Why do trains sound their horns so often in the middle of the night?

Question

We are looking for more than the obvious "it's for safety" answer.

Answer 1

To warn motorists, as they know where the crossings are. You cannot see the light around a bend (at unguarded crossings) but if you are not retarded with a blasting stereo, you will hear the horn. There are also bums that wander the tracks all night. Lots of paperwork and headaches involved with running over a bum. And lost time waing for cops and filling out police paperwork. Not to mention, the carwash for trains is expensive and time consuming, to get all the blood and guts off.

Answer 2

Like Sir J said, it's a law & a federal one at that. Most cities & towns have several railroad crossings. If they don't sound their horns, day or night, they can be fined. If you're ever at a crossing & don't hear the horn, note the time, date & train name, BSNF, Union Pacific, etc. If it's proven that they didn't sound the horn, you get money. How much, I'm not sure. Until we moved to the Inland Empire in California, I'd not been around trains for 16 years, save for the occasional one on tracks. Now with Metrolink & the rails being more widely used, I see them all the time. I used to be annoyed when I'd have to wait. Now I use that time to relax a bit. It's obvious that I was to wait there & not keep going for whatever reason(s). Sometimes, I use that time to check voicemail on my cell and/or home phones. Sometimes, I just imagine what could be inside the railcars, other than the obvious ones that have cars inside.

Answer 3

At night, there is more chance of a collision so they will hit the horn more often. In addition, trains in some places often run through the night, as opposed ot the daytime (especially for freight) and thus there are more trains to sound their horns. Visibility is less, so the engineers will sound their horn more if they think there is an animal or person on the tracks. last thing that could be a factor is the fact that sound usually travels further in the cooler air at night.

Answer 4

Its a safety issue people have been ran over at crossings from children to semi trailers. Since a train can't veer left or right to avoid collision even though it has the right of way the horn is the only form to give a head start to move out of the way. Unfortunately it can be heard past the crossings.

Answer 5

Because the engineer is REQUIRED to! Just because it is the middle of the night makes no difference. Railroads operate 24/7. The same rules apply to the night as to daytime. If the engineer would fail to sound the horn prior to crossings and an accident would happen he/she could lose their job! IT IS A REQUIREMENT! And it happens to make alot of sense!

Answer 6

Well, there isn't any other answer.

Trains are required to sound their horns when they aproach a road grade crossing. As in anywhere where cars can cross the track. It really is all about safety.

-Dio

Answer 7

During the daytime, the sound of their horns get drowned in the ambient noise. Since it is quieter in the night, you get to hear them.

Answer 8

everytime the come to a road, whether its in a town, city, or in the country...they by law have to toot the horn as a warning to people who might be on said road...alot of counrty R R crossings do not have lights and crossing arms

Answer 9

They have to sound them at each grade crossing in most communities in the USA. It's a law.

Answer 10

Grade crossings and to warn stupid ******* who think it's fun to walk on the track if they are lucky enough to be seen by the engineer.