Okay guys, help me out here. My son and I were walking along some abandonded track and he picked up a hunk of steel that I've seen a thousand times but don't know the name or purpose of. My 7 year old son, Andy, would like to ask you train guys what it is, and what it is for. It is shaped like a J and I usually see them on either side of a tie, but not on every tie. The hook of the J wraps around the bottom of the rail. It is NOT a tie plate. On the metal is stamped: PAT 1.4.21 SCRA (or OORA). Any help would be apreciated. Thanks...
Ed, I believe those "J" shaped pieces are forced onto the base of the rail next to a tie to keep the tie from moving sideways. If one end of a tie moved sideways and the other end remained stationary, the tie would skew at an angle. If enough ties skewed as a group, it could cause the rail guage to narrow which could cause big problems. This is only a theory on my part. I hope one our members who work around the rails daily can give the real answer.
