During a recent town council meeting, a property owner who had bought a home along Brilliant Drive asked when Christiansburg would extend the "quiet zone" for trains at railroad crossings over at Chrisman Mill Road.
One council member pointed out that anyone buying near an airport or railroad should expect related noise, especially when those activities were already present.
The Town Manager explained how the Chrisman Mill Road intersection was a switchback that didn't allow the engineer or car drivers much line of sight. Blowing the horn was a safety issue there. He stated that some of the changes at the Cambria crossing had been made to maintain the existing "quiet zone" in this part of town -- making it difficult for impatient drivers to dodge the crossing gates.
These changes have made it so half the limited on-street parking must enter and exit against oncoming traffic at an already oddly configured intersection. These changes seem to be contributing to some flooding and are acting like dams, clogging drains.
Given numerous railroad accidents in Montgomery County over the past 12 months, should any "quiet zone" be maintained? There have been at least four instances where people were on railroad property and have been struck by passing trains. It's easy to mis-judge the speed of oncoming trains, and takes quite a bit of distance to stop them even once the brakes have been applied.
Some people don't consider a train whistle or horn to be a nuisance, instead marking the time by it. Folks we know out by Vickers Switch think this sound is reassuring and even musical. Regardless, safety should be the first consideration and it's hard to stop a locomotive. Don't you want to know when one is heading towards you?
Note: This was orginially posted as being relative to Childress Road. A reader pointed out the railroad crossing being discussed was actually at Chrisman Mill Road which switches back near, but is not connected to, Brilliant Drive.