Southern Aurora Train Crash Wreckage Feb 8th 1969 

Southern Aurora Train Crash Wreckage Violet Town Feb 8th 1969 the day after the accident.
The Southern Aurora overshot the passing loop at Violet Town at high speed - where it was meant to stop to let an on coming freight train pass. It collided head on with the freight train on the Melbourne side of Violet Town with the loss of nine lives.
These black and white pictures were taken after the wreckage had been pushed aside and the line repaired and re opened.
Also there are pictures of the first arrival of the Southern Aurora with replacement Railways of Australia carriages. The train arrived at number 2 platform rather than the usual number 1 because number 1 platform has a bend in it and clearances had to be later checked due to the skirting along the sides of the replacement carriages. The southern Aurora is shown pushed into number 1 platform for this purpose. Also shown are is the Overland express in number 1 platform and the Spirit of Progress about to arrive at number 1 platform. In 2020 the days in the week coincide with the accident. There s a video of the Southern Aurora Museum at Violet Town at - : • Southern Aurora Railwa...