Train Crossing in Blount on April 6, 2020

The audio begins with the distant, echoing sound of a freight train's horn, a stark reminder of the railroad's presence in the town of Blount. The date is April 6, 2020. As the horn's echo fades, the rhythmic clattering of wheels on tracks grows louder, signaling the train's approach. Soon, the intensity of the horn increases, growing louder and sharper. The train is nearing the junction. You can hear the metallic grind of heavy machinery and the rustle of freight being pulled along the tracks. Suddenly, there's a pause in the rhythm; the train is crossing. The sound of the crossing gate dropping is heard, a clanging that slices through the continuous rumble of the train. The horn blares again, a warning cry to any nearby passerby. The train passes slowly, the noise of each carriage passing the junction echoing in the relative quiet. The sound of the wheels on the tracks gradually fades, replaced by the softer