A Historic First in 145 Years! Daughter of the Hills Sarita Yolmo Becomes the First Female TTE of the Darjeeling Toy Train

A Historic First in 145 Years! Daughter of the Hills Sarita Yolmo Becomes the First Female TTE of the Darjeeling Toy Train

Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), a prestigious UNESCO World Heritage site, has witnessed a historic milestone in its 145-year-long legacy. Sarita Yolmo, a daughter of the hills, has set a new benchmark by becoming the first female Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) for the nostalgic Toy Train that winds through the mountainous terrains of North Bengal.

Born in Sonada, Darjeeling, Sarita completed her schooling up to the twelfth standard locally. Although she enrolled in Darjeeling College, her formal education came to a halt when she secured a job at the railway printing press in Kurseong in 1991.

After the press eventually closed down, she transitioned to the passenger enquiry, station checking, and announcement sections, where she worked with great efficiency. Later, she moved to the commercial department and gained valuable experience working as a TTE on long-distance broad-gauge trains. Recently, she embarked on one of the most thrilling journeys of her career by taking charge of her first 'tour duty' on the Darjeeling-bound Toy Train.

Sarita's husband, Dawa Yolmo, is also a former railway employee. He retired last year as a Senior Section Engineer from the Tindharia railway workshop. Their only daughter is currently working abroad. Sarita is overjoyed and immensely proud to shoulder this historic responsibility.

Sharing her reaction to the new role, Sarita said, "I am proud to be the first female TTE in the history of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway." She mentioned that while she was thrilled to work for the UNESCO heritage service, she was also slightly anxious. "I am from Darjeeling, but I had no prior experience working in the DHR. Earlier, I had only traveled on the Toy Train as a passenger," she added.

Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), described Sarita's achievement as a testament to the evolving spirit of Indian Railways. Her appointment marks a significant shift in a traditional mountain route historically dominated by male staff, standing out as a remarkable example of women's active participation in the operational field.