The Busiest Railroad Crossing in Fort Wayne, Indiana!

[@alanpareis734]

Well, thanks, I have lived in Fort Wayne for 30 years and pass this crossing multiple times a week and have always wanted to see a train at this crossing. Now I have, a real speed demon, with clear visibility in both directions for both engineers and highway drivers.

[@BeginCTC]

They were definitely taking their time headed back, as they had to wait on a few trains enroute to the yard. A bit faster going north which is why I didn't get a video of it (wasn't set up in time). And the visibility is a bit misleading. If you're driving east, you won't see the train going south until it's on the crossing.

[@freddykagin]

The Beautiful Norfolk Southern Railway a Great train 🚂

[@yoshixcrossing2355]

I never once have seen a train on Coliseum Blvd so thank you for capturing this. It’s only State Blvd so far for that specific railroad I’ve seen a train since I went to Price Elementary in 2012-2016 and I would occasionally see a train pass by during recess which was always nice.

[@BeginCTC]

It's very much a right place at the right time (or wait all morning for them) kinda train lol. That morning I found them down by State Blvd as they switched out Cargill first. All my years in Fort Wayne I never caught them by chance, I had to go hunt them down this time

[@joeldcoxks]

Too bad the GR&I doesn't go all the way up to Kendallville any more. Imagine what it must have been like to see the Freedom train run on this line.

[@b3j8]

I did see it. It took forever to get down to the Fort bec of all the slow orders on the GR&I! 😅😅

[@RailfanRXR]

There is a crossing similar to this on Larrabee Rd in Westbrook, here in Maine.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

This is pretty fun to catch. I went to the post office up the line often on my day off and that’s where I usually caught this train. I got to show my son once or twice as we kind of chased it around. It might be on this channel even, the video from that day. It was closed earlier this year too, I think, to rebuild the crossing and closed the road for some time. My favorite view of the city is on a cold winter morning driving past this area on i69. The sun is coming up, the tracks are down near S&S, and you see the steam coming off the buildings from their heating systems.

[@BeginCTC]

My kids enjoy seeing this too. Especially since it's just a giant RC toy. They always get a kick out of seeing the train do its switching with no one in the cab.

[@michaeljohnson7493]

Crossings with lights and no gates have pretty much disappeared around my area; I live in North Carolina. I think I read that school bus traffic is a leading factor for the NCDOT in deciding which crossings get signals, so if there's a school anywhere nearby, even on a low-trafficked road and/or a rarely-used rail spur, it gets lights and gates. The state evidently discourages the placement of new signals without gates, because the only ones that exist near me are very old. The only crossing I can think of in my area that is gateless and surprises me a little is Berkeley Boulevard in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The mall, other shopping centers, and restaurants are along it; it's a very busy four lane boulevard. It crosses the North Carolina Railroad, which Norfolk Southern uses to access eastern NC and the port at Morehead City. It has big cantilever signals, but no gates. It's right between a couple of traffic lights, so I'm wondering if they are part of the advanced warning system for that crossing.

[@gregrowe1168]

It has lights, that is enough. I live in Southern Illinois in a small town called Odin. Canadian National(formerly Illinois Central runs through our town a block from where I live. There is a crossing with lights and gates for a dead end road that only goes maybe 500 ft total. It’s basically just a driveway for the single home at the end of it. A long time ago there I think there was one more home but all that is left is an old barn. Generally, these type of crossings only have a sign but it has been maintained in working order for the 25 years I’ve lived here. I think the home is even abandoned now. The only vehicle I’ve seen cross it are vehicles owned by the railroad.

[@BeginCTC]

I agree that it has the minimum requirements. I just hope for a day where we stop striving for the minimum just to save a buck

[@mainesail3097]

Just found the channel---VERY GOOD VIDEOGRAPHY AND COMMENTARY

[@BeginCTC]

@@mainesail3097 thank you! I really appreciate it

[@James-tr9vv]

In Decatur Illinois nearly all if not all railroad grade crossings have no gates.

[@BeginCTC]

I'm only familiar with the ones we have on NS but all of those major crossings have gates or are bridges.

[@coryburris8211]

Decatur has a strange mix of gates vs. no gates. Some tracks are too close to the street for gates to fit, but there are spots where crossings are close together but one has gates and the other doesn't - North 27th Street and North Woodford are 2 examples. I moved out of Decatur 25 years ago, but I still go there on occasion. The last 2 times I was stopped by a train were on 22nd near the old Firestone plant (gates) and on North Main (no gates).

[@kevinkotansky4184]

Your exactly right on this. Worked and lived in Decatur for over 12 years. Love to see a video and drone action over the N & S tracks and crossings, especially east of the Staley viaduct. And ADM. So many tracks that intersect. Maybe someday.

[@SuperApplefan1]

awesome man!!!!!

[@herbcraven7146]

I work within sight of the trestle that crosses Goshen Ave. on the way to the Coliseum crossing. The train moves out and back once a day on weekdays, never during rush hour, and it travels pretty slowly, so rarely is there an issue at the crossing.

[@BeginCTC]

@herbcraven7146 Well if you work close by surely you remember when they hit someone back in February lol

[@herbcraven7146]

@BeginCTC I don't work near the crossing, probably a half-mile south of there near the Goshen Ave overpass. I must have missed the news about it.

[@therailroadtiespiker]

Excellent video now is this the local that come through Muncie?

[@BeginCTC]

No sir, these guys are a New Haven RCO job.

[@fluxthelycanroc9603]

Thats a nice k5la. Though yeah quite a busy crossing with only lights and no gates. Ive seen somw slightly busier with only cross bucks.

[@BeginCTC]

@fluxthelycanroc9603 Definitely a nice horn for a slug. And for sure could be worse, at least with the lights they don't have to flag it.

[@DanielG599]

Here in Michigan it is up to the state, township, county or municipality to pay for the lights and gate upgrades. The railroad then installs them. With that amount of rail traffic the powers that be, (state, county road authorities) have come to the conclusion that updated crossing protection is not cost effective. C'est la vie.

[@jordanalexander615]

Theres one like this in Monroe ohio. Stay pretty busy. Definitely gotta pay attention

[@chaos0852]

shouldn't need gates, they don't stop anyone that wants to violate traffic laws

[@clydedonaldson7369]

It sounds like the population are well trained concerning rules of the road, particularly around railway crossings.

[@BeginCTC]

@clydedonaldson7369 Considering someone got hit at this very crossing, by the very Operation Lifesaver locomotive in this video in 2024, I'd disagree lol

[@matthewbeals7996]

What is the name of this road in Fort Wayne Indiana that does have any gates?

[@BeginCTC]

West Coliseum Blvd or State Road 930. One of many roads in town that has more than one name lol

[@JoelMahlman]

Contrary to popular belief gates do not save lives. They just give the impatient people something to drive around. If they will race across the crossing with lights flashing or with a stop sign they will weave around the gates too. The best piece of safety equipment at a RR crossing is right between your ears, but many people don't use it.

[@BeginCTC]

@JoelMahlman Can't weave around gates here given the concrete barrier. Not sure why everyone is so opposed to increased safety either. It's a weird hill to die on.

[@jamesmiller2332]

No signals? What is wrong here?

[@BeginCTC]

Yes signals? No gates

[@tedmaas3588]

In the name of safety, why hasn't the state or county pushed NS for upgraded grade crossing signals and gates? If this crossing is as dangerous as it's presented, there should be more visible grade crossing signals...

[@BeginCTC]

@tedmaas3588 Like with all things, it comes down to cost. No one wants to pay for the upgrades to prevent the one or two collisions per year here.

[@Lemoncake_X260X]

Theres only 2 trains a day here, its not required

[@BeginCTC]

@Lemoncake_X260X correct. Never said it was. Striving for the bare minimum to save a buck is what the railroads do best.

[@ShawnCalay]

Actually keeps drivers on their toes I think .....when I was at CCP we had a crossing at county farm road with flashers and over head flashers....we went threw at 45....never had a accident there....all the accidents were with gates ...Gary Ave, North Ave and so on ....

[@dancline2143]

I have often wondered if this was used, as I have never, ever seen a train on this line or any evidence of a train, just a little bit of shininess on the rails. Where does this line run too?

[@moneybaggken5645]

As busy as this railroad crossing is, I feel like it needs gates. Because lack of patience from a driver is one thing, but lack of common sense is the 2nd biggest reason why people get hit trying to beat the train!

[@Paul070]

With only 2 trains a day, the FRA does not require gates. Just cross bucks and lights are a must. People just need to remember that trains have priority at all grade crossings

[@BeginCTC]

@@Paul070 Anything to save a buck...

[@thetuch7]

@@BeginCTCno, gates are not warranted here. And it’s not an FRA requirement. Gates and flashing lights are not railroad signals, they are highway signals. This is why railroads do not pay for their installation. It is up to the state department of transportation to make the decision to upgrade crossing signals and they are paid for by the state or federal government. Once installed, the railroads provide all the maintenance on them. Railroads cannot just decide to install gates. I’ve been involved in trying to get gates installed on a highway that had a fair amount of traffic that crossed a railroad that, at that time, operated eight to ten trains a day. The state department of transportation declined our application because there were a minimal amount of incidents and nobody had been killed. The railroad wanted them but the state didn’t and since they are highway signals and not railroad signals, there was nothing that could be done once the state denied the request.

[@BeginCTC]

@@thetuch7 correct. Like I said. Anything to save a buck

[@thetuch7]

@ who’s saving the buck? I’m thinking the highway people are more aware of the situation and the situation doesn’t require gates. Remember, gates do not prevent vehicle/train collisions. More than half of all train/vehicle collisions occur at crossings with gates.

[@user-up3ik4in2m]

@@thetuch7 Like the recent train/fire truck collision in Florida.

[@nelsonlachappellejr9377]

If this crossing is so busy,Why don't they put up crossing gates?

[@BeginCTC]

@nelsonlachappellejr9377 No one wants to pay for it, to prevent one or two accidents a year. And I get the logic, 99% of the time the lights are enough.

[@Adrian44ist]

Red mean stop it shouldn’t need arm gates to be honest

[@c.c.hiliner1065]

Pennsy Trackage....

[@BeginCTC]

@c.c.hiliner1065 It was the GR&I first lol. We don't care for the Pennsy around these parts. And that's the timetable name as well.

[@DAVIDALANJONESRIDGE]

Uh. oh.