Living near railroad track?

Question

I am interested in purchasing a home that is right next to a railroad track. It is an old B&O track, I think, that runs through Mount Sterling, Grove City, and Columbus Ohio among other places. Does anyone know how often trains run through here? Also any thoughts from people about living close to a railroad track. Is it annoying, or do you get used to it pretty easily? Does the whole house shake? Can you sleep through it? And how often would you say a train comes by where you live/lived? Thanks to all!

Answer 1

My bedroom window is about 150 feet from the NJ Transit's Main Line. Passing trains never bother me except for the fact that there is no virtually no freight traffic.

(never mind my opinions, as I like Railroads)

:)

Answer 2

You can call the railroad and ask for the schedule. You do get

use to it but some people never do. These house's are a tough sell later on. I would advise against it unless its really cheap. ( Yes the house can shake) Plus if there  is a crossing near by you also get the whistle noise.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I've lived within 1/2 mile of a main line track for over 50 years.  I'm used to it. I will NOT move away.  All above answers have stated the highs and lows of living near the tracks.

If you like the house, buy it; just make sure you have a very strong fence track side.

Answer 4

I live about a block from a class 1 mainline and most of the time I don't even realize there is a train going by when I am in the house. Now if I am in the front yard you can't help but hear it. You will get used to it and it will be just like every day life.

    

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Answer 5

i live within 500ft of a mainline, i am used to it and no my house does not shake, i can sleep through the night with no problem, they only blow the horn at crossings and that is further down the road from me. and by the way it is a heavily travelled  UP main in texas

Answer 6

quite a few factors involved

is it a low density line that only sees a few low speed small locals a week?

or a high speed mainline?

is it near a yard where there will be a lot of switching?

any crossings nearby, trains are required to blow the whistle for between 15 and 20 seconds before almost all crossings, very few exceptions there.

If it is a branch line with smaller trains mostly in the daytime it wont be much of an intrusion and in a week or so you wont hardly notice. I have a line not far from me, i hear the whistle at the crossing but hardly notice.

Answer 7

Yes, whole house shakes.  The UP I-5 Corridor main line runs right by my property, but there are two acres between my house and the main.

You do get used to the trains.  The only real imposition is during the summer when out on the back patio.  They're loud, and there is a grade crossing right at the end of my property, so there's the whistle to contend with as well.  Conversation is briefly interrupted.

How much does it shake the house?  After the Loma Prieta earthquake, some friends displaced from Santa Cruz were staying with us, 350 miles to the north.  A train came by, unexpectedly to our guests, and the rumbling sent both into panic, until I told them it was a train.  Scared 'em ta death...

Answer 8

i lived close to the train tracks in brampton ontario canada it was noisey but i got used to it there were 2 lines that were in constant use  at least hourly and a comuter line useing the same tracks.funny b.s you put up with when your poor.

Answer 9

When I was a kid, I lived in a house with railroad tracks just behind it.

You sure do know when they go through.  the house doesn't shake or anything, but if you're close enough, sometimes you can hear all the wheels rolling and clanking just like at a railroad stop.  It's actually kind of relaxing once you get used to it.  I always hope to hear some clinking when I hear the train whistles now.

A good cinderblock wall with some ivy or something and a few bushed around the house will cut most of that noise down rather well.  Good interior design can do the rest.

Answer 10

I live in the woods about 400 feet from a heavy main line with light traffic.  I have always loved railroading, and the sound of trains does not bother me.  In fact we often have trains through at midnight to 4:00 am, and I don't even wake up.  The typical traffic is one or two trains per 24 hours.

You can contact the nearest CSX freight agent for detailed information about usage and schedules.  The local number will be in the yellow pages.

I am part of a small village that is close to the tracks.  In fact about half a mile from my house is the site where there once was a station for our little town.  There is a grade crossing with flashers and bells about half a mile in each direction, and the locomotives blow grade crossing signals, even at 2:00 am.  Most of us don't even stir in our beds after a couple of weeks.