Needham Line Honking?

I was in needham today and I kept hearing train horns near the end of the Needham line. Is one of those crossings a 'loud' crossing? A not-quiet-zone?

Correct. None of the 5 Needham grade crossings are in quiet zones. Having said that, at times, some Keolis engineers go easy on the neighbors with short blasts instead of laying on the horn.

REALLY? They beep at all those crossings? I'm going to have to spend more time there next time I'm in Needham.

It's the law, yes, they use the horn at every crossing.

correct, no quiet zones for the Needham branch. We are required to blow a 19 B per NORAC of the horn

long long short long sequence

and yes, some of use "take it easy" with the homes being so close to the xings

The only quiet zones on the Southside are the entire Greenbush branch, and on the Franklin Branch; Seekonk St. and Rockwood Road

Man on the northside, its all quiet zones. There was that one in Everett where the casino is now that was a beep crossing but thats been removed. I know theres one or two up in haverhill and thats about it. If not for all the square wheels on the coaches, you'd never know a commuter rail train was coming up here :D

I think I've noticed that the trains don't whistle before leaving the stations on the Needham Line any more, though, at least not Roslindale Village. The first few years after the line reopened in 1987 they whistled off the platforms. Did a rule change about that?