Train noise in Bon Air? (Chester, Ashland: how much, buying a house, neighborhoods)

[peepums]

Looking at possibly buying a house in Bon Air, right around the library & elementary school. There's a train track right behind the house - anyone know how often it runs or how noisy it would be?

[adriftinthebay]

You have to be at least 1000 ft away to not hear most trains unless there is a thick buffer of trees or a sound wall in between. I am not familiar with that area though but am familiar with being near train tracks.

[GoingBackEast]

If i was thinking about buying where I could see tracks, I’d camp out in my car for 24 hours.

[NJRAMAL]

I used to live in Jamaica Queens with the LIRR whizzing by every three minutes in both directions literally in my back yard which was about the size of a two car garage. I also lived in Chester Va with a freight line about two blocks away. Train noise actually becomes comforting! In NY it became part of my fabric of sound. The vibrations and the rhythmic sound of each set of wheels crossing the track connections followed by the distinct sound as the last car passes and you hear the train moving on in the distance becomes mesmerizing. Freight trains can be a mile long, it takes quite a bit of time for the entire train to pass. But the constant rumble as 50 cars roll pass and the haunting sound of the horn blowing eventually becomes a lullaby. Is it the most desirable of situations? No. But if it were impossible to adjust to there wouldnt be entire neighborhoods built around railways. Just my opinion.

[GoingBackEast]

NJR - sounds like a musician talking ;<)

[joe5]

It is hard to find an area around here where you won't hear trains frankly. How much of a thing that is depends on how much that bothers you. If it does you definitely DO NOT want the area north of town, esp Ashland. Bon Air isn't too bad, mostly just hear them off in the distance. Really just bring up an internet map and you can see where the train tracks run and the areas to avoid.

[ellieb128]

Originally Posted by GoingBackEast

If i was thinking about buying where I could see tracks, I’d camp out in my car for 24 hours.

This! They seem to come through a few times a day and fairly slowly but I'd be cautious about being right on the tracks - that's a lot different than hearing the rumble of a train off in the distance.

[joe5]

Sorry didn't see the part of right by the tracks in OP. Yes that would get pretty loud I'd think, not sure how often they run, but if you even suspect it might bother you I would definitely avoid.