Mervyn Coulthard; and its guard William Wyer. A fast freight train of 22 wagons, mostly containing new cars, had departed Melbourne at 1:25 a.m. travelling north, driven by Lawrence Rosevear and supported by relief driver Arnfried Brendecke. The train controller on duty at Train Control in Melbourne was Frank McDonnell. Accident The southbound Southern Aurora and northbound freight train were timetabled to cross at Benalla, north of Violet Town, at 6.44 a.m. The freight train was scheduled to enter the Benalla crossing loop at 6.15 a.m. However, at 6.30 a.m., McDonnell observed that both the Southern Aurora and the goods train were running behind schedule, and so he decided to have the trains pass each other at Violet Town instead. The driver of the goods train was instructed to prepare for a "running cross", under which the freight train would be diverted into the loop line at slow speed, while the Southern Aurora continued on the main line. As the Southern Aurora passed through Benalla, driver Bowden increased its speed to the limit of , which was maintained up to the point of impact. Shortly afterwards, his train passed an automatic signal showing "normal speed warning". That signified that the next signal might have a "stop" indication. Although it was standard practice to slow a train by at least after receiving such a warning, Bowden did not respond in any way. It was later established that he had died about before the crash, and had probably not been in effective control of the train for some time before that. After noticing the warning indication on the signal, and anticipating a lengthy stop at Violet Town, fireman Coulthard said he had left his seat and gone into the nose of the locomotive to fill the electric kettle with water. While performing that task, he heard and felt the train pass over the points at the start of the crossing loop. He noted that the Southern Aurora had not reduced speed. Upon re-entering the main driving cab, he saw the "stop" signal ahead and the headlights of the freight train. He shouted at Bowden to stop the train, and ran into the engine room behind the cab to take shelter. The freight train had approached Violet Town at , and driver Rosevear saw the headlight of the approaching Southern Aurora. He slowed his train to to safely enter the crossing loop, but