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Train horns. I am VERY ANGRY!

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Train horns. I am VERY ANGRY!
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 27, 2005 9:48 PM
Just tonight this woman walked up to my dads house telling him what and why she showed up to his home. I understand that she lives just up the street from his place real near the 23rd street grade crossing. she was asking neighbors to sign a petition to stop Trains from blowing their horns into town. I am for the safety of others who need these horns to warn drivers the a train is a coming.
As far as I am concerned with this,I do not and will not sign any Petition. I will give that person a word or two. Of corse you all know what will happen when or if the RR's where to be forced to silence their horns across this country. I am very angry that some people will stoop to this level to try something this dumb.
And for one thing,I do not and will not sign any Petition to ban any trains from stop blowing their horns,PERIOD. Id like to tell people like that,You don't like the sound of the horns,then get the hell out of town.
Allan.
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Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Monday, June 27, 2005 10:12 PM
I could not agree more! Recenlty CSX was forced to do the same thing in Kingston, NY, which has numerouse grade crossings. This measure will lead to many more accidents. Horns should only be silenced if the right of way is grade separated AND fully fenced off.

Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.

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Posted by Junctionfan on Monday, June 27, 2005 10:23 PM
Maybe the railroad should instruct the engineers to whistle more just because..........not to toot my own horn but sometimes when stupid people like that thumb you, you need to respond with a finger......
Andrew
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 27, 2005 10:39 PM
Hang in there. A small town in Virginia near where I grew up forbade ALL horns within its civic limits--until the N&W commissioned a study that proved (insofar as such proof is possible) that the no-horn, bell-only policy meant at least one extra driver death per decade.

Ask your "neighbors" if there's anybody they'd be willng to sacrifice to do away with the tootling? [8)]
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 27, 2005 10:43 PM
hmm....quality of life vs. life. tough choice!
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Posted by brazos87 on Monday, June 27, 2005 10:49 PM
For a good part of the 19th century, most of the 20th century, and all of the 21st, rails have been in place--if you don't want to hear a horn, don't buy a place near a railroad. I guess common sense has been outsourced as well.

Her petition might as well be an admission of her own stupidity.

A coworker of my wife's invited us over to show off his brand new house--you have to cross a mainline on the road to his house, and the new subdivision crosses the same main to get to the rear of the subdivision--and he complains to me about the noise--my reply--didn't you talk to your realtor?

The devil is in the details, everyone.
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Posted by Green Bay Paddlers on Monday, June 27, 2005 10:58 PM
Reminds me of the people that buy houses next to O'Hare Airport then complain about the airplanes over their houses! :)

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 27, 2005 11:37 PM
Her petition is wasted energy.

I stand with arms akimbo and laugh at her stupidity.

Take that petition away and use your energy for moving AWAY from the track so you wont have to hear the whistle lady.

You hoggers blow em loud as you go crossings everywhere you see em.

These folks need to hear your whistle and fear it because death is rolling down the track.

Look, Listen and LIVE.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 12:33 AM
I wonder if these same petitioners would be willing to go door to door with a bond measure to pay for grade separations. My guess is that they couldn't be bothered to do so.
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Posted by GP40-2 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 12:48 AM
The railroad better watch out!

The next thing you know, the crackpot will be suing the RR for 11.7 million (or something like that) for psycological pain and suffering caused by the horn blasts.

And she will probably find an equally crackpot jury willing to believe her...
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Posted by dharmon on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 12:52 AM
Here's a copy of a letter I wrote which was published in the local paper's Op-Ed section in response to a letter complaining that train horns were detrimental to the tourist industry in one of our seaside towns here....

<quote>

Trains whistles or whining: Which is louder?

I can only presume that Mr. XXXXXX (Letters, March 30) was part of a secret government-forced relocation program. That could be the only way that such an astute observer could have been moved next to the railroad tracks without noticing them. Since he was apparently moved there forcibly, through no action of his own, the Oceanside City Council should do what it needs to do to protect him from this menace.

Locomotive engineers have only a horn to warn pedestrians and motorists of their approach. And stopping a 100-ton locomotive, with steel wheels riding on two steel rails, is simply a matter of physics; in other words, they don't stop on a dime. The horns are there to protect life, ­­and there is just a little matter of federal regulations regarding the use of horns as trains approach crossings. I'd say better a tourist gets disturbed than run over ­­..... bad for business.

I never cease to wonder about those who move near railroad tracks or airports and then complain about the noise. Seems that some folks spend more time researching their next meal than they do their next house.

<unquote>
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Posted by canazar on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 1:24 AM
[:D][yeah] [bow] [bow]

Nice Harmon

Best Regards, Big John

Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona.  Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the  Kiva Valley Railway

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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 3:08 AM
There reasonably priced windows that can provide the necessary sound isolation coupled with in-window air-conditioners if the household doesn't wi***o install expensive central air conditioning. It is a problem that the local householder can solve himself without endangering others' lives. That is an important part of the answer.

If someone needs an acoustical consultant there is the National Association of Acoustical Consultants website to check out and they have members all over the USA. Canada and Great Britain have similar associations.

People who buy a house near an existing airport have similar but worse problems and they also cope using this answer. Also schools built near airports.
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Posted by bbrant on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 5:12 AM
Stand your ground. If they get the horns silenced the next thing they'll be after is to have trains stop running period.
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Posted by spbed on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 6:58 AM
Hope you told her if she does not like it then move. You could have asked also why she bought a home so near to a RR crossing[:I][:p][8)]

Originally posted by BNSF railfan.

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 7:02 AM
I recently saw that Brockville, Ontario is rescinding their whistle ban after a teenager was struck by a train on the second track (she apparently crossed behind the first train, unaware that the second was coming).

LarryWhistling
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Posted by joegreen on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 7:30 AM
Well when people start dieing then the people will do something to bring the horn back.

I heard somewhere that they made a quiet zone a few years back and it was quiet then but the railroad engineers are starting to honk at the crossings.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 7:31 AM
To all of you out there,I couldn't agree more. If you don't like the noise of the Trains when they blow thier horns at the crossings,Then why and the hell did you move there in the first place. Like duu. Man I tell you what,People are so stupid anymore. I would rather hear the Train horns than see someone die. Like common since would tell you this. These so-called "Quiet zones" are a huge mistake. I know this may sound cold but,If the complainers want to complain,fine. Just don't expect me to call for help when I see (someone) being draged down the Tracks to their death since their the ones who wanted this stupid new law about quieting of the train horns. But,I WILL feel sorry for the Trains crew who this just happen too. Too all the Train crews out there. Keep on blowing your horns. Remember! SAFTY FIRST! IS ALWAYS A MUST!
Allan.
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Posted by eolafan on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 7:57 AM
One of these people who want the railroads to stop sounding horns at grade crossings will be the first to file a law suit when one of their relatives are hit by a train due to their not being able to hear the train coming...GUARANTEED.
Eolafan (a.k.a. Jim)
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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:20 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

There reasonably priced windows that can provide the necessary sound isolation ....


Just recently saw this in action as some friends who live near the usual takeoff pattern at our airport replaced the windows in their condo with double-pane, gas-filled models. They weren't even thinking about the noise reduction aspects but were pleasantly surprised by the significant reduction in exterior noise. That comes in very handy in the evenings.
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Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:30 AM
It is a movement that's gaining strength and seems to be widespread...That is, non blowing of whistles as trains enter and are running through communities. It is strange of people to petition for such an act....Here in Muncie, it has been an ongoing discussion in city government for some time now and I don't know just where it stands but it is serious. For a while I thought it would become law of no whistle blowing and may yet...It is totally stupid but that seems not to be something that stops the non whistle blower crowd. We have NS and CSX main lines running 4 or 5 directions here in our city and can present much exposure to trains at crossings. Most are signal protected but that doesn't eliminate all the danger.

Quentin

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:35 AM
If they don't like to hear train horns. Why would move near a Railroad
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Posted by Junctionfan on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:47 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tree68

I recently saw that Brockville, Ontario is rescinding their whistle ban after a teenager was struck by a train on the second track (she apparently crossed behind the first train, unaware that the second was coming).


So they should. The Kingston Subdivision is the busiest and fastest line in Ontario. CN trains go 60mph and VIAs go up to 100mph.
Andrew
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Posted by Leon Silverman on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:54 AM
The only safeway to eliminate train horns is to replace the crossings with over- or under passes. Creating thes bypasses will snarl a lot of traffic during their construction plus add a couple of thousands of dollars to the local tax burden in order to pay off the construction bonds. Ask these petitioners if they are willing to support the tax increase.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 9:12 AM
I live one block from the NS main thet runs through town. For a while I thought he trains had stopped running. Turns out I just got used to the trains' whistling and tunned it out. Including "The Mad Whistler" that blows a complete __0_ for each and every crossing during the middle of the night. There is a problem, as I heard once, that people most likely to be struck by a train live in proximity to crossings and are used to whistles.

I'm with every one else on this matter. They invented whistles as a warning. They invented choices in purchasing real estate so no one has to live where they don't want to.

As for tourists being disturbed, I think some of them may feel that the sound of an approaching train is romantic. I know of no toourist area where the frequency of train whistles is at a constant, annoying rate.

Mitch
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Posted by jeaton on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 9:25 AM
Isn't the FRA order on train horns about to go into effect? I think it overrides all local noise laws unless a community has upgraded crossings greater safety by installing such features as 4 quadrant gates.

That won't impact our town, as the use of train horns has never been blocked. However, two trains a day (maybe) is hardly a major noise problem. Some of the communities along the busier Chicago Metra routes are not going to be very happy when the new rules go into effect. Most community leaders know about the coming rule changes and I am sure they will face major heat from the maybe 90% of their constituents that don't have a clue as to what is coming. The screaming may be louder than the horns.

Jay

"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo Possum "We have met the anemone... and he is Russ." Bucky Katt "Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr, Nobel laureate in physics

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Posted by chad thomas on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 9:41 AM
I have no sympathy at all for these people. 99% of the time the tracks were there WAY before they were. If you don't like horns then you should not have moved in to that location. The whole quiet zone thing is a big mistake and is going to cause a lot of people to get killed. Our society has turned into a bunch of selfish people that care only about themselves. They are willing to sacrifice someone elses life so they don't have to deal with hearing the noise. I say screw the quiet zone thing. If you want quiet then move, soundproof your house or fork over the money for grade seperation. It's as simple as that.
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Posted by bbrant on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 10:46 AM
Think about this.....Does this lady get excited when emergency vechicles go by with sirens on? Or how about a driver who blows their horn to get the attention of another person in order to avoid an accident. Sirens and horns are used for safety - the same reason trains blow their horn.

Maybe this lady's personal life comes before safety of all other lives.
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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 11:15 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by bbrant

Think about this.....Does this lady get excited when emergency vechicles go by with sirens on? Or how about a driver who blows their horn to get the attention of another person in order to avoid an accident. Sirens and horns are used for safety - the same reason trains blow their horn.

Maybe this lady's personal life comes before safety of all other lives.

Seen on a sticker:
"Aw, did my lights and siren wake you up? Well, guess what, Homer, if we gotta be up, you gotta be up."

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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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 2:04 PM
We have a crazy situation here in the Tampa area. Subdivisions are built within 50 yards of a high speed CSX line, then the new residents whine about noise! Yet, those mainlines were there since the early 1900s!

To these IDIOTS I would gladly tell them to either sell their house, or ask that a special tax be assesed so that an overpass (which is likely $1million by the time all the red tape and construction is done) can be built so that the trains can zip by quietly.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


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