Resident makes noise about Grafton & Upton Railroad horns
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
Toot! Toot! Toot! Toot! Tooooooot!
It was a recent morning at the railroad crossing on Waterville Street, where Grafton & Upton Railroad trains were connecting up for the day’s work.
Forty times, a train moved into the intersection.
Forty times, in accordance with federal law, the train horn sounded.
Carmen Paglione, who lives near the intersection, contacted the Select Board to complain about the horns, which he says are “excessive.”
“If someone would take the time to talk to me you would see that I am not just a pain,” he wrote. “I have legitimate reasons but none of the board has taken the time to really see what goes on here at Waterville Street, East Street and Ray Street. and what kind of noise this part of town goes through. As I said before if this board does not have the courage to take on this RR you could at least tell me who does! Very Frustrated with the lack of concern for the residents of this part of town and the tax payers!”
Select Board member Ray Mead noted Tuesday night that the horn sounding is as advertised and asked if there is anything the town can do.
The issue, however, is a federal law, Town Administrator Evan Brassard wrote in a response. “Under the Train Horn Rule (49 CFR Part 222), 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. Train horns must be sounded in a standardized pattern of 2 long, 1 short and 1 long blasts. The pattern must be repeated or prolonged until the lead locomotive or lead cab car occupies the grade crossing. The rule does not stipulate the durations of long and short blasts. The maximum volume level for the train horn is 110 decibels which is a new requirement. The minimum sound level remains 96 decibels.”
Back in late 2019, the Grafton & Upton Railroad proposed a solution: a quiet zone, which would require making East Street one-way. At a public meeting outlining the plan, about 20 North Grafton residents resoundingly expressed their rejection.
Brassard said he would forward the concerns to the railroad.
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