Station master

Historically a male occupation, women were sometimes appointed to the position, and the gender variation station mistress was sometimes employed in such cases.

At a major city terminus, with potentially hundreds of employees, the station master's duties would focus on personnel management and public relations.

In smaller local stations, the ASM title was often attached to another post, such as senior booking clerk, or even head porter.

With his uniform, official housing, and public prominence, the station master was respected and widely attributed with seniority in the local community.

Typically, these buildings retained their original name and in many communities the Station Master's House can still be found as a private dwelling[6] or converted into a restaurant.

[9] In current Indian society station masters continue to enjoy a high social standing,[citation needed] and there is considerable competition for vacancies.