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AREMA base plates (commonly called tie plates or sole plates) for 115RE rail are designed to support a rail with a 5.5-inch base width. These plates distribute the vertical load over a larger area of the tie and hold the rail to the correct gauge.
AREMA tie plates for 115RE rail (TR57) are specifically designed for a 5.5-inch (139.7 mm) rail base width. These plates are standard in the North American market to distribute heavy loads, maintain track gauge, and protect wooden ties.
Key Specifications & Dimensions
Key Specifications & Dimensions
Tie plates for 115RE rail vary primarily in length to suit different load and traffic requirements:
Standard Lengths: Common sizes include 12-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch, and 15-inch lengths.
Shoulder Design: Most 115RE plates are double shoulder to provide lateral restraint on both sides of the rail flange.
Cant (Inclination): Typically features a 1:40 inward cant to improve the wheel-to-rail contact profile.
Punching: Standard designs often include 4 to 8 holes (square or round) for track spikes or screw spikes.
Weight: A standard 14-inch plate (Plan 8) weighs approximately 22.19 lbs (non-ribbed) to 23.12 lbs (ribbed).
Common AREMA Plan Numbers
Common AREMA Plan Numbers
The design of these plates is categorized by AREMA Plan Numbers based on their dimensions:
Plan 6: 12-inch length.
Plan 7: 13-inch length.
Plan 8: 14-inch length.
Plan 20: 15-inch length.
Manufacturing & Material
Manufacturing & Material
Materials: Usually produced from forged or rolled low-to-high carbon steel (e.g., Q235, S275JR, or QT450-10).
Production Methods: Most are manufactured via forging, though rolling and casting are used depending on volume and complexity.
Specialty Types: Direct Fixation plates (like Pandrol-style) are available for use with elastic clips rather than traditional spikes.
Production Steps of Forged Rail Base Plate
Production Steps of Forged Rail Base Plate
Material Preparation: High-grade steel bars are cut to precise lengths to ensure correct volume.
Heating: Blanks are heated in a furnace to the required temperature to become plastic and malleable.
Forging (Hot Die Forging): The heated steel is placed into a die and hammered or pressed (1,000+ tons) into shape, which aligns the grain structure for superior strength.
Trimming & Punching: Excess metal (flash) is trimmed off, and holes for rail clips/fasteners are punched.
Heat Treatment: The forged plate undergoes quenching and tempering to improve mechanical properties and remove internal stresses.
Final Inspection: Finished plates are checked for dimensional accuracy, surface defects, and hardness.
AREMA Base Plates can also be produced by rolling or casting. While cast plates are cheaper and common for light loads, forging or rolling offers better structural integrity for heavy-haul tracks due to the improved grain flow.
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