I was driving on the Healesville route the other day, and when I got to the end of the line the instructions told me to run around to the other end of the train so I could go back the other way.
Now, my understanding is that the Brake Van should always be at the end of a train, so that if a coupler breaks the crew in the van can apply brakes and stop the disconnected cars from rolling out of control. (This being before the invention of automatic air brakes.) So, to be more prototypically accurate, shouldn't the session instructions include an extra switching maneuver where I move the Brake Van to the siding and attach it at the back of the train before setting out? Is that how it would have been done on a real 19th century railroad?
Now, my understanding is that the Brake Van should always be at the end of a train, so that if a coupler breaks the crew in the van can apply brakes and stop the disconnected cars from rolling out of control. (This being before the invention of automatic air brakes.) So, to be more prototypically accurate, shouldn't the session instructions include an extra switching maneuver where I move the Brake Van to the siding and attach it at the back of the train before setting out? Is that how it would have been done on a real 19th century railroad?