If Americans call sleepers ties what do they call the metal clips that hold the track to the, er sleepers?

Question

If Americans call sleepers ties what do they call the metal clips that hold the track to the, er sleepers?

Answer 1

Depends on the type of rail and the type of sleeper and the chair which the rail sits in.

95lb bullhead rail is normally attached to the sleeper chairs with either bradley keys, panlock keys, JBBH or oak pegs.

Flat bottom rail has more choice.  From mills clips, shc clips, Pandrol fastenings and spikes

Answer 2

Spikes hold the rails on the ties.  Ballast (rocks) keep the ties down.

Answer 3

tie ties

Answer 4

I'm going to have to correct the guy above me. Ballast (usually gravel) is used to provide stability to keep the ties in one place when the trains move while the combined weight of the rail and the train hold down the ties.

Answer 5

The rail sits on tie plates and is held on either with spikes (on wood ties) or rail clips (with concrete ties).

Simple, eh? No sleepers, or boogers, or whatever slang here.