Jump to content

Running on Rails

Veteran Member
  • Posts

    66
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Running on Rails

  1. Not a problem @tprashad0719. I know how you feel brother. I was shocked today to hear one of my classmates that came in as Conductors with me went to Train Operator and he tells me his class started with 10 and now down to 4. 6 people didn't make it for different reasons. And in the other class 4 people also didn't make it. I was very very shocked to hear that. I was like dam, is it really that intense? But I know that if you put an effort and a little sacrifice to study materials you should be ok. And no, you don't get to take practice exams home as far as I remember. They do tell you and highlight what to review. The guy I said who I saw today said they're having their 2nd signal test this friday, and he was studying for it at work. They do go over with you everything that's gonna be on the quizzes and exams.
  2. @Subwayguy...THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU'RE VERY USEFUL INFORMATION!!! I feel relieved now to know this and I will go back to read my rule book. Thank you once again. @tprashad...enjoy this week with your family my brother and I'm pretty sure you have full support from your family because they know you're making a sacrifice to join a job where you can provide them a very descent living. Wish you good luck once again my brother and congrats on your new career. @mikeems1, to be honest with you....I love my job. Very easy, not much required but just to be on time to report to your job and the rest is piece of cake. Alot of people who are Conductors don't go to Train Operator for various reasons. Some get comfortable with seniority and don't wanna give it up. (Keep in mind that seniority on the tittle of Conductor moves up very quick) Train Operator seniority is much slower. Because alot of T/O's stay on that title. Conductor is a very good job, the only diference is the starting pay which differs from the starting pay for a T/O(Train Operators start at almost top pay). But eventually top pay for Conductors it's not that big of a diference. I personally know a Conductor who made $105k last year and others that I know have made more than that, of course, with overtime. But T/O's also make very good money. Alot of them hit 6 figures every year with overtime as well. It all depends what you like to do and what you feel comfortable doing. Many Conductors go to Train Operator because they wanna keep moving up ranks. For example, they go Train Operator. Once you become a Train Operator you're eligible to take promotional exams to either Train Dispatcher(TD) or Train Service Supervisor(TSS). Us Conductors can move up to either Tower Operator, Train Operator or Assistant Train Dispatcher(ATD). I can say that I will definitely miss being a Conductor if I was to go to Train Operator. The tittle of Train Operator requires much more concentration and studying while you're in school car. I'm glad that, God forbid, I fail the training I have an option of going back to my original title and atleast I keep the job.
  3. Thanks @ PATCOman, I really appreciate the info very much because beign that I am currently a Conductor, had a small fear that if a get called for Train Operator under the Open Competitive list I would not be able to go back to Conductor if the worst was to happen. Someone from the Union told me they rather just put me back to my previous title instead of paying someone else to get trained. @tprashad0719, you're gonna be alright my brother, just think positive and everything else will como along the way. @mikeems1, let's keep our fingers crossed.
  4. @Patcoman....that's great information you just gave out. I'm a C/R on the B division as well. Just curious, so beign that you didn't have to resign, what did the put you out as? What did they have you do? Did they say you can go back to C/R?
  5. @mikeems1...also keep in mind on a daily basis most of the time you and the T/O will report and clear at the same time sometimes the train operators job starts a little earlier than the conductors job because they have Put-ins at the beginning, meaning they prepare a Train for service and the Conductor just picks up the train at the station at the time of departure, some Conductor jobs may also have to be part of the Put-in at yards along with the T/O.
  6. @mtahopefullmatt, thanks for the info brother. You're right, gotta be careful. @Dainty2200 thanks for the info as well. @mikeems1. We do work with them regularly. But keep in mind we pick different jobs/tours/and days off when it's time for picking. So you may not have the same T/O everyday. Me personally, I work with 4 different T/O's every week. But when you're new on the job, you're assign to Extra Extra List, which means you work diferent jobs everyday with different C/R's too.
  7. Good day everyone, how's everyone been? @Bdiv238,welcome to this forum, I am also a Conductor on the B division as well, waiting for T/O to call me. I'm also in the 46XX. They will look at it as a promotion in a way, because they will check your current record as a Conductor. Though you have to resign from your current title and start all over again with the paperwork.They will see you as if you were coming from the street too.
  8. Oh okay, he's on the A division then. Oh okay I think if I'm not mistaken the last hired was 3959 on that list.
  9. @mikeems1, that's good that you that you applied for the Conductor exam, always good to have options open. I think they're gonna continue calling in people. The good thing is that they cancelled that Open Competitive exam for Train Operator in December to keep hiring and give opportunity to the people that are still on the list. But we just gotta keep crossing our fingers. @tprashad0719, that's great to have a family member on the job, do you know what line he works on? And did you file for the Conductor exam just to have that as a back up? Keep your mind positive that you're gonna pass bro, I'm pretty sure you're gonna be fine. Just gotta learn the signals very well. A little studying at home for about an hour everyday should be enough. Other than that, just stay focused, take your time and follow instructions. I know you're gonna be fine my brother, you too @mikeems1.
  10. @tprashad0719...Definitely my brother. I sure have alot of knowledge about the job. The reason why is is because Im working with the MTA already. I'm currently a Conductor and I'm so ready to move up to the front and try it out. If you need any additional information that I know the answer to it, I can sure help you out.@mikeems1, I called Ms Rivera and also spoke to Ms Roman, very nice person, she said we should be getting reached soon, but couldn't predict how soon. She just said last person hired was 4065 I believe and I called DCAS they said last person certified was 4691. Ms Roman said that they will continue hiring as more T/O's get promoted to TSS/Dispatchers as well as alot of them retiring. Top pay for T/O according to the new contract is $34.50 an hour. So hopefully me and mikeems1 can make it soon and hopefully find that letter in our mailbox. Good luck once again to @tprashad0719, your starting date is getting closer brother....you're gonna be alright.
  11. @tprashad0719...you pick divisions the 2nd day of orientation,so there for you can start training on the division you picked. As far as practicals, you have to pass Yard practicals and road practicals. The whole training is around 9 months. If you go to the A division it's a little shorter. If you're thrown to the A division because of a shortage of T/O's, you will eventually be able to pick into the B division once pick season approaches. They pick every 6 months.
  12. @Statensirt, more than likely it was a probationary Train Operator and the TSS was doing an evaluation, meaning observing his operation. When you go out on your own, as a probationary Train Operator, TSS's ride your train frequently to observe your operation. If it wasn't a probationary Train Operator, then it was just a random TSS just filling in his sheet for that day. They just usually right down car #, Train Operator's name and pass number and call letters (train interval ) @mikeems1, hoping we get called for drug exam in the next round.
  13. @Statensirt, you mean did the TSS hopped on the train as a regular passenger or was he with the Train Operator?
  14. @Statensirt...Posting is when you train every line with the T/O assigned to that job for that day. It's basically learning the line, route and signals. It's like you're posting to qualify to work each line whether your on the A or B division. But division is longer because it has more lines than the A division. The A division has only 7 lines. @mikeems1...."Currently on an outstanding certification means DCAS has sent your name to MTA for future consideration.
  15. @tprashad0719 you'll be training the 1st 3 months at different yards throughout the system (Coney Island Yard/Jamaica Yard/ENY Yard/Concourse Yard/Pitkin Yard). After 3 months I believe you'll be in the YX program where you'll be working strictly on Yards only on your own moving trains on your own uncoupling trains and preparing trains for put-ins (that's where they give you 45 min to prepare a Train for Customer Service),wash trains as well etc...then at the end you'll be doing Road Posting. That's when you post on every single B division line. Including the Franklin Ave Shuttle. Keep in mind some Train Operators don't like to take students even if they're getting payed 2 hrs overtime just to Train you because they're afraid of students making mistakes . T/O's I believe gotta post twice on every line to get to learn the routes and signals. Throughout all this they'll be midterms and exams given, yard practicals and road practicals as well. Best of luck bro, you're gonna be alright. Just study, take your time and be humble....you'll be operating trains on your own with passengers around July next year.
  16. @mikeems1, wow, I'm really exited to see everyone sharing their experience and everyone staying positive. This keeps our hopes in the rise for the future. I think we will be reached according to what I've heard. More and more T/O's keep retiring and they need to fill in those spots. Hopefully soon we can join them @mikeems1.
  17. You're gonna be alright @tprashad0719. @mikeems1, enjoy your vacation, be safe, and yes, I'll definitely give her a call this week, and I will keep you updated on the status. I'll keep crossing my fingers for us.
  18. They provide uniforms but no backpacks @tprashad0719.
  19. Definitely my brother, I'm anxious waiting and waiting to recieved that 1st letter. I wanna congratulate Tprashad0719 once again for making it to the Oct 26th class. Best of luck and like Mikeems1 said we hope to join a class before the end of the year.
  20. @mikeems1 there is no weight requirements....but what tprashad0719 said is true. They make you take your shirt off and do ekg's...check your eyes your blood pressure all that good stuff. We should all be alright on that part.
  21. Awww man congratulations bro @tprashad0719....you're gonna be there all day tomorrow so take your snacks with you and stuff and try to be there early. Tomorrow if everything goes well, they're gonna give you a paper stating your reporting time for the day the class starts, your salary and pass nunber assigned to you. Once you get that paper at the end,it's like you're being sworned in bro. Congrats!!! And good luck. Meanwhile I'm waiting patiently for that letter along with @mikeems1. We next my brother....
  22. @mtahopefullmatt, you're very right. Just gotta be humble and study all materials given to you. And you're right about them hiring more T/O's. More and more keep retiring. @mikeems....we will be getting letters soon....I'm positive about that. Just a week and a half ago they were calling the 4100's for drug exam, now supposedly they're calling 4400's and only less than 2 weeks went by, that shows they're running thru that list quickly. I asked an old timer Conductor today and told him about the 4100's being called for drug test just 2 weeks ago and now the 4400 people are getting letters by mail.....and told him I was 46XX....his answer was "ohh forget it, you're gonna be in soon"....that gave me alot of hopes.....
  23. That's right tprashad0719, it's all about the sacrifice. At the beginning after training, it's not easy beign on extra extra and them sending you everywhere, everyday. But on the long run, it's gets better slowly. We just gotta look at the future and be positive. Letters should be sent soon for me and mikeems1. Hopefully very soon...
  24. Thanks man, I'm really exited when I see all of you guys who are waiting to open up that mail box and find and envelope with an MTA logo on it inviting us to come over to 180 Livingston St to begin process to be hired at a Train Operator. @mikeems1 @tprashad0719. I think we WILL begin 2016 with a new career.
  25. A division 6 months B division 9 months. It's usually a 7am to 3pm tour with weekends off. Sometimes they may assign you to a 3pm-11pm tour.@ tprashad0719
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.