AMTRAK Phase VII livery

ENS Signs Could Save a Life. What is the Importance of these Signs at Railroad Crossings?

Article and Photographs by Divi Logan. 12 January 2026

This article is about the history and purpose of ENS signs. It includes a collection of ENS (Emergency Notification System) signs photographed during railfanning adventures.

I. ENS Signs and Railroad Safety: What are Emergency Notification Signs?

The design and safety systems of America’s railroads are sets of lights, signs, and signals that everyone should be aware of and take interest in learning about. If you live near a railroad, no matter the number of tracks, if these systems are present, it is worth understanding what they are and the purposes they serve.

ENS signs provide important information such as phone numbers and locations to railroad security personnel and first responders in case of railroad emergencies.

II. The History of ENS Signs and the Railway Safety and Improvement Act of 2008

Plans to improve safety awareness at railroad crossings came about in 2008. The Federal Rail Safety Improvements law is cited in its introduction less formally as the “Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008”. It is a detailed document which includes information on positive train control, incident reporting, locomotive cab studies, high-speed rail projects.

The Code of Federal Regulations includes a section about Emergency Notification Systems (see citation in this article’s resources). Public Law 110-432 also includes a section about Operation Lifesaver (citation at the end of this article).

ENS sign in Elmhurst Illinois
This ENS sign in Elmhurst, Illinois gives the following information and a unique crossing ID: a phone number (1-800-848-8715), the X-ING designation of 174022F, and the primary operating railroad company, Union Pacific Railroad. The larger yellow sign reads, “Don’t start dashing till the lights stop flashing.” 17 August 2020.
According to the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Report, this is a highway crossing at grade. It is just north of the AMTRAK Station in Springfield, Illinois. The ENS X-ING unique ID is 294305J and the primary operating railroad is Union Pacific. It crosses Jefferson Street. There are two cantilevered flashing LED lights and four mast mounted flashing LED lights that include back lights.

Using Copilot and Google Maps, I located this sign taken from the train on a trip to Springfield in 2022.

ENS Sign in Pontiac, Illinois
Using Copilot and Google Maps, I found the location of this ENS sign, in Pontiac, Illinois. I took the photo while on the train and enjoying the scenery. Sign information: Phone number, X-ING unique ID, and Union Pacific Railroad. 8 May 2022.
ENS Sign in Chicago, Illinois
Using the FRA Rail Crossing Locator map, I found the location of this sign is at Ashland Avenue in Chicago. It is just south of W. Cermak Road. 31 October 2020.
ENS Sign with ID #326 855C
This ENS sign is at the crossing at Shawmut Ave. in LaGrange, Illinois. The unique identification code is 326 855C. Primary operating railroad: Indiana Harbor Belt. 6 July 2023.

II. Grade Crossing Signals and Components with ENS Signs

Grade crossing signals are sets of lights and signs, warning pedestrians and motorists of approaching trains. Their components include flashing light signals, automatic crossing gates, bells and audible warnings, crossbucks (the X-shaped signs) and other static signs. There are also sets of detection and control equipment including track circuits and sensors that detect trains and activate the warning devices.

ENS sign in Hinsdale, Illinois
This ENS sign is at the Garfield Avenue grade crossing east of the Hinsdale METRA Station. 29 August 2020.

An important point to remember is that when all these components are present, the system is classified as an active traffic control device at a highway-rail grade crossing. The steeple of the Memorial Building is in the lower left corner. This historic structure was built in 1927.

This ENS sign and grade crossing signal set in Hinsdale, Illinois is at the Washington Street, just west of the Hinsdale METRA Station. 29 August 2020.
This ENS sign is at the South Elizabeth Street crossing in Lombard, Illinois. It is west of the village’s METRA station. 11 October 2020.
A BNSF freight, led by locomotive #7921, rumbles eastbound through Riverside, Illinois. Shown are part of the crossbuck, track number sign, the activated gate arm and grade crossing signals. The ENS sign includes the crossing’s unique ID of 079498V and BNSF as the primary operating railroad. It crosses Riverside Road just east of the historic village’s METRA station. 8 June 2021.
METRA ENS Sign in Bartlett , Illinois
METRA ENS Sign at the grade crossing at S. Oak Avenue in Bartlett, Illinois. The U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form lists this as a highway crossing at grade. Freight and commuter trains are carried on these tracks. The primary operating railroad company is Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Rail.
ENS Sign at N Canal Street in Chicago
This ENS Sign is in Chicago at North Canal Street. This area is used by AMTRAK and METRA passenger trains. According to the U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form, this is a highway crossing at grade, and the primary operating railroad is AMTRAK (formally the National Railroad Passenger Corporation). The NIRC (Northeast Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation is noted as the other railroad operating on tracks at that crossing. The unique crossing ID is 863849D. 8 August 2020.

III. Rule #1: SAFETY FIRST. Remember, watch for trains from any direction and on any track. Stop, look, and listen!

three trains in the same photo
A busy time of day finds both commuter and freight trains on the tracks in Riverside, Illinois. An eastbound METRA (track 3) and freight (main 2) pass a westbound METRA commuter train. This is the time of afternoon that METRA expresses trains from Chicago Union Station into the suburbs. 12 June 2023.
activated railroad crossing signals
Four sets of grade crossing signals are activated as a train approaches this grade crossing. S. Elizabeth Street. Lombard, Illinois. 31 July 2020.
METRA and freight train crossing a set of tracks
These are the two trains that came through following the activation of those signals. METRA commuter and Union Pacific freight.
METRA locomotive with Operation Lifesaver logo
METRA locomotive #214 in Riverside, Illinois displays the Operation Lifesaver logo and slogan, which is Look, Listen, Live. The logo includes a set of signals suggesting the flashing lights at grade crossings, and a crossbuck. 7 July 2022.

Resources

  1. Know the Sign. Save a Life. Operation Lifesaver. https://oli.org/about-us/public-awareness-campaigns/ens-sign-awareness-day. 2026. Accessed 12 January 2026.
  2. Copilot. “Can you find the location of the sign in the photo?” https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/sM4xTqpuBCY56juGPCrfb. 14 January 2026.
  3. Google Maps. Coordinates 40.879426, -88.637009. https://www.bing.com/maps/search?mepi=60%7E%7EEmbedded%7ELargeMapLink&ty=18&vdpid=5477686925982695427&v=2&sV=1&FORM=MIRE&style=h&q=40.879426%2C+-88.637009&cp=40.879370%7E-88.637223&lvl=20.5&dir=-120. 14 January 2026.
  4. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator. U.S. DOT Records. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 14 January 2026.
  5. Copilot. “What are these sets of signals and lights on poles properly called?” https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/f3DinuCBFJCpKhkxoRF9X. 14 January 2026.
  6. Wikipedia contributors. “Downtown Hinsdale Historic District.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Dec. 2025. Web. 14 Jan. 2026.
  7. Federal Railroad Administration. “Crossing ID: 079522U
    Street: GARFIELD AVE.” 8 July 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 14 January 2026.
  8. Federal Railroad Administration. “Crossing ID: 079523B
    Street: WASHINGTON ST.” 08 July 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 14 January 2026.
  9. U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator” Crossing ID: 174944W.” 29 August 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 14 January 2026.
  10. U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator “Crossing ID: 294305J.” 29 August 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 14 January 2026.
  11. U. S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator. “Crossing ID: 372206B.” 05 August 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. Accessed 16 January 2026.
  12. U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator. “Crossing ID: 863849D.” 5 August 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. Accessed 17 January 2026.
  13. Pub. L. No. 110‑432, 122 Stat. 4848, 26, 27 (2008). Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 | FRA. (n.d.). Railroads.dot.gov. https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/public-law-110-432-rail-safety-improvement-act-2008. Accessed 17 January 2026.
  14. ‌49 CFR Part 234 Subpart E — Emergency Notification Systems for Telephonic Reporting of Unsafe Conditions at Highway-Rail and Pathway Grade Crossings. (2026). Ecfr.gov. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/part-234/subpart-E. Accessed 17 January 2026.
  15. ‌PART 8 TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR RAILROAD AND LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT GRADE CROSSINGS. (n.d.). https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/part8.pdf. Accessed 18 January 2026.
  16. U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator “Crossing ID: 326855C.” 23 July 2025. https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 4 February 2026.
  17. U.S. DOT Crossing Inventory Form. Federal Railroad Administration. FRA Rail Crossing Locator “Crossing ID: 079498V.” 8 July 2025.https://www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator#. 4 February 2026.

Leave a comment

Wells Street Bridge: A Rebuilt Bascule Bridge Defines Chicago’s Infrastructure and Civic Symbolism

Article and photographs by Divi Logan About the Wells Street Bridge The original Wells Street Bridge opened in 1922. In 2012 – 2013 the bridge was rebuilt. It is one of two bridges in downtown Chicago that carries Chicago Transit Authority trains on its upper deck, the other being Lake Street Bridge across the river’s… Continue reading Wells Street Bridge: A Rebuilt Bascule Bridge Defines Chicago’s Infrastructure and Civic Symbolism

ENS Signs Could Save a Life. What is the Importance of these Signs at Railroad Crossings?

AMTRAK Phase VII livery

The article by Divi Logan explores Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs and their role in railroad safety. It highlights their historical context, particularly referencing the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and emphasizes the importance of these signs for emergency communication. Various photographs document ENS signs and grade crossing components across Illinois.