Installation of Bolts and Nuts on Railroad Tracks
The installation process begins with shifting the rail manually onto the rail sleeper shoulders, followed by attaching fish plates, bolts, and washers at reserved rail joints and tightening the nuts to specified torque levels. Bolt heads on fish plates are strategically placed on either side of the rails, with those on both sides positioned towards the inner side (alongside the rail centerline) and middle bolt heads on the outer side. After installing one side rail, the other is fixed to the specified gauge distance and adjusted as needed, with slag filled in the sleeper gaps to raise the track to standard height.
During installation, workers use wrenches to align fish plates with rail holes and ensure a close fit to the rail. Bolts are cross-fixed on both sides of the railway line to prevent derailment, with rail gaps adjusted as per design. Bolts are tightened to specified torque levels, with workers using metal tools for alignment and avoiding finger usage. Common types of bolts include square head fish bolts and cup head oval neck fish bolts.