How Much Do You Know about Railroad Tie Plates?

As an important part of rail fastening system, railroad tie plate is indispensable on railway construction. While, what’s railroad tie plate, you may ask? A railroad tie plate is a thick steel panel which sits between the tracks and rail ties (or called rail sleepers) on a standard railroad track. Railroad tie plates are generally tapered at each end to improve stability and reduce torsion and twisting along the tracks. Rails installed with tie plates are better able to maintain their position, which helps to standardize the width, or gauge, of the track along its length. During the railway construction, engineers and rail workers use railroad tie plates to prolong the lifespan of a new track installation, which promise safety for passengers and railway workers as maximum as possible.

In traditional rail construction, rail workers firstly lay a bed of gravel or loose stone. Then they put short wooden beams, or rail ties on the top of stone which acts as a support for the steel rails. Steel rail spikes are driven through a flange along the base of the rail to fasten it to each tie.



By the turn of the 20th century, many railroad engineers have specified the use of tie plates on new lengths of rail track. Instead of fastening the rail track directly to the tie, the spike should be hit pass through the tie plate first, then into the end of each tie. While these tie plates are still found on railroads that use wooden ties, the use of concrete or composite ties in modern construction has reduced the need for tie plates.

There are three types of rail tie plates: forging, rolling and casting. Each type of tie plates has its unique features on the process of utility. As a most competitive rail tie plate manufacture in China, AGICO Group is always committed to produce high quality rail tie plates of these three types. With dozens of dies for rail tie plates and high level production technology, we have large scale production to make the heavy demand of customers.
Rail tie plate or base plate by forging:



In our plant, we own 300T~1600T forging friction press and 7 die forging production lines with 5T electricity liquid hammers. Our forging annual capacity can reach up to 12000 tons at least, and a capacity of 400,000 pieces of forging tie plates.
Rail tie plate by rolling:



AGICO Group is the first company in China that tried rolling processing onto base plate production, basing on our available rolling steel expertise that used for rail fish plates and gauge blocks. Up to now, we have successfully produced dies for rail tie plates for 11 inches, 14 inches and 14-3/4 inch for both 5-1/2 and 6 inch rail bases. Some more varieties are under negotiation with the clients as well. Based on this, we received 3 orders for rolling tie plates with total weight over than 3,000 tons.
Rail tie plate or base plate by casting:



Among these three types of production technology of rail tie plates, casting is a common technology and it is also a cost saving way. As the tie plate is a prior and hot sale for us, we have two casting workshops for casting materials especially. We are capable to develop die from most modern way to ensure the precise dimensions of tie plates, from hot pre-coated sand or machining way.

As a professional manufacturer and supplier of rail fasteners in China, AGICO can produce different types of railroad tie plates according to different standards, such as AREMA, BS, GB, UIC, DIN, and so on. In addition, we can produce customized products according to drawings and samples. In China, AGICO takes about 70 percent rail fasteners market and ranks NO.1 in China State Railway Accessories Production System Competition. Until now, rail fasteners manufactured by AGICO have been exported to more than 50 destinations in more than 20 countries and received good reputation worldwide because of high quality and long service life. If you want to buy high quality rail tie plates and other rail components, AGICO would be your best choice!