System for converting existing railroad tracks to trails

A trail mat system for converting existing railroad tracks to trails, comprising:

• a mat extending between and on top of a pair of railroad track rails;
• at least one rail clamp section disposed on a bottom side of said mat including a rail cavity for receiving at least a portion of said rails;
• at least one clamp arm included in said rail clamp section engaging one of said rails;
• and,
• a securing fastener operatively associated with said at least one clamp arm to bias said clamp arm against said rail to prevent separation of said mat from said rails;
• whereby said mat is configured to be placed over and removably secured to said rails to provide a trail surface overtop the rails without removing said rails or other elements of the railroad track
• wherein said rail clamp section includes a first clamp arm laterally spaced from a second clamp arm, wherein said first and second clamp arms extend vertically from said bottom side of said mat and define said rail cavity;
• and a laterally extending arm portion disposed on each of said first and second clamp arms, wherein said laterally extending arm portions engage a fillet of a rail head on said rails to resist upward movement of said mat;
• and,
• wherein said securing fastener extends through said first and second clamp arms and is operatively associated to draw said first and second clamp arms together to bias said laterally extending arm portions against said rails.