How far away from train tracks should one live? (Sacramento: neighborhood, maintenance)

[Curmudgeon]

Doesn't it really depend upon which side of the tracks you live?

[Europeanflava]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Doesn't it really depend upon which side of the tracks you live?

Tracks are tracks. So no.

[NickB1967]

Originally Posted by Europeanflava

Tracks are tracks. So no.

The phrase "wrong side of the tracks" comes to mind.....

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by NickB1967

The phrase "wrong side of the tracks" comes to mind.....

Precisely! Guess Europeans don't get it.

[ryuns]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Precisely! Guess Europeans don't get it.

It's true. They have one side of the tracks where slightly above middle class people live in peace and harmony and the other side of the tracks where slightly below middle people live in peace and harmony. No sprawl on either side though. I can tell you that much.

[2nd trick op]

I'm a lifelong railroad buff, so I'm prejudiced; looked for a rental within sight of a fairly heavily-used (about thirty freights a day) line when I moved eight years ago, and have enjoyed it ever since. Locomotive horns were redesigned to direct most of the sound directly forward some years ago, and it's been my experience, and that of many other people in my building, that you get used to the interruption of passing trains within a few days.

For us among the "hard core" it's also possible to get a railroad radio monitor, or even tune in to the instructions to the remote controlled switches and signals (which are transmitted in a digital code),

[wburg]

Indeed--I'm also a railfan and like hearing and seeing trains in my neighborhood. And "tracks is tracks" isn't exactly true: tracks used by freight trains have a very different effect on the neighborhood than tracks used by light rail or streetcars, or commuter rail.

1-1/2 mile from railroad tracks or freeways? I guess by those standards all of midtown Sacramento, East Sacramento and Land Park/Curtis Park is unlivable. Who knew?

[Rob98LS1]

Coming back to this thread, like I said earlier I believe Roseville has an automated horn system in place for crossings, which greatly reduces noise. Otherwise, the only noise you'll hear is switching going on in the yard from a relatively short distance (maybe 1/4-1/2 miles??). Rocklin has a quiet zone recently put in place, and you rarely hear a horn now there. As far as health safety, I'd be more concerned with other direct environmental factors than a rail yard but that's just me and I can't speak for what you perceive as fact vs. fear mongering.

On a side note, I think trains can be a nice component to a neighborhood. I grew up listening to train horns every day and night in Rocklin and loved hearing them. Now that the quiet zone is in place, it feels like something is missing. But Yankee Hill HOA sure got their wishes on that one.

[NickB1967]

Originally Posted by ryuns

It's true. They have one side of the tracks where slightly above middle class people live in peace and harmony and the other side of the tracks where slightly below middle people live in peace and harmony. No sprawl on either side though. I can tell you that much.

Yah, the Banlieues are just *placid*....

[ryuns]

Originally Posted by NickB1967

Yah, the Banlieues are just *placid*....

What's a couple riots between friends? Plus, at least they have universal healthcare to damage the wounds