There is disclosed a rail sleeper which when secured to rails affords rapid disengagement when necessary and is comprised of a metal bar of a U-shaped channel section. At two locations along the length of the bar portions of flanges of the sleeper are removed to provide slots disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar. Each slot is wider than the base of the rail fitting thereinto with the space between slots dependent upon the gage between parallel rails and with the depth of such slots being varied to suit rail height. One rail flange is secured in place by an overhanging portion of the sleeper flanges. The other rail flange is secured by a generally T-shaped steel plate which is bolted to the bottom of the U-shaped channel section such that the horizontal bar of the T-shaped plate rests across the upright flanges of the sleeper. One edge of the horizontal bar engages the web of the rail and the other edge engages the edge of the slot, thus wedging the rail into secure engagement.