# What the fuck is this horn, and when will it stop?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 15, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488 "2006-11-15T04:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/1 "2006-11-15T04:29:47Z")
What is the train-sounding horn going off at all hours in downtown San Diego (Gaslamp district, if you care)? Is it the trolley? I didn’t think it ran so late. The weather is just at that point where I want to leave the hotel room window open all night, but I can’t sleep if that fucking horn is going to sound just when I’m about to drift off. Are there no noise ordnances in San Diego? I debated putting this in MPSIMS because it really is mundane and pointless, but I wanted to say “fuck” to emphasize how annoyed I am that I can’t get a complete night’s sleep with an open window. Fuck you if you don’t understand that. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/2 "2006-11-15T04:36:53Z")
Ships, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/3 "2006-11-15T04:41:28Z")
It’s the freight trains. They go all night long. I enjoy it, but apparently I’m in a minority. They honk at every intersection because San Diego is full of incredibly stupid people who ignore the crossing lights, and officials are tired of wearing out their spatulas cleaning up after the accidents. (If you don’t believe me on the numbers of the stupid, hang out at old town for 20 munites any time of day and I guarantee you that you’ll see a pedestrian, bicyclist, and / or car run the RR crossing.) Personally, I think it’s also a way of getting back at the (perceived) nouveau-riche in the zillions of (actual) brand new condos that have sprung up downtown. A quick and easy way to annoy the (perceived) yuppies while shrugging and saying, “Hey, it’s the law, man.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/4 "2006-11-15T04:48:18Z")
Train horns are amazingly comforting at night. I love them. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/5 "2006-11-15T05:48:09Z")
I have never lived outside earshot of a railroad track, and I’ve lived in a bunch of places. It’s very Proustian for me. Reminds me of my grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/6 "2006-11-15T07:04:42Z")
In the OP’s defense, from a mile or so away, they’re beautiful and soulful. If you’re hearing them downtown, they’re alarmingly loud. ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-this-horn-and-when-will-it-stop/380488/7 "2006-11-15T14:37:50Z")
Efforts are under way to [lessen the use of train horns](http://www.ccdc.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/projects.quietzone) in downtown San Diego.