Tie Plate : A flanged plate between a rail and a tie that provides the rail with a uniformly firm foundation, helps hold trackage, and prevents the rail from cutting into the tie under the heavy impact of trains
Ilan Kelman (ed.), Vulnerability and Resilience Definitions and References, Version 2, 2007. http://www.islandvulnerability.org/docs/vulnres.pd f, (Vulnr and Resilience - Brit) {524}