Rail base plate

The basic function of base plates is to take up and distribute the dynamic forces coming from the rail bottom, giving added stiffness to the whole track structure. Rail base plates increase the bearing area and hold the rail at correct gauge. The top surface of the base plate has usually two shoulders that fit against the edges of the bottom of the „T” rail.

The fastening has a role also in providing inclination of the track. The track is constructed by an inclination towards the centre line of the track in order to take up and compensate transversal and centripetal load from the moving rolling stock. In case of railway tracks built by wooden sleepers, since the sleepers are produced with evenly horizontal upper surface, the inclination of the track is provided by the ribbed base plates designed with mostly 1:20 and some also with 1:40 inclination or slope. In case of most types of concrete sleepers the required inclination is provided by corresponding moulding of them.

The base plates used with concrete sleepers have two holes while those used with wooden sleepers have usually four holes in order to withstand and compensate the high lateral forces especially in curves with relatively low radius.

Beyond the above representative sample models we are prepared to offer and supply any other type of rail base plate for flat bottom rails of types S49 or 48 kg/m, UIC 54 and UIC 60, including items to be manufactured according to our customers’ private design.