Most extreme/bizarre railroad crossings

[Dirt Roads]

It's been gone for more than a decade, but I recently mentioned the strangest railroad crossing in the universe in another thread.  This was actually a functional drawbridge for the Duke PRT system over the railroad spur that accessed the backup power generator for Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.  Both the so-called PRT system and the railroad spur were removed as part of the South Clinics infill development program.

Here's a brief description of the Duke PRT system for those who are interested:  https://today.duke.edu/2017/12/remembering-duke%E2%80%99s-railway 
The term Duke's Railway is misused, and actually meant the Duke PRT.  The article is incorrect, as part of the PRT system remained in service until 2010; but this crossing was indeed removed in 2009.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the vehicles and trains on the Duke PRT were air-levitated and didn't have any wheels.  Hence, strangest railroad crossing in the universe.

[index]

The town of Vernon, CA has an amazing number of tracks snaking through the industrial area (which is pretty much the whole town), some along streets, but most merely crossing lots of streets. I'd post a Google Maps link, but they don't show rail lines. But you can see them in Google Earth.

According to OpenRailwayMap, a lot of them are abandoned or disued, which may be why they aren't mapped on Google. But a lot of them are still in service. Super interesting nonetheless.

Nearby Commerce is similar, and has a lot more in service, although the layout of the rails there is not as messy as Vernon.

[COLORADOrk]

Cerrillos Rd at S St Francis Dr in Santa Fe, NM comes to mind

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/zo93y6GrCisPoAEQ8
A Diamond between two rail lines in the middle of FL 37 in Mulberry, FL.

[fillup420]

the old A&Y line in Greensboro NC had a few interesting road crossings. The rails have since been ripped up, but street view preserves the crossings from when they were there.

going north we have:
Mcgee St
Battleground/Benjamin
another on Battleground at westover

I got to see a train at the battleground/westover crossing years ago. It was a very funky set up that caused traffic issues. Folks would impulsively try to turn around or find another way, even though the train was like 3 cars long. 

[Evan_Th]

It's been gone for more than a decade, but I recently mentioned the strangest railroad crossing in the universe in another thread.  This was actually a functional drawbridge for the Duke PRT system over the railroad spur that accessed the backup power generator for Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.  Both the so-called PRT system and the railroad spur were removed as part of the South Clinics infill development program.

Here's a brief description of the Duke PRT system for those who are interested:  https://today.duke.edu/2017/12/remembering-duke%E2%80%99s-railway 
The term Duke's Railway is misused, and actually meant the Duke PRT.  The article is incorrect, as part of the PRT system remained in service until 2010; but this crossing was indeed removed in 2009.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the vehicles and trains on the Duke PRT were air-levitated and didn't have any wheels.  Hence, strangest railroad crossing in the universe.

Thank you for the link!  I actually rode the Duke Hospital PRT once when I was a kid - I only vaguely remember it, but I know I really enjoyed it at the time.  That brings back memories.

[index]

the old A&Y line in Greensboro NC had a few interesting road crossings. The rails have since been ripped up, but street view preserves the crossings from when they were there.

going north we have:
Mcgee St
Battleground/Benjamin
another on Battleground at westover

I got to see a train at the battleground/westover crossing years ago. It was a very funky set up that caused traffic issues. Folks would impulsively try to turn around or find another way, even though the train was like 3 cars long. 

The singular crossing signal head on one of the crossing gantries is really unusual.

[index]

https://goo.gl/maps/zo93y6GrCisPoAEQ8
A Diamond between two rail lines in the middle of FL 37 in Mulberry, FL.

I looked up footage of that crossing after I saw your post, and it looks like the gate on Phosphate Blvd goes down when a train uses the more skewed crossing. That is totally pointless. The train isn't even in the way. That is a common thing I've noticed with a lot of crossings where multiple roads/intersections are involved. They'll put gates down even where traffic has absolutely no risk of colliding with a train, such as blocking all right turns instead of some at intersections where railroad tracks come through.

At the more northerly crossing nearby this one, there is also a very old and rare crossing signal used to tell drivers not to turn right when a train is coming, which is an interesting find:

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8946025,-81.9743036,3a,15y,6.38h,92.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJKdEvnKEqVwcD_Mwo8rmOw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[ErmineNotyours]

Railroad tracks in a roundabout?  Santa Cruz has entered the chat.

I read this thread, then I watched Bumblebee.  I'm on a two-week trial of Paramount+ because I missed the start of the Tony's.  I won't be renewing the service, but in Bumblebee the main character works at an amusement park with railroad tracks running through a heavy pedestrian area.  I looked it up and found out it is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and yes those are technically active railroad tracks, though they look rusty on the San Lorenzo River Crossing.

[index]

Here's one that's not a railroad crossing but uses railroad crossing equipment:

https://www.google.com/maps/@61.1799938,-149.9829724,3a,20.2y,339.48h,90.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssrAj4-gp-Rir56rJBHHwyg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Is there a dedicated thread for this kind of thing?

[bugo]

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0899389,-95.8595427,603m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

[Dirt Roads]

Here's one that's not a railroad crossing but uses railroad crossing equipment:

https://www.google.com/maps/@61.1799938,-149.9829724,3a,20.2y,339.48h,90.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssrAj4-gp-Rir56rJBHHwyg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Is there a dedicated thread for this kind of thing?

Somebody forgot to invite me to this party!  Looks like a job for four-quadrant gates.

[Revive 755]

There's an equipment crossing in Granite City, IL that uses railroad-sytle lights and gates.

For crossing at an angle far from 90 degrees, I'll nominate this one on Grand Avenue in Elmwood Park, IL, that even has overhead signs warning of the long crossing.

[Hobart]

There's an equipment crossing in Granite City, IL that uses railroad-sytle lights and gates.

If that mill (U.S. Steel Granite City Works) uses anything close to what they have at U.S. Steel Gary Works, that crossing is definitely more than justified.

They're also really good at violating the MUTCD... unfortunately I can't provide examples because they made me sign an NDA.

[1995hoo]

It's been gone for more than a decade, but I recently mentioned the strangest railroad crossing in the universe in another thread.  This was actually a functional drawbridge for the Duke PRT system over the railroad spur that accessed the backup power generator for Duke Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.  Both the so-called PRT system and the railroad spur were removed as part of the South Clinics infill development program.

Here's a brief description of the Duke PRT system for those who are interested:  https://today.duke.edu/2017/12/remembering-duke%E2%80%99s-railway 
The term Duke's Railway is misused, and actually meant the Duke PRT.  The article is incorrect, as part of the PRT system remained in service until 2010; but this crossing was indeed removed in 2009.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the vehicles and trains on the Duke PRT were air-levitated and didn't have any wheels.  Hence, strangest railroad crossing in the universe.

Thank you for the link!  I actually rode the Duke Hospital PRT once when I was a kid - I only vaguely remember it, but I know I really enjoyed it at the time.  That brings back memories.

Bumping the above-quoted discussion of the Duke Hospital PRT because an alumni e-mail this morning includes a video about it and I figured someone might be interested. It's about a minute long.

https://today.duke.edu/2024/03/remembering-duke-hospitals-futuristic-tram?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The%20little%20tram%20that%20could&utm_campaign=dukeweekly2024_03_23

[fwydriver405]

When we went from Québec to Montréal back in May 2023 via Autoroute 20 / Trans-Canada Highway (Route transcanadienne) west / ouest, there was this railroad crossing on the mainline just before/after exit/sortie 130 (to QC 137/235) in Saint-Hyacinthe. Not sure how often it's used though.

Warning sign (400 m / ¼ mi)
Actual railroad crossing (Streetview, Video 1 (2011), Video 2 (2013), Video 3 (2019), Video 4 (2020))

[MASTERNC]

There's this one outside Richmond where a RR crossing goes through the middle of a major intersection

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KtJPc8Z3dh4B5nmGA

[rellis97]

There's a pretty rough crossing in Holly, MI where the CN Holly Subdivision crosses Fish Lake Road, west of town. The rail line travels along a hillside, so Fish Lake Road has a pretty sharp dip in the pavement crossing the tracks. At the crossing, there are scrape marks on the asphalt where many vehicles and trailers bottomed out on the road while making the crossing. This is a dangerous crossing, especially during slippery road conditions and poor visibility. Trains frequently travel through here going about 30 to 45 mph.

Here's a motorist's perspective of first seeing the crossing while traveling northbound on Fish Lake Road. Notice the sharp dip in the road at the crossing.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7966932,-83.6475208,3a,15.1y,358.8h,84.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sy7hdCMxLQXpT2MMcQyNlrA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Look at the scrape marks in the pavement!
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7979379,-83.6476009,3a,75y,252.24h,58.13t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sGnuAtdlfxrvWc6iuWcSbcw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[epzik8]

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1215781,-78.8757671,3a,37.5y,269.43h,89.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJyaU78aMdO-jBJgzM5CpwA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

One of a few along US 701 between Loris, SC and Tabor City, NC, although I don't believe this railroad line is still functional.

[pderocco]

A pretty ordinary crossing, but the locals' decoration of the trestle turned it into a trollbridge.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vTzQhHNt7o1rFFzXA

[GaryA]

Two in my area:
For an oblique crossing, CA 118 between Moorpark and Somis (active, on the commuter/freight line between Ventura and LA): https://www.google.com/maps/@34.2712443,-118.9404537,146m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

Oxnard, CA, has a track running through a "five-points' intersection (which for a long time included CA 1): https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1899038,-119.1774611,87m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu - this railroad isn't as active, but still sees regular train traffic, and it's a very busy intersection for autos.

[freebrickproductions]

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1215781,-78.8757671,3a,37.5y,269.43h,89.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJyaU78aMdO-jBJgzM5CpwA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

One of a few along US 701 between Loris, SC and Tabor City, NC, although I don't believe this railroad line is still functional.

That's an RJ Corman-owned shortline per the ENS signage. It appears that's part of the RJ Corman Carolina Lines (RJCS), and probably sees, at best, two trains a day.
https://www.rjcorman.com/companies/railroad-company/our-short-lines/carolina-lines-rjcs

[Robinsml]

The infamous Crazy Corner in Ada, Oklahoma. The intersection of Arlington and Mississippi has a BNSF mainline running through it. See here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4STVPaC8FxgRNmYm8

[cjk374]

The Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi RR crosses US 165 at a very tight angle:  Loop Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/zbbn8kF65JGwRxNp7

[pderocco]

The rail line that roughly follows OR-127 up to US-30 merges into the main line on the other side of US-30 by tunneling under it at an extremely shallow angle, and it's well-hidden in the trees. Here's the location:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ETskKZegPXKDegdp8

You can glimpse the mouth of the tunnel in Street View here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7zQu9r5KwmFsPGpG6

I don't know if that line is still in use, but if it is, it's pretty rarely. But I always liked the way they squeezed it in.