The present invention relates to railway rail baseplate apparatus, Railway rail baseplates are used in railway rail fastening assemblies to provide a rail support region for supporting a. railway rail on a rail foundation, such as a concrete .slab..- Anchoring devices, which may be integrally formed with the other parts of the baseplate or removably attached thereto (by bolts or other means), are provided on opposite sides of the rail support region for retaining respective resilient railway rail fastening clips whereby the railway rail may be secured to the rail foundation.

Conventionally such baseplates are made of metal, for example rolled steel or cast iron, but for the purposes of reducing weight and/or cost it may be desirable for the baseplate to be made at least partly of plastics material, such as glass reinforced nylon

However, resilient rail fastening clips apply a great deal of force to the anchoring devices on which they bear, both when the clips are being installed and/or when the clips are bearing on th rail. If used with a plastic baseplate, the forces to which the anchoring device is subjected by the clip would cause damage to the anchoring device (if it itself Is plastic) and/or the area of the baseplate around the anchoring device.

For example, consider a plastic baseplate having metal anchoring devices (shoulders) bousing rail fastening clips known as PANDR0L e-c!ips® which are driven onto a rail foot in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rail. Such clips are formed by bending a metal rod so as to have at one end a straight portion, which acts as a centre leg for location within an aperture in a shoulder secured to the rail foundation adjacent to the rail seat, and bent portions, on either s de of the straight portion, having contact regions for bearing respectively on the rail foot (the "toe" of the clip) and part of the shoulder (the "heel" of the clip). As such a clip is driven into the shoulder, the positions of the contact forces at the heel and centre leg of th clip relative to the rail edge stay the same, but the loads increase as the clip is pushed further into the housing, -deflects more, and generates more load. The load on the dip toe acts on the rail rather than the anchoring device, so there is a moment acting on the anchoring device immediately from the point when driving of the clip Into the anchoring device begins. That is, as viewed along the line of the rail axis, at each clip position there is a large upward force acting on t e centre feg of the clip and a large downward force acting on the heel of th clip. Together, these four loads apply two large " ogging" ^' moments to the baseplate on each side of the rail. Plastic is a relatively weak material with a relatively low elastic modulus, so unless the plate is deep enough to provide sufficient bending strength it will bend upwards under these forces .

With another type of rail fastening dip (such as the type known as a PA D OL FAST€tiP© fQf example), which is drive onto a rail foot laterally, i.e. perpendicularly with respect to t e longitudinal axis of the rail, as at first all the dip contact positions act against the anchoring device, initially there is no net moment acting on the -anchoring device. However, when the clip toe moves across from the anchoring device onto the rail, the force ^' s on the anchoring device no longer balance and a large hogging moment acting about an axis parallel to the rail axis is suddenly applied to the baseplate. It is desirable to provide railway ra l baseplate apparatus in which the baseplate is made of plastics material and damage to the baseplate can be avoided.

According to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention there Is provided a railway rail baseplate apparatus configured to provide a rail support region, for supporting a railway rail on a rail foundation, and two anchoring devices, located on opposit sides of the rail support region, for retaining respective resilient railway rail fastening clips whereb the railway rail may be secured to the rail foundation, which railway rail baseplate apparatus comprises a plate, made at least partially of plastics material and configured to provide the rail support region, and first and second metal parts each comprising a first railway rail clip engaging portion, a second railway rail dip engaging portion, and an elongate portion connecting the first railway rail clip engaging portion to _. the second railway rail d p engaging portion, wherein the elongate portions of the metal parts extend under the rail support region of th plate, the first railway rail clip engaging portion of the- first metal part and the second railway rail clip engaging portion of the second metal part extend upwardly through the plate on one side of the rail support region of the plate, and the second railway rail clip engaging portion of the first metal part and th first railway rail clip engaging portion of the second metal part extend upwardly through the plate on the opposite side of the rail support region of the plate, such that a first one of the two anchoring devices is formed by th first railway rail clip engaging portion of the first metal part and the second railway rail clip engaging portion of the second metal part and a second one of t e two anchoring devices is formed by the second railwa rail dip engaging portion of the first metal part and the first railway rail dip engaging portion of the second metal part.

By forming the two anchoring devises as two halves joined together under the rail, so that the anchoring device on the field side of the plate is connected to the anchoring device on the gauge side of the plate, all the moments are contained within the metal parts and do not act on the plastic plate, thereby preventing damage to the plate..

In one embodiment the plate is provided with recesses beneath the rail support region In which the elongate portions are respectively located.

In one embodiment each of the metal parts has a planar base which i flush with surrounding underside portions of the plate. i one embodiment the first and second metal parts consist of respective first and second metal components which are separate from on another.

Alternatively the apparatus may further comprise an additional metal part connecting the first engaging portion of the first metal part and the second engaging portion of the second metal part, snd/or an additional metal part connecting the first engaging portion of the second metal part and the second engaging portion of the first metal part.

In one embodiment the plate has first and second end regions provided with bolt holes for receiving shanks of respective bolts whereby the apparatus may foe secured to a rail foundation. In this case each of the first and second metal parts may include a first end portion extending from the first railway rail clip engaging portion of the metai part and a second end portion extending from the second railway rail clip engaging portion of the metal part, the first end portion of the first metal part and the second end portion of the second metai part extending under part of the first end region of the plat and the second end portion of the first metal part and the first end portion of the second metai part extending under part of the second end region of the plate. Preferably, the end portions of the first and second metal parts have respective projecting portions which extend along the underside of the plate towards the bolt holes and ar shaped so as to permit passage of the bolt shanks between adjacent projecting portions. Thus a railway -rail baseplate apparatus embodying the present invention can provide a strong yet lightweight alternative to prior art baseplates, providing the advantages of reducing the costs of manufacture, transportation, handling and installation. According to m embodiment of a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a meta! rail fastening component having no screw-threaded portion, which component is configured for use with a plate formed at least partially of plastics material, the plate being configured to provide a rail suppor regio for supporting a railway rail in a railway rail fastening assembly comprising separate first and second resilient railway rail fastening clips for securing the railway rail to the plate, which metal componen comprises- first and second railway rail clip engaging portions and an elongate portion connecting the first railway rail clip engaging portion to the second railway rail clip engaging portion, suc that the first clip engaging portion and the second cli engaging portion are arranged so as to extend In an upwards direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of th elongate portion, wherein t e first railway rail clip engaging portion is configured to constitute part, but not all, of a first railway rail clip anchoring device for retaining the first railway rail fastening clip of the railway rail fastening assembly, and wherein the second railway rail clip engaging portion is configured to constitute part, but not all, of a second railway rail clip anchoring device for retaining the second railway rail fastening dip of the railway rail fastening assembly.

Using such a metal component to form part of each anchoring device provides strength to the piate and thereby allows damage to the plastic plate to be avoided. In one embodiment the metal rail fastening component further comprises first and second end portions, which extend respectively from the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions away from the elongate portion, and first and second projecting portions extending respectively from the first and second end portions such that the first and second projecting portions project in the same direction laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion and substantially perpendicularly with respect to the upwards direction in which the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions extend,

The first and second railway rail clip engaging portions of the metal component may each be configured to provide a clip engaging surface, the clip engaging surface of the first rail cli engaging portio extending in a first direction and being Inclined downwardly proceeding in the first direction, and the dip engaging surface of the second rail clip engaging portion extending in a second direction, opposite to the first direction _; and being inclined downwardly proceeding in the second direction. According to an embodiment of a third aspect of the present invention there is provided first and second railway rail anchoring devices comprising a set of first and second metal components, separate from one another, each metal component being a metal component embodying the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the said first railway rail anchoring device consists of the first railway rail clip engaging portion of the first metal component and the second railway rail clip engaging portion of the second metal component, and the said second railway rail anchoring device consists of the second railway rail clip engaging portion of the first metal component and the first railway rail clip engaging portion of the second metal component. According to an embodiment of a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a plate, made at feast partially of plastics material and configured to provide on a first major face thereof a rail support region, for supporting a railway rail on a rail foundation, the plate being provided with at feast a first aperture therethrough on one side of the rail support region, at least a second aperture therethrough on the opposite side of the rail support, region, and a central recess, extending under the rail support regio on a second major face of the plate which is opposite to the first major face thereof, which adjoins the first and second apertures at respective ends thereof.

In one embodiment the second major face of the plate has first and second additional recesses at respective first and second end regions of the plate in which respective throughhoies are formed, the first and second additional recesses being contiguous with the first and second apertures respectively at ends thereof opposite lo those adjoining the central recess. According to an embodiment of a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a railway rail basepiate apparatus comprising a plate, made at least partially of plastics material and configured to provide a rail support region, for supporting a railway rail on a rail foundation, and first and second anchoring devices embodying the third aspect of the present i vention , extending upwardly through the plate and located on opposite sides of the rail support, region, for retaining respective resilient railway rail fastening clips whereby the railway rail may be secured to the rail foundation, the elongate 8 portions of the first and second metal components which form the first and second anchoring devices extending under the rail support region of the plate.

The plate of the fifth aspect of the present Invention may also embody the fourt aspect of t present invention, in apparatus embodying the present invention, the plate and metal components may be configured so as to achieve a close fit therebetween. Alternatively, for example, the metal components may be moulded into the plate.

Reference will now foe made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 shows a railway rail fastening assembly including railway rail baseplate apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present Invention, Figure 1A showing a perspective vie and Figure 18 showing an exploded view:

Figure 2 shows a plate embodying the present invention as shown in Figure 1, Figur 2Λ showing a top plan view, Figure 28 showing a bottom plan view. Figure 2C showing a side view, Figure 2D showing a perspective view from above and Figure 2E showing a perspective view from below;

Figure 3 shows a metal component embodying the present invention as shown in

Figure 1 , Figure 3A showing a top plan view, Figure 3B showing a side view, Figure 3C showing a perspective view towards the side shown in Figure 38 and Figure 3D showing another perspective view towards the side opposite to that shown I Figure 3B;

Figure 4 shows the railway ra l fastening assembly of Figure Ί, Figure 4A showing a perspective view partially in cross section and Figure 48 showing a side view partially In cross section;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the plate and metai components of Figure 1 from beneath; Figure 6 shows a railway rail fastening assembly including railway rai baseplate apparatus according; to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8A showing a side view, Figure 88 showing a plan view, Figure 6C showing an exploded view from below, Figure 8D showing an exploded iew from above, Figure 6E showing an end view, Figure 8F showing a perspective view, Figure 6G showing a cross- sectional view taken on line G-G in Figure 88 and f igure 8H showing a cross-sectional vie taken on line H-H in Figure 8B;

Figure ? shows a plate embodying the present invention as depicted in Figure 6, Figure 7A showing a side view, Figure 7B showing a top plan view, Figure 7C showing an end view, Figure ?D showing a bottom plan view and f igure 7E showing a perspective view from above; and

Figure 8 shows a metal component embodying the present invention as depicted in Figure 6, Figure 8A ^' showing a side view, Figure SB showing an end view, Figure 8C showing a top pla view and Figure SD showing a perspective view from one side.

A railway rail fastening assembly including railway rail baseplate apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention Is shown in Figure 1, Railway rail baseplate apparatus 1 Is- configured to provide a rail support region 11 , for supporting a railway rail 2 on a rail foundation 100, and two anchoring devices 12A, 128, located on opposite sides of the rail .support region 11 , for retaining respective resilient railway rail fastening clips 3A, 38 whereby the railway rail 2 may be secured to the rail foundation 100, in this embodiment the baseplate apparatus 1 is symmetrical in plan about the centre line of the rail support region 11 which extends perpendic larly to the longitudinal axis of the rait.

The rail fastening assembly further comprises a rail pad 4 provided on the rail support regio 1 1 of the baseplate apparatus 1, for cushioning the foot 2A of the rail 2, and two bolted assemblies 5, with serrated washers 6, for securing the baseplate apparatus to the rail foundation 100.

Railway rail baseplate apparatus 1 comprises a plate 10, made at least partially of plastics material, which is configured to provide the rail support regio 1, and first and second metal rail fastening part consisting in thi embodiment of nietai components 1 0A, 12GB which are separate from one another. Each metal component 120A, 1208. which may be made from cast iron for example, comprises a first railway rail clip engaging portion 121, a second railway rail clip engaging portion 122, and an elongate portion 123 connecting the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 to the second railway rail clip engaging portion 1 2 at respective lower connecting portions 124, 125 thereof. Advantageously, in this embodiment the firs and second rail cli engaging portions 121, 122 and the elongate portion 123 are integrally formed, for example by casting, but that need not he the case.

Figures 4A and 48 show views of the baseplate apparatus 1 in partial cross-section so that a side view of the metal components 120Λ, 12GB can be seen. The elongate portions 123 of the metal components 120A, 12G8 extend under the rail support region 11 of the plate 10, the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 of the first metal component 120A and the second rai lway rail clip engaging portion 122 of the second metal component 1 08 extend upwardly through a first anchoring device region 13A of the plat 1 on one side of the rail support region 1 , and the second railway rail clip engaging portion 12 of the first metal component 0A and the first railway rail clip engaging portion 21 of the second metal component 120B extend upwardly through a second anchoring device region 138 of the plate 10 on the opposite side of the rail support region 11. such that a first one ISA of the two anchoring devices 12A _S 28 is formed by the first railway rail clip engaging: portion 121 of the first metal component 1.20A and the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122 of the second metal component 120B and a second one 128 of the two anchoring devices 12A _f 128 is formed by the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122 of the first metal component 120A and the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 of the second metal component 120B.

In this embodiment the plate 10 is provided with four apertures 131 to 134 in the anchoring device regions 13A, 138, outside the rail support region 1 , through which the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121 , 122 of the first and second nietai components 120A, 1208 extend. The plate 10 is also provided with elongate recesses 10A, 108 beneath the rail suppor region 11 in which the elongate portions 23 of the metal components 120A, 1208 are respectively located. The plate 10 and metal components 1.20A ₍ 1 08 are configured so as to achieve a close fit

therebetween, if the fit is such thai the metal components 120A, 1 08 can be removed from the plate 10 without damaging It this may also allow the metal components 120A, 1208 to be Interchanged with other metal components designed for use with another version of the same type of clip or even with a different type of clip.

In an alternative embodiment, the metal components 12GA. 120B may be moulded into the plate 10 during manufacture of the plate 10 such that the elongate portions 1 3 and lower connecting portions 124, 125 are embedded in the plate and upper portions of the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 1:21 , 12: protrude from an upper surface 1QU of the plate 10 on either side of the rail support region 11.

Figure 2 shows a plate 10 suitable for use In rail baseplate apparatus 1 embodying the first aspec of the present invention. Plate 10 is made at least partially of plastics material, such as glass reinforced nylon (e.g. PA66 + 35% GF). For example, the plate could foe formed wholly of plastics material, or be formed generally of plastics material with some portions, which are subject to the greatest forces, being provided with reinforcing material such as metal. The plate 10 is configured to provide rail support region 11 , for supporting railway rail 2 on rail foundation 100, first and second tapered end regions 14. a first anchoring device region 13A provided between the rail support region 1 1 and one of the end regions 14, and a second anchoring device region 138 provided between the rail support region 11 and the other of the end regions 14. Opposite sides of the rail support region 1 are defined by respective walls 1 10 which extend above the height of the anchoring device regions 13A, 138 and the end regions 14. Lower parts of front faces 121 D, 122D of the first and second clip ngaging portions 121, 122 abut outer faces of the wails 110 when the metal components 120A, 120B ar in the plate 10. Each anchoring device region 13A, 138 is formed with two apertures therethrough, apertures 133 and 134 being provided in the first anchoring device region 13A and apertures 131 and 32 being provided in the second anchoring device region 3S. Although this arrangement is preferred, in an alternative embodiment the apertures 131 and 132 may be contiguous, and/or the apertures 133 and 134 may be contiguous, for example being linked in each case by a thinner elongate recess, for manufacturing or other purpose in the present embodiment the outline of each aperture 131, 132, 133, 134 matches that of the clip engaging portion 21 , 122 which it is intended to accommodate.

Ramps 135A, 135B are formed respectively between the apertures 133 and 34 in anchoring device region 13A and between the apertures 131 and 132 In anchoring device regio 138, to assist in driving the clips 3A, 3B onto the rail foot. As shown in Figures 2B, 2E, 5A and SB, between and around the elongate recesses 10A, 108 formed in the underside 101 of t e plate 10, a multiplicity of rebates 10C are formed by a plurality of intersecting ribs 100 provided over the underside of the plate 10. The recess 10A extends under the rail support region 11 and interconnects respective ends of the apertures 132 and 134, while the recess 1GB extends under the rail support region 1 1 , parallel to the recess 10A, and interconnects respective ends of the apertures 131 and 133.

Each end portion 14 of the plate 10 is provided with recess 15 in the upper surface 10U of the plate 10, the recess 15 having a serrated floor ISA through which an elongate aperture 15B is formed for receiving one of the bolted assemblies § by which the plate 10 is secured to the rail foundation 100. By virtue of the elongate apertures 1.58, the serrated recess floors ISA and the serrated washers 6 on the bolted assemblies 5, the position of the plate 10 relative to the rail foundatio 100 can he adjusted laterally within defined limits.

So as to save on material, the end regions 14 of the plate 10 are tapered, so that in plan the plate 10 is narrower at Its ends than In its middle, and also have inclined upper surfaces so that in side view the thickness of the plate 10 decreases towards each end, However the shape of the end regions is not essential and may be varied, for example to accommodate additional bolts and/or bolts In alternative locations.

Figure 3 shows a metal component 120A (1208) suitable for use in rail baseplate apparatus 1 embodying the present invention, As mentioned above, the metal component 120A (120B) comprises first and second railway rail cli engaging portions 121 , 122 having respectiv lower connecting portions 124, 125 at which they are connected to opposite ends of an elongate portion 123 of the metal component such that the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121 , 1:22 extend In an upwards direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion 123. To reduce the weight of, and or materia! In, the metal components, 120A, 12GB, in this embodiment an aperture 123a is formed through the elongate portion 123 and respective recesses 124a and 125a are formed in the connecting portions 124, 125.

The first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 is configured to constitute part, but not ail, of a first railway rail clip anchoring device 12A for retaining a first railway rail fastening clip 3A of a railway rail fastening assembly, and the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122 is configured to constitute part, but not all, of a second railway .rail clip anchoring device 12B for retaining a second railway rail fastening clip 38 of the railway rail fastening assembly,. The first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121, 122 are each configured to provide a downwardly-facing first clip engaging surface 121 A, 122A In this embodiment:, where the rail fastening clips 3A, 3B to fee retained are of the type known as PANO OL ASTCLIP®, the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121. 122 are also each configured to provide an upwardiy- faclng second cli engaging surface 121B, 1228 and a wall 121 C, 122C which interconnects the first and second clip engaging surfaces 121 A, 122A. The first cli engaging surface 1.21 A of e first rail clip engaging portion 121 extends in a first direction and is inclined downwardly proceeding i the first direction, and the first clip engaging surface 122A of the second rail clip engaging portion 122 extends in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, and is inclined downwardly proceeding in the second direction. In this embodiment, the elongate portion 123 extends in a third direction substantially parallel to the first and second directions. Each mil fastening clip 3A, 38 is made from a rod of material which is substantially -shaped in plan and has, proceeding from the first free end of the rod to the. second free end of the rod, a first substantially straight part 31 , a second bent part, a third part, a fourth bent part, a fifth part, a sixth bent part and a seventh substantially straight part 37, where the fourth part forms the toe of the clip which hears on the rail foot and the first and seventh parts 31. 37 form respective outer legs of the clip and have uppermost contact points and lowermost contact points which contact the anchoring device 2A, 128. The first clip engaging surfaces 121A, 122A ar configured to contact the uppermost contact points of clip legs 31 , 37, and the second clip engaging surfaces 121 B, 1228 are configured to contact the lowermost contact points of clip legs 31 , 37. In the baseplate apparatus 1 shown In Figure 1 the Interconnecting wails 121 C, 1 2C of the first and second clip engaging portions 121 , 122 are positioned such that the clip iegs 31, 37 are received in a space which lies between the wail 121C and the wail 122C. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), so that the clip legs 31, 37 are received outside the space between the wall 121 C and the wall T22C, the metal components 1 0 A, 208 may be replaced by modified components or the metal components 1 0A, 208 could be used in a reversed orientation (i.e. rotated by 180°).

Optionally, In accordance with the embodiment described, the metal components 120A, 120B are Identical to one another, which has the advantage that there is no need to distinguish between the two metal components 1 0A, 120B other than in the way they are oriented in the piste 10, thereby simplifying manufacture and use of the apparatus, but this is not essential

A railway rail fastening assembly including railway rail baseplate apparatus 1.'

according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 6. The same reference numerals are used as with respect to figure 1 to 5 except for parts of the apparatus which differ but serve -tie same purpose as those of the baseplate apparatus 1, these being given the same reference numerals followed by e.g. 120Α·,. Railway rail baseplate apparatus is configured to provide a rail support region 11. for supporting a railway rati 2 on a rail foundation 100, and two anchoring devices 12A\ 12B\ located on opposite sides of the rail support region 11 , for retaining respective resilient railway rail fastening clips 3A, 38 whereby the railwa rati 2 may be secured to the rail foundation 100. In this embodiment the baseplate apparatus is symmetrical in plan about the centre line of the rail support region 11 which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rail.

Railway rail baseplate apparatus V comprises a plate 10' (as shown in Figure 7), made at least partially of plasties material, which is configured to provide the rail support region 11, and first and second metal rail fastening parts consisting in this embodiment of metal components 1 0A' (as shown in Figure 8), 1208' which are separate from one another. I this embodiment the metal components 12QA 1208' are designed to extend along substantially the whole length of the plastic plate 10'. Each metal component 120A ^: _< 1208', ^' which may be made from cast iron for example, comprises a first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 · having a lower connecting portion 125', a second railway rail clip engaging portion 122' having a lower connecting portion 124', an elongate portion 123' connecting the first railway rail clip engaging portion 21 ' to the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122' at respective lower connecting portions 124', 125* thereof, first and second end portions 128', 129' extending from respective ones of the lower connecting portions 1 5', 1 4', and first and second return portions 26', 127' projecting outwardly from one side of the metal component 120A\ 120B* at respective ones of the end portions 128', 129 ^! and having respective bolt notches 1 6Λ' _: 127A ^: . A longitudinal axis of the first end portion 1 8\ a longitudinal axis of the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 ', a longitudinal axis of the elongate portion 123\ a longitudinal axis of the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122' and a longitudinal axis of the second end portion 129' are substantially parallel and approximately coincident.. When installed in the plat 10' the edge of the return portion 126' of one meta! component 120-A' (120B'} extends alongside the edge of the return portion 127 of the other metal component 120B ^! (120A ^! ) _« . so as to abut or almost abut one another, except at the bolt notches 126A ^! _« 127A' which together form an aperture for receiving: t e- shank of one of the bolts 5. Thus, the return portions 126', 127' of each metal component 2GA', 1208' underlie the bolls 5, providing extra stability by preventing flexing of the plastic plate 10 ^! under cyclic loading. In an alternative embodiment {not shown) the return portions may be without a boii notch but shaped such that when the metal component are installed in the plate the edges of adjacent return portions are spaced apart so as to leave a slot therebetween through which a bolt shank can extend. A base 20L ⁵ of each metal component 12GA\ 120B\ including the underside of each return portion 1.28\ 127 ^: , constitutes a substantially planar foot which, when the components 12QA ^! , 120B' are installed in the plate 10', is flush with the surrounding portions of the underside 101' of the plate 10', providing a load path to the surface of the rail foundation and thereby enabling the plate 10' to resist bending under vertical loading.

Advantageously, i this embodiment eac metal component 120A', 120B' is integrally formed, for example by casting, but that need not be the case. The elongate portions 1.23 ^■ of the metal components 120A ^! , 120S ^! extend under the rail support region 11 of the plate 10\ the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121' of the first metal component 120A' and the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122' of the second- metal component 1208 ^s extend upwardly through a first, anchoring device region 13A ^! of the plate 10' on one side of the rail support region 11 , and the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122' of the first metal component 120A' and the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121' of the second metal component 0B' extend upwardly through second anchoring device region 138' of the plate 10' on the opposite side of the rail support region 11 _< such that a first one 12A ¹ of the two anchoring devices 1:2A\ 1 B' is formed b the first railwa rail clip engaging portion 121 ' of the first metal component 2QA' and the second railway rail clip engaging portion 122' of the second metal component 120B ^! and a second one 1.2B' of the two anchoring devices 12A\ 1 8' Is formed by the second railway rail clip engaging portion 1 2' of the first metal component 120A and the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 ' of the second metal component 1208', Plate 10 ^s is made at least partially of plastics materia!, such as glass reinforced nylon (e.g. PA88 * 35% GF). For example, the plate could Deformed wholly of plasties material or be formed generally of plasties material with some portions, which are subject to the greatest forces, being provided with reinforcing material such as metal Th plate 10' Is configured to provide rail support region 11 , in an upper surface 10U' thereof, for supporting railway rail 2 on rail foundation 100, first and second tapered end regions 14', a first anchoring device region 13A ^S provided between the rail support region 11 and one of the end regions 14', and a second anchoring device region 138' provided between the rail support region 11 and the other of the end region 14'.

in this embodiment the plate 10 ^! is provided with four apertures 131' to 134' extending through the plate 10' in the anchoring device regions 13AV13B', outside the rail support region 11, through which the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121 ^'* , 22' of the first and second metal components 120A', 120B ^! extend. The underside 10L' of the plate 10' Is provided with elongate recesses 10A\ tOB' extending beneath the rail support region 11 for locating the eiongate portions 1.23" of the metal components 120A', 1208'. The recess 1 ^' GA' Interconnects respective ends of the apertures 132' and 13 \ while the recess 108', which is parallel to the recess IDA ¹ , Interconnects respective ends of the apertures 131 ^' and 133'. Between the eiongate recesses 10A\ 10B', a multiplicity of rebates 10O ^! are formed by a plurality of intersecting ribs 100 ^* on the underside 10L' of the plate 10'. The underside 101' of the plate 10' is also provided with recesses 10E\ 1QF. 10G' and 10H' for receiving respective end portions 128 ^: _s 129 ^* of the metal components 1 0A\ 120B', and recesses 101', 10J' each for receiving a return portion 12.8 ^* of one of the metal components 0A ^* (120B'} and a return portion 127' of the other of the metal components 1208' (120A'}, The plate 10' and metal components 20A\ 120B' are configured so as to achieve a close fit therebetween, if the fit is suoh that the metal components 120A', 120B ^' can be removed from the plate 10' without damaging It, this may also allow the metal

components 120A\ 120B' to be interchanged with other metal components designed for use with another version of the same type of clip or even with a different type of clip. In an alternative embodiment, the metal components 120A\ 120B' may be moulded into the plate 10' during manufacture of the plate 10' such that the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 1.21 \ 1 2' protrude from the plate 10' on either sid of the rail support region 11. Opposite sides of the rail support region 11 are def ned by respective walls 110',

Lower parts of front faces 121 D\ 1.220 ^* of the first and second clip engaging portions ^■ f £

121', 122' abut outer faces of the walls 110' when the metal components 120A\ 120B' are In the plate 10', Each anchoring device region 13A', 138 ^'" is formed with two apertures therethrough, apertures 133 ^" and 134' being provided in the first anchoring device region 3 and apertures 131 ^! . and 132' being provided in the second anchoring device region 13B'. Although this arrangement is preferred, in an alternative embodiment the apertures 131' and 132 ^* may be contiguous, and/or the apertures 133 ^f and 134' may be contiguous, for example being linked in each case by a thinner elongate- recess, for manufacturing or other purposes. On each s de of the rail support region 11 _« between the apertures 133' and 134' and between the apertures 131' and 132 ^* . the upper surface 10ΙΓ of the plate 1-0' is formed with an up~ramp 13SA', 1358 ^s and a contiguous down-ramp 138A, 1368' to assist in driving the clips 3A, 38 onto the rail foot, Because of the Inclination of the plate 10 ^s . which provides rati cant, the length of the down ramp 136A' Is less than that of th down ramp 136 S\

Each end portion 14' of the plate 0' is provided with a recess 15' in the upper surface 1DU ^: of the plate 10 ^! , the recess 15' having a serrated floor I SA' through which an elongate aperture 15B ^: is formed for receiving one of the bolted assemblies 5 by which the plate 10' is secured to the rail foundation 100. By virtue of the elongate apertures IBS', the serrated recess floors ISA' and the serrated washers 6 on the bolted assemblies S, the position of the plate 1 ' relative to the rail foundation 100 can be adjusted laterally within defined limits, As in th first embodiment, the end regions 14' of the _. plate 10 ^* are tapered, so that in plan the outline of the plate 10' is narrower at its ends than in its middle.. Upper surfaces of the anchoring device regions 13A\ 13B' and the end regions 14' are curved so that i side view the thickness of the plate 10' decreases smoothly towards each end. In addition the plate 10 ^: is generally thicker at the anchoring device region 138 ^! side of the rail support region 1 than at the anchoring device regions 13A\ However the outline and profile of the plate 1 ' may differ from this.

Figure 8 shows a metal component 1.20A' suitable for use in rail baseplate apparatus 1' embodying the present invention, As mentioned above, the metal component 12QA' comprises first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121', 122 ^' having respective lower connecting portions 124', 125 ^' at which they are connected to opposite ends of an elongate portion 123' of the metal component such that the first and second raiiway rail clip engaging portions 121 ', 122' extend in an upwards direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion 23'. First and second end portions 128', 129' extend from ^' respective ones of the lower connecting portions 125', 124\ and first and second return portions 126', 127' project outwardly from one side of the metal component 20A' at respective ones of the end portions 128', 129' and have respective bolt notches 126A' ₍ 12? '. As illustrated in Figure BD in this embodiment metal component 1208' is the mirror Image of metal component 12GA ¹ , The base 1201" of each metal component 120A\ 12GB\ including the underside of each return portion 126', 12?', constitutes a substantially planar foot through which load may be transmitted to the surface of the rail foundation.

To reduce the weight of. and/ or material in, the metal components, 120Α'> 1208', in this embodiment apertures 123a' are formed through the elongate portion 123'.

apertures 124a', 125a' are formed respectively through connecting portions 124', 125', aperture 24b' is formed spanning connecting portion 124' and end portion 129', and aperture 125b' is formed spanning connecting portion 125' and end portion 128'.

The first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 ' is configured to constitute part, but not all, of a first railway rail clip anchoring device A' for retaining a first raiiway rail fastening clip 3A of a railway rail fastening assembly, and the second raiiway raii clip engaging portion 122' is configured to constitute part, but not all, of a second railway rail clip anchoring device 12B ^! for retaining a second railway rail fastening clip SB of the railway rail fastening assembly. The first and second raiiway rail clip engaging portions 121 122' are each configured to provide a downwardly-facing first clip engaging surface 1 1. A', 122A ¹ . In this embodiment, where the rail fastening clips 3A, 38 to be retained are of the type known as PANDROL FASTCL!P®, the first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121 ', 122' are also each configured to provide an upwardly- facing second clip engaging surface 12 8', 1228' and a wail 12 C, 122C which interconnects the first and second clip engaging surfaces 121 A', 122A', The first clip engaging surface 121 A' of the first rail clip engaging portion 121 ' extends in a first direction and is inclined downwardly proceeding in the first direction, and the first clip engaging surface 122A' of the second rail clip engaging portion 122' extends in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, and is Inclined downwardly proceeding in the second direction. In this embodiment, the elongate portion 123 ^s is also inclined. The end portions 128', 129 ^s extend respectively in the first and second directions, but their outer faces are rounded off to follow the tapering of the end regions 1 ' of the plate 10Λ The first dip engaging surfaces 121A\ 12 A ^* are configured to contact the uppermost contact points of clip legs 31, 37, and the second dip engaging surfaces 121 B', 1228 ^* are configured to contact the lowermost contact points of dip legs 31 , 37. In the baseplate apparatus V shown in Figure 6 the interconnecting wails 121 '* of the first and second clip engaging portions 121 ', 22' are positioned such that the clip legs 31, 37 are received in a space which lies between the wall 121 C and the ^' wall 122C\

In the embodiments described the rail fastening clips 3A _t 38 to be retained are of the type known as .PANDROL FASTCUB® which, as described for example in

EP06 93S2, are designed to be driven onto and off the foot of a rail laterally with respect to the longitudinal rail axis. However, railway rail baseplate apparatus, embodying the present invention could be designed for use with other types of resilient rail fastening clips, such as other laterally-driven clips (for example dips of the type known as SAFEIO ©, made of plate-form material, one example of which Is described in OSS8233S1).

When the rail fastening dips to be retained are not PANDROL FASTCUP© rail fasteners, the shape and configuration of t e first and second railway rail clip engaging portions 121 , 122 (121 ^: , 122 ^: ) and/or their dip engaging surfaces 121 A, 122A (1 1A' _S 122A ^! ). will be adapted accordingly and therefore are likely to differ from those shown in the present application. Similarly the plate 10 (10') may be adapted for use with other types of rail fasteners. For example ramps 13SA, 136B (136A\ 1358' and/or T36.A\ 138B ^: ) may be omitted if not required, in embodiments of the present invention first and second railway rail anchoring devices 12A, 128 (12A\ 28'} consist of a set of two separate metal components 128A, 120B (120A\ 1208*). The first railway rail anchoring device Ί2Α (12Α') consists of the first railway rail dip engaging portion 121 (121 ') of a first one 120.A (120A'; 120A*) of the rnetai components and the second railway rail dip engaging portion 122 (122') of a second one 120B (120B ^' ) of the second metal component, and the second railway rail anchoring device 128 (1.28') consists of the second railwa rail clip engaging portion 122 122 ^! ) of the first metal component 120A (12QA3 and the first railway rail clip engaging portion 121 (1213 of the second metal component Ί 20Β 120B ¹ ). Although in the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described above the metal components 120Ά, 1208 (120A\ 1208'} of each apparatus 1 {V) am separate from one another, in some circumstances it may be advantageous, with a view to Improving resistance to forces and protecting the plate ^' further from excessive loading, if the metal components 12GA, 120B (120A', 1208') were linked together b one or more additional parts (not shown in the drawings), for example by a bar of material joined to and extending between a first clip engaging portion of a first metal part and a second clip engaging portion of 8 second metal pad, and/or a bar of material joined to and extending between a first clip engaging portion of the second metal part and a second clip engaging portion of the first metal part, it should be noted that -in the embodiments described the metal components 120A, 1208 120A ^* , 1.20B ^! ) do not have any screw-threaded portions.

As mentioned above, the plate 10 (10') and metal components 12QA, 1208 (120A\ 1208') may be configured so as to achieve a close fit therebetween. In this case, as shown in Figure 5 with respect to the first embodiment, in order to connect one of the metal components 12GB (1208'} with the plate 10 (10') ^' , the first and second dip engaging portions 121 122 (121 \ 122') of the metal component 1208 0.208') are lined up underneath the plate 10 (Iff) with respective apertures 131, 133 (13V, 133 ^s ) therein and then inserted into the apertures 131, 33 ( 31', 133'} until the first and second clip engaging portions 121 , 122 (121 122'} extend out of the upper side -of the plate "10 (10') and the elongate portion 123 (123') has slid into place within the elongate recess 10B (10.8 ^! ), This may be done before, after (as In Figure 5) or at the same time as connecting the other of the metal components 120A ( 207V) with the plate 10 (10'). The components 120A, 208 { 120A\ 120B'} are retained within the plate by, for example, some form of snap fit engagement of the plate with the components and/or the presence of the clips when in contact with the first and second rail clip engaging portions 121, 122 (121', 122 ^s ) in a "parked" (pr¾ nsfa!led) or installed position. In the embodiments described the thickness of the plate 10 ( 0') varies from one end region 14 (14') to the other end region 14 (14 ^s ), such that generally the part of the plate 10 (10 ) on one side of the rail support region 11 is thicker than the part of the plate 10 (10') on the other side of the rail support region 11, whereby the rail support region 11 is inclined so as to provide a cant to the rail. This is not essential, however; for example, rail cant could- be provided in some other way, for example b placing a -shim under the plate 10 (10'} or inclining the upper surface of the rail foundation.