“Blow the damn horn”
Listen to Loveland’s Train Whistle:
[quote_box_right]Cathy PopeĀ Sitting on my front porch….a train just went by….There’s a field across the street and the tracks are on the back side of the field…I heard the whistle blow before I saw it….waited for it to come by… a beautiful, peaceful morning, train whistle in the distance….life is good. Then I noticed it…while I am looking across the field waiting for the train I saw them….a telephone line and an electric line…when did those get put there? I never noticed them before!! And how could a phone pole be put along the road in front of my house? I never saw that as an issue before. Actually when I look out over the fields I never see them. They have been there for more years than I am old. And I do not see the lines or the pole when I look across there. But now that I am aware they are an unsightly thing, I guess the only thing to do is ask that they be removed from my sight…will that happen…probably not….I am pretty sure I am not important enough to take taxpayers money to do this…but that’s ok…when I look out I don’t see those things anyway….I see the beauty of why I live where I live in the first place…..and the train whistle… It only adds to the beauty when I see it roll by….through the middle of a field….on its way somewhere unknown to me….life is good.[/quote_box_right]
Loveland, Oh. – Ironic that the developer in Historic Downtown so intentionally exploited the charm of the area to the extent of purposelyĀ naming theĀ mixed-use development, “Loveland Station” that in the process, takes away something so dear to townsfolk; the sound of the train whistle.
It may be all talk and bluster ā however, selling the charm of living in a former railroad town to a developer so he could attract renters to high-end, luxury apartments may have backfired asĀ talkĀ of a recall election and protest in front of City Hall are contemplated.
Harry Lofland, aĀ former candidate for a city council seat, and retiredĀ police officer said,Ā “Blow the damn horn. Move if you don’t like it. Maybe we can get someone killed?!?”
SinceĀ Loveland Magazine posted news of the “Quiet Zone” under construction in downtown so new residents wouldn’t be disturbed by train whistles (About the Loveland R.R. “Quiet Zone”) to the Facebook pageĀ Ā YouĀ knowĀ yourĀ [sic]Ā fromĀ LovelandĀ ifĀ on Saturday,Ā more than a hundred comments poured in, mostly lamenting the past, or lambasting City Hall.
Michelle Campbell-WinterĀ wrote,Ā “The train whistle is a staple of Loveland, let the the train whistle, whistle.”
BelowĀ are more comments:
Loveland Magazine posed this question to the Facebook followers:
How do you feel about the train whistle being silenced in Historic Downtown so new renters at Loveland Station won’t have to hear it?
About the Loveland R.R. āQuiet Zoneā
The quiet zone eliminates the need for the train conductor to sound the trainās horn as it crosses roadways near Loveland Station Apartments Many readers are wanting more information about the pend…
LOVELANDMAGAZINE.COM|BY LOVELANDMAGAZINE
-
Sheila Applegate MaddenĀ I love to hear the train whistle when it goes through…it’s a lonesome yet peaceful sound. I would miss it and think it would be a shame to silence it. I would say this just adds to Historic Loveland. -
Todd OsborneĀ Let’s also remember that the trains will be allowed to travel faster, cutting down the hold on the existing traffic problems. I am not thrilled with the expense but the quiet zone has been on the table since day one. The cost originally was more thanĀ …See More -
Joyce KnucklesĀ Love the train horns, have listened to them for years, and the new people they did not see the tracks, they are a big part of Loveland, get over yourself and enjoy -
Charissa ScurlockĀ It is the rich people having their way… -
Karen BrockĀ What are the Federal guidelines for train safety in this matter? If it’s just a matter of making noise I can do without a train blowing it’s horn. I think people in Loveland need to ask themselves if they want a big empty building downtown. No one in their right mind wants to be woken up to a train blowing it’s horn! -
Cathy PopeĀ The train whistle was never an issue before this building came to be. I believe you would be hard-pressed to find a handful of Lovelanders who do not like the train whistle blowing. Bet the next thing we hear about is fire and police will not be allowed to use sirens around this building. -
Dean OsborneĀ What’s next the police and fire dept won’t be allowed to use the sirens? The train whistles are for a reason and safety is number 1 vs convience of someone now the sirens on the police and fire dept vehicles are there for safety too but in Ohio if you use lights you must use by our siren that’s the law -
Dean OsborneĀ Wait for the first complaint about the trains vibrating the apts all I can say is get over it the trains were there first
-
Justin RueĀ I’d rather be woken up then know someone died because it not being able to blow it’s horn -
Joyce KnucklesĀ Yippee
-
Joyce KnucklesĀ Yippee
-
Tom MillitzerĀ We lived above our families store between the tracks. As a baby those sounds and vibrations would lull me to sleep. They won’t know what they missed. Wimp council and developers. -
Stefany Rust AllenĀ 16 years ago, I lived on Broadway in the building that still stands beside the bike trail and the RR. My baby was 18 months old at the time. We slept through the train at night and she would nap and not wake up during the day when the train came through. The train whistle is as beautiful a tune as the church bells. It’s all part of the history of our old town. Save the whistle! -
Carrie EngelĀ Another Indian Hill. So sad. -
Felicia FusonĀ It’s like anything else when you move to a new area, once your use to somthing you rarely pay attention to it. And I agree i have very fond memories of the train whistle and church bells. To the new tenants if you don’t like the features don’t move there. Keep the history of Loveland! New is not always better! -
Pamela BahlerĀ I grew up in the heights so I did not live near the tracks,but the sound of the train whistle in the distance is a great memory. -
Debra Ann WalkerĀ Todd OsborneĀ A – Close your windows B – Move -
Michelle RedfearnĀ I think it’s a nice sound. You don’t hear it after a while. -
Linda Gilker-PelfreyĀ That is really dumb and it seems to me that would be very unsafe -
Clara EisnaugleĀ Simple solution. Don’t move by train tracks if you don’t want to hear the train whistle. -
Megan Elizabeth McbrideĀ I grew up hearing the trains, I can usually guess the time by them. I know my kids and I will be disappointed if the whistles stop. -
Dean OsborneĀ Which council person made the suggestion on that to be brought up for a vote
-
Patricia BooksĀ I’m tired of the city council and a select few in Loveland making changes to our city that are totally ridiculous. The railroad whistles are a safety necessity and if you don’t like it, then move somewhere else. Next they are going to say no sitensĀ …See More -
Gail Payne GoodpasterĀ That’s like the people living around Lunken Airport complaining about airplane noise you knew the airport was there when you bought your house. DUH! -
Linda Gilker-PelfreyĀ Well said Patricia books
-
Joyce KnucklesĀ If council does not have common sense vote them out
-
Dean OsborneĀ Joyce the magic word is called recall
-
Tim HeinrichĀ The train vibration/natural sound from simply moving down the tracks makes more noise for a longer period of time than the whistle/air horns. I felt the trains before the whistle when I lived in The Knolls of Loveland, and I enjoyed every second of it. I call it the 4:10 to Goshen – referencing the 3:10 to Yuma. -
Jennifer Vaughn MerzĀ We live close & I am THRILLED their will be a quiet zone. If this was a safety issue the change would not be allowed. From the DOT website – Localities desiring to establish a quiet zone are first required to mitigate the increased risk caused by the absence of a horn. -
Ellen MershonĀ Incredible… Local governments have a tremendous amount of power and little oversight. When’s the last time anyone read meeting minutes or attended a council meeting. It’s only when there’s a scandal or something stupid like this that people realize there’s a problem. -
Dean OsborneĀ I’m sure the city never consulted the federal government or the railroad or NTSB about this
-
Patricia BooksĀ Thank you. I’ll get off my soapbox now.
-
Dean OsborneĀ Heck I live in symmes Twp and get water from Loveland and have live here in the township for. The past 6 months and had actual read water reading 1 time all others like this month were estimated
-
Jami Palmer AshĀ That’s stupid it’s a safety to help keep people stay alive -
Valerie Lynn DaughertyĀ I live in downtown Loveland and have lived in Loveland for about 27-28 years. I was a bit optimistic about all the “new” development, but the construction is driving us crazy not to mention the traffic is already getting worse! To top it off they wantĀ …See More -
Chris Lipps-ZierdenĀ Awww, I’ve lived here for 38 years and loved that whistle. Very sadĀ frown emoticon -
Megan Elizabeth McbrideĀ My kids will happily come down to blow their wooden train whistles in protest.
-
Patricia BooksĀ I have lived in Loveland on and off most of my life. I can honestly say that I hate that it has lost its charm that it used to have. It has become just another run of the mill city with too much construction, stores being left vacant, nothing positive to bring people in to see what we once could offer. Now Loveland is nothing special.
-
Susan SmithĀ Taking away everything that makes Loveland special and unique. -
Barbara Ross SmithĀ Grew up living above B&O and Pennsyvania RR. The sound of the whistle was a mournful, but part of everyday life -
Lynne McManus LeeĀ The sound of the whistle reminds me of my Dad. Sad they are taking it away.. -
Steve ThompsonĀ If someone organizes a protest I’ll definitly be there. The crap city council does nowadays disgusts me. They’re just prepping this town for all the montgomery and indian hill wannabes. -
Edith SuttleĀ Wonder if council even cares that you can’t see down the tracks for a silent train in the first place, so you cross them silent and blind tracks at your own risk so the wannabes live comfortable in a quiet environment -
Steve ThompsonĀ Its funny how the citizens of Loveland have to bend over backwards for one apt complex and no one complains.
-
Steve ThompsonĀ Makes you wonder who all owns alot of stock in the new complex. If the whistle bothers them why don’t they spend their money to noiseproof their complex monstrosity instead of taxpayers money to build medians and train gates.
-
Phyllis Rider BiggsĀ I would think that all the town and out of town people would like to experience the sound of a train whistle of an approaching train. Part of the sound of a historical district. People will get used to the sound and won’t even pay attention to it in their apartments. Just like a chime clock in your house you will realize you didn’t even notice it sounding off 90 percent of the time! -
Steve ThompsonĀ Its the only think that puts me to sleep some nights.
-
Megan Elizabeth McbrideĀ Keep the whistle and allow a ‘Food is Free’ garden somewhere in Loveland.
-
Kathy Shumway-MaynardĀ So stupid. The train was there first -
Harry LoflandĀ Blow the damn horn. Move if you don’t like it. Maybe we can get someone killed?!? -
-
Teresa SchmidĀ I don’t think the taxpayers should have to foot the bill for this! I agree with the others who say that Loveland is losing a lot of its charm due to these changes. I think that in the near future no one is going to want to go to downtown Loveland because of the lack of parking and horrible traffic! -
Cathy PopeĀ Maybe the first $300,000.00 that taxpayers are footing on the bill could be better spent to DO SOMETHING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. What about the old buildings one block over by where McCoy’s used to be????? What about these buildings? Do they no longer h…See More
-
Maggie Theil-SeagoĀ Do NOT silence the trains! -
Michelle Campbell-WinterĀ The train whistle is a staple of Loveland, let the the train whistle, whistle on:) -
Jennifer GisseĀ I live on Main St. I don’t even hear it anymore. But I would notice if it stopped. -
Ellen MershonĀ Here’s another thing to think about all of this stuff just did happen overnight… I’m sure this was planned from the start of the development.
-
Charley WaiteĀ As with everything in the world now we cater to the extreme minority and not the overwhelming majority. So goes the world these days.Still waiting on that velodrome to be built. -
Rich BrueggingĀ Thought federal rules required the train to sound at least 50 feet before and after the crossing. How did they get a waiver for that ? -
Jennifer Vaughn MerzĀ http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0104
The public homepage for the Federal Railroad…FRA.DOT.GOV -
Dean OsborneĀ Wow city of Loveland needs to read that how can they be exempt from the public safety?
-
Judy Smith BooherĀ Really? Trains were there first. These people knew train goes through. Just like CIG. Get a life people. -
Jennifer Vaughn MerzĀ The city cannot unilaterally decide to have a quiet zone. They have to work with and through the FRA, the railroad and other entities. The process includes a thorough review of existing conditions to ensure continuing safety and creating significant alternative safety measures to compensate for the lack of an audible horn.
-
Susan SmithĀ For the right price they can and will do what they please
-
Missy Whitaker LewallenĀ It’s simple……DONT MOVE THERE IF YOU DONT LIKE IT ! 😀 -
Dan PaytesĀ I hear trains every 20 min on average. For last 30 years. No problem -
Joyce KnucklesĀ Re: the sounds of the trains, it is hard to see the trains at times, what about our children who walk to school or ride the bus
They could be hurt or even killed and. that is a lot of responsibility to put on the drivers, they already have enough responsibility transporting our children..,,when these people took. their apts.they knew about the trains and that is just part of the beauty of down town Loveland…. -
Steve ThompsonĀ The Cityy will spend whatever they need to make sure they get a hefty profit from the new complex.
-
Jacque BradenĀ BAD.That’s taking the history and safety isn’t it. Was there a vote by taxpayers? Look at traffic problems, 1 way in 2 ways out. Hope we don’t have forest fire. Good luck to getting in and out of town. Poorly thought through. -
Dean OsborneĀ They plan to put a median down west Loveland not enough room
-
Cathy PopeĀ Sitting on my front porch….a train just went by….There’s a field across the street and the tracks are on the back side of the field…I heard the whistle blow before I saw it….waited for it to come by… a beautiful, peaceful morning, train whist…See More
-
John SporingĀ The city does not care that the people want. They take your taxes and will do that ever they want. Something need to be done. -
Cathy PopeĀ I have to wonder if any city council members are even reading any of this? I would think these responses would be top on their agenda right now. Wonder how the next meeting will go? When is it?
-
Steve ThompsonĀ City council could care less what we think. All they see is dollar signs.
-
Jennifer HoodĀ My husband and I went to a meeting once in regards to the parking nightmares in loveland. There was another lady there who, along with us, had things to say and we were all made to feel like our thoughts and opinions meant nothing. …no, they don’t care. .they, along with any level of government, push the agenda they want. ..loveland station is the perfect example! -
Jennifer HoodĀ Just remember when the snow hits and the plows have a hard time getting through, DON’T blame a city worker, call the council and bitch!
-
Dean OsborneĀ AmenĀ Jennifer Hood
-
Teresa SchmidĀ Good pointĀ Jennifer Hood!
-
Steve ThompsonĀ Well nothings goods going to happen unfortunetly unless people get off their butts and do something. If its just writing and angry letter or phone call to the council. I bet if everybody on this link went down to council and protested it would at least get some media attention and then they would at least have to cover their butts.
-
Steve ThompsonĀ I wonder if any of the local tv news outlets know about all this?
-
Jennifer HoodĀ People get tired of going to council and not being heard!
-
Jennifer HoodĀ I could tell you all kinds of stories about waste in the city that would curl your hair. ..eyes look the other way and don’t care!
-
Dean OsborneĀ Hey it would get some of the heat of the cincy police chief…lol
-
Ellen MershonĀ Jennifer Hood I went there to talk about problems in my neighborhood… I might as well have been talking to a wall. Maybe if we vote all of them out..
-
Jennifer HoodĀ There’s always an agenda and waste when politics are at play.
-
Steve ThompsonĀ If anyone organizes a protest I will be there.
-
Valleri HoeferĀ How do all the people that live in the area now and all the people that come to use the bike trail… how do they possibly exist with a train whistle????????? Really, why are we now deciding it will be too much for the new tenants. It is a part of what makes Loveland unique. I used to love to hear those chimes too, especially on Sundays. -
Ellen MershonĀ I think we should hack the electronic carillon (the thing that plays music and chimes) with train whistles.
-
Steve ThompsonĀ I’m getting an earful about what a great job the city council is doing and how I live on the wrong side of the river so my opinion doesn’t matter on the Tender Towne discussion in this group. Guess they should give me my taxes back.
-
Lenny AdkinsĀ That is why I moved! -
Joyce KnucklesĀ Tell them to move, they knew about the trains when they signed their contract. Why should strangers come ans dictate about the trains that have been here ( and is a part of LLovelands history) for years and years…..if this passes whoever on council votes for it I will definately work to see that they do not get voted back on council agmmLoveland
-
Teresa SchmidĀ Joyce KnucklesĀ unfortunately I think it has already passed and is in the works.
-
Dean OsborneĀ Maybe someone needs to let the dot know about this
-
Robert CorneliusĀ It’s bs. That whistle is part of our history -
Diane M. Shurts FisherĀ Why not take the history of Loveland from its people who have lived here for decades? For what…the yuppie who are moving in? My goodness you are moving next to the railroad tracks…fire house…city hall…no noise zone! A no noise town…great! Stupid stupid stupid! -
Dean OsborneĀ They are lucky the fire dept doesn’t have a house siren. Oh wait the tornado siren is there are they going to male it quiet too?
-
Cathy PopeĀ Why is this called “Loveland Station” anyway?Ā Ā
Does Station refer to the railroad??? Hmmm….. -
Robert CorneliusĀ Well..sounds like I’ll be laying on the horn every time I drive past.
-
Jennifer HoodĀ Great ideaĀ Robert Cornelius!
-
Robert CorneliusĀ Don’t know if this will help or not but I’m going to send the local news stations this story. Sad thing to stop that those bells its been going for years. It’s part of love and culture and should not be removed for a new development
-
Nan BroermanĀ Growing up next to the train tracks, the trains lulled me to sleep.
As the great lyricist said, “When a train goes by, it’s such a sad sound”.
I’ve lived in Loveland all of my youth as a child growing up, and now as an adult have raised my kids here. Nobody cared two cents about the noise for us who have grown up here and have heard that sound all our lives. It’s shameful that now they want to make a QUIET ZONE for a few folks who now want to come and live in Loveland, next the Bell will be silenced. This is way too dangerous to quiet the train (in the immediate downtown area, that is where we need it to be heard as to warn people to back away from the tracks) while going through a high traffic of pedestrians along the bike trail, its just a matter of time before there is a fatality due to this action. We all who have lived here want to hear the train and the bell, if you don’t want to hear it, then MOVE cause it doesn’t bother us one bit…
Ring your bicycle bells when you cross over West Loveland Avenue. Safety first!
objection……the $300,000 it will cost the taxpayers.
[…] Quiet Zone in Historic Downtown under attack? […]
Precisely, Lovelander. Thank you for taking the time to write it out. The train horn will still be heard plenty. It just won’t be blasted in the immediate downtown area. For those of us living inside of a 1/2 mile radius or so of downtown, it would think it would be nice to still hear the train, but not have to hear it so closely. For those outside of that radius, we now understand that you will still hear the train horn and will likely not notice any change in the noise aesthetic. What in the world is there to really object to about this rule?
James, the train whistle cannot still be heard… Plain and simple
Where do you live? I live near downtown and I still hear it a lot.
Train just came through at 12:53am and was blowing the horn. 1:00am and can still hear it in distance.
First and foremost, does Mr. Lofland (with his hyperbolic comment, “Maybe we can get someone killed?!?ā) really think the current situation is as safe as it could be? Has he not seen the casual attitude, mostly among teens and young adults, towards dallying on/near the tracks and walking across railroad-only bridges in the area? How about the drivers who intentionally flout gate arms lowered as a train approaches?
Second, whether you bemoan it or see it as a benefit, train whistles will only be silenced within the 1/4-mile stretch of track designated as a “quiet zone”, not the entire area. The sound of a train whistle can easily travel 5-10 miles, so those who enjoy it should rest assured that they will, in all likelihood, still be able to hear it sounding along the track outside of the quiet zone.
Train noise is not a selling point of Loveland Station. Any railroad-related appeal is linked to the nostalgic “look and feel” of a quaint old downtown that boomed in the time that passenger rail went through its heart. Realistically, people are & will continue to be drawn to visit or reside in Loveland for its shops, services, restaurants, community events, and recreation opportunities associated with our parks, river, and multi-use trail – not the physical presence and noise of today’s commercial trains.
For those wanting more details: the “quiet zone” can only be certified and observed by train operators after the installation of physical barriers designed and proven to protect motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians at four specific train intersections in old Loveland:
1. & 2. At W. Loveland Ave. in front of City Hall, and at SR 48 (N. 2nd St.) just south of the O’Bannon Creek: Concrete curbs will be installed to prevent cars from driving around the gate arms when they are lowered as a train approaches, enhancing the existing visual cue and physical barrier of the lowered gates.
3. At E. Kemper Rd., across the Little Miami River from the canoe livery: A warning siren to add an aural cue that complements the lowered gates (I am guessing this is because there is not enough room to drive around the gate arms and thus installation of curbs would offer no additional protection as they will at the other road crossings).
4. At the Little Miami Scenic Trail north of E. Broadway St.: Unlike the area’s road/railroad intersections, there is NO physical or visual protection from trains in this section of the trail that is heavily frequented by cyclists, skaters, runners, walkers, families with young children on foot & in strollers, shoppers, and other visitors to downtown Loveland. Here, as at the road crossings, there will be gate arms as well as physical barriers suited to the “traffic” on the trail.
Dear Lovelander, in response to your comment above, I live just on top of the hill there in old Loveland and I have heard the sound of that train at my location for almost 30 years, I just notice now I am not hearing any sound. So when you say the sound of the train will travel 5-10 miles, whatever distance they are sounding the whistle I can no longer hear it. It is a danger and should be resolve and by not blowing the whistle for a warning is not the answer, that is the purpose to blow the horn as a warning to be aware a train is coming and will not be able to stop if needed in an emergency…
Do you not see that this area is a high pedestrian area, it’s not a back road where there is little to no pedestrians and only a few cars crossing the tracks.
Everything has become so homogenized, like the evocative fragrance of a rose has long been bred out, so too will the sound of the train whistle be only a memory.