I finished my class last week with a 96.0 (Honor Student. W00p!) and I arrived in Atlanta Monday night.
My flight was delayed Monday, so I missed orientation, but for the most part, you'll just do a brief little introduction and fill out some paperwork.
On your second day, you'll be in a classroom environment for a few hours, and then the whole class will go out into the field to complete your competancies (hanging, crossing over, setting brakes, moving a switch, etc.) and that will take up the rest of the time.
Third day has more classroom training. You'll be in the room for roughly 2 hours and then go out to the field. And then it's showtime! For the first time, you'll be working airhoses, coupling and uncoupling cars and locomotives, talking on the radio, and all sorts of fun things. It really is a fun day. You, the instructor, and your classmates will all have fun laughing at each other.
Fourth day is boring. You're in the classroom pretty much all day. There's a small tour outside looking at some mechanical components and some wheels with defects, and then you go inside for the rest of the time for a presentation on air brake law and payroll.
Fifth day is another class day. You've a presentation on safety leadership and on board work orders.
As far as the classroom material, some of it really is boring, as it's just a rehash of all the other things you've went over in the previous 5 weeks. Some of the presentations are brand new, and despite the torture of sitting in a classroom for hours at a time, all of the instructors do a great job of making the whole process entertaining.
All of the instructors down here are very relaxed and funny guys. If your classes were anything like mine, the 5-week instructors told horror stories about how strict and unforgiving things were in Atlanta. It's simply not true. You'll be expected to perform, but the expectations aren't unreal. You're new and you're going to make mistakes.
As far as the accomodations, I'd be sure to bring extra cash to buy food. CSX has a deal with the hotel's restaurant for a special reduced price menu, but to be honest, the food isn't all that great and the variety sucks. There are a good number of restaurants in the area, most being within a 1/2 mile walk, so I'd recomment lacing up your boots and hitting the pavement, rather than spending everything on a taxi.
Also.. there's a lady who comes outside of the training facility a few times a week with CSX embroidered hats, shirts, and bags. The hats and shirts both run $5 and come in a variety of colors. I'd recommend bringing a few spare dollars along to pick one up. I've picked up a hat and a shirt so far, and they're great. As far as the bags, I'm not sure of the cost, but you can get CSX and your full name embroided on them, and they look rather spiffy.
Honestly though, guys, don't stress about it. Everyone down here gets along fine, all of the instructors are knowledgable, caring, and down to Earth. It's not an intense training session designed to rattle your brain. Try to enjoy yourself.
I'll do my best to update this thread day to day with what we're doing. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask.
My flight was delayed Monday, so I missed orientation, but for the most part, you'll just do a brief little introduction and fill out some paperwork.
On your second day, you'll be in a classroom environment for a few hours, and then the whole class will go out into the field to complete your competancies (hanging, crossing over, setting brakes, moving a switch, etc.) and that will take up the rest of the time.
Third day has more classroom training. You'll be in the room for roughly 2 hours and then go out to the field. And then it's showtime! For the first time, you'll be working airhoses, coupling and uncoupling cars and locomotives, talking on the radio, and all sorts of fun things. It really is a fun day. You, the instructor, and your classmates will all have fun laughing at each other.
Fourth day is boring. You're in the classroom pretty much all day. There's a small tour outside looking at some mechanical components and some wheels with defects, and then you go inside for the rest of the time for a presentation on air brake law and payroll.
Fifth day is another class day. You've a presentation on safety leadership and on board work orders.
As far as the classroom material, some of it really is boring, as it's just a rehash of all the other things you've went over in the previous 5 weeks. Some of the presentations are brand new, and despite the torture of sitting in a classroom for hours at a time, all of the instructors do a great job of making the whole process entertaining.
All of the instructors down here are very relaxed and funny guys. If your classes were anything like mine, the 5-week instructors told horror stories about how strict and unforgiving things were in Atlanta. It's simply not true. You'll be expected to perform, but the expectations aren't unreal. You're new and you're going to make mistakes.
As far as the accomodations, I'd be sure to bring extra cash to buy food. CSX has a deal with the hotel's restaurant for a special reduced price menu, but to be honest, the food isn't all that great and the variety sucks. There are a good number of restaurants in the area, most being within a 1/2 mile walk, so I'd recomment lacing up your boots and hitting the pavement, rather than spending everything on a taxi.
Also.. there's a lady who comes outside of the training facility a few times a week with CSX embroidered hats, shirts, and bags. The hats and shirts both run $5 and come in a variety of colors. I'd recommend bringing a few spare dollars along to pick one up. I've picked up a hat and a shirt so far, and they're great. As far as the bags, I'm not sure of the cost, but you can get CSX and your full name embroided on them, and they look rather spiffy.
Honestly though, guys, don't stress about it. Everyone down here gets along fine, all of the instructors are knowledgable, caring, and down to Earth. It's not an intense training session designed to rattle your brain. Try to enjoy yourself.
I'll do my best to update this thread day to day with what we're doing. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask.
