This article relates to the connection bar used in railways. For the type of Greek pottery, see Fish plate.

In rail terminology, a fishplate is a metal bar that is bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track. In rail transport modelling, a fishplate is often a small copper or nickel/silver plate which slips onto both rails.

The term fishplate, also called baseplate, may also be applied to the special purpose steel plate inserted between the rails and the (wooden) railroad ties. See Methods of fixing rail to sleepers/ties

History

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The device was invented by William Bridges Adams in May 1842, because of his dissatisfaction with the scarf joints then in use. it was first deployed on the Eastern Counties Railway in 1844. He patented his invention in England, Ireland and Scotland but, supposedly by some underhand means, the patent shortly afterwards passed to James Samuel, the engineer of the ECR.

Electrical connection

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When railway lines are equipped with track circuits, or where the line is electrified for electric traction, the electrical connection provided by fishplates is too poor and unreliable and has to be supplanted by bonding wire.

Alternatives

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Even though fishplates strengthen the weak points represented by rail joints, improvements can still be made. For example, the joints can be welded together using the thermite process.

Reference

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• Ellis, C. Hamilton (1958). Twenty Locomotive Men, Ian Allan Ltd, London.

Rail infrastructure