Idling train bothers Chatham residents

Jan. 9, 2009

The Miramichi is known for its peaceful beauty, but a train interrupted that peace for residents near Water Street yesterday.

An East Coast Railway train was parked on the tracks with its engine running near Miramichi Senior Citizen's Home.

Park Drive resident Frank Kane said the train was there since about 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and ran all night. It was still there as of noon yesterday.

The steady rumble of its diesel engine could be heard a few streets away as the unattended train idled near the Centennial Bridge.

It wasn't the noise that bothered Kane as much as the fumes and smell of diesel that came off the train.

"It depends on which way the wind's blowing," he said.

Blowing snow made it easy to tell the wind was moving away from Kane's home and the smell wasn't noticeable, despite how close the train was to the house.

The tracks run along Water Street, only a few feet away from the road and there was only one house between Kane's and the end of his street.

Kane said it is about the third time one of the company's trains parked near his home and he contacted them when it happened about four or five months ago.

"They said it wouldn't happen again," he said.

Chris Daigle is another Park Drive resident who was concerned about the train. She said the company is running the train while people are trying to do a lot for the environment and added the noise wasn't as much of an issue for her.

"I can put ear plugs in, but I can't handle the smell," she explained.

Bill Campbell, another neighbour, said there are a lot of rural areas where the company could have parked the train where no one is around.

"Why does he have to put it in one of the nicest areas of Chatham?" Campbell asked.

The noise from the train is so loud Campbell said it bothers him and his neighbours because it has been going on for so long.

"You can hear it all night long," he said.

East Coast Railway was contacted for comment, but was unavailable as of print time.