Home / Mumbai / Mumbai News / Photos / IN PHOTOS: Asia's 1st woman locopilot, Surekha Yadav set to retire after 36 years of service

IN PHOTOS: Asia's 1st woman locopilot, Surekha Yadav set to retire after 36 years of service

Updated On: 19 September, 2025 04:21 PM IST | Asif Ali Sayed

Surekha Yadav, Asia's first woman locopilot, is set to retire at the end of this month after 36 years of service, an official from the Central Railway said on Friday. Pics/X

  • WhatsApp
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
Surekha Yadav joined the Indian Railways in 1989 and became an assistant driver the following year, making history as Asia's first woman train driver, the official said. Pics/X

1/6

Surekha Yadav joined the Indian Railways in 1989 and became an assistant driver the following year, making history as Asia's first woman train driver, the official said. Pics/X
Born in Maharashtra's Satara district, Surekha Yadav completed a diploma in Electrical Engineering before joining the Railways and rose steadily through the ranks in the male-dominated field

2/6

Born in Maharashtra's Satara district, Surekha Yadav completed a diploma in Electrical Engineering before joining the Railways and rose steadily through the ranks in the male-dominated field

She operated a goods train in 1996, and by 2000, she was promoted to motorwoman. A decade later, she qualified as a ghat driver, eventually taking charge of mail and express trains

3/6

She operated a goods train in 1996, and by 2000, she was promoted to motorwoman. A decade later, she qualified as a ghat driver, eventually taking charge of mail and express trains

For the last several years, Yadav has been operating mail and express trains on various routes

4/6

For the last several years, Yadav has been operating mail and express trains on various routes

On March 13, 2023, she had the honour of driving the inaugural Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)

5/6

On March 13, 2023, she had the honour of driving the inaugural Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)

Yadav's remarkable career has been a proud chapter in Indian Railways' history and a powerful symbol of women's empowerment

6/6

Yadav's remarkable career has been a proud chapter in Indian Railways' history and a powerful symbol of women's empowerment

Tags

Photo of Day

Global AI leaders join PM Modi in a bid to push for a smarter, inclusive future

Global AI leaders join PM Modi in a bid to push for a smarter, inclusive future

PM Narendra Modi joins hands with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and others during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, in New Delhi. PIC/PTI

Advertisement