Train Horns and Whistles - Too Quiet?

[wabash1]

here is a concept for the no noise people. at night ( with my black NS engine) i should turn off all lights step lights ,head lights number lights and run dark no horn blowing or bell ringing. and not haft to stop to see the mess of bodies we mutilate at crossings ever again. lets see how long it will take for them to fix that.

you cant put stop sticks down at crossings as this would only slow down the law breakers and get them killed faster. no noise would be better as this allows the conductor to sleep longer.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by zardoz

AAR Statement on FRA Rule on Whistle Blowing

This new rule recognizes that sounding train horns saves lives while, at the same time, provides localities alternatives to the locomotive horn where safety will not be compromised.

I thinking the the only safe alternative to the horn is to drop the gate and place a lock and chain on it holding it down, placing tire spike strips on either side so no one can drive around and putting a sign on it that says road closed.

I agree with Dan, but thats a lot of money invested in Spike Strips!

You know who goes around the gates more often then not? The "30 minutes or it's free" pizza guys. These guys are terrible for going around the gates, And bad news for him now, there are Two seperate police forces that can guve hium a ticket for going around RR gates. The Regaular town Police force, or The CPR Police, they now have the ability to give out tickets. Last time they did, they were parkes at the side of the crossing in a Red honda Civic.. pretty discreet I think, And trust me, thats a whopper of a fine.

[techguy57]

As I've said before I am all for the engineers blaring the horns as loudly as they please because if it saves one life it is worth it. Now, I live about half a mile from the UP Janesville sub, AKA Metra's UP-NW line. There isn't a ton of freight traffic near wher I live on the route but there is some and I rarely ever hear their horns as they pass by. Surprisingly what I actually do hear is the sound of Metra's F40 diesels. I can hear them even when our house is closed up tight, like it is now to keep out the cold.

My point is this: I'm sure I'm in the minority of people overall, but where I live I fully expect to hear horns and bells and engines. This doesn't bother me, actually I find that I sleep better with the low hum from the diesels. But the fact that I can't hear the horns from a half mile away concerns me a little. Can't people understand that if this is the case they are too quiet already? I know I'm preaching to the choir, but its just so frustrating!
[banghead]

Please go to the FRA website and comment on this if you feel as strongly as I do. Your opinion has a chance to make a difference. Please visit the site to comment:
http://www.fra.dot.gov/Content3.asp?P=1318

Mike

[cypriano]

Perhaps some of the engineers who have been supporting horn blowing can justify blowing the horn in the middle of a grade crossing with the next grade crossing more than a mile away. As I said earlier in this thread, I have been the first car at a crossing, no one from either side attempting to go around the gates, and the engineer is leaning on the horn as he enters the crossing so we get the full Doppler effect. It reminds of the answer of why a dog licks his privates: Because he can.

One nice thing that has been here in Lake County Illinois is that all grade crossing have posted on beneath the flashing light on the gates is a sign with the RR's name and phone # so that malfunctioning gates and/or lights can be reported. There used to be a crossing on the single track freight line of the C&NW (now UP) at Wadsworth Road that was not working too much. Too many times I had been stopped with out a visble train. At that point, one can see in each direction 2 1/2-3miles.

[dekemd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cypriano

Perhaps some of the engineers who have been supporting horn blowing can justify blowing the horn in the middle of a grade crossing with the next grade crossing more than a mile away. As I said earlier in this thread, I have been the first car at a crossing, no one from either side attempting to go around the gates, and the engineer is leaning on the horn as he enters the crossing so we get the full Doppler effect. It reminds of the answer of why a dog licks his privates: Because he can.

I believe the rule book states two long blasts, a short, and a long that is held as the lead engine goes across the crossing. They are following the rules and FRA mandates.

[Anonymous]

I do not ever recall hearing or reading about a railroad empoyee being hit by a train
while driving his/her vehicle. Hum wonder why that is?

railwayray
Sagle Idaho

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railwayray

I do not ever recall hearing or reading about a railroad empoyee being hit by a train
while driving his/her vehicle. Hum wonder why that is?

railwayray
Sagle Idaho

How about a railroad worker being hit by a train while driving a railroad vehicle?

Check out Ed's posting back in January. Here is a link to it.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=11547

If you or anyone else would like to see the pics (that Ed send out) of this accident just email me and I will be happy to email them to you. The train was equipped with a camera and there are 5 shots of the truck pulling onto the tracks just prior to the accident. In one shot you can see parts of the truck shooting into the air. [}:)]

[Anonymous]

Isin't loud enough?

[Anonymous]

In this day and age ,with super insulated cars, to quiet them down, and theese days of OVERLY loud car stereos, that proposal is just f*%#ing STUPID!!!!!
Go Bush.........you freakin' MORON!!!!! Let's see what else you can screw up!!!![:(!]

[wabash1]

the fra says i must hold the last long til the engine is over the crossing. not because i can blow its because i haft to. I dont like sitting at a crossing waiting on the train to go by listening to the horn. it is annoying. but i wont stop blowing either . its my job. and a job i love.

[Junctionfan]

I find that some of the NS C39-8 the hunchbacks, are too quiet. Watched a video of one approaching a crossing and its horn was too quiet. I could have slept through it when I was there but the only thing stopping me was of course it was a train.

[Randy Stahl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by railwayray

I do not ever recall hearing or reading about a railroad empoyee being hit by a train
while driving his/her vehicle. Hum wonder why that is?

railwayray
Sagle Idaho

A friend, Mike Adams was killed by a locomotive/ train. Mike had just finished doing dailys on the engine in Madison and was returning to Janesville. He dailyed the engine that killed him that morning. The world we live in is dangerous, Mookie is right , ultimately only we are responsible for our own safety. No one is immune from complacency, hopefully though , when it happens it won't cost us our lives. RR crossings merit special attention, roll down the windows, turn the A/C off, turn the radio down, stop, look and listen !
Randy

[TH&B]

Pass a law that every car and truck must role down their windows prior to crossing any railroad track, rain or shine or snow. If a train should ever hit a car with windows closed no investigation or further delay required. Cheap and simple. Too cheap and simple in fact, none would ever ok it for some reason or other, not much $$$ to be made with such a law.

[Randy Stahl]

I think that kinda already is the law....If you get hit by a train it's your fault . It's safer to roll the window down and prevent an accident.
Randy

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cypriano

Perhaps some of the engineers who have been supporting horn blowing can justify blowing the horn in the middle of a grade crossing with the next grade crossing more than a mile away. As I said earlier in this thread, I have been the first car at a crossing, no one from either side attempting to go around the gates, and the engineer is leaning on the horn as he enters the crossing so we get the full Doppler effect.

Back in the "good old days" (pre-desktop control stand) the engineer had an actual air valve that activated the whistle. The engineer could physically control the amount of air being sent to the whistle, and could (if he was so inclined) "feather" the whistle volume as needed, from a loud blast for saffety, to a gentle "toot' to get the attnention of a crewman.

Now with the %&$#@!!! desktop control, there is only a stupid bush-button to activate the whistle, and it is a "all or nothing" operation.

And as other posters noted, the rule (paraphrased) is "the whistle shall be blown until the crossing is occupied".

[wcfan4ever]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Randy Stahl

I think that kinda already is the law....If you get hit by a train it's your fault . It's safer to roll the window down and prevent an accident.
Randy

Its funny how many people still try to blame the train. I have heard people say the train wasnt loud enough, but those are the people that are signing those petitions saying they want horns banned. Its not like a train can veer away from the crossing.
I say let the train blow the horn has much as possible. It may be loud and annoying but you cant say you didnt hear the train then. I have to deal with it every night. The train comes in at Midnight and we have 20 crossings that wind around town. The train comes in eastward then turns a 180 then goes west then south into the yard. 90% of the crossing are when the train is coming in while heading west facing my house. It wakes you up everynight but I haven't heard anyone get hit by the train in years within the city limits.
There have been many area communities that have been pushing for a horn ban but not too long ago, the state mandated that there are to be no more horn bans. If anything, there was to be horn bans lifted in some cities. That is great news! Just my view.