LIRR in the Gardens

Located right off of Austin Street and Lefferts Boulevard, The Long Island Rail Road is a staple in Kew Gardens. On schedule the Rail Road rumbles under the hill letting off passengers. They walk up the hill to find the Q10 or the beautiful Kew Gardens landscape. The Rail Road was created in 1875 so mourners could get to Maple Grave Cemetery several blocks away. I often wondered though how locals can stand the noise of the railroad. A normal conversation is between 60-70 decibels while the train is around 95. Asking around I went to the long time staple, Dani’s Pizza. Workers always go into the back to get supplies and have to hear the Rail Road. I camped out in the back acting like I was waiting for the train, when a worker ran out back I just asked casually “Do you ever get use to the noise from the rail road”. In an itallian accent he shouted “I don’t care” as he walked into the storage room outback. I’m not sure if he meant he didn’t care about my question asking or if he meant I don’t care about the noise. None the less, you really do get use to the sound. I don’t live any where near Kew Gardens so the first couple of times walking the neighborhood I was a little startled. It seems like you just get use to it though. When the train isn’t stopping it roars past the station and shakes the earth. Looking around it seems like it really isn’t a big deal. I guess it has just become a way of life for locals in Kew Gardens. Maybe the same way people who live around airports deal with Air Plane noise the locals deal with the rail road noise.