I will note that I didn't ask you to excuse my foul language. I was addressing your condescending horseshit comment.

Assuming you have accurately represented German testing standards (which doesn't seem likely), the proper course of action here is to either provide the requested explanation, or petition the German government to correct this error.

It was, indeed, on the brake pedal. "Firm" pressure was, indeed, being applied, and the parking brake was set with enough force to prevent movement.

Without the engine running, there is no vacuum boost on the brakes. "Firm" pressure on the brake pedal is not sufficient to overcome the high torque of a starter motor against first gear, even with an adequately set parking brake as well. If you're going to insist on having the transmission in gear, the highest gear would be the best alternative to neutral, as it provides the lowest torque fighting the brakes.

The amount of pressure on the brake pedal needed to stop the vehicle without boosted brakes would better be described as "standing on them like your life depended on it", but you only asked for "firm". The measure you have put in place to mitigate the observed danger is demonstrably inadequate, and you have yet to offer any sort of reasoning for your "first gear" suggestion.

But, this is all a digression. Your position is that the vehicle should be in first gear. The only explanation you have offered for that is the possibility of failing a German driving test. "Preventing Injury or property damage" is a far higher priority than "appeasing some authoritarian twat", so I'm going to need a better explanation from you for first gear.

Glow plugs. They needed time to heat the glow plugs, which look like spark plugs, but function like an incandescent light bulb. They would be a nice hot spot in the cylinder to help ignite the fuel and get the engine started.

While the engine doesn't need to be warmed up anymore, the HVAC system may need the engine to be hot before it can keep the windshield defogged and ensure the driver's view remains unobstructed.

Excuse me, Whatthefuck.

Mechanical shit breaks, things go wrong. Standard practice should be to operate in such a manner as to minimize danger to life and property when shit breaks and things go wrong.

Offer a reasonable explanation for why the transmission should be in first gear. If that explanation is some variation of "This authoritarian that said to do it this way", ignore them with extreme prejudice and do it the right way.

Justify that, please.

I hit a barn with a dump truck because the clutch pedal failed to disengage the clutch, and I was in first gear when I tried to start. In neutral, the truck would not have lurched forward, and I would have discovered the problem when I couldn't slip the transmission into reverse.

The transmission should be in neutral until the hand brake/parking brake is released, and you are ready for the vehicle to move.

No. If the clutch is in, there is no need to put in neutral.

Disagree.

It is possible for the clutch pedal to fail to disengage a malfunctioning clutch, or for a clutch cable to part while the vehicle is being started. In either case, the vehicle will lurch when in gear and the starter is actuated.

I know it is possible, because I hit the back wall of a barn with a dump truck when it happened to me.

Except for emergency scenarios (roll starting, or trying to use the starter motor to move an otherwise disabled vehicle), the transmission should be in neutral when starting, and not shifted out of neutral until the hand brake is released.

Vegan rabbits, no. Carnivorous rabbits are fair game.

Best I can do is a happy guillotine:

There's room for batteries in the rail industry.

Diesel electrics rely primarily on dynamic braking. To save wear and tear on friction brakes, they convert kinetic energy to electrical, and then to heat in a giant resistor bank.

Add a couple battery cars, and dynamic braking becomes regenerative braking.

Theoretically, you could back feed the grid with that electrical energy, but if you do that, the train's primary braking system is now dependent on a connection to the grid, and that doesn't seem like a particularly good idea to me. All of the "stop" systems need to be far more reliable than the "go" systems.

ACTs and SATs aren't mandated. Students take them if they want to, just like the ASVAB now.

If the SATs were mandated, employers and colleges would expect to see the scores.

Your first and third links have some of the information I am looking for. Thank you very much.