Darjeeling's 145-Year-Old 'Toy Train' Gets Its First Woman Ticket Examiner

Darjeeling's Sarita Yolmo has made history as the first woman Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for the prestigious Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Toy Train, which has chugged its way through the tracks for over 145 years. This is not only a milestone for the Himalayan Railway but also for the wider national drive to break gender stereotypes at the workplace.

A Historic First on India’s Mountain Rails

Hailing from the hills in Darjeeling and having served in the Northeast Frontier Railway for several years, Sarita Yolmo’s professional journey began with the Railway Press in Kurseong in 1991. As the Railway Press was closed, Yolmo joined the commercial department, where she undertook various assignments until she was appointed as the TTE. 

Yolmo is based in New Jalpaiguri. She has taken charge of the Toy Train operating between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling on February 5, 2026. She will be the first woman to become a Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) on this historic Toy Train, which has been operating since 1881.

The train runs for eight hours on the Himalayan terrain, demanding not only technical knowledge and expertise but also the ability to endure harsh weather conditions. “I am proud to be the first woman TTE in a Darjeeling Himalayan Railway Toy Train in its history. I am feeling both proud and nostalgic, reflecting on the long journey that has brought me here," she told The Hindu.

Legacy Meets Progress on the Mountain Rails

Toy Train has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. The train tracks pass through the tea gardens, the forests, and the mountain towns. The train has been more than just a transportation centre; it has been a museum that displays the early days of the Rail System in India. 

The train has been recognised for its loops, its zigzags, and the scenery it offers to tourists from all over the world. Despite all the glorious days in the history of the Railways, the functioning roles of the train services, like the TTE, have been male-dominated until now.

Yolmo’s appointment is not just a move away from the past; it also reflects the changing times in the context of the employment of women in the Railways in India. The Railways have made concerted efforts in the recent past to ensure the employment of women in all the functioning roles in the Railways, including the role of the Locomotive Pilots.