Why do trains always blow there horn when passing through a city or town?

Question

I mean come on, is there really traffic on the tracks or what? It always seems to happen in the middle of the nite when I'm trying to sleep. Whats the deal?

Answer 1

To warn motorists and pedestrians they're coming.

Answer 2

Federal laws says so. It usually takes many deaths to get a railroad safety rule passed.

Answer 3

Because if they blew the horn in the countryside no one would hear it.

Answer 4

Skidderbuck and Andy have said it all -- but here's my 25 cents --

Where I live, we do NOT have the luxury of hearing the train whistles [only ONE at-grade crossing in town; in fact, it's another 7 miles south to the next one, and about 6 miles to the north].  And, we have a rail yard, too.

Now, on the branch lines, the railroad uses the common courtesy of "Qing" the crossing [the whistle code for the crossing is Morse code for "Q".  This because there isn't much traffic on the e-w main[2-3 trains a week], but 2 trains a day on the branch line.

It's VERY important here to signal -- we have a large fluid population base [read a college town].  And we all know how STUPID some of them can be.

Just suck it up and enjoy the railroad's effort to insure safety.  Even if only one life is saved, it's worth the noise. . .

Answer 5

Trains blow their horn when approaching a city or town because they are warning anyone near the tracks that they are approaching.  It's a safety thing.  Yes, there are train accidents every day.

Answer 6

only one reason..its the law.

Answer 7

It's to wake you up in the middle of the night. No other reason.

Answer 8

Kyle-

Gotta side with Andy F and Skidderback on this issue.

I live in Santa Clara, and I get to hear the horn from my house every night and all day.  I can't say that I mind them mainly because I am a rail nut.

As the two engineers stated the Federal Railway Administration, (FRA), has laws that govern the horns, their pitch, volume, and how the horns are signaled.

This is a huge safety measure as the two engineers have pointed out.  By the time the engineers can see whatever is in the crossing or on the tracks, its often too late to stop the train before the collision.

Let me also point out a few things too.  The railroad was there when you decided to purchase your property or rent the place.  You are the one who made that choice, so complaining about it is not going to do you a bit of good.  Personally, I would kill for a piece of property with the railroad along my back fence.  

Additionally, what you are asking for is also very dangerous.  Our neighborhood went to the City of Santa Clara, in an attempt to enact a "Quiet Zone".  I was on the board who opposed this request.  Mainly because when these Quiet Zones are enacted, the grade crossing accidents severely increase.

Not only that, but there are significant and extremely costly improvements that are required in order to effect these zones.  I can tell you from being on the board, Union Pacific is not going to be the one footing the bill for those improvements.  Your tax dollars will, and you will be paying Union Pacifc to do the upgrades.

Not trying to insult anyone, but it really boils down to a safety issue.  Simply put, live with the horns, and the safety they provide for everyone.

Just a suggestion, that works very well.  You might consider doing one of two things in your bedroom.  

First, you might consider running a large fan.  The white noise that the fan produces, will circumvent the noise from the trains.  If you don't like having a fan running in your bedroom, you can also try a divice called a Hiss Box.  This generates white noise that closely resembles rain.  This too also circumvents the noise of the trains.  Both will significantly reduce the horn volume within the confines of your bedroom.

Case and point?  We used to live on a very busy street.  I got tired of hearing the sirens and vehicle traffic constantly whizzing by.  My wife could not get to sleep and neither could I, so we got a large room circulator and we turn that on its medium speed 24/7-365, and we drop right off!

And, my simpathies too.  My wife and I both work Graveyard and Swing Shift, so sleeping during the day was a must.  My Aunt who is a Graveyard Charge Nurse, suggested the Hiss Box or a Room Fan.  It worked perfectly!

Good Luck!

Answer 9

The railroads have posted signs at pre-determined points along the tracks indicating where engineers must blow their horn.  This is generally at a point where the train is approaching a traffic intersection.  It's not just a matter of the engineer blowing the horn because he's passing through a town.

Beyond that, the engineer is permitted to use the horn where necessary--such as when he sees people walking alongside the track up ahead.  

And yes, many people are killed each year in accidents along the railroads.  There's even a nationwide-program, called Operation Lifesafer, to educate the public about the dangers when crossing railroad tracks.  Their website has the numbers for how many people are killed or injured each year:

http://www.oli.org/statistics/collisions...

Answer 10

Train engineers are required to blow the horns at all grade level crossings.    This is to warn anyone attempting to cross the tracks that may not be paying attention.    

Get used to it,  or move.    It was no secret the tracks were there!!

Answer 11

Presence of traffic is immaterial when approaching crossings at grade.  The whistle must be sounded because the crossing is there, whether traffic or no.

We don't like it either.  Try sitting right under one for twelve hours...

But, they are a necessary evil and they do save lives.  Even when they don't save a life, after putting the train in emergency and laying on the whistle until someone is struck, at least gives the engineer some measure of comfort knowing he/she did everything possible to make up for a motorists' or pedestrian's poor judgment.  But, it is little comfort.

As far as an engineer cutting anyone in slumber any slack is not an option.  If someone is killed at a grade crossing and it can be proved that the headlight was not on, the whistle was not blowing or the bell not ringing, that engineer is open to a charge of manslaughter, at least in the state of California, and probably other states as well.  In addition, if foolish enough to present a state issued driver's lisense as a form of ID to an officer of the law post-accident, that collision will show up on that engineer's driving record.  Guess what happens to their automibile insurance rates?

Safety is serious business around the railroad.  Lack of any one of these precautions can have the most terrible of consequences...

Operation Lifesaver is a terrific organization and has unboubtedly saved many lives over its three decade history.  But, it is not enough, as grade crossing accidents and pedestrians being struck are still a quite regular occurance on the railroads.

So, never trust grade crossing protection as they are not fail-safe.  The only way to absolutely ensure safe crossing of ANY railroad track is to look, turn down the music, roll down the window and listen before crossing.

Safety questions = star.  Thanks for yours...  Stay safe.

Answer 12

Even with horns,lights,bells, and whistles cars and pedestrians are hit everyday by trains.I almost hit a car today that ran right through the gate.I don't think he was even aware it was there til he hit it.I missed him by 2 seconds.At the 60 mph we were running they would have needed a shovel to scrape what was left of him up for the body bag.Can you imagine how many people would die if we didn't use a whistle?We don't like hearing it either but it's the law.We do it for you!

Answer 13

The FRA (Fed. RR. Admin.) has regulation that all on track equipment must blow their horn at all grade crossing.

Answer 14

Nothing to add really, the above are all correct.

It is the law, and it is absolutely required in our safety rules.

If you really want to do away with the horn in your community it can be done but it is a long process.

Working with local, state, and usually federal authorities corssings can be eliminated or upgraded to the point they can no longer be ran around by people bent on killing themselves and their passengers.

Then the requirement for train horns can be taken down. It has been done successfully in many communities, takes a cooperative effort.

Believe me, nothing would make the average engineers life better than not having to constantly blow the whistle.

We do not do it because we enjoy it, if you think it is loud in your neighborhood, try being 6 feet away from the d**n thing for 35 years.

Not a one of us doesnt have some degree of hearing impairment from it.