Final answer:
Train operators must perform safety checks and protocols before releasing handbrakes on a train, ensuring the train's readiness for departure. Experienced operators often sense irregularities in the schedule or track changes by observing the crowd, rather than relying on schedule boards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before releasing the handbrakes on a train, the train operators must ensure the safety and readiness of the train for departure. This includes conducting a series of checks such as brake tests, ensuring proper signal indications, and verifying that the cars are properly coupled. In a real-world scenario, this might involve a predefined safety protocol that covers a variety of aspects to ensure that all parts of the train are functioning correctly and that it is safe to proceed.
Experienced train operators, like the regulars mentioned, develop a strong sense of the train's schedule and the flow of operations at the station. They often become so familiar with the regular routines that they can sense deviations such as delays or track changes not by looking at a schedule board but by observing the movements and behaviors of the crowd.