94 replies to this topic

[supermom]

Are there any laws on noise for trains in that area? My understanding is that is the reason that rail has been almost completely shut down for several years. isnt it kikkoman that is the only one who uses that section of rail and only rarely?

I think the poster has a great point. I certainly would not stae that since it only runs in the day it should not be an irritant. There are a lot of people in folsom home during the day because they work night shift at local hospitals, jails, etc. Thats why they like living in folsom. Its a bedroom community, close to the highway, lots of activities for families.....


edited:
Sunshine I dont know why you gave me a negative point for the comment.. I have not stated a position. Just asked a question!

Here is another question: when kikkoman does use that rail line-are they required a specific permit for time and date to enter into that area with a train delivery service? Is this a reason possibly why there is some resistance to allow an excursion train onto that rail?

[granto]

The rails pass by two residential areas in Folsom and one of them is mine (a section of Prairie Oaks, between Riley and East Bidwell). That train is very, very loud and should not be allowed to run so close to residential areas. I'm sorry about that, because otherwise it would be nice.
There is also a safety concern. There are no substantial fences between the track and the bike path near our house. Who is going to repair the fences around the track? Of course, children should know better than to play on railroad tracks and no fence could really keep off a determined child, but there needs to be something substantial enough to make children stop and think before they get on the tracks.
I'm curious, how do they cross major streets like East Bidwell and Riley? There were some huge horn blasts soon after they passed our house (at around 5:45 pm on Memorial Day) and I wondered if they were connected to the train.

The "train" rides go out of the Hampton Inn. The "Train" consists of a rail bus and some track maintanance cars. They might have been going back to the storage yard at that time, but I am lost as how those create much noise, traffic, or kid issues.

Are you sure your neighbors didn't have a TV up too loud?

Are there any laws on noise for trains in that area? My understanding is that is the reason that rail has been almost completely shut down for several years. isnt it kikkoman that is the only one who uses that section of rail and only rarely?

That rail does not connect to any active line, I don't think there is or was a spur into Kikoman ever.

As far as noise, as my previous post stated these are essentially cars on rails, what noise can they generate that a Harley does not drown out?

[Carl G]

That small train is not that loud, I've heard delivery trucks louder then they are. Plus it only runs on the weekend during the day.

Parents are responsible for teaching their children to stop and think about the dangers of traffic on the streets and about staying away from train tracks when the occasional train goes by that uses the tracks. The city should not have to build large fences to keep people out who don't have any common sense.

The chances of getting hit by a silent speeding bicyclist on the trails is much higher then getting hit by a slow moving noisy train.

How dare you? Don't you know it takes a village? ...

[mac_convert]

I didn't think the train ran by Prairie Oaks anyway. Perhaps it was run on that set of track because of the holiday?

[olivia]

I didn't think the train ran by Prairie Oaks anyway. Perhaps it was run on that set of track because of the holiday?

Ilive near those rails; never have seen, heard trains there. What exactly is this poster talking about?

[supermom]

I thought we were talking about the rail line that runs down Blue Ravine at the Jack in the Box? It crosses somewhere between Winco andthe marsh; and then runs down the lower part of Glenn right to the Kikkoman factory.

I was only asking about noise because I had thought that newer noise abatement laws may have come into ordinance since that line was retired to occasional use.

I'm merely wondering at this point.

[25or6to4]

I thought we were talking about the rail line that runs down Blue Ravine at the Jack in the Box? It crosses somewhere between Winco andthe marsh; and then runs down the lower part of Glenn right to the Kikkoman factory.

I was only asking about noise because I had thought that newer noise abatement laws may have come into ordinance since that line was retired to occasional use.

I'm merely wondering at this point.

That's the same line that runs up to Placerville.

You can follow the tracks on google maps if you are so inclined to know exactly where that line runs.

[supermom]

That's the same line that runs up to Placerville.

You can follow the tracks on google maps if you are so inclined to know exactly where that line runs.

Ok, so if that is the case--then the poster who was complaining about noise abatement...Depending on the changes in city ordinance concerning noise abatement to that area after the structures along blue ravine were built; there very well may be a law on the books that will limit how far down the train can travel. (this is only supposition, I have not done any research).

So anyway, I think that the original poster had a valid question, even if it seems unpopular to some of the prorail folks.

On the other hand, I think a partnership would be a mutual benefit to both groups.

At each of the rail stops, especially near wineries which are rather remote, there could be way station for riders of both persuasions. perhaps a shop for bike parts, and tasty snacks.History booklets and art stuff that is done by locals, etc...

[Terry]

The rails pass by two residential areas in Folsom and one of them is mine (a section of Prairie Oaks, between Riley and East Bidwell). That train is very, very loud and should not be allowed to run so close to residential areas. I'm sorry about that, because otherwise it would be nice.

I'm curious, how do they cross major streets like East Bidwell and Riley? There were some huge horn blasts soon after they passed our house (at around 5:45 pm on Memorial Day) and I wondered if they were connected to the train.

I don't live far from you, but I agree, I hear a train blast now and then which is very, very loud. Unfortunately, I recently discovered it does NOT belong to any train, but rather to a truck owned by a young man with a lot of testosterone and enough money to buy one of those add-ons to his truck that blasts a train horn sound.

I do live closer than you to the actual train spur behind Kikkoman and have never heard any train sounds coming from there even when I've seen the train cars moving near there.

[mac_convert]

I talked with someone from the railroad community and she said there isn't a plan in the near future where the train would go through the city of Folsom. At this time the train enthusiasts are hoping to expand the train ride into the foothills.

I don't live far from you, but I agree, I hear a train blast now and then which is very, very loud. Unfortunately, I recently discovered it does NOT belong to any train, but rather to a truck owned by a young man with a lot of testosterone and enough money to buy one of those add-ons to his truck that blasts a train horn sound.

I do live closer than you to the actual train spur behind Kikkoman and have never heard any train sounds coming from there even when I've seen the train cars moving near there.

[tulip95630]

In response to the questions/comments about my previous post regarding noise.
From what I understand, right now there are no regular excursions between old Folsom/Sutter Street and their "Iron Point" station. However, PSVRR stores their equipment in old Folsom. When they move their equipment so they can offer excursions, they pass behind our house. (The section of track I live near is in Folsom between East Bidwell and Riley.)
While there may be no plans in the "near" future for an excursion train to run from Sutter Street to Shingle Springs I am concerned about both the distant future and their irregular trips past my house. Their mission statement (go to psvrr.org to read it) implies that they would like to have one in the future and they are certainly interested in restoring more equipment. I am concerned about how big and loud this equipment will be.
The "small train" someone referred to is the "Skagit" I believe. While even that little one does create a fair amount of noise, it isn't the joltingly loud noise my family and I experienced while trying to enjoy dinner on Memorial Day.
We do need to gather some facts here. That's why I've contacted PSVRR about setting up a meeting or getting on the agenda for their regular meeting so I can gather some facts, including arranging a time to measure in decibels how loud the train is when it passes certain points.
I will keep you posted, either under this thread or by starting a new one, specific to Folsom.

[tulip95630]

In response to my previous post, regarding safety:
Sarcastic Guys, I'm with you at least part way. I was an elementary school teacher for fourteen years and, wow, the number of times I had parents who expected the village to move heaven and earth for their children, when they were to busy to do much at all...I get furious just thinking about it. The importation of that saying may have done our society more harm than good.
With that said, I don't think your criticism is valid in this case.
Yes, parents should be responsible for their children. People should have common sense. Unfortunately, "common sense" isn't innate. It isn't developed overnight. It takes years. Kids don't have it. (Ask you parents what you were like when you were a kid.)
Even if parents could tether their kids to them to keep then out of trouble, it wouldn't be good parenting. At some point, we have to let them out on their own to make their mistakes. The trick is, we've got to protect them from mistakes with lasting harmful consequences, such as getting hurt by a train on railroad tracks. If it were obvious, "common sense" that we shouldn't go on those tracks, I wouldn't regularly see family groups walking along them.
No, the city shouldn't have to pay for fences or signs. I would imagine that is PSVRR's responsiblity, just as Regional Transit is responsible for safety along the light rail tracks.
Thank you to everyone for your posts. This has been very interesting! I may respond here, or I may start a new thread regarding the railroad that is specific to Folsom.

[SacKen]

When I purchased a home in that area in the late 90s, one of the disclosures I had to sign stated that the tracks were considered active and could be used again. Was this just the builder having me sign this or is it a standard disclosure for homes near those tracks?

[granto]

I wrote to the rails to trails organization to ask them why they were supporting El Dorado trails instead of pushing for a multi-use corridor. Here is their response (of course with my comments on their "facts").

I have considered the matter of the El Dorado line and agree with the trail advocates that the best use of the corridor would be to remove the rails and allow trail development on the grade. I do not consider occasional speeder car runs for a few people a productive use of the corridor that could be a major connection in the regional bikeway network. Local El Dorado groups have reached the Shingle Compromise, which I fully support as a win-win. Rail enthusiasts will have the railroad park with historic features in Diamond Springs, and the trail group can quickly develop the trail to Folsom. With the tracks in place and such a narrow corridor, it is unlikely that funding for completion of the trail would happen in the near future. Old Sacramento and Diamond Springs are tourist destinations that can draw the crowds needed to support excursion rail, but I do not see features on the Folsom to Shingle section that would draw a base to support a successful excursion rail. Do you really think the area can support 3 excursion trains? Dinner trains have recently closed in scenic areas such as McCloud and Yreka.

As a railbanked line, if a productive use such as freight or real passenger service returned to El Dorado County we would support reconstructing the rails and building the trail adjacent if feasible.

1. Using Mt. Cloud and Yreka as an example is wrong. Both those locations have faced a large decline in tourism and population. With less people, come less riders. Folsom and El Dorado county meanwhile are beefing up their tourism marketing and are seeing growth. A better example would be the CSRRM train in Old Sac, which is growing and expanding. Folsom and Old Sac are not exactly in competition for the same dollars, so the 3 train argument also does not hold water.

2. Once a railbed is torn up it is gone forever. Manhatten Beach is a great example, It was deemed too expensive to bring that rail corridor back to life, so light rail ends near the city limits.

3. I have been on the corridor on the train with an eye on a bike trail (since I also like rails to trails) the corridor is wide enough for both. There are a couple of exceptions on built up grades, where the bike trail will have to either go around or bridge.

4. Diamond Springs is a tourist destination? Guess I will have to let the relatives know that the next time they come to visit.

[SunshineServices]

In response to the questions/comments about my previous post regarding noise.
From what I understand, right now there are no regular excursions between old Folsom/Sutter Street and their "Iron Point" station. However, PSVRR stores their equipment in old Folsom. When they move their equipment so they can offer excursions, they pass behind our house. (The section of track I live near is in Folsom between East Bidwell and Riley.)
While there may be no plans in the "near" future for an excursion train to run from Sutter Street to Shingle Springs I am concerned about both the distant future and their irregular trips past my house. Their mission statement (go to psvrr.org to read it) implies that they would like to have one in the future and they are certainly interested in restoring more equipment. I am concerned about how big and loud this equipment will be.
The "small train" someone referred to is the "Skagit" I believe. While even that little one does create a fair amount of noise, it isn't the joltingly loud noise my family and I experienced while trying to enjoy dinner on Memorial Day.
We do need to gather some facts here. That's why I've contacted PSVRR about setting up a meeting or getting on the agenda for their regular meeting so I can gather some facts, including arranging a time to measure in decibels how loud the train is when it passes certain points.
I will keep you posted, either under this thread or by starting a new one, specific to Folsom.

Isn't this akin to those folks who move next to an airport and them complain about the noise and try to get the airport shut down? Did you not notice the tracks?

The Skagit is powered by a GMC MUFFLERED 6 cylinder engine. And be serious, those UNMUFFLERED Harley riders make much more noise and FAR MORE OFTEN than the mostly weekend excursion runs, which by my count would be a total of FOUR passes per weekend past your house BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS.