A tie plate, base plate or sole plate is a steel plate used on rail tracks between the rail and the crossties. The tie plate increases bearing area and holds the rail to correct gauge. They are fastened to wooden sleeper by means of spikes or bolts through holes in the plate. We supply any type of base plate suitable for various rail sections. The base plate can be casted, forged or rolled.
According to the different applications and design, tie plate can be divided into many types. Single shoulder tie plate, double shoulder tie plate and hook twin tie plate are three typical kinds of tie plate.
Single shoulder tie plate means the top surface of tie plate has one shoulder, which can fit the rail base. Single shoulder tie plate is an old kind of tie plate that is not available. Single shoulder tie plate is suitable for almost any rail widths. Most often, rail base width according to requirement. The single shoulder normally placed on the outside of rail.
Compared to single tie plate, double shoulder tie plate contains two shoulders on the top surface. Double shoulder tie plate is also a currently used type. According to the AMREA standard, double shoulder tie plate are available for 5-1/2″and 6″base rail. Common types include 4 holes, 5holes, 6 holes, 7 holes, 8 holes.
Hook twin tie plate, or HTTP for short, is a type of tie plate that is used for frog, guide rail, and behind the heel of rail switch. There is slotted hole in the hook twin tie plate, which makes it different from other kinds of tie plate. Generally, hook twin tie plate is designed with AREMA standard and it can fit any rail sections.
Besides that, hook tie plate work in pairs to a single railroad tie. The diagram of hook twin tie plate is shown below:
By the types of the hook, hook twin tie plate has three normal types: type L, type LR and type H. Among all AMERA standard hook twin tie plates, 3/4" and 1" thick are two popular types.
For 3/4''thick: L23, L27, L31, LR23, LR27, LR31, H23, H27, H31.
For 1'' thick: L29, L33, L37, LR28, LR32, LR36, H29, H33, H37, H41.
In addition to these kinds of tie plate, there are many other types like tie plate for KPO rail fastening, and etc.
