Hot Water Wrote:
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> Don Levasheff Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I recently overnighted in The Dalles and
> Pendleton
> > Oregon. In those towns are "No Train Horn
> Blowing"
> > restrictions at crossings. It appeared all
> > crossings are regulated with warning devices.
> For
> > me, however it seemed there was an increased
> > element of danger with trains going through
> town
> > at speed with just bells as a warning. With
> ribbon
> > rail trains are much quieter. I'm wondering how
> > railroad crews and management feel about such
> > ordinances that local communities create and
> the
> > agreements made with the railroad. I would
> suppose
> > that the towns accept the responsibility for
> any
> > mishaps. Any thoughts or information is
> > appreciated.
>
> 1) As information, the western suburbs of Chicago
> are all pretty much "quiet zones", and have been
> since back in the days of steam locomotives, on
> both the CB&Q and former C&NW multiple track main
> lines.
>
> 2) Just because there is a "quiet zone" does NOT
> mean that the Engineer can not use the
> whistle/horn in the event of a perceived
> "emergency". It is not uncommon for a METRA
> express commuter train, running at speed on the
> middle track, to use the horn when approaching a
> stopped & unloading METRA commuter train on an
> adjacent track. Use of the horn in such situations
> helps prevent any passengers from walking around
> the front/rear of the stopped train in order to
> cross the tracks right in the path of the
> on-coming express.
>
> Such "quiet zones" have been working well in the
> Chicago suburbs for some 70 years or so.

Also in effect in the St. Louis area. MP had one that extended all the way from downtown to just west of Webster Groves at Rock Hill Road.