A very specific question on railroad tracks in Cave Spring (Roanoke: houses, elementary school)

[Kreutz]

Alright, heres the situation, one of the houses my wife and I really like is just under a half of a mile west (on Chaparral Dr) of the train tracks that run behind Penn Forest elementary school. When we saw it I didnt hear any trains; that could just have been because none passed through in the 15 minutes we were there.

Is anyone familiar enough with that locale to tell me how often and how loud trains going through are?

I ask because I once lived close enough to train tracks to never want to hear them often again.

It seems every house I liked in Roanoke was too damned close to the airport, and now train tracks are an issue heh.

Any input for my admittedly weird question is really appreciated, thank you.

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by Kreutz

Alright, heres the situation, one of the houses my wife and I really like is just under a half of a mile west (on Chaparral Dr) of the train tracks that run behind Penn Forest elementary school. When we saw it I didnt hear any trains; that could just have been because none passed through in the 15 minutes we were there.

Is anyone familiar enough with that locale to tell me how often and how loud trains going through are?

I ask because I once lived close enough to train tracks to never want to hear them often again.

It seems every house I liked in Roanoke was too damned close to the airport, and now train tracks are an issue heh.

Any input for my admittedly weird question is really appreciated, thank you.

We lived near those tracks for 2 months while in a short-term stay at the Windy Hill key apts. (just the other side of 419). Trains were loud and fairly frequent - but quieted down considerably after 10 p.m. Rarely had loud trains during sleeping hours. Going one direction was considerably louder than the trains going the other.

Someone else may have more info! (The apt. folks warned us about the noise, and it didn't really cramp our style - but if windows were open, it sounded like the coal train was coming into the apt!)

[Kreutz]

Thanks for the quick reply! If I may ask you to stretch your imagination and memory, I see you were about 200ft from the tracks without much between you and them.

We would be about 3,000ft (slightly over half a mile) and there are buildings along the tracks in the path of the house which would hopefully break some sound, under those circumstances would it have been much more tolerable?

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by Kreutz

Thanks for the quick reply! If I may ask you to stretch your imagination and memory, I see you were about 200ft from the tracks without much between you and them.

We would be about 3,000ft (slightly over half a mile) and there are buildings along the tracks in the path of the house which would hopefully break some sound, under those circumstances would it have been much more tolerable?

I'm sure that would make quite a difference. We would not hesitate to stay there again, so it was not a huge inconvenience, esp. considering the nighttime disturbances were few. I wish I could be more specific on the frequency of the trains. The very loud trains - probably a few times a day but not like all the time.

During the day it was noticeable when trying to listen to a television program. Good luck!! The individual tolerance of train noise seems to vary wildly from one person to another.

[roanoker 4]

I don't live in that area but I have visited friends there and I have never noticed that was a big issue. I live about one half mile from train tracks and I hear the train but the noise never bothers me, actually to me its relaxing. I would rather not hear loud children or dogs barking!

[Kreutz]

Thanks, I got smart and called a business up the street from the house and asked them about it and they were very helpful. Apparently its the horns at 9am and 8pm that are loud, which wont affect us.

Many moons ago I lived veerrrrrry close to freight lines and it really sucked, so I wanted to check more before making an offer.