There is a definite pride in the voice of Sharon Woodhouse, the only female welder at Thrall Europa, when she says: "I'm a pretty mean dude with a blowtorch."

Sharon, 26, of Bishopthorpe Road, York, was a machine operator on the production assembly line at McKechnie in Stamford Bridge when she saw the Thrall Europa advertisement in the Evening Press.

It was for wagon builders - people who could be machine operators, welders and fabricators - and when she told colleagues she might apply they were sceptical.

Undaunted, she asked for an application form. "When I saw the form I thought - I'm going to give this my best shot. I did and I got the job which involved a week's intense training and a fortnight in weld school.

"I enjoyed that so much I'll be doing more training later this year.

"Throughout I've had the support of my boyfriend Andrew Milner, who is a panel beater and paint sprayer for a garage.

"I didn't even know how to set up the welding equipment when I first started but now I enjoy welding.

"Some of the guys joke with me, warning that if I continue I'm going to have arms like a Russian shotputter.

"A few of them were a bit self-conscious at first about swearing in front of me, but now I think they see me as just one of the boys.

"The fact that Thrall Europa has taken me on where I probably wouldn't have been given the same opportunity at ABB or with British Rail, proves that they see the venture as a completely fresh start.

"I only wish that more women would apply. I've always felt that as a woman the men have been watching me, waiting for me to slip up which made me say to myself: I'm really going to do this.

"Besides, occasionally there are matters I don't particularly want to discuss with men!"

see COMMENT 'A fantastic achievement'

see NEWS 'Happy return at rail carriageworks'

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