New Delhi: Darjeeling’s iconic Toy Train has long been celebrated as a marvel of mountain engineering, carrying passengers along steep, winding tracks for over 140 years. Yet, for nearly 145 years, no woman had ever served as a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) on this heritage railway until now. Sarita Yolmo has broken that barrier, becoming the first woman TTE to be assigned the prestigious ‘Tour Duty’ on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yolmo’s journey reflects persistence and adaptability. She began her career in the Railway Press, and when the unit closed, she moved to the commercial department, eventually becoming a TTE based in New Jalpaiguri (NJP). While her regular duties remain there, she now also serves the heritage toy train tours, making her the first woman in Northeast Frontier Railway history to hold this distinction. Her historic assignment on the 78-km narrow-gauge route, which climbs from 100 metres in the plains to over 2,200 metres in the hills, is a landmark moment for women in Indian railways.
First woman TTE on Darjeeling Toy Train
1. Historic first
Sarita Yolmo becomes the first woman Travelling Ticket Examiner on the DHR, shattering a nearly century-and-a-half-long tradition of male dominance in this role.
2. From press to rails
Starting her career in the Railway Press, Yolmo transitioned to the commercial department, demonstrating resilience and adaptability to take on passenger service duties.
3. Toy Train Experience
The 78-km journey from New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling traverses steep hills using loops and zigzags, testing TTEs with both scenic beauty and operational challenges.
4. A UNESCO World Heritage legacy
Constructed between 1879 and 1881, the DHR was recognised in 1999 as Asia’s first industrial heritage site and India’s first hill railway to earn UNESCO status.
5. Courage on tracks
Yolmo admitted initial anxiety on her first journey but expressed pride and satisfaction in safely completing the route, embodying determination for future women in railway services.
Sarita Yolmo’s achievement on the Darjeeling Toy Train is more than a personal milestone. It is a landmark moment for gender representation in India’s heritage railways, inspiring future generations of women to take the tracks with confidence.