 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.The southbound "Southern Aurora" and northbound freight train were timetabled to cross at Benalla, north of Violet Town, at 6.44 a.m.