Member2016

23 minutes ago, IronHorse said:

Ummmmm, this is not your normal company.  Getting called is like winning the lotto.  The perks here are so good, they ain't handing this shit out for free.  He's got no chance.

1000% right and you shouldn't be getting dui's anyway 

2 hours ago, Cdima123 said:

Question, 

 

I have been in the process and was offered a position as Condutor Trainee for the Metro North, class starts in October, but I passed my LIRR S/D rest in July, does anyone know if I take the job for Metro North in the meantime while I’m waiting for the LIRR will it affect my chances of getting put in a A/C class ??? 

 

Any thoughts???

Lirr is way better then metro North if I was you I would just wait it out it would be a waste of time and effort to go to metro North then quit and go to lirr 

29 minutes ago, Two2Go said:

It sounds like they changed the process since most of us hired on (even from just 2.5 years ago for me). For my group, we did the background check before receiving the invitation to the S&D overview. The hiring process went relatively quickly after passing the S&D test. I was an employee less than a month after the test, and medical was only about 2 weeks before my start date. I got my offer only 11 days before class started. But again, things sound very different now, so my answer is probably useless to you.

Yea same for me took about 2 or 3 weeks but now it seems like they have people waiting 6 months after s&d  that's crazy smh 

On 8/3/2018 at 8:41 PM, IronHorse said:

WTF!  Thats the second one ever and the 1st was from a new class in beginning of year.  Absolute shame, Jimmy Boyle must've been so freakin mad!!  Make it all that way and can't pass airbrake, wow!

Wow that's the 1st I'm 3ver hearing someone failing air brake that like the 2nd easiest test 

41 minutes ago, TomLirrAC said:

Yikes! I don't know how to feel about that. I start class at the end of the month, and now Im extremely nervous. I hope I can pass these exams. How many exams are there? and in what order? Also if you fail a test, do you get a second chance? 

Nope you fail your out 

33 minutes ago, bp98 said:

Feels like just yesterday we were brand new A/C's.  Crazy how time flies.

What class are you 16-4 or something ?

10 minutes ago, fd87 said:

Your studying to qualify for conductor right.?How long did you wait from passing your test to actual going to school?

Yea I am and about a month or so my background check with my school was holding me up...background check process took the longest.....I took my s&d test in July and class was at the end of September

14 minutes ago, fd87 said:

Damn that’s crazy. Do you know what your score was on the test? How many people passed in your group on the 21st

I took the test and passed almost 2yr ago I'm studying right now to qualify.....and no when I asked Linda for my test result she said don't worry about it you passed that's all that matters 

32 minutes ago, Suffolkbull3 said:

Any idea what the reason would be that someone never gets an email of any sort after passing the sd test?

Classes get full or there is a long gap between classes and some people who passed get forgotten about 

2 hours ago, Suffolkbull3 said:

This is a great question and i will do my best to answer it mlad.. At the overview on june 11th they had us write down 2 dates for classes that will be starting. The first date was Aug 22nd and the second date was Sept 26th. At the test yesterday, after i found out i passed, i asked linda if it will be possible to be put in the aug class and she told me no because its full already. Then i said ok so then most likely ill be in the sept class and her reply was, What sept class? i dont know nothing about any sept class, this test right here is for classes that will start in jan and feb. 

 

It took me by major surprise hearing that from linda.... then when we were going over the hand and whistle packet, classes were brought up again and the instructor said that they are trying to have the sept class but it depends on funding. 

 

It was a major dissapointment. I dont understand how the instructor would know about a sept class but linda would not know anything of it...

 

Does anyone know how that works? or how they select dates for new classes??

That's just a taste of the miscommunication you will encounter working here be prepared .....and they have been hiring alot of people lately so get in while you still can 

CT,

yes, exactly, which is why I don't understand others on this board wanting to get ahead of themselves and procure material that hasn't been given to them directly by the railroad. it's not rocket science, just good old fashioned studying and committing to memory. I'd say a bit more involved than studying for a standardized exam but nothing that's not doable. be patient people, it will all come and you'll do fine in the allotted time frame. no need to try getting ahead of the game and possibly wasting your time by studying the incorrect stuff. yes they definitions might not change much year over year but like I said all it take is one word and the definition is wrong. Looking forward to a new class of conductors and I echo the sentiment, good luck to all!

Everyone study habits are different if they want to study early let em some people need more time then others especially if you dont know how to study.

Thank you for posting this!!

 

I was also just told that some jobs that you're on while working the list might have some OT built in them or things happen on a job that also give you OT.

Yup there will be good days with ot and there will be bad days with ot. Just gotta suck it up and look at the bigger picture and be grateful you have this job

I guess you're no spring chicken Cappi. Haha. I'm 38 and trying to retire from retail management. I come from a railroad family but didn't make a move when I was young. One question though.....i know overtime is advertised as normal. People make big extras from it, but do they ask newbies during your 1st year of work/probation? And does your 11 week of paid training count as probation period or does it start after completion of it. Thanks in advance.

After you make it past the program they ask you do you want to work your relief days if you say yes you work relief days if you say no you have to wait about 6 months for the opportunity again...its not always guaranteed but if they need you you will work and your probation starts as soon as class starts

Correct! Crew dispatch calls you daily 3 hours before you are supposed to report for shift wherever. Whole 1st year of probation is like a on call bitch. Lol. You have to put in work and do your time but the payout is good for the sacrifices you make.

Like i said before you can forgot about having a normal life or planning anything unless it is your day off. they call you when ever they feel after 8hr and its best to have a car as back up but you can also take the train.

Hey peoples, I just went to Hibernian hall march 8 in babylon for first round. Pretty interesting experience. Say like 100 heads there at least. They kicked almost half out after cognitive test. Curious for S & D studying. People that passed that here, any study advice to get the verbatim down pat. I really want this gig.

Study your ass off and make flash cards..and prepare yourself to study alot while in the program also forget having a life after the program they not lying when they told you your hours will suck and you will work all types of hours.

how was it?

It was a smooth day just felt a little weird being by myself and having to figure things out i just have to adjust to it

Things should be picking up. There is a class scheduled for some time in January-February.

That good. i just graduated......today was the 1st official day

Actually, I guess it doesn't matter about the restricting thing since I learned all of them. I have a few questions.

 

1.When do they do a credit check? Is it done with the background check? I am a recent college graduate and the only thing I have to show for is making my student loan payments on time.

 

2.What are some examples of the panel interview questions so I can prepare if I am to pass. How exactly is it done?

 

Thanks.

If i recall there was one restricting sign they told us to cross out cant remeber which one and i would guess they do the credit check with background that im not 100% on and the panel questions are pretty much customer service/ what would you do or how would you approach things questions

anyone who took the S&D test.

is that multiple choice or subjective (hand-writing) test?

Everything is hand written

what do you mean about "repeated"? Listen, Don't worry about the little stuff, worry about getting each aspect and indication perfect. The format of the test is self explanatory and will be easy if you studied enough.

Was your book of rules test difficult?

My background check just completed last week and I believe the next step is waiting on the S&D overview date. We have not received any study material yet. Is there anything I should be looking at in the meantime? Also, do you remember how long it took for them to contact you after the background check completed for the overview date?

You cant really do anything until they email you the date with a sample of words and signals

Took about a week or two but you have until before class start to get your background check complete assuming that you pass the signal and definitions test to get into the program

I had the same it wont hold you up mines said consider also idk why it said that but once i gave my w2 form it cleared ...

I'm on day 3 of the background check sitting at 2/6 searches completed. My boss said he hasn't been contacted yet. I wonder if they try a different way of verifying jobs first. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.

I was the same way just anxious to find out if everything was good emailing everday....if you have a good background and job record you are good to go just be

patient.

 

My class started last week

I submitted my background check on friday. About how long does it take for everything to be verified? I'm a little worried about one job because the building closed down and the phone number probably won't work. However, I was able to get a supervisors email to put down. How exactly do they even verify these things?

Mines took about 2 weeks only because my hs was not returning their phone calls i also had a job that closed down i just put the information and they never had a problem just make sure everything you put is exactly the same thats on your resume because that will hold you up if not .