Un-muffled

When the average Norfolk Southern freight train rolls through Fairfield, it is understandable that the noise near the train is pretty intense.

Afterall, it is a 6000 horsepower diesel locomotive. According to my research, it generates about 80 decibels, or a little less than a Boeing 747 as it taxis on the tarmac.

That’s loud. But I accept that noise as I sit on my porch on south 1^st Street. The train is a good three blocks from me.

What I don’t accept is the blast coming from the back of a Ford F-150 with balloon tires and an antler decal on the back window. I could accept a truck with 18 wheels polluting the quiet…but I draw the line on passenger trucks.

The sound is deafening.

I can’t hear the carillon playing at the top of the hour down the street at the United Methodist Church…I can’t hear anything but dual pipes belching out a little soot and noise north of 80 decibels.

You know, I might be wrong. They might not even have mufflers. It’s that loud and I’m sorry you have to hear this rant but I am tired of having my ears assaulted while trying to get a little Mayberry time on my porch swing.

This all used to be illegal. I remember a time when police pulled over teenagers with tricked out hot rods and told them to get their custom mufflers re-muffed.

But apparently that doesn’t happen anymore.

My wife told me to get over it. Don’t make a federal case or the pickups will make it a point to go around the block a few times just to irritate me.

I’m already irritated.  

I’m thinking about moving down by the train to get a little quiet.