progess into the 18th century
Mar. 12th, 2013 04:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
the_siobhanI could have sworn I made a post about the trains behind our house, but I can't seem to find it. Oh well, if I did you get to hear about it again.
Anyway, our back yard ends where the CN/CP rail corridor starts. Legally we have no rear access to our property but our neighbours are pretty enthusiastic about finding creative work arounds to that and our "fence" is really just a bunch of boards and old doors hammered together. When we moved in our backyard was protected by a broad swathe of trees and some pretty heavy underbrush. All the wildlife I keep finding in my backyard took advantage of that thicket to travel along the rail corridor. It also provided a very efficient noise baffle against the sound of the passing trains.
Since then the province has decided to build a direct rail between the downtown and the airport and the obvious spot to put it was in the corridor behind our property. Fair enough, it's something we need. Heavy machinery appeared behind our house and about half the trees were cut down in order to make space for the new rail. They also put up this weird silver box that "chirps" every 2 minutes and that gets covered with fresh gaffiti every week or so.
Since the original plans were announced there have been a couple of things that have gotten the locals up in arms. One is that they are planning on putting in deisel trains instead of electric, which seems really stupid given that these are high-frequency passenger shuttles travelling a total of 30 km. Our objections have been answered with, "Oh we'll convert it to electric five years later," which sounds even dumber to me since it would require spending the money twice (or at least one-and-a-half times) on the same thing.
The second thing that is pissing people off is that they have decided to build a 15-foot wall along the entire length of the rail line. As a noise barrier. One would assume against those frequent-service deisel engines that people have said they don't want.
When I got up this morning there were people working on the rail lines chopping down the last of the trees behind my property. You know, those trees that I mentioned were so great at blocking the noise of the trains going by. I guess that's where they're going to put the wall.
Anyway, our back yard ends where the CN/CP rail corridor starts. Legally we have no rear access to our property but our neighbours are pretty enthusiastic about finding creative work arounds to that and our "fence" is really just a bunch of boards and old doors hammered together. When we moved in our backyard was protected by a broad swathe of trees and some pretty heavy underbrush. All the wildlife I keep finding in my backyard took advantage of that thicket to travel along the rail corridor. It also provided a very efficient noise baffle against the sound of the passing trains.
Since then the province has decided to build a direct rail between the downtown and the airport and the obvious spot to put it was in the corridor behind our property. Fair enough, it's something we need. Heavy machinery appeared behind our house and about half the trees were cut down in order to make space for the new rail. They also put up this weird silver box that "chirps" every 2 minutes and that gets covered with fresh gaffiti every week or so.
Since the original plans were announced there have been a couple of things that have gotten the locals up in arms. One is that they are planning on putting in deisel trains instead of electric, which seems really stupid given that these are high-frequency passenger shuttles travelling a total of 30 km. Our objections have been answered with, "Oh we'll convert it to electric five years later," which sounds even dumber to me since it would require spending the money twice (or at least one-and-a-half times) on the same thing.
The second thing that is pissing people off is that they have decided to build a 15-foot wall along the entire length of the rail line. As a noise barrier. One would assume against those frequent-service deisel engines that people have said they don't want.
When I got up this morning there were people working on the rail lines chopping down the last of the trees behind my property. You know, those trees that I mentioned were so great at blocking the noise of the trains going by. I guess that's where they're going to put the wall.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-13 12:05 am (UTC)It seems like they should have written to you and said something, it would be polite.
I suppose it's nice that it doesn't seem to be nightworks on the tracks.
That 15 foot wall is gonna be a great canvas.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-13 07:41 pm (UTC)I have no doubt the wall will be coated in paint within the week. Hopefully it will a least be one of the more decent artists.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-13 06:34 am (UTC)That also means that the bridges at Brock and Lansdowne (and presumably others) are going to be expanded.
According to some old US gov't report a half decent wall is as good as 100 feet of foliage so I think we come out ahead on noise protection when the walls go in.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-13 07:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-14 04:35 am (UTC)Maybe you can plant some new ones and put in some bird feeders and such, and paint a mural on your side?
(I am assuming that effectively your property will go down to the wall now).
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-16 03:31 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-16 03:43 pm (UTC)(So, the fence essentially creates a de facto property line, or is there further they can encroach? Not that that will probably happen, at least until we are all dead and gone.)
(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-14 03:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-03-16 03:31 pm (UTC)