Noise made by passing trains

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

Also when out the back it's often possible to hear the Eurostar go through as well, even though that is 2.5 miles away, and the other side of the M20. quite a distinctive sound on that one!

You said that it is distinctive, but is it any more or less annoying than the M20?  I am about 1 mile from the M4, but although I can hear it on a quiet night when the window is open, I cannot say it annoys me.  Equally I can faintly hear the GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) main line but it is further away and less noticeable.  The M4 is much more noticeable in damp weather. 

[JayMac]

I'm about ^ a mile from the M5/M49 interchange and I think that after 8 years living here I've tuned out the constant hum of motorway traffic.

The monthly test of the Severnside Sirens always catches me out though! 3pm on the 3rd of the month. Often when I'm having a siesta.

[eightf48544]

Living by the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) line one house away at right angles there are several different noises

HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) more noticible when going slowly or accelerating from a signal check, you get the first power car then comparative silence then rear power car.

Turbos and Adelentes are a whoosh when running fast, Up Turbos that have stopped at Taplow are quite noisy accelerating. Down stoppers are coasting.

Freight is mixed bag modern diesels 59, 60, 66, 70, are relatively quite even when taking power. 59s especialy so. It used to be empty stone trains were quite noisy over the rail joints but now the Reliefs are long welded rails this is far less noticable. Freightliner swish!

Older diesels 31, 37, 47 are quite distinctive and noisy.

Steam if not accelerating is compartively quite .

The noisiest thing is a ballast cleaner or tamper in the middle of the night!

The M4 is a mile away you can hear it in the garden on a very still day as dull roar in the background. ambulances and police cars on the A4 are more intrusive.

We also get planes from LHR which tend to be relatively noisy as they are on a climbing flight path.
However, i like trains so this is probably subjective.