Possible Relief From Train Noise

[nitehawk]

On todays news from NY (long island) the LIRR is now going to use a new horn when coming to crossing that will direct the noise in one direction - forward. They said the noise level would be significantly decreased. They are also lowering the decibel level below the stand fed level. So maybe there is hope for us

[kyblue]

I was curious - last posting on this (that I remember) - said that the noise level may go down. Have the people at Calumet found this to be true.

My neighbor said it is still really bad in Calumet.

We are over near Mulberry - and the train noise has increased significantly, and there seems to be more trains.

Thanks,

[dstege]

We're in Chatham and don't think there has been any improvement in the train noise. Have the trains that go through here been retrofitted with the new horn positioning, and have the engineers been educated in how to blow the horns? Questions for CSX!

[diskman]

I was curious - last posting on this (that I remember) - said that the noise level may go down. Have the people at Calumet found this to be true.

My neighbor said it is still really bad in Calumet.

We are over near Mulberry - and the train noise has increased significantly, and there seems to be more trains.

Thanks,
Probably due to rising fuel cost, more stuff shipped by rail barf

[beartrack]

We are considering a villa in Calumet. Can someone tell us how bad the train noise really is. We were told there is only an 11:30 train that goes thru.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Barefoot]

We're in Chatham and don't think there has been any improvement in the train noise. Have the trains that go through here been retrofitted with the new horn positioning, and have the engineers been educated in how to blow the horns? Questions for CSX!

I'd love to hear Talk Host's comments on the above. He is our expert on the train situation.

[Barefoot]

We were told there is only an 11:30 train that goes thru.

Not true. There is more than one train!

We live on the Western side of TV and you can sometimes hear the trains in the distance. But the sound doesn't bother us or our neighbours.

You are considering Calumet? Why don't you sit on the road by the Villa you're thinking of buying and listen to the 11:30 train. That should answer your question.

[Talk Host]

Here is the text of a message that I posted on December 30th. It has long since been shuffled to the second page of the forum. But, here is what I said at that time.


I have been meaning to post this for some time and final got that time today.

As many of you know, the freight train line that runs North and South along the West Side of the Villages provided plenty of horn noise. Until recently it has been a real problem for hundreds of homes, particularly in Chatham Village. I even posted a video some time ago to demonstrate just how loud it has been.

Now, the Federal Railroad Administration has instituted new "Train Horn Rules," and it has brought the problem down to acceptable levels. The new rule has been four years in the planning.

Under the new rules, the decibel output of the horn is dramatically reduced and the horns themselves have been relocated from the top of the locomotive to the front, aimed downward toward the track. It now sounds like a distant car horn rather than a cruise ship.

Additionally, the frequency of the horns at crossings has changed, again dramatically. They now sound the horn at different intervals depending on their speed.

I was one of the leaders in the fight to remedy the situation. Turns out that the director of the FRA, Joe Boardman is an old acquaintance of mine from New York. I worked closely with him when he was Highway Commissioner in Broome County, and later when he was New York State Transportation Director. He is a great guy and really responsive to the needs of the public. Because of the outstanding work he did with the FRA, he was recently named president and CEO of Amtrak.

I am not saying that it was my actions alone that prompted the new train horn rules; I am saying that it was because of Joe Boardman and his desire to correct a long time problem. This new rule is nationwide, not just in and around The Villages.

I can say that for the first time in five years, trains pass by our house, and we don’t hear them. We can still hear the Clickty Clack of the wheels, but that God Awful blasting of the horns is gone.
Halleluiah!!!


JLK

[Donna]

Jan..I am happy to hear this..Finally..Peace at last!

2009 is on the right track..http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/trainsmileyf.gif (http://www.millan.net)

[captain1202]

I question whether the effectiveness of the horns at the grade crossings along the way has not been reduced. What with closed up cars (a/c), stereos, bluetooth in your ear, etc., drivers need all the warning they can get. The concept sounds great if it works. After the point of the loud horn is to be heard! I'm sure the engineers don't sound the horn just for the fun of it or because they are passing Talk Host's place.

[Russ_Boston]

It has been about a month since the last post about the train noise. Has anyone heard a reduction? If so how much? Does it affect only the Chatham village or are those in the western edges of LSL territory bothered by it. I'm renting in Sunset Pointe in May so I was wondering.

Thanks,
Russ

[Barefoot]

Russ, we are in the Village of Belvedere which is located in West Villages. We hear the train if we are outside. But not if we are inside with the windows closed.

Honestly, it doesn't bother us. We are used to it. There seems to be something romantic about a train blowing in the distance. I actually miss the train when I'm back in Canada.

I'd much rather be near the trains than backing on a busy road or near the treatment plants. Each to his own.

[nONIE]

:agree: Bare. At home ,up north we are right across the road from the train tracks. To be honest, I really dont even hear it anymore and when I am aware of it, it is a pleasant sound and not annoying at all. I actually know of people that want to live close to train tracks because they truly enjoy the sound. As you said "to each his own"

[JohnnyM]

Nonie, We live on the other side by 466A in Hadley. Thank God there are no train whistles by us. I couldn't handle trains rumbling by every couple of hours. We do however have a farm full of moo-ing cows!

[Talk Host]

I can weigh in on this. We are currently selling our house, and we are in the train horn zone along route 301. We patiently waited for two years until the new horn rule went into effect before we listed our house. The new rule requires that the sound not exceed 104-111 dBa. (basically the same as a car horn).

We have instructed our real estate agents to make sure that prospective buyers know about the train track and that a disclosure be made. They are doing that, and in fact several prospective buyers were in the house when the train passed, and found it to be a "non issue."

We have over 100 acres of open land behind the house, and, in fact, the existence of the rail line along route 301 protects the property from ever being developed. The state will not permit car traffic to cross the tracks and they will not permit another crossing to be built.

Five years ago, when we built this house, the train was loud. Now, we are now able to sleep at night with our windows open. This is a blessing to anybody in this area who was not informed of the issue back during the original development of Chatham and Calumet.

If you wish to see the information on my house, please see my ad here on Talk of The Villages https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19938 (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19938) I hope you all wish me well on the sale of my house, and if you know anybody who would like a beautiful designer home, have them call Realty Executives Sally Love and Cindy Wise. Call Sally direct at 352-430-6960 or Cindy at 352-446-8964.

It is not necessary for us to hide anything from our prospective buyers. Below, I have copied a portion of the public information from the new FRA train horn rule, if anybody wishes to read it.

If you wish to read the whole ruling here is the link http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/rrdev/LocoHornsDEIS.pdf



Option 1. Limit the maximum permissible train horn sound level so that it would not exceed 104 dBA. This sound level is believed to be sufficient in most circumstances to provide adequate warning at crossings using automated warning devices but is less effective at crossings with only passive protection.

Option 2. Limit the maximum permissible train horn sound level so that it would not exceed 111 dBA. This sound level is believed to be effective under many circumstances at passively signed crossings.

Option 3. Variable Level Option. Under this approach, train horns would be required to be capable of sounding within a low range (96 to 104 dBA) approaching any crossing with active warning devices and within a higher range (104 to 111 dBA) at any crossing not equipped with automated warning systems.

[nONIE]

Nonie, We live on the other side by 466A in Hadley. Thank God there are no train whistles by us. I couldn't handle trains rumbling by every couple of hours. We do however have a farm full of moo-ing cows!

So Johnny, How do you feel about the mooing cows? Does their mooing annoy you? Thats another sound I enjoy hearing.;)

[beady]

Very funny Nonie......
I am close to the train as well...love the sound, but then I am far enough away from it to be more romantic than intrusive.
Think I would prefer it to the mooing...and perhaps the aroma caused by the "moo-ees" now if it were buffalo that would be another story entirely.

[diskman]

I can weigh in on this. We are currently selling our house, and we are in the train horn zone along route 301. We patiently waited for two years until the new horn rule went into effect before we listed our house. The new rule requires that the sound not exceed 104-111 dBa. (basically the same as a car horn).

We have instructed our real estate agents to make sure that prospective buyers know about the train track and that a disclosure be made. They are doing that, and in fact several prospective buyers were in the house when the train passed, and found it to be a "non issue."

We have over 100 acres of open land behind the house, and, in fact, the existence of the rail line along route 301 protects the property from ever being developed. The state will not permit car traffic to cross the tracks and they will not permit another crossing to be built.

Five years ago, when we built this house, the train was loud. Now, we are now able to sleep at night with our windows open. This is a blessing to anybody in this area who was not informed of the issue back during the original development of Chatham and Calumet.

If you wish to see the information on my house, please see my ad here on Talk of The Villages https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19938 (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19938) I hope you all wish me well on the sale of my house, and if you know anybody who would like a beautiful designer home, have them call Realty Executives Sally Love and Cindy Wise. Call Sally direct at 352-430-6960 or Cindy at 352-446-8964.

It is not necessary for us to hide anything from our prospective buyers. Below, I have copied a portion of the public information from the new FRA train horn rule, if anybody wishes to read it.

If you wish to read the whole ruling here is the link http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/rrdev/LocoHornsDEIS.pdf



Option 1. Limit the maximum permissible train horn sound level so that it would not exceed 104 dBA. This sound level is believed to be sufficient in most circumstances to provide adequate warning at crossings using automated warning devices but is less effective at crossings with only passive protection.

Option 2. Limit the maximum permissible train horn sound level so that it would not exceed 111 dBA. This sound level is believed to be effective under many circumstances at passively signed crossings.

Option 3. Variable Level Option. Under this approach, train horns would be required to be capable of sounding within a low range (96 to 104 dBA) approaching any crossing with active warning devices and within a higher range (104 to 111 dBA) at any crossing not equipped with automated warning systems.
Are you going to be relocating in TV?:pepper2:

[clyd709]

HI Nonie I am with you the sound of trains never bothered me. I lived in the Villages for 10 years before moving to Georgia and I always loved the sound of the train. If we had no trains or trucks we would not have any goods in our stores then people would be complaining about that. I have found as we get older we should not sweat the small stuff. Just enjoy your lovely Homes and all that the Villages offer and enjoy your retirement.

[Sidney Lanier]

Russ, we are in the Village of Belvedere which is located in West Villages. We hear the train if we are outside. But not if we are inside with the windows closed.

Honestly, it doesn't bother us. We are used to it. There seems to be something romantic about a train blowing in the distance. I actually miss the train when I'm back in Canada.

I'd much rather be near the trains than backing on a busy road or near the treatment plants. Each to his own.

We live near Barefoot and Fireboy in Village of Belvedere and absolutely agree with Barefoot's post. In the past--and to us the sound level is no different now--the train can be heard in the distance and has a certain charm to it, and we can faintly hear it even in the house. Ironically my childhood reminiscence of listening to train whistles goes back to a family summer place in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal, where the track bed has long since been paved over and is now the Laurentian Autoroute. I can only conclude that from our distance there is no noticeable change in volume that evidently is much more noticeable from homes much closer to the tracks than we are.

[renielarson]

Train whistles and mooing cows both are music to my ears.

I grew up with a train track 2 blocks away. It's funny, I can't remember ever being bothered by the whistles...guess I got used to them. Can't even recall ever hearing them although trains passed numerous times during the day.

However, I do remember the whistles playing an important role in my childhood years. We kids would wait by the track with pennies in hand waiting to hear the train coming in the distance. Then we'd place pennies on the rails so the trains would flatten them as they passed by.

Today, we live about 3 miles from a different train crossing and occasionally, on a calm night, can hear the whistles as they pass. The sound always puts a smile on my face.

As for mooing cows. My in-laws are farmers in Kansas. I love sleeping with open windows and hearing the cows moo and the oil wells tha thud, tha thud, tha thudding. No better sleeping music to my ears!

After thought...ever try getting close enough to pet a cow? Forget it...they turn and walk away. Drat, those unfriendly animals!

[Russ_Boston]

SL - maybe the new noise abatement solution hasn't begun yet?

I live about 1.5 miles from the northeast corridor Amtrack line. I can hear it through an open window but they don't blow the whistle on that stretch so it's nothing to be concerned with. But like you said it might be worse the closer you get.

[Sidney Lanier]

Russ, according to Talk Host, the noise abatement program has indeed begun; see his earlier post on this thread. That's why I wonder if the reason we don't notice a difference is that we live further from the tracks than apparently he does, on top of which there are houses between us and the tracks which from his description of his property is not true for him. Besides, as I mentioned, we find the sound of the whistles in the distance pleasant and charming, so we might not even notice if it's a little quieter.

[Barefoot]

We live near Barefoot and Fireboy in Village of Belvedere and absolutely agree with Barefoot's post. In the past--and to us the sound level is no different now--the train can be heard in the distance and has a certain charm to it, and we can faintly hear it even in the house. Ironically my childhood reminiscence of listening to train whistles goes back to a family summer place in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal, where the track bed has long since been paved over and is now the Laurentian Autoroute. I can only conclude that from our distance there is no noticeable change in volume that evidently is much more noticeable from homes much closer to the tracks than we are.

Like Sidney and Hyacinth, we haven't noticed a reduction in volume. Perhaps the program hasn't "kicked in" yet in the CR 466 area. Also like Sidney, we're not bothered by the train and actually find it has a certain charm.

Our Village of Belvedere is such a superb location, I wouldn't trade it for somewhere more remote. We are five minutes away from the Library, the Lifelong Learning College, the dog park, Publix, Walmart, Bealls, Bonefish Grill, Red Lobster, Crispers, Golden Corral and many other restaurants, including the Olive Garden under construction.