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Train Whistle heard at night though not near any tracks for miles
February 25, 2012 | Beowulf9

Posted on 02/25/2012 7:04:02 AM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: night; train; vanity; whistle
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To: PapaNew

I sometimes hear one very close to here. Usually around noon.

I finally found out what is was. A neighbor who lives about a mile away, has a construction business and he also has an old steamboat whistle. I think he blows it to signal but maybe just for his amusement.

There are oddities about sound travel. I live about 300 yards from a rural crossroads. One day I was sitting on the porch and there was some construction work going on there. They were repairing a flashing red light.

I was sitting on the front porch and could hear their conversation as if they were only around 20 feet away.


61 posted on 02/25/2012 8:27:36 AM PST by yarddog
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To: PapaNew

I sometimes hear one very close to here. Usually around noon.

I finally found out what is was. A neighbor who lives about a mile away, has a construction business and he also has an old steamboat whistle. I think he blows it to signal but maybe just for his amusement.

There are oddities about sound travel. I live about 300 yards from a rural crossroads. One day I was sitting on the porch and there was some construction work going on there. They were repairing a flashing red light.

I was sitting on the front porch and could hear their conversation as if they were only around 20 feet away.


62 posted on 02/25/2012 8:27:50 AM PST by yarddog
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Comment #63 Removed by Moderator

To: Lazamataz; Joe 6-pack; blueunicorn6; Beowulf9
I was driving a train down your neighborhood street.

Troublemaker! I'll bet you're a Doppler gangster.

64 posted on 02/25/2012 8:32:46 AM PST by Larry Lucido (My doctor told me to curtail my Walpoling activities.)
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To: mountainlion

LOL! We’re exactly the same here.


65 posted on 02/25/2012 8:35:13 AM PST by Library Lady
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To: MindBender26

Before the highways and noise of modern life, Niagara Falls could be heard in Toronto roughly 70miles away.


66 posted on 02/25/2012 8:37:56 AM PST by singletrack (..................................................................)
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To: Larry Lucido
Anyone remember the old "Amazing Stories" series episode called "Ghost Train"?

..."Old Pa...it's coming!"

67 posted on 02/25/2012 8:38:22 AM PST by RckyRaCoCo (I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery, IXNAY THE TSA!...P.S. Why did FR ZOT Frantzie?)
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To: Beowulf9
If the wind is in the right direction, we hear a train that is about nine miles away.

Barometric pressure...

When the pressure is low, (potential rain), it's like a lid was put on the atmosphere and pressed down...Everything goes sideways instead of up, including sound, and smoke...

68 posted on 02/25/2012 8:44:08 AM PST by Iscool (You mess with me, you mess with the WHOLE trailerpark...)
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To: Beowulf9

Coyote hunters. Coyotes respond to train whistles


69 posted on 02/25/2012 8:51:59 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
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To: Larry Lucido

I’m sorry. I thought a Doppler Shift was an optional transmission on my 68 Oldsmobile.


70 posted on 02/25/2012 9:02:28 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: goat granny
Is that 7 miles as the crow flys or via roads....

I'd say flies, crows don't like to walk very far.....

71 posted on 02/25/2012 9:06:21 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (The only solution to this primary is a shoot out! Last person standing picks the candidate)
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To: Beowulf9

I hear a train all the time from farther than that. Perfectly normal


72 posted on 02/25/2012 9:07:43 AM PST by vpintheak (Occupy your Brain!)
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To: Beowulf9
If you are hearing a whistle you are hearing a ghost.

Today's diesel locomotives do not have whistles. They are equipped with air horns.

A reproduction of a Southern Pacific Railroad 6 chime steam whistle.

Listen Here

A typical modern 5 chime air horn

Listen Here

As many folks have stated on here, yes it is possible to hear train horns from many miles away depending on weather conditions and the terrain features between you and the railroad.

73 posted on 02/25/2012 9:08:08 AM PST by Yankee (ANNOY THE RNC AND THE MEDIA: NOMINATE NEWT GINGRICH!)
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To: Iscool

Exactly.

When I can hear the trains on the tracks miles away it means rain soon.Train sounds not heard here in clear weather.


74 posted on 02/25/2012 9:10:20 AM PST by hoosierham (Freedom isn't free)
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To: SkyDancer

I take offense at that. Some of my best friends are drunk women.


75 posted on 02/25/2012 9:13:45 AM PST by Yankee (ANNOY THE RNC AND THE MEDIA: NOMINATE NEWT GINGRICH!)
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To: yoe

The wind direction is not a factor (sound waves travel much faster than the air can). It is the temperature profile in the air above ground level which causes ducting of the sound energy, and is the biggest factor.


76 posted on 02/25/2012 9:14:38 AM PST by expat2
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To: Beowulf9; InvisibleChurch; F15Eagle

100 miles. You can hear the whistle blow 100 miles.


77 posted on 02/25/2012 9:15:12 AM PST by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (REPEAL WASHINGTON! -- Islam Delenda Est! -- I Want Constantinople Back. -- Rumble thee forth.)
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To: All

http://www.hornblasters.com/products/details.php?i=nathan-airchime-p3-540-train-horn-kit


78 posted on 02/25/2012 9:32:36 AM PST by troy McClure
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To: Hot Tabasco

LOL I could have worded it better couldn’t I......had to go back and reread my remark. Your good to catch that...


79 posted on 02/25/2012 9:34:14 AM PST by goat granny
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To: blueunicorn6

I told my Olds dealer that I couldn’t find my Doppler shift but he told me where to stick it.


80 posted on 02/25/2012 10:15:47 AM PST by Larry Lucido (My doctor told me to curtail my Walpoling activities.)
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