  Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1155 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ok, I am at a loss. I grew up close to the lake with no AC and when we heard the sounds of distant trains coming through our screens, I always understood the trains to be running on the Canadian side of the lake. This supposition continued to reaffirm itself in later life as we would sail over to Belle River for the weekend and note the trains running along the rails on the shore. Tonight, young son and I were in the back yard in GP...just blocks from Mack and we heard a train whistle that had a sound that was clearly not coming from the other side of the lake....indeed it was within a few miles of us, loud and distinct. What were we hearing? | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 4118 Registered: 12-2005 |
There are some aftermarket train horns available for use on normal vehicles. It might have been that. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 4211 Registered: 02-2005 |
Mafia, I also have lived for many years near Mack in GP. I'm quite sure that you are hearing train horns the rail approach to the Jefferson North/Warren Engine Chrysler plant right there near Warren/St. Jean. That's only 2-3 miles away. We might also hear trains passing through New Center/Milwaukee Junction. Amtrak and various freight goes through there near the Amtrak station on Baltimore, and all the way to Poletown for the freight trains. On a still night those sounds carry well and can sound rather distinct. | ||
Gazhekwe Member Username: Gazhekwe Post Number: 1202 Registered: 08-2007 |
There is a track that follows Groesbeck, and if conditions are right, the sound could carry that far. I know sometimes we can hear the trains in Royal Oak-Ferndale about 4 miles away almost as if they were running on the Mile road just to our north. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1157 Registered: 10-2003 |
Good info Mackinaw and Gaz, I have just never heard it that close while in GP. I am thinking that the Warren/St. Jean option sounds most realistic based on the proximity of the sound. | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1317 Registered: 11-2003 |
Funny you mention this... I am hearing trains more often than usual too on the Eastside. Perhaps the weather is carrying the sound better lately? | ||
Detroitrise Member Username: Detroitrise Post Number: 1185 Registered: 09-2007 |
"There is a track that follows Groesbeck, and if conditions are right, the sound could carry that far. I know sometimes we can hear the trains in Royal Oak-Ferndale about 4 miles away almost as if they were running on the Mile road just to our north." Yeah, that one runs daily at 3PM sharp. you better not be on 8 Mile that time of day. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1159 Registered: 10-2003 |
This one was at about 10:30 PM | ||
East_detroit Member Username: East_detroit Post Number: 1320 Registered: 11-2003 |
I am hearing quite a bit of them right now. | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1161 Registered: 10-2003 |
This would indicate drinking out in the yard on a Saturday night. Good work Eastside! I approve. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5976 Registered: 08-2004 |
I often hear the Goesbeck line train from about 3 miles away in St. Clair Shores. Although I usually hear it late at night (2-3AM), sometimes I hear it in the day time. When I lived near Balduck Park, I could often hear the large Ore Carriers on the Detroit River sounding their horns, a low pitched foghorn sound. But in SCS, I never hear it. Not sure if it's because the shipping channels are so far out in the lake, or maybe because there's no reason to sound them out there. | ||
Mccarch Member Username: Mccarch Post Number: 146 Registered: 12-2003 |
I think low cloud covering has a lot to do with it. I live in Woodbridge, and in summer (with the bedroom windows open) I can sometimes hear ship horns at night. Wish I could hear them more often | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 829 Registered: 07-2007 |
Was there a tornado somewhere last night? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =kquopgPPNRA&feature=related | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3523 Registered: 10-2003 |
I live near 7/Mack and I frequently hear the GTW trains following Groesbeck. However, last night there was a strong breeze (let's call it a fresh breeze for our sailor friend) from the southeast, so maybe you were hearing the trains across the lake? Also, the rail line paralleling St Jean occasionally has trains run south side of Jefferson to the chemical recycling plant on Freud. | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 2453 Registered: 01-2005 |
Mccarch hit it with low cloud cover. I have the same thing here in suburban Vegas. On a (rare) cloudy day I'll hear the horns from a Union Pacific spur five miles south. On clear days never hear 'em. Kind of a romance to hearing a diesel horn, ain't there? Was even better in the steam days...... | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 2057 Registered: 11-2003 |
Mikem--I thought you were Vernier/Mack. Did you move down the street to be closer to Metro Airport? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5816 Registered: 11-2003 |
Rock, you want train action, try Flagstaff, AZ on the Santa Fe. They run volumes right through downtown at high speeds and they really blow the horns at ya. You can stand there and watch the Chinese imports in containers up from the Calif. ports, heading East. Then there's Rochelle, Illinois, the famous crossing. jjaba. | ||
Jrvass Member Username: Jrvass Post Number: 361 Registered: 01-2007 |
Jimaz is right, Go to Trainhorn.org or Hornblasters.com. The compressors at trainhorn.org are crappy. The horns are OK. Search Youtube for examples. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 2058 Registered: 11-2003 |
Sorry folks, those train sounds you hear from GP are emanating from my HO gauge model train layout in my basement.4 tracks, 30 diesels, 61 steam engines to chose from. Lots of sound-- whistles, horns, steam, the whole works, along with a boom box playing the rail sounds on a DVD collection gathered from 25 different train locations all across the USA. But I hear those other sounds, too. Trains in Macomb and Wayne counties, steam whistles from the freighter channel, planes on their landing pattern to Metro Airport, tankers from Selfridge. Not always peaceful around hear, but I would have it no other way. Those commercial lawn mower services and their equipment? That's another story. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 4127 Registered: 12-2005 |
Oh, I didn't think to search Youtube. This ship horn's pretty cool: Bigger than a Train Horn! | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 5817 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jimaz, now that some horns. Amazing set-up. Imagine that guy in the mall parking lot when you back up in his lane. The Rock needs to invite The Forum out for some Strohs and some train action. Sounds like quite the set-up. Pastoral Grosse Pointe from the ads doesn't sound like your Grosse Pointe. You want peace and quiet, try living on the Westside of Detroit. jjaba, LOL. | ||
Flyingj Member Username: Flyingj Post Number: 62 Registered: 08-2006 |
Jjaba & The Rock; If it's not Lionel HO you guys will deservedly catch hell from this board Jjaba's on the money on Flagstaff-the Rodeway Inn @ 122 Route 66 is a shabby snowboarder hang-but the rooms on the South side over the driveway are manna for trainwatchers hell for anybody else if you go further west it's Joe's Country Corner Café 2135 Glen Helen Parkway Devore, CA-sit on a picnic table while 3 mainlines cross a mere 20 feet away, the food is good enough where the engineers will stop their trains to grab lunch | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 593 Registered: 03-2005 |
The Conrail crossing on East Jefferson just east of St. Jean has occassional traffic and whistles. It serves the Chrysler Jefferson North assembly plant. Yes, there still is a Conrail in Detroit and two places in New Jersey existing as a "Shared Asset" of Norfolk Southern and CSX. Bob Cosgrove |
