The Strangest Railroad Crossing You've Ever Seen

Watch our complete coverage of the Florida Central Railroad here: • Chasing the Florida Ce...
The Florida Central Railroad has a unique grade crossing: two legs of the wye in Tavares run through a traffic circle just east of the Orlando & Northwestern's depot on Lake Dora Drive.
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[@SantaFe19484]

A roundabout with one railroad track is crazy enough, now let's have one with two tracks going in different directions!

[@kishascape]

Way to much for american drivers to handle.

[@CentralPennRailProductions]

This is definitely unique, the cab perspective really gives a view a trackside run-by can't capture. Thanks for sharing!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Thanks for watching, buddy!

[@pieterarnoldus3326]

Kato train set

[@thecatwithatophat4069]

Only a Pontiac Aztec owner would commit to cutting ahead of a freight train

[@deephorizon1365]

Lmao yeah, he thought about it and just went for it

[@TheKardiacKid]

Deadlines. The Crystal won't cook itself.

[@ResidentOfTheAbyss]

Lolol

[@michaelslee4336]

Wow, yeah nearly died it was so close. NOT!

[@abutts02]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@owenmeschter9888]

Man. Florida just keeps getting weirder

[@breakprismatshell6270]

Man. Florida just keeps getting wetter

[@port566]

Funny. I didn't know Florida Man was a civil engineer.

[@yamahonkawazuki]

when florida gets normal, THEN you worry

[@safetyfirst5917]

Casual Pontiac Aztec when it crosses the actual roundabout

[@WithKarl]

Knew straight away when I saw a picture of this a few days ago it was Florida, who else would be dumb enough to put a railway crossing in the middle of a roundabout? xD

[@CityWhisperer]

I am more surprised by the fact that there are roundabouts in the US,

[@kansasstatealerting2874]

Mikel Sopelana Durango There are roundabouts all over the US ._.

[@niveleur]

Fucking things are everywhere and nobody knows how to actually drive through them.

[@CityWhisperer]

Trains Of Kansas they are not very common in the US.

[@CityWhisperer]

Niveleur It’s the easiest thing you’ll ever find.

[@JacobLozano-mr8ll]

Yes they started being everywhere a few years ago

[@jayburgh]

A railway line going through a roundabout; I can go home now I've seen it all.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

being JOD Right? Just crazy!

[@jayburgh]

​@@DelayInBlockProductions what next I wonder; an actual baseball ground like in Brewster's Millions with a track running through it and they have to stop play when a train passes through.

[@tigerdumdua]

I wonder if railroads would hire talented graffiti artists to tag their cars? NYC and other big city food vendors use a similar tactic on their trucks. Keeps them from being tagged again.

[@leonkernan]

Here's one from Australia you can check out on Google Street View: goo.gl/maps/ULDQMEQRXDv

[@leonkernan]

Also in Australia, railway through a golf course: www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.893767,138.5115122,16.96z

[@dragondancer1814]

Love the cab-cam perspective! That’s a view most of us never get the opportunity to enjoy! Throw in the trip through the traffic circle, and this just gets better and better! Thanks!

[@jameschristiansson3137]

I like the sound of all train horns. Except maybe this one.

[@tommytruth7595]

It is just plain ugly.

[@rtchocolate]

And it’s too close to those building nearby. I bet those people are really tired of hearing it!

[@morescodesup2087]

But the brakes are so much worse Like nails on a chalkboard

[@rescue270]

I think it sounds weird in the cab but outside it's just an old-time air horn.

[@gearsmashking6880]

I think steam whistles sound better, even though they're old and not used anymore.

[@amtrakisveryepic]

You gotta love the guy that stopped before the train got there and then continued when they realized the train was going slower than they are.

[@chris3383]

If roundabouts aren't bad enough hey let's throw in a railroad crossing !!!!

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Right? Could you imagine how tough that would be to navigate?!

[@chris3383]

@@DelayInBlockProductions people have a hard enough time driving in a straight line around the Louisville area !!!

[@dsmith9964]

+Chris Strange Do you mean like the roundabouts in Fairdale or in Cherokee Park?

[@chris3383]

@@dsmith9964 yes and the north end of Jeffersonville on 62 under 265

[@dsmith9964]

+Chris Strange Those too and the interchange of I 64 and Gene Snyder Freeway!

[@LesD9]

I love the 'Yield' sign there that says 'Circle Has Right Of Way'. Unless a train's coming that is!

[@DruSteel69]

Nice catch. Beautiful scene of the train on the bridge. - Drew

[@TrillBill]

Nobody: Florida: "Hey, let's up the ante for no reason."

[@junaidfarooqui1993]

"Florida man did something to this road, you can never imagine!"

[@freebrickproductions]

Certainly one of the weirder crossing lay-outs out there, but not the weirdest in terms of equipment used, that I've seen anyways (though the modern "Look Out For Cars" sign on the crossbuck at 2:28 is a bit unusual).

[@paulkennedy8701]

The "Watch out for cars" would be for pedestrians. I don't think it has much to do with the rail crossing.

[@freebrickproductions]

@@paulkennedy8701 "Look Out For The Cars" signs appear to have once been standard on crossbuck crossings in Florida, and they can still be found in service across the state. The original video this is from showed a crossbuck crossing just after this scene with one of those signs in service at it. However, they don't appear to be getting installed anymore for the most part, hence my comment.

[@paulkennedy8701]

I can't speak about how they're used at other crossings, but this one can't be to warn train drivers. It's far too small. It's hard enough to read from a train crawling across. It would be absolutely impossible from a train travelling at speed. It's also not angled in the direction of the trains. It is clearly angled in the same direction as the "Railroad Crossing" sign. In other words to be read by people approaching ALONG the road rather than across it.

[@freebrickproductions]

@@paulkennedy8701 That's how all of them are/were used, to warn car drivers. They face the road, not the tracks.

[@paulkennedy8701]

@@freebrickproductions Sorry. I thought you were disagreeing with me when I said they were for pedestrians.

[@SteamboatWilley]

I've seen level crossings through roundabouts before (there's one in Manzanillo, Mexico), but this is the first one I've seen with two diverging tracks.

[@Trains4Fun]

Street trains are rare, but street train plus roundabouts are extremely rare and super cool video to illustrated that.

[@stratoreyener461]

"Traffic Circle" that's the first time I've ever heard someone call a roundabout

[@pedroadangarcia391]

A traffic circle and a roundabout are two different things.

[@KasabianFan44]

Pedro Adán García And this particular thing is a roundabout, not a traffic circle. They got it wrong.

[@atallguynh]

@@KasabianFan44 in some places it's common to call any circular traffic routing scheme a "traffic circle" without distinctions of size/configuration.

[@KasabianFan44]

aTallGuyNH People who do this are wrong.

[@atallguynh]

@@KasabianFan44 Well, sometimes language evolves too. Are people who use the term "truck" rather than "lorry" considered "wrong"? How about railroad "car" vs. "wagon"?

[@albertbenajam4751]

In Europe there are many instances where TRAM LINES are in traffic circles; but the oddity here is that a full length TRAIN does so. Also the TRAMS are part of the road traffic, while the TRAIN cuts into it.

[@bleepiestofbloops]

All the train videos on KZbin really make me wish I had carried out my childhood obsession into a career.

[@JawTooth]

That is a cool crossing and street running. I filmed that exact spot last year. There is also a crossing near there with gates and cross bucks for a dirt road that goes into an orange grove. Rarely does a car ever go down that dirt road but the gates still operate

[@rodgodx345]

They added actual working railroad crossing gate which I never excepted

[@999-98]

Nice video! If you want to see a Strange railroad crossing no need to look further at videos of the Port Baku Park Train that crosses a 7 lane motor highway.

[@VictorianRailHeritage]

This isn’t strange we have these in Australia

[@railtrolley]

This is one I know of: Dendy St, roundabout Brighton. www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.920355,144.9926484,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6ad66ed54956213b:0x4bdd1e8e2a6be00e!8m2!3d-37.9218361!4d145.0143421

[@t.t.6398]

Really? You guys have a railroad "Y" that splits and both tracks cross the roundabout like in the video? Link please, not buying it even on double coupon day.

[@t.t.6398]

@@railtrolley That isn't a "Y" crossing the roundabout its just 1 track crossing it. Again, not the same thing as shown here.

[@railtrolley]

@@t.t.6398 you are right. Dendy St does not have a Y. Its a double tracked suburban electrified line. I put the link as some other commenters asked about the lack of crossing protection in the video crossing. Dendy St has 2 sets of lights bells and boom gates. One on each side of the roundabout This might be to avoid expensive mix ups. Brighton is one of the most expensive suburbs in Melbourne. A soccer mom there would be driving a Porsche, Maserati, Jaguar or Bentley.

[@VictorianRailHeritage]

no one well it still goes through a roundabout

[@FF5754]

This place is really cool. I took my kid to see the wizard of oz train ride here a few months back. Ride this very stretch of railway. Super cool for sure!!

[@rhyalstanley1583]

The trains go past the front of the houses. ..awesome

[@stevepeters2197]

Looks like a CF-7. The railroad I work for had some engines like that and I was told that they used to be F units that were converted to general purpose engines.

[@solar_copper-yt875]

And love the video keep posting

[@MarceloPlus]

It’s cool how in the USA, freight systems, and commuter trains just go in the centre of the road. I’m not talking about subways/trams

[@laxingpiper23]

Cool video. Very well done as usual. I thought this was a genset but then heard the 567 at the end of the video... CF7's are... interesting. Not my favorite looking GP but hearing a 567 is nice

[@Steve-xf4uv]

Never seen anything like this. Tavares, Florida, on my list for next Florida trip. Nice video.

[@zathrasadama8338]

Don't bother, Central Florida is awful. Stay on the coast or in Orlando.

[@edwardmiessner6502]

At first I thought, who would be idiot enough to put a roundabout at the railway crossing? Then I had a second look and realized, this is probably the best solution for a nasty traffic safety problem. Can you imagine a regular intersection with stop signs on all the streets at this crossing? It's enough to give me a headache!

[@tobeytransport2802]

By "traffic circle" the guy just means roundabout! Pretty cool crossing though!

[@thewhistler4696]

Perhaps you also like this heavy traffic roundabout in Bremen (Germany). Tram's are crossing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5y0fWuVe7iJosU It's called “Der Stern“ (The Star). Before its modification there were two lanes for cars in the roundabout.

[@jessetucker542]

Something strange in the neighborhood? No need to call the ghost busters, it's just Florida. Strange is just how they roll.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Hahaha 😂

[@antiussentiment]

That's the coolest roundabout ever!!

[@Crismodin]

GLAD I DONT LIVE THERE. That would get really annoying to hear everyday.

[@narzisadventureandtravelvl2161]

Crismodin As a Railfan I don't get sleep without hearing the night trains whoozing by.

[@isaacmr.trumpetmanbobonis]

I periodically travel through Downtown Tavares to see the Royal Palm stop here. There used to be a steam train that operates excursion trains here.

[@billyost1479]

Yep, now that is one strange RR intersection. Imagine if you were a delivery person or just someone living near by and you had to traverse this mess several times a day... every day. No thank you.

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nice video and fun to watch. Have a nice day.

[@NeilEvans1980]

In Köln the Barbarossa Platz tram runs straight through a traffic circle

[@Sizuykeks]

2:10 Mr. White goes for it.

[@Normal1855]

Goes for it? The train was going about 5mph, and was atleast 70 from the car.

[@russellgxy2905]

With that highway crossing in Siberia(?) gone, this is now the weirdest active crossing I’ve ever seen. Also, this horn is…odd. I don’t see a lot of cab ride videos but the horn sounds abysmal from inside! Is that normal?

[@buddyclem7328]

It's probably a "strangled horn" like some light rail uses, like the Gold Line in Los Angeles.

[@TheCymbalProject]

Beauty catch... what a nice livery!

[@N-Scale]

Nice photography and subject matter. Cool old CF7. Mike

[@robertgift]

Well done video! Thank you. Why did the train stop athend?

[@deltaray3]

Even the railroad in Florida is messed up

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

It’s a different state, that’s for sure!

[@buddyhirshfield5970]

deltaray3 I kind of wish all you Northerners wouldn’t keep coming down here because it’s so bad

[@STho205]

Buddy hirshfield. Make home air conditioning illegal. They'll go home by June 15.

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@STho205 ha ha ha ha ha !!!!!!!

[@bskorupk]

@@STho205 Let's not escalate things, they might try to ban Franklin Stoves next! :(

[@WiseAssGamer]

That train station we passed at 2:00 is it active? If so, both freight and passenger ride down them tracks?

[@railscenes4959]

This locomotive is a rebuilt EMD/GM F unit by the Santa Fe Railway in Cleburne, TX, called a CF-7. They were a real albatross to work with and did not last long on the ATSF RY. I must say after 40 years working mainline trains on the Santa Fe RY, this street and RR crossing is extremely dangerous. How this RR crossing is not fully protected from all directions is irresponsible and believe to be illegal. Especially note the auto crossing from the left in front of the train at an angle that puts the train in the driver’s blind spot. Even at a slow speed this has potential to kill people in that auto in a certain collision. It has happened before and will certainly happen at this busy crossing. Then to top it off the train crew appears to pulling hazardous chemicals or fuel in tank cars right behind the locomotive. I can not tell from any hazmat placards. If they are loaded tank cars of hazmat they need to be at least behind 5 non hazmat cars. Has the FEDERAL RAILROAD ADM. seen this video? The FRA needs to be notified right now. Steve Rippeteau, retired conductor

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Those hazmats are actually empties. See the full version of the video by clicking the link in the description to find out. What do you mean by “they were a real albatross to work with?” Do you mean that CF7s were good locos, or not so great to work with on the ATSF?

[@railscenes4959]

Delay In Block Productions They were old units when the ATSF rebuilt the F units with the old air brake stand, number 8, I think. It appears this unit was rebuilt with the extra re-enforced frame. The earlier CF-7 units were just a stripped down F unit. The problem was the covered wagon steel side walls of the F units was part of the structural integrity. So when they removed the old rusty side they lacked a good strong under frame. We bent one at Joliet, IL, backing up to couple to our train. We had at least 20 cars and when I was telling the engineer ten cars to the joint Train #15 started using the radio to call Joliet tower for the signal to come into the depot. Needless to say my engineer did not hear anything but kept backing up until we hit our own train too fast. The only damage we found was our lead unit, a CF-7, had a bent frame. There was not much room in the cab either. Maybe these units are OK on short lines and were updated with new automatic air brake system. So yes, they were an albatross to work with. Thanks for asking.

[@coltonchristman2070]

All 3 tanks cars are empty. Look at the springs. The first one has no placard. The 2nd and 3rd. Being that they are empty cars they fall under the residual rules and only require one buffer car. With the 1st car not having a placard we can't tell what it could have contained but it very easily could've held a non hazmat substance

[@BerniesModelRailroad]

Nice video. Interesting to see a railroad crossing going through a roundabout. They are confusing enough...so let's add to the confusion.

[@csjames69]

We call them roundabouts in Australia.

[@alexdaley7616]

Context matters. People complaining about this roundabout might want to consult their favorite mapping website. Here's Bing Maps: binged.it/2FqVWWN The road on the right (as view from the train) appears to be a dead-end serving a couple of residences. The road adjacent to the left track is actually a one-way exit from a tiny parking lot. Neither of those will generate much traffic. Additionally, the town of Tavares only has about 15,000 people. So, this isn't going to be a super busy intersection.

[@Kyle-zz6mx]

Is this narrow gauge?

[@SteamMasterGaming]

Standard

[@TheCandoRailfan]

No

[@dingo5827]

Traffic cycle, most over country’s call them roundabouts

[@elgoog-the-third]

I totally understand why rail is so hated in the US. That constant idiotinc honking would drive me insane

[@gandalfthegrey8236]

Imagine if that had of been a UP train running through there at 50 mph. That Potiac woulda been history

[@simonpetrus1981]

Those BRAKES are in SERIOUS need of WD-40 Lubricant.

[@williamsimmons152]

Simon Petrus yes sir..lubricating brakes is one heck of a concept.

[@TheCandoRailfan]

That's one way to give a roundabout a silver-lining, from a railfan perspective. Taking off my railfan glasses, that is a mess. A roundabout with a signal-less railway crossing.

[@armslides2105]

That fool at 2:12 saw the train and then just floored it. Really stupid.

[@Rsenior1981]

Meh, the trains going 5MPH.

[@railtrolley]

He didn't want anyone to see he drives an Aztec, on video.

[@handersolo4573]

It was Heisenberg(Breaking Bad) going to a deal

[@armslides2105]

Tell that to the insurance company.

[@opiumextract2934]

Almost as stupid as a foamer.

[@Amar7605]

On Google Maps, it looks like they have crossing gates at the intersection now.

[@sludge4125]

www.google.com/maps/place/426+Lake+Dora+Dr,+Tavares,+FL+32778/@28.8020923,-81.7239034,3a,75y,179.04h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sEsBpSvOPtPw7TdKSCQHVPg!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x88e7bd652d6d77b7:0x3124a7d528fb4f1a?hl=en-us

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

Up in Wiscassett, Maine, Route 1 crosses the Sheepscott River on a long bridge. On the west shore of the river the Maine Central railroad crossed Rt 1 and there is a conventional crossing there. Because of the existing trackage on the west shore, the Wiscassett and Quebec railroad had to operate on pilings out in the river to get down to their lower yard and piers. This means that at one time the Rt.1 bridge not only had a railroad crossing part way across, but a narrow gauge one at that. Find me a SECOND one of those!

[@richcast66]

After watching a lot of train videos I think I finally understand. Railroad tracks use gravel because the weight of the train would create to much stress and cause damage to any other surface

[@lordmattis94]

Here in Norway we have a steam railway that goes straight trough a roundabout.

[@gliderider7077]

In the city I live in, Fort Wayne, Indiana we have tracks that run through a double round about.

[@richardkelsch3640]

I am guessing nobody has seen a train going right through a tiny street that doubles as a market in India. The road (walkway really) is barely wider than the train and gets within a couple inches of buildings on both sides. The road is normally full of stalls for markets and full of shoppers. When the train comes, they quickly shove everything in the shops (including people), wait for the train, then move everything back out, including canopies and awnings. It looks like something straight out of Raiders of The Lost Ark.

[@randoliof]

While it doesn't split, there is a section of track pretty similar to this running down a residential street much narrower than this one, in Albany, OR, operated by Albany Eastern

[@midlandcompound]

Thanks. Really enjoyed this!

[@Hopen111YT]

Please KZbin stop recommending me this every day. I’ve already seen it 3 times.

[@SignalMan9292]

It’s been recommended for 10 years

[@Hopen111YT]

I forgot about my comment here lol

[@Sharptooth100]

Sounds like an extremely dangerous neighbourhood.

[@DonQuijoteTV]

2:13 Oh look, Walter White is building his empire in Florida now.

[@ziiofswe]

Here in Sweden we use this new invention called barriers... :P

[@dgmarklin]

Flagged those crossings many times. Such a pain to get peoples attention to stop at night. Very odd situation.

[@filanfyretracker]

I am amazed none of those crossings are gated.

[@EthantheRailfanner]

Great video!

[@bridgediscovery1011]

I was just down there for spring break but i did not see a train my grammy and poppy say they hear a train every day

[@johnm1234]

Cool. Thanks for the info on this train, & the path it travels.\ I believe in remembering faith, balance, karma, & being aware of your surroundings as much as possible as you live your life. Looks like you'd need to do that if you drive this train, &/or travel in the vicinity of this train in The Sunshine State.

[@robertgift]

2:30 Trying to see the person videoing from ahead and to the right of the train from the train's video. 3:57 Why is train stopping?

[@cmac9029]

Love that CF-7!

[@anthonygonzalez7488]

2:14 perhaps the narrator should educate the public on grade crossing safety.

[@lemontiepyle2421]

Damn. How much air did he set to stop, a full service?

[@jonleonard538]

No gate guards. Most street crossings are gate guarded here.

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Great catch,...

[@goodmaro]

Oh, sure, we *could* build Main St. and Lake Dora Dr. a few feet to the north...or, for the lulz, we could build a traffic circle right over the railroad fork and make nearly all the traffic even if it's not bound for or coming off Disston Ave., cross tracks 3 times.

[@jazzbutterworth]

They could install gates at each of the roads feeding into the round-a-bout. May prevent an accident.

[@Vexnatos]

That is NOT a traffic circle, that's a roundabout. There's a difference, you know.

[@ranachowdhury8070]

I love railways, anywhere.

[@johngavin1175]

Dont let the city of Lakeland street planners see this,they would get jealous of the wtf factor. I mean they are already gonna two lane a four lane stretch of SR 37 through Dixieland here,just for aesthetic reasons. Been through Tavares in the way to St Augustine, wish I would have seen this crossing.

[@BadDriversOfAugustaGeorgia]

That's not a strange railroad crossing. That's a standard Y junction. It's a strange traffic circle. Someone decided to build it over a railroad junction.

[@ncplantdoctor]

You're a long way from home but you certainly found a curiosity.

[@johnclarke4701]

On a totally different note: what camera was used to make the video?

[@65csx83]

What is the crossing referenced in the title and how is it strange? Bridge, road crossing, fork all seem fairly routine. I'm not seeing anything I would call peculiar such as the interweaving basket of snakes entering and exiting train yards.

[@jimmysavile69]

It looks like trams would run through there lol

[@oneandahalfrailfanners8719]

They have now installed crossing gates at that traffic circle...

[@Thomas_TdK]

In the netherlands we also have a few place’s where track crosses a round about, so not that weird

[@LearnwithJanice]

🇺🇸 hello from Kansas

[@pushkrajsathe]

How a small roundabout for a railroad? first I thought this.

[@m18tankdestroyer43]

Yeah, without doubt that is an interesting junction!

[@ryanawilson8549]

Just a thought. But, I think I would have stopped that boat before I went under the bridge till the train passed.

[@kwv4865]

Video said Lake Dora Drive but the description said Mount Dora Drive?

[@MrEpicredneck]

This is a civil engineers nightmare right here..