How close to railroad tracks?

Nobody can answer for you. I am a light sleeper, so heavy sleepers just don't get it when I complain about the train whistles waking me up. Some can sleep through anything and are bothered by nothing.

Many think that train whistles are romantic. I think in many cases they should be outlawed, especially in our area where the crossings all have gates with flashing lights warning motorists. What additional information is provided by several 110 decibal blasts? Boy, if I made that kind of noise doing anything I'd be thrown in jail. People around here get irritated by dirt bike noise while loving the train noise.

If it makes sense to blow a horn at crossings with gates, then I think we should all blow our car horns when crossing intersections, just to be safe. Everyone in town should be on their horns every block just in case someone might run a red light.

I have family come over in the summer and they sleep on the lawn. Some complain of difficulty sleeping with the train whistles and we live a mile from the tracks, and over a little hill. There are about 5 crossings in 2 miles of tracks, and we can hear them all loudly. I can't imagine how the people living a few feet from the track survive, but like I say, we're all different.

If you are a laid back type, irritated by nothing, a heavy sleeper, etc, go for it.

I live right next to the track about 150 feet away from an earth embankment next to the tracks.
There is a crossing very close by

Dispite this being an R-2000 house [meaning well inslulated] the horn still gets in loud. One can sleep through it, but if you are trying to sleep it is anoying. Also forget about opening the windows in the summer, regular GAHHAHAA! gets old fast. Just too loud. Basement you don't notice it, unless again the windows are open.

Without the horn I don't think it would be so bad at all.

OTOH noise during your sleep is bad, even if it dosen't wake you up, your brain still processes it, and it still reduces sleep quality.

WRT the train whistle.

There is no need for it. You got the flashing lights, the wooden bar across the road and often not so loud bells at the crossing. If all that dosen't give you the clue that maybe you shouldn't cross the tracks, then you need to be cleaned out of the gene pool.

My house is 75 feet from the RailRoad Tracks. When we frist moved here we moved from a secluded house and the first night when they blew the horn (we live near a crossing) I sat straigth up in bed... My wife and I thougth we was going to have to move.. but after one week we got used to it and now I dont even realize when one goes by.
Matter of fact if im on the phone the person im talking to will say I hear a train and then I will notice it...

It will get to be unnoticeable. The coal trains are long.. there was a derailment about 1/2 mile from me the other day 17 coal cars delrailed..

Had one derail in my back yard but that was years before I moved here.

About the only time I really notice the trains is if i am outside talking to the neighbor.
Well yes i forgot the neighbors dog will howl when the train goes by and honks because i guess it hurts its ears...

See I dont even pay much attention to that. Had to think about it.

dale

__________________
I Thess. 5:18 "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

The train tracks are about 150 feet from my house. They run freight and commuter trans. We have no vibration in the house and are so use to them that we never seem to hear them. I' ve lived here for 54 years and have never seen an accident yet. My animals are so use to them that they will stand by the fence line and watch them go by.

I bought this 1830 Irish v notch log house last August 2004, knowing full well that the RR tracks were 20 feet from the property line! The train goes by about once every 2-3 weeks-----WEEKS-----as it carries grain from a grainery down the street. The crossing is right next to my house as is thw switch, so we go out and chat with the conductor and the other fellas who work on the train. I give them ice tea in the summer and cookies......this train goes slow and hoots as it crosses the road. The kids love it, the grand s love it and I adore it. It will never run full time but sometimes runs more than once a week. Winter it almost never runs. It is a great neighbor. This house has stood 175 yrs and I can sit inside with the train going by and not feel a thing........

All depends on what you want and how it feels to you.

In California which Im temp. at right now I am 1/2 mile from the tracks and I tell you what I have come to love the sound of the 2am train?? I must be insane. When I go to my ranch I miss the sound. Dont know much about the derailment issues, sorry. Just wanted you to know you can get used to the noise and if your wierd enough like me come to enjoy them.

Again, I'm amazed at all those who say "It's really loud, but you'll get used to it. I would miss the noise if it went away." Reminds me of my youth living in apartments. The neighbors would crank up their stereos til my walls would vibrate. When I'd complain, they would accuse me of being too sensitive. You see, they liked their noise, so they assumed that I should too.
So, again it depends on the individual. If you're the type that might get used to the neighbors barking dog, blaring stereo, honking horns, motocross bikes, crowing roosters, or whatever, you might like train horns.