How to change fishplates?

A rail fish plate is a structural connector that allows jointed rails to behave as a continuous beam by transmitting bending moments and shear forces across rail joints. GNEE RAIL offers fish plates compatible with GB rail systems, UIC50–UIC60, DIN536 crane rails, QU crane rails, JIS rail standards, AS1085 profiles, BS11 sections, and AREMA/ASCE rails, with technical documentation support.

Why use a rail joint bar?

Rail joint bars, also known as fishplates or splice bars, are used to securely connect rail ends, ensuring structural continuity, proper alignment, and safe load transfer across joints. They prevent lateral/longitudinal displacement, reduce impact forces from train wheels, and allow for expansion/contraction, ensuring smooth train passage and preventing derailments.

Key Functions of Rail Joint Bars:

• Structural Integrity: They connect the ends of two rails, holding them together to maintain a continuous, stable track.

• Load Distribution: Quality bars distribute heavy wheel loads across the joint, minimizing stress on the rails and preventing premature damage to the track, this source explains.

• Alignment & Stability: They maintain precise, straight alignment of the rail ends, facilitating smooth train movement and preventing derailments, this source explains.

• Allowing Movement: They permit small expansion and contraction of the rails, which is vital for preventing buckling or broken tracks due to temperature changes, this source explains.

• Safety & Maintenance: They ensure safety on light, heavy, and crane rails, and are essential components for managing signal blocks.

How to change fishplates?

Changing rail fishplates involves safely removing old, damaged plates, cleaning and inspecting the rail ends, and installing new lubricated plates, ensuring they are tightened to the correct torque (typically 350-650 lb-ft or 475-880 Nm) in a progressive,, even manner. Proper shimming may be required to fill gaps between the plate and rail.

Steps to Change Rail Fishplates:

• Preparation and Safety: Ensure the site is safe, and if necessary, remove temporary OLE bonds.

• Remove Old Plates: Use a hammer or pinch bar to remove old fishbolts, nuts, and plates.

• Clean and Inspect: Clean rust and grime from rail ends using a scraper. Check for damaged components.

• Lubricate: Apply grease to new fishplates and the fishing surfaces of the rail, keeping it away from the railhead.

• Install New Plates: Fit the new plates, ensuring they are correctly oriented (identification markings up).

• Insert Bolts and Shims: Insert fishbolts with spring washers, placing them with the opening facing downward. If necessary, insert shims.

• Tighten: Tighten bolts evenly and progressively, often requiring an assistant to tap the bolt with a hammer as it is tightened to seat the plate properly.

• Final Inspection: Verify the tightness of all bolts.

Founded in 2008, GNEE RAIL is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of railway components, specializing in high-quality rail fish plates (joint bars/splice bars) with strong production capacity and global service capabilities.

Our rail fish plate portfolio is comprehensive and compliant with international standards including UIC, AREMA, BS, DIN, and GB, covering light rail (8kg-30kg), heavy rail (38kg-75kg), and crane rail (QU70-QU120) systems. We offer diverse types such as insulated joint bars, bulged fish plates, and compromise rail joints,with precise specifications (4-hole/6-hole, 24-inch/36-inch), ensuring excellent mechanical performance.We uphold strict quality control supported by ISO 9001:2015 certification, an in-house inspection center, and third-party audits by SGS and BV. Our one-stop service includes customization, production, packaging, and after-sales support, tailored to clients' project needs.

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