SubwayGuy

The 2 is a high skill line. A good crew can make it on time, a poor or below average crew will be very late. It's not uncommon to see 2 trains 20 minutes apart on the countdown clock, then the next interval is 2-3 minutes behind that one.

I blame that for the bunching that occurs on the line and how it delays the 3 line. I've done the line in 1:25 - 1:26 (express) when I've had a good C/R, so it can be done.

Once you get an idea how the R62's handle, they actually have the best brakes of any of the A Division equipment.

The R62A's are much easier to handle and more forgiving, but they don't have the same stopping power the R62's have. They are still excellent trains, and their brake is very predictable...meaning you'll get what you pull when you pull it...no delay.

The R142/A is a far superior design in terms of crew comfort than the R-160.

-The controller handle is in the middle, so you can operate with either hand, or alternate to give your hand muscles a break.

-The R-142/A cab window has a single latch so it is possible to reach up with one hand and open the window, while the R-160 has two latches so you will need both hands free at the same time to open the window (such as to punch).

-The console has a flat surface to it, so if you take notes while you operate, when stopped in a station, you have a flat surface to write on (many TO's do this, to note abnormalities that occur during the run, or reasons for delays so they know how to answer if asked where they lost their time).

-The air gauge is located on the console where it is easily seen, rather than way up over your head.

-It is possible to synchronize announcements or reprogram a route while moving or between stations on an R-142/A but not on an R-160.

-It is possible to knock out the last stop from a program if terminating at a station not normally used as a terminal on the R-142/A, which allows you to get the side signs to display the proper terminal in the event of an exotic General Order or service disruption (such as a to 86 St.). The R-160 does not allow dropping out of the last stop.

As for controller handles, the R-188 is worst of all as it is on the right hand side, and the armrest has been modified so there's no support when operating in MAX POWER. And the cutout on one side means that since you can really only turn it one way, it prevents you from easily using your opposite thumb to hold the controller down to give your hand a break.

FYI the raise will be going into effect before the next pay period, so healthcare contributions will increase from 1.5% to 2.0%, and union dues will also increase (I don't know the final number but the percentage of base pay is still the same). Raises from the current contract will also be factored in, although I'm not sure how this will affect employees not yet at top pay, as I don't have the incremental increases in rates at my fingertips.

It's not a misunderstanding. This dude has a habit of offering unsolicited douche sprinkled, troll like advice and opinions when no one asked for it. He also likes to put all the newbies in one block, like we're all incapable of reading comprehension. It's not the first time. and I'm sure it won't be the last.

The reason most of the employees (including RTOman) post here is to HELP the new people.

There is an expression that has been used for a very long time in transit when it comes to the new people: EACH ONE TEACH ONE

Many of us believe in that.

I assume you are new to schoolcar since you're asking about the check - and therefore haven't received the first one yet, so I'm going to give you a good bit of friendly advice. As you go through schoolcar, much of what is taught will be based off of things that have happened down here over the years. Many have involved probationary employees and they serve as a cautionary tale since many of them are no longer with Transit. So the employees that post here do so with the intent of helping new people AVOID the pitfalls that so many fall into very early on. The fact that these incidents keep happening year after year despite all the awareness of them is proof positive that new people are not "above" the pitfalls. But as you will see, neither are senior men and women either. It's not easy coming from "off the street" into any RTO title, and being humble works. The whole "I got this" thing and having attitude seems to work great until one day it doesn't...trust me I've seen it blow up in some people's faces.

Not all of the pitfalls are job related. One of the worst is people living above their means, so it's completely understandable someone may not want to mislead you about how much money you'll actually be taking home. There are numerous people down here who have ZERO life beyond work because they have to work every single RDO they can, constantly work late clears, play every trick in the book to get as much overtime as possible, and pick 10 hour penalty jobs just to make ends meet...yet they still can't, and their take home is almost nothing.

During schoolcar you will gross approximately $30.03 x 40 hours per week = a little over $1200 a week x 2 weeks = $2400 gross approx. per check. You will not get overtime or late clears during schoolcar, nor will you be eligible to work your RDOs (regular days off), which during schoolcar will be Sunday/Saturday. You will have taxes come out, any contributions that you make pre or post tax to the 401k plan or 457 plan if you enrolled, or any other plans like life insurance or extra disability insurance (if you signed up for Aflac). You will also have $27.06 come out per check until the raise goes into effect for union dues, 1.5% comes out for healthcare, and a percentage (I don't know the number for tier 6) will come out for your pension contribution as well. If you're paying alimony or child support, that comes out too. Whatever's left after that is yours. Good luck and keep an open mind.

See my post that someone quoted on Page 136 of this thread for everything you need to know about basic overtime slip codes and procedures, especially the last part about posting.

Your better off just waiting for your training to start. alot of those books are outdated besides your gone have months of training anyway so its no rush

No. Many of the rules have changed, and there are numerous questions about equipment that has long since been retired in those passbooks. There are actually questions in there about R1-9 equipment used on the museum trains in those books! - equipment which hasn't run in passenger service in over 35 years.

If you've been given a rulebook when you were sworn in (sometimes happens), start reading and familiarizing yourself with the chapter on signals.

If not, just hang tight. There are some "unofficial" resources on the internet about NYC Subway SIgnaling you can use as a starting point if you'd like, but just be aware that in the end you are going to need to learn Transit's definition of these signals, not the internet's.

So you mean all those sweet 8 hour N/Q jobs I don't have to sign out for???

Those jobs vary significantly from job to job, so I'll answer by just saying you can forego signing out only so long as the following conditions are met:

-Clearing time on the payroll is 7:55 or more after reporting time on the payroll.

-Job has no WAA at the end.

Again, I can't stress this enough. If the job has WAA at the end, you MUST sign out. If the clearing time on the payroll is 7:54 or less after reporting time on the payroll, you have boost time, and must sign out.

I over heard a senior train operator telling a probationary guy that the union doesn't truly have your back until you reach 3 years in title.  I have no idea where he got 3 years from, I thought he was messing with the guy's head but he looked dead serious. He never elaborated why 3 years.

 

What exactly happens right after you finish probation. Are you suppose to have full union protection ?  During orientation they said yes we still represent you during probation. Others say no you are on your own during the first year. Then I hear people say its expected for you to make mistakes during your first year because its understandable (within reason obviously, like hitting automatic, letting your hand off the MC, etc) and that they will "charge it to schoolcar"  and that the TA will be harder on you for making mistakes after probation because they would say "you should know better"  No one really ever elaborate what goes into play once you reach 1 year and 1 day.

The Union represents you from the date you sign on with TA and begin having dues deducted from your paycheck.

A lot of people down here are disgruntled with the union, so there is a whole BS load of misinformation going around about what exactly the union does. You have to consider the source, there's a lot of hearsay and rumors and not all of it is even remotely based in fact.

The only thing being probationary means as it relates to discipline is this:

-You can be terminated ("fired") without a disciplinary hearing. Meaning you won't go down to labor relations...you belong to schoolcar, so schoolcar will handle any discipline or reinstruction as it relates to any incidents you have while on probation

-Certain no-nos are automatic dismissal (again "firing") - failing a drug or alcohol test is one - whereas a non-probationary employee would be able to go through the program (not an easy feat given how difficult it's made financially for people who fail drug/alcohol tests) and, upon completing the program satisfactorily within a reasonable time, be able to keep his/her job.

-Use of sick time is much more closely monitored, and usage patterns which may not flag a non probationary employee, will flag the probationary employee. Specifically, booking sick without doctor's lines is very heavily frowned upon, even in instances where they are not required.

Did not get that far. They sent me the same paperwork as the first time for the drug test. Does this mean I should go down on the 2nd, take the drug test again and then from there explain things to them? I mean I have not filled out anything at 180 yet that has my pass number and

all that for the paperwork for T/O. When I went last time for the drug test I basically did the test for both positions on the same day.

You have to fill out the five page booklet again regardless. Just fill it out exactly as you did last time (hopefully you kept a copy) with any updates. There are a few questions that deal with status as a TA employee, just make sure you check those boxes this time, and let the person handling your file know your situation when you go down.

There are a lot of things that can happen down here when you are on your own, and having a title to go back to as insurance is a very nice luxury that shouldn't be overlooked. Losing a little seniority over it isn't a big deal. That way, should things not work out within the first year as a TO, you will be able to go back to conductor, and in response to another poster - yes, your seniority as a C/R will be restored to you, should that be the case, unless it is negotiated that you not receive it back as part of disciplinary proceedings.

I got the letter to come back down for the medical (same letter to fill out as last time for the drug test so maybe this means my DT expired and just needs to be renewed). So my appointment is Jun 2, however, being that my list # is 244x, they might be up to my number? How do I go about asking to be postponed on the list so I can request to be reinstated later after my probation is finished as a C/R?

When you filled out the paperwork for T/O, you checked all the boxes that say you work for TA now, gave them your pass, and other info right? They should have had you fill out a single update page rather than the 21 page booklet, and they should have asked you if you were off probation.

They have deferred people's start dates to allow them to finish probation in one title before accepting appointment to another.

You can do it the way Success7 is saying, but it leaves you no room for error. I just want to make sure you know all your options, and also make sure that you've communicated your situation to the folks down at 180 and they know what's going on, since they generally will try to encourage employees still on probation in another title who do not have a title to go back to to defer, especially to accept appointment to Train Operator.

Basically just let them know....they have a duty to let you know all your options and what they entail, and then you can make an informed choice.

Thanks!

One more thing - sign out rules:

-If you incur a late clear and are putting in an overtime slip for it, you have to sign out.

-If you have more than 5 minutes boost time, or WAA at the end of the job, you have to sign out. All nonroad jobs require sign out (yard, station switching, platform, etc.) as even though some have scheduled activities, they are essentially 8 hours of WAA. Posting also requires you to sign out, whether it's for the road or the yard, doesn't matter the job.

-If your job ends with a trip (no WAA) and is a penalty job (pays more than 8 hours), you do NOT have to sign out, unless you are filling out an overtime slip for a late clear.

-If your job ends with a trip (no WAA) and works 7:55 or more, you do NOT have to sign out. The only exception to this is a job working less than 7:55 that ends somewhere different than it starts, as long as the built in deadhead time puts you over 7:55.

Why 7:55? Radio time. You've probably heard of this. It dates back to the days before crews had radios - the trains had radios that had to be signed out of and back into the terminals by the crews. Obviously those days are long gone, but the union grieved (and won) that requiring someone arriving from a trip to sign out essentially forces them to do so on their own time since they are technically off the clock the second their train dumps and the doors open in the terminal. So the 5 minute allowance was kept built into any penalty job. If you look at the work program you can see this - the difference of 5 minutes between what the job works and pays for these types of jobs. This is also why jobs that have a trip ending in the 7:55 to 8:00 range after reporting time never have 1-5 minutes of WAA at the end, as radio time covers the boost. So if you want to go home when you dump that train in the terminal, you are allowed to, but only if your job ends with that trip, and it's 7:55 or more after your report time FOR THAT JOB (IE being on the board beforehand doesn't count).

Sometimes signing out is your decision. If it's going to take you 5 minutes to walk back to the office to fill out a slip for 6+3, turn it in and sign out...and the train that will take you home leaves in 3 minutes on a 20 minute headway, you may decide to forego your late clear and just go home. Up to you.

Question to you guys...

 

I have noticed since I started to fill out exception claim form that one guy shows me how to fill it out ( late clear, no lunch, board time etc), I hand it to the dispatcher, he says no you fill it out wrong, here do it this way.  Next time that I have to fill out the exception claim form, I do it the dispatcher's way that he showed me, I hand it to a different dispatcher at my job location, he says no you filled it out wrong, do it this way.  So its like literally 3 different people telling me how to fill out an exception claim form for the same type of OT.  Is there some sort of guide on how to properly fill this out for different kinds of OT ??  This is not even including what type of comments that I should put. 3 different people tell me 3 different things to write in the comment section.  I don't want to fill it out wrong then find out I never got paid and have to waste my time calling and getting this fixed.

Just going to post this in general for anyone:

OVERTIME SLIP BASICS

Anything that is on the payroll already you do not have to fill out an overtime slip for.

-If your job starts at one location and ends at another, and deadhead is built in you do not need to fill out a slip (Tip: look at the clearing location and time, underneath the signout time will be the time you are actually paid until).

-If your job is a penalty job, you do not have to fill out a late clear for the penalty.

LATE CLEARS

Late clears are simple. Code 40 for the amount you worked extra, in the comments just indicate why - customer interference with doors, held by track gangs, flagging, rerouted via local track, congestion, track circuit, signal problems, switch problems, sick passenger, police investigation...there are a million reasons to be late, and in the comments write your reasons.

Other scenarios: If you stay late to do a layup (after your clearing time) just write extra layup, if you stay late to work switching, just write worked balance of switching job ###.

BEING ON THE BOARD

If you are on the board, and pick up a whole job - for purposes of the slip, your "job" is the job you picked up, and your start and end times should match the job you picked up. The time you signed onto the board until the time the job starts is your BOARD TIME (code 46).

Example: Report 1300 for extra board. Pick up job 3xx from 1400 to 2200. Your job on the slip is 3xx from 1400 to 2200. Code 46 for 1300-1400 (60 mins OT + 30 mins Bonus). Always leave night diff blank, timekeeping will do it. Comments: Reported 1300 for extra board & picked up job 3xx.

If you are on the board, and pick up part of a job - for purposes of the slip, your "job" is the board job, and your start and end times should match your board report, and your board report + 8 hours. Anything beyond that is a LATE CLEAR (code 40). If the part of the job you work finishes before 8 hours after your report time, you still have to stay at your board location to sign out.

Example #1: Report 1300 for extra board. Pick up the first trip of job 3xx which works 1745-0145. You finish your half of the job at 2130. Your job on the slip is your board job from 1300-2100. You're entitled to a late clear for 2100-2130.

Example #2: Report 1300 for extra board. Pick up job 2xx halfway through which works from 1000-1800. Your job is your board job (let's call it 601) from 1300-2100. You're not entitled to any pay (unless you got a no lunch) because from 1800-2100 you still have boost time.

DEADHEAD (TRAVEL TIME)

If you clear somewhere other than where you started, you are entitled to deadhead. Add deadhead at the very end of the job, when you sign out, after any late clears.

Example #1: Report 1300 for extra board. Pick up job 3xx at a different location from 1400 to 2200. Your job on the slip is 3xx from 1400 to 2200. Code 46 for 1300-1400 (60 mins OT + 30 mins Bonus). If travel time is 24 minutes between where you reported for board and where the job actually clears, add Deadhead (Code 49) for 2200 to 2224 (24 minutes OT + 12 minutes Bonus). Again leave night diff blank, timekeeping will do it. Comments: Reported 1300 at Location #1 for extra board & picked up job 3xx which clears at Location #2, added travel time.

Example #2: Report 1300 for extra board. Pick up job 3xx at a different location from 1400 to 2200 and arrived late on last trip due to flagging at 2206. Your job on the slip is 3xx from 1400 to 2200. Code 46 (Extra Board) for 1300-1400 (60 mins OT + 30 mins Bonus). Late clear (Code 40) for 2200-2206 (6 mins OT + 3 mins Bonus). If travel time is 24 minutes between where you reported for board and where the job actually clears, add Deadhead (Code 49) for 2206 to 2230 (24 minutes OT + 12 minutes Bonus). Again leave night diff blank, timekeeping will do it. Comments: Reported 1300 at Location #1 for extra board & picked up job 3xx. Made xxxx interval out of Opposite Terminal and arrived at Location #2 at 2206 due to flagging at Station. Added travel time.

I made up the numbers above. Always use the deadhead charts to figure out what your travel time is.

BACKING OUT BOOST TIME

If your job works less than 8 hours and has boost time (IE no WAA on the schedule card), you must deduct the boost time from your overtime slip since you cannot be double paid.

Example: Work job 3xx, which works from 1500-2257. Arrive late on last trip at 2305. Your job on the slip is the job, start time 1500, end time 2257. You get a code 40 for late clear, from 2257-2305 but your overtime is 5 minutes + 3 minutes bonus since you are only eligible to be paid overtime for any time after 2300, since 2300 is 8 hours from the start of your day.

NO LUNCH

You are entitled to a no lunch if your scheduled lunch is cut to 19 minutes or less. Code 39, and use the times of your lunch in the From / To boxes. Pay is 30 minutes BONUS only (no overtime). In the comments, write the reason and note the times for your no lunch - IE: made 1551 Flatbush -> 241 and arrived at 1758 with scheduled lunch until 1816 (18 minutes for lunch).

On a yard or station switching job, if you were on a move between your 3rd and 6th hour, hours 3-6 are your lunch hours, still 30 minutes BONUS only pay, and in the comments note that you were on a move for the entirety of that window. IE Comments: Washed train at 239th St. Yard and brought back to Livonia Yard, was on the train between 3rd and 6th hour.

BREAKING IN STUDENT

Two hours pay (Bonus) for the day. Be sure to write the student's name and pass in the comments. Time From / To is the whole job.

WORKING AN RDO

Always 8 hours OT plus 4 hours Bonus. Time From / To is the whole job (even if it's a penalty job since you will automatically get time a half for anything over 8 hours, so this is why you are only putting 8 plus 4...the rest of your overtime is already built into the job!). Do your slip for working an RDO when you sign IN, not when you sign out...it is OK to submit multiple overtime slips throughout the day.

EXTRA TRIP

If you make an extra trip - an extra trip has to begin after your clearing time, otherwise if you are on WAA it is NOT an extra trip! - you are entitled to 4 hours pay (bonus). The difference between your clearing time and the extra trip is "waiting time" - make sure you add this in first also as it is part of continuous time.

If you are posting:

If you are referring to posting, what the dispatcher SHOULD do is put your time from the time it says on your posting paper. So if it says report to E180 at 1310 hrs., he should sign you in as REPORT E180 1310 RELIEF E180 2110.

Now when you fill out your slip, your overtime will be a late clear for anything after 2110. So if you post on a job that clears at 2130, you get 20+10 late clear (code 40). If you post on a job that clears at 2130 and incurs a late clear to 2140, you get 30+15 late clear (still code 40). When posting, ALWAYS put in any deadhead, even if the job you are posting on has it built in as it will be built in for your trainer, NOT YOU! Remember, deadhead goes after any late clears. So if you post on a job that clears somewhere else at 2130 and incurs a late clear to 2140, you still get a 30+15 late clear (code 40) from 2110 to 2140, and (making up 24 minutes travel time again) 24+12 deadhead (code 49) from 2140 to 2204.

If you handle posting this way (and most good dispatchers will do it this way), you should have no problems getting paid. For comments always note that the time you signed on was as instructed on the posting papers, that you posted on job # xxx, and that the job clears at such and such time.

Hope this helps!

The simulator is nothing like operating an actual train. NOTHING.

Just think of it as a "signal reading/interpreting exercise" and do the best you can. Most students don't even get that much time in there. What's going to help you most as a new train operator is learning to get a feel for the train - the real thing - how it handles, how it can brake, how it takes power, how to guess your speed when the speedometer is not working, whether you are going up or down grade...etc

You'll have to develop that when you operate the real trains.

Schoolcar will be hiring 40 train operators and 60 conductors every month for as long as their hiring plan extends forward at the present time. This is typically never less than 6 months, and very likely to be at least until the end of the calendar year.

Beyond that is anyone's guess, but there are a lot of people talking retirement within the next 2 years, so there will continue to be a need for new hires.

Do you get paid holidays while in school car?

Yes, provided you have worked for Transit for at least 30 days. Any holidays occurring within the first 30 days of employment will be unpaid, unless you are working.

If you have 30+ days at Transit and are working on the holiday, you will receive your regular pay, plus an additional 8 hours pay for the holiday.

Employees who work on their holiday may elect to save the additional 8 hours pay as an "AVA" day instead of receiving holiday pay. If this has not been explained to you, it will soon. To do this, you will have to call the automated number for the crew office's "IVR" system and choose the option to "accrue a holiday". You can accrue up to 8, but no more. After 8, additional requests to save holidays will be paid out instead. For new employees, I recommend you trying to build up this bank as quickly as possible so you have time to take off should you need to for an emergency (and I mean a real emergency) or for a personal day you'd like to have here and there, since you won't have vacation time yet.

You cannot save a holiday if you do not work it, unless it is your RDO, during your vacation, or some other personal day you've requested (AVA, OTO, PLD). Holidays that fall on your RDO, you will receive 8 hours pay (provided you've worked here 30 days) even though you haven't worked. And yes, you can save holidays on your RDO, with the exception of Lincoln's Birthday.

Additionally, to earn holiday pay you must also not book off sick without doctor's lines from work the day before or the day after the holiday, or else you will forfeit the holiday pay. Doctor's Lines will cover you, but you may have to fight it / wait one pay cycle depending on how the pay periods overlap the occurrence. Note that this applies to YOUR work schedule, not calendar days. So if a holiday is Monday and your RDO's are Sunday/Saturday, booking off without doctor's lines on Friday will disqualify you from holiday pay.

Transit Holidays:

New Year's Day

MLK Day

President's Day

Lincoln's Birthday

Memorial Day

July 4

Labor Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Employee Birthday

Look!! One piece of advice to all those coming in, and hopefuls. No one is in COMPETITION!!! This is not a race to see who can do what better than who, or finish a quiz fastest in the class. The TSS's will give you guys the tools you need to pass exams, but it's up to you to put the work in and STUDY! And if you don't understand something, ASK!!! No matter how many times until you get it. And the TSS's WILL KNOW if someone's not understanding something. They will ask DOES ANYONE NOT UNDERSTAND SO FAR? Don't play macho! Because I'll be the first to let them know if I don't understand anything! I'm not here to play macho!!! If y'all don't take anything from me, take this advice. Good luck and congrats!!!

You and your class are a TEAM the whole time you're down in schoolcar. You should be helping one another study, and whoever has a particular subject down pat, when you're not with the TSS's, should be helping those who don't have it down get it down.

Additionally, since you're travelling all over the system, ride the lines, and pay attention on your rides to work for those of you that take the train. Learn where the train goes slow and try to remember it - good odds there's a speed restriction or timers there, and you'll want to have some idea of these lines, the tracks and where they go, where you gotta go slow etc.

Ever hear people refer to "good" or "bad" schoolcar classes? Well that's where this comes from. You guys are a TEAM, and until people come to know YOU when you're on your own, you'll be part of "that class". Give yourselves a good reputation by working together.

Yes, the TSSes are there to help you, but you have to help yourselves. A TSS isn't going to hold 50+ signal aspects in front of you and ask you to identify each one - they may review 20 with the whole class before moving on to the lesson plan - they have a tight schedule as it is and a lot of material to cover. You guys have to help each other with the unofficial tutoring.

Make the most of the time the TSS's give you. They have access to resources that you don't - specifically the trains. That one day you're supposed to do a combination signal review / go down the road practicing station stops? If you've been studying with your class and do well in the first half, you'll go down the road, maybe even get to take a nice long trip, and practice stops. If you haven't been studying, or you've been studying alone, and people in the class seem shaky on signals, rest assured your TSSes will spend more time going over them since they of all know how important it is you learn your signals. Now you're wasting class time and missing out on time operating the train because you're reviewing something you should have reviewed at home - note this is very different than studying on your own and having a question, which is totally fine. And if there's something you'd like to see, ask. But you guys are all in this together as a class, so help each other and succeed together.

How does staying over 35 years start costing you money?

Because you're not increasing your annual pension amounts further for your future calculation for when you actually do retire.

Meanwhile you are eligible to collect (since any train operator with 35 years of service would be 55 years of age, barring an extremely unlikely circumstance), but not collecting. Therefore you are effectively foregoing that money forever with no future compensation as a result.

The extremely unlikely circumstance is someone getting called before their 20th birthday, in which case they have to exceed 35 years just to reach 55 years of age in order to be eligible to collect. Otherwise, as above, you are foregoing your hard earned retirement money by continuing to work.

What does 62/5 mean? That you need to work for Transit at least 5 years and be at least 62 years old to collect a pension?

 

And if you work 20 years and retire at 65 years old, would that be a pension of 40% of your average annualized earnings?

There are two pensions at Transit.

25/55

The first is 25/55. You must work at least 25 years of service to be eligible for this pension. Then you must be at least 55 years old to begin collecting. Upon retiring with exactly 25 years of service and beginning to collect your pension, you will earn 50% of your "best of calculation" annually.

NOTE: I'm not going to specify what comprises the "best of calculation" because it is different for the new people under Tier 6 than for us who are under Tier 4, however, I will say that it generally reflects your highest earning years at Transit.

So if in your X best years used for the calculation, you make exactly $100,000, with 25 years of service, your pension will be $50,000 annually, but I'm just making up numbers here to explain the 50% piece.

For each additional year of service between 25 and 35 years of service, the percentage goes up by 1.5%. Thus at 35 years of service, the percentage of pension calculation will have gone up to (and maxed out at) 65% of the "best of calculation".

So the same example above, assume 35 years of service instead of 25, same other numbers, and their pension is $65,000 annually.

Staying beyond 35 years costs you money, as it doesn't increase the amount further. This is intentional, as it drives turnover and makes room for the new people. But some stay beyond 35 anyway.

This income will be added to your other sources of retirement income: social security (when eligible), 401k/457, personal traditional and Roth IRAs, and any annuities you've invested into, and that will make up your retirement income.

62/5

To be eligible for this pension, you must work at least 5 years at Transit to vest. This money will then be held for you, and you cannot collect it until you are 62. I don't know the calculations for it to be honest, perhaps someone else here does.

No Pension

If you work less than 5 years at Transit, your pension money will be refunded to you upon termination. If this is the case, I'd strongly recommend rolling it over into another type of tax deferred retirement account, as if you take it in cash you will be taxed.

Hey Subway Guy, I hate to be a burden but I have so many questions. Would my military time count towards retirement? Would you know off hand?

Yes it counts as paying into the pension, and towards your benefits...however, military service time does not qualify as TA service time. You will still need to do at least 25 years of service at TA to qualify for the full pension, or at least 5 years TA service to vest your pension for the 62/5 option if you are starting your career late and 25 years of TA service is not realistic for you.

Additionally, regardless of prior military service, you cannot collect your benefits earlier than 55 years of age (if doing the 25/55) or 62 years of age (if doing the 62/5), period.

If you have to "buy back" any service time do so as soon as possible, it costs you money to wait to do so.

Is it about the same number of people who go to A and B divisions? Or does one division typically need a lot more people?

B Division is bigger and gets more over the long haul. But needs of the service dictate how many slots in each, if a choice is presented to an induction group, are available. Some classes do not get to choose, it's all luck of the draw, and goes by seniority, which is based (within the class) off the inductees' list numbers.

Thanks for that info. I actually made a print copy of that valuable information Subway guy. Once again good look. But I do have a question, what is the policy on bereavement? Death in the family? How much time are you allowed off and is it extended only to immediate family?

You are given time off to deal with death in the family, however you must prove everything.

Immediate family members (father, mother, child, spouse) are no problem, however you will have to present a copy of the death certificate as well as a copy of all documentation to prove the relationship - for parents this is your birth certificate with their names on it, for child a copy of their birth certificate with your name on it, for spouse, this is a copy of the marriage license. I believe this is up to three days granted, but someone can correct me on it as I'm not 100% sure.

Other people, you will only get one day for, but it will come out of your bank. Pay attention when "AVA" days are explained to you, and start saving holidays in your bank. Always keep days in your bank for emergencies. You will have to take an "emergency AVA day" in this instance, calling your crew office of course to let them know, and will ultimately have to substantiate it with proof that you attended the funeral from the funeral home itself upon returning, or else you will be carried AWOL for the day in question.

Thanks for the info. SubwayGuy. I got thrown into the A also with 923. But I here about that ATS that it's effed up. Automated train supervision? Right? Or the so an so in the office likes to yell, and blah blah blah! I guess it's like anywhere else. You got good, bad, and ugly.

 

Yo Mard!!!!! How did you make out today!?

Actually supervision in the A Division (I can only speak for AMs and PMs, since I pretty much never work Midnights) is pretty good. Some are better than others, and there are a few bad apples, but the majority are out to work with you.

The B Division is more of a mixed bag, some locations are very pleasant to work at, others, well let's just say their reputation precedes them.

Care to elaborate on a couple of reasons that CAN get us fired?

Hmm...there are many....here are some of the major ones...

-Hitting multiple signals (especially home signals).

-Repeatedly overrunning stations.

-Repeated wrong routes.

-Damaging equipment where the operator is at fault (ie derailment, collision, splitting a switch in the yard)

-Repeated instances of reckless train operation (ie speeding).

-Repeated instances of lateness or missing work.

-Booking sick multiple times without doctor's lines.

-Excessive use of sick time while on probation (yes, even if warranted, this can get you fired!).

-Coming up dirty for an alcohol or drug test while on probation

-While on probation, if it is determined you lied on your job application or background information paperwork

-Use of the cellphone while operating your train, working the platform, or otherwise on duty, in uniform, and in plain view of customers (ie cell phone use is OK in crew rooms, don't get scared off by this...it's very common sense)

-Illegal behavior, on or off the job (assaulting a customer, getting arrested for DUI on your day off, charged with a crime)

-padding the payroll, or theft of TA property

yeah i got put on A, Also they breezed thru where the checks are going. i told him i was coming from long island and he said something about near jamaica, wasn't paying attention as i was in a daze from the thought of going all the way to the bronx every day anyone know if there's a list of the offices somewhere

It's not that bad. A Division is much easier for new train operators - there is much less equipment, no hand throw yards, and very few lineups to remember as compared to the B Division. The only thing is be prepared for ATS (don't worry about it now, but your instructors will explain it to you).

If you're coming from Long Island, the crew office will know that, and sometimes help you out by giving you line jobs. Learn to like the and you will do OK. That said, there will still be times you have to go to the Bronx, but you can get just about anywhere in the A Div. in under an hour in a half once you get to an A Division location. B Division locations are much more spread out, and even B Division people have to go to the Bronx or upper Manhattan sometimes.

Then, if you'd still like to go to the B, you can put in your request and do so when you are able to pick a job over there.

Is it true that upon acceptance of the position I HAVE to move to NY? I'm currently in NJ.

No, you do not have to move.

However, living in NJ is no excuse to be late for work, regardless of what hours of work and work location you are given. So "my NJ Transit Train isn't running" won't get you out of working nights, if that is what you have to work.

That said, many employees have come from NJ, PA, CT, way upstate, etc. and made long successful careers here while continuing to live in those locations.

Where does school car take place? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After the first week (two days at Livingston, and the rest typically at PS 248)... All around the system based on various reporting locations within the division you choose (or is assigned to you).

If you are in the A Division, you will be reporting to A Division terminals and yards.

If B Division, B Division terminals and yards.

However, you will have days here and there where you report to PS 248, RCC, Coney Island Yard (fire school, and possibly also here for 3rd rail jumpers, even if you're in the A Division), etc.

So, basically...all over the place.