SpikeMauler

I wear "work" jeans and t shirt in summer. A lot of guys in maintainence bring there own lunch from home. Not sure about capital ( haven't been there in a while). Whatever you wear expect to get dirty.

I'm not sure how true that is. There's always rumors here about everything...

I hope that's true but I doubt it. We just had a changeover a few months ago. May of 2016 is more likely, lol. Who did you hear that from? If you work hard and do your fair share you'll gain respect from the senior guys. Too many new guys are coming out of school with attitude. Not sure where their getting it from, maybe the union? You'll hear some noise from some of the guys about being a "new jack". The loudest ones are usually the laziest. Don't do anything your not comfortable doing and always ask questions if your not sure about something. Most of the guys here are willing to help. Good luck in CN.

Another pick for new guys only or a general pick for all Track Workers?

Walker and Spezzano are both "good" cops...

^These are old numbers from the last contract. New contract numbers are: Top pay for Track Worker - $31.5075 Track Worker Specialist - $34.5025 Top pay for Train Operator - $34.5025 (Night/weekend differential not included)

Requirements: There are no education or experience requirements for this position. REQUIREMENTS TO BE APPOINTED: Medical Requirement: Medical guidelines have been established for the position of Track Worker. Candidates will be examined to determine whether they can perform the essential functions of the position of Track Worker. Where appropriate, a reasonable accommodation will be provided for a person with a disability to enable him or her to take the examination, and/or to perform the essential functions of the job.

It used to be drug screening first, then physical. When I was called years ago the letter said it was for an "interview" or something like that.I showed up at Livingston St that day and all I did was pee in a cup and went home. Once cleared they called all the ones that passed our drug tests back for our physicals. A lot of guys failed that pee test. Not sure they do it like this anymore but expect a drug test...

Yes, it's an advantage to have one. Many specialist jobs require a CDL and most people don't have them. Go to www.nycers.org and click on "transit 25/55" plan.

I've never heard of the Transit Certificate Program. Ah, I think you're talking about the TUF program run by the union. I don't think trackworkers qualify for that(I might be wrong though). That's for entry level job holders to upgrade their positions through training programs run by the union.

No, the Tier 6 SS service retirement benefit clause does not pertain to Transit Operating Force.

There's definitely room for promotion in track dept(in house). You can also pick track "specialist" jobs where you make a few dollars an hour more than regular trackworker. The only title you can transfer to is Power Distribution Maintainer after passing a test(not easy)and having good sick time. Trackworkers hourly pay is more than Conductors so that would be a demotion to go to that title. There are no more promotional tests for train operator. You would have to take and pass an open competitive test, get called, then resign from your trackworker job.

First off, the top pay for a regular trackworker is $31.5075 an hour(not including night/weekend diff). Can you make over $100k with that hourly rate? Yes, most trackworkers in Capital make over $100k(without having to work 7 days a week). Would I take take sanitation or trackworker if called at the same time? I would take sanitation. It's a better job all around. Better pay, better benefits,better pension and 22 yrs and out retirement. Trackworker is a good job but sanitation is better(jmo).BTW, I've been a trackworker over 20 yrs. I know what I'm talking about.

See posts 164, 166 and 170 on this thread for some insight on the job. You don't need any experience or a HS diploma for that matter. You also can be a convicted felon and still get hired. Police, Fire and Sanitation are all better jobs with better pay, benefits and pensions respectively.

Nope. Me either. Signal has a lot of heat on them right now. Plus they're always getting called out on track circuits and other nonsense. Tough dept to be in right now.

I agree. Back when I was there ('95) PD was the best job in MOW. Now it's probably a toss up between PD and Track. It's a kinder gentler Track Dept now ...lol. And signal? Forget it....

Hey dp142. I did the complete opposite of you. I did 2 yrs in Third Rail and 18 in Track.

Yes, you pick reporting location. Being new(junior)you'd probably only be able to pick nights (10pm to 6am) for a few years though you could bid on open day jobs. Training is 6 weeks. Trackworkers hourly pay is more than Conductor. Construction flaggers make the same hourly rate as Trackworkers because they work on the track. In Track Dept you can pick specialist jobs which are $2 to $3 an hour more than regular Trackworker jobs. You also can take the test for MS I(Foreman). Their base top pay is around 80k(should be more cause they're a contract behind us). From there you can move all the way up to General Superintendent without college degree (that's three promotions). You can also move to Third Rail if you pass their test. They get paid a little more than Track specialists. Track doesn't bust your chops about taking days off or calling in sick either. I've been here 20yrs and wouldn't want to be in any other Dept.

Sure. Track Dept is basically broken down into two divisions. Track Maintainence and Capital Construction. You pick which division you want to work in. Usually a pick lasts two to three years. Track Maintainence is usually smaller scale jobs. Days off are usually Fri/Sat or Sun/Mon. You can make some O.T. here but not as much as Capital. Capital Construction is larger scale jobs. Days off are midweek usually Mon/Tue, Tue/Wed etc...They make a lot of O.T. mainly on the weekends. Extra shifts on the weekends and extended hours during the week. Most people pick Capital to work the O.T.

Must be someone's kid way down on this list. Never heard of a Track list going 6yrs. BTW, it's a good job. Once at top pay you can make over 100k if you pick Capital. Lots of opportunity to advance also. Great benefits(though dental sucks)Very good pension and 401/457k plans also.

I took the physical 20 years ago and failed the vision test. They're mainly checking for depth perception problems. Told me right eye was 20/100 and left eye was 20/60. At the end of the physical the Doctor sits down with you and goes over the results. He told me that I failed the vision test and that I was put on medical hold. He said I had to comeback and pass their eye test and that a note from an outside eye doctor wouldn't work. The T.A. Doctor was a real a**hole. I went to my Eye Doc the next day. He checked my eyes and said the right eye was 20/30 and left eye was 20/20. He gave me a prescription for glasses to bring right eye down to 20/20. He told me he had other patients who failed the T.A. Eye test with perfect vision. He said they don't know what their doing down there and that if I fail the second time I should sue them. I passed the second time and was taken off medical hold. Just know that the people who work down there are incompetent. Doctors included. What good Doctor would choose to work for the T.A.? Maybe things are different now. I doubt it...

I've worked with people on the structure that were afraid of heights. You can tell who,they are by the "death grip" they have on the handrail...lol. The great thing about the job is you don't have to work on structure if you don't like heights. You can pick a job working in the tunnel on solid ground. The only downside are the night hours associated with it. If you want to work day hours on solid ground you can pick a job in one of the fabrication shops. They have one in Brooklyn and one in the Bronx.

I think normally if you scored 100 you would get called fairly quickly, but from what I've heard this test was very easy. There's going to be a lot of people that scored 100. People who used their vet credits and scored high(100+ with credits)will be called as soon as they certify the test and start hiring. There's not a lot of movement in the Track Dept right now. A lot of people that are eligible to retire are staying. Tells you something about this job...

Fast Track is worked by Maintainence nights(ex: 10pm to 6am). Maintainence days(ex: 8am to 4pm) does not participate in Fast Track. All shifts in Track Dept are 8hrs a day 40hrs a week. Anything over 8 hrs a day is time and a half(OT). Capital does most of its heavier work on the weekends. They will work around the clock for 55 hours(ex: Job starts on a Friday at 11pm and ends on Monday at 4am). Capital will have different shifts all through the weekend(ex: 11pm to 3pm etc...). You are not required to work the OT. You can come in for your regular shift(8hrs)and leave. Most people work the OT(that's why they picked Capital).

Capital is large scale jobs. Digouts, chip outs, panel jobs etc...mid week days off. Long hours on the weekends 16+ hour shifts. You move around a lot. One week in Queens the next in the Bronx etc...The only reason to pick Capital is to work the overtime. Lots of OT readily available and you're expected to work it. You will make six figures easy if you want it(once at top pay). Maintainence you have partial weekends off eg: Fri/Sat, Sat/Sun, Sun/Mon. The work is much smaller scale (excluding that fast track crap. Maintainence days doesn't have that). There is some OT but nothing like Capital.