Relay Tie Plates
Select the rail fit or AREMA plan, shoulder type, anchoring, and quantity.
ⓘ Identification & Terminology GuidePlate fit depends on the rail seat/base relationship, shoulder arrangement and hole pattern—not outside dimensions alone.
Open Guide
Plate fit depends on the rail seat/base relationship, shoulder arrangement and hole pattern—not outside dimensions alone.
Original MidStates identification schematic. Not to scale and not an installation or engineering drawing.
Tie Plate Identification & Terminology
The portion of the plate where the rail base rests.
Raised feature adjacent to the rail base that helps locate and restrain the rail.
A plate with a prominent shoulder on one side of the rail seat.
A plate with shoulders on both sides of the rail seat.
The designed inclination of the rail seat, if present.
The number and arrangement of spike holes through the plate.
How to identify what you have
- Determine whether the plate is single-shoulder, double-shoulder or a combination/multi-fit design.
- Measure the rail-seat width between the shoulders or bearing surfaces.
- Record overall plate length and width and sketch or photograph the spike-hole pattern.
- Look for rolled, cast or stamped plan/part markings.
- If the original rail is available, identify the rail section separately rather than assuming fit from appearance.
What to measure
- Overall plate length
- Overall plate width
- Rail-seat width
- Shoulder-to-shoulder spacing
- Spike-hole locations
What photos help MidStates
- Top view
- Bottom view
- Side profile showing shoulders/cant
- Close-up of markings
- Plate beside the rail base when safely possible
Common identification mistakes
- Identifying by outside plate dimensions only
- Assuming every double-shoulder plate fits every rail of similar weight
- Ignoring combination plates or unusual rail-base widths
Technical references & source notes
Reference index for rail sections, joint bars, compromise joints, tie plates, switches, turnout components, frogs, guard rails and fasteners.
Open authoritative public sourceReference for terminology and compatibility principles covering plates, spikes, anchors, joint bars and related industrial-track materials.
Open authoritative public sourceReference for industry-track material terminology, tie spacing, plate fit, spikes, anchoring and rail/joint requirements.
Open authoritative public sourceReference for turnout terminology, tie/plate/spike practices and industry-track material identification context.
Open authoritative public sourceMidStates uses external publications to support technical facts and terminology. The explanatory text, diagrams and presentation on this page are original MidStates content and do not reproduce railroad or AREMA drawings.
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