This accident occurred on that part of the Southern Sub-Division which extends between Window Junction and Red Bank, N. J., a distance of 65.9 miles. In the vicinity of the point of accident this is a single-track line over which trains are operated by timetable, train orders, and an automatic block system supplemented by an automatic cab-signal system. The derailment occurred at a point approximately 1.65 miles west of the station at Chatsworth. Approaching from the west the track is tangent about 4.5 miles to the point of derailment and more than 1 mile beyond. The grade is 0.28 percent descending eastward about 0.5 mile to the point of derailment, then level about 1 mile.
Mileposts are numbered from east to west; the accident occurred 152 feet east of milepost 86. The terrain in this vicinity is generally flat and the roadbed is on an embankment averaging 2 feet in height. The drainage area north of the track consists of about 15 square miles; it extends about 6 miles eastward from milepost 87 to milepost 81, and northward from the track about 2.5 miles. The water in this area is drained to the south by four 24-inch cast-iron pipe culverts and a creek known as Old Union Stream. The first culvert, located about 65 feet west of milepost 86, is 5 feet 2 inches below the tops of the rails and drains an area directly north of the point of derailment. The second culvert, located about 525 feet east of milepost 86, is 5 feet 5 inches below the tops of the rails and drains an area north of the track; these two areas are separated by higher ground. Both of these water courses are for use principally during heavy rains. Twin culverts located about 3,700 feet east of milepost 86, drain Kennedy cranberry beg, which lies north of the track at this point. Bridge 74, a three-span wooden trestle 59 feet in length, is located 841 feet east of milepost 85; Union Lake is located about 800 feet north of the track at this point and the outlet at the south end thereof is bordered by a dam and a highway. The highway, known as White Horse Road, extends from northwest to southeast.
The track structure consists of 90-pound rail, 33 feet in length, laid on about 18 treated ties to the rail length; it is
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