Why are rail joiners called fish plates?
Dec 31, 2025
Railway fish plate, it is also called rail joint or joint bar. As one of the rail components, rail joint's function is different from other rail components. Rail joint is a flat metal plate usually used to connect adjacent two rails by a number of rail bolts or railroad spikes. Traditionally, railway fish plate is drilled with some holes on the ends of the sections to be connected. There are some holes in the end of railway track, which are used to be lined up with the holes in the railway fish plate and jointed with rail bolt. In general, railway fish plates are made of steel, but plastics and composites are alternative raw materials for rail joint.
Why are rail joiners called fish plates?
Rail joiners are called fish plates because their tapered, curved shape in early designs resembled a fish's body or tail fin, used to strengthen and join structural elements, a term carried over from shipbuilding where similar wooden pieces reinforced masts. This "fish" name also connects to the French word ficher, meaning "to fix" or "fasten," reflecting their function of holding rails together.
Origins of the name:
- Visual Similarity: Early plates, especially those for "fish-bellied" cast iron rails or to reinforce ship masts, had a shape that looked like a fish, tapering at the ends.
- Shipbuilding: The term comes from "fish pieces," wooden strips used to strengthen a ship's mast, and the concept was adapted for rails.
- Linguistic Root: It might derive from the French word ficher (to fix/fasten), linking the plate to its purpose.
Classification by Structural Form of Railroad Joint
According to the shape of the fishplate and the type of rail joint it fits, fishplates can be divided into:
- Standard Fishplates: These have a flat plate shape with bolt holes on both sides, designed to fit the straight joints of standard rails. This is the most commonly used type (such as most of the weight-classified models mentioned above).
- Special-Shaped Fishplates: Also known as "special fishplates," their shape is designed based on the specific angles of rail joints (e.g., curved tracks) or uniquely shaped rails. They are used for non-linear tracks (such as railway curves) or rails with special cross-sections to ensure smoothness at the joints.
Other Types of Rail Joint
| Model | Material | Standard | Unit weight | Surface Treatment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJ50 rail joint | 50# | 11.59kg/pc | Plain | ||
| SJ43 Rail Joint | 50# | 10.16kg/pc | Plain | ||
| TJ57 Rail Joint | 45# | 17.36kg/pc | Plain | ||
| S30 Rail Joint | 50# | 5.8kg/pc | Plain, or according to the customers' demand | ||
| CR135 Rail Joint (used in CR135 Crane Rail) | 50# | ASTM-43 | Plain, or Hot-dip galvanized | ||
| CR171 Rail Joint (used in CR171 Crane Rail) | 50# | ASTM-43 | 16.0kg/pc | Plain, or Hot-dip galvanized | |
| S49 Forged Rail Joint | Q345 | UIC49 | 8.60kg/pc | Sandblasted +oiled | |
| S60 Forged Rail Joint | Q345 | UIC60 | 14.50kg/pc | Sandblasted +oiled |
Advantages of GNEE Rail Joints:
- With over 80% market share in China Railway industry as a rail joint supplier.
- We can provide semi-finished products without holes or finished products with holes.
- Both 4 hole 24 ″ and 6 hole 36 ″ with round or oval holes available.
- We have professional production team of 123 workers, 22 technicians and 2 senior engineers with more than 30 years' working experience in the development and manufacture of rail joints.
- Over 100 types of molds ready, including those used for Thermit Welded Joints.
