railroad wreck in Rockport, Warren County

Recently bought farm property in Port Murray---Mansfield Township--in Warren County. Off Rockport Road, that parallels the railroad as it heads to Hackettstown, there is HAZEN ROAD-----the site of the wreck. Hazen Road is on a decline and incline --at the lowest point is the railroad crossing. In the 1920 era, A heavy rain washed mud and stones across the tracks. The steam locomotive train--an excursion with German citizens heading east---ran off the rails at the Hazen grade crossing--overturning and the scalding steam killed and injured many paasengers. Historically--it was a terrible wreck---and there is TODAY, a small monument marking the location details , in a very well kept road side area close to the crossing. Also--the Morris Canal can still be traced as it used to meander through the area. The various ports--PORT COLDEN--PORT MURRAY--etc, still have some left over traces of the inclined canal system and buildings.

A number of years ago I was talking to a resident who lived about 2 miles from Hazen Rd. If I remember correctly, he said there had been some road work/grading done earlier in the day that "may" have contributed to the wash-in on the tracks. It was a sad day for all involved. To this day, parts of the wreck can still be found buried along the tracks.