Mumbai: Surekha Yadav, Asia's first woman loco pilot, retired on Tuesday after a remarkable 36-year career that inspired generations. The Central Railway lauded her "trailblazing journey," highlighting her pioneering role in a male-dominated sector and her operation of prestigious trains, including Mumbai’s suburban locals, steep mountain pass goods trains, the Vande Bharat Express, and the Rajdhani Express.

Yadav began her railway journey in 1989, becoming an assistant driver in 1990, thus earning the distinction of Asia’s first woman train driver. Born into a farming family in Maharashtra’s Satara district, she completed a diploma in electrical engineering before joining Indian Railways. Progressing through ranks, she operated her first goods train in 1996, became a motorwoman in 2000, and qualified as a ghat driver in 2010. She notably drove the inaugural Vande Bharat Express run between Solapur and Mumbai in March 2023 and recently piloted the Rajdhani Express on its Hazrat Nizamuddin-CSMT route as her final assignment.

In a social media post, Central Railway bid her farewell, recognising her as a pioneer whose journey, from farms to platform 18 of CSMT, would continue inspiring railway women and men alike. Yadav expressed pride in overcoming early doubts about a woman taking on the role and emphasised her determination to succeed.

Reflecting on her challenging but rewarding career, she recalled working with evolving locomotive technology and the unpredictable nature of her duties. She stressed the importance of respecting her job, the support of her family and colleagues, and urged people to avoid trespassing on railway tracks due to the emotional impact of accidents on loco pilots.

Her official retirement function is scheduled for October 1, marking the end of a historic and inspiring chapter in Indian Railways.

With inputs from PTI