Train horns go silent when passing base housing

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VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  When the Hairston Gate moved from Fox Drive, across from the Eisenhower Elementary School, out to its current location in September 2007, the Fox Drive gate was permanently closed. 

That led Vance leadership to request that the city of Enid ask the Union Pacific Railroad to stop sounding train horns when passing to the east of base housing. 

Union Pacific notified Enid this month that the section of train track between Fox Drive, north of housing, and Wheat Capital Road, south of housing, was designated a 24-hour quiet zone as of Oct. 23. 

Union Pacific's action was based on the fact that Fox Street was no longer an active traffic crossing and Wheat Capital Road had supplemental safety measures installed. 

According to Maj. Dan Maloy with the 71st Flying Training Wing staff, trains will no longer blow their horns when approaching Fox Street or Wheat Capital Road from either the north or the south. 

"Housing residents should be a little patient if some of the train engineers initially forget about the new quiet zone," said Major Maloy. But if the horns persist, he recommends housing residents contact the 71st FTW Public Affairs office, 213-7136, and lodge a complaint.