I discover that one would be difficult to detect the train horn if the highway were laid in between, and it seems the highway is a sound barrier for the horn? how is it possible?
btw, it seems that tall buildings are also very effective to block the train horn…
I wonder whatelse will significantly reduce the train horn a big amount.
P.S. Lakes seems to conduct the horn pretty well and not much energy was lost on its way.
i find that true in a town i railfan the buildings pos a small barrier
They have been doing experiments taking the horns off trains, and placing them stationary at grade crossings. Results have been that they can get better audibility where it is NEEDED, even when using horns that are less loud.
When you think about it, train mounted horns have to be designed loud enough to be heard a quartermile away when the engineer starts blowing them. Whereas a grade located horn is right where it is needed, so it doesn’t have to blast so obnoxiously loud…
Probably not a solution for every crossing, but certainly a sane compromise in some urban environments. [tup]
Here in town, Union Pacific, has a number of crossings that are designed to be sound efficient, and have the horn sound at the crossing, so the engineer does not haved to sound the air horn on the locomotive, they can be heard for probaby a quarte mile around the crossing, dependent on weather conditions, which seem to effect the ability of the sound to travel through the air. These are automatically controlled crossings, and outside the urban environment, it is still the loco air horn for protection at the crossing.
But as the motoring public seems to prove every day, it would probably take a hord of Huns to stop some people at the crossings. The only real solution for railroad grade crossing safety is the slow dilution of the gene pool, one auto at a time by one locomotive, at a time, eliminating those whose time seems more valuable that that of the rest of us. One only has to travel around this country for a short time, to experience the gross a
It has been well proven that if one is driving with the windows up and the sound system on, one is not going to hear the train’s horn – or, for that matter, crossing bells or crossing horms – unless one is very attentive or very lucky.
Stop, Look, and Listen if it a passive crossing. Obey the dang lights if it’s active!
[quote]
QUOTE: Originally posted by samfp1943
Here in town, Union Pacific, has a number of crossings that are designed to be sound efficient, and have the horn sound at the crossing, so the engineer does not haved to sound the air horn on the locomotive, they can be heard for probaby a quarte mile around the crossing, dependent on weather conditions, which seem to effect the ability of the sound to travel through the air. These are automatically controlled crossings, and outside the urban environment, it is still the loco air horn for protection at the crossing.
But as the motoring public seems to prove every day, it would probably take a hord of Huns to stop some people at the crossings. The only real solution for railroad grade crossing safety is the slow dilution of the gene pool, one auto at a time by one locomotive, at a time, eliminating those whose time seems more valuable that that of the rest of us. One only has to travel
At times I wish I had a diesel locomotive horn on my automobile. I wonder if it is legal. With reving motorcyles and autos with sound systems which cause vibrations of my internal organs, it would only be fair if I could have such a horn.
In a car with the windows rolled up, the A/C or the heater going full blast, and a stereo blasting in the vicinity of the threshold of pain, you’d have a hard time hearing a locomotive air horn if it was mounted on your hood.
thats why the new sd70aces have much louder horn at ear piercing levels to combat the crappy rappy loud music!![8D]
I live in the Delaware Valley (PA, NJ, Delaware) where most of the major expressways have had sound barriers erected where the roads have adjoining developments. One road, in particular, comes to mind. I-95 drops from above ground to underground as it approached center city Philadelphia. The residents of this area had enough influence to delay opening of this section of the highway until the sound barriers were erected. But I think they got just what they deserved. Besides blocking the highway noise, a beutiful view of the Delaware River waterfront, was also blocked when the sound barriers were erected.