Why do trains sound their horns so often in the middle of the night?

Question

We are looking for more than the obvious "it's for safety" answer.

Answer 1

I road a train not to long ago. they have to blow it's horn at every road crossing they come to.

Answer 2

Its a safety issue people have been ran over at crossings from children to semi trailers. Since a train can't veer left or right to avoid collision even though it has the right of way  the horn is the only form to give a head start to move out of the way. Unfortunately it can be heard past the crossings.

Answer 3

Because they know every one is asleep ....  they do it to p**s every on off.

Answer 4

They have to sound them at each grade crossing in most communities in the USA. It's a law.

Answer 5

At night, there is more chance of a collision so they will hit the horn more often.  In addition, trains in some places often run through the night, as opposed ot the daytime (especially for freight) and thus there are more trains to sound their horns.  Visibility is less, so the engineers will sound their horn more if they think there is an animal or person on the tracks.  last thing that could be a factor is the fact that sound usually travels further in the cooler air at night.

Answer 6

everytime the come to a road, whether its in a town, city, or in the country...they by law have to toot the horn as a warning to people who might be on said road...alot of counrty R R crossings do not have lights and crossing arms

Answer 7

to be alert all people tryin to pass the rail way and maybe scare away animals

Answer 8

Because there are still people who linger on the track's.Night are day,it make's no difference. I know,I'm a licensed locomotive operator!

Answer 9

My fiance works for the rail road and according to him they have to sound it near residential areas and any rail road crossings to prevent accidents.

Answer 10

Like Sir J said, it's a law & a federal one at that.  Most cities & towns have several railroad crossings.  If they don't sound their horns, day or night, they can be fined.  If you're ever at a crossing & don't hear the horn, note the time, date & train name, BSNF, Union Pacific, etc. If it's proven that they didn't sound the horn, you get money.  How much, I'm not sure.  Until we moved to the Inland Empire in California, I'd not been around trains for 16 years, save for the occasional one on tracks.  Now with Metrolink & the rails being more widely used, I see them all the time.  I used to be annoyed when I'd have to wait.  Now I use that time to relax a bit.  It's obvious that I was to wait there & not keep going for whatever reason(s).  Sometimes, I use that time to check voicemail on my cell and/or home phones.  Sometimes, I just imagine what could be inside the railcars, other than the obvious ones that have cars inside.

Answer 11

They are lonely!

Answer 12

To wake you. They are a bunch of immature elderly men that only know one joke:

HOOT!

OK.. it is for safety reasons.

Answer 13

Well, there isn't any other answer.

Trains are required to sound their horns when they aproach a road grade crossing.  As in anywhere where cars can cross the track.  It really is all about safety.

-Dio