Pedestrian Crossing (Skokie, IL)

Updated July 2026

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>	Northeastern Signal	Northwestern Signal	Southeastern Signal	Southwestern Signal
Bell:	N/A	N/A	N/A	NEG E-Bell
Base:	Safetran 5" Double Sided	Safetran 5" Single Sided	Safetran 5" Single Sided	Safetran 5" Double Sided
Lights:	4 - 8" "Hawker" Safetran w/ Safetran Fading LEDs	2 - 8" "Hawker" Safetran w/ Safetran Fading LEDs	4 - 8" "Hawker" Safetran w/ Safetran Fading LEDs	6 - 8" "Hawker" Safetran w/ Safetran Fading LEDs
Junction Box:	Safetran	Safetran	Safetran	2 - Safetran
Gate Lights:	1 - RECO 4" LEDs	N/A	N/A	1 - RECO 4" LEDs
Gate Mechanism:	Safetran 2000s	N/A	N/A	Safetran 2000s
Gate Striping:	Diagonal Striping	N/A	N/A	Upside Down Diagonal Striping

Pictures 1-23 come from chicagorailfan@yahoo.com, which were taken on June 24, 2007. This page was originally created on July 3, 2007.
Videos 1-2 was taken on January 22, 2022, by Rus.
The 3rd video was taken on May 7, 2022, by Rus.
Pictures 24-65 and the 4th video were taken on December 6, 2025, by Rus.

UP used to have a separate line near here until 2002, but just barely north of here at the Dempster St. crossing, the tracks end. If you follow the old line (and most of it is still visible), it connects to another UP line a LONG way from here. It's unknown why that stretch of track was abandoned.

This crossing went over 4 upgrades. It started is just a platform crossing, then a crossbuck, then 12"x24" incandescent lights with a mechanical bell, and now this.

This station was built in 1994. A much older one was here, but was remodeled in 2003 and moved, and now is a Starbucks coffee shop.

+Note: This DOT number is unofficial. The FRA doesn't have any ID on this crossing, but the number would be the next logical choice for the crossing.

1	2	3
The Entrance to the crossing.	Who's bright idea was this?!

These are Safetran 8" Safetran FLX-1000 fading L.E.D. lights WITHOUT visors or backgrounds! There are a total of 4 signals like this!

4	5	6	7
The Eastbound signal, no visors on eitherside!	Looking North, where the trains turn around.	Facing South.	See below...

The signal seen in picture 7 is not an ordinary signal. This goes through 3 stages, off, blinking, and a solid green. It is off when the crossing is not turned on, it blinks when the crossing is activated and the gates are lowering, and it turns to a solid green when the gates are fully down and the train is ok to cross. This is at every grade crossing on the Skokie Swift. It is only the color green too. Trains come all the way to this signal and then the signals will turn on. Thus the reason the stop sign exists.

8	9	10	11
This gated signal DOES have visors, but no crossbuck OR backgrounds! It does have a General Signals electronic bell though... There is a 4th signal that you can plainly see in picture 11. It also doesn't have any backgrounds but it does have visors as seen in picture 10. It only has 2 front facing lights with none in the rear.
12	13	14	15
A schedule of the times trains come by.	These tracks have the third rail system installed. It used to be overhead wiring.	A closeup of one of the "bug eyed" signals.	Rubber to strangely designed wood crossing plates?

For some odd reason, trains here do NOT run on weekends.

16	17	18	19
More of the Safetran FLX-1000 LEDs.	A Side view of Bug Eyes.	Just as it says...	Facing North on the East platform.
20	21	22	23
Facing south on the east platform.	A bunch of signs.	A general view of the station.	Another stop sign at the crossing.

A return visit by Rus in December 2025 shows that the GS E-Bell and gate lights were replaced. Extra notes below.

24	25
Overview of 2 gated signals and 2 gateless signals facing east.	Overview facing west.

32	33	34	35
The northeastern signal.

38	39	40
The northwestern signal.

44	45	46
The southeastern signal.

54	55	56	57
The southwestern signal. The GS Bell had been replaced by 2022.

58	59	60	61
(What I think is) The relay bungalow in the northeastern quadrant.	The grade is all rubber.	Track view facing north towards the end of the line.	Track view facing south towards Niles Center Rd.

62	63	64	65
Action shots from the 4th video.

Notes from Rus:
I kept the top part mostly original.
Yes, trains DO run on the weekends. It's not too hard to catch a train here as they basically run back and forth every 15 minutes.
The DOT tag literally says "DEMPSTER." Not sure if that is legally allowed by the FRA, but considering that the FRA doesn't have this crossing on the site, I guess "DEMPSTER" works for them. Also, there is only one total DOT tag at this crossing, which is on the west side.

In the 1st & 2nd video, you can see the NEG incandescent gate lights that flash. By 2025, they were replaced with RECO 4" LED gate lights that stay on the entire time.