Since when did train drivers have to leave their train and talk to a farmer in a field? Pretty sure that leaving your train, on the main line, in the middle of nowhere without valid reason to do so wouldn't be allowed.
Nor is Emily Turner giving instructions to the driver, nor for that matter the farmer at the end of the scenario telling the driver it is okay to continue. Only the controlling signaller can do that, liaising as necessary with any Operations Staff or PW personnel at the site. I guess it was intended as a bit of fun but, just like the fictional ESR and TSR boarding, it grates a bit with those of us who have real operational railway experience.
Worse still, if you were driving at 125mph, you would not notice cows on the line and have enough time to stop, no trains would be running otherwise. Nor would you help the farmer get them back to the field. Nowt like breaking railway rules, is there?
I’m doing a Rail Engineering Course in Newcastle College at the moment, we do Work Experience with CrossCountry (who sponsor the college), we’ve been told many times, only move when the signaller has given permission to proceed, and always clearly speak to the signaller when reporting an incident, it’s something they take very seriously, any other member of staff would only carry out something on track with the driver in a emergency (such as placing Track Circuit Operating Clips), the other day we went to York ROC and learned about Controlled train-to-train evacuation and using ladders. As well as the responsibilities of the driver and staff in a emergency. The driver would potentially be sacked if they did this in real life, leaving their train on the main line; maybe in Thomas & Friends, maybe they might get away with it.
Plus the farmer refuses to move away from the line when you need to resume the journey. He's way too close for comfort!
The longer this thread goes on with all the jokes, the first jokes are slowly starting to feel cheesy.......
That's why I did it, for the mastery. Wouldn't have touched it otherwise. The concept is good but the actual scenario is poor.
It’s ironic when they encourage you on the loading screen to respect the railways and not to break the rules. Then we have scenarios like this. That’s quite amusing.