Nappanee Rail Safety

03/24/2026

HELP THEM FIND HELP!

85% of all U.S. railroad fatalities involve pedestrians. That's 5 times as many deaths as the drivers and passengers involved in vehicle/train collisions. Contrary to conventional wisdom, most of these pedestrian tragedies involve people struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues -- not the "jaywalkers" of popular myth. So, there are people on the tracks who need our help.

In Nappanee, we are thankful to have access to friends, pastors, counselors, prayer lines, food pantries, and 988. At the top of this page is a short list of those prepared to help those of us who may be struggling. We are thankful for them and many others who stand prepared to help.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GtAJMsYxy/

------------------------------------------------------


SOURCE: Bespoke digital art provided by Microsoft CoPilot.

PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

03/13/2026

21st ANNUAL TRAIN SHOW
Sponsor: Elkhart Model Railroad Club

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT
Location: Claywood Event Center
Address: 13920 N 1100 W, Nappanee, IN 46550
Admission: $5.00 for adults. FREE for children aged 12 and under (when accompanied by a paid adult).
Parking: Free on-site parking is available.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Vendors: More than 150 vendor booths offering new and used model trains, accessories, and railroad collectibles.
Displays: Multiple operating model railroad layouts in various scales and live demonstrations.
Food & Amenities: Refreshments are available, including hot sandwiches and desserts at the on-site Amish restaurant. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Community: Opportunities to connect with members of the Elkhart Model Railroad Club (EMRRC) and the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA).

INFORMATION: www.emrrc.com

------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: Digital art provided by Microsoft CoPilot based on EAS instructions. Event Details and Key Highlights from Google AI.

PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

02/26/2026

DOWNLOAD THIS APP FROM THE FRA
The Railroad Crossing Locator App

I urge you to download the updated CROSSING LOCATOR APP from the Federal Railroad Administration, available from your App store. It uses GPS, so from your phone, you can:

* See RR crossings near your current location.

* Find the RAILROAD PHONE NUMBER and CROSSING ID needed to report a railroad crossing problem to the right railroad. This is the same information as is available on the small blue sign at each crossing. You will need the PHONE NUMBER and CROSSING ID to report (1) a vehicle stuck on the tracks, (2) a problem with a crossing signal, or (3) a problem you see with a train, such as a fire.

* Find Accident Reports for a specific crossing.

* Find information about a specific crossing from the FRA's Inventory Record, such as train counts or signal configurations.

------------------------------------------------------
The Federal Railroad Administration just released this new version with these instructions. See their post at www.facebook.com/share/p/1AM6GN2drG/

📱Apple (iOS) Users:
Your current app will continue to function and receive updates as usual. You can also download it anytime from the Apple App Store.

📱Android Users:
Please delete the older version of the app and reinstall the updated FRA Locator application from the Google Play Store.

💻Web Users:
To access the “Map To” feature, be sure that Google Maps is installed on your device. We’ve also added a new FAQs guide and help section to the web application to provide additional support.

Stay informed. Stay safe.

Access the Rail Crossing Locator here:
www.fra.dot.gov/railcrossinglocator

------------------------------------------------------



PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

02/26/2026

FIRST ISSUE!!! THIS IS GREAT!!!

Congratulations, Keith Knepp and your entire team, for bringing back a newspaper to our city!!! Just got my copy of The Nappanee Pace at Coppes Commons coffee shop.

02/22/2026

REACH OUT TO HURTING PEOPLE

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Chicago and North Western Railroad ran through my grandpa's farm near Dodgeville, Wisconsin. He learned that painting a white "X" on his barn would send a message to those bumming a ride on the freight trains that a warm welcome and a hot meal were available. So, my mother remembers my grandma fixing meals for struggling men who responded. Some even got shoes, clothing, or a warm place and blankets to stay overnight in the hayloft.

There is a lesson here for us today. The railroad tracks still attract people who are needy, hurting, or impaired. If we see people out on the tracks, let's reach out and offer help.

For some of us, maybe the best we can do is guide them to a group that can help. Thankfully, here in Nappanee, there are some great organizations that offer assistance to those of us who may be struggling, including Nappanee Open Door, The Center, First Brethren Church of Nappanee, Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, and even the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

At the top of this page, I have pinned a list of these groups and their phone numbers. They deserve our support!
See www.facebook.com/share/p/1CSpdmbB2B/

-------------------------------



ART: "White X on Red Barn Near Railroad Tracks," a digital painting provided by Microsoft CoPilot based on EAS instructions.

PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

02/14/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TAYLOR!!!

It looked like a serious celebration today at the National New York Central Railroad Museum for Taylor, their All-Star Volunteer!!!

Taylor's dream is to be an Authorized Volunteer with Indiana Operation Lifesaver, so we are doing everything we can to support her efforts!! For quite a few years already, she has worked to encourage rail safety at the Museum, which is right next to one of the worst trespassing crossings in Indiana. She's studied hard, and she is out there teaching trespassers to stay off the tracks.

Rail safety is in her heart!

Go, Taylor!!!

02/08/2026

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!
Report ALL Signal Problems to the RR

An important way to be a good neighbor in Nappanee is to report any crossing signal problem you see to the railroad. In fact, the railroad encourages us to report these as soon as possible! We all count on properly functioning gates and signals to keep us safe.

When I first started on rail safety in 2019, I saw a crossing signal coming down without a train. Thinking it was not an emergency, I sent an email to the railroad's general email address. After the email finally got to the right place, I got a phone call from the railroad asking me to use the phone number -- not the email. As they said, "You may not think this is an emergency, but we do! Even a small problem may indicate a large issue that we need to address right away."

And it not just signal problems. Call the railroad if:

* There is a vehicle stuck on the tracks so the dispatcher can try to stop any trains (Option 1 for CSX).

* A problem on a train, such as a fire involving one of the train cars (Option 1 for CSX).

* Any signal problem, including a broken gate arm (Option 2 for CSX).

Today, there was a problem at CR 101 where the gates were coming down and going back up every few minutes. Somebody told me it had been a problem for at least a day. But nobody had called.

So, I urge you: REPORT ALL PROBLEMS TO THE RAILROAD! My experience over the past seven years is that CSX sends a signal maintainer within an hour or two.

If you can't get to the small blue sign at the railroad crossing with the information, I put the CSX phone number and Crossing IDs for all Nappanee crossings at the top of this page. This is a permanent post to make it easier for Nappanee residents to report problems and emergencies.

These railroad phone numbers are dedicated to this Emergency Notification System that has been nationwide since 2017. And I am told that a report of each phone call goes to the FRA, as well.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Each railroad has its own phone number, and each crossing has its own unique Crossing ID (sometimes written as X-ING ID).

-------------------------------



PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

01/29/2026

BE WISE THIS WINTER!

Winter doesn’t just slow cars down — it reduces what drivers can see. Snow, fog, glare, and falling temps make trains harder to spot until it’s too late.

They’re faster. Quieter. Closer than you think.
Slow down. Look twice. Always expect a train.

Thank you, Jessica Feder and Indiana Operation Lifesaver, for this important reminder!

-------------------------------



PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

01/07/2026

REPORT CROSSING SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONS

--------------------------------



PLEASE REMEMBER: This page is the work of a retired private citizen and is not associated with any organization, railroad, company, government, or government agency. For Introduction, Background, and Disclaimers, go to https://bit.ly/4fKoGqP.

This page is focused solely on rail safety education and has NO authority over engineering or enforcement issues. Please report those to appropriate authorities.

12/25/2025

12/02/2025

🌟 This Giving Tuesday, why not make a difference in your community? Join us as a volunteer for Indiana Operation Lifesaver! Your time and passion can help spread vital rail safety education and save lives. 🚂💙