Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Type: ACA Alertronic AL-6000R
Signal: Alert
Location: 384 Edwards Road, Harriman, Roane County, TN
Before I delve into my essay here, let me say one thing: never give up.
As many of you may know, recording an Alertronic in Oak Ridge has been an aspiration of mine ever since I first tried (and failed) in 2013. I have since been to Oak Ridge an additional 4 times (including this trip), bringing the grand total to 5. That's about 40 hours of total driving time, and that's only factoring the drive from Cincinnati to the city itself, which the Alertronics are then further south of. To put things simply: I took this task very seriously and it was very much a bucket list item.
Josh and Matthew accompanied August, Gary, and I to this test. Josh got to the target siren first, and sent me a photo of it. Upon reviewing the photo, I noted that it had not rotated since the last time I saw it. We switched to the Poplar Springs location. Curious I did some searching and found the number to those responsible for the ETTP sirens. A phone call was made, and I learned that the Poplar Springs siren had failed its last test. We then switched to the Poplar Creek location- which was facing the same direction as the last time I saw it. We then switched to the Edwards Road location, with little time to spare. I made one more call, and was told that the Edwards Road siren had passed its last test. We set up and waited in anticipation...
I cannot explain in words the feeling of elation I experienced when I heard this thing wind up. For a brief moment, I convinced myself it was an ambient siren (I had gotten used to that), but when I saw it rotating I knew that I had finally received my reward. All in all, I feel like I can finally rest easy, knowing that I've heard one of these awesome sirens in person. I certainly plan on going back.
Now, as far as the siren itself: it is one of a system of about 16 Alertronics that surround the ETTP (former K-25 gasseous diffusion facility). Many stand abandoned, with a select amount remaining in service. It wasn't anything crazy. Not super loud, not super quiet. It wasn't quite as loud as a Vortex, but it was louder than the T-121 we recorded later that day. I will say that the tone it produced filled you up, while just staying within that boundary of actually irritating your eardrums. The tone itself must carry, because once this one wound down we could hear another pretty clearly in the distance, the closest being just under a mile away. When standing under it, you could occasionally hear a static-like noise. I could not have asked for a better backdrop, and the rain honestly added a nice aesthetic, although it did play with the sound a bit. With that all said, I really hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!
ETTP sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 11:00 AM ET.
Type: ACA Alertronic AL-6000R
Signal: Alert
Location: 384 Edwards Road, Harriman, Roane County, TN
Before I delve into my essay here, let me say one thing: never give up.
As many of you may know, recording an Alertronic in Oak Ridge has been an aspiration of mine ever since I first tried (and failed) in 2013. I have since been to Oak Ridge an additional 4 times (including this trip), bringing the grand total to 5. That's about 40 hours of total driving time, and that's only factoring the drive from Cincinnati to the city itself, which the Alertronics are then further south of. To put things simply: I took this task very seriously and it was very much a bucket list item.
Josh and Matthew accompanied August, Gary, and I to this test. Josh got to the target siren first, and sent me a photo of it. Upon reviewing the photo, I noted that it had not rotated since the last time I saw it. We switched to the Poplar Springs location. Curious I did some searching and found the number to those responsible for the ETTP sirens. A phone call was made, and I learned that the Poplar Springs siren had failed its last test. We then switched to the Poplar Creek location- which was facing the same direction as the last time I saw it. We then switched to the Edwards Road location, with little time to spare. I made one more call, and was told that the Edwards Road siren had passed its last test. We set up and waited in anticipation...
I cannot explain in words the feeling of elation I experienced when I heard this thing wind up. For a brief moment, I convinced myself it was an ambient siren (I had gotten used to that), but when I saw it rotating I knew that I had finally received my reward. All in all, I feel like I can finally rest easy, knowing that I've heard one of these awesome sirens in person. I certainly plan on going back.
Now, as far as the siren itself: it is one of a system of about 16 Alertronics that surround the ETTP (former K-25 gasseous diffusion facility). Many stand abandoned, with a select amount remaining in service. It wasn't anything crazy. Not super loud, not super quiet. It wasn't quite as loud as a Vortex, but it was louder than the T-121 we recorded later that day. I will say that the tone it produced filled you up, while just staying within that boundary of actually irritating your eardrums. The tone itself must carry, because once this one wound down we could hear another pretty clearly in the distance, the closest being just under a mile away. When standing under it, you could occasionally hear a static-like noise. I could not have asked for a better backdrop, and the rain honestly added a nice aesthetic, although it did play with the sound a bit. With that all said, I really hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!
ETTP sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 11:00 AM ET.
