The railroad crossing tie-down system of the present invention includes anchor plates which are attached permanently to railroad ties with the side margins of the anchor plates projecting outwardly from the sides of the ties. The crossing elements which will be attached by the system have openings passing through them at selected locations midway between adjacent ties. Cross tie beams having nuts located at their centers have a length which is slightly greater than the distance between adjacent ties. Elongate bolts which extend through the openings in the crossing elements have threaded extremeties which will engage the nuts. Before the crossing elements are installed on the anchor plates the bolts are inserted through the openings and the cross tie beams are attached to them and are oriented so that the cross tie beams are parallel with the ties. After the crossing elements have been installed on the anchor pads the bolts are tightened which first causes the cross tie beams to rotate until their ends become jammed against the sides of the ties and then to be drawn up against the overhanging side margins of the anchor plates. Thus the side margins are squeezed between the crossing elements and the cross tie beams which attaches the crossing elements to the anchor plates.