I spawned at Lover's Walk Depot the other day to do 5U01 on BML, a good ECS run that has some depot moves and then deadheads to Gatwick before entering revenue service. I got to thinking - how does a real life driver not get electrocuted when walking around a yard that uses third rails? I had to cross many a third rail on my way to the train.
I'm fairly certain in real life there are authorised walking routes that staff are not permitted to leave unless necessary.
If there are no authorised walkways anywhere you must make one step at a time over all the rails. About 5 mins into this video is a demonstration.
Plus very likely wooden protection screens along the side of the rail and any staff in that location required to wear safety shoes. I had to wince at one of the (otherwise very good) scenarios on IOW 2022 which has you moving sets about at Ryde St Johns and several times you had no choice but to alight on the side of the unprotected third rail.
yh as many others have said, there would be authorised walking routes, which is something which is very lacking in every tsw route with any form of sidings or depot, taking away the immersion for me. I really hope they do begin to finally detail depots and sidings a bit more soon enough
Yes I would imagine they would have those too. There are multiple scenarios which go against every part of PTS and you can't even avoid it as often the go via markers give you no choice. Totally agree with what Olly says above as well.
Ok, so basically the various protective and safety features are missing from the sim. (It seems that the training centre is really guilty of this - there's no way to get around the place without crossing the live rails, and no covers or walkways in sight!) These days, I assume they shut off the juice and don't let moving trains go directly by if men are digging around the track, right? Anyway, thanks for the information all!
Reminds me of one scenario on the Harlem Line where you'd have to traverse Grand Central Terminal on foot... with nothing bit just a flashlight... Didn't feel save.
See below a picture from google maps of Gillingham Depot. I've marked with red arrows the "safe walking routes" which are all across the site. If you go to THIS LINK you can browse around the site and see: The raised walkways between the bays to the south of the main shed The walkways between the lines emerging from the shed Various crossing points at the junctions around the site The walkways between the bays to the Eastern end of the site The pedestrian crossing along the face of those bays Also, if you look at the two exit lanes (north of the main shed to the western end of the site (towards Gillingham station) you'll see that the electric rail is protected by a yellow barrier in the space between the two lines
and guess what, not a single one of those details is included in game! i don’t know how they can place some tracks and a shed and call it a day for depots when there’s so many details
Just had a closer look the electric rails on the bit I sent previously (with the yellow sides to the rails) are NOT the electric rails, they're on the outside as in game Also, just scanned in closer on google earth and a lot of the yellow access ways lead to the switches
