What kind of steel is it?

[Pault17]

trying to find info on what the big square plates that hold RR tracks on the ties. A nephew (bless his heart) picked a few up for me a while back and I was curious as to what they are made of.

I searched and searched the IFI forums with no luck

[sstreckfuss]

Second section of this blueprint should have what you need.

[Pault17]

Thanks Sstreckfuss. I didn't see that second half before. Do you have any idea what the track plate I am talking about is called? the plate si about 10 inches square with two raised sides leaving a spot for the rail to rest in. There are also eight holes in the plate, 4 on each side. half of the holes are spike sized, the other four are smaller.

[sstreckfuss]

Is it the piece that goes between the rail and the track to distribute the load from rail to track? Sounds like it to me.

Look like this?



If so I call it a tie plate, which is not listed in that blueprint under that name...might have to wait for glenn to clarify...

[John Martin]

Spark test. And the second part of that blueprint.

[RainsFire]

I have alot of those, and I cant remember quite right but I think they had casting seams to em.. could be wrong though, and if the track is 1050, I would wager that the plate is too..
either that or its railroad tie metal.

[Pault17]

Hey all,
that's the stuff. yeah, what is that.

[Archie Zietman]

I heard 1085, but that seems a bit high. I spark tested a few of mine and they seemed medium carbon.
I use one with a piece of soapstone when demonstrating. Very macho blackboard. :D

[Sam Salvati]

drill and bolt them to the top of a thick beam dug into the ground, then make a great hardy tooling plate, just burn or drill the continuation of the holes into the top of the wood. Great upsetting plates on the floor too.