When the tracks of a street railway cross the tracks of a railroad at grade, the company operating the line of streetcars shall cause its cars to stop not nearer than ten nor farther than fifty feet from the crossing, and before they start to cross the railroad tracks. Such company shall cause a person in its employ to go ahead of the cars and see that the way is clear for the passage of such cars and free from danger. Such street railway cars shall not proceed to cross until signaled to do so by such person so employed, or the way is clear for their passage over the tracks. When the tracks of a street railway or interurban railroad cross the tracks of an industrial railroad or a switch track or a spur track of a railroad over which passenger cars or trains are not operated, the public utilities commission may, upon application of the company owning or operating such street railway or interurban railroad, and upon notice to the company owning or operating such industrial railroad, switch track, or spur track of the hearing of such application, permit such street railway or interurban railroad to operate its cars over and across such industrial railroad, switch track, or spur track without first causing its cars to stop or an employee to go ahead of them, and may prescribe such duties upon the company owning or operating such industrial railroad, switch track, or spur track for the protection of the public as is just and reasonable under the circumstances.
R.C. § 4951.50