The family of a Canberra train driver who died last week has remembered him as a man with a heart of gold.
John Kennedy, 54, died on Thursday night when the train he was driving between Sydney and Melbourne derailed in Wallan, north of Melbourne.
Mr Kennedy died along with the train's 49-year-old pilot, Sam Meintanis.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, Mr Kennedy's family said they were still coming to terms with the shock death.
"It is hard to find the right words to describe the overwhelming sense of loss we have," the family said.
"To try and sum up John in a few words, would be a gross misrepresentation of how great a husband, father, grandfather, mate and bloke he was."
The family said Mr Kennedy died doing what he loved, having joined the railway when he was 14.
"His love for the rail never changed, if anything it just grew stronger," the family said.
"His passion was trains. He showed this in his work ethic, passion and dedication to the railway."
The cause of Thursday's derailment is still under investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
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A preliminary report into the incident is expected within the month, but the final investigation could take several months to finalise.
In emails Mr Kennedy sent to a friend earlier in February, he said he had concerns with the safety of the same line the train derailed on.
At the time of the crash, the train was carrying 153 passengers, 11 of them were taken to hospital.
Mr Kennedy's family said he would light up the room when he entered.
"[He] left an everlasting impression on everyone," the statement said.
"He had a heart of gold and nothing was too hard when it came to helping others. John had a quirky personality like no other and a personality larger than life.
"John enjoyed travelling, cricket, fishing, and a good billy tea, but the biggest love of all was his wife and his ever-growing family.
"His family and his railway family have suffered a massive loss through this tragedy and he will be forever missed and never forgotten."
His colleague Sam Meintanis was described by his family as a "spartan king".
"He was the rock of our family, always ready to support and advise with compassion, stability and a positive outlook," the family said.
"He made us laugh out loud with his storytelling and continuous funny and positive outlook on life.
"Everyone who knew Sam loved and admired him and saw him as a strong and trusted leader. He was our Spartan king."
