After 146 years, Darjeeling’s iconic toy train finally gets its first woman TTE: Meet Sarita Yolmo

The tracks of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) are witnessing a historic milestone as Sarita Yolmo takes on the mantle of the first woman Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) assigned to the prestigious “Tour Duty” on the world-heritage site… pic.twitter.com/pNaUBne8ju

— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026

On February 5, Yolmo was assigned duty as a TTE on the DHR route between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. “As TTE in the DHR, I was thrilled and equally tense as I was the only TTE, while in other trains I had many colleagues travelling with me as TTEs. Above all, taking care of so many passengers for the 10-hour-long journey between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling itself was another new episode for me,” HT quoted Yolmo as saying.

According to the report, Yolmo studied at Sonada High School up to Class 12 and later enrolled in college in Darjeeling. However, she had to discontinue her studies in the first year after securing a railway job in 1991.

Her husband, Dawa Yolmo, who retired a year ago as a senior section engineer from the railway workshop at Tindharia, expressed pride in her achievement. “Sarita is not only a dedicated railway employee. She is equally a dedicated mother and wife, and now that she has become the first woman train ticket collector has brought yet another responsibility on her shoulders,” he said.

DHR director Rishab Choudhury congratulated her, saying, “We are happy for Sarita and would wish her the best.”