Surekha Yadav, a native of Satara, Maharashtra, embarked on a path few envisioned for women in 1980s India. In 1988, she became Asia’s first female locomotive pilot, breaking into a male-dominated domain and redefining what is possible in Indian Railways.
Her journey began humbly: selected as an assistant driver in 1989, Yadav steadily climbed the ranks, from goods-train operator in 1996, to motor-woman in 2000, and then a full-fledged driver of mail and express trains. In 2010, she became a ghat driver, a role demanding extreme skill and caution, navigating the treacherous Western Ghat gradients with precision.
Among her many milestones: she has driven freight trains, suburban locals, express routes, and legendary services. She piloted the iconic Deccan Queen, India’s early express train between Mumbai and Pune, as well as the modern, semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express.
Through decades of duty, day and night, through rain, fog and challenging terrain, Surekha never sought limelight. Yet each journey, each safe arrival, became a statement: gender does not define capacity. Her consistent performance destabilized deep-rooted stereotypes and opened up new possibilities for women across the railways.
Her legacy goes beyond her own achievements. She trained junior colleagues, mentored aspirants, and inspired countless young women to consider careers in engineering, rail operations, and other technical fields. As more women take to cabin controls, suburban lines, goods routes and high-speed trains, the tracks she laid continue to guide them.
With her retirement, Surekha Yadav leaves behind a transformed Indian Railways: one where trains are steered by skill and spirit, not stereotypes; where “first woman” no longer means “only woman.”
