In a message dated 10/10/99 4:41:13 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<  I suppose I'll have to observe carefully when a train goes by to see if I
can
 notice any vibration through the ground that far away.

 I'm wondering if the vibration and noise are sufficient to cause problems.
 I've heard that noisy, vibrating fans in wintering buildings lead to losses
 in hives near them, but wonder if the occasional passing train would be a
 problem.

 Has anyone any data on bee sensitivity to noise or vibration that might
 apply? >>

     Allen, I can't speak for the effect on bees, though I suspect it will be
significant. I think the question is not whether the bees will notice, but
whether they will adapt. And your comment on the fans might answer that.

    I can speak for the effect of trains on the area.  I know of a community
well (six feet in diameter) that can be pumped at 500 gallons per minute
without lowering the water level more than a couple inches. A heavy freight
train going by (tracks are right next to the well) can raise the water level
12-18 inches.

    I would not want to live on that type of ground. The right kind of
earthquake wave would instantly liquefy the ground under your feet......  It
is an old valley in the bedrock that was entirely glacially filled with sand
and gravel (depths of a couple hundred feet, at least) and now is a major
aquifer for the area.

    Anyway, the weight and vibrations from a train definitely affect the
area......

Dave Green    Hemingway, SC   USA
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