realised the oncoming passenger train was not going to stop to allow him to do so. He applied the emergency brake and flashed the headlight of his locomotive in an attempt to warn the driver of the Southern Aurora. He then opened the cab door and helped fireman Brendecke to jump out, before seeking refuge in the engine room of his locomotive. Shortly before 7 a.m., the trains collided head-on at a closing speed later estimated at . According to Brendecke (who survived his fall from the cab and the subsequent crash), as well as motorists on the adjacent Hume Highway, the force of the collision propelled the locomotive of the Southern Aurora, and several of the goods wagons, into the air. Six of the passenger carriages were derailed, and one was completely crushed by other wreckage. The two leading carriages telescoped into the rear of the locomotive, and two others rode over the top of the wreckage, suspending them some in the air. Immediately following the crash, spilt diesel fuel caused the locomotive of the goods train to catch fire. The flames quickly spread to the derailed Southern Aurora carriages, where passengers were already attempting to escape through broken windows. Aftermath Local Country Fire Authority volunteers in Violet Town witnessed the crash, and immediately began organising the firefighting response. Initially, the Euroa Urban Fire Brigade, the nearest major fire service, was told of a collision between two trucks, and later of a truck hit by a train; firefighters were not aware that a major rail accident had occurred until they arrived on scene to find the burning wreckage. Over 100 firefighters eventually arrived from neighbouring districts to assist with the firefighting, rescue and recovery effort. Train controller McConnell observed the crash on his control panel and immediately reported the circumstances to his supervisor, and a recovery effort was shortly underway in Melbourne. Aircraft from the Department of Civil Aviation, the Royal Australian Air Force and Trans Australia Airlines were used to transport rescuers, railway officials and investigators to the crash site. Memorial A stone cairn was erected on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy by the Public Transport Corporation at the site of the accident. Hundreds attended the commemoration in the early morning, which was followed by a morning tea. In early 2018, a local group announced plans to expand the memorial significantly, saying that the existing cairn naming