Manufacturing Processes for Rail Tie Plates

Rail tie plate, also called baseplate or sole plate, is a steel plate that used on rail tracks between flanged T steel rail and the rail sleepers. Rail tie plate increases bearing area and holds the steel rail to correct rail gauge. They are fastened to wooden railway sleepers by means of rail spikes or track bolts through the holes in rail tie plates. The part of the rail tie plate under the railway sleeper is tapered, setting the cant of the steel rail, an inward rotation from the vertical. The usual slope is one in forty (1.4 degrees). The top surface of the plate has one or two shoulders that fit against the edges of the base of the rail. The double-shoulder type is currently used. Older single-shoulder types were adaptable for various rail widths, with the single shoulder positioned on the outside (field side) of the steel rails. Most rail tie plates are slightly wider on the field side, without which the plates tend to cut more into the outsides of the tie, reducing can’t angle. Many railways use large wood screws, also called lag screws, to fasten rail tie plates (or baseplates) to the rail sleepers. Rail tie plates came into use around the year 1900, before which time flanged T steel rail was spiked directly to the rail sleepers.

Manufacturing Process for Rail Tie Plates 

There are many methods for manufacturing the rail tie plates like casting and forging in the past. With the development of the technology, AGICO Rail as the leading rail fastener manufacturer in China, has tried to manufacture rail tie plates by rolling the raw materials. For different processing methods, the materials are different. We will introduce the materials according to the different rail tie plate manufacturing methods.

Rolling Process for Rail Tie Plates

AGICO Rail is the first one adopted rolling technology to make rail tie plates. We have a professional team and the mature technology, so we can guarantee the quality of rail tie plate. As for using the rolling measures, it has the requirements for the raw material. Generally, for the rolling tie plate, they are made of Q235 carbon steel.
 
Q235 carbon steel is also called A3 carbon steel. Q refers to the yield limiting, and “235” means the yield value is almost 235Mpa. Because the carbon content is moderate, and the strength, plasticity and welding can fit better. The Q235 carbon steel has a good overall performance so that it is widely used in the railway fastening system. 

Casting Process for Rail Tie Plates

Casting is the most common method to manufacture the rail tie plates. For making rail tie plate by casting, we would like to choose the QT400-18 carbon steel. The QT400-18 is made up of the steel, carbon and silicon. Cast iron is mainly composed of iron, carbon and silicon alloy. The QT400-18 has better weldability, machinability, and plasticity. Besides, it has high impact toughness at room temperature. Based on these characters, it is always used to casting rail tie plates and other railway components.

Forging Process for Rail Tie Plates

Forging is a common method for manufacturing rail tie plates. In term of forging rail tie plate, we would like to choose white cast iron. White cast iron, the carbon content is almost 2.5%. Because it contents much more Fe3c, so the white cast iron has high hardness and high fragility. In a word, the white cast iron is difficult to manufacture. Along with the development of the technology, we merely use the white cast iron.
 
In a contrast, the Q345 carbon steel is used to forging the railroad tie plate. Q345 carbon steel has good comprehensive mechanical properties, good processing performance when at the cold and hot pressing. What’s more, it has good corrosion resistance. Because of these characters, the Q345 carbon steel is typically used in welding parts with high loading.
 
On conclusion, AGICO Rail provides railroad tie plate with forging, casting and rolling. For different manufacture methods, the materials which are made of rail tie plates are different. What’s more, the different types tie plates have different dimensions. In term of all the different parameters, we provide the custom service for each client. You can customize rail tie plate dimensions according to your requirements.