What are the different types of railroad clips?
Dec 29, 2025
As one of the common railway fasteners in rail fastening system, elastic railway clips are made of forged spring steel and have many applications in railroad. No matter as a part of railway fastening system or as a railway fastener, elastic railway clips are used together with other railway components, such as rail spike, rail tie plate, rail pad and rail plastic dowel. In the railway fastening system, the main function of railway clip is fastening railway sleeper and steel rail together. The railway clip is considered as one of the best ways to ensure that steel rails not move, bend, warp, or rot. There are data shows that each elastic railway clip can bear about two tons of force upon a railway track.
What are the different types of railroad clips?
Railroad clips (or elastic fasteners) secure rails to sleepers, with common types including E-clips, SKL clips, Nabla clips, and KPO clamps, designed for different systems (like concrete or wood sleepers) and applications (high-speed, heavy haul) to provide elasticity, vibration dampening, and precise rail positioning, with newer variants like Deenik and customized clips also available for specific needs.
Common Types of Rail Clips
- E-Type Rail Clips: Simple, forged spring steel clips used widely in systems like the Pandrol Fastclip, providing strong, elastic fastening, often with specific models (E1609, E2007) for different rail sizes.
- SKL Rail Clips: Known as tension clips (e.g., SKL1, SKL12), popular in German systems (like HM fastening) and used with baseplates on concrete sleepers.
- Nabla Rail Clips: Used in systems by Nabla (often for concrete sleepers), offering good elasticity and vibration absorption, with specific material grades like 60Si2MnA.
- KPO Clamps: Another system variant, often paired with other components for secure fastening.
- Deenik Clips: A type of elastic clip, also found in various fastening systems.
| 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 |
What is the function of a railroad clip?
The working principle of elastic rail clip is using the elastic compression piece. In general, the processing of elastic rail clip is simple, and the cost is low. However, due to the opening of holes for bolt fastening, stress concentration is easy to occur in this part, and the bending moment of the surface is exactly where the section is weakened. The arch bolt fastener, found in the use of the bolt tightening easy to break, in the train when the vibration easy to make the shrapnel loose, even some nuts may screw out from the bolt.
GNEE RAIL as the largest rail clip and clamp production base in China, which has been qualified to tender medium and large scaled railway projects. In addition, GNEE RAIL is approved elastic rail clip manufacturer by China's Railway Ministry and has been ISO9001-2008 certified. Our rail clip product is ideal for rail track assembly for advantages of easy fitment while track laying; economical maintenance; long durability and lifespan; fast replacement.
