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dp142

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Everything posted by dp142

  1. All I could think of is some answers were contested and as opposed to one correct answer they allow two and now one answer you may have been scored as wrong was now re-scored as a correct answer. It has happened. I myself contested 9 proposed answers on a promotional and had eight changed. Now there were two correct answers. I wouldn't say anything if or when your called. Those 10 points can put you one or two numbers ahead and make a huge difference when called. Chances are others were given the credit also.
  2. I would just bring the glasses with you and say you were them for distance. The biggest concern is color blindness. Wether you are a Train Operator, Track worker, etc. you need to be able to tell the difference between Red, Yellow, Green and even Blue (emergency Alarm Boxes). They give the standard distance test with the eye chart and last I was there a test for color where you look for faintly colored numbers and letters in a pattern of dots of within other colors. For those who need glasses your ID will say Corrective Lenses and you will get a form to bring to a GVS for prescription safety glasses.
  3. On Fast Track we do not all work along side each other. Track also has many, many more employees then 3rd rail. There are close 2000 Track workers and just under 400 3Rd Rail maintainers. You'll have 20 or more Track personal in one spot on a fast track cleaning with only 3 or 4 3rd Rail employees with them If Track cleans and scrapes they are doing east and west rail so there numbers are x2. If PD cleans and scraps it's just under one rail. PD cleans any areas around cable connections, Brackets and anchors or any metals under the rail that can cause an explosion. It's more of a walk thru for spots needing immediate attention. There a track cleaning specific gangs that come thru on a schedule to clean continuous on a regular night. As for defects PD is working live so it's a much longer process and again you only have 2-3 employees compared to the number of Track personal.
  4. I forgot, Also there are the Insulators under the 3rd Rail. The older style are porcelain and the newer ones are Fiberglass. Either way they both begin to break down and become porous absorbing water eventually going to ground. They also need replacing. Not to forget (again) the debris the train blows against the brackets and insulators that build up. If the Train's shoe arcs along the 3rd Rail it could ignite a debris fire.
  5. In Maintenance the Track is divided into 3 sections. The two running rails the train rides on is handled by Track dept. The 3rd Rail or Contact Rail as it's also known is handled by 3rd Rail Ops. Then the Signal system handled by Signal dept. A 3rd Rail defect can be when the rail is now to high or two low in alignment with the two other running rails. The Trains shoe will not contact it properly causing a poor supply of power to the train. It also causes un-even and pre-mature wear on the 3rd Rail. A defect could also be that the 3rd Rail is now to close to or to far away from the two Running rails which is more of a concern then height. Too far and the Train shoe can fall from the top of the 3rd Rail to the side and push the 3rd Rail over when the rails come back into gauge with each other. To close and the Train shoe can extend past the Rail and hit the brackets that hold the 3rd Rail boards up. The you also have the boards over the 3rd Rail. You may have a split or broken one that needs replacing. A loose Bracket or some bolts missing. Maybe a broken bracket or one that's not secured properly, etc.
  6. Signal? They go out with more flagging lights then men. Plus they got radios. I wouldn't go there.
  7. Back then P.D. was the place to be compared to Track. I'm not so sure anymore. The pick is further apart now and not as great as what it used to be. There are alot more specialist jobs in Track with a greater variety of jobs that are even useful of the outside like the CDL, Pay Loader, bobcat, etc. Track might be the place to be now!
  8. I could not agree more with Spikemauler. In my 22 years down here (2 years Track capital days, 19 years nights Third Rail) I am glad I never went into RTO (Train operators.) There is little to none flexibility in RTO a compared to Track.
  9. YES!!! It's a great job with Job security. You start at $20 an hour going up to around $29 an hour after 4 years. It's steady 52 weeks a year 40 hours a week minimum. You get a pension, health benefits, vacation time, sick time, holidays, etc. If you pick a capital job wether days or nights there is overtime at time and one half. In Track department there is plenty of room not only for promotions in supervision but also specialist jobs as a track worker you can pick based on your seniority such as Track walker (inspector) , Crane operator, Truck driver, Pay load operator, Welder / Burner jobs, etc. All of them Transit will have you trained in and if a CDL is needed in the event you pick a job requiring one they will pay for it. Some guys can make more on the outside in construction or even IT jobs but the job security out there is wearing thin. Here you'll have job security. Anything bad or I might find unfair with Transit still are not enough to make look for other work.
  10. Try to keep current with the progress your list is making. There is lots of movement right now with retirees and promotions. The Transit Authority is a changing place right now. I waited 2 1/2 years to be called. That was 22 years ago
  11. Depends on who you ask. For RTO it may be with regards to how trains are re-routed. For 3rd Rail and Track dept. it's not due to power still being on except for select portions of the track where a contractor may be working. From a maintenance point of view it's dangerous. Years ago we all worked live and we learned how to do it safely and efficiently. That included changing out the 3rd Rail and 3rd rail side running rail. A little over 5 years ago all work was to be performed on G.O. tracks with power off. At the same time lots of new Trackmen and Maintainers were hired. Now that Fast Track is a "Power on G.o." the new guys are terrified and distracted while working.
  12. I don't remember the exact rule or policy number but I can find out if you like. They have a form for dual employment that you fill out. I would advise against holding a second job while on probation however.
  13. Just finished up a project on A4 North of 125 a few months ago. I think the only things worse then customers being on a train that gets taken OSS is the workers being on the same train. What a muggy night it was on the tracks. Everything was so damp from years of moisture that just about everything had a slight ground. We were cleaning under the 3rd rail and the brooms and shovels were arcing against it.
  14. I agree completely; things are only going to get worse. Even "making your own breaks" among your fellow co-workers is becoming harder. Some are understandably scared to do so and some not around long enough to even know what it means. I'm not against safety either. Some of the changes have been for the better and should have come long ago like better lighting, supv's having radios, the upgrade in tools in my dept. alone. It felt like we hit Lotto when we got an electric drill (we only went cordless 3-4 years ago) to drill Protection Board holes instead of the old hand crank Bit & Brace. The increase in Flagging adjacent tracks, etc. All good stuff! I didn't know the union rep from safety wasn't allowed on the job sites with his management counter part. If you know where it might be written please let me know. Myself along with a small number of co workers go up against him however our supv cowers down to him to where he makes outrageous demands on us in the interest of safety (which it really isn't) only adding to our workload and in reality creating more of a safety hazard then he believes he's correcting.
  15. Because many departments are working on different tracks an it's easier to provide lighting from a bank of light hooked up to the 3rd rail as opposed to carrying out "Pelicans" which are big, heavy, sometime not fully charged and only 1 can be carried safely at a time. System safety declared you need at least 5 candle lights of light in the entire work area. Also, Even though a G.O. is scheduled to into effect at Midnight the actual power does not go off for another hour and half to two hours. So, If the power goes off at 1:30 and we are waiting for the suburban to make it's rounds and unload the material truck and set up the pelicans, etc it would be time to go back to restore the power by the time we are done setting up. Remember, Safety is OK until it gets in the way of actual productivity. For instance since the Signal Maintainer was killed in Queens a few months back there is a no rule regarding backs and cases with wheels being used. However, Track dept. uses a tree style pelican light that comes in a wheeled suit case style. That's OK cause system safety says so! Better for their number s to work with power on. Should someone get hurt we blame it on the Supervisor and or hourly for not following the rules.
  16. Management believes Fast Track is the next best thing since "Sliced Bread." As for as my own department, 3rd rail (Power Distribution) we are not doing anymore work on fast Track then we would on a regular night. Even though we are not removing power there is no service which means we are all waiting, a little over 21 men, for one of 2 suburbans to make the trips back and forth to pick us up and take us to the job site. Then we have to wait for the 1 material truck to make it's rounds around the Bronx, Queens and Lower to Midtown Manhattan to make all it's deliveries. On the last fast track we had a work train to replace contract rail. While we were doing it track went on the Diesel end of the train a rail length away and began a rail job because they had a set number of rail to replace that night. All I see is a dangerous work environment being power is on, many of the maintainers nights are new and not used to working live as we used to do, foremen nervous and on edge pushing to get as much work done while being out on the tracks till a pre-set time, worried about the supt's doing audits, system safety making up the rules as they go along (structure guy with the pony tail) The water coolers come out but there is no ice and no cups. When we did a track construction job a few years back on the Broadway line during the summer the temp was in the high 90's even past a hundred at one time. Management would not turn on the fans because the people in the buildings above complained they were disruptive. Instead, you had men pass out from heat exhaustion and productivity came to a halt almost. Years ago we had "get it and go." Not half the amount of safety as today and barely anyone got hurt or just didn't report it and the men took care of him. Now "it's get it and get more till I say so" guys are getting hurt. Departments aren't working together and safety is only after productivity.
  17. He's 100% right. When I first started in Track the first thing everyone told me was to "get out of track! Go to Train operator or 3rd rail." Train operator because it was a cleaner less demanding job then Track and RTO was one of the more respected dept's. 3rd rail because they just didn't do shit (at that time). I went to 3rd Rail. A lot of guys who start out nights in Capital (track construction) can't handle it. It's dirty, your breathing in Diesel fumes, lots of gas operated tools, generators, structure spot chipping concrete, 3Rd rail shooting bonds, etc. You have a respirator you can wear that does help but now you have to make sure your clean shaven every night and after awhile it becomes impossible to communicate wearing it being everyone else is wearing hearing protection so your always taking it off to talk. Days is obviously the way to go. Cleaner and healthier and less of a physical demand. Nights is Rough!!! I was days in track capital for 2 years, nights in 3rd rail for the last 19 years.
  18. I thought he said he took the test about 2 years ago. I'll have to ask him. Either way my department alone had 6 guys pack it in this year. We are only a quarter the size of Track dept. I'm going to ask Track if they've had a big move in thier seniority number.
  19. The earliest I've ever seen anyone with a score of 90 and above get called was within 6 months. The list for Train operators (open competitive) is moving very fast. A friend of mine was just hired and began classes. His list number was around 1500. Though he waited about a year and a half the classes are very large and almost back to back. The wait for Track worker may not be that long. Things have changed drastically in the 21 years I'm there. The things that made the job fun are disappearing. Old timers are starting to put in thier papers to retire.
  20. To help end the debate since most missed the point of my previous post which was no more then a safety tip here are the rule numbers. Rule 7.20 page 54 - States it's ok in the performance of duties Rule 10.50 page 69 - States it is not ok when the boards are old Rule 17.30 page 111 - Allows you to sit on it in the performance of duties And yes, RTOPRO I will be there to be found! Anything I do and or say, any advice given is because I have rules with the rule number to back me. As well as personal experience to reference.
  21. Your also right in reasons for the the 3rd rail board. However, there are heaters on the rail to prevent the build up of snow and and ice. Items large enough that are conductive and come into contract with the rail will either blow off, like a fuse popping, or if strong enough not to blow off will cause the breakers top come out. Any track fire I've ever been on is from either debris around the insulators or the insulator itself going to ground. RTOPRO- I agree with everything you just posted regarding labor relations. I have been there as a Trackman, union rep, M/S 1 (MOW's version of TSS) and 3rd Rail maintainer. Not to change the point of this forum which is school car we can set up a separate one to discuss MOW, the point, since it was missed, of my post regarding the boards, was to be carefull if you ever step on one due to the weather, creosote or what they are made from. It was about SAFETY!!! BTW- If you ever climbed a bench wall many times the 3rd rail is on the same side as the ladder and you hasn't no choice but to step on it climbing up our down and can be charged worth a rule violation for not doing so as long as there a rubber mat draped over it.
  22. Try a Track worker named Boggs. He was killed at 59st. on the Broadway line a few years back following procedures that after review like you said were changed. Get away from that old RTO mentality that the rule book is a bible. Its just a guide. There is always one rule to counteract the next rule.
  23. You still miss the whole point of the post. By the way, according to the rules you are allowed to step onto the boards in the performance of your duties. Whatever they may be.
  24. I've never seen or heard of anyone dying from the horn not being sounded while STOPPED by a Flagman or as you go thru a work location where we are all CLEARED UP and sound it on top of us. As fast as event recorders I guess thats on newer trains and as I've stated before I know very little about the train cars themselves. If losing a "job" is the same as death then youv'e got bigger problems. I'm sorry you missed the whole point of my post regarding the boards and stepping on them.
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