Why do trains scream?

Rail squeal is a screeching train-track friction sound, commonly occurring on sharp curves. Squeal is presumably caused by the lateral sticking and slipping of the wheels across top of the railroad track. This results in vibrations in the wheel that increase until a stable amplitude is reached.



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Two main reasons - it can be down to the action of the braking system (particularly “clasp” brakes, which act directly on the tyres of the wheels) or the friction between the wheels and the rails on tight curves and pointwork.

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Irregularities on the wheel tread and the railhead excite vibrations of the wheels and rails followed by emission of noise. This is called rolling noise and is a major problem for freight trains which often operate at night.

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“People assume that trains are loud, but that assumption is based on the fact that when a train's gone past them in a station it's noisy. That's because the noise a train makes is mainly projected to either side. When trains are moving directly towards you they are barely audible–until it's too late.”

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Train Horn Requirements Under the Train Horn Rule (49 CFR Part 222, issued on August 17, 2006), locomotive engineers must begin to sound train horns at least 15 seconds, and no more than 20 seconds, in advance of all public grade crossings.

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Guests are asked to limit conversation and speak in subdued tones. Phone calls are not allowed and all portable electronic devices must be muted or used with headphones (passengers using headphones must keep the volume low enough so that the audio cannot be heard by other passengers).

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The intensity of sound (such as a train horn) that you hear will vary at night, sometimes louder and sometimes softer. The explanation is the height of the inversion above the ground.

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Adding soundproof curtains is an easy way to reduce train noise. Blackout curtains provide a similar effect — thick material is more effective, and you want at least two layers to absorb the most sound.

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And the main reason for that is safety. Locomotive engineers are required to honk every now and then, which is written down in the regulations called the Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns.

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Its primary purpose is to alert persons and animals to an oncoming train, especially when approaching a level crossing. They are often extremely loud, allowing them to be heard from great distances. They are also used for acknowledging signals given by railroad employees, such as during switching operations.

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By the time a train operator sees you, it is too late to stop the train in time. An oncoming train is moving faster and is closer to you than it appears. Similar to an airplane traveling at 150 mph that appears to float onto the runway, it's hard to determine a train's speed and distance from you.

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Does the Train Conductor Sleep on the Train? In a word, no. Neither the conductor nor the engineer is allowed to sleep on the train. They must be awake and alert throughout their entire shift.

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It depends on what you're eating. Discrete, low key snacking is fine as long as you clean up after yourself and leave no trace that your food was ever there. But eating something messy and smelly is probably a bit much. No not rude at all, but be aware of your travel companions and if your food smells bad to them.

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“People assume that trains are loud, but that assumption is based on the fact that when a train's gone past them in a station it's noisy. That's because the noise a train makes is mainly projected to either side. When trains are moving directly towards you they are barely audible–until it's too late.”

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Anyway, don't blame the engineer: They're required to blow that horn. The regulation in question is called the Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns—a name that strongly implies they've had just about enough of your bitching—and it requires four blasts 15 to 20 seconds before every crossing.

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This location may be surprising, but loud music, car horns and sirens can hurt your ears, especially if you have your windows open. Even passing trains can affect your hearing with their horn reaching 145 to 175 decibels.

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How many decibels is a real train horn? Car horns and train horns are measured differently because of their size, a train horn is much bigger and can create more noise. Train horns are typically between 110-140 decibels in sound level! They may sound very similar but completely different levels.

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