Can't decide if it's the "Best" or "Worst" of both worlds. Steam engine whistle sounds at a modern Rail Crossing.
Mark
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Nice sound.....guaranteed the uber liberals will make them tone it down....P.S. the kid in the vid had no idea it was a station......LOL
Will drive folks in the area nuts! Can't imagine it will be around long.
Nice job . I enjoyed the video... Sorry I missed your name.
After all the noise the train enters the crossing with bell only , certainly different from the horn must be sounded until the crossing is occupied.( Special instructions I guess).
Sheesh, kind of defeats the whole purpose of a quiet zone - should have just stuck to the FRA ridiculous 4 honks per crossing.
I prefer this type at 11:11 in video:
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
I worked that territory in engine service for 15 years, and the only things I recognize are the pier and the Santa Fe station sign.
I like the sound of a steam whistle but; the repetitive nature of that sound would have me stuffing cotton in my ears if I lived near the crossing.
Curt
Wonder if they used a recording of SantaFe 3751, the last steam locomotive to go down the surfline in recent years.
juniata guy posted:I like the sound of a steam whistle but; the repetitive nature of that sound would have me stuffing cotton in my ears if I lived near the crossing.
Curt
Amen, brother!!!
In Ames Iowa there are several crossings that have quiet zone systems, but its crossing horn honks. And after a few minutes it is annoying, especially as the sound seems overdriven through trumpet speakers aimed down the roadways.
Worst, if train stops, the honking keeps right on going. Most gate systems I believe have a time out that raises gates. Seems they could build in same for honks. Only time honking stops is when engine hits road crossing proper.
Not sure which is worst evil, listening to real engine sound crossing and done, or repetitive over and over again artificial honks or steam whistle.
Well that is sure annoying!
I believe that warning is in violation of the FRA rules for blowing a road crossing. The last I knew, warnings were only supposed to be blown a certain number of seconds before entering the crossing.
Big Jim posted:I believe that warning is in violation of the FRA rules for blowing a road crossing. The last I knew, warnings were only supposed to be blown a certain number of seconds before entering the crossing.
Well this is electronic and tied into the flasher/gate system, and as long as the system operates so does the the annoying sound. If you have a slow drag or stopped before the island crossing, that electronic horn just keeps right on a' tootin. Once engine crosses island system shuts up. The trumpet speakers are aimed/focus down the roadway at cars, so not much sound heard when off center. Of course buildings in direct line get the pleasure of hearing the blat-blat at all hours (but hey, its fulfills quiet zone that city clamored for). And the horn sound is distorted over-driven (maybe intentionally) for maximum effect.
I don't know how you figure it is a "Quiet Zone" with all that unneeded noise!
It seemed a little ridiculous to me.
Kent in SD
A bit over the top!
Big Jim posted:I don't know how you figure it is a "Quiet Zone" with all that unneeded noise!
Doesn't the Quiet Zone" regs apply to the engine and an engineer's use of the horn?
This is a grade crossing warning with different regs.
The folks get what they ask for...
It seems annoying to us, because we would know what to do, what to look for, how to pay attention when driving and approaching a grade crossing.
But there are those drivers who are looking at their phone, trying to put in an address, text someone to tell them they're just around the corner, ordering something online, changing a radio station. Essentially, the steering wheel is only in their way. A lot of drivers are oblivious.
Moonman posted:Big Jim posted:I don't know how you figure it is a "Quiet Zone" with all that unneeded noise!
Doesn't the Quiet Zone" regs apply to the engine and an engineer's use of the horn?
This is a grade crossing warning with different regs.
The folks get what they ask for...
Well, that's California for you!
Around here, a "Quiet Zone" is Quiet.
I'd take that "steam whistle" sound any day over the standard diesel sound effect.
There was a crossing in the far northwestern suburbs of Chicago that had one nearly 20 years ago that sounded just like this one:
I think they removed it in 2012.
"Quiet Zone" my rosy red donkey! That is utterly ridiculous! Heck the train would have been quieter than that as it would have blown the crossing only once!
well apparently enough bohunks ran the crossings to warrant installing such a thing. yikes!
The best thing about this is that the good people of San Clemente get to resolve this themselves.
