<p>D just received campus map. Can someone tell us about the RR tracks?! Which came first--the tracks or the campus? How frequently do trains (freight?) pass by--and how loud are the whistles? Arfe there lights or automatic crossing arms? I was surprised at how close the residence halls are to the tracks. Are freshmen concentrated in either the north or south residence halls? Finally, what is the Old GLove Factory used for by the College? We won't be visiting for several months but are trying to orient ourselves in advance. Thank</p>
<p>Well, I'll be attending fall '05, so I'll answer what I can. I would think the tracks came first, but that's just my guess. The trains I think they said come 3 or 4 times a day, at all times of day. I think one in the early morning, two in the afternoon, one in the evening. They go really slowly and blare their horns, and I actually think it's really cool. There are no crossing arms or anything, there are places where the sidewalk crosses the tracks, but it pretty much cuts straight through campus without a single thing to show for it except the tracks. The freshmen I was told are evenly distributed throughout all the halls including north, south, and east. And don't know about the Old Glove Factory, sorry.</p>
<p>Yeah, actually when I visited there I saw/heard the trains. They were super loud, and I asked some people earlier on CC and they've said that no one really mentions it or hears it or anything, and not a lot of people have a lot of complaints. </p>
<p>But regardless, I'm still concerned. I would die if I had to deal with loud noises from trains 3-4 times a day for four years.</p>
<p>At the same time though, it doesn't seem to be a problem. So yeah. Haha. Ask someone who actually knows, I guess. :-P</p>
<p>My s will be a junior next fall. Says the trains are not a big deal. Freshman can use the excues that they are late for a class because they had to wait for the train a few times before they are expected to figure it out.</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior - she's never even mentioned the trains. Last year she lived in East, the new dorms, which meant she had to cross the tracks several times a day. We've been to campus maybe 6-7 times now, and I've never seen one -- altho, of course we know they're there. The only thing that makes me mad about the trains is that they don't have passenger service. They used to up until the 60s or so. Would have been really convenient. Oh well...</p>
<p>Oh - the trains came first. And the Old Glove Factory is and administrative building. I don't think the students have much reason to go there.</p>