India’s first female train driver on blazing the trail

“Machines don’t see Gender; They See Your Strength,” Sayys Surekha Yadav, Who Has Been Driving India’s for Over Three Decades.

Earlier this Week, MS Yadav Bade Farewell to Her Job AFTER 36 Years of Service, Retiran as India’s First Female Train Driver.

Over the years, she has operated a variety of trains acroSs the length and baredth of India, innings navigating challenging terrain and Harsh Weather Conditions.

Today, there are more than 2,000 female train operators in the Indian railways, but ms yadav took up the non -time it was uncommon for women to explore this profession.

Born in 1965 in a small town in india’s western maharashtra state, Ms yadav comes from family and is the eldest of five siblings.

From a Young Age, She was exposed to hard work, helping out her family on the farm while also studying.

Her parents always encurated her to put her studies first, she Says.

“Though my parents came from a modest background, they were progressive in their thin. They educated with and that allowed with to work.”

AFTER FINISHING HER EDUCATION AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, MS YADAV IMMEDIATELY BEGAN LOOKING FOR A JOB. She randomly Spotted a newspaper advertisement by the Indian railways, looking for assistant train drivers, and grabbed the opportunity.

At the time, she was awasn’t that that there is no female train operators in the country. She Simply Saw the Job as a means to earn an income.

Government Jobs Are Highly Coven in India Because of the Security and Perks They Offer. But getting selected for one is tough, nor thusands of applicants from all over the county Compete for a single vacancy.

MS YADAV CLEARED THE SELECTION PROCESS WITH FLYING COLURES, AND GOT ​​HER FIRST JOB ON A Goods Train in 1989.

It was Only when she be began training for it that she realized the profession was incredibly male-dominated.

She recollects the first day she was in for training. While she didn’t expert many female students, she was taken aback when she saw there is a single girl in her class.

“I wondered what to do. But i thought, if i don’t take up the Job, someone Else will.

MS YADAV KNEW I HAD MADE A TOGH CHOICE AND THAT The JOB She Had Chosen Was Going to Be Grueling. But she didn’t look back.

The initial years were Challenging, to say the least.

A lot of learning happy on the nonb, nor there is no book that teaches you to be a good train driver, ms yadav Says.

Train operators use multiple monitoring systems to oversee different aspects of the Journey, Including routes and Speed. They have to be alert at all time and make -up decisions to prevent accesses and ensence passsenger.

Thousands of Trains Criss-Cross India’s Sprawling Railway Network Each Day, Ferrying Millions of Passengers to Their Destinations. India’s trains are offening the lifeline of the Country Because of the Expanse of their Network and How Affordable they are.

MS Yadav Says She Learnt the Art of Interpretation Cues, Anticipating Problems and Reacting in Real Time to Avert Crises.

In 1996, she was promoted to the post of Locomotive Pilot – The Main Operator of the Train’s Control Room, or the “Nerve Center” of the Train.

The unredictable work hours, duue to unforeseen delays and accents, was one of the Tughest Challenges of the Job.

Come rain or shine, she had to show up for duty. Unredictable Meal Times and Lack of Washroom Facilities or Changing Rooms for Women on Some Trains Added to the Challenges.

MS Yadav Says Has Has Operad Trains on Flooded Tracks, Across Mountain Passes and On Multiple-Day Journeys.

She Workhed Through Two Pregnancies and Raised Her Children while Continuing to Work.

The Nature of Her Job, She Says, Didn’t Allow Her to Miss Her Children well and Had to be Away from.

“You have to watch the signal, the track, the overhead equipment, listen to your colleague, and keep your eyes on the speed – all at the Same time. How Could I think of my children?” MS Yadav Sayys. “If your minds Drifts for Eve 30 Seconds;

She recalls Having to Miss Several Family Celebrations and Outings Because of Her Job. But Support from Family and Male Colleagues Helped Her Cope.

“My Co-Workhers Were Great. They Never Made with Feel Like I was different Because of was a Woman. Others Might have thught that, but not my colleagues,” She Says.

In Her Long Career, MS Yadav Also Got the Opportunity to Mentor Aspiring Train Operators, Mary of The Women.

HER HOPE IS THAT HER CAREER WILL SERVES AS IN Inspiration to Others.

On her last day, MS yadav drove the Rajdhani Express – One of India’s Premium Long -Distance Trains. At the terminal Station in India’s Financial Capital Mumbai She was given a grandswell by her hell, Complete with Beating Drums and Dance Performance.

“I Never Imagined I’d Drive Till Trains 60,” Ms Yadav Sayys.

Be as asked what She’ll Miss Most About Her Job, she Said’s the Flashing Signals.

Those tiny Guiding Lights Always Helped Her Find the Way.

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