What did Railroad Crossing signs used to say/?

Question

It's a 3 word answer. I know the message on the sign was changed sometime in the early 1900s. I'm talking about the X-shaped signs that now say "Railroad Crossing". The signs acted as stop signs before the flashing lights and gates that protect train tracks today were invented.

Answer 1

The only signs I have seen look like this:

http://elsmar.com/pdf_files/various%20pi...

R X R

Answer 2

They always said railroad crossing as far as I remember.

Rail and road was split on either side of the X.

Perhaps that is the third word?

When I first started working the signs all said dinosaur crossing.

Answer 3

I remember seeing some very old photographs over the years. Once in a while, one might happen to have a railroad crossing in the background. The crossing warning sign would read, "Stop Look Listen".

Right. Like anyone today would really do that.