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![[Picture: Fish-plating of rails]](https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Evers-SteamAndTheSteamEngine/pages/297-fish-plate-rail-joint/297-fish-plate-rail-joint-q75-500x118.jpg "[Picture: Fish-plating of rails]")
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Fish-plating of rails more
The diagram shows a joint between two railway [US: railroad] rails from the side (on the left) and also a cross-section of the rail. The wooden sleeper (US: tie) is shown in cross-section in both cases and is marked “S”. Each rail has two holes going through it, and the fishplate has four holes, two fastened to each rail.
Model railway fishplates usually do not have holes and bolts, but slip over the rail, and are sometimes of nickel or silver, to conduct electricity to power the model trains.
326. Jointing of Rails: The Fish Joint
The two ends of any two adjoining rails are not placed close together, but a small space is left between for expansion. The joint is obviously the weakest part of the rail. The fish joint is intended to give it stability.
Rails are “fished” by having four holes — a a a a — punched in them, and then the fish plate F P is fastened on with four bolts; the holes are larger than the bolts, to allow a slight motion caused by the changes of temperature. The fishes are made of wrought iron, and bear against the top and bottom of the web of the rail, as seen in the section at b and b. Close to each fish, on either side, are two chairs, C and C, firmly bolted to the sleepers S S. The fish joint is found to answer so well that its use is extending rapidly. (p. 296)
