Train Whistle heard at night though not near any tracks for miles

February 25, 2012 | Beowulf9

[Beowulf9]

At night I hear a train whistle where I live, only occasionally and actually rarely. Have heard it about 3 or 4 times in about 7 years.

Thing is I live about 7 miles from a train track. Is it possible to hear a train whistle that far away?

and it does sound kind of ghostly, echoey, resonates.

I wondered if anyone else hear knows how far a train whistle can be heard.

I live in Phoenix Az, by Camelback Mountain.

[COBOL2Java]

If you ever see it, try to catch the train number...

[PapaNew]

You reminded me of a couple of funny train stories. Way back when, my brother mounted a one-piston diesel horn on his VW bug. He and his girlfriend would drive into the bushes next to a RR crossing and blast it whenever a car was in the middle crossing the tracks.

Did you ever see the TV movie "Duel" (the first movie Steven Spielberg directed)? Do you remember the scene where he's so tired, he parks by the tracks and doesn't realize it. The same thing happened to our family on a vacation when I was a kid. (Duel scene link below.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmD0fKh0Bjw&feature=related

Don't know where this thread is going but it's fun talking about this stuff - a nice break from Robamaney/GingRick.

[PapaNew]

Exactly. Back in the late 50’s, my brother mounted a one-piston diesel horn on his VW bug. He and his girlfriend would drive into the bushes next to a RR crossing and blast it whenever a car was in the middle crossing the tracks.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Ghost trains! That’s it. Look for the ghost light on the phantom engine! Just don’t get on board or it will take you to the land of the dead.

[sit-rep]

lol

[scott7278]

bfl

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

We live about eight miles away from a drag-strip. There is an Interstate, hills, lots of trees, and other obstructions between us. In the summer time we can clearly hear the cars “staging” and then the sustained 1/4 mile run. When they run the jet cars it's almost like being in the stands.

I remember some years ago we heard a short run which ended in a very loud bang. The next day we heard that a fuel burning rail blew a clutch. There were some killed in the stands from shrapnel. I believe the explosion ripped open the scatter shield, now they use Kevlar blankets.

Regards,
GtG

[discostu]

I live down the street from you in Tucson. On a quiet morning I can hear the train whistle 8 1/2 miles away. I can hear the UofA clock town bell too sometimes. Sound travels well unopposed.

[SkyDancer]

LOL!!

[SkyDancer]

That’d have to be a low flying plane or a high flying train. LOL

[rabidralph]

I live near train tracks, about 500 yards, and the loudness does vary, depending on the wind direction.

[yarddog]

You are right, the wind does influence how sound can be heard, tho I have no idea why.

As someone pointed out, the speed of sound is far faster than any wind but apparently that is not the whole story.

[rabidralph]

I'm thinking the train conductors move the horn around the length of the train on regular basis, just to confuse us. But why should they have all the fun?

[Beowulf9]

“Yes, I hear the whistles of trains running on tracks about eight miles to the west of my home. It’s a kind of lonely, romantic sound...”

I don’t hear that train often enough, only about 3 times, but the sound is about midnight, and the town is quiet and it is a very lonely romantic sound. I totally understand.

I love the answers on this column, btw, Just got home from work and reading through...wow!

[Beowulf9]

“If you were really alert, you’d see a light, too.”

When I see that light I’m ready for the train to take me off, to the looney bin that is, heheh;)

[Beowulf9]

“It could be a Ghost Train. We had one near our house about 20 years ago.”

I would love to hear a ghost train. Did you hear it or see it? Where? I’ve always been fascinated by the Lincoln Ghost train story.

Would love to hear more:)

[Beowulf9]

Boy, that Ellwood Haynam really had that whistle sound down!

It was a modern train sound, and now I am educated as to the difference! Love that modern chime sound, which isn’t all THAT modern, because I think I’ve been hearing it since I was a kid in the 50s, right?

[Beowulf9]

“Ghost trains! That’s it. Look for the ghost light on the phantom engine! Just don’t get on board or it will take you to the land of the dead.”

omg, my stomach hurts from laughing!

ok, so I guess I’m hearing a real train ^..^

[chimera]

Simple pleasures are best. Sitting on the beach in the evening watching the surf has got to be my number one spiritual relaxer. After that, watching the sunset on a warm evening, listening to the sounds of the evening, a quiet conversation, train whistles in the distance, the day settling down, just peaceful and restful.

[21twelve]

Back in high-school and college I made up a goofy country-western song. With verses added on each road trip. The last verse, (after about six years of verses and even more adventures!) goes like:

A train’s gently calling
on some distant rising
Calling me back to yesterday’s things.

But the train that I’m on
Is the train that is moving
Moving me on to what tomorrow will bring,
bringing....

REFRAIN:

Cold beans and whiskey
And honkey tonk bars
Dirty motel rooms
And gazing at stars.

My kids tell me I should get it recorded!