Commuter Rail Horns

[kalimba21.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that in the past 2 days, most of the trains on the Lowell line are blasting their horns as they roll thru the tufts / mid somerville area. Any idea if some ruling has been changed? It's getting old fast.

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

they've been honking a whole lot more often for two or three weeks, at least, over by city hall.

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

I noticed it too. My guess would be that there's construction happening on or near the tracks. I think by law, if there is, the engineer is supposed to use his horn when in the area. If I find myself in the area, I'll see if there is any construction happening.

Track Work

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

This is correct.

They are doing track work all along this line, and there was a period earlier this summer when they were using the horn heavily by the Ball Square area as they worked on that track section.

The order is given to use the horn along a certain stretch for a period of time, and the engineers follow this order, regardless of whether they are actually working that day.

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Well, the wind patterns have changed, causing them to take a new route and go a bit lower than they had before. It's perfectly normal and to be expected if you live in the city.

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

I refuse to accept this and demand the mayor sue and spend millions on lawyers but oh, by the way, the city has no money so we're raising meter prices and parking violation fees.

Something else is getting old fast.....

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

...

Re: Something else is getting old fast.....

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

There there. Just have a burrito and it will be ok. Now, which burrito emporium will you patronize?

Re: Something else is getting old fast.....

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Actually mine is a 9 mm caliber.

Re: Something else is getting old fast.....

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, your most favorite problem solver. Cures all ills, from OMG urban criminalz everywarez! to low-flying planes. Just take one a day. . .

Re: Something else is getting old fast.....

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

Please, pretty please, chow down on that.

Re: Something else is getting old fast.....

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

+brazillion

Re: Something else is getting old fast.....

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

There there. Just have a burrito and it will be ok. Now, which burrito emporium will you patronize?

[kpht.livejournal.com]

lol

[nonnihil.livejournal.com]

That and the very limited number of runways at South Station.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

You mean North Station ;-0

Lower?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I know it is meant to be funny, but it doesn't really work... Trains are not taking a new route...

Re: Lower?

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I wonder if it's because of the tracks. Maybe they should try running them without the tracks and see if that helps.

Re: Lower?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Making failed humor illegal may also help.

Re: Lower?

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

But then you'd be against the law.

Re: Lower?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Why?

Re: Lower?

[kpht.livejournal.com]

retarded troll is apparently retarded.

Re: Lower?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Trolls? Where?

[tober.livejournal.com]

You win at the internets. Here, have a cookie.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

Just wait until there are 4 above-ground subway stops within a mile of each other.......

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

I've heard of "your mileage may vary", but c'mon.

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, come on, we can't expect people to walk in this city.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Because nobody has any mobility issues. Those folks in wheelchairs should just wheel, right?

[numinicious.livejournal.com]

Afaik, a lot of the above-ground stops on the B line which are within a block of each other are not wheelchair accessible. Not sure if that's true for the other lines, though.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

It probably has something to do with this (http://www.thebostonchannel.com/mostpopular/19968197/detail.html). They always get a little horn-crazy and ignore the "no whistle" provisions of various neighborhoods for a while after incidents like that. They did it after they hit the maintenance workers on the Lowell line too.

They think that blowing the horn

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Will have an effect on suicidal thoughts, for some reason...

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Duh: If you live near the train, it makes you suicidal!

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

LOL! I agree. The more they blow, and the more people will commit suicide by stepping in front of one of the trains. Don't they get it? Seriously, they should put all these brave people who are not bothered by noise near the tracks.

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[m00n.livejournal.com]

they should put all these brave people who are not bothered by noise near the tracks.

Seeing as the train tracks predate the current generation of residents by about a million years I'd say this is really one of those "self correcting" problems.

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

To some extent... But you'd be surprised how many people overestimate their own ability to withstand constant noise, day after day, if that can save them a bit of money when buying a place (it's not a coincidence that houses on the tracks are substantially cheaper than those that aren't).

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Every few years, the Federal Railroad Administration changes the rules to require louder horns.

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[sonofabish.livejournal.com]

So planes over Somerville- not funny.

Suicide/suicidal people- funny. Got it.

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

Planes Over Somerville.

If I ever open up a burrito place, that's what I'll name it!

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

You could just get all Philip Glass inspired and call it 10,000 Airplanes on the Roof...Burritos.

=)

Re: They think that blowing the horn

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Wim Wenders did that already. Or something similar...

Algonquin Gas Pipeline

[silveraeroguy.livejournal.com]

Starting at the corner of McGrath and Highland they are making a 2nd spur for the line that already runs along the McGrath Highway. The new spur runs down Medford and then on the side of the rail corridor behind the high school (it may even go under the tracks at that point).

There are also state workers fixing the concrete sides of the McGrath bridge from Gilman St towards Highland, but I do not think those guys are really in the way of the train right of way.