Away from my day job, I spent much of my free time volunteering on the Severn Valley Railway, a preserved line running through 16 miles of some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.

My job as a signalman (analogous to a "dispatcher" or "tower operator" in the US), means that I control the passage of trains over a portion of the line, controlling signals and points (switches) with manual equipment, dating back to the days of steam - in a number of cases, the technology I'm using is over a century old! A short photo essay covering the main aspects of my job can be found over on Imgur.

I also have to handle more unusual circumstances, such as delayed trains, engineering work, or (thankfully rare) emergency situations. However, most of my time is suitably relaxed - it's a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, by spending a day with real life steam (or diesel!) engines, working with a group of people who are there because they love their jobs, all of whom are drinking copious amounts of tea.

The Severn Valley was opened as a heritage railway in 1970, and has continued ever since, carrying over 200,000 passengers a year, running Sunday Lunch and evening dining trains, as well as footplate experience courses where the public can get their hands on a real-life steam train. The railway is mainly run by a group of over 1,000 volunteers, who come from a variety of backgrounds, many of which are not train-related at all - some of my fellow signalmen are teachers, accountants, and vicars. Many have come to live out their childhood dream of working with a steam engine, and we're always happy to accept anyone else who wants to join in the fun!

Proof: http://i.imgur.com/GsIkEXX.jpg