train blasts are LOUD
Submitted by bgzus on Thu, 05/25/2006 - 12:51.
Does anyone have the inside on why trains are allowed to make excessive noise with their horns? I understand they are legislated for warning impatient drivers trying to outrun the train at crossings, but I'm finding it much harder to sleep when they lay on the horn for more than the required four blasts. During the day, outdoor conversation is impossible at rail-crossing times. I live between the SP and Burlington lines and the same train's horn can not easily be ignored for over five minutes crossing town. Multiply this by a minimum of 15 trains per night and it gets pretty old. I have tried to contact both railroads with documentation and have come up empty.
I've read about quiet zones and automatic signaling in other towns, but find very little reference or attention to Fresno in this matter. Could it be that most people's homes in Central Fresno are shut tight and are not bothered by this? It's hard to believe no one opens a window in so many homes situated along or between rail lines, or is so accustomed to the noise. There should be a more civilized answer to railroad crossing safety than to fall under a blanket mandate that is based on cities with far less train traffic.
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I like the train sounds
I have grown up near trains. I do not even hear the trains anymore. I live near some tracks now. I do notice when its been a long time without hearing the train.
When I traveled to Alaska the cruise ships took up the noise slack. In Kansas I can remember being so far into the burbs that I didnt hear em. It was hard to sleep. Guess its just perspective or proximity to the tracks maybe.
trains through town
Only one reason why there is a group for Rail Consolidation. They do have a website: http://www.movethetracks.org/
location
Yup, this was the biggest positive of my time in North Fresno, which was a reminder anytime i slept with a window open. I appreciated the relative quiet when i could discern the sound of the horn across town and rarely heard significant air traffic, just the rumble and roar of 41. Also lived a stretch in the flight path 10 seconds from FAT takeoff. Have to admit that was a longer conversation stopper. The walls literally shook. Time in Europe was even louder than both. Guess i should just keep my ears plugged into music and podcasts as long as i live in the city...
crossings
... by law, whenever they come to a street crossing,(car present or not.)
--or come to an area where there is a poential for pedestrian / vehicle interraction, they have to hit the hooter...
--said hooter is actually designed to operate at decible levels that will actually be felt internally (for the severely hearing impared...) thus causing a involuntary reaction to get out of the way... (If they laid on that baby full tilt it would really hurt...)
--if you live anywhere where people are within a certain distance (feet,) of the tracks, they have to blast to get them to move away as well...
--if you live anywhere near (oncoming,) or parked trains, --they have to forewarn any working personell near those trains also.
---try living in the runway path of FAT, ---with clusters of F-16's ripping overhead on Full After Burner... (..now that's a treat.)
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