Apparatus for grounding railway contact rails

The present invention relates generally to clamping devices and, more particularly, to clamping devices for railway rails. Hand-held tools for gripping a railway contact rail to facilitate grounding thereof are provided. A first member includes a first jaw at an end thereof, a handle at an opposite end thereof, and a first intermediate portion extending between the first jaw and the handle. A second member is pivotally attached to the first member and includes a second jaw at an end thereof, a set of ratchet teeth at an opposite end thereof, and a second intermediate portion extending between the second jaw and the set of ratchet teeth. The first and second jaws are configured to pivot relative to each other so as to grip respective opposite side portions of a railway contact rail when the handle is moved downwardly such that the second intermediate portion is in electrical contact with a top portion of a railway contact rail. A pawl extends from the first intermediate portion and is configured to engage the set of ratchet teeth to hold the first and second jaws in contact with the respective opposite sides of a railway contact rail. A biasing member is operatively associated with the pawl and is configured to urge the pawl into engagement with the set of ratchet teeth. A release lever is operatively associated with the biasing member and/or the pawl and is configured to disengage the pawl from the set of ratchet teeth and allow movement of the handle so as to disengage the hand-held tool from a contact rail.