The railway tie plate, also known as a railway base plate or sole plate, is crafted from materials such as mild steel, cast iron, wrought iron, or malleable steel. It is positioned between the foot of a flat-footed rail and a wooden sleeper to evenly distribute the load over a larger area. Fastened to wooden ties, the railway tie plate is secured using rail spikes or bolts passed through corresponding holes in the plate.
The section of the plate beneath the rail base is tapered, determining the cant of the rail-an inward rotation from the vertical. The top surface of the plate features one or two shoulders that snugly fit against the edges of the rail base.
