ErikNYC

I too came from the health care field, I started in 1997. For me the change in lifestyle is a blessing, it's like re-inventing myself. Expect to work weekends for ten years or more, not 3-4 years. lol

My class started with ten, and we are down to eight. One fail the practical the other resigned due to family issues. I passed my signal test!!! It was straight forward, and everything we were taught. The hardest part is waiting for this day to arrive, and obtaining 100%. Huge relief!! You can practice the radio codes and audible codes, but wait until school car starts. You want to be on the same page as you instructor and classmates. You instructor leads, and backs you up, when the test come around. It's all about what and how they taught you.

Thank you!!

Just find any shirt and pants as close to what they are asking. You will not be the only person out of uniform, and the staff will be happy you look presentable. You will see people arrive with jeans and a baseball cap like they are entitled to the job, not knowing you must earn it. I found my shirt for $15 at H&M, the another for around the same price. We wore the same shirt for two weeks, without thinking twice. Your there to learn and become a TO. You will have your clothes by the second week. After three days at Livingston, you will end up at PS 248 for about an additional four days. then you will break off into classes, and meet at whichever train station is on your schedule, when you receive it on the last day at PS 248. The school car hours are anywhere from 7-3PM, and 9-5PM Monday-Friday, once you start. Just remember this phrase... It gets worst and then it get better (A TSS stated that, and he is right!). I take my signal test tomorrow, and the I start posting in two week....

I was saying the same thing the first couple weeks. Until I realized there was parking at most yards, or street parking. Some yards in Brooklyn and Queens will take me about an hour and forty-five minutes to get to by train (one way), but if I drive it will take me twenty-five minutes, and thirty five minutes on the return trip. Some places here in Bronx if I drive will take me fifteen minutes literally, but a bus/train ride will be about an hour. It's the difference of leaving my house at 4:45 AM to make it to Queens by 6:30AM on the train, or leaving at 6AM and making it to the yard in Brooklyn Queens by 6:30 at the latest.... Remember that's one way. I always like to be at work a half hour early. It's a risk because if you car breaks down, your on your own. You gotta have a backup plan. I'd probably pull over to the shoulder, secure it and hop in a cab. The chances of my car breaking down and catching a flat tire is slim, but you never know. Your time your choice. it''s a luxury.

I'm going to add to this discussion about school car. It is an intense program, that moves fast the first couple months. You have to be able to keep up. It will be a night and day experience for most. The first week during the orientation everyone who was called in is felling like they made it to the promise land, after orientation when you break off into classes that when it all begins, and everything moves at a fast pace, and the quizzes show up a couple weeks there after. You have to know and understand how to operate, prepare and troubleshoot trains, understand yards, locations, tracks, and of course signals. It's your responsibility to keep what ever they show you or teach you to memory. You will feel like your in a boot camp. You will be doing a lot of walking, while carrying a heavy bag (no backpacks) around the city. You will have good days and bad days... It's all part of the regimen. A lot of information is being thrown at you, in a short amount of time. Therefore the instructors have limited amount of time to teach you what you need to know to prepare for the tests you will be taking. This job is not for everyone, and you have to secure it by passing all the different tests that will be thrown at you. One question wrong on the signal test and you are done, mess up on the practical once, twice and your done, score less than 80% on the mid-term test and your done... It's not hard, but it's also not that easy. Some people are slow learners, and some people learn fast. Some people have great mechanical skills, and other don't. Do the best you can. The hardest part is not knowing if you will make it through. If you can take a leave of absence from your current job, do it. Enjoy the adventure once you get in, you will learn a lot about the city and the MTA. Its a good job with great opportunities. I took my practical last week and my mid-term test the other day. Which I passed. Next week will be my signal test, and I am hoping for the best, and plan to do my best. I have learned and seen a lot in the last seven weeks. My class has had real hands-on experiences that others won't see in their entire career here in transit. The horror stories you hear are real. "Welcome to transit!" Good luck to all.

Get there early, not on time, and you should be out of there by 10:30. Have all your paperwork ready.

Just ask your instructor about parking the day before you meet up. Most location we go to in the A division has adequate parking, or parking right outside of the yard.

Passed my first yard practical today, which was overseen by three instructors asking us questions left and right. Seven out of three in my class passed, the ones who failed are currently undergoing tutoring, and will retaking their portion of the practical. It was a long day, but thankfully it is all over-with. Monday is the mid-term exam, and the following week we will have out signal test.

Now there's 25 questions on the test lol. 15 multiple, 10 written... and two sperate signal tests in all.

Just be ready. Start memorizing your radio codes to get a heads start, once you get you rule book. Also, read the rules. You will feel like your in a boot camp the first few weeks, then it will start to level off. Keep your head up, and stay on top of yourself and you will do fine keeping up with the rest of the class. I will provide updates as I go along. Thank you.

Just a follow-up. Everything has fallen in place, and I'm not as overwhelmed any longer. The ahhhaa moment took about three weeks. Road days has literally been an adventure for us. Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback. Tomorrow will be our first yard practical. Wish us luck!

I'm in training now, and you will be all over the four borough, learning the ins and outs of the MTA and the different yards. I'm in the division A, and I am normally in the Bronx, but go out to Brooklyn or Queens about once or twice a week. Sometime we have to meet up in Manhattan as well. We meet 7am-3pm and on road days we normally meet from 9am-5pm. I can say it's like waking up to a new adventure while in school car, except when It is test time. Tomorrow I have my first yard practical. Wish me luck!

If you guys want a head start, start memorizing your radio codes and the horn and whistle signals. Good luck guys!

Sounds good. I will keep my head up. I'm ready! Thank you very much.

Today was our fourth day in schoolcar, we were at the Bedford Park YD, walked the tracks, visited the tower, and did some classroom work. Of course the first thing in the morning they gave us was a pop quiz on signal. Everyone in the class pretty much failed the quiz, and started feeling down and out. I know it's the first few day, but the pressure started building since then. I'm sure the feeling of failure so early in this stage is normal. We are working on retaining the information, and we all plan to meet up this weekend.The day before the class did so well defining the signals as a group. Now, we just need to work on retaining the information we are given. Ughhh! The feeling of failure (or loosing what you dream of obtaining) never feels good. The plan is to study study study!

Thank you very much. Your points have been taken. All is going well at school car, now we are just processing and working on retaining all the information, mainly signals. Walking the yard yesterday was a good experience. The staff in the yard were friendly, and gave advice. This is a great experience.

Thank you. Thanks for the heads-up. I know how instructors, and people in general can be. I'm here to learn and be good at what I do. Albanese has years of instructor experience, which I highly appreciate. Tomorrow we will be at the West YD. The last thing Albanese told me was "Don't worry were going to go over signals, they are going to smack you in your face". I said okay, and went back to my seat smiling. TSS James seems very stern when it comes to knowing the rules.

Yea, James seems more direct. I need that at times. Albanese is funny at times. Everyone is so worried about the signal test, that Albanese stated "Can I please teach the class first?". Today made our first day of class, as well as breaking up into groups. Surprisingly, there are two members of this forum in my class. Thanks for your for feedback guys. I'm plan to work hard to do my part of the bargain.

Hello Guys/Gals, I started school car last week Monday, and we finally finished up all the orientation and paperwork as of today. Of course, the orientation had me all pumped at times, and nervous as well. The thought of not making it through this, is kind of overwhelming at times. We met with a Superintendent, and Various Senior Director throughout the week, whom most of them gave some positive speeches. Tomorrow will be our my first day breaking up into groups, I will be at PS 248 tomorrow for the "Right To know and Bio Hearing class", then the following days we will be visiting all the different yards. I'm in the "A" division, which is great, and my TSSI's are Albanese and James. I'm highly anxious to be feed a lot of information, of course expecting that I keep up. Everyone in my group (including myself) are worried about the signal test, but we will do our part by studying at home. I will keep everyone updated, and ask questions from time to time. Pleased wish me well.

I'm still looking for yous guys.

I found my answer. Thanks.

Yes sir!!!!

Congrats!!!!

We can meet up on the first day of school. I will be there early.