RUNNING STAFF

Every day, before most of society wakes up, a loco pilot signs a duty register and steps into a metal cabin that will become his world for the next several hours—sometimes days. There is no applause, no send-off, no reassurance. Just a clock ticking, a signal waiting to change, and hundreds—sometimes thousands—of lives silently depending on one human being. This is the reality of a loco pilot. To the outside world, a train runs because of tracks, engines, and signals. Rarely does society pause to think about the human being who reads those signals in fog, controls that engine in storms, and makes split-second decisions under unimaginable pressure. The train arrives late, and fingers point. The train arrives safely, and no one asks how.  A loco pilot’s respect in society is strange. It exists—but only in silence . Inside the cabin, there is no room for emotion. Fatigue is not an excuse. Illness is not an option. Family worries stay outside the door. A loco pilot must be alert whe...

In the silent hours before dawn, when platforms sleep and cities breathe slowly, there are women in Indian Railways who are already wide awake—hands firm on controls, eyes alert, minds burdened with responsibility. Lady Loco Pilots and Train Managers do not merely operate trains; they carry lives, schedules, expectations, and often, silent judgments. Their story is not just about breaking barriers—it is about enduring pressure with grace. The Weight of Responsibility Beyond the Uniform Every train they operate is a moving ecosystem of thousands of lives. One signal missed, one decision delayed, and consequences can be irreversible. For lady running staff, this responsibility is magnified—not because they are less capable, but because they are constantly observed, evaluated, and questioned. Mistakes are not seen as human errors; they are unfairly viewed as proof of doubt society still holds. Yet, day after day, these women report for duty with unwavering professionalism. They sign on, c...

Most people hear the term running staff but never really stop to think about what it means. Who exactly are they, and why are they called “running” staff when they are not running on tracks? Then who are they really. who are running staff in Indian railways? Running Staff are railway employees who are directly involved in the movement of trains. They are the people on duty while the train is running, responsible for safe, continuous, and punctual train operations. In Indian Railways, the term Running Staff mainly includes: > Loco Pilots (Drivers of trains) > Train Managers / Guards (in charge of train supervision and safety) They are different from station staff or office staff because their workplace moves with the train. Why Are They Called “Running Staff”? They are called Running Staff because: 🔹 Their duty is calculated based on train movement (kilometers & hours) 🔹 They work only when the train is running 🔹 Their job starts at sign-on and ends at sign-off, often far f...

  Night duty is often spoken about as if it is just another shift. “Take proper rest .” “Sleep later.” “Body will adapt.” But for a loco pilot, night duty is not just loss of sleep. It is a slow, silent rewriting of the body, mind, and life itself. When the world sleeps, a loco pilot stays awake—not for comfort, not for choice, but for responsibility. Trains must move. Signals must be obeyed. Lives depend on alertness. And yet, the very system that demands perfection quietly pushes the human body beyond what it was designed to endure. The Body Was Never Meant for This Clock The human body follows a natural rhythm. Sleep at night. Wake with light. Digest during the day. Repair during rest. Night duty breaks this rhythm again and again. One night you report at 11 PM. Another day at 3 AM. Sometimes you sleep at 8 AM. Sometimes at noon. Sometimes not at all. There is no “routine.” There is only adjustment after adjustment, until the body stops asking and starts suffering. Sleep b...

In the world of railways, millions sleep peacefully every night because someone else is wide awake—alert, focused, and carrying the weight of absolute responsibility. For running staff—loco pilots and train managers—work does not end with duty hours. It follows them home, sits beside them at the dining table, and often lies awake with them at night. This is not just a job. It is a 24×7 mental burden where one mistake, one second of human error, can invite a memo, suspension, inquiry—or worse, lifelong guilt. A Profession Where Perfection Is Not Optional In most professions, mistakes are corrected. In railways, mistakes are recorded, reported, and remembered . Running staff operate under a system where: A signal missed by inches A speed exceeded by seconds A brake applied slightly late can turn into an official memo—sometimes even when no accident occurs. The irony? The system demands machine-level perfection from human beings —humans who are fatigued, sleep-depriv...