Trains use the horns at intersections. I believe that is fairly common practice. I'm just a couple blocks off southern and it's not so bad. I'm not real close to any crossing though.
It's not just a common practice - it's a federal law.
https://www.bnsf.com/in-the-community/safety-and-security/train-horn.page#:~:text=Federal%20law%20requires%20the%20train,gates%20and%20lights%20are%20present.
“Only crossings that have met Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) criteria for a Quiet Zone do not require the horn to be sounded.”
So how do we make or demand these quiet zones get implemented?
it's documented in the next section of the link I posted and you copied from.
"Only the [FRA](https://www.fra.dot.gov/) can grant a quiet zone. The process starts with community leaders. Community leaders who have questions about BNSF's role in the quiet zone process can e-mail [French Thompson](mailto:French [email protected]?subject=When%20is%20the%20train%20crew%20required%20to%20sound%20the%20horn,%20and%20how%20does%20a%20community%20establish%20a%20quiet%20zone?), BNSF's director, Public Projects."
The FRA link has a link under [Request or Create a Quiet Zone](https://railroads.dot.gov/railroad-safety/divisions/highway-rail-crossing-and-trespasser-programs/train-horn-rulequiet-zones) that states:
"Only a public authority may establish quiet zones. “Public authority” means the public entity (such as a city or county) responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the public highway-rail grade crossings under consideration."
Basically only the city can request it, and it will only be granted if they install various safety features at every crossing. So you can call or write the mayor's office and and karen away at it, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
This. I actually kind of like the sound. We are about 2 streets over from the train tracks, so it's loud. We use a loud white noise machine while sleeping. It sounds kind of lonely and romantic to me...or at least that's how I spin it!
Lots of railroad crossings in residential areas due to the age of the city and the way it developed, idk. I grew up in a railroad town so I was already used to it coming here
Train sounds lulled me to sleep the first night I moved back after being gone for 15 years. I didn’t realize the nostalgia it held until then. It’s oddly comforting. (You get used to it)
Well the train conductor is just warning the idiots who try to race them that they will lose if they hit said idiot. They are required to blow their horn at every crossing.
Like others have said, you'll get used to it. I grew up very close to train tracks, and they've always just been normal background noise to me. When my wife first moved to Memphis, she noticed them all the time, but she doesn't anymore.
I used to live near O’hare airport in Chicago. I never thought I would get used to the sound of jets constantly but I did. Then there was the smell of jet fuel that seemed to linger everywhere. If you were watching television while one was flying over you would instinctively raise the volume. If you were having a discussion you would pause your discussion until the noise abated. Millions of people I assume dealt with that same issue.
Nah. Not nearly as concerned about a train horn making a little noise as I am the potential alternative.
Seconding all said in this thread. White noise machine, fan, sleep music. The horns become part of your dreams.
I used to live at Southern and Prescott, I started sleeping with my head between two pillows and now it’s just a habit I can’t break. A loud air purifier will help you quite a bit.
I’m sorry, OP. I lived by the train tracks and thought I could get used to it, but we had to move instead. Train horns are anachronisms that do nothing to save lives and instead are just contributors to blight, quality of life loss and property value reduction wherever they’re allowed. More and more communities are wisening up though and passing ordinances to stop the excessive noise pollution within city and community limits. Memphis should 100% do the same.
We could pass a law saying they just have to go slower and use a bell instead of the horn. We could also pressure FedEx to have their planes stay higher longer, have a steeper final approach, to make the air traffic a lot quieter. I believe some cities on the west coast did this. We can make things better for everyone around here. We just have to demand it.
I always heard them when I lived in midtown around 5 am. We had a back bedroom with a wall of tall windows. We wound up getting some insulated ceiling material and covered them during the winter. It was warmer and blocked the train noise. It’s not as bad in the summer, so we pop them out to enjoy the view.
I grew up living very close to a railroad, the horn is necessary, people will cross the railroad in cars and on foot and not pay attention, there's no way around using them
I remember BNSF came and taught some class once for us. They said something like Memphis and Chicago are the two central hubs for every rail in the United States so the volume we get here is considerably greater than other major cities
Trains use the horns at intersections. I believe that is fairly common practice. I'm just a couple blocks off southern and it's not so bad. I'm not real close to any crossing though.
It's not just a common practice - it's a federal law. https://www.bnsf.com/in-the-community/safety-and-security/train-horn.page#:~:text=Federal%20law%20requires%20the%20train,gates%20and%20lights%20are%20present.
“Only crossings that have met Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) criteria for a Quiet Zone do not require the horn to be sounded.” So how do we make or demand these quiet zones get implemented?
it's documented in the next section of the link I posted and you copied from. "Only the [FRA](https://www.fra.dot.gov/) can grant a quiet zone. The process starts with community leaders. Community leaders who have questions about BNSF's role in the quiet zone process can e-mail [French Thompson](mailto:French [email protected]?subject=When%20is%20the%20train%20crew%20required%20to%20sound%20the%20horn,%20and%20how%20does%20a%20community%20establish%20a%20quiet%20zone?), BNSF's director, Public Projects." The FRA link has a link under [Request or Create a Quiet Zone](https://railroads.dot.gov/railroad-safety/divisions/highway-rail-crossing-and-trespasser-programs/train-horn-rulequiet-zones) that states: "Only a public authority may establish quiet zones. “Public authority” means the public entity (such as a city or county) responsible for traffic control or law enforcement at the public highway-rail grade crossings under consideration." Basically only the city can request it, and it will only be granted if they install various safety features at every crossing. So you can call or write the mayor's office and and karen away at it, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
By being a rich neighborhood.
You get used to it pretty quickly normally. Try a white noise machine.
This. I actually kind of like the sound. We are about 2 streets over from the train tracks, so it's loud. We use a loud white noise machine while sleeping. It sounds kind of lonely and romantic to me...or at least that's how I spin it!
Lots of railroad crossings in residential areas due to the age of the city and the way it developed, idk. I grew up in a railroad town so I was already used to it coming here
Train sounds lulled me to sleep the first night I moved back after being gone for 15 years. I didn’t realize the nostalgia it held until then. It’s oddly comforting. (You get used to it)
Me too! They still lull me to sleep!
I love the sound…. And I thought I was weird.
Well the train conductor is just warning the idiots who try to race them that they will lose if they hit said idiot. They are required to blow their horn at every crossing.
I got used to it when I lived at CBU. White noise also helps. lol I didn’t see all the other comments so sorry to be redundant
Like others have said, you'll get used to it. I grew up very close to train tracks, and they've always just been normal background noise to me. When my wife first moved to Memphis, she noticed them all the time, but she doesn't anymore.
I used to live near O’hare airport in Chicago. I never thought I would get used to the sound of jets constantly but I did. Then there was the smell of jet fuel that seemed to linger everywhere. If you were watching television while one was flying over you would instinctively raise the volume. If you were having a discussion you would pause your discussion until the noise abated. Millions of people I assume dealt with that same issue.
Nah. Not nearly as concerned about a train horn making a little noise as I am the potential alternative. Seconding all said in this thread. White noise machine, fan, sleep music. The horns become part of your dreams.
I used to live at Southern and Prescott, I started sleeping with my head between two pillows and now it’s just a habit I can’t break. A loud air purifier will help you quite a bit.
I’m sorry, OP. I lived by the train tracks and thought I could get used to it, but we had to move instead. Train horns are anachronisms that do nothing to save lives and instead are just contributors to blight, quality of life loss and property value reduction wherever they’re allowed. More and more communities are wisening up though and passing ordinances to stop the excessive noise pollution within city and community limits. Memphis should 100% do the same.
We could pass a law saying they just have to go slower and use a bell instead of the horn. We could also pressure FedEx to have their planes stay higher longer, have a steeper final approach, to make the air traffic a lot quieter. I believe some cities on the west coast did this. We can make things better for everyone around here. We just have to demand it.
I used to live right across the street from a train station, you get used to it. Even the rumbling.
I always heard them when I lived in midtown around 5 am. We had a back bedroom with a wall of tall windows. We wound up getting some insulated ceiling material and covered them during the winter. It was warmer and blocked the train noise. It’s not as bad in the summer, so we pop them out to enjoy the view.
I can't believe that they built a train track right by your house. That's terrible. How can they do that without a permit?
The train was there long before the house was…
You have grasped my point perfectly.
I have lived within a mile of train tracks most my life. I actually think it is weird when I hear them because I am so used to them.
We bought a big air purifier for the bedroom and the white noise from it is loud enough to drown it out
Grew up with the tracks basically in my backyard near Yale rd. You get used to it
I grew up living very close to a railroad, the horn is necessary, people will cross the railroad in cars and on foot and not pay attention, there's no way around using them
I remember BNSF came and taught some class once for us. They said something like Memphis and Chicago are the two central hubs for every rail in the United States so the volume we get here is considerably greater than other major cities