Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for non-invasively attaching components to railroad track rails. More specifically, an anchor is provided that securely fastens to the track rail in a non-invasive manner for holding one or more signal lines to a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, the non-invasive anchor utilizes a compressive force to clamp to a flange portion of the track rail. In this regard, first and second body members of the anchor may be advanced toward the toward opposing surfaces of track rail to compress the component between a portion of the anchor and a surface of the track rail. In one embodiment, a pawl prevents the withdrawal of these body members from one another such that the compressive force may be maintained once the anchor is applied to the track rail.

Abstract: A two-part rail clip insulator (40, 50) for a tie and rail seat assembly that enables the seat to be pre-assembled at the rail tie fabrication plant into a preloaded position where a rail (2) may be laid on the tie (5) on site, the clips (30) being movable to the loaded position after the rail is placed in position.

Abstract: A method and a device for attaching an elevator guide rail to a substrate via a floating mount. The floating mount includes at least one of a base support, a side support, and a backside support. Each of the supports has a moveable part, a stop and a flexible element floatingly supporting the moveable part. Deforming forces cause the guide rail and the moveable part to move in a deforming direction deforming the flexible element until the deforming force exceeds a predetermined limit whereupon the stop limits further movement of the guide rail.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolator particularly adapted for use with a rail anchor utilized in an application where railroad rail is installed on concrete ties. The isolator protects the concrete tie from contact with the rail anchor caused by longitudinal movement of the rail due to train acceleration of deceleration or expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. In one embodiment, the isolator is comprised of a structural plastic material and includes a front face section and a rear face section. The front face section and rear face section each comprise a generally rectangular structure, having a top edge, bottom edge, and side edges. A center section joins the front face section and rear face section and forms part of the top of the isolator. In another embodiment, the front face section includes a top section and bottom section, with the top section having a lower edge projecting laterally at an acute angle from the bottom section.

Abstract: An electrically-insulated tie plate for electrically isolating parts of a railroad rail system from each other. The electrically-insulated tie plate includes a base plate having a recessed area for receiving a railroad rail and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering portions of the base plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an isolator particularly adapted for use with a rail anchor utilized in an application where railroad rail is installed on concrete ties. The isolator protects the concrete tie from contact with the rail anchor caused by longitudinal movement of the rail due to train acceleration of deceleration or expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. In one embodiment, the isolator is comprised of a structural plastic material and includes a front face section and a rear face section. The front face section and rear face section each comprise a generally rectangular structure, having a top edge, bottom edge, and side edges. A center section joins the front face section and rear face section and forms part of the top of the isolator. In another embodiment, the front face section includes a top section and bottom section, with the top section having a lower edge projecting laterally at an acute angle from the bottom section.

Abstract: A railway rail fastening clip, for fastening a railway rail to an underlying rail foundation, is formed of an elongate plate shaped such that a central region of the plate has in profile the form of a letter C, a first end region of the plate extending from one side of the central portion of the plate to form a base portion of the clip for engaging a rail fastening anchoring device secured to the rail foundation and a second end region of the plate extending from the opposite side of the central region of the plate to form a toe portion of the clip for bearing on the railway rail. The toe portion of the clip is provided with an insulator retainer for retaining thereon a toe insulator for electrically insulating the clip from the rail.

Abstract: A rail retaining device has a shoulder member for bearing on a lateral side of a rail flange. The shoulder has a downwardly facing abutment surface. A rail clip is of bent rod symmetrical about a vertical plane. The clip has an inner portion bearing on the flange, intermediate limb portions reacting with the abutment surface and flexed resiliently downwardly in the installed position, and an outer portion connected to each intermediate limb portion and extending arcuately outwardly and downwardly to a lower portion adapted to bear on a bearing surface.

Abstract: A railway fastening clip for securing a rail comprises an elongate member (1), formed so as to consist of a first longitudinal leg (2), and a second longitudinal leg (3), the legs being resiliently connected at one end of the member, and an ear formation (4) extending transversely beyond the first leg.

Abstract: Track-bound transport systems have existed for a long time. The drawback with them is that they can only withstand low load and are vulnerable in varying weather conditions. The purpose of the invention is to considerably increase the load they are capable of supporting and to reduce dependence on changes in weather.

Abstract: A rail tie plate suitable for attachement to a wood tie has a pair of upstanding abutment members to accommodate a rail flange, each having an opening allowing insertion of a rail clip. The tie plate tapers on thickness and has an upper side canted with respect to the lower side. The lower side is provided with wedge shaped projections that tapers laterally in the same direction as the tie plate and have an end face making an angle no greater than 90° with respect to the lower side.

Abstract: A rail fastening system which comprises an anchor embedded in the sleeper or crosstie and a clip to engage under the anchor, one end of the clip engaging the flange of the rail and the other end of the clip engaging the surface of the sleeper or crosstie.

Abstract: A rail fastening system including a cast shoulder and an elastic rail spring clip for applying a holding force to an insulator and a rail. The spring clip includes a pair of compressible arms for exerting a rail hold down force and a substantially horizontal base portion for application to the cast shoulder. The cast shoulder includes an anchoring portion, a receiving portion including converging opposing sides angled to define a throat having a width less than a decompressed width of the spring clip arms, and notches on the sides adjacent to the throat. In practice, the spring clip is applied to the cast shoulder such that two spring clip arms contact and move along the converging sides causing the spring clip arms to be compressed by the sides. When the arms move beyond the throat, the arms spring outwardly into the notch.

Abstract: A rail retaining device has a shoulder that has a body portion, a hook-in leg portion and a bearing portion, and adapted to be pivoted from an installation position. To install the device, the body portion is inclined relative to a plate form tie, and the hook-in leg portion is inserted through an aperture in the tie. The shoulder is moved to an erected position, in which the hook-in leg portion engages an underside of the plate tie and the bearing portion engages on an upper side of the tie. A clip is located relative to the shoulder by engagement with the shoulder is inserted between a side surface of the body portion and a rail flange and retains the shoulder in an erected position.

Abstract: A rail tie plate suitable for attachment to a wood tie has a pair of upstanding abutment members to accommodate a rail flange, each having an upwardly facing lower ramp surface inclining from a laterally outer side of the abutment member upwardly inwardly to a laterally inner side to facilitate insertion of a rail clip. The tie plate tapers in thickness and has an upper side canted with respect to the lower side. The lower side is provided with wedge shaped projections that tapers laterally in the same direction as the plate and have an end face making an angle no greater than 90° with respect to the lower side.

Abstract: An adjustable rail anchorage device including a rail clip and a cam rotatable around a fixed mounting bolt for laterally moving the rail clip into anchoring position on the rail. The cam includes a passageway for the mounting bolt and a circular boss portion with an outer circular wall having a gap defined at projected wall positions where the projected perimeter of the wall approximately coincides with the projected perimeter of the passageway to transfer lateral loads from the rail to the mounting bolt. A welded platform base with a raised haunch for locating the mounting bolt can be used to transfer lateral loads from the rail to the raised haunch.

Abstract: A rail fastening system for fastening a rail to a rail support includes a frame member supported by the rail support and including an upper bracing portion positioned above the rail support to define therebetween a space. A stationary insulator member is positioned at a fixed location on the rail support. A plate-shaped spring blade has a first end resting on the stationary insulator member and an opposite second end supported by a movable insulator member. A wedge member is connected to the spring blade and is operable to be inserted into the space, thereby inserting the spring blade into the space with the first end of the spring blade being supported and sliding on the stationary insulator member and with the second end of the spring blade being supported on and moving the movable insulator member in the insertion direction.

Abstract: A resilient clip (30) to engage an insert (42) of a resilient fastening system for a rail. The clip (30) is formed of metal strip (31) so as to be of a "U-shaped" configuration. Each extremity (33, 34) is bifurcated so that pairs of arms (45, 47) are provided. Each of the arms (45, 47) is provided with an abutment surface (39, 40) which engages the shank (43) of the insert (42) to inhibit removal of the clip (30).

Abstract: A railway rail anchoring device, for use with a railway rail-fastening clip which is approximately M-shaped in plan and has first and second leg portions and a rail-bearing portion, comprises a base member and first and second clip-retaining members connected together by the base member such that the first clip-retaining member is spaced apart from the second clip-retaining member so as to define between the first and second clip-retaining members an opening for receiving the rail-bearing portion of such a clip.

Abstract: A tube and tube retainer applied to the base of a railroad rail and capable of being simply and quickly adjusted for the application of lubricant to the wheel/rail interface contact patch. The tube accepts a lubricant supply from an external source at one end and directs it to the appropriate area of the wheel/rail contact patch. Implementation may include a plurality of such tubes on one or both rails to improve effectiveness. The present invention reduces overall waste by applying smaller amounts of lubricant with each tube, but increasing the total amount of lubricant applied.

Abstract: A resilient rail-fastening clip has a first straight portion (11) for locating the clip in a clip anchoring device (2) when the clip is in use, a second bent portion (12), a third heel portion (13), a fourth bend portion (14) and a fifth toe portion (15). When viewed such that lower most points of the first and fifth portions (11 and 15) of the clip lie in a horizontal plane, proceeding from the first portion (11), the second portion (12) appears to bend up out of that plane towards and then away from a vertical plane passing through the fifth portion (15). The clip (1) is used in an assembly including a baseplate (2) having a non-vertical stop (21d) on its shoulder (21) up which the clip (1) slides during installation until brought to rest through friction at a desired height above the rail (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supporting and wedging a railway rail (R) on a tie (T), the device comprising in particular a resilient pad (1) on which there rests the base (Ra) of the rail (R) and two insulating tabs (2, 2') interposed between the rail (R) and spring clips (A, A') which are fixed on inserts (I, I') secured laterally in the tie (T).According to the invention, said pad (1) comprises a central portion (10) supporting the base (Ra) of the rail (R) and two symmetrical lateral portions (11, 11') of smaller thickness disposed beneath the bottom edges of the tabs (2, 2') which are themselves situated at a level lower than the base (Ra) of the rail (R).

Abstract: In an assembly for use in fastening a railway rail to an underlying rail foundation, a resilient railway rail fastening clip (1, 2,3) has at least one portion (1a) which when in use bears on, and extends substantially parallel to, a flange (301) of an adjacent railway rail (300), and retains an insulator (13, 13') for electrically insulating the clip (1, 2, 3) from the rail (300) when in use. The insulator (13) is held in engagement with the clip (1, 2, 3), which has a rail bearing portion of substantially circular cross-section, such that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the said rail bearing portion (1a). Unlike the prior art the insulator is self-aligning on the rail flange (301) when the rail (300) moves. One insulator (13, 13') disclosed has at least two load bearing surfaces (13a), such that it may be rotated so as to present an unworn load bearing surface (13a) to the rail flange (301).

Abstract: An elastic rail clamp (10), for fastening a rail to an underlying rail plate or rail tie (1). The clamp is of the type comprising a pair of substantially parallel members (19) folded into a D configuration so as to have a front toe portion (16) adapted to seat on a flange of the rail, which toe portion is formed by respective free end regions (18) of the substantially parallel members, and to also have a base portion (11) adapted to seat in a slot (4) in the rail plate or a shoulder secured to the rail tie.

Abstract: A railway rail fastening clip (1) suitable for holding down a railway rail (2) is formed from a rod of resilient material bent so as to be approximately M-shaped in plan, the clip (1) being such that, when it is bearing on the flange of a rail (2), the longitudinal axis of a part (14) thereof, which interconnects inner legs (13, 15) of the M, lies in a reference plane which is substantially parallel, but not identical, to a plane containing the longitudinal axes of outer legs (11, 17) of the M. Such clips (1) are used with an anchoring device (5), which, as the clip (1) is installed therein, deflects the outer legs (11, 17) downwardly with respect to the inner legs (13, 15), so as to place the clip under stress.

Abstract: A railway rail fastening clip (1) suitable for holding down a railway rail (2) is formed from a rod of resilient material bent so as to be approximately M-shaped in plan, the clip (1) being such that, when it is bearing on the flange of a rail (2), the longitudinal axis of a part (14) thereof, which interconnects inner legs (13, 15) of the M, lies in a reference plane which is substantially parallel, but not identical, to a plane containing the longitudinal axes of outer legs (11, 17) of the M. Such clips (1) are used with an anchoring device (5), which, as the clip (1) is installed therein, deflects the outer legs (11, 17) downwardly with respect to the inner legs (13, 15), so as to place the clip under stress.

Abstract: This invention relates to an insert for fixation of a railway clip comprising an inner conduit, parallel to the rail, intended to receive the rectilinear central portion of the clip, a horizontal rear face on which abuts the rear portion, parallel to the rail, of the clip which is joined to the central portion by a 180.degree. bend and which then extends towards the rail, above the inner conduit, by a substantially perpendicular loop whose end comes into abutment on an insulating stop resting on the base of the rail, wherein the upper face of the insert comprises, towards the inlet orifice of the inner conduit, a retaining boss against which the loop of the clip comes into bearing contact to maintain the clip in a position of equilibrium, where the free end of the central portion is placed in the inlet orifice of the inner conduit.

Abstract: A manually operable applicator for applying rail fasteners in a direction lateral of the rail. The applicator comprises lever arm 20 which is pivoted on axle 26 and at its lower end has a latch 21 for urging a rail clip onto a rail flange. The bracing mechanism 23 has two arms pivoted on either side of the lever 20 which hook over the rail head. The location pin 29 bears against the rail clip and is engaged by the latch 21 to urge the clip onto the rail flange.

Abstract: A track circuit retainer clip adapted to be driven on the edge of the base of a rail holds one or a plurality of conductors parallel to and within the rail base edge. The clip comprises a U-shape spring metal clip having a bight portion and upper and lower legs which embrace the rail base edge. The upper leg includes a center spring finger extending from the bight portion which includes two concave side-by-side recesses to hold the conductors against the upper leg. The outer end of the spring finger flares upwardly to facilitate insertion and the lateral edges of the spring finger are bent upwardly to avoid biting into the conductors. The lower leg includes barbs struck from the edge which terminate in truncated biting edges extending substantially parallel to the rail base edge. The line contact transverse the direction of insertion provides ease of insertion and better gripping or holding action without scratching or notching the bottom of the rail.

Abstract: A track circuit retainer clip for a running rail adapted to secure a conductor extending perpendicular to the rail around the edge of the base of the rail in close proximity therewith. The clip includes a U-shape spring metal body having upper and lower legs adapted to embrace the edge of the base of the rail. Each leg includes a center section bowed outwardly adapted to embrace the conductor and hold it tightly against the top and bottom of the rail base edge. The legs of the clip include inwardly directed tangs or barbs struck from the edge of the legs, the inwardly projecting tip of each tang being truncated to provide a linear biting edge to engage the top and bottom of the rail base with a line contact extending longitudinally of the rail or normal to the direction of insertion of the clip.

Abstract: Device for fixing a rail on a tie, comprising an abutment made of plastic material and a clamp made of steel fixed by a rail screw or a nut. The clamp is provided with an oblong hole which makes it possible to displace the clamp in a direction perpendicular to the rail, in such a way that the clamp can occupy a preparation position, in which the rail can be placed vertically between two abutments, and a fixing position, in which the clamp bears against the flange of the rail. This device makes it possible to pre-equip ties in workshops.

Abstract: The invention concerns a rail fastener on concrete ties (4) or the like including resilient tension clamps (6) of steel rods in the form of a W and angled guide plates (3) for the rail base (1a). This so-called HM rail fastener is inventively improved by a special shaping of the tension clamp and angled guide plate, to simplify the securing of the rail on the concrete ties, in that the rotation of the elastic strainers which was previously necessary in HM construction when passing from the preassembly to the assembly position is omitted. This is achieved in that the angled guide plate (3), which is provided with a rib (3a) extending longitudinally to the rail foot for abutment on the rail foot (1a), contains in this rib special recesses (3b) for the reception and retention of the free ends of the tension clamp in the preassembly position.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for a railroad concrete sleeper wherein an insert is embedded in the concrete and extends across the sleeper, the insert having flanges which form between them a mouth of a T-slot over a wider space below the flanges and having surfaces which key it into the concrete, and a retaining block having a tail which bears upwardly against the undersurface of the flange which lies beneath a rail foot, and a head which bears downwardly on the upper surface of the other flange outboard of the rail foot, the head having an aperture extending through it in a direction also across the sleeper, and a bent rod type fastener is retained by the aperture and bears downwardly both on the rail foot and on the block head.

Abstract: A rail securement clip is disclosed as having a base having an opening therethrough for receiving an anchor projecting from a foundation, a nose extending laterally of the base from the upper portion of the base and overlying the foot of the rail, and a pair of spaced apart fingers affixed to the nose and to an upper portion of the base. The through opening in the base has an orifice positioned in the space between the fingers. The base and fingers form a recess into which the anchor projects. Securement means may be fastened to the anchor and positioned within the recess to hold the apparatus against the rail and thereby secure the rail to the foundation. The nose may include a rubber pad means engaging the foot of the rail to provide an energy absorbing securement of the rail.

Abstract: Resilient railroad fastener system comprising an elongated shoulder member and spring clip to be so applied and combined with the shoulder member as to create a toe load applied downward to the rail; the shoulder member having a reaction surface to be engaged at a first angle by one arm of the spring clip and the shoulder member being configured with a capturing surface to capture the other spring arm while cocking the spring clip at an angle to the horizontal when the spring clip is applied to the shoulder member; whereby when installed the spring clip has a toe load impressed thereon which is the vector sum of the clip load and shoulder reaction.

Abstract: An adjustable rail seating and fastening device that maintains and adjusts gauge of a rail and secures a rail to a rail support or tie plate, positively engages the rail support at both ends of the device, and provides a biasing element to maintain the engagement between the device, the rail support and the rail.

Abstract: A concrete sleeper has an elongate metal insert having a T-slot containing a T-head of a retaining block which bears against a rail foot to retain rail gauge. The retaining block can be rotated by 180.degree. and slid along the T-slot to abut an edge of the foot of a rail, the T-slot being sufficiently long to allow adjustment of the rail on the sleeper. After rail position has been determined, the block location can be fixed by inserting grout into the T-slot. Alternatively, the T-slot can have abutment lugs which determine the block position, and thereby the rail position.

Abstract: A sleeper having two pairs of protuberances upstanding from its upper portion, the protuberances of each pair defining between them a rail seat, apertures in the upper wall of the sleeper which extend from the protuberances for a short distance away from the rail seat, four U-shaped clips engaging each sleeper, each U-shaped clip having an upper toe, which bears downwardly on the upper portion of the rail, a heel engaging the upper surface of the sleeper adjacent the relevant aperture, and a lower toe extending through an aperture in the rail and bearing upwardly against the undersurface of a respective protuberance.

Abstract: An anchoring device (1) anchors a clip (60) to a foundation (50) for a railway rail (66). It has a head part (2) formed with a horizontal passageway (4) which is wider than it is high. In an upstanding wall section (5) there is a recess (6) and this receives a projection (52) on an electrically insulating bushing (51) which fits in the head part (2). The bushing has a passageway (53) through it and this receives two legs (61) and (62) of an e-shaped clip, the cross-section of the passageway having the shape of an athletics race track. The device (1) has a tail part (3) with projections (22 and 23) above which the tail part is of cruciform cross-section, with vanes (26 and 28).

Abstract: Spikes for holding elastic rail clamps for use with wooden rail ties. The spike portion incorporating recesses in its surface to accommodate an adhesive which improves adhesions between the spike and the wooden tie. The lower end of the spike which faces the rail incorporates a series of ribs.

Abstract: The railroad highway crossing panel fastening system includes a series of dowel pins, spring clips and hanger/hanger bars. The dowel pins are inserted or cast into the ends of each crossing panel in a plane parallel to the base of the rail and are positioned from the edge and top of the panels in such a manner as to accomodate varying rail sections. Each dowel pin protrudes beyond the end of the panel a sufficient distance so that when the spring clips or hangers are attached to them and engaged they secure the crossing panels to the track structure enabling highway traffic to pass over the railroad tracks in a safe manner.

Abstract: A railway rail-fastening clip, made by bending an initially straight rod, is approximately in the form of a letter e. The axies of all parts of the clip, except possibly the free end of the lower arm of the e, lie in a single plane. The rod may have a length less than 15 times the thickness of the rod. A retaining arrangement for the clip may have an opening in which lie the center arm and the upper arm of the e, the lower arm of the e pressing downwardly on the flange at the bottom of a railway rail. The opening may be in an electrically insulating bushing in a clip-retainer made of metal.

Abstract: A bushing of electrically insulating material has a passageway, of elongate cross-section, through it. The bushing is inserted in a clip-retaining member and the latter is supported in a mould into which a wet cement mix is poured so that a concrete railway sleeper is formed and the clip-retaining member is held in the concrete with the passageway above the concrete. A center arm and an upper arm of a substantially e-shaped clip are driven into the passageway and a lower arm of the clip bears downwardly on a flange of a railway rail.

Abstract: A device for attaching a rail to a bearing element (tie) (3) and comprising an elastic intermediate plate (34) and on top of this a rigid pressure distribution plate (35) which is arranged between the base (2) of the rail (1) and the tie (3); guide plates (10, 11) are attached to the tie (3) to provide lateral guidance of the base of the rail (2) and clamps (38) act on the base of the rail (2) and clamp the rail (1) to the tie (3). The elastic intermediate plate (34) projecting on both sides beneath the base (2) of the rail (1) extends on each side into a recess (16, 17) formed by the guide plate (10, 11). As a result, the elastic intermediate plate (34) can provide adequate resistance to the horizontal forces so that tilting of the rail is prevented. At the same time, the major forces of the clamps (38) are transmitted via the guide plates (10, 11) directly to the tie (3) so that non-uniform compression of the elastic intermediate plate (34) cannot occur during assembly and thus rail cant errors are avoided.

Abstract: A compact, low profile, boltless, two piece railway rail fastening assembly for secring a railway to a conventional tie plate having spike holes enabling the tie plate to be affixed to a wooden cross tie. The assembly includes a drive-on, generally platelike, rail engaging, resilient, metal fastening clip coacting with a shoulder having a pair of anchor legs adapted for insertion through a pair of spike holes proximate the rail base flange so as to anchor the shoulder to the tie plate. The shoulder and rail clip cooperate to provide a positive interlocking relation which retains the clip against the rail base flange and secures the rail against movement under load.

Abstract: Heat treated spring steel, electroplated with zinc, is formed into clips having a base portion that passes under the base of a railway rail and upstanding end sections that respectively engage and forcefully snap over the opposite lateral edges of the rail base flange. One clip has confronting semi-cylindrical extensions for overlying a section of bond wire to secure the latter in a bight configuration wrapped over the edge of the rail flange. Another clip has a semi-cylindrical extension for securing a section of bond wire to the base flange at the junction with the web of the rail. Angled notches in the edges of the clips provide small barbs that are bent out of the plane of the clip body to bite into the rail when assembled thereto for avoiding creep.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for securing a railroad rail to a base plate with a resilient fastener clip. The base plate is heated, punched and reforged to provide a clip locking shoulder which includes an aperture through the base plate and an undercut in the shoulder formed by first and second clip engaging surfaces forming a generally V-shaped clip interlock. The fastener clip is of generally U-shape configuration having an upper limb and lower limb interconnected by a heel portion. The lower limb terminates in a clip lock of generally V-shaped configuration complementary to the clip interlock of the clip shoulder and the clip interlock terminates in a clip lead-in formed at an angle complementary to the angulation of the first clip engaging surface.

Abstract: Modern D.C.-tractioned trains and track circuit signal systems as well as high load trains need a special track construction. A new concrete cross sleeper system is provided for high load and high velocity tracks as well as for urban rapid transit systems comprising rails and sleepers having center part, connected to bar shaped ends and having reinforcing means.On the bar shaped ends two rail seats for each rail are positioned having elastic, electrically non-conducting plastic pads. The rails are fastened onto the rail seat by special tension means clamping the foot of the rail and fixed into plugs in the sleepers. This feature allows a triple point fixing of the rail at each sleeper end. Tracks on asphalt pavement may be secured by anchor device of the general type as sold under the trademark NELSON.The new track construction decreases the intermittent load of the rail/sleeper system and avoids trouble in track circuit signal systems existing in normally used prestressed concrete sleepers (FIG. 1).

Abstract: An insert for a resilient rail fastening system, including a shank terminating at its lower end with an abutment to engage a lower surface of a base plate supporting a rail, the shank having at its upper end downwardly facing clip engaging surfaces which engage a resilient clip so as to cause compression thereof so that the rail engaged by the clip is biased into engagement with the base plate.

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.