This episode of Swindled may contain graphic descriptions or audio recordings of disturbing events which may not be suitable for all audiences.

Listener discretion is advised.

The industrial town of Palsboro, New Jersey, situated along the banks of the Delaware River, is a key link in Conrail's busy Penn's Grove Secondary Line,

which serves southern New Jersey.

The line crosses Mantua Creek with a historically significant A-frame swing bridge,

a structure which was once common among other rail lines in the region.

A succession of booms shook Gary Stevenson out of bed that morning, Friday, November 30th,

2012, followed by his wife's screams. Ray Lynn, who was downstairs getting ready for work,

drinking coffee, yelled Gary, hurry, get down here. A train has derailed.

The house literally rocked back and forth as he scrambled to his feet.

So I came down and I was expecting an engine turned over.

I can't say on Tai'i B what I actually said,

but I said, holy, I saw these trains,

stuff spewing out over the creek.

The Stevenson's house set mere feet from the rail tracks on East Jefferson Street and

Paulsboro, New Jersey, which is located on the Delaware River opposite the airport in Philly.

The first thing Gary saw were the two box cars carrying lumber and plastic pellets turned over

in their backyard.

Even more alarming were the four tanker cars that had tumbled off the adjacent bridge into

Manchua Creek.

One of them was leaking some kind of gas, enveloping the entire neighborhood and a dense, sweet

smelling, bitter-tasting, white fog.

...