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How do YOU know when a train is coming?

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Posted by icmr on Monday, July 25, 2005 3:22 PM
Well if you are not deaf you can hear the train coming. This is my method; stand in the middle of the tracks until i see the train coming. then i get off and wait until it comes. If you are blind you cant do the latter but you could ask a close frind to hit you when they see it coming.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 24, 2005 11:06 AM
My ears man!
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 24, 2005 6:56 AM
Where i railfan there is a signal right by it . Also my ears and eyes work very well too.

Colin

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Posted by TimChgo9 on Sunday, July 24, 2005 12:19 AM
Well, along the BNSF near me, it's 3 tracks, and from my favorite photo spot, you can see a headlight as soon as it clears Clyde yard in Cicero, a couple of miles to the east. From the west, I can see clear to Hinsdale, again, a couple of miles away. On the UP, I just listen to the scanner, they talk alot when they are getting ready to leave Proviso Yard. On the IHB, same thing, scanner because there isn't any signals I can see. I usually listen for the IHB West Dispatcher to tell the train crew to "take it down to LaGrange". On the CN Freeport sub, I listen for horns, since I am a bout 6 blocks away, I can jump in my car, and get over there before the train arrives.....
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 23, 2005 11:41 PM
And, the only time they would issue warrents is if the signals were malfunctioning or giving false readings, which also means they need fixed.

Thats why we have signal mantainers. [:D]
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Posted by chad thomas on Friday, July 15, 2005 1:59 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by smalling_60626

That's a great question -- are Track Warrants issued in CTC-controlled areas?



No. In CTC territory authority to move is governed by signal indication. ABS/APB is an overlay and would require track warrants or block authority.[8D]
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 15, 2005 12:02 AM
That's a great question -- are Track Warrants issued in CTC-controlled areas?
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 14, 2005 11:01 PM
A friend of mine has a scanner which picks up radio waves. You can set the scanner to pick up Railroad Radio Signals. When a train is coming, a track warrant will be issued and the train's crew will say where they currently are and where they are heading. I am not for sure if Track Warrants are issued in CTC controlled areas. Through here, the signals automatically change when a train approaches. The train short circuits the electrical signal on the rails and tells the signals to change. If the signal light is red or yellow then you know a train is near. In CTC controlled areas, a red signal probably means no train is around, and yellow and green mean that a train has permission to pass the signal, which means that a train is approaching.
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Posted by cherokee woman on Thursday, July 14, 2005 7:10 PM
I listen for the horns blowing.
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Posted by TrainFreak409 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 6:54 PM
I look for any warning lights, or crossing gates. If there are none, I look up and down the tracks, while keeping an ear open for an airhorn or a diesel engine.

Or, you could always place your ear to the rail, and wait to feel something...[:P]

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

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Posted by coborn35 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 5:13 PM
DEAR GOD,
PLEASE HELP A TRAIN TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!

Mechanical Department  "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."

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Posted by railfan619 on Thursday, July 14, 2005 4:02 PM
I can tell when a train is coming by the flashing red lights.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 14, 2005 3:41 PM
Slightly off topic, but speaking of timetables, whatever happened to The Official Guide to the Railways? They would occasionally run schedules of fast freight, TOFC's, etc.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 14, 2005 8:33 AM
I listen - you can usually hear the rails humming for a good minute or so before the train arrives, even from a safe distance. the good thing about this is it even works when there's a landscape feature (such as a hill) between you and the loco - you can't hear the engine yet but you can hear the rails humming!
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Posted by spbed on Thursday, July 14, 2005 7:00 AM
At the Colton Ca diamond when a EB is coming going over the Cajon pass there is a signal that lites about 5 minutes before the train arrives. WB off the Cajon pass there is crosssing signals that giveyou about a minute notice of it arrival. From the Sunset route WB just watch the signals. EB just watch the hill & you will see the ditch lites pop up [:o)][:p]

Originally posted by Brak710101
[

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 14, 2005 6:24 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by espeefoamer

At Fullerton,where I usually watch trains,some friends have a computer hooked up to ATCSmon.com.This is hooked up through a scanner,and shows BNSF tracks between Hobart yard and Riverside.This system shows where the trains are[:)].
Ya but can you get deep trouble for just doing that? I have heard of it, But I wouln't take no chances.
Allan.
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Posted by espeefoamer on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:55 PM
At Fullerton,where I usually watch trains,some friends have a computer hooked up to ATCSmon.com.This is hooked up through a scanner,and shows BNSF tracks between Hobart yard and Riverside.This system shows where the trains are[:)].
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:43 PM
The topic query: How to tell when the train is coming.

Watch a near by signal?
Listen on a scanner?
Have a timetable (for you rail workers)?
Listen for the rails to 'hiss'?
Or your trusty ears?
Or a different way?


I'll take all the above, plus a side order of fries, please. [:p]

Mainline signals that go from four reds to three reds and a green have worked well for me. Scanners tell me that something is coming, but not necessarily how quickly; all the more so for equipment detectors. Timetables are guidelines, not rules -- I think we all understand that. It does seem to me that, although sometimes I can hear rail "hiss," the scratchy sound of pre-ribbon rail days was a bit more pronounced (but then, I have lost some hearing). My ears--thru the air--is probably the safest. I would also add "My eyes" because the headlights on the newer stock is so strong, on an overcast day or late afternoon in Rochelle, it happens quite often that we can see those triples shining on the rails before the engine is heard. [bow]

Oh, and on the UP commuter line I sometimes ride (from Rogers Park station), sound is only a sometimes thing, especially since going downtown the loco is stationed at the rear of the train (the north end), pushing. But I can count on the flutter among the native wildlife: the commuters at the north end of the platform get all a-twitter when they sense/hear/see the train a-comin'! [:p]
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 13, 2005 9:10 PM
Number one. Scanner Radio tuned to 452.9375MHZ.
Number Two. Train crews calling out Mile Post Signals.
Number Three. Train Horns.
Number Four. GRAB THE CAMERA QUICK!
Allan.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 11:46 PM
This almost ALWAYS works...They come whenever I leave the photo pavilion in Flatonia to come home. I always pass one or two before I get to Schulenburg. I don't think anyone mentioned the almost eerie neat glow the headlights make at night. I love that.

mike
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Posted by emd_SD_60 on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 10:06 PM
Well lets see I have 3 ways of telling if a train is approaching:

1. Watch the signals to see if they illuminate. A sure fire way a train is coming...[:)]

2. Listen for the sound of the approaching engines, usually this comes into play whenever I am at Gorham, when a northbound comes around the sharp curve east of town is the best time to hear it. Usually I gotta run to the truck and get my gear at that time, if not by then. Usually I tell it's coming by then because I hear it blowing for the Oakwood Bottom Road 2 miles south[}:)]

3. Last but not least, the whistle. This comes into play about 95% of the time.[;)]
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Posted by joegreen on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:56 PM
I have a signal just west of me, I go outside and look at it and depending on what color it is I'll stay and listen for the horn at the many grade crossings east and west of me.I can hear trains from both ways depending on the weather and sometimes I can't hear both ways and just have to listen to the scanner or stay outside and wait for a train to come eventually(20-25 trains a day).

Over time you know what particular train is coming at a particular time.For example....usually the BNSF CHCSTP comes by at 1400 hrs.This train is more recognizable since it is shorter than most trains and has mostly UPS trailers.
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Posted by trainster1073 on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:00 PM

Well where I live it's depends on the day I guess. Mostly I listen for the loco coming down the tracks. The low rumble and the engine which is unmistakeable.......sometimes. Then sometimes I hear the horn long before it comes past my house. So really there's no real definet way of telling just by looking and hopfuly hearing, I would have to say.

Dustin
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Posted by cprs8622 on Monday, July 12, 2004 8:58 PM
The CN/WC have a little switching job over by me and I listen for the whistle, see which way the switches are lined, and I watch the traffic because everyone slows down if they see something.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 8:49 PM
My uncle use to say "there is always one coming, It's just a matter of how long"
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Posted by Nora on Monday, July 12, 2004 7:34 PM
I drive the crew van to wherever they told me to find the train...
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Posted by UPTRAIN on Monday, July 12, 2004 7:13 PM
Or on BNSF or NS or CSX or CP or CN, all of those you could follow the crew van!!! [:P]

Pump

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 6:29 PM
On UP, you follow the crew van...lol

LC
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Posted by UPTRAIN on Monday, July 12, 2004 6:17 PM
I use a scanner or when it comes around the curve!!!

Pump

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 3, 2004 12:42 PM
My trusty ears or i look at the rails if they glow thats a good thing.[^][:D]

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