🚀 go-pugleaf

Greetings,

I've been reading this group of late but this is my first post
(if there is a faq somewhere a pointer would be appreciated).

I'm pretty much of a novice with respect to topics I see discussed
here, and I have a few questions I was hoping someone might help
with.  Please bear with any ignorance I display below:

I've been living for about a year now in a renovated warehouse in
downtown Atlanta (more precisely, about 1/2 mile south of the CNN Center
-Omni complex, or about a dozen boxcar lengths south of the Norfolk
Southern "office building" on Spring Street).  I have vested interest
in the answers to the following, as where I am now sitting is no more
than about 50 or 60 feet from the nearest of 4 parallel tracks (ignoring
the even nearer now-inactive track that apparently used to serve this
warehouse).  Yes, there can be a good deal of rumble and shake, 
depending on #of passing trains, loads, etc.

1. I can suffer a good deal of EMF interference (as evidenced by
   my TV picture), especially as the locomotives pass (there also
   appears to be some lower, yet still some interference from the
   rest of the train, I am guessing from induced EMF from the rolling
   wheels -- correct me if I am wrong).  Anyway, can anyone give me
   a guess as to the potential magnitude of this effect? (A worst
   case analysis would be good: assume, say, three separate trains,
   each with 3 or 4 locomotives passing by simultaneously (yes, it
   happens).  Naturally, I am wondering about health issues, and 
   whether I should not invite people with pacemakers to my home).

2. If you already don't think I'm paranoid (I'm not, or I wouldn't
   live here -- I love it), you might now: I've seen many photos
   of train derailments where cars are much farther from their
   original tracks than I am now sitting from this Norfolk Southern
   set of tracks.  What are my odds of getting wiped out?  Are 
   there (I would think there would be) codes regulating how close
   living space can be to an active track? (I am a renter).

3. Trains typically move slowly through this area but occasionally
   I seem to get a "speeder."  What would you think the "speed limit"
   would be in this area?

4. Just down the track is the McDaniel street crossing that I use
   to get to work etc. (lights, gates).  Naturally, I can get a bit
   impatient when I get stuck waiting for a *stopped* train blocking
   this crossing during *rush hour* (especially when the one track
   that actually "tunnels under" McDaniel street is not occupied).
   Is NS subject to any regulation/obligation regarding how often/
   when such crossings can be blocked?

5. Where does this line go, come from?

I've many other questions but that should do for now; In my
situation I'm naturally becoming more and more interested about
this topic, and would also appreciate any tips toward good books
for the novice that might address "basic" questions such as the
ones above.  Thanks in advance!

Alex

kirlik@chmsr.gatech.edu




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