Forum Topic

What's that noise at night?

I live in Grove Park. Kind of rumbling noise. Goes on till 3 in the morning or so, leaving an hour or two till the early flights. Initially I thought it was distant fireworks but must be some kind of mechanical activity. Any ideas? Humorous contributions appreciated, factual ones even more so.

James Tickell ● 2173d24 Comments

Jamers I too life in Grove Park and have heard that noise late at night/early morning and though it was a few deluded people celebrating with fireworks or possibly sabotaging un- asked for, un-needed, cameras, masts, bollards.  Maybe the underground rumble of more Thames Water leaks.

Jennifer Selig ● 2173d

It's secret tunneling for the A4 flyunder so that Chiswick can be reunited and sheep will once again safely graze where once there was the mighty roar of London's traffic. I've no idea what it is, but I hear it. Night time resurfacing somewhere  maybe?

Bruce Hammal ● 2173d

I think you'll find it was Diwali(Festival of Lights)celebrations over the weekend(Saturday 14th November).  Lots of fireworks etc!

Richard Bryson ● 2173d

Sorry it was me. I had a Diwali curry on Friday and it's not quite stopped rumbling yet.

Richard Potts ● 2173d

I don’t know if you are too far west but we, north of CHR, had notice that the boring for the Thames Tideway  would be taking place.  My understanding I’d that it would principally be under the Abinger Road area towards the Thames.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2173d

There used to be freight trains on the Hounslow Loop that parked up for a while leaving their diesel engines running.

Richard Greenhough ● 2173d

Thanks - at least I'm not alone!

James Tickell ● 2173d

James, you certainly aren't alone - have a listen to this.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b07nmqtq

Bruce Hammal ● 2173d

Very good, Bruce. Though it's not so much a hum as a rumbling. Maybe it's all the same thing? One way or another, most mysteries end up pointing towards aliens ...

James Tickell ● 2173d

Being a little bit more serious - I did in fact hear this rumbling last night. At first I thought is was the hard drive on my iMac going mad - but it's an SSD and doesn't make any noise. (didn't stop me putting ear to the Mac though).Then I decided it was Diwali fireworks. But this was a continuing rumbling like a hard drive working overtime.Could well be drilling.

Richard Potts ● 2173d

As Elizabeth said the Thames Water project is very active in west London at the moment, so given how sound can travel it could be that. Alternatively it might be something much smaller but nearer. I had this experience in my last house and couldn't fathom what it was. It turned out a nearby housing development had encountered ground water problems and were running pumps all night. Once that was over they turned on the industrial space-heaters for weeks to dy out the place.  Earplugs?

Bruce Hammal ● 2173d

yes Richard, that's the one. Rumbling. During the NATO bombing of Serbia I was about 100 miles away (in Hungary) and we could hear a very similar noise during the air raids, clearer at night.

James Tickell ● 2173d

Maybe they're working around the clock to fix the leak at Acton Lane!

Bruce Hammal ● 2173d

Straight from His Dark Materials -!    Otherwise I reckon it's Thames Water- the entire area is leaking like a sieve.  How about 3 leaks in water main in under two weeks no more than 2-3 yards apart???  TW have now decided that neighbour's water supply pipe is leaking and has been for months from their pavement meter into home and possibly inside the home - can't find home stopcock which is adding to complications!

Jennifer Selig ● 2173d

I walked pass earlier and i smelt gas rather than water over the place. Must be another dig in process as a big boring machine had turned up

Julian Pavey ● 2173d

Is all that happening way north of Grove Park?  Isn't Abinger Rd in Bedford Park area?  Amazing we can hear the noise so far to the south.  Forgotten, were does it enter the, go under? the Thames?

Jennifer Selig ● 2172d

Jennifer, James asked for speculation - we haven't let him down. Basically we've no idea what it is!

Bruce Hammal ● 2172d

From what I recall (the tunnel would have possibly clipped the end of the garden in my last house) the digging is progressing from Bath Road down to the storm tanks at Acton where they remove spoil. It's a massive project.

Bruce Hammal ● 2172d

I live not far from Abinger Road  No unusual noises here - in fact sleeping much better with less noise from LHR. Not sure how boring going in various areas. Yes  I know some wit on here will see avgreat opportunity for a smart alec post :)

Claire Moran ● 2172d

Not me! Here's the route if anyone's interested.https://www.tideway.london/locations/

Bruce Hammal ● 2172d

It’s a large toxic emanation. Growing in size. Farmer Curran has been dumping too many bovine droppings in the local drains. Bad for the digestion. Noxious to breathe. Be cautious with naked flames. Keep windows closed. Pegs on nose advisable.

Russell Pearson ● 2172d

It could be the Christmas lights being put up on Chiswick High road. They were doing it in the early hours of the morning around 2am-5am with the lifts going up and down and the workers yelling at each other. It was rather noisy.

chris poole ● 2171d

I think you might be hearing the Piccadilly trains speeding between Hammersmith and Acton Town. I believe sound can travel further in cold and wet weather.

Michael Prosser ● 2170d

I’m sure that it’s the tide way tunnel between Acton and Abinger Road.Roaring noise all day and night.I’ve taken to using ear plugs at night. A massive job and going to take ages.

Rima Jones ● 2168d