Patent ID: 8864043

Claim:
A rail fastening system for securing a rail to a railroad tie, the railroad tie including a first connector on a first side of the rail and a second connector on a second side of the rail, the first and second connectors interposing the rail and operable for securing the rail to the railroad tie when each of the first and second connectors are in a serviceable condition, the rail fastening system comprising: a baseplate configured for abutment with the first connector; at least one clamp coupled to the baseplate on the first side of the rail and including a hook portion for contacting the rail on the second side of the rail; wherein the at least one clamp includes a handle portion extending away from the hook portion such that the handle portion is entirely disposed on the first side of the rail when the at least one clamp is coupled to the baseplate; and wherein the handle portion includes a plurality of abutments on an underside thereof for adjustably coupling the at least one clamp to the baseplate.