Why are train whistles so loud?

Question

Why are train whistles so loud? I live in a medium sized village about 1/2 mile away from the train tracks. The train whistle is so loud that it sometimes wakes me up even with the windows closed. During the summer I have to leave the windows closed at night or wear earplugs to bed. Remember that I live 1/2 a mile away. I feel sorry for the folks that have the train practicaly in their backyard. It seems to me that they could go through quietly during sleeping hours. All of the roads have gates and flashing lights. Shouldn't that be enough? Thanks.

Answer 1

Pesky things aren't they?You should try being in the cab of the engine .Some of the older units have the horns right above the cab.By the end of the day you feel like your brain has rattled loose.

Answer 2

all six answers to date are correct. towns and cities can vote

to have a quite zone , and railroads must comply and not sound whistle in town...trains now are operating through these areas without using horn...only if they feel it necessary to warn someone they see near the track...

Answer 3

The point is to get the attention of anyone that may be on the tracks, or about to approach the tracks.  This cannot be done with a soft or soothing "whistle"  (which is really a horn).  The train "whistle" (horn) is a warning device - and the loud sound is intended to minimize tragedy on the tracks.

They cannot pass through quietly at night, because the purpose of the "whistle" (horn) is to clear the passageway.  As a safety measure, the train operator is required to sound the "whistle" (horn) three times approaching each crossing.

If the train were to pass through quietly, and some tragedy were to occur - we all know that there would be many voices saying that the train should have sounded its warning device.

Answer 4

Federal Law mandates that a trains whistle must be audible no less than3 miles away.

Answer 5

So it could be heard by people from miles away, to warn people the train is coming.  

I heard the UP(Union Pacific) has been running tests on putting the whisles actually at the crossings and on the crossing gates, which has not gave very awarding results, so don't look for them anytime soon.

Answer 6

You ar right in one respect, lights and gates SHOULD be enough, but they arent.

If you have ever looked in the eyes of a passenger of a car crossing directly  in front of your locomotive and see them screaming because the driver coundt hear the whistle you will never ask that question again.

If you have ever stepped out the front of a locomotive covered with antifreeze or transimssion fluid after a collision saying "Dear Lord please dont let this be blood" and finding a dead body at the scene  you would beg for louder whistles.

Modern cars have such excellent sound insualtion that train whistles cant possibly be loud enough, the only safe, truly 100% effective safety device is an attentive driver. Apparently that does not exist so we do the best we can, and loud whistles is one of the things we have.

By the way, train whistles are regulated by Federal Government so we have absolutely no choice in the matter.

Believe me, nothing would make my job nicer and reduce stress than to have all crossings safe and the need for the d**n whistle eliminated.

If you think the whistle is loud from your house, try spending 35 years 6 feet away from one.

Please, dont suggest anythign is enough because it hasnt been invented yet.

I gave you star, to us in the cab it seems obvious but I know it is a very difficult situation, no one likes being disturbed by train whistles in their backyard but . . . . . at least you are alive to be disturbed, thousands arent.

Answer 7

It is loud so it can warn people for miles it is coming. Especially people in cars that may be on the track....it is a safety thing.

Answer 8

Common sense.  The newest locomotives manufactured by General Electric actually do not have "whistles" "horns" or bells.  They use recordings broadcast through speakers.  This eliminates moving parts.

Answer 9

if don't like the noise, move somewhere else

Answer 10

Train whistle

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A train whistle or air whistle, (originally referred to as a steam trumpet), is an audible signaling device on a steam locomotive used to warn that the train is approaching, and to communicate with rail workers.

The older steam whistles were almost always actuated with a pull cord (or sometimes a lever) that permitted proportional (tracker) action, so that some form of "expression" could be put into the sound. Many locomotive operators would have their own style of blowing the whistle, and it was often apparent who was operating the locomotive by the sound. Modern locomotives often make use of a pushbutton switch, which takes away the fine control over the way the whistle is sounded.

Because trains generally have extremely high mass and relatively low braking friction, they are inherently difficult to stop at normal speeds. Since train whistles were extremely inexpensive to institute compared to other more effective warning devices, the use of loud and distinct train whistles had become the preferred safety fallback for railroad operators.

Answer 11

The whistle on a locomotive is not solely a safety a device, although that is its primary use.  But, it is also a communications device, with different prescribed signals.  Therefore, in addition to what has already been pointed out, it must be loud enough to carry a sufficient distance as a signal device.  Trains are over one and one half miles long frequently.  So, the whistle must be able to carry at least that far, as well as against any prevailing winds.

And, yes, gates and lights should be enough.  But, you know what?  Pedestrian and grade crossing accidents, injuries and death toll rises each year, gates and lights not withstanding.  There was some Gov't dis-information relative to safety records.  They present figures demonstrating the numbers are trending downward.  What they don't tell you is that a couple years ago they changed the criteria of what constitutes a "reportable" accident.  Those that were once reported under the old paradigm have vanished.  Presto!  Instant safety improvement.

So, to once again sound like a broken record, whistles don't always work.  Grade crossing protection doesn't always work.  If your ears and eyes do work, use them.  They'll save your life and limbs.  And, a little common sense goes a long way.

As far as sleep deprivation, well, if it'll make you feel any better, the crews on those trains would rather be sleeping as well...  I'm told imbibing a liberal amount of Tequila before bedtime works well for sleep.  You just might not wake up in your own bed...

Answer 12

That's easy. To warn people that they're coming.

Believe it or not, trains are much quieter than they used to be. Diesel trains don't go "chug, chug, chug" like steam trains. Sometimes there's no click-clack.

Too many times, people have said "Oh, I'll hear the train coming. I can get out of the way in time." But sadly, all too often, people don't hear the train...and it doesn't take a genius to figure out what happens next.

I know how you feel. I used to live quite near a train track, and trains could be so annoying. But the engineers are just doing their part to keep innocent people safe.

Do you have earplugs? Those might help.

Answer 13

The practice dates back to the early days of the railway in Britain. The Leicester and Swannington Railway opened in 1832 and very soon afterwards a train collided with a horse and cart on a level crossing. The locomotive had been fitted with a horn but this was not loud enough so the decision was taken to fit a whistle. The rest, as they say, is history.

Nowadays most countries have laws requiring their trains to be fitted with what in British Legalese is known as an 'audible warning of approach' as are road vehicles and there are also laws and regulations governing when and where they should be used. Most railway operators also use them for signalling as well as for a warning.

They have to be loud to be effective and yes, the sound can carry, over many miles if the atmospheric conditions are right.

There are some places that have byelaws that restrict the sounding of horns near places of residence except when absolutely necessary, perhaps you could check whether such a law applies where you live and whether it is being observed.

On the other hand you may need to sleep but safety cannot afford not to. I'm sure you'd feel a whole lot worse if you woke up one morning to find that someone in your neighbourhood had died in a train accident because the warning wasn't timely or loud enough.

Answer 14

Unfortunately, they have to be loud to be heard by people with their car windows up, and the heater fan blowing, and the radio on. Not all road crossings have gates and lights. I wish they did, but they don't.