How far away can a train horn be heard?

Question

its late.

no activity in my house

and i hear an annoying train horn

funny thing is i dont live next to one i live about 2 miles away from one

how far away can i hear the train horn?

Answer 1

The others gave you great answers with plenty of references... the FRA link was very informative.

My two-cents... I live a mile from the rails in San Carlos, CA. (in a no-horn grade-separation area)... and I can hear the train way down in Redwood City, CA as it crosses the grade in the night 1.65 and 3.5 miles away.

To me it's not annoying... it just is background noise that I block out.

Answer 2

It very much depends on the weather conditions - on a clear and cold night it would be possible to hear train horns for well over 5 miles - on a wet and windy day you'd be lucky to hear much above 1/2 mile. When you consider the high air pressure used to blow a train horn, about 130 psi, it's not surprising the noise travels. However in the USA a recent madate has come in which states that in future the sound must be limited to 110 decibels - so you should have less annoyances then. After all, the horn is only intended to be heard at the level crossing immediately in front.

It's just possible what you heard wasn't even a proper train at all, but one of these types who fit train horns to their car and go round scaring or annoying people for fun (not all do that but plenty do). See source below.

But as you're only 2 miles away from a railroad it's more likely a train. Could be an engineering or work train, stopping and starting regularly and sounding the horn.

Answer 3

if you stand in downtown terra alta, w. virginia you can hear the train blast its' horn when it starts to leave grafton, w. virginia. that's about 20 miles as crow flies. that is mountain terrain and that can amplify sound. besides, train horns are enjoyable as we used to live 14 feet from the tracks and at a crossing. slept right through as they laid on the horn at 45 mph past our house. loved it. now we are 1 block away and still enjoy it. get used to it, it is not a bad sound.

Answer 4

On a UK HST unit the high setting of the horn is designed to be heard at 5 miles during a normal operating day.

This has become so annoying for lineside residents that there are instructions to only use the low tone setting(2miles) and rules forbidding the use of the horn approching  crossings between the hours of 11pm and 8am have been introduced for all UK trains (except in an emergency).

Answer 5

I've heard them as far away as 8 or 9 miles under perfect conditions.   Don't be annoyed by everything... you'll be happier.

Answer 6

On a clear night, up to 5 miles. The average train horn is about 180 decibels. Sorry for the annoyance, but remember that the refrigerator might have been shipped by rail . I know your car was.