On National Train Safety Day, the MBTA handed out a bunch of train safety pamphlets. One of the things that surprised me was one of the top bullets said trains can be really quiet, you may not always hear them approaching. I have always thought how can you not hear one common, but you so often hear about tragic accidents like this. So it has me thinking, if there are no buildings or pavement to echo the sound, if open air or forests can dampen the sound enough where the train can truly be quiet as it approaches. I'm sure you will hear it pass, but you may not hear it coming.
If your back is to the train, you will not see it coming. And it it sneaks up on you we get tragic accidents like this.