From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Fishplate on the Bluebell Railway

In rail terminology, a fishplate, splice bar or joint bar is a metal bar that is bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track. The name is derived from fish, a wooden bar with a curved profile used to strengthen a ship's mast.[1] The top and bottom edges are tapered inwards so the device wedges itself between the top and bottom of the rail when it is bolted into place.[2] In rail transport modelling, a fishplate is often a small copper or nickel silver plate that slips onto both rails to provide the functions of maintaining alignment and electrical continuity.

References[change | change source]

  1. "Fish 2". Oxford English Dictionary (Second ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. 1989.
  2. Morgan, C. D. (1946). "Permanent way". In Pendred, Loughan. The Engineer's Year-Book for 1946 (52 ed.). London: Morgan Brothers. p. 2015.