There I was driving along Great Western at 124 mph when all of a sudden there were track workers all over the adjacent track. Nice surprise, although looking through posts I think they appear randomly, will try and get picture next time, although never seen them before.
Should get bonus points if you spot them and sound the horn. Tea and biscuits at the next station if you forget…
IRL wouldn't there be temporary warning signs out and and notice of work for drivers on the route? You wouldn't just find yourself bearing down on a track gang all of a sudden.
No, track workers can indeed be working on track without TSRs. That’s why the orange army wear orange to make them visible from a good distance. There would though be a lookout and possibly distant lookout there too. When I was out on track most drivers would blow up when they were a good distance away and that was before the full orange ruling came in and we only had an orange vest or coat on.
Some high speed routes will have restrictions on "red zone" working, i.e. on the live railway and there is a system called TOWS (Train Operated Warning System) installed in a few locations which gives audible warning of a trains approach. But essentially it is a case of having a safe system of work and keeping a good lookout for approaching trains. In some areas a line blockage of not only the line being worked on but adjacent track too might have to be taken.
At first i thought "Tea and biscuit" is literally having a nice afternoon tea and biscuit, it is a disciplinary measure instead. LOL
More usually referred to as "tea, no biscuits" to emphasise the disciplinary nature of the interview.
