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"Machines don't see gender; they acknowledge your competence," states Surekha Yadav, who has been piloting India's trains for over three decades.

In the past few days, Ms Yadav completed her career after more than three decades of work, finishing her career as India's pioneer woman locomotive operator.

Breaking Barriers

Presently, there are in excess of 2,000 lady rail drivers in the Indian Railways, but Ms Yadav embarked on the job at a time when it was rare for women to explore this profession.

Born in 1965 in a modest settlement in India's western Maharashtra state, Ms Yadav comes from a farming family and is the first-born of five siblings.

From a young age, she was exposed to demanding tasks, assisting her family on the farm while also studying.

"Though my parents came from a humble origin, they were open-minded. They provided me education and that permitted me to work."

Career Beginnings

After finishing her education as an electrical engineer, Ms Yadav promptly started looking for a job. She accidentally noticed a classified ad by the Indian railways, hiring locomotive assistants, and took the opening.

At the time, she had no idea that there were no lady drivers in the country. She simply saw the job as a means to earn an income.

Public sector positions are much sought-after in India because of the job safety and advantages they offer. But securing a position for one is difficult, as thousands of applicants from all over the country contest for a single vacancy.

Facing Difficulties

Ms Yadav cleared the selection process with excellent results, and got her opening assignment on a freight transport in 1989.

It was only when she commenced her preparation that she realised the profession was overwhelmingly male-oriented.

She recollects the opening day she went in for training. While she didn't anticipate many lady candidates, she was surprised when she saw there were no female students in her class.

"I wondered what to do. But I thought, if I don't accept the job, somebody else might. Since I've been picked, I'll do it," she says.

Professional Growth

Rail drivers use diverse tracking equipment to oversee different elements of the trip, including directions and pace. They have to be watchful continuously and make prompt judgments to avoid incidents and ensure passenger safety.

Countless rail vehicles traverse India's sprawling railway network each day, transporting numerous commuters to their end points. India's trains are often described as the lifeline of the country because of the expanse of their network and how cost-effective they are.

Ms Yadav says she acquired the ability to understand indications, predicting challenges and reacting in real time to avert crises.

Career Milestones

In 1996, she was promoted to the position of rail driver - the chief conductor of the train's control room, or the "nerve centre" of the train.

The irregular schedules, due to unanticipated interruptions and incidents, was one of the toughest challenges of the job.

Come rain or shine, she had to attend her shift. Irregular eating schedules and unavailability of toilets or changing rooms for women on some trains increased the challenges.

Personal Challenges

Ms Yadav says she has operated trains on waterlogged paths, across elevated pathways and on multiple-day journeys.

She worked through two pregnancy periods and nurtured her offspring while maintaining her job.

The type of her profession, she says, didn't allow her to miss her children when she had to be away from them.

"You must observe the signal, the path, the overhead equipment, pay attention to your co-worker, and keep your eyes on the speed - simultaneously. How might I ponder my children?" Ms Yadav says. "When your focus shifts for even 30 seconds, even a instant, it can be hazardous for everyone on the train."

Assistance Framework

She recollects being absent from several family celebrations and trips because of her job. But backing from relatives and fellow male workers helped her cope.

"My workmates were wonderful. They never made me feel like I was unusual because I was a female. Others might have thought that, but not my colleagues," she says.

In her extended profession, Ms Yadav also got the possibility to coach aspiring train operators, many of them women.

Her hope is that her career will function as encouragement to others.

Final Journey

On her concluding day, Ms Yadav operated the Rajdhani Express - one of India's premium long-distance trains. At the terminal station in India's economic hub Mumbai she was celebrated extensively by her co-workers, including drum performances and cultural dances.

"I didn't foresee I'd operate locomotives till I attained sixty years," Ms Yadav says.

When questioned what she'll long for most about her job, she said it's the blinking indicators.

Those small directional indicators always assisted her in locating the way.