MUMBAI: Asia’s first woman train driver, 60-year-old Surekha Yadav, will conclude an illustrious 36-year career with the Indian Railways when she retires on Sept 30.A farewell lunch was held on CSMT premises Thursday after Yadav piloted the Rajdhani Express (Hazrat Nizamuddin–CSMT) from Igatpuri, marking one of her last assignments.Reflecting on her journey, Yadav, a Thane resident, said she received tremendous respect and support from her colleagues and seniors. “The railways did me a great honour by giving me this opportunity. Only 12 days are left, and I have not thought of what the future holds for me. My parents never discouraged me from taking up this profession, which brought me so many laurels,” said Yadav, a farmer’s daughter.Yadav’s husband serves in the police while both her sons are engineers and married. She started her career as an assistant diver in 1989 and worked her way up to become a goods driver in 1996, and then a motorwoman in 2000.Chief public relations officer of Central Railway, Swapnil Nila, added, “Yadav leaves behind not just a record of firsts, but also a legacy of courage and determination that will inspire future generations of railway women.” Staff who worked with her recalled her humility and team spirit, noting how she earned both respect and affection both on and off the tracks.Born in Satara, Yadav broke the glass ceiling when she joined the Central Railway as an assistant driver in 1989. Her rise was steady and path-breaking—becoming a goods driver in 1996, a motorwoman in 2000, and later taking on the role of a “Ghat driver” in 2010. This role saw her navigating the iconic Deccan Queen on the treacherous Bhor Ghat stretch between Mumbai and Pune—regarded as one of the steepest rail inclines in the country, with gradients of 1:37.Yadav, who completed her diploma in electrical engineering from Government Polytechnic in Karad, before joining the railways, became a symbol of inspiration for women across the nation. At a time when locomotive cabins were considered the exclusive preserve of men, her entry shifted perceptions and paved the way for a new generation of women to take up the demanding role of loco pilots. Today, there are around 1,500 women driving trains across India, a remarkable leap that began with her.Her career is dotted with milestones. In 2011, she drove the Deccan Queen into Pune, a symbolic run that was celebrated widely. In March 2018, on International Women’s Day, Yadav piloted a ladies’ special local train from CSMT to Panvel with an all-women crew—motorwoman, guard, ticket checker, and RPF staff —an event that showcased women’s growing presence in railway operations. More recently, she was entrusted with piloting the prestigious Vande Bharat Express on the Mumbai–Pune–Solapur route, further cementing her pioneering status.
