Is there anything we can do about these ridiculous trains!?!?!?

Question

For the past few days now trains traveling through downtown (where I live) have been waking me up at 3 & 4 in the morning. I don't even live that close to the train tracks, but they honk those things so loud that you can hear them for miles. What possible purpose could there be to these train conductors doing that at these ungodly hours? It makes me so mad!! I swear some of those guys must do it just to piss people off. I could see them giving the horn a few good toots once in a while, but it seems like they lay on them for about 10 minutes straight, at the loudest volume setting, with maybe a 4 second interval. It's insane!!!

I don't have a problem with moving freight, but I do have a problem with ******* honking there horns unnecessarily.

I never said they were doing it to me personally. I think they do it just to be funny or have some power trip knowing they can wake the neighborhood with the push of a button. I'm sorry for that guy, but if he was trying to commit suicide I don't think the horn would have stopped him. I think he probably already made up his mind before he got to the tracks.

Answer 1

I know what you mean. I live near train tracks myself and some of them do indeed blow those air horns for the sole purpose of rousing people in the neighborhood.

It doesn't so much happen at night, but during the day it happens. Some will toot the horn once or twice as the train is nearing the neighborhood. Some blair the horn as it's passing the neighborhood. That's unnecessary in my opinion.

There have been times when I was out in the back yard on the hammock, and the motorman blew the horn just as it was passing the house. Now, I KNOW that was done on purpose!

Perhaps, the residence of your town might consider enacting a noise ordinance; forbidding motormen from such liberal use of the horn during the wee hours of the morning - unless it's absolutely necessary.

Answer 2

I know what you mean...I live very close to the railroad tracks on Hwy 90 in Stafford and I hear them all the time. They don't really wake me up at night but I do hear them all day long. My brother-in-law is an engineer with Conrail up north and I know he said that the length and the number of times the horn blows have different meanings. Here is what I was able to find out on the internet...

Railroads are required by a variety of state and federal laws to sound horns in advance of all crossings. Horns are sounded to warn of approaching trains.

On April 27, 2005, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published the final rule on the use of locomotive horns at highway-rail grade crossings. The rule requires that locomotive horns be sounded at all public grade crossings 15-20 seconds before entering a crossing, but not more than one-quarter mile (400 m) in advance. This rule applies when the train speed is below 45 mph (70 km/h). At 45 mph or above, trains are still required to sound their horn at the designated location (usually marked with a whistle post).

The following are the required horn signals listed in the operating rules of most railroads, along with their meanings. Signals are illustrated by a "." for short sounds, and "-" for longer sounds.

Rule number Sequence Meaning
14 (a) . Apply air brakes.
14 (b) - - *1. Proceed, 2. Release air brakes.
14 (g) . . Generic acknowledgement.
14 (h) . . . *Back up.
14 (j) . . . . Calling for signals.
14 (l) - - . - 1. Approaching public crossings at grade. The signal will be sounded until the train is on the crossing 2. Approaching tunnels, yards, or other points. 3. Passing standing trains.
14 (o) . - Inspect train for a leak in brake pipe system or for brakes sticking.
14 (p) Succession of sounds Warning to people and/or animals.
14 (q) - . When running against the current of traffic: 1. Approaching stations, curves, or other points where view may be obscured: and 2. Approaching passenger or freight trains and when passing freight trains

Answer 3

The train companies are taking a lashing as of late. The other posters have mentioned Eddie Griffin, but that's the 3rd such case in recent months. And unfortunately, instead of parents accepting responsibility for their kids' actions, they're trying to sue or place blame on the railroad companies for not having adequate warning at track crossings. The reason you can't sleep at night is unfortunately the actions of a few squeaky wheels. I'm afraid you'll have to wear earplugs until people stop blaming other people for their problems.

Answer 4

I doubt they're going after you personally, or being spiteful, but as another poster said, following Eddie Griffin plowing into a train at high speed last week, they don't want to take chances.

There's no pleasing some folks. First they complain about the noise, then complain when someone runs into a train.

Answer 5

Unfortunately they probably feel the need to do so after Eddie Griffin committed suicide by train last week. This way they can clear there own conscience in the event someone else tries to do so.

Answer 6

sorry but freight is on a rise again. so it can be this way for a few months.