Abstract: Welding methods and articles are disclosed for securing railroad rails to supporting surfaces including a retaining stud, an arc shield for use in welding the retaining stud, a rail clip for securing the rail and tools for installing and removing the clip. The retaining stud is a T-shaped stud with a rectangular stem and head, the under surface of which forms an arcuate reaction surface. The stud is welded by the arc stud welding technique in which the method of controlled time and current controls the ultimate weld height and angulation of the stud. The welding is in conjunction with an arc shield, the face of which is complementary to the surface being welded and which includes a weld fillet cavity configured to provide constant weld fillet volume. The rail clip is generally U-shaped with a straight backed heel. In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower limbs overlie one another and are bifurcated and straddle and cooperate with the stem of the stud.

Abstract: A resilient rail fastener having a clip having a lower leg with a toe at one end and a heel at the other, an upstanding back portion between the heel and an upper leg, and a rectangular locating aperture in at least one of its legs which engages over a rectangular retaining block. The retaining block has pressure imparting means projecting from each side and bearing downwardly on the upper leg of the clip and thereby applies a downward pressure at each end of the lower leg. One end of the lower leg bears downwardly on the rail support and the other end on the rail to impart a toe pressure. The reduced cross-sectional area of the clip where it passes over the retaining block causes high stresses in the legs of the clip as well as at the locality of the clip heel, and the upstanding back portion has less stress than a hairpin clip, and this results in a lower spring rate for the toe clip so that toe pressure is retained upon rail settlement, and stress corrosion is reduced.