 The loop had a length of , and, like the rest of the standard gauge line between Melbourne and Albury, signals and points were operated by centralised traffic control from Melbourne.On the night of the accident, 7 February 1969, the "Southern Aurora" from Sydney departed with fourteen carriages, and was carrying a near-capacity load of 192 passengers and 22 crew by the time it reached Violet Town.Its driver was Jack Bowden, a highly experienced 52-year-old VR employee; its fireman was 30-year-old Mervyn Coulthard; and its guard William Wyer.