[ARC5] Train Radio Question

[Robert Eleazer]

Here is a question about something I have wondered about for over 20 years.

When I lived near Alexandria, VA (not far from where Gordon used to live on Kings Highway, in fact) every night the phone would give out a couple of ding dings.  It was not a full ring, and it varied a bit as to time, usually within 30 min of 2000 hours.  I gradually realized I could hear a train going by, on the other side of I-95 where the tracks ran, every time the phone did its little ring.

I moved to Florida, hooked up the same phone at the house, and had the same exact thing happen, although at a different time of the day.  I could hear a train going by, way over on the other side of the river.  This continued until I replaced the phone.

I can only conclude that the phone was somehow sensitive to RFI from the radios used by the trains. 

Anyone ever have something similar occur?  Is there something strange about train comm radios or do they for some reason roll down the track broadcasting an RF signal?

By the way, if you want to read about a really horrible - and rather stupid - train wreck, look up Graniteville, SC.

Wayne