When Surekha Yadav first stepped into the driver’s cabin of an Indian Railways train in 1989, she entered a world that few women dared to imagine, let alone conquer. More than three decades later, her retirement marks the close of a historic chapter for India’s transport sector and a defining moment for women in technical professions across the country.
“Machines don’t see gender; they see your strength,” Yadav said during her farewell ceremony this week as colleagues, junior drivers and railway officials gathered to honour the woman who shattered one of the rail industry’s strongest glass ceilings.
Born in 1965 in Satara, a small farming town in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Yadav grew up in a humble household as the eldest of five siblings. Her parents, despite modest means, placed immense value on education. “Though my parents came from a simple background, they were progressive in their thinking,” she recalled. “They educated me and that allowed me to work.”
After earning a diploma in electrical engineering, Yadav began looking for stable employment. One day, she spotted a newspaper advertisement by Indian Railways seeking assistant train drivers. Without knowing that no woman had ever held the position, she applied and was accepted. “I didn’t realize I was about to make history. I just wanted to earn a living,” she said.
When she began her training, Yadav quickly realized she was the only woman in the class. “I was surprised but I decided to go through with it,” she said. “If I had refused, someone else would have taken my place. I was selected, so I decided to give it my all.”
Her early years were far from easy. The job demanded long hours, precision and nerves of steel. There were no guidebooks on how to become a great train driver, and most of the learning came on the job. “You must remain alert every second. One mistake can cost lives,” Yadav said.
She remembers working through harsh weather conditions, from driving trains on flooded tracks to manoeuvring through mountain passes. “There were days when I didn’t know when I’d next eat or rest,” she said. “But the satisfaction of doing the job right kept me going.”
In 1996, Yadav was promoted to locomotive pilot, the lead operator responsible for the train’s control room. She mastered multiple systems used to monitor routes, signals and speed, all while coordinating with her team to ensure safe travel for passengers across India’s vast railway network, one of the largest and busiest in the world.
Working unpredictable hours came with sacrifices. She missed family functions, festivals and milestones in her children’s lives. Yet, she found purpose in her work. “When you’re behind the controls, your mind can’t wander,” she explained. “You have to watch the signal, the track, the equipment and listen to your colleagues all at once. Even a moment’s distraction could be dangerous.”
Her colleagues recall her as a calm, composed professional who never let the challenges of her job or the pressures of being the first woman deter her. Many male co-workers admired her grit and professionalism. “They never made me feel like I didn’t belong,” she said. “In the control cabin, we were all equals.”
Yadav also played a significant role in mentoring young drivers, including many women who followed in her footsteps. Today, there are over 2,000 female train drivers in India, a transformation that began with her determination and resilience.
On her final day at work, Yadav drove the prestigious Rajdhani Express, one of India’s fastest and most iconic passenger trains, into Mumbai’s terminal station. There, she was greeted with a grand farewell filled with music, flowers and cheers from her colleagues and railway staff who lined the platform to celebrate her legacy.
“I never imagined I’d drive trains until I was 60,” she said, smiling through tears. “Every journey taught me something about discipline, patience and courage.”
As she handed over her cap and gloves for the last time, Yadav reflected on what she would miss most. “The flashing signals,” she said softly. “They were my companions. They guided me, shift after shift, through rain, sun and darkness. I will always remember their light.”
Surekha Yadav’s story is not just about a career. It is about breaking barriers and proving that perseverance, discipline and belief in oneself can move mountains, or in her case, trains.
