47 replies to this topic

[hug1156]

I'm starting school car on jan 11, what should i expect,any help would be appreciated

[Harry]

Moved to the transit career forum. Did you check the FAQ's yet? If you haven't already there is FAQ on a train operator.

http://www.nyctransi...ead.php?t=11104

[Alex L.]

I'm starting school car on jan 11, what should i expect,any help would be appreciated

You should expect to meet me on Thursday the 14th. Beyond that, it's a surprise.

[Rapid Transit TO]

I'm starting school car on jan 11, what should i expect,any help would be appreciated

Show up on time, with required equipment once issued, and in uniform once you get it. Get cell#'s of classmates for when you are not going to be on time.
Once on the road, don't do voluntary OT until probation is over. The crew office contractually MUST give XXL Assignment people 12 hours off the clock between work days, if you get resistance, politely ask their name & pass, then ask for the supervisor.
Good Luck, welcome to Transit.

[Andrew]

I will be there.I am 43 years old,so I am probably going to be the senior member of the whole class.

One thing I do know,and that is whoever THINKS they know a lot about trains&Transit operations,Leave that BS at the door.Let the train Service Supervisors train you the way they want you to learn,listen to them,do not challenge them or give them a hard time.

I have heard of Railfans who went to schoolcar thinking they knew everything and did not take the class seriously were let go.They had a very bad attitude and thought the class was just a formality.

It took me 18 months,all of my reinstatements,and many medical examinations and tests from many different doctors just to pass the Medical at 180 Livingston.You Bet I am going to take this class very seriously.

[Igor Gaysinsky]

good luck and have a safe new year

[RTOMan]

You should expect to meet me on Thursday the 14th. Beyond that, it's a surprise.

Dont go too rough on em Ok Alex?

[RTOMan]

I will be there.I am 43 years old,so I am probably going to be the senior member of the whole class.

One thing I do know,and that is whoever THINKS they know a lot about trains&Transit operations,Leave that BS at the door.Let the train Service Supervisors train you the way they want you to learn,listen to them,do not challenge them or give them a hard time.

I have heard of Railfans who went to schoolcar thinking they knew everything and did not take the class seriously were let go.They had a very bad attitude and thought the class was just a formality.

It took me 18 months,all of my reinstatements,and many medical examinations and tests from many different doctors just to pass the Medical at 180 Livingston.You Bet I am going to take this class very seriously.

I came in with the frist Open Competitive test in 2000, i figured that at least some of these "railfans" whould understand this already.

Looks like i was wrong it was even worse when i started really, the things some of these people did, wow just wow..

Im not even talking about Schoolcar im talking about out on the road on their own and it wasn't always the "railfans" who messed up either..

Schoolcar was forever changed due a certain Female T/O with did not know how to read the iron in Mosholu Yard..:confused:

[Alex L.]

Dont go too rough on em Ok Alex?

Who, me?

I just did the spiel today to 16 C/Rs. With this "class every couple of weeks" thing, it's practically a script. Everybody gets the same speech; it's only the questions from the audience that change (and even they don't change that much).

[rtype3995]

I'm starting school car on jan 11, what should i expect,any help would be appreciated

congras on being in schoolcar!
im currently in schoolcar, but i wont give away the surprises..im sure you'll want to find out things for yourself........but i'll offer a few tidbits:

-as one said, be on time! that is the critical aspect........you dont want to gain a reputation of being one of those that comes in late everyday...

-enjoy schoolcar! now thats not to mean take it like a vacation, but enjoy it.it goes very quickly, and i have enjoyed the experiences and have learned lots of things about trains i may have never dreamed of........

-study hard........its like going to school; you'll get quizzes and stuff, and the main thing is the signals test(you must get 100% on it) in addition to a few practicals.........

-things dont really pick up until about 6 weeks in....the classroom can be tedious and boring, but it goes quick, and soon you'll be out there operating.........

-also keep close with the people in your class..thats your family for the duration of training,and try to have a good relationship with your instructors.......

thats all i can think of; if u go to the b division, your training is 5.5 months, i think a division is 3-4 months..........

good luck!!!!!!!!

[mass production]

I'm starting school car on jan 11, what should i expect,any help would be appreciated

What a way to start off the New Year!!! Good Luck To You!!!

[Zman]

Once on the road, don't do voluntary OT until probation is over. The crew office contractually MUST give XXL Assignment people 12 hours off the clock between work days, if you get resistance, politely ask their name & pass, then ask for the supervisor.

If I were you, I would pick and choose your battles when it comes to that; I'd only do it if I wasn't able to have a full nights sleep because there wasn't enough time between shifts to get it.

The crew office will change your job, but you'll find that if you do it often enough and make a name for yourself that you'll be getting more jobs on the other side of town. Live in the Bronx? Then you'll be seeing Far Rockaway and Stillwell more often than you'd like.

[Zman]

One thing I do know,and that is whoever THINKS they know a lot about trains&Transit operations,Leave that BS at the door.Let the train Service Supervisors train you the way they want you to learn,listen to them,do not challenge them or give them a hard time.

I have heard of Railfans who went to schoolcar thinking they knew everything and did not take the class seriously were let go.They had a very bad attitude and thought the class was just a formality.

Know-it-all railfans quite often find themselves out of a job. It's amazing how often that happens.

[RTOMan]

Know-it-all railfans quite often find themselves out of a job. It's amazing how often that happens.

You got that right ZMan....

Happy New Year to you and your family!

[RTOMan]

Who, me?

I just did the spiel today to 16 C/Rs. With this "class every couple of weeks" thing, it's practically a script. Everybody gets the same speech; it's only the questions from the audience that change (and even they don't change that much).

Keep up the great work Alex!

Happy New Year to you and your family!!!

[Andrew]

Know-it-all railfans quite often find themselves out of a job. It's amazing how often that happens.

Just by reading the study book,there is a LOT I do not know.IF I were to take the test today,whether it is the signal test or any other test,I would fail.I cannot see how anyone who was never a T/O can be a know-it-all,it is just impossible.

But it is those who are know-it-all arogant SOBS that end up paying a heavy price for their arogance.

Look at JFK Jr back in JULY 1999.He went up in a plane in conditions he never should have even attempted unless he knew how to fly on what the insturments read. (dont know the exact term or it)He knew how to fly VISUALLY,but when conditions did not allow,he did not know how to fly the other method.It ended up costing him and his wife their lives.

[Zman]

Just by reading the study book,there is a LOT I do not know.IF I were to take the test today,whether it is the signal test or any other test,I would fail.I cannot see how anyone who was never a T/O can be a know-it-all,it is just impossible.

But it is those who are know-it-all arogant SOBS that end up paying a heavy price for their arogance.

Humility goes a long way. When one enters a class pretending to be a know-it-all, your fellow classmates will treat you like a pariah. Considering that one will have to be with these people for up to five months, it isn't recommended to be a know-it-all when in reality that person doesn't know sh*t. Believe me, TSS's aren't impressed with one's so called "knowledge".

You got that right ZMan....

Happy New Year to you and your family!

You too, dude! A happy & healthy 2010.

[Trainmaster5]

If I were you, I would pick and choose your battles when it comes to that; I'd only do it if I wasn't able to have a full nights sleep because there wasn't enough time between shifts to get it.

The crew office will change your job, but you'll find that if you do it often enough and make a name for yourself that you'll be getting more jobs on the other side of town. Live in the Bronx? Then you'll be seeing Far Rockaway and Stillwell more often than you'd like.

I think we all went through that scenario. I lived near New Lots Ave, line in those days, and I always found myself reporting to 241 St WPR when I was a C/R. One day I happened to be at Jay St where the crew office was located then and I asked why I kept getting those jobs. It was "to get to know the system" I was told. I politely pointed out that I was previously a provisional RR porter, was re-issued the same pass # I had a decade earlier, and had in fact CLEANED stations on lines that no longer existed ie; Myrtle Jay, Jamaica El, and Culver. Let's just say that things went my way from that day on. I must point out that there were times when I had to go places that I didn't care for but I didn't argue about it. One hand washes the other was my mantra. It doesn't pay to complain ' cause the crew office will own you for a while and that can be good or bad. Oh, railfanning wins you NO points with them or me if it comes to route familiairization on my job. Good luck to the OP and your classmates and listen to what Alex and his partner are teaching.

Edited by Trainmaster5, 02 January 2010 - 05:12 PM.
spelling

[Zman]

I think we all went through that scenario. I lived near New Lots Ave, line in those days, and I always found myself reporting to 241 St WPR when I was a C/R. One day I happened to be at Jay St where the crew office was located then and I asked why I kept getting those jobs. It was "to get to know the system" I was told. I politely pointed out that I was previously a provisional RR porter, was re-issued the same pass # I had a decade earlier, and had in fact CLEANED stations on lines that no longer existed ie; Myrtle Jay, Jamaica El, and Culver. Let's just say that things went my way from that day on. I must point out that there were times when I had to go places that I didn't care for but I didn't argue about it. One hand washes the other was my mantra. It doesn't pay to complain ' cause the crew office will own you for a while and that can be good or bad. Oh, railfanning wins you NO points with them or me if it comes to route familoirization on my job. Good luck to the OP and your classmates and listen to what Alex and his partner are teaching.

On the other side of the spectrum, when I was a new C/R, I picked East Extra . I picked it hoping to see a or every once in a while. I started getting more (6)'s than I was hoping for. Not knowing any better, I wrote a G2 (letter) to the Crew Office asking them to give me a or once in a while. BIG MISTAKE!
After I wrote that letter, I received 18 straight days on the . Then, to top it all off, they created a special job just for me: Extra Board Line (at Pelham) - Do Not Pull. I was the property of the line for the next 3½ months.
Ever since then I've never made that same mistake. Last pick I picked Queens XL. I was getting jobs on the that were close to home, but they were starting at 4-5 am; I prefer late AM's. I know that if I had sent in another G2, 95th Street would have been my new home. I'll take the 4-5am's, thank you very much.

[Y2Julio]

On the other side of the spectrum, when I was a new C/R, I picked East Extra . I picked it hoping to see a or every once in a while. I started getting more (6)'s than I was hoping for. Not knowing any better, I wrote a G2 (letter) to the Crew Office asking them to give me a or once in a while. BIG MISTAKE!
After I wrote that letter, I received 18 straight days on the . Then, to top it all off, they created a special job just for me: Extra Board Line (at Pelham) - Do Not Pull. I was the property of the line for the next 3½ months.
Ever since then I've never made that same mistake. Last pick I picked Queens XL. I was getting jobs on the that were close to home, but they were starting at 4-5 am; I prefer late AM's. I know that if I had sent in another G2, 95th Street would have been my new home. I'll take the 4-5am's, thank you very much.

95th Street is not bad. You would be seeing me all the time