Railroad crossbuck sign: what it means

Railroad crossbuck sign: two white boards crossed in an X with the words RAILROAD CROSSING in black
Drawing: DriveQuiz, based on MUTCD sign R15-1. Simplified; real signs follow the FHWA Standard Highway Signs specifications.

The crossbuck marks a railroad crossing. In most states it means you must yield to trains: slow down, look and listen, and stop if a train is coming.

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What it means

MUTCD Section 8B.03: the crossbuck is white with the words RAILROAD CROSSING in black, and at least one is used on each road approach to every highway-rail grade crossing. If there are two or more tracks, a plaque below it shows the number of tracks.

The MUTCD notes that in most states the crossbuck means drivers must yield to trains. Some crossings add a STOP or YIELD sign to the crossbuck (Section 8B.04), and others have flashing lights and gates.

Where you see it

At the railroad crossing itself, on the right side of the road on each approach.

A common mistake

Thinking a crossing with no lights or gates means no train is coming. Look both ways and listen, and check your state’s driver handbook for exactly what the crossbuck requires.

Quick quiz

A plaque under a crossbuck shows the number 2. What does it mean?

  1. There are two tracks
  2. Two trains a day use it
  3. The crossing is 2 miles ahead
Show answer

A. There are two tracks. Section 8B.03: a Number of Tracks plaque is used where there are two or more tracks. Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 8, Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings: Sections 8B.03, 8B.04, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA

Compare with

Next in regulatory signs: Stop sign. See all regulatory signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. MUTCD 11th Edition, Part 8, Traffic Control for Railroad and Light Rail Transit Grade Crossings: Sections 8B.03, 8B.04, FHWA
  2. MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025

Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.