What Did I hear?

[retreat]

I was woken from my sleep at 1,50 this morning by what I thought was a jet directly overhead. It was that loud! After a few seconds it was obvious that it did not move like a jet, merely hovered, as a harrier would.

Leaping from my bed I saw nothing so I ventured outside fully expecting an alien abduction, after watching Brian Cox I was ready to do my duty in the next galaxy! Unfortunately, nothing to be seen in the sky...

The noise had subsided slightly and was actually coming from the direction of the railway line about 1km away. The railway is closed for maintainance at the moment. It lasted about 45 mins and faded into the distance very slowly, it sounded almost like a huge road sweeper as there was a definite 'air whoosh' on top of a mechanical roar.

Any ideas what I heard?

[hammo19]

One of Network Rails yellow plant machines like a Tamper or Stoneblower perhaps?

[ralphrj]

hammo19 said:

One of Network Rails yellow plant machines like a Tamper or Stoneblower perhaps?

^This or possibly a ballast cleaning train.

[TobyLaRohne]

Someone dicking around with an jet powered frozen sausage hammering device?

[Simpo Two]

There's a railway line near me too and every so often something makes extraordinary noises on it, so I think Hammo is right and your UFO is now an INFO...

[Bish]

Rail grinder?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VhKFYDRRvI

cracking machine to watch.

[retreat]

Thanks chaps!

I'm going for stone blower or ballast cleaner- all seems very reasonable now in the light of day...

bit less exciting than 'hovering ufo' mind...