At the beginning of this year, the list of professions prohibited for women was significantly reduced. Now they can drive trucks, work as sailors and … drive electric trains. What difficulties might women face on their way to work as a machinist? And what is their job? Our heroines speak.
Anastasia Koziatkina, 25 years old
My mother worked at the box office of Russian Railways. I think my interest in the profession of a machinist arose when we traveled by train with her. As a child, I even dreamed of becoming a conductor, but, having matured, I still changed my mind. I chose an institute that was not at all connected with the railway and transport, and took agribusiness as a profile.
I didn’t work in my profession. After graduating from the institute, on the advice of her mother, she came to the box office of the Central Suburban Passenger Company – ed.) and worked for this company for five years. From here she went on maternity leave. And when she returned, she began to think about a change of activity – she wanted to find another job in the same area.
At that time, articles began to appear about the girls-assistant drivers, about the girls-metro drivers, about the driver Lena Lysenko, who works at the CPPK. Initially, it seemed unrealistic, because before there were no girls in this profession. But I couldn’t stop thinking about what it’s like to drive a big car.
When I said at home that I was going to become an assistant driver, everyone was shocked.
It’s one thing to hear on TV that women are starting to run trains, and another thing when this woman is your daughter, your wife. Parents reacted with skepticism, the husband’s reaction was more emotional. “The work is not for women, why do you need it? Is it hard to find a quiet place in the office? It’s very difficult! – that’s what I heard. The fact that the partner on the trip, that is, the train driver, is a man also added emotion to our discussion.
At first, it was scary, because my decision was largely spontaneous. Yes, and the family was afraid that I would not cope, that I would regret my choice. I combined a six-month training intensive with work. I had to study all the difficult technical disciplines that I wanted to avoid as a student.
All six months while I studied were tense. My husband was getting used to my new job and honestly hoped I would change my mind. Even now, he asks a thousand questions: is everything okay on the flight, do they offend me.
After studying, practice began, where the acquired knowledge had to be consolidated in practice.
I will never forget my first trip. I love to drive, I know this road, but once in the cab, I was shocked: the feeling of a big car that you drive, the very feeling of speed turned out to be unexpected and exciting.
There was a fear that the driver and I would not get along in character. But after working for a month, I realized that I was afraid for nothing. Everyone is trying to help and pass on the experience. I think men get even more stressed when they see that the assistant is a girl. However, we work as equals.
The work is stressful, it happens that the schedule does not coincide with the weekend
However, I do not disappear around the clock at work. Our schedules are drawn up for a month and immediately for a quarter, that is, I always know in advance when I will go on a flight – this allows me to plan my personal time and exchange with someone if necessary.
A shift lasts an average of 10 hours, which is not very different from the time people usually spend in the office. At the same time, I work no more than 15 days a month. The work is well paid. I understand that appetite comes with eating, and no matter how much a person earns, they always want more. But now everything suits me.
If someone is thinking about choosing a profession, I will say this: the most important thing is that there is a desire and there is no fear. I had a dream. I was afraid to change something, but overcame my doubts. You have to try and believe in yourself – then everything will work out.
Anna Chekulaeva, 24 years old
I grew up in a railroad family. During the war, my great-grandfather was a stoker and assistant driver, and after the victory he worked for two years on the restoration of railway communication in Germany. Grandmother and great-grandmother worked as station attendants, and then as station chiefs. Grandfather served in the transport police at the Moscow-Kurskaya station.
Since childhood, I wanted to become a machinist, but I always heard in response that girls are not taken into this profession. It’s not a woman’s job. Therefore, she first entered the Pedagogical College, and then the university as a psychologist. I do not regret my choice – I wanted to work as a teacher, and psychology has always been interesting to me as a science. But the thought was constantly spinning in my head: “I want to be a machinist!”
So, as soon as the list of professions prohibited for women was reduced, I went to the courses of an assistant machinist
My working day at TsPPK begins with a linear point on Kurskaya. There I sign for the briefings I have passed and go through a pre-trip inspection: measuring pressure and pulse, breathalyzer. After a thorough study of the documentation, I go to accept the composition, replacing the previous brigade.
At the workplace, I first of all check the availability of the necessary equipment, fire extinguishing equipment and personal protection – everything must be in working order, with the appropriate expiration dates and verifications. Then we proceed to testing the brakes – both by indicators and to the physical one – be sure to look at the degree of fit of the brake pads. And only after that we can hit the road.
What do I do on a flight? I follow the readings on the dashboard, the actual speed, all speed limits, follow the rules of negotiations along the way, control the boarding and disembarking of passengers … And I secure the driver who is directly involved in managing the train. If malfunctions occur, then, in agreement with the driver, I correct them.
The work is hard, but I’m happy because it’s mine
In my free time, I play – on the regular and bass guitars. In September, together with the CPPK team, we participated in a network-wide quiz on knowledge of the rules of technical operation in Yaroslavl, presented a musical number there. At first they wanted to sing “Autumn” by Shevchuk, but in the end they presented an author’s song about the railway. It was an interesting experience. Can I say that my soul sings at work? Maybe yes.