ErikNYC

Finally seeing the light at the end of this school car tunnel. I passed my road practical today I'll be available to rto Sunday I can't wait to start pounding the road

Congrats!!!

Can anyone advise if this list is still active? I'm still on it after declining appointment. Thanks

Yup it's still active.

On a side note; I'm finally finished with school car, as of today. I start pounding the road next week. It feels great. Hang in there and don't give up!!!

I'm finally a real train operator!!!!

Today I past my road practical, and my final example a couple days ago!!! My class will be officially pounding the road as of next week.

the initial appointment 7 30am.., any ideas how long that will be, I work that evening. Thank you

You will be able to make it to work. If it say 7:30 get there no later than 7AM sharp. You will be able to sign in and wait. You should be out of there no later than 11AM. Worked for me, both times.

what are the days/ hours of school btw. thank you

It varies,  Mon thru Fri anywhere from 7am-5pm for the first couple months or so, and after that any day, anytime.

got a letter for the feb 19th date,  can someone tell me how soon would I except to start the school. thank you

It can anywhere from 3-90 days. Make sure you have all you documents ready, for when you get called back, to make sure it all goes through smoothly. Congrats.

I passed my second signal test, I start road operations Sunday

Congrats!!!

Road posting is kool. You will like it, and be prepared for it. I'm road posting now.

Congrats, MrCKA.

 

Was the second signals test much different from the first one?

The first signal test focus on yard signals, and the second focus on road signals. Of course some signals are located in both locations.

I totally agree with you SubwayGuy.

Let me be clear, when I say "senior" I'm talking people with more seniority than I. The real old-timers are quiet, as you stated, and have a lot of knowledge. Most will help, but you have to be willing to listen.

I currently post with people ranging from five to thirty years of seniority. It's hard on me when some are telling me to wrap it and the misc sign clearly says fifteen miles, or asking me told hold the mc and the one shot timer is ten feet in front of the train, clearing at the last couple seconds. As well as asking me to fly in the station telling me to take full service and wait. I'm not looking to operate like that.

A TSS did tell me just what you said about learning from the old timers, and passing the knowledge down.

so much bad habits out there..just do it the school car way and you guys will be  fine...senior guys will try to intimidate you but just ignore them for what it is..your only friend when becoming a T/O will be your TSS..senior guys are just pissed off because here you are as a newbee and you know more then them trust me..take advantage as a T/O and move up quick because the knowledge you know now is fresh in your heads..become a TSS,dispatcher or even work work trains

There are a lot of friendly helpful train operators, and other just don't know any better.

Everyday I have to hear a senior guys version of school car while road posting. Some of the info is good, and some is bad. It's part of the learning process.

When I say people try and save 2-3 minutes, I'm talking like driving on a highway, and someone is eager to jump in front of you to go nowhere. There's traffic ahead...

I still have a lot to learn.

Those same people complaining where probably complaining ten years ago. They want to be able to do what they want on the road. Some people don't like change, especially technology. Some are too good to wear their uniform. I can't even swipe my Metrocard at a terminal to enter, without hearing a senior person tell me "they are tracking me with my Metroocard" (I'm on a legal break).

I was road posting with TO's over the last four days, and saw everything your not suppose to do, from senior guys. I'm not going to get into it in details. However, today was the last straw, I am going to have to "speak up" to the TO I post with, going forward. I saw first hand why people hit signals and overrun stations, and why you keep hearing over and over let the signal clear in front of you. People disregard that statement... just to save two to three minutes on a run. Literally!

TSS are throughout the system because trains and employees are everywhere throughout NYC. Everyday I hear issues going on over the radio. Forget hitting signals, death, sick passengers, natural death, and many other issues. Also, new employees are throughout the system operating and conducting, and yes, we may need help at times. One call and help is on the way at the upcoming station. When I was doing YX the first thing I did was found out who the TSS was on duty, stated my name etc. They took care of me, brought me down the road, showed me the board, and help boost my confidence. I even picked their brains, and joked with a few of them. We all have a job to do, and just want to get through the day. Once your earn your respect, you will get your respect.

Train operator is NOT for everyone, and MTA is not the best job in the world. However, if you want a good paying job to feed your family, get promotions, or even find a better transportation career elsewhere in the world the MTA is a good start.

Very sorry to hear tprashad0719. Your very strong for making your decision.

Just to add or take away from what you stated; The job can be rough first two or three years, until you get familiar and start picking. Once you start picking, you can come in do your job and go home, there are plenty of people who do so. However, because of people's lifestyle, "economy", mountains of debt, child support issues etc., people choose to work their RDO's, and do overtime, to make as much money as they can. Some people forget about life, and more importantly family.

You can get to a point where you go in to do your picked job, and go home. Like most jobs, as an employee if the job is going under, you must stay to help the company get through any issues, especially when you are in a management title. What we go through is similar to what NYPD, city workers, healthcare workers, and many other jobs entail. 

I came from the healthcare field with eighteen years under my belt, and I'm currently thirty-six years old. I worked many holidays and RDO's for years, just to make "extra money". After eighteen years under my belt, I didn't have to work all those hours and/or days, not even after two years in the field. I missed out on holidays with the family, etc. I was even hired by another healthcare company to work as a supervisor full-time, and I started working for two companies. It's a choice I made, because I was getting greedy.

Like most blue-collar jobs, there's seniority involved, and it's not for everyone.

For the rest of the upcoming promising TO's... It's not that bad once you get out of schoolcar. You just need to get through schoolcar! Once you start picking, you can come in do your job and go home... TSS will not be and issue if you do your job, like majority of the staff do everyday. The TSS are there to help you, as well.

Just like the healthcare industry, or even aviation industry, there's seniority involved, and it's not for everyone.

I applaud you Tprashad for making your decision. so sad to see you go. Good luck.

Thanks Mediccjh.

Tonight will be my third night posting. So far so good. I been keeping up with the schedule, and stopping the train better than anticipated. It's funny, when I'm operating, I have to remind myself that passengers are on the train; I just zone out and focus on the signals, in that quiet cab.

This job isn't bad after-all.

I've been cramming past couple of weeks just allot of reinforcing I got my second signal exam Friday

You will do fine, You know the signal better than the first signal exam. Remember, they are not trying to fire you. Don't sweat it.

Keep up the good work Mikeems. You will be celebrating soon enough. Keep pushing through schoolcar!

Ok. Tht mean they will call u again for another drug test since it expires after 30 days. Before they call for medical

90 days.

Each trainer has a bit of insight for you.  Take what you like and don't take what you don't like from each trainer.  Ask questions as well.  I take it you are in the A division.

Yup, I'm in the A division. Thank for the feedback, I will be ready with open ears.

Listen to your instructors and if they want to operate don't take it personal. Sometimes we get tired of standing. and don't let go of the master controller!! It's happened many times to me and I don't want to call that shit in.

Thank you. I was just saying to one of my classmates, that I don't want to stand during an entire round trip. Your absolutely right, switching place makes sense. Thanks. 

I just finished my last day of road operations today. Monday, I start road posting for the next four to five weeks. I am truly fortunate, and grateful. 

If anyone has any road posting tips or information, please post away. Thanks.

I just finished my last day of road operations today. Monday, I start road posting for the next four to five weeks. I am truly fortunate, and grateful.

PS: I spoke with my TSS the other day and he confirmed (hewas told) that the MTA will be hiring about 360 more TO's.

Once you get the hang of the 3 trains (the 62s), you will see they are some of the best equipment in the system. Fast trains with good brakes. Take difficult equipment as a challenge..."if I can operate this well, I can operate anything well".

 

Only train left in the system you can fly into a station at 40 MPH and make a smooth stop without ever grabbing more than 40 lbs. of brake, or having to brake way outside the station. Just sayin. Road ops is the time to play around and practice that sort of thing, not when you're posting or on your own. Those were some of the most fun times in schoolcar. Enjoy!

Thanks for the advice. I do respect the 62's, because I can already tell the 142 likes to dance around at times. lol

Our class will be on the 4 line this evening.

Congratulations... Now the real fun begins!

Thank you.

You are correct, the real fun has started. During road ops we are zipping up and down NYC, station stopping, and wrapping it up thru the express tracks. ("Hold it! hold it! hold it! hold it!.... knock it off!) I never thought I would smell the brake pads, like I did this week. Those number 3 trains are a pain, but we are progressing and getting much better stopping the train. 

It's a whole different feeling and respect, compared to the first two months of schoolcar. I feel like I entered a Top Gun school, over the past week. Sadly, after next week, I start posting and pounding the road!

For those who are in yx or finished..after the 3 weeks posting and your released on your own to the crew office..do they put you in a yard close to your home? Are don't hey have you bouncing all over the place?

Those questions I threw out was just examples I had on my signal exam..there are many different exams ..so you can have more miscellaneous or lighted signals

For my induction class they put us close to home for majority of the time in YX (I live in the Bronx, so close for me can be any number of yards), I went to Brooklyn and Queens a few times, but mostly stayed in the Bronx. My Brooklyn classmates were station switching at Utica majority of the time, or laying up at New Lots, and if they were lucky went to Corona.

However, you want to be bounced around. You sit in one or two yards or terminals, and god forbid station switch the entire time like a couple of my class mates, and when YX is over your timid and can't adjust.

Congrats, Eric. That's got to be a huge relief.

Thank you. Huge relief, but one step closer to "pounding the road".

Oh ok, Thanx!! And congrats on passing the second signals test too!

Thank you.

I passed my second signal exam today. Thankfully, that part is over. Next week I start road operations. 

I passed my second signal exam today. Thankfully, that part is over. Next week I start road operations.

@ErikNYC, I never got to the yard posting, but I don't recall anything of yard enhancement, is that new along with the second signals test?

It's built into the yard posting schedule, during those first week. you had to call RCC to get your time and location.