"WAAAAHHHH, WAAAAHHHH, then it goes ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, like it's rolling, then WAAAAHHHHH!"
That's not wailing coming from the mouth of Sheila Ruffin, though it may as well be.
The longtime Northeast D.C. resident is imitating the train horn sounds that wake her up in the middle of the night.
Ruffin has lived in the 1300 block of W Place N.E., next to Amtrak's "Ivy City" facility since 1960. Some of her neighbors have been there even longer. They're familiar with the routine sounds of the train yard, which is primarily used for maintenance and storage.
The horn that started waking them at 3 a.m. Sunday morning is not one of those routine sounds.
Ruffin says she and other neighbors are losing sleep, and growing increasingly frustrated. They say they understand there may be a good reason for the repeated signal use, but wish someone would have told them in advance when it was going to begin -- and when it's going to end.
Amtrak says a rail operator is looking into the matter.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
