Jchambers2120

3 hours ago, Q23 via 108 said:

The has to be one of my favorite subway lines of all time. The  is that one line that can literally go anywhere the  feels like it. The  can go to Forest Hills, Jamaica, To Broad/Chambers Street. It can go down West End, and it used to go down to Brooklyn like Coney Island back in the day, and it has gone into Euclid Av before. If the  wanted to, they can send the  down brighton instead of the  to Prospect Park, or to do the Brighton express on weekends. More reccently, we've got the  going up to 96 St, and now up CPW. I love how flexible the  has become. Its not just a Myrtle Av Shuttle, but a line that can be used on every major B division trunk line when needed. No other train comes close.

I’d say the  is pretty close if not number 1. The  has intervals that either start/terminate at Bowling Green, Utica, Flatbush, New Lots, E180, Nereid, White Plains, and Dyre every weekday. 

2 hours ago, acabral136 said:

After looking at my schedule for schoolcar, I cannot stress enough how happy I am to have been able to choose the A. One of my TSSs said 75 percent of my jobs in the A will start in the bronx once I'm off on my own. Living in the northern bronx, this is such a relief. 

I wish I had the choice. I live in BK and got forced into the A and the traveling back and forth to work gets tedious after a while. Sent in a G2 to transfer to the B next pick, if not I’ll be XX for two years and I’m a conductor. Train operators move even slower seniority wise than us so to all the prospects choose wisely. 

22 minutes ago, Harlem said:

Thanks. That's helpful. I guess by flexibility I meant a little more room to make mistakes, but you already answered that. I hope the next class gets an opportunity to pick.

Just piggybacking off what the poster said. Being new it's expected that you're going to make mistakes I've heard RCC ask the T/O or C/R who has an incident whether or not they're on probation over the radio. You shouldn't be trying to "get away with" anything, if you make a mistake own up to it. You never know who's riding your train, could be a Superintendent, TSS, fellow employee, or nosy passenger with a camera phone. 

I highly recommend if given the choice you choose based on what's more convenient for you travel wise, not based on what's harder or what you can 'get away with'. Traveling to the otherside of the world everyday gets old quickly.

Goodluck with everything.

22 hours ago, Nyctransitorhotels said:

I gotta disagree here. While I understand being in time is vital especially in the beginning. People with options like everything in life weigh those options. There may be 30k +people waiting not even a third of them are getting in. 

 

This board member is speaking to local 6 union members and others. Our probation is 3 mos. Sick days are that sick days whenever we want to use. Our union fights for us most times. Our break room is clean and business agent would flip if it isn't. We start at 27 per hr and max out in 4 yrs at 36.75 right now. Ot  starts at 35 hrs. 

 

It's a tough decision for some. It's good to hear the good and the bad. To render a good decision. No need to get overly defensive. Everyone thinks differently. Respectfully I'm hoping many make the wise choice on what career to pursue. 

Maybe I should’ve explained in greater detail why I disagree with what that poster said (and I will now) you can say it’s being overly defensive, I say that person is posting misinformation. 

Re being late: Like others said as long as the train/bus was scheduled to get you to your reporting location on time then you’re fine. They try to scare you in Schoolcar about being late (and yes it’s a serious thing) but in reality a lot of dispatchers don’t really make a scene about it as long as you’re on time to make your interval. 

Re probation & union: As long as you follow the rules, use common sense, show up on time getting off probation shouldn’t be a problem. There are laws they and rules the agency has to follow. You have to really screwup and to get canned on probation.

There’s schoolcar and the real world. That person isn’t even finished training and making claims based off of hearsay like OT drying up and managers deciding who gets OT. Almost everyday on the radio they’re calling for conductors and train operators to work on their days off. There’s been plenty of times when dispatchers will ask me if I want to make an extra trip for a late clear and I tell them no. I like to do my 8 and go home. When you finish schoolcar and are released to the crew office you will be making OT everyweek since you won’t have a picked job. 

Yes there are some valid things like the starting pay being low and the conditions of some facilities, but there’s a lot of misinformation in there as well. 

16 minutes ago, Imhim said:

lol you’re bugging if you think being late or not having your books in school car is petty. It’s told that you cannot be late during school car, after your second lateness you go down for “counseling” then if you’re late again it’s over. Honestly if you’re late and it’s because of transit, you’re covered, that’s why they give us a pass to get to and from work. Now if you decide to drive and are late, that’s on you! Again while on probation you’re told you must have your rulebook on you at all times, when you go to PS 248 they want the induction book as well. I’m not saying things are all peachy down here, but again you used 2 examples of rules that are enforced from day one! Also this one incident and you’re gone nonsense is not true, unless it’s something crazy like putting your hands on a customer, while in school car any operational incident gets kicked back to that department and you get retrained. Again this is minor operational infractions. How bout ppl just know and do their jobs, of course things happen, if it does, call it in and take responsibility instead of listening to these crew room lawyers trying to get you to lie and cover things up smh. 

This person isn’t even in the crew rooms yet, still in training. More like a Yard/Trailer lawyer lol. 

Someone has to be crazy to let that sway their decision on a job like this, but hey there’s 30 thousand people behind you that would love your spot...

Like the senior people tell me, “you’re always on probation down here”. As long as you do your job, follow the rules, exercise good judgement, and show up on time getting off probation shouldn’t be a problem. 

Being on probation affords you some leeway in some instances too. If you have an incident on probation (depending on what it is and how severe) you may just get sent back for reinstruction and have your probation extended. That same incident when your off could have you at labor days facing days in the street and a DAN. 

The job is not hard, the hardest part is getting to work on time & dealing with the Assengers. 

3 hours ago, Imhim said:

I hear what you saying, I definitely encountered a few of those type of C/Rs, but honestly it’s how the person is! I’ve also encountered cool ass C/Rs. As a T/O you gotta understand also if something happens and the C/R isn’t with it, you can’t be mad. It is what it is! You can’t expect someone to jeopardize their job if shyt hits the fan! That’s my opinion, everyone is different but I definitely have worked with some probie C/Rs who have been mad cool, shyt cooler than a couple of the old heads! 

I feel you bro it definitely goes both ways. I’ve worked with some T/O’s where I never saw their face the entire day, let alone having a conversation with them. I love working with probies and people who are fresh out of school car that’s how I met a lot of cool people down here. I try to be cordial and communicate with everyone because at the end of the day 1 mistake could have us both writing G2’s and calling the Supt at the terminal. It is what it is we have all types of people working down here I’ve learned not to take things personal. 

@Schecter “The 1” YUCK! 

5 minutes ago, TheNewYorkElevated said:

Interesting find here. The speedometers on the subway cars mentioned that are currently in service (R62s, R68s, R32 & R42) are still holding up well. I thought they were originally installed in the 80s as part of the efforts to modernize the existing fleet that was in use then. 

I can’t speak for B div equipment, but on the R62/a fleet plenty of the speedometers are BO. I’ve witnessed many times sitting in the station it reading some outrageous number like 70MPH

2 hours ago, Schecter said:

My first day out alone is tomorrow 

Goodluck. Just remember everything you learned in school car & take your time. Try to get there a little early and let the TD know it’s your first day out and introduce yourself to your partner and let them know as well. What line are you going to be on? 

3 hours ago, vcdemone2k said:

Good afternoon colleagues, 

 

Does anyone have access to extensive and detailed study material for the ATD exam. As a station agent I'm at a disadvantage with the terminology and signal knowledge required for the exam. We just don't have the same access and exposure to info as conductors. Is there an unknown online resource, PDF, or Google drive link to access ATD study material? Any info would be much appreciated. 

I’m a conductor that plans on applying for the exam too, and every ATD, TD, TSS I’ve spoken too all tell me the same thing. Study the rule book and bulletins. You can try joining some RTO groups on fb for more detailed information. 

2 hours ago, 4 via Mosholu said:

I think I must have faced the same situation myself when I was coming home on the train three nights ago on a heavy downpour. The Mosholu driver there was just running slowly in the Bronx within about 20mph, even when the slowdown started from north of 86th Street in Manhattan. He was slow entering 125th, mind you. When it was switching to the west track entering Woodlawn, it kept stopping before continuing for about three, maybe four or five times before getting to the end of the third rail just before the bumper block there, whereupon he activated the handbrake and left the train so that the next crew would take over. The driver for the run to New Lots Avenue really knew his line pretty well, because after the conductor announced on the intercom that the next stop was Mosholu Parkway and closed the doors in the process, he just pushed the lever forward and it left Woodlawn in short order without putting the lever in neutral first, since the R142A that I was in came very late to Woodlawn.

Tech trains are known to slide in inclement weather, and if I’m not mistaken the speed limit over switches is 10MPH (maybe a t/o can correct me if I’m wrong?). The train operator (we don’t have drivers) was doing exactly what he/she was supposed to, keep their train under control. Also tech trains don’t have handbrakes.

To the comment you were quoting maybe the train itself had long brakes, dead poor braking train, motors, t/o unfamiliar with the line, etc... All of these comments critiquing when y’all don’t know the half of it.

Drifting too far off topic. I hope they do some mods to make the announcements play faster and fix the issue with the announcements not being able to be heard from inside the cab. 

9 hours ago, Riku said:

TSS Larkins and TSS montilla 

Buy Larkins a bottle of Coke and some m&m's & you'll pass all of your exams.

5 hours ago, whz1995 said:

yeah, I went to City Hall last week and saw a MTA worker was using a thermometer to measure and record the car temperate of the 6 trains. 

They need to reef those trains already. 2/3 of my trips today on the 6 I had to switch operating positions because of hot cars. It’s ridiculous. 

I feel sorry for 1 line crews this upcoming Saturday, it’s going to be torture. 

23 hours ago, Riku said:

First day in the books anyone know when u pick ur shift and if u pick division and shift on same day? And how picking goes?

Adding onto what Scheter said when you're almost finished with the training course you'll fill out a preference sheet with what tour and rdo's you want. Just an FYI your tour/rdo's are subject to change on a weekly basis based on the needs of the crew office while you're xx and you may/may not get what you want.

On 7/12/2019 at 10:30 AM, nipaaaa said:

About 2000 operators have resigned lately. Unless the seniority list number was not updated since I was hired in nov 2018, that's a lot of vacant spots to fill. I hear they update the numbers every 5 years, if that's the case then disregard this post.

The latter is correct, the file numbers are updated every 5 years.

21 hours ago, Oceans11 said:

I got you. One can only apply to take promo exams only after they completed their one year probation period? 

Nah. Justnhave to be off probation to get called, but by the time that happens you'll be off anyway since it takes a year to grade/certify the list anyway.

17 hours ago, Riku said:

Easier how? Shoot might make me rethink it lol. Nothing is easy but if it’s somehow a easier path while getting through probation I’m listening lol 

If given the choice I strongly suggest what works for you commute wise. As long as you do your part to study the material given and pay attention in class you'll be fine it's really not hard. It's not easy living in Brooklyn working in the A div some people in my induction group quit because they couldn't handle the traveling. Time attendence and punctuality are very important down here.

And what's "easy" to some is different for others. We have heavy ridership here in the A div. I've met some conductors who transferred from the B div and they admitted it was an adjustment because of how fast-paced and how high pressure the enviornment is overe here. The 1 and 6 lines will make or break you and as a rookie conductor you will be seeing those lines alot.

1 hour ago, Schecter said:

Damn really that fast that's good continuing closing them doors and keeping an eye on those mdc lights lol

I’m trying to lol these damn passengers make it hard holding the doors.

23 minutes ago, Oceans11 said:

Congrats bro !!! But 33 years left? I’m lost, lol 

Thank you and yeah 33 left. With that 25/55 thing under tier 6. I got hired when I was 21.  Plan on moving up as far as I can there’s a promo to atd test coming out this year and I’m (impatiently) waiting for the next promotion to train operator exam. 

The senior people down here always told me that time flies in transit and they sure are right. I got off probation yesterday and it feels crazy. I remember my first time in Moshulu yard getting track qualified like it was yesterday holy crap. 

1 year down a 33 more years to go. 

40 minutes ago, Oceans11 said:

Was confused because I read on this thread that at the medical, they take another urine test.  Is that true? Or they only doing the physical with no urine being taken? 

The second urinalysis is to check your sugar. Goodluck with the medical you’re almost there. 

I’ve been seeing a bunch of new classes recently, just yesterday I saw a class of conductors doing road ops. To everyone waiting just be patient. Seems like every week there’s a retirement party or someone getting a shoutout via the radio for retiring. 

51 minutes ago, Trainmaster5 said:

Your last sentence summed up the whole problem in a nutshell. The sentence preceding it should provide an answer to those theorists who claim to know what it takes to speed up terminal operations. One person can't fumigate a train quickly.  Two T/Os can move the train but if there's a sick person or an unruly passenger(s) onboard  all bets are off. NYPD officers aren't assigned to help fumigate and relay trains. No one is going to risk his/her life to speed up a relay. I've personally had problems doing single end relays at Utica Avenue.  Weapons displayed,  female, and male ,  anatomy exposed,  panhandlers,  what have you.  When I had an officer respond to the young dude with the weapon we found the weapon was fake,  a replica, but I didn't know that at the time.  Back then relay people didn't have personal radios to call for help so in that case if the young man had personally threatened me something bad would have happened to one of us. BTW if I or any of my fellow retirees felt like it we could screw up Bowling Green or Utica just for laughs and nothing would be done to us old, slow moving folks. 😁

100% truth. One time after i got to New Lots my partner asked me to key open all of the doors because she had to use the restroom, alright fine. A train pulls in and a woman stops me to tell me someone is sleeping on the train (and as you know those trains layup at Livonia yard) alright fine again I board the train and me and the road C/R try to wake him up then a switchman comes in yelling  for us to be careful because the guy has a knife. Sure enough it was right by his foot. Made sure to keep my distance until he got off.

13 minutes ago, Around the Horn said:

One person can't fumigate a train but what about a dedicated crew of platform conductors assigned to that one station and each person deals with one or two cars simultaneously? Is that something that would be feasible?

I can't speak on the B division, but there are conductors assigned to work the platforms and help out at Parkchester and Utica. Those terminals still get backed up too. 

2 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

A 7 year difference??? So I shouldnt expect one to come out into 2023.

This list expires in feb 2022, a new exam could be given towards the end of next year or the beginning of 2021. I have a good feeling that they're going to bring out a new Promotion to Conductor exam next year though since the last exam 5716 expires in early 2021, and these lists are usually active for four years. 

I hope I'm right, because that means a new promo to T/o exam will be right behind it and I'm jumping on that asap. 

My A div class did ours in CIY on a R68 with the whole induction group, we also got track qualified that day. Then when we got into our smaller group our instructors made us do it again at Moshulu Yard. For some reason climbing the train was more nerve racking for me than the structure walk.

@LIRRMedford our trains are easier to climb from the roadbed, atleast compared to those R68's where the designers just decided to put the grab handles anywhere. And btw you're evil for that last comment. 

15 hours ago, Imhim said:

I feel you on this, I was thinking the same thing when I first got called and my mind was set on A division the whole way coming in! Then I got to the day I had to pick and after speaking with numerous friends who are current employees, they said listen, go with where you live, I live in South Brooklyn, choosing A would have been a disaster for me traveling! Yeah the material is “easier” to learn, but honestly a train is a train, whether it’s A or B division the material in the beginning will seem overwhelming because it’s a lot and it’s new to you. Just don’t let it frustrate you, if this is what you wanted to do, then it will click eventually and you’ll start having fun and anticipating the questions and scenarios as I did. I don’t think I would’ve been happy with my decision of going A division knowing I would’ve definitely had to be in the Bronx everyday and living in Brooklyn, I hate it now when I gotta start uptown on the A lol, but at least it’s not everyday! Everyone is different but go with the division that’s best suited for where you live! 

It’s not fun at all. I got forced to the A & I live in BK. Nothing like falling to the board and having to report to White Plains (furtherest possible terminal from BK) at 4am. 11 months now at this point I’m used to the traveling, but when I’m able to pick a job I’m writing that G2 ASAP to come to the B. 

I just look at it this way, when I go to T/O if I’m able to pick the B starting over XX nothing the crew office over there can do will phase me (well besides switching my tours lol) but if I’m forced to the A I know what to expect. 

44 minutes ago, MTAHopeful813 said:

 

 

for the B division folks, where do you normally report for tours?

I’m in the A div, but when you’re new any location in your division is fair game. You can report to Far Rock one day and the next day at STL or 96SA. To put it short you will be sent any/everywhere based on where you’re needed.