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

Second section of this blueprint should have what you need.

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.

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...

Spark test. And the second part of that blueprint.

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.

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

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

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.