Longfellow Neighborhood

[Drew841]

Could anyone tell me what the train noise is like? I live in Florida now about a quarter mile from a track and I hear them blowing their whistles at all hours. I'm looking at a house on Snelling and don't want to regret it.

Thanks

[Beenhere4ever]

Well, it is true that from Snelling, you will hear bells as the gates drop and train horns almost 24 hours a day. I live about 15 blocks away and hear it. Now, I have to admit, I grew fond of train horns from years of youth living near railroad tracks. It excited romantic visions of going to faraway places. But the world is probably not similarly motivated. So if train horns are your bane, you might not want to choose to live so close. Very little of Minneapolis is close enough to be bothered by the noise. Oddly a whole lot of NEW construction is built within a few blocks. I'm guessing the developers didn't think buyers would be put off. After all, it means a short walk to cheap transportation.

[dravogadro]

I have never heard train horns in the evening though I can hear the gate bells. I also grew up around trains so I don't mind the noise.

I personally find the sound from the LRT train horns doesn't travel as much as the transport trains because it seems less 'bass-y'.

[Beenhere4ever]

Travels a mile and a half to my house.

[Ghengis]

since they use "canned" sound effects, how come they don't use a little less grating broadcast like birds tweeting, at night they could have frogs croaking or the waves lapping on the shore, or Yanni.

[codydog2]

I would say check it out for yourself. Everyone has different tolerances. We lived 3 blocks from a crossing and stop and the noise was never an issue there. We then lived about .5 mi away from the crossing and station and I would only occasionally hear the bells when I was out walking the dogs. I also have a friend who lives right off the track at minnehaha and 53rd. She said she doesnt notice. Go out during rush hour (the trains are more frequent) and hang around in your car or outside and see what you think.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

since they use "canned" sound effects, how come they don't use a little less grating broadcast like birds tweeting, at night they could have frogs croaking or the waves lapping on the shore, or Yanni.

Maybe they should. But idiots still try to beat them trains to crossings even at current levels, so it seems risky to quiet the warnings. Seriously, building rail at grade in an urban environment is a dumb idea.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

Maybe they should. But idiots still try to beat them trains to crossings even at current levels, so it seems risky to quiet the warnings. Seriously, building rail at grade in an urban environment is a dumb idea.

It would have been too costly to put the whole thing in a tunnel or up on a bridge, or to run the roads over or under the tracks at crossings.