Riverside Train

[A-Finnius]

I've been living in Riverside for a couple of months now and I am rather enjoying it.  The neighborhood is a great change from the 'burbs and I love being close to five points but I have one question.  What is the deal with the freaking train that's blowing its whistle at 4:30 AM everyday?  This thing is driving me nuts.  It wakes me up and then I can never get back to sleep.  Is there not some sort of noise ordinance to prohibit this?

[Ocklawaha]

FEDERAL LAW:

Before finalizing the rule, FRA held public meetings around the country and solicited comment from scores of affected communities and stakeholders. Based upon the voluminous input received, FRA published an Interim Final Rule in December 2003, refining its original proposal and inviting additional public comment. The final federal train horn rule became effective on June 24, 2005.

The rule provides the first opportunity ever for many local communities around the country affected by train horn noise the option of silencing horns by establishing quiet zones.

Sounding the Locomotive Horn: Under the Train Horn Rule, locomotive engineers must sound train horns for a minimum of 15 seconds, and a maximum of 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings, except:

    * If a train is traveling faster than 45mph, engineers will not sound the horn until it is within ¼ mile of the crossing, even if the advance warning is less than 15 seconds.
    * If a train stops in close proximity to a crossing, the horn does not have to be sounded when the train begins to move again.
    * There is a "good faith" exception for locations where engineers can’t precisely estimate their arrival at a crossing.

Wherever feasible, train horns must be sounded in a standardized pattern of 2 long, 1 short and 1 long. The horn must continue to sound until the lead locomotive or train car occupies the grade crossing

OCKLAWAHA

[floridaforester]

Just be thankful that we can go wherever we need to in our neighborhood or jump on the interstate to go elsewhere and not ever have to cross RR tracks.  They can't claim that in San Marco.  The trains are an absolute nightmare in San marco and block up traffic at all hours of the day (especially when you have someplace you need to be).

I do agree that they lean on the horn sometimes a little longer than necessary.  I believe the conductor is thinking "if I'm up at 4:30 AM, everyone else should be as well".

[Ocklawaha]

Just be thankful that we can go wherever we need to in our neighborhood or jump on the interstate to go elsewhere and not ever have to cross RR tracks.  They can't claim that in San Marco.  The trains are an absolute nightmare in San marco and block up traffic at all hours of the day (especially when you have someplace you need to be).

I do agree that they lean on the horn sometimes a little longer than necessary.  I believe the conductor is thinking "if I'm up at 4:30 AM, everyone else should be as well".

Could be floridaforester, but the conductor does NOT sound the horn, he serves as the "captain" of the train, does some switching (formerly a Brakman's job), he does assist the engineer in keeping an eye on the road and the train (formerly a firemans job), he also does all of the paper work and handles orders.

In spite of all of these responsibilities he is paid less then the engineer! Sort of a thankless job, which railroads are known for. The lowly track gang or "Gandy Dancers" even have a poem about this stuff:

I'm not allowed to run the train
The whistle I can't blow
I'm not the one who designates
How far the train will go
I'm not allowed to blow the steam
Or even ring the bell
But let the damn thing jump the track
And see who catches hell.

BTW, the City of South Jacksonville, filed suit against DUVAL and the COJ over the inability to get across the FEC RY tracks. They demanded an overpass or underpass but the hearings were tabled... THAT was in 1923!
My how progressive we are.


OCKLAWAHA

[A-Finnius]

FEDERAL LAW:

The rule provides the first opportunity ever for many local communities around the country affected by train horn noise the option of silencing horns by establishing quiet zones.

OCKLAWAHA

So I'm guessing the area just north of Gilmore on Stockton isn't considered a "Quiet Zone"?

[Charles Hunter]

As I understand the "quiet zone" rules, the local government must pay to improve the crossings - gates in all four lanes, barriers to prevent cars from going on the wrong side, and other stuff.  These are expensive, and have to be done at every crossing in the "zone".  Depending on what area you want to "quiet" would determine how many crossings. If the area northeast of Edgewood, it looks like there's 4 crossings - Willowbranch, then a long gap to King, then in quick succession Rosselle and Phyllis.  Continuing past I-10 are Stockton and Edison.  Going the other way, are Willowbranch, Post and McDuff, and Plymouth (FSCJ).  San Marco is even worse.  With the City's tough financial situation, I don't see them spending money on quiet zones - unless perhaps there are special taxing districts, so those who benefit from the quiet actually pay for it.

[Dog Walker]

A-Finn, You'll get used to the train horns after a while.  Relax.  I've lived in Jacksonville for most of my life, somehow always within hearing distance of train crossings.  Now, it's the sound of home and somehow sort of reassuring when lying in bed half asleep.  It's a cold weather sound too,  since the horn sound travels farther in cold air.

[Ernest Street]

Is that The Amtrack on Stockton or nearby blowing between 5:20-5:40 am almost every morning?

[Ocklawaha]

Which brings up another point that RAP, and other Civic Groups and private citizens should do, let's all write Amtrak and ask them to send those 2 trains through here at better hours. Move the trains 4-12 hours apart, then at least we would have train connections to the rest of Florida at differing times of the day. As it is the Silver Meteor and Silver Star run back to back only 2 hours and 28 minutes apart, then nothing else southbound until the next day.

7:15 am is not an acceptable time to service our city on these southbound runs, considering the next (and only other)  train is right behind it at 9:28.  Why not 10:00 am and 11:55 pm Southbound? arrivals in Tampa/Miami in the late afternoon and early morning with nearly a 12 hour spread. When the Palmetto (now turned back to NYC at Savannah) gets restored to Jax and Florida, it could then assume the overnight and one of the others could move to an early am south schedule again. We would then have SB departures at M/L 7:30 am, 10:00am, 11:55pm.

Okay, maybe it sounds complex to a novice but it's really quite simple. Northbound the same two trains come through at 4:16 pm and 7:40 pm.

These times do not include the Auto-Train which makes no passenger stop here.

OCKLAWAHA

[RiversideLoki]

I'm not allowed to run the train
The whistle I can't blow
I'm not the one who designates
How far the train will go
I'm not allowed to blow the steam
Or even ring the bell
But let the damn thing jump the track
And see who catches hell.

BTW THANK YOU OCK for this. My family has been railroad for as long as I remember. We have an embroidered plaque with this on it in my parents house and I smile every time I read it. That saying has been around for as long as my father can remember. And all too true.

[Steve]

So I'm guessing the area just north of Gilmore on Stockton isn't considered a "Quiet Zone"?

No.  I feel your pain too some nights in Riverside.  You do get used to it (even in a house with original windows)

[mtraininjax]

Lived in Avondale on Edgewood for 10 years, the horns sound louder in the winter due to no leaves on trees, so pray we get summer soon. I love the sound of train horns and I want them to be louder.

[jaxlore]

yep it takes a while but now i rarely even notice it, although i will admit, i am one of the lucky ones to have an old 8 foot fence, but that doesn't stop the daily morning roosevelt slam on brakes crash sounds. Still worries me when i hear it.

[A-Finnius]

I like the sound of the whistle blowing as well.  I think it adds charm and character to the neighborhood. 

I'm just not a fan of the 4:30 AM whistle that blows for five minutes every morning for the past week.   

[904Scars]

I use to live on Ernest near King and let me tell you the first month or so I was awaken several times in the night... fact is, you'll get use to it. But as some have already stated it's law that they signal as they are passing through any crossing. In fact you will get so use to it that during the daytime when your awake and at home you'll know what time it is just by the sound of the trains passing.