WestEndMan

@SubwayGuy is on the money. I had 7a-3pm for actual school car hours. 9am start for Road ops days, 3pm start for Fire school. One day I was at Jamaica yard, the next, all the way up in the Bronx at Concourse yard, back down to Coney Island the next. Not to mention on certain days, you could start class in one yard, finish the day at another location. Lots of travel. Now I'm heading into Yard posting for 3 weeks then YX until March. All of my locations are different. One day report 00:15 @ Concourse, the next 02:00 @ 207 yard.The following week, different shift. After that, another shift. Get in now so you can somewhat plan arrangements. Good luck.

Passed exam & practical. Phew :-) Now I just hope on yard posting, someone is kind enough to share their knowledge. I feel that now....the true learning begins.

It's true @SubwayGuy & Etrain. We sort of passed on our experiences up to that point in school car. Saw a couple of people who thought they knew it all (buffs), but when we told them that they don't know it all, and that what they "know" is totally different to what is taught, the look in their eyes said it all. Their attitudes changed. My class is a down to earth, this is reality, kind of class. Everyone knows they are students. We are eager to learn & just hope during posting, we can get knowledge from some giving, experienced T/ O's.Regardless, I will be looking for advice, either out there or here from you guys. Thank you again.

Thanks @SubwayGuy. I'm confident about it. Just want to get past it so I can expand my learning in yard posting.

Congrats to all who just started & are starting on 12/1. I will give a bit of advice. If for some strange reason 2 classes are at the same yard & one happens to be a senior class, don't let them sway you. Had that experience a while back & just recently we had a new class at a yard with us, but we gave them some advice rather than scare them.TSS' thanked us. When you guys are in the yards, on the tracks on the mainline, please, please, please.....be careful. Watch that 3rd rail & never step on a running rail. Avoid walking in switch points too. Look both ways & keep safe distances from others in case you have to clear up. Be safe guys & study those books.

Signal exam & practical this week. A little nervous because I know whats at stake, but TSS gave us mock exam & we all aced it. So I'm confident but never complacent.

You are correct with the medical benefits. Yes School car gets off on holidays. I already had Labor day and will be getting Thanksgiving off. Unfourtunately, I will probably have to work Xmas because I will be in the YX program during that time. You get paid from the 1st day you actually start. If you are starting on Dec 1st, thats your 1st day on payroll. I was able to pick my division. The last 2 classes were A div only. You may get the choice, you may not. You'll find out on Orientation day. Good luck and welcome.

Oh I have been sir. I was asked by my TSS if I was cheating. My answers have always been on the money & textbook. Scary, cause of you look back about a month ago, I would have looked like a deer in headlights if you asked me a signal question. Now.....it just comes out like reciting the alphabet.

My signal exam is coming up & was wondering, when, not if, I pass, I have to take a signal practical. How does that go about & who gives the practical. I heard its "how to take a call on & keying by an automatic on a yard lead" Any truth to that?

Hey Race, welcome. Listen & learn. Orientation is routine. When you get to ps 248 is when it gets good. I have my signal exam next week. Hope to see ya down the road.

You get a practice test when you take your mid-term, but when you take the actual signal test, YES, it is a one shot test and you MUST score 100%. It is given at around the 2 month mark of school car. From the practice test I took, it is fairly easy if you know your stuff.

To all the vets, thank you for your insight and advice. Today I aced my Mid-term and my practice signal exam. Not going to let that sway me to relax though. Still going to hit the books and listen to my instructors. Still have a lot to learn and will still look for you guys for advice. Again TY.

Aced my Mid-term and practice signal exam today. Studying and hard work does pay off. Ready for the real test. Not going to be complacent. Not changing my methods. Gonna keep at it.

Thanks guys & yeah Andrew I will definitely stay focused. My instructors are really good & take the time to make sure you're good to go before moving on to the next lesson.

I use a solid backpack with hidden wheels for those days I just don't feel like carrying it on my shoulder. Lots of padding on the straps.....the phone books like we call them are a little heavy. I personnally use a one subject spiral notebook, and have a mini pad I put in my shirt pocket for when we're out on the yard tracks or on a train & don't have our books with us. Helps when jotting down some important stuff you might need later on.

Passed my yard practical today. Won't say much about it except bring on the next challenge.

Congrats dude

As far what my TSS's say, retirement can be scheduled & from what they know, coming by year's end into next year, you'll see retirements taking place. Also they told us, don't listen to guys in the crew rooms. They look at you(new guys) as the replacements. Just keep doing right by yourself & things will go well.

I heard this Sept class is all A-div. And that the TSS's don't play. Good luck to all who I'm referencing.

I agree RTOMan. I waited so long, I'm busting my butt to pass school car. If this new class cant hack it, I'm sure the TSS' will set them straight.

Ken, are you in the gymnasium yet? Here's a little bit of advice. You guys are new. Whatever they say, don't question it. I challenged one of the TSS's before even knowing who was going to be my TSS.....guess what, he turned out to be my instructor. Distant yourself from the oddballs that nod off & can't stick with it. You will be better off.

I agree. I have a backpack with hidden wheels that I use to pull.......off hours. When I'm on TA time, never used the wheels. @hopefulTO, I think it has to do with the rule of no bags on backs when crossing tracks. Either that or something happened we don't know about. Damn rookies.....lol

@SubwayGuy is right on the money. I havent taken my signal exam yet, but we have practice exams, both multiple choice & written. So far, I've aced them, but only because I have studied them and with regard to write ins, make sure you have the wording down. At first you may get some wording mixed up or putting the meaning into your own words, but thats what your instructors are there to do. Help you clean up your meanings and make them sound "textbook". Make sure to be on point when describing a signal (EX. Approach, not proceed or Proceed not approach.) Those words can pass you or fail you. A signal may look the same, trust me, they're not. Also when studying, dont rush. I give myself 2 hrs a night and it took me this long to get them down word for word. Also for you guys coming in, get to know your classmates, exchange #'s and get to locations early. Getting there early and studying/quizzing classmates can help you further. Good luck to the guys starting Monday. Its an adventure and can be a long lasting career that can be exciting. Again.....Good luck and have fun and dont be intimidated being new. Just do what your told and you'll be fine.

@ceerock you bounce around daily. Sometimes you can be in the same place 2-3 days in a row. But it's to familiarize yourself with the different locations & how they operate. Once you've been to a place, you will be back there later on in your schedule. Just be ready to know how to get there & be early. It is good to know the transit system & if you drive better be early. Traffic jams & cant find parking is not an excuse. But a late or delayed train can save you.

@Allday not yet but my instructors are drilling it into our heads about how important this exam is. I feel that my class has it down. Should really have no problems passing. Following instructions, being quizzed everyday & most important, studying, has really helped in memorizing the names and functions of the signals.