A crossing panel includes a pair of intersecting rails, a pair of crossing line rails, a plurality of railroad ties supporting the crossing line rails such that the crossing line rails are angled upwardly from a base elevation toward the respective main line rail and terminating such that a tread bearing surface of each crossing line rail at its terminal end is at a height above the crown of the intersecting line rail, an external frog casting being aligned with and secured to the terminal ends of the crossing line rails and having an external frog tread bearing surface substantially above the crown of an intersecting line rail, and transitional guide castings disposed between the intersecting rails and respectively aligned with the crossing line rails. The transitional guide castings are substantially horizontal, and each has a crown maintained at a height sufficient to maintain a railcar wheel of a train wheel set above the intersecting line rails.