Railroad crossing signs
Multiple Tracks sign
Mounted below the crossbuck, this plaque warns that more than one set of rails crosses the road here, so clearing the first track does not mean the crossing is clear.
- Wide rectangle
- White
- MUTCD R15-2P
Shape and background first
Federal designation R15-2P in the MUTCD, the national standard every state signs to. Appears at crossings where freight yards, sidings, or parallel main lines put two or more sets of rails side by side.
What the MUTCD specifies
Designation: R15-2P
MUTCD Section 8B.03
Conventional road size: 27 x 18 in
Standard: Place a Number of Tracks plaque below the Crossbuck where two or more tracks cross the road.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Part 8, Table 8B-1; Section 8B.03, verified 2026-09-26.
What the test wants you to know
The mistake people make
The classic mistake it guards against is watching one train pass, then driving across immediately while a second train approaches on another track hidden behind the first. Look and listen in both directions on every track before you cross, not just the one you can see moving.
The sign people confuse it with
Multiple Tracks gets mixed up with Crossbuck more than any other pairing in this category. Put them side by side and the difference is obvious, which is exactly why it is worth doing once rather than meeting them cold in the exam.
Multiple Tracks
Mounted below the crossbuck, this plaque warns that more than one set of rails crosses the road here, so clearing the first track does not mean the crossing is clear.
Crossbuck
Marks the railroad crossing itself.
