A neutral sensing assembly for a multiple shift rail (60B, 62B, 64B) shift bar housing assembly (70) is provided. The neutral sensing assembly utilizes a single two-position sensing (112, 114) and a relatively simply shaped neutral sensing bar (104) extending generally transverse to the axes (80, 82, 84) of the shift rails and interacting with neutral sensing notches (60C, 62C, 64C) for displacing the neutral sensing bar (FIG. 4 and 6) sufficiently to actuate the sensing upon axial displacement of any of the shift rails sufficient to cause the transmission (10) to be engaged in a not neutral condition.