As a kid, I had two primary ambitions. I wanted to be an astronaut (I am definitely not equipped for that task!), and I wanted to be a train driver.

What would be better for a train enthusiast than driving one for a living? The idea struck me as quite glamorous, but as an adult, I have a different appreciation for what it would actually be like. Train drivers work some long hours, deal with all sorts of chaos, and it is said that a driver will have at least one person throw themselves in front of their train, over the course of their career. Not pleasant.

My foolish, childhood belief was that being a train driver would be easy. The train goes forward, stops at a station, and sometimes reverses. As an adult, I am aware of the all the various signalling knowledge a driver needs, and the cab is awash with information and alerts that the driver must know. I don’t think I have the ability to manage all of that, and still drive the bloody train! Thus, being a train driver has remained a pipe dream. I might have had more of a chance becoming an astronaut.