Any idea why this would be...

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Living along the railroad I am, for the most part, used to the noise all hours of the day. But, I have to take issue with this.

So far, 3 Thursdays in a row, at approximately the same time, a peaceful nights sleep has been interrupted. Trains come through all night, every night, I scarcely notice them any more, and that is why the last 3 Thursdays have made me wonder…

3 weeks ago, I was awoken by a freight train (from the sound, a westbound empty coal drag) The train rolled through town, blowing his air horn about 2:45 am. (Don’t know if there was a reason or not) the following week, about 3 am, there was an eastbound train stopped more or less in front of the house, I was awakened by the air horn from the stopped train sounding, for about 10 seconds, about that time, a westbound train rolled through. After the train passed, I drifted back off, and was awakened (the whole family was, in fact) when the train started off, the slack was pulled up with a boom loud enough to shake my house, followed by another prolonged air horn blast. Just this past Thursday, we had to deal with another train, through town, about the same time, airhorn held down from Wolf Rd. to Gilbert Ave (about a 1/2 a mile) Now, I have the scanner on next to my bed, and in each instance, I listened to the scanner to see if I could hear any indication as to why these incidents were happening, such as someone on the tracks, or other emergency. I didn’t hear anything…

Normally, I do not hear the trains at night, even with all of the windows open. And, if I do hear a train go by, it’s not that big of a deal…but the shenanigans with the air horn has been a bit much. I also find it strange that it has been the last 3 thursdays, about the same time, between 2 and 3:30 am.

Once in awhile we get the horn because some clown plays beat the train, or is walking on the tracks, but never to the extent of the last 3 times.

2

Maybe some one feels if he is up , everyone should be ?!!!

3

Well guilty as charged. but as far as the horn goes, dont worry ill do it longer so everyone gets up.

4

[(-D] But more seriously, I don’t see any common factors - such as train type, direction, etc. - that readily indicate why this would be happening, other than sheer random chance. So to maybe help you figure this out, consider the following, in no particular order -

Which - if any - of these crossings have flashers, and gates ?

When do the bars close in your area ? 2 AM ?

What was the weather like - any fog or rain at any of those times ? The NS and CP trains around here seem to blow more and louder then - or maybe it’s just the acoustics making it seem that way, 'cause the sound carries much better in damp/ humid/ wet air. Would the wind direction be a factor ?

We used to live next to the then-ConRail [now Amtrak] ‘Main Line’ west of Philadelphia. Every once in a while a freight would stop and wake us up twice - once when he stopped and the slack ran in, and again when he started and the slack ran out ! BOOM . . . Ka-BOOM . . Ka-BOOM . Ka-BOOM-bang-boom . . .

  • Paul North.
5

I suspect, Tim, that the likelihood of the same crewperson being in the same place three Thursday mornings in a row is pretty slim, therefore it would seem more likely that the blowing is caused by circumstances beyond the railroad’s control.

Paul, all of the crossings around there, including pedestrian crossings, have their own flashers and gates. And, being myself, I have no knowledge of the presence of watering-holes or closing times in Western Springs (definitely nothing around Gilbert Avenue!).

I’m not sure whether BNSF has the same requirements as UP does for sounding crossing signals when two trains are approaching or occupying a crossing simultaneously. Their grade crossing bells are set up differently, to give warning of a second train coming. Then again, you didn’t say that you’re hearing the horn call for a grade crossing.

Not sure what would cause a train to stop in that area, but it does happen (I’ve heard similar events on UP when I’m awake there, and get the braking noises and whatever from my half-mile-away vantage point). And a train of tank cars or empty coal cars is definitely going to “sound off” when the slack runs, more than, say, a stack train.

Somebody will have to stake out the line this Thursday morning–and see whether the engineers are waving when they do this.[}:)]

6

Well, no bars in town, in fact, one has to drive a couple of miles to get to a tavern around here, we have one wine bar in town (yeah, we’re sophisticated 'round these parts) and that closes at midnight. Not sure of the train type, thinking it might be coal, but, since I didn’t get up and look out the window, I can’t be sure.

As far as the train being right out in front, I know he was because I could hear him idling out there. I am literally under 100 feet from the tracks.

Unless there is someone on the tracks, or playing beat the train at either of the two crossings that are close to me, trains don’t normally blow around here late at night. Both crossings have flashers and gates. I believe the weather was fair on those nights…or cloudy at the ve

7

I know the METRA trains blow horns at one another, because it is so busy on rush hour mornings, trains occupy the same crossing quite a bit, so, horns are expected in the morning.

I was wondering what the odds were of the same crew member being in the same place at the same with any regularity…

I will however, check and see if their are any waving violations, and, if the engineer is using all five fingers if he does wave…[}:)]

8

I know the METRA trains blow horns at one another, because it is so busy on rush hour mornings, trains occupy the same crossing quite a bit, so, horns are expected in the morning.

I was wondering what the odds were of the same crew member being in the same place at the same with any regularity…

I will however, check and see if their are any waving violations, and, if the engineer is using all five fingers if he does wave…[}:)]