Rail fishplate, which is bolted to the ends of two railroad tracks to join them together, is widely used in light rail, heavy rail and crane rail. In general, the rail fastening system is consist of fish bolt, flat washer and spring washer. Every two fish plates mostly need four or six suits of fish bolt.
Fishplates (Rail Joint Bars) can used in track structures with wooden sleepers, and this combination has been widely adopted in early railways as well as certain low-speed lines and industrial tracks. The primary function of fishplates is to connect rail joints by clamping firmly onto both sides of the rails with fish bolts, ensuring proper alignment (track straightness) and structural stability at the joint. Regardless of whether the sleepers are made of wood, concrete, or steel, fishplates may be required wherever rails need to be spliced together.
In wooden sleeper tracks, rails are typically secured to the sleepers using screw spikes, dog spikes, or clip bolts, while fishplates and fish bolts handle the longitudinal connection and load transfer at the joints. This configuration remains prevalent in industrial railways, light rail lines, temporary tracks, and certain narrow-gauge railways. However, it should be noted that wooden sleepers have relatively lower load-bearing capacity compared to concrete sleepers. Therefore, the tightening torque of fish bolts and their condition require regular inspection to prevent loosening that could compromise operational safety.
GNEE RAIL provides a complete range of fishplate products suitable for both wooden sleeper and concrete sleeper tracks, along with matching accessories such as fish bolts, spring washers, and flat washers. Additionally, GNEE RAIL supplies various railway fasteners including rail clips (SKL, KPO, Nabla, Fast Clip, and E Clip types), screw spikes, clip bolts, gauge rods, rail pads, and more, capable of meeting installation requirements for different track structures and operating conditions. For more detailed product information, please feel free to contact us.
