The unfortunate reality is that Amtrak and freight trains are striking or running over people on the tracks (both on foot and in vehicles) more than once of month of late along their N. CA routes. A female bicyclist was run over and killed along these tracks just north in West Berkeley on March 27 (see http://www.berkeleyside.com/2018/04/03/woman-killed-by-train-was-berkeley-mom-memorial-is-planned). Someone I know was on that train and felt the body and the bike dragged under it. Some of those killed or injured are encampment dwellers living along the tracks. Since people aren't always in a rational state while next to or on the tracks, the only thing train conductors can do is sound the horn - trains cannot be stopped on a dime.

It's the only train that blows its horn so long and so loud. At 2 am, when there aren't pedestrians or cars around, it's just mean or macho.