the cars.
“The wagon contained Dr. Hannegan, his wife, and two children. The former, it is said, is hard of hearing, and by this infirmity caused an accident nearly similar, but not so fatal near Beverly, about a year ago. The doctor had seen the cars pass as he was driving down the road, and supposing all safe, neglected to keep a proper lookout. The first passenger car struck the two horses attached to the wagon, just as they were crossing the track, killed them instantly, and threw one thirty feet on one side of the track, and the other forty yards on the other side. The wagon was turned round and upset, none of the inmates being injured, except in slight bruises.
“The front car, A, after striking the horses, ran forward, and off the track about one hundred yards, and over a small embankment. The second car, B, was thrown directly across the track. The third car © went through car B and stopped diagonally across the road, the fourth car (D) followed and ran into car C. – The fifth passenger car and the baggage car stopped without leaving the track. The two latter were not injured, but three of the other passenger cars were knocked to pieces, and many of their occupants were killed, wounded and maimed.
“It is impossible to describe the horrible scene that ensued. The cars were piled upon each other, and numbers of human beings were lying beneath the ruins – some dead, some dying, some shrieking from pain. Those in the train, and the passengers of the down train, aided by the citizens of Burlington, who were quickly informed of the terrible accident, went to work to rescue the wounded and dying from the ruins. As soon as taken out they were conveyed to Burlington, where many private houses, as well as Agnew’s and Kelley’s taverns, were thrown open to the admission of the wounded, while the Lyceum was appropriated for the reception of the dead. – Some had been crushed to death instantly, leaving scarcely a trace to recognize them by; some had been torn limb from limb by the splinters, benches and floors, and their remains scattered in every direction. Many were suffering from crushed limbs, broken backs, and injured and lacerated bodies. The scene was a heart-sickening one; but, amid all its terrors, there were many noble instances of resignation, a self-sacrificing spirit from the sufferers, which honored human nature.
….
“It was nearly an hour before all the dead and wounded were extricated and placed in the hands of persons ready to aid them. Eleven dead bodies were taken out of the ruins, and others were so badly injured that they died as soon as they got to the hotel at Burlington, It is supposed that from fifty to sixty persons have been wounded, some seriously, and others only slightly. The following is a list of the killed….” [The same listing of 21 names as noted above.]
(Village Record, Hightstown, NJ. “From the Philadelphia Ledger of yesterday. Terrible Accident On the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Twenty-One persons Killed!” 8-31-1855, p. 2.)
Sep 1: “….Among the number killed, were Mrs. Mary Prescott, of Salem, J.J., Charles Bottom, of Trenton, N.J., and Jacob Fisler, of Fislerville, N.J.” [Fisler was not on the previous two lists.]
(West Jersey Pioneer, Bridgeton, NJ. “From the Philadelphia Sun. Frightful Catastrophe on the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Great Loss of Life. Twenty-three killed and many wounded.” 9-1-1855, p. 2.)
Sep 1: “….Killed. [Same names as listed above with additions noted here.]
- (Name unknown) Body taken to the City Hall.
- Miss Emily Boyce, daughter of Capt. Boyce.”
“During the night two dead bodies were discovered under the wreck of the cars. They were completely crushed to pieces. These swell the total number of deaths to twenty-five….” (Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh, PA. “From the Philadelphia Ledger, 30th. Terrible Accident on the Camden and Amboy Railroad.” 9-1-1855, p. 2.)
Sources
American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1856. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and Company, 1855. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=95cYAAAAIAAJ
Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh, PA. “From the Philadelphia Ledger, 30th. Terrible Accident on the Camden and Amboy Railroad.” 9-1-1855, p. 2. Accessed 5-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-morning-post-sep-01-1855-p-2/
Haine, Edgar A. Railroad Wrecks. New York: Cornwall Books, 1993.
Interment.net. “Camden and Amboy Railroad Accident, 1855.” Accessed 5-9-2025 at: https://www.interment.net/data/train-wrecks/camden-and-amboy-railroad-accident-1855.htm
Massachusetts Board of Railroad Commissioners. Third Annual Report, Issue. 9, Part 2, Jan 1872. Boston: Wright & Potter, State Printers. Digitized by Google. Accessed 9-4-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=VVIaAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Sinclair, Donald A.. Railroad Accident at Burlington in 1855. Journal of the Rutgers University Library. Pp. 46-54. Accessed 5-9-2025 at: https://jrul.libraries.rutgers.edu/index.php/jrul/article/view/1240/2677
Village Record, Hightstown, NJ. “From the Philadelphia Ledger of yesterday. Terrible Accident On the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Twenty-One persons Killed!” 8-31-1855, p. 2. Accessed 5-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hightstown-village-record-aug-31-1855-p-2/
Warren, Michael Sol. “The worst disaster in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties.” NJ.com, 2-25-2019. Accessed 5-9-2025 at:
https://www.nj.com/life-and-culture/g66l-2019/02/6c318b30e95860/the-worst-disaster-in-each-of-new-jerseys-21-counties-.html
West Jersey Pioneer, Bridgeton, NJ. “From the Philadelphia Sun. Frightful Catastrophe on the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Great Loss of Life. Twenty-three killed and many wounded.” 9-1-1855, p. 2. Accessed 5-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bridgeton-west-jersey-pioneer-sep-01-1855-p-2/
[1] “The total of dead, including those who succumbed during the succeeding days from effects of the accident , amounted to twenty-four…”
[2] Reprinted in the Village Record, Hightstown, NJ. 8-31-1855, p. 2.
[3] Village Record, Hightstown, NJ. “From the Philadelphia Ledger of yesterday. Terrible Accident On the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Twenty-One persons Killed!” 8-31-1855, p. 2.