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There's been lots of movement with maintainers retiring and more planning on it near the end of the year. Even foreman are talking about going out between now and Christmas. When bids come out it's for maintainers who are behind that person in seniority to give them a chance at a better spot. The person who gets the spot is chosen by seniority. Whoever would be next up that wants it. To come over from Track other then taking a promotional exam every so often provisional spots are offered. That may be happening less as provisional employees from other departments are placed in ours. Not sure of the number but we had about 12-15 Provisional Power Cable Maintainers placed in our department due to excess employees in Power Cables.

We just had our pick this week in Third Rail. Talk of change over being in September. Before that our last pick was Oct. 2013 with the change over in January of 2014.

All the jobs, wether regular Track worker, dual rate, specialist, etc. are picked by seniority and seniority alone. You could have graduated from Apex with your very own set of welder / burner tools and done it for ten years on the outside and it wouldn't matter at the pick. Sometimes you do get lucky at the pick and a dual rate spot is available when it's your turn in the pick room. You could pick it, pick it again the next 5 years if available and no full rate specialist job is and then get bumped out at the next pick should someone infront of you decide they want that job now. Even with the 30 days to qualify rule, not many ever fail. It's all about seniority.

The department for Track worker is M.O.W. (Maintenance of way) Conductors and Train Operators are RTO (Rapid Transit Operations) You can go from Track worker to Train Operator as a promotion from Track. If you don't like it you've one year to return to Track with your original seniority. Not the same job you picked though. That goes up for bid. In order to go to conductor or another title outside of your department you have to resign (quit) from Track worker and go thru the ENTIRE hiring process over. If you don't like the new position there are no guarantees of getting your Track workers job back.

It all goes by seniority. The pick is a funny thing. When I first started the general atmosphere was all us new guys would be going nights at the general pick. As long as I was in Track I always got a day job in capital. Even when I left Track thru a promotion I was able to pick a day job within 2 years in my new title. You'll hear countless rumors but none matter till you step in that room and it's actually time to pick. Take your time and look at all the sheets. you never know what you may find. They used to have a copy outside the pick room, all the pages spread out on the wall, and a guy would come out and scratch out the jobs no longer available. Not sure if they still do it.

The majority or track workers either work 8am-4pm, 10pm-6am and midnight to 8am. You might have an 11pm-7am shift in there along with a 4pm to midnight shift. Many older guys prefer capital nights because of the steady over time.

I noticed some new Track workers in Westchester square yard up in the Bronx today. Anyone from here part of that crew?

The start of the pick had been suspended until further notice. No specific reason was given but it's believed to do with jobs being relocated from days to nights and work gang reporting locations being moved. The day gang at 207st. Yard on the 1 line is being relocated to Westchester Sq. Yard on the 6 line.

Just a little word of encouragement- within the last two weeks 4 Track workers that I know of retired and another sadly passed away. In a nutshell everyone just moved up 5 numbers.

That's the exact memo I was trying to upload. Glad you found it and shared it. In all honesty the issued boots were always fine with me. I'm not sure if they were good for my feet in the long run but they were comfortable. The ones issued within the last two years were wide enough for my feet and I was happy with them except every time I took a step I could feel the edge of the composite or steel toe cut into the top of my foot. It's the only reason I went through the hassle of getting my own. Track has a private FB page and guys post what they are wearing. Many are buying the Hytest boots which have the contract now but a better boot than the one issued.

I've the 2 page PDF file regarding the boots. I'm unable to upload or even cut and paste a copy of it. If anyone likes feel free to message me an email address and I'll send it to you if you know how to post it. At one time we had the external metatarsal boots but they were getting caught on the ladder rungs on the bench wall and deemed a safety hazard. The specs however do not mention internal or external but I believe a memo came out stating internal. No one has external anymore but I'll try to get a copy. As for the toe it can be either steel or composite. If you get hurt or killed you'll be blamed either way. A 3rd Rail maintainer was electrocuted in the summer of 1998 when he fell on a uncovered live rail. Management went thru his locker and tried asking the wife if he had the second pair still in the box somewhere and blamed his death on him wearing his boots longer then he should have. As for rails on your boots when I first started I walked right into a third rail (contact rail) that was being placed on the ground. They weigh 150 lbs. every 3' and are 39' in length. The rail landed on my boot with the steel toe. It wasn't dropped but lowered quick. The boot was fine and my foot swelled up like in a cartoon and hurt for a week.

The specs you saw are for RTO only. Track dept. (MOW) is it's own world with different rules officially. Because RTO are in the public eye management wants a consistent look with RTO employee uniforms (all black shoes.) Track dept does not care what color your shoes are since we are not in the public eye as part of our job. As long as they meet the specs any color or style is fine. I myself have Brown red wings. Another co-worker has pull on boots with no laces or zipper. Steel toe or fiberglass is acceptable. Later I can upload a copy of the memo outlining the specs. Hytest is the new boot though most guys are partial to timberland Pros or redwings. I also have a pair of "Thorogood" boots in brown I wear that meet the specs. When wearing your own boots you carry a little piece of paper listing the boot name, model and color authorizing you to wear them in place of the TA issue.

If you can i would try going down there with the letter, packet and whatever else you have and try to remedy it in person as soon as possible. Instead of telephone tag or getting told some BS and be made to wait longer or have mail sent to your old address again. You might waste your time and you might be hired faster had you not gone done.

The others members can most likely give a better idea as to when you might be able to expect a call. My number when hired was similar to yours, somewhere in the high 1000's and I waited 2 1/2 years to be called. What's important is that your on the list and you have good people here putting info on this board and keeping people updated. You turn will come soon. Just stay on top them and keep following this forum.

Dunnlick when you say "tubes" do you mean the under water river tubes connecting the boroughs or the tunnels (the hole) going from station to station within a borough. I ask because I spent 6 years in a "tube gang" that only worked in the underwater river tunnels.

All jobs are picked by seniority. If you happen to have a CDL coming in and at the pick there is job requiring one when it's your turn to pick you are eligible to pick the job and would not not have to go thru the extra training in obtaining a CDL. If there are Track workers ahead of you and jobs requiring a CDL are available and they pick them the Transit authority works with them in getting the CDL. The've 30 days to qualify and if they do not are placed into any available Track worker job regardless of location and hours. The only real benefit to coming in with a CDL is that you already have it and the experience in driving. I've seen guys go from Track to fleet operations (18 wheelers and larger trucks) that just can't drive and get placed back into a regular Track worker position. If you lose your CDL your still a Track worker. Should you pick a driving job without your CDL you would have to go thru the schooling again to obtain it and qualify. You don't get fired.

I was hanging out near the Track trailer for a little while with my foreman and another maintainer. I saw of you then it seemed they split all you up. I did see some guys using the rail drill.

If you, or anyone else are in Westchester yard tomorrow (Tuesday the 10th) look for a short or average height white guy with a blue T-shirt, I'll have on a Grey Helmet. Above the MTA logo on the front I'll put a strip of black electrical tape. If you see me come and say Hello or just ask if i'm the guy from the forum online.

If your in Westchester yard Monday post it and I'll find you It's always nice to put an actual face to a name and get to know people in other departments.

I'm with the TA 23 years. I just noticed some new Track workers the other day in the yard. Figured I might get to meet someone from this thread in person. I started in Track in '92 then took a promotion to 3rd Rail, Power Distribution (whatever they call us with the Grey helmets at the moment) in '94. Steve is right. Even with a little over 20 years I learned some new things when I decided to leave nights after 20 yrs. and come days. Things between days and nights are different, guys doing different parts of the same job don't realize how what they do affect the others. Example: in Track when I first started in Capital my job was to take the hand railings off the truck and put them on the Panel (39' section of track) that the street crane would bring up. I felt like I did right. dragged a whole bunch and got them on the panel just to have the men up top yelling at me (real nasty too, LOL) Turn out dragging the pipes the blue caps came off the end and the threads were damaged now and wouldn't screw together. Back then we had no tapping tool so the pipes were scrapped. I went from feeling real big to real dumb quick!

If you get to the yard by or before 7:30 you have a chance. Between workers and the contractors it gets real tight after that. being most spots you make yourself depending on your driving skill, LOL Contractors try to take over lots of spots by placing things in the way. Outside the Yard on Waters Pl. it gets tight also with the school employees parking there also. If your not familiar with the yard when you pull in past the first building (new tower) on your left there are spaces just passed the building on the left. If you continue straight and go over the tracks (where there is some construction on your right) and make a right just in front of the old tower there are more spaces. Even leading up the dirt road passed the contractors trailer (on your right) you'll find more spaces. To the left of the old tower there are a just a few spaces. Personally, I always prefer leaving early and taking my own car when I can. Are you familiar with the area at all around Westchester Yard?

Anyone from this forum part of the group that's in Westchester Sq. yard in the Bronx today?

All very well said and true!

DAMMMMMM! That's crazy that schedule. Your not allowed on the Tracks until you complete Track safety school and become Flagging qualified. That much I know hasn't changed. When I started in '92 we were sworn in at Livingston st. Reported to PS 248 whatever day they told us. Did two weeks in PS 248 getting the benefits, boots, flagging school and Track safety class done then 2 weeks in a yard for hands on then we reported to whatever gang we got at our mini pick. That was it! How times change. But hey, as long as you get paid for it!