Hooting of train passing Flagstaff. (visit, traveling, parents)

[FCStraight]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Most of Flagstaff is in a designated "no-whistle" zone. The Federal Railroad Adminstration rules to establish no-whistle zones are rigorous. Once the zone is designated, under normal circumstances, locomotive engineers will not blow the whistle (actually air horns) at grade crossings within the zone. There is a major caveat, however: Engineers can (and often must) blow the whistle as a warning if pedestrians, vehicles, etc. are on the tracks such that they are at risk of being hit.

I was in Flagstaff about a year ago on a Friday night. The downtown was packed with pedestrians, many who would ignore the crossing signals and wander on an across the tracks in the path of oncoming trains (and several dozen trains go through Flagstaff daily; it is one of the busiest rail corridors in the western US). Engineers were having to blow warning whistles plenty that night. Outside of the designated no-whistle zone, engineers are required by federal law to blow their whistle at road crossings--no excpetions.

Thanks...that's what I wanted to know. I'd rather be annoyed by the train's whistle than somebody get hit by a silent train (but the loud rumbling of oncoming train should be enough to let people know something big is about to run them over if they don't get out of its way)...unfortunately, lots of folks get totally engrossed in whatever they're doing (texting, talking on the cell phone, listening to music, drunk, or just plain dumb) and ignore obvious oncoming dangers. Your explanation makes sense. Appreciate it.

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by FCStraight

Yes, just as I thought...the tracks run along route 66 (that's the same as I-40, right?).

not quite, old route 66 runs thru town and I-40 veers further south away from the tracks.....you may also want to look in the areas near the I-17/I-40 interchange.....

[bschorr]

The trains generally don't blow their horns in Flagstaff but the horns exist for a reason - if some knucklehead is on the tracks or trying to dash around the crossing guards they're going to blow their horns. And in a college down where the university is on one side of the tracks and most of the bars are on the other side, it's not that unusual (especially on Fri/Sat nights) for bozos to stagger across the tracks.

That said, look at the Ponderosa Trails or University Heights neighborhoods (SW Flagstaff). Those should be far enough from the tracks that you won't hear any horns.

And yes, I live in Flagstaff now. :-)

[thedirtman]

Nearly 100 trains pass through Flagstaff every day. If you dislike train noise you can stay clear of Flagstaff if you choose to live in Kachina Village or Mountainaire. They are approximately 8 miles from the tracks.

[2nd trick op]

I have to admit a prejudice here, since I love railroading, but a few years ago, I moved somewhat closer to a fairly busy stretch of track (about 30 trains a day, and a crossing within 50 feet) but after the first few nights, I began to sleep right through it. On the other hand, when I lived about three blocks from a church with a set of Westminster chimes, it seemed to keep me awake at night -- possibly because each quarter-hour was a reminder of the fact that I still had to be up at the same time the next morning.

There's a srory of a rail accident in Michigan over a century ago, in which a telegrapher slept through the noise of a passing train a few feet from his bay window, yet awoke to a snippet of Morse code specific to his post on the telegraph sounder a few minutes later, and reported that the train had not passed, setting the stage for a fatal head-on collision.

So my point is that it's not just the sound itself that causes sleeplessness; you might want to consult a specialist before putting out the "For Sale" sign.

[flag gal2013]

In Flagstaff it's either the train or the freeway you will hear, that being said, place to consider would be Cheshire area off 180, Country Club and University Heights. If you live downtown you may very well hear the train

[jamies]

Flagstaff is a train town. There is a train about every 10 minutes (or so it seems). I find it kind of funny that most of the hotels are built almost on top of the tracks. People arrive in town at night, not realizing the train is either behind the hotel or across the street. And they check in for a sleepless night. The only worse place is Gallup, NM. LOL

Anyway, for those visiting get a hotel down by I-40.

If you move there there you can find lots of homes where you won't have train noise. Most of the main part of the city can hear horns occasionally, but there are literally thousands of nice homes in the surrounding forests. It really depends on what you are seeking in a lifestyle. If you want to be able to walk to restaurants and stores you have different issues than someone looking for an acre in the forest.

But I think you can find something for nearly anyone with the area.

[ZhugeLiang]

Heh, I remember those days. I lived out on Soliere, there was no escaping that sound. You either get some AC in your home or you deal with it.

[ferneyberger]

OK, I can appreciate the nuisance value of train horns, but I don't understand people who move to the area and then complain about the noise! We have a similar situation in our home town, Farnborough,UK, home of an a biennial international air show. Our experience of Flagstaff/trains was pure magic...............
It was 2 minutes before midnight on Christmas Eve and 25 below. A fresh heavy snow fall had covered everything with a thick glittering blanket.We were walking back to our Motel when the distant mournful wail of a train horn echoed off the surrounding hills. The crossing ahead of us sprang into life and responded with it's own ding ding ding as it descended. This was accompanied by the locomotive's own bell and the long slow wailing of it's horn as it's head light swept the scene as it negotiated a dog leg. We stood there, hand in hand, absolutely smitten when, unbelievably some where, in the distance, came the faint sound of carol singing.
........................O Winston Link, eat your heart out.
JP

[azdr0710]

thanks for that, ferney....definitely worth resurrecting the thread for.....