WestEndMan

Don't know, but it's a lot quicker than T/Os. Mistakes? I've noticed alot of new C/Rs are in a hurry. What i mean is, I've had a few that even before my train is stopped, they're taking indication away from me. I politely and quietly pull them aside and ask them not to do that. If they continue after the fact, sorry, but I'm getting a TSS to ride with you. Had one pull the cord on me, probie C/R, didn't know or understand that an elevated structure sways or shakes a little when another train stops. Thought our train moved with the doors open. Good thing we were close to where a TSS was located and he took care of that little problem real quick. RcC wasn't too pleased though.

Just think, 2 and half years from now and you will be doing what I did 3 weeks ago........picking a job. Here's my bit of advice, unless you are in a crew room, outside, or not in uniform, don't even think about touching your phone. I wasn't even on the clock, walking to the CRC to sign in, was only putting my phone on airplane mode, when wham, TSS saw me and started going all ape shit on me. Just don't do it. 2nd, I'm in B Division, and now that I have a pick job, I will be taking on students. I think the students need someone who still follows school car rules to teach them. Not that the senior guys aren't good at teaching, it's just that the new students have been picking up bad habits waaaaaay to much and the B division has been seeing a lot of incidents involving students and instructors. Not a good thing for 248.

You guys were at the school today? I was there taking my track safety refresher course. 2 years has gone by so quick.

Wait a minute. You have a year of school car? Wow, things have changed

When i was road posting, out of a 2 tripper, i operated a trip and a half. He/she took the last half. Sometimes they'll take over if you're running late, just to make up the time. Don't take that personal. Also give undivided attention to them. You'll learn a few things that you won't ever learn in school car. Not naming anyone, but one individual who road posted me, covered up the speedometer, and the air gauge. Really showed me how to feel the train and not rely on things that aren't always reliable or in the matter of braking, stopping a train without worrying how many pounds you are using. Great instructor.

In my opinion, no. So many variables to overrunning signals. Not paying attention is one. There are the occasional signal flashes or track circuit problems. But from what I've seen, signal overruns usually come with speed. Not slowing down when you see a yellow. Thinking a timer will clear for you, and it doesn't. My thought when seeing a yellow or a yellow with a timer is exactly what the rule book & signal guide says "Proceed with caution, be prepared to STOP at the next signal. Or with timers, APPROACH AT THE ALLOWABLE speed and the signal or next signal will clear." Basically with timers, you know not to do the posted GT or ST. Always do less. A test does not affect the way you operate. Good judgment, common sense, and safe operation will keep you from overrunning signals and for that matter, station overruns.

tprashad0719, it does move fast. As soon as you know it, you'll be taking that final & road practical. Then its the road for you. As far as traveling & walking, get used to it. This is transit. Sometimes you even have to walk fast with all that equipment. Due to signal problems, my partner and i got to the terminal late, dispatcher got on the radio and told us to change ends cause he needed us out quick. Sometimes you don't get to rest. Just think, they could do to you what they did to me, as soon as i was off probation, they sent me to get cbtc and opto qualified. Rapid transit is an understatement.

I went to home Depot and got a big carabena clip. I separate my keys with different rings though.

Unfortunately for you, you have a WAY different experience than what i went through. I never had to take 2 signal exams or go through more posting in the yard after YX. If i remember correctly, I went back to class to prepare for the road and road posting. The new classes supposedly have more in depth training than i did.

Working weekends as well as PMs has its advantages. When i started having Sun/Sat off, it showed in my check. That night diff for working weekends might not be alot, but it does help. I'm also OPTO and CBTC qualified. Yes all in just over a year of being hired. Once i cleared probation, they signed me up for it all. So working Opto and Opto on weekends makes a good difference in your paycheck.

You are given all the material you need. DO NOT GO LOOKING ON THE INTERNET for material. Unless it comes from your instructors or transit, don't trust it. A classmate of mine brought in material he got off the Internet. Completely wrong. It was old stuff that is no longer used.

In my experience in B Div, if we are at a yard, AM's start at 7am, after about 2 1/2 hrs in a classroom trailer, take a break, then hands on training. It all depends on what the schedule calls for that day. I spent alot of time in Jamaica yard. There were days, we'd show up, have a signal quiz, take a break and meet back on a train to learn the lesson of the day. Some days no classroom, just show up, and a train would be our classroom for the day. Again, it all depends on what the schedule calls for.

I agree with Matt. This is a serious job. It can be fun. But when it comes to learning the job and actually operating a train, whether it's in the yard or in passenger service, you have to really know your stuff. Mistakes have to be minimal. So many things can go wrong in the yard. Splitting switches, not doing safety stops, forgetting to set or release handbrakes. On the road, taking a wrong lineup, station overruns, signal overruns...etc. Lately there have been what's called "signal flashes" or bad track circuits. Which cause signals to malfunction and can throw a train into emergency. The main thing is you take your time, study and operate according to school car. Then everything will come with experience. It takes time.

Been with MTA for 15 months, on my own and on the road for 6 months.

You won't be out of the mercy of the crew office for at least a few years. But then again, I've talked to a few ppl who took this test, got called a year before me and they have a pick job now. Next week i get my first pick ever. Won't get much. Probably just be able to pick my days off,shift and possibly vacation time. Who knows.

Working in the yards, thats a different story. You WILL work the yards when in the YX program. As well as station switching( relaying the train). When you are on your own, you might work the yards from time to time to cover the job. But from what I've seen, Yard jobs are primarily senior guys. When you get to pick a job, you can try and bid on it, but dont count on it. Try to bid low. I have my 1st pick coming up soon. From what I'm told, I am limited to what I can pick based on my seniority #. Which in this case, I'm probably only picking my shift,days off and pay location. If there are an abundant amount of open jobs, sure I might bid on them, but I wont hold my breath hoping I'm going to get it. In time I will be able to truly pick a job. One that I want, with the days off I want.

There's alot to do before all that. But with me, i do a different line, different job, at a different start time every day i work. I will say that while i was in the YX program, i was lucky to have the same job all week, then a different job the next for the entire week. Totally different than on the road. For example, Sat, i worked the F line, church ave - 179. Yesterday i worked the E line.

Yes, 2 days in a row. Unless they are changing your days off. Again, mercy of the crew office. You can have Monday/Tuesday off for a month, but if they decide to change that to Sat/Sunday, you will only get Sunday off 1st then Sat because they go by Sun/Sat. After a week they become 2 consecutive days. There are times you might get 3 straight days off when they change it. Example...if you currently have Sun/Sat off, they decide to give you Sun/Mon now, that change will give you Sat/Sun/Mon off that 1st week of the change. Sounds confusing but it gets easier to understand after a few times.

All the best to you. With this job, the bad is yes you'll feel like, all you ever do is work, but the good is that it pays really well & you have the opportunity to make more. Whether it's with OT or just applying for a promotional test to advance in your career. I thought, at first, damn, i hardly see my wife except on my days off. But now,because of this job, financially, we are in the green. Good with the bad. ....you have to get through it.

Don't mean to scare. But it is a job that must be taken seriously. I love the job. When you 1st start out, you are on extra extra. Meaning you are at the mercy of the crew office. But it's the best time to make money. You'll see when you get out the. I'm in the B-Div. On PM's. Yes i work weekends....by choice. The crew office has be pretty good with consistent starting times. Usually within an hour difference each day. But they try to keep you close to home. I mainly work out of queens, but there is the times they send me uptown to the Bronx or 207. But for the most part, i really enjoy this job.

Waiting for a letter or waiting for the call is the easy part. I've been on my own and off probation for a while now. When you go through school car for whatever amount of time your Div choice requires, it's tough. But once you get on your own and are no longer probationary, there's something I've noticed. They no longer see the "probationary" next to your name so some TD's automatically assume you know what there is to know about the job you are working for the day. Don't get caught up in that. Ask questions. Most of the TD's will respect the fact that you asked 1st before starting out. Some TD's look at you like you have 6 heads. This goes for the ppl in school car & YX program. For those waiting, please take this opportunity to get things in your life done, spend time with family, because once you're here, TA is your life for most of your 1st few years.

Signals are the most important. Whether you're in A Div or B Div is where the amount of equipment you'll have to learn comes into play. Alot more lines and cars in B than in A. Also be prepared to travel all over the city for classes. You could be at one yard close to home, maybe do 2 days there. Sounds nice right? The 3rd day, you could be an hours ride away at another yard. Being in B Div, for 3 days straight, we were at Jamaica yard. Great for me. On the last 2 days, Concourse yard in the Bronx, and 207 yard in upper Manhattan. With all the books, equipment you have to carry, it's not fun. But if you want the job that badly, you take it & deal with it. Most important is to be safe and do what your instructors ask of you.

Promotional is up but the New TO exam is cancelled. Looks like they will be exhausting the time limit for this list. Hope is still there.

@ErikNYC, I'm sorry to hear about your TSS's. James is a tough ass, that you can't joke with. She's going to expect alot of you. Make sure you know your stuff. If you don't, she'll make sure you hear about it & won't hesitate to out you in front of the class. Good luck

Holy crap time flies. On the road & am now OPTO qualified. Time goes by so fast in the TA. I hope everyone who is in school car now is listening to their instructors. School car teachings and experiences are totally different than real world experiences. Be safe everyone.