First gate is 1450' away, second about 1600'. I don't know yet, if the line is used much, so can't comment on this yet. I used to live within 100 feet of a gate that saw a lot of traffic when I was in college, and I think I got used to it... Forget a lot from 32 years back. This was in an urban environment, and this one is obviously rural.

Your thoughts and opinions on this situation, most notably noise from the train whistle, and even ambient noise from the train, as it relates to the homes proximity. Going to look at the home at 5pm. Thank you.

You will certainly hear the horns, not too bad at that distance, depending on the ground/bedrock and train speed, you might feel the vibration/rumble.

Lived within a 1/4 mile of a train in the Florida Panhandle, so the sandy soil prevented any vibration of rumbling that was noticeable.

But you could hear the train if you were outside, and the horn inside.

Hard to say about traffic, but the county may have traffic flow numbers for that area.

That would be WAAAYYYY too close for me, but everyone is different and tolerate things differently.

That would be too close to the tracks for me, regardless of the crossing.

-Rob

Hard to say. Try to assess the volume of traffic. I live about that far (as the crow flys) from a light to moderate use line in suburban St. Louis County that primarily delivers coal to a power plant. I hear the train and horns sometimes, but I never found it objectionable. Sometimes, at night, I actually enjoy hearing the diesel engines pull up the grade and the clickity-clack of the wheels as it passes by. But I like trains.

Too close for me.
Dust, noise, potential chemical spills, etc. are all negatives.

It would depend on the amount of train traffic. I grew up in a rural area with a train track a similar distance although no nearby crossing. You could hear and occasionally feel the rumble of the train. The train passed by very rarely and had no need to blow it's horn in our proximity. Perhaps if there is a train schedule you could make plans to be in the home when it passes by prior to purchasing.

I think you'll hear that train a coming, rolling around the bend.....

Dang-it, just saw 1000' to the SE on the same road, there is another RR crossing gate. Hmmm... On my house hunting deal breakers sheet, it has "Too close to RR tracks". Can't say I like having three RR gates that close, and on the same road. I'm still going to see it, and hope some trains roll by.

BTW, wouldn't you know it, just over those tracks, is the largest selection of guns gun store, in the county.

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BTW, wouldn't you know it, just over those tracks, is the largest selection of guns gun store, in the county.

Well, that should seal the deal!

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Originally posted by 2tonicP220:... Can't say I like having three RR gates that close, and on the same road. I'm still going to see it, and hope some trains roll by.

...

Just don't get drunk the day your mama gets outta prison...

If the property is unoccupied, ask the real estate salesperson if there would be any problem with you spending a few hours there to see how noisome the railroad is. You could sit in your vehicle in the driveway and probably get an idea of whether you can stand it. Our rural property is several miles from the nearest grade crossing, and when the wind is right (wrong?), the train horn wakes me up if my bedroom window is open.

If there is a siding there, there may be times that a train sits for hours with the locomotives idling.

When it comes time to sell the property, naturally there will be people who will be turned off by the proximity to the RR track.

Also, check a floodplain map. The property may be in a flood zone.

Check to see if the crossing is exempted from whistle-blowing. Some of those rural crossings are.

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Originally posted by arfmel:
If the property is unoccupied, ask the real estate salesperson if there would be any problem with you spending a few hours there to see how noisome the railroad is. You could sit in your vehicle in the driveway and probably get an idea of whether you can stand it. Our rural property is several miles from the nearest grade crossing, and when the wind is right (wrong?), the train horn wakes me up if my bedroom window is open.

If there is a siding there, there may be times that a train sits for hours with the locomotives idling.

When it comes time to sell the property, naturally there will be people who will be turned off by the proximity to the RR track.

This. I grew up near rain tracks with the crossing about a 1/2 mile down the road. Again, i got used to it like you but you have to think in terms of reseal value as well. It will hurt. Any time I have ever considered a home i always spent several hours at all different times of day getting a feel for the neighborhood and the neighbors.

Also, it's not just the crossing, but you've put yourself in a 1/4 mile semi-circle surrounded by chugging clacketyclacking locomotive and cars. Compounded by all the trees being going through half that radius.

It looks like a beautiful property, but I really don't think I could do that.

Thanks everybody. The home is FSBO, and occupied. "Is it in a flood plane", is on my research sheet, and I never thought/knew about a rural no whistle gated RR crossing. I have always liked the sound of a distant train, when the wind is right... Distant.

I too am concerned a bit about resale, and places like these, usually have two or three offers the first day or so. Never seen anything like these last few years. Curious to see where this one stands.

A Biker bar outside Tucson used to have a "Harley Night" at least once a month for several years. Local residents objected to the loud exhaust noise.

Bar was about 50 YARDS from a Southern Pacific train crossing that handled container trains about every 30 minutes each day. Train horn blowing each time.

Local residents didn't seem to mind the loud train horn, but damn those bikers were loud, so no more "Bike Night".

Go figure.

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Originally posted by sigmonkey:

quote:

Originally posted by 2tonicP220:... Can't say I like having three RR gates that close, and on the same road. I'm still going to see it, and hope some trains roll by.

...

Just don't get drunk the day your mama gets outta prison...

I live <300yds from a busy track, it also has a siding in front of my house. I only notice a train when it is under load & going into/out of the siding because it rattles my bedroom window. All other times, I block it out.
I've lived within 1/2 mile of this same track all my life, however. I got de-sensitized while in college, but quickly learned to ignore the trains. The trees will block a lot of the noise. You'll hate it at first, but you likely won't have neighbors building in the area....

My dad had a single wide mobile home an a half acre of land directly across the street from the train tracks. After the first night, you'd sleep right through the train noise. I wouldn't think they'd use a whistle at those crossings as it looks pretty rural. But a 1/4 mile away you will hear it outside and may possibly feel it.....inside maybe hear it a little.

I shot you an email to your profile address. I work for one of the big Class I railroads and can hopefully help in answering some of your questions with a little background info.