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How a 23-year-old girl from Satara broke gender-based norms and changed the country’s perception of women in tech fields.
Surekha Yadav became Asia’s first woman locomotive pilot in 1988. (Image: Railways)
Breaking tradition and rewriting history, Surekha Yadav stepped into the driver’s cabin of a locomotive in 1988. In an era when railway cabins were considered no place for women, Yadav became not only India’s but also Asia’s first woman locomotive pilot. As she drove a locomotive inside the Indian Railways, the 23-year-old broke gender-based norms and changed the country’s perception of women in the engineering and public service sectors.
Born in Satara, Maharashtra in 1965, Yadav developed a passion for machines and railways from a young age. He studied electrical engineering, enrolled in vocational courses and applied for a job with the Indian Railways. In a journey that started with immense love for machines and curiosity to drive locomotives, Yadav was officially appointed as Assistant Driver and cemented his legacy.
mastering freight trains
Historically, it was not considered safe for women to stay in railway cabins due to the roar of engines, difficult terrain and long running times of trains. But Yadav proved people wrong with his unwavering commitment to the issue. He spent his formative years mastering the operation of freight trains and rose through the ranks through hard work and excellence in his work.
Yadav made his place in history when he was appointed the pilot of the prestigious Deccan Queen, India’s first super-fast train that ran between Mumbai and Pune. The Mumbai-Pune Ghats are considered some of the most challenging train sections in India, but Yadav drove the car expertly on the difficult slopes and turns.
The message is resonating: women are on trains
As Yadav rose to fame in the Indian Railways, he sent a strong message that cabins and locomotives are not only for men. She also inspired a generation of young girls to study hard and apply for various jobs in the Railways.
Over the past decades, Yadav has been the flag bearer for women taking up technical roles. Under his invaluable guidance, he has trained junior staff and new recruits for the Railways. Yadav, once alone in her travels, is now accompanied by several women loco pilots who drive goods trains, EMUs, metros and even parts of the famous Vande Bharat across the country.
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November 26, 2025, 5:24 pm IST
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