While railway history is often dominated by male figures, women have made major contributions to the industry. Today, we explore and celebrate the women in rail who have shaped history and continue to drive progress forward.
Noteworthy women in the 19th-century
In the early years, few railway roles aligned with society’s expectation of ‘women’s work’. Women were often limited to roles in cleaning, laundry, and sewing, or attending to female passengers. Railwaymen’s wives frequently took up these roles, but some women defied expectations and broke gender barriers by taking on traditionally male jobs like railway labouring.
1. Elizabeth Ingham
Few women in the 19th century were acknowledged for their contributions to rail, with some only becoming known due to tragic circumstances. One such case is Elizabeth Ingham, who was the first woman killed while working at a railway crossing.
On 8 May 1846, Ingham went to open the gates at Little Thetford Crossing in Cambridgeshire. Her young child followed her onto the track. She saved him, but the train struck and killed her.
2. Elizabeth Holman
In the 1850s, Elizabeth Holman worked as a railway labourer in Cornwall, securing the role of a navvy by disguising herself as a man.
Women’s railway work at the time was often low-paid and linked to traditional housekeeping tasks. Holman’s determination to enter better-paid, labour intensive roles paved the future for women in the industry.
These pioneering women may not have received the recognition they deserved at the time, but their efforts laid the foundation for change. Their contributions proved that women had a place in railway history long before the industry was ready to acknowledge it.
Women innovators
While many people know about the men who revolutionised the railway industry, fewer are aware of the women inventors who helped improve railway safety and efficiency.
1. Mary Riggin
In the 19th century, railway crossings posed serious safety risks. With no warning systems in place, collisions between trains, pedestrians, and vehicles were common.
After witnessing a railway accident in New Jersey, Mary Riggin developed an early version of the crossing gate. In 1890, she patented her design to alert people of approaching trains and reduce accidents at level crossings.
While modern crossing gates are automated, Riggin’s concept remains crucial to today’s railway safety systems.
2. Catherine Gibbon
In America, Catherine Gibbon revolutionised railway track construction. Previously, the railway relied on assembling tracks using over 28 separate metal components. Gibbon’s innovation, the Gibbon Double Girder Lap-Joint Track, simplified this process, reducing it to just four main parts. This streamlined track laying and improved efficiency.
3. Olive Dennis
Olive Dennis, one of the first female civil engineers in the US, transformed rail travel. Initially a draftsman, Dennis designed bridges and was later promoted to "Engineer of Service," to improve passenger comfort.
Her innovations included reclining seats, dimmable lighting, air-conditioning, and stain-resistant upholstery. She also invented the Dennis ventilator, allowing passengers to control airflow. Travelling thousands of miles by train, Dennis transformed rail travel by focusing on comfort and convenience.
From safer crossings to smarter track designs, these women’s innovations reshaped the railway industry and proved that engineering ingenuity wasn’t limited by gender. They set the stage for future generations of women in rail.
Women in the World Wars
During both World Wars, women stepped in to keep Britain’s railways running. They stepped into jobs traditionally held by men, demonstrating their skill and resilience.
World War One
With many men enlisting, women became essential to railway operations. By 1915, their numbers had increased so much that they were finally allowed to join railway unions. Though considered temporary employees, around 26,000 women remained in railway work well into the interwar years, laying the groundwork for even greater participation in World War Two.
World War Two
During the Second World War, women took on a wider range of roles. In 1941, the government introduced the National Service Act (No. 2), which conscripted women into war work. Over 100,000 women joined the railway workforce, filling roles as guards, engine cleaners, and signallers.
After the war, women were expected to relinquish their railway duties. However, despite ongoing challenges, they had already demonstrated their ability to perform vital roles on the railways which shifted the conversation about their place in the industry.
Female firsts
Though women now work in nearly every railway role, it wasn’t always the case. Breaking into these traditionally male roles required immense effort and perseverance, and these women paved the way for future generations.
1. Karen Harrison
In 1979, Karen Harrison became Britain’s first female train driver. After starting her career at punk gigs in London’s Marquee Club, she applied for a job with British Rail.
Harrison was a strong advocate for equal opportunities and received recognition from the ASLEF union for her contributions.
A mural at London Euston station pays tribute to Karen Harrison. On International Women’s Day 2023, Avanti West Coast and Network Rail announced that it would be a permanent display, cementing her role as an icon in women’s rail.
2. Hannah Dadds
Hannah Dadds joined the London Underground in 1969, working her way up from a railwoman to a ticket collector and then guard.
Had she been a man, she would have progressed to a driver much earlier. However, it was only after the law changed in 1975 that she and other women could apply.
Hannah qualified as a driver in October 1978, with London Underground holding a press conference to mark the occasion. Her achievement marked a major milestone for women in rail.
3. Helena Wojtczak
Helena Wojtczak, both a trailblazer and historian, was the first female guard at British Railways. Unfortunately, in 1999, an accident ended her 20-year career in the industry.
In 2005, she authored Railwaywomen, a book born from her frustration at the lack of records on the history of female railway workers. As she explained, the book “grew out of a sense of dismay at being unable to read the history of my female railway predecessors.”
4. Trudy Aarons
At 16, Trudy Aarons moved from Barbados to the UK. In 1989, she began her career with British Rail as a guard before training to become a train driver.
Trudy is believed to be British Rail’s first black woman train driver. She acknowledges her role in paving the way for others: “I blazed a trail, in a way. Now there are more women driving trains, and more black faces, too.”
She still inspires Black women in rail today.
Women in rail today
Women have long played a crucial role in shaping Britain’s railways, from early pioneers to modern-day leaders. Their contributions, once overlooked, are now being recognised and celebrated.
Although male train drivers still outnumber women, Avanti West Coast has set a goal that half of its new drivers will be women by 2030. Across the wider rail industry, efforts to boost gender diversity are gaining momentum.
In 2018, women made up just 16% of Network Rail’s workforce. However, with initiatives like flexible working policies, targeted recruitment and apprenticeship programmes, this is starting to change.
Govia Thameslink Railway is already seeing results, with a 50% rise in women joining its apprenticeship schemes. In 2023, 60 of its 176 new starters were women, carrying on the progress of 2022 where women applications for train driver roles hit a five-year high.
Today, women are taking on more leadership roles and technical positions in rail than ever before. With continued investment in diversity and recruitment, the future of our railways will be in the hands of an even stronger, more inclusive workforce.