What is a Rail Tension Clip?
A rail clip (or elastic rail clip) is a crucial component in railway fastening systems, typically made from spring steel, used to secure steel rails to baseplates and sleepers (ties) to prevent unwanted vertical and horizontal movement, ensuring track integrity, gauge, and safety by absorbing vibrations and shock from passing trains. These clips exert clamping force, maintaining the rail's position and allowing for thermal expansion/contraction, with common types including E-clips and SKL clips.
| Model | Diameter | Weight | Material |
| Type III | Ø18 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E1609 | Ø16 | 0.43 kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E1809 | Ø20 | 0.61kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E1813 | Ø18 | 0.62kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2001 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2007 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2009 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2039 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2055 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2056 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| E2063 | Ø20 | 0.80kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR85 Rail Clip | Ø13 | 0.25kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR309A | Ø19 | 0.85kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR401 | Ø20 | 0.97kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR415 | Ø20 | 0.95kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| PR601A | Ø20 | 1.03kg/pc | 38Si7 |
| SKL 1 | Ø13 | 0.48kg/pc | 60Si2CrA |
| SKL 3 | Ø13 | 0.48kg/pc | 60Si2CrA |
| SKL 12 | Ø13 | 0.53kg/pc | 38Si7 |
| SKL 14 | Ø13 | 0.53kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Special Rail Clip | Ø13 | 0.48kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Russia Rail Clip | Ø18 | 0.58kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Deenik Clip | Ø25 | 0.49-0.68kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Single Anti- | Ø20 | 0.25kg/pc | 60Si2MnA |
| Theft |
How Do Rail Spring Clips Work?
Rail clips work by using elastic pressure from bent, spring-steel components to clamp rails firmly to sleepers (ties), preventing movement while absorbing train impacts, maintaining track gauge, and allowing for thermal expansion, ensuring stability, safety, and reducing noise/vibration in modern railway systems. They deform under load and snap back, holding the track in place through continuous clamping force (toe load).
What are the materials used to manufacture elastic rail clips?
Elastic rail clips are primarily made from high-quality spring steel, specifically silicon spring steels, with common grades including 60Si2MnA, 60Si2CrA, 55Si2Mn, and 38Si7, chosen for their superior elasticity, strength, and fatigue resistance, then forged and heat-treated (quenched & tempered) to achieve hardness (around 40-48 HRC) and durability for railway fastening.
Common Spring Steel Grades:
- 60Si2MnA (Silico-Manganese Spring Steel): A very popular choice for its balanced properties.
- 60Si2CrA (Silico-Chrome Spring Steel): Offers excellent hardenability and wear resistance due to chromium content.
- 38Si7: Another silicon-based spring steel used for its elastic properties.
- 55Si7, 60Si7, 55Si2Mn, etc.: Other variations of silicon spring steels meeting specific performance needs.
| Material | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
| Chemical composition(%) | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.40-0.70, Si:1.40-1.80,Cr:0.70-1.00 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.52-0.60, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00,Cr:≤0.35 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.35-0.42, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:1.50-1.80, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 |
GNEE RAIL offer an extensive range of rail clips with optimum quality, these rail clips are designed with high precision and made up of premium grade spring steel. GNEE has been the largest and most competitive production base of rail clip in China after more than 18 years' rail clip producing experience, and have qualification to tender nationally large and medium scaled rail projects. What's more, our rail clip can be customized according to clients' requirements.
