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Increased traffic and whining neighbors

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 10:46 AM

zugmann
I also wouldn't want to live adjacent to a major highway for similar reasons (substitute tractor trailer for hopper car).

On a trip to Greensboro, NC for some training, we stayed at a motel not far off I-40/I-85.  Never again.  The noise was loud, and constant.  At least trains are spaced out somewhat.

When I visit Deshler, I camp at the park.  The trains blowing for the crossings don't bother me as much as the racket of the diamonds, although the cars squealing through the transfers (wyes) at 3 AM isn't all that conducive for sleep, either.

I grew up about a half mile from the C&O Saginaw line, with five crossings through town.  Never bothered me.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by henry6 on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 10:43 AM

Oh, I grew up (well, there are many who will attest to that being a lie, I never really grew up) just west of the junction of DL&W's Boonton and Morristown lines in Denville, NJ on the hill on the westbound side minimum of two electric MU trains an hour plus diesel after steam mainline passenger and freights, local drills and Boonton LIne commuter trains.  Slept like a log every night except for one early morning  when the towerman dropped the signal in the face of a train and the horn blowing in my back window was loud...very loud.  Also my grandparents lived in Jamaica, Queens, NY halfway between the Jamaica Aveune BMT elevated and the Long Island RR station.  I also slept well there.  Today, however, in Denville, the sounds lifting up from I 80 are louder and more constant than any time from the railroad trains  Today's din is more dangerous to sleep and psyche in one day than any given month of railroad trains.

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Posted by zugmann on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 10:32 AM

Ulrich

My next home will be as close to the tracks as possible. I don't mind the noise. I grew up not far from the  tracks and have good memories of hearing trains rolling through the night.  The good thing too is that homes closer to the tracks are a little cheaper ..most people don't want to be that close, and that drives prices down.

 

 

 

I like trains, too, but I would rather not wake up with a hopper car in my kitchen.    I also wouldn't want to live adjacent to a major highway for similar reasons (substitute tractor trailer for hopper car).

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 10:25 AM

My next home will be as close to the tracks as possible. I don't mind the noise. I grew up not far from the  tracks and have good memories of hearing trains rolling through the night.  The good thing too is that homes closer to the tracks are a little cheaper ..most people don't want to be that close, and that drives prices down.

 

 

 

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Posted by henry6 on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 8:17 AM

zardoz

  I want to complain that the entire planet is getting too noisy.  

Yep!  Everyone is complaining about everything all the time, even the internet hurts the ears!

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

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Posted by zardoz on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 8:52 PM

Murphy Siding

     Yeah,  I'm fixin' to raise a big ol' fuss about that myself!  We live about 3/4 mile from the interstate highway, and I tell  ya, that darned thing gets noisier every day.  By gosh,  I want them to move that darn thing.  It's just too noisy. Grumpy

Interstate?!  I want to complain that the entire planet is getting too noisy.  

Of course. if some corporation wants to finance my move....The Kepler telescope has recently found a potentially habitable planet "only" 12 light-years away; I wonder if they have something similar to trains there....

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 8:38 PM

     Yeah,  I'm fixin' to raise a big ol' fuss about that myself!  We live about 3/4 mile from the interstate highway, and I tell  ya, that darned thing gets noisier every day.  By gosh,  I want them to move that darn thing.  It's just too noisy. Grumpy

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by chatanuga on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 7:02 PM

Here in Hilliard, Ohio, two crossings next to residential neighborhoods and a couple schools recently went to quiet zones, which explains why I haven't heard any trains for the past week.  People were complaining about all of the noise, even though when going to sites that have old aerial views of the area show train tracks and open fields as recent as the 1970s.  Having been through both crossings, I think it's a disaster waiting to happen.  Rather than have four-quadrant gates, they have median barriers a short distance before the crossing.  The way I've seen people drive, it wouldn't surprise me to see people try going around those.  Also, kids from the schools use the tracks as a shortcut between the two crossings.  A couple years ago, a kid wearing headphones was killed when a train came up behind him, but he never heard the horn.  I just have a gut feeling that something like that is going to happen again.

Kevin

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Posted by eolafan on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:50 PM

When a home builder purchases a tract of land near an active set of tracks they do so in part due to the typical fact that the land is being offered at a relative "steal" due to its proximity to the tracks. No, that's not ideal for prospective home buyers...however...they most likely end up paying less for their lots and homes than if they would have been in a relatively silent and more desirable area...so they should have done their homework better and as such would not have purchased there OR they might have just the same and not likely be complaining as loudly today. It's all about cause and effect.Grumpy

Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by selector on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:26 PM

Where I live, it's the tow planes.  There's a very active cadet glider camp system for Air Cadets in Canada, with one of the camps sharing space on the Comox Air Base, directly across the road from me..  Also sharing the Base is the international airport, modest in size though it be.  So, between a smallish operational airbase's traffic, a burgeoning commercial operation due to the wealth of the people who can afford to buy property here these years (oil patch retirees from Alberta and and retiring academics and professionals from all over, largely) and can afford to jet to sunnier climes, and the heat of summer with its incessant tow-plane prop cavitation blaring, each summer sees a spate of letters to the editor complaining about corrupting our peace-loving youth with military training, why don't they use catapults as they do (nowhere) else where they don't provide a solution, etc.  Each year the Base Ops O, and later the B Comd, take turns telling them to get stuffed.  Nicely. Mischief

The airfield was surveyed and developed just prior to the War, and heavily developed over the ensuing 20 years, even to the extent of harbouring nuclear warheads...to the horror of many.  Now they find they can't enjoy their afternoon tea at their properties within 1 km of the runway.  Well, gosh...who'da thunk!

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Posted by Mookie on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:12 PM

Thumbs Up

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 2:56 PM

And those same people who are complaining probably drive around with their windows open so all of us can enjoy the "Music" booming from their stereos...

The phone operator should inform them that at least present-day trains don't shower the neighborhood with soot and cinders.

I have lived one fence away from a rail line used by coal burning steam.  It also hosted DMU on an hourly schedule in both directions - sounded like a squadron of poorly-muffled buses.  My complaint was that the fence was solid...

Chuck

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Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 1:55 PM

And the beat goes on, and on and on, ad infinitum. People move close to the airport and complain about the noise. They move to farm country and complain about the smell of cow manure. The unwary are the ones who get trapped, but it of their own doing.

Norm


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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 1:23 PM

While I don't expect the RR to pick up and move elsewhere, it's entirely possible that when these folks moved there, there wasn't really a lot of traffic on the lines in question.  Their realtor may have told them (truthfully) that there wasn't much traffic on the lines and that noise wasn't really an issue.

Similarly, someone who has lived in the area for quite a while may have experienced a reduction of traffic on the line (much to their satisfaction).  They, too, might complain about newly increased traffic.

I would opine that a nicely produced brochure, and a parallel website, while not making things any "better," might help residents understand the why's of the increased traffic.  Anyone who calls or writes could be sent the brochure or directed to the website.

If it's the horns they're upset about, tell 'em how to get them silenced (the price tag should put most of them off).

I wouldn't want to alienate these folks any more than they already are.   Their support (or at least grudged acquiescence) could be important at some point in the future.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Increased traffic and whining neighbors
Posted by Boyd on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 12:49 PM

There was an article in Mondays Minneapolis Star Tribune of people in the north metro "who live near the CP or CN tracks",,,,, complaining about more noise from increased rail traffic. Do the RRs pay one person a nice salary to answer the phones from these people? I could  just imagine the replies to callers:

did you see RR tracks near your house before you bought it?

if you can't handle the noise then sell your house.

I don't think I would want to be the person answering the phone to take complaints.

Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.

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