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JUL 2 1966 BOOK 64 pnH 884 <br />can become very complacent on a freight line such as the FEC and <br />doze off very easily if he does not have to be alert to blowing a <br />horn or whistle at crossings during the nighttime hours. He <br />explained that while there is a white pilot light on the crossing - <br />gate blinkers which is visible up and down the tracks to show <br />that a crossing gate is working, it is virtually impossible for <br />an engineer to see whether or not a gate actually is down. He <br />reported that a crossing gate malfunctioned just last week in <br />Roseland during the daylight hours. Mr. Mensing advised that it <br />takes one-quarter to one-half mile for a heavily loaded train <br />going 35 mph to come to a stop, and strongly urged the Board not <br />to prohibit the trains from blowing their horns and whistles at <br />night. <br />Katherine Gravenmier, 7850 46th Court in Winter Beach <br />emphasized that she would be not be alive today if train whistles <br />were not allowed. About two years ago the lights and gate at a <br />crossing were not working and she would have driven right in <br />front of a train if it had not been for the whistle blowing. <br />Nine years ago her husband and son were killed at a railroad <br />crossing because whistles were not allowed to blow going through <br />Vero Beach. There are many people who work at night and if the <br />whistles are not allowed, more people will be killed. <br />Chairman Scurlock believed that up to now there never has <br />been a law prohibiting train whistles or horns. <br />Florence Reese of Vista Royale complained that and her <br />house guests are not able to sleep at night because of the train <br />whistles, and that the noise makes it impossible for her to open <br />her windows during the night for some fresh air. She felt that <br />it is okay to say, "let the buyer beware," but they purchased <br />their condominium in'the daytime when the train whistles do not <br />blow as often. <br />Sophia Pennoyer of Woodlawn Manor Mobile Home Park <br />complained that the train whistles keep her awake at night, and <br />noted.that even if you can't see a train coming, you can feel it <br />54 <br />