AS 1085.
4:2024
Railway Track Material –
Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
AS 1085.4:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Notice to users
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providing comments on a draft of the Standard during the open review.
I commend this Standard to the Australasian rail industry as it represents industry good practice and has
been developed through a rigorous process.
Damien White
Chief Executive Officer
Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board
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© RISSB ABN 58 105 001 465 Accredited Standards Development Organisation Page 1
AS 1085.4:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Document details
First published as: AS E1a—1926T
ISBN: 978-1-76139-786-8
Document history
Publication Version Effective Date Reason for and Extent of Change(s)
2024 21 October 2024 This document has been reviewed to ensure it
remains relevant and applicable. The latest review
assessed the content, confirming that while updates
were made to align with current industry practices,
technologies, and regulatory requirements, the
original authorship and copyright have been
acknowledged as required.
Approval
Name Date
Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board 2 October 2024
Copyright
© RISSB
All rights are reserved. No part of this work can be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without the written permission of RISSB, unless
otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act 1968.
Published by the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board, PO Box 518 Spring Hill Qld 4004, Australia.
© RISSB ABN 58 105 001 465 Accredited Standards Development Organisation Page 2
AS 1085.4:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Preface
The modifications in this edition acknowledge the authorship and copyright of the new updates as per
the terms of the agreement
Objective
The objective of this Standard is to provide manufacturers and purchasers with manufacturing and
performance requirements for oval-necked fishbolts and nuts for use with fishplates and spring washers
in railway track in accordance with the AS 1085 series of Standards.
Compliance
There are four types of provisions contained within Australian Standards developed by RISSB:
(a) Requirements.
(b) Recommendations.
(c) Permissions.
(d) Constraints.
Requirements – it is mandatory to follow all requirements to claim full compliance with the Standard.
Requirements are identified within the text by the term ‘shall’.
Recommendations – do not mention or exclude other possibilities but do offer the one that is preferred.
Recommendations are identified within the text by the term ‘should’.
Recommendations recognize that there could be limitations to the universal application of the control,
i.e. the identified control is not able to be applied or other controls are more appropriate or better.
Permissions – conveys consent by providing an allowable option. Permissions are identified within the
text by the term ‘may’.
Constraints – provided by an external source such as legislation. Constraints are identified within the
text by the term ‘must’.
For compliance purposes, where a recommended control is not applied as written in the standard it
could be incumbent on the adopter of the standard to demonstrate their actual method of controlling
the risk as part of their WHS or Rail Safety National Law obligations. Similarly, it could also be incumbent
on an adopter of the standard to demonstrate their method of controlling the risk to contracting entities
or interfacing organisations where the risk may be shared.
Appendices in RISSB Standards may be designated either “normative” or “informative”. A "normative"
appendix is an integral part of a Standard and compliance with it is a requirement, whereas an
"informative" appendix is only for information and guidance.
Commentary
Commentary C Preface
This Standard includes a commentary on some of the clauses. The commentary directly follows the
relevant clause, is designated by ‘C’ preceding the clause number and is printed in italics in a box. The
commentary is for information and guidance and does not form part of the Standard.
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AS 1085.4:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Table of Contents
Section 1 Scope and general ............................................................................................ 5
1.1 Scope ................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Normative references ......................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Defined terms and abbreviations........................................................................................ 6
Section 2 Purpose and context of use .............................................................................. 8
2.1 Function............................................................................................................................... 8
2.2 Action .................................................................................................................................. 8
Section 3 Fishbolts .......................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Manufacture........................................................................................................................ 8
3.2 Chemical composition ......................................................................................................... 8
3.3 Mechanical properties ........................................................................................................ 9
3.4 Screw threads ...................................................................................................................... 9
3.5 Shape, dimensions and finish .............................................................................................. 9
Section 4 Nuts ............................................................................................................... 11
Appendix A Means of demonstrating compliance with this Standard (Informative) ........... 12
A.1 Scope ................................................................................................................................. 12
A.2 Statistical sampling............................................................................................................ 12
A.3 Product certification.......................................................................................................... 12
A.4 Supplier’s quality management system ............................................................................ 12
A.5 Other means of assessment .............................................................................................. 13
Appendix B Information to be supplied by the purchaser (Informative) ............................. 14
Figures
Figure 1 Fishbolt profile ................................................................................................................................ 9
Tables
Table 1 Chemical Composition (Cast Analysis) – Fishbolts ........................................................................... 8
Table 2 Mechanical Properties of Fishbolts .................................................................................................. 9
Table 3 Fishbolts Profile .............................................................................................................................. 10
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Section 1 Scope and general
1.1 Scope
This Standard provides technical requirements for design, manufacturing, installation and quality
assurance of fishbolts and nuts as part of a railway track assembly with fishplates.
The document includes specifications for manufacturing processes, chemical composition, mechanical
properties, and thread dimensions, along with the required finish for fishbolts.
Associated nut fittings are expected to comply with relevant Australian Standards as referenced in this
document.
Quality assurance for the manufacture and supply of fishbolts is addressed in this Standard through
statistical sampling, product certification, or supplier quality systems, with alternative compliance
methods also outlined.
1.2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document:
• AS 1085.1, Railway Track Material – Part 1: Steel Rails
• AS 1085.2, Railway Track Material – Part 2: Fishplates
• AS 1085.7, Railway Track Material – Part 7: Spring Washers
• AS 1199, Sampling procedures and tables for inspection by attributes
• AS 1275, Metric screw for fasteners
• AS 1391, Methods for tensile testing of metals
• AS 1399, Guide to AS 1199 – Sampling procedures and tables for inspection by
attributes
• AS 1442, Carbon steels and carbon-manganese steels – Hot-rolled bars and semi-
finished products
• AS 2706, Numerical values – Rounding and interpretation of limiting values
• AS 4291, Mechanical properties of fasteners made of carbon steel and alloy steel
• AS 4291.1, Part 1: Bolts, screws and studs
• AS/NZS 1252, High-strength steel bolts with associated nuts and washers for
structural engine
• ISO 9001, Quality management systems – Requirements
• ISO 9004, Quality management systems Guidelines for performance improvements
• HB18, Guidelines for third-party certification and accreditation
• HB18.28, Guidelines for third-party certification and accreditation – Guide 28 –
General rules for a model third-party certification scheme for products
NOTE:
Documents for informative purposes are listed in a Bibliography at the back of the Standard.
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
1.3 Defined terms and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply:
1.3.1
chamfer
a bevelled edge connecting two surfaces
1.3.2
elongation
the degree to which a material can be stretched before breaking
1.3.3
fishbolts and nuts
components used with fishplates to connect lengths of rail in railway tracks
1.3.4
fishplates
metal bars that are bolted to the ends of two rails to join them together in a track
1.3.5
grip length
the distance from the bearing face of the bolt to the first full thread
1.3.6
hardened and tempered
heat treatment processes to increase the hardness and strength of the fishbolts
1.3.7
head radius
the radius of the curved part of the bolt head
1.3.8
head thickness
the distance from the top to the bottom of the bolt head
1.3.9
hot or cold forging
manufacturing processes involving shaping metal using heat (hot forging) or at room temperature (cold
forging)
1.3.10
ISO coarse series 6 g
an international standard for screw thread dimensions and tolerances
1.3.11
laps
small overlaps of material on the crest of the thread formed during the rolling process
1.3.12
length of unthreaded shank
the portion of the shank that does not have threads
1.3.13
nominal length
the specified length of a bolt from the underside of the head to the end of the shank
1.3.14
oval section
the cross-sectional shape of the shank of a fishbolt
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
1.3.15
radius under head
the curved transition between the head and the shank
1.3.16
secondary machining
additional machining processes after initial shaping to achieve the final dimensions and finish
1.3.17
screw threads
the helical structure used on the bolts to enable fastening
1.3.18
shank
the part of the bolt between the head and the thread
1.3.19
stress at permanent set limit
the stress level at which a material undergoes a defined permanent deformation
1.3.20
tensile strength
the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled
1.3.21
thermal expansion and contraction
the increase and decrease in size of the rails due to temperature changes
1.3.22
thread cutting
a process of forming screw threads by cutting into the bolt blank
1.3.23
thread rolling
a process of forming screw threads by rolling the bolt blank between dies
1.3.24
tensile strength
the maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled
General rail industry terms and definitions are maintained in the RISSB Glossary. Refer to:
https://www.rissb.com.au/products/glossary/
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Section 2 Purpose and context of use
2.1 Function
Fishbolts and nuts are intended for use with fishplates to connect lengths of rail that are laid in railway
tracks.
The effectiveness of the connection relies on the bolts remaining tight and holding the fishplates firmly
against the rails. The assembly ensures that the running surfaces of the rails remain properly aligned
with an allowance for a small gap between the rail ends. Fishplated joints are designed to allow a degree
of longitudinal expansion and contraction of the rail.
2.2 Action
Fishbolts and nuts are tightened so that the fishplates are held firmly against the rails. The assembly is
subjected to forces due to thermal expansion and contraction of the rail, passage of rolling stock at
speed (including vibration effects) and maintenance operations.
Section 3 Fishbolts
3.1 Manufacture
Fishbolts may be produced by hot or cold forging and with or without secondary machining.
The fishbolts shall be hardened and then tempered by being uniformly reheated to a minimum
temperature of 450°C.
Screw threads shall be formed by thread rolling or thread cutting.
NOTE: When the threads are produced by rolling, small laps are commonly present at the crests and are
generally of a magnitude that is not detrimental to the performance of the bolt. A lap formed at the
crest of the thread, perpendicular to the axis of the thread of the fishbolt, is not considered cause for
rejection if the lap does not exceed 33 percent of the depth of thread.
3.2 Chemical composition
The steel used for the manufacture of fishbolts shall comply with AS 1442 and the grades used shall be
selected from appropriate grades listed in the tables of AS 1442 and shall comply with the chemical
composition limits (cast analysis) as set out in Table 1.
Table 1 Chemical Composition (Cast Analysis) – Fishbolts
Analysis, %
Carbon Manganese Phosphorus Sulfur
0.55 max 0.25 min 0.04 max 0.04 max
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
3.3 Mechanical properties
When tested for mechanical properties in accordance with AS 1391, using a test piece prepared in
accordance with AS/NZS 4291.1, the finished fishbolts shall conform to the values in Table 2.
Table 2 Mechanical Properties of Fishbolts
Property Requirement
Minimum tensile strength 800 MPa
Stress at permanent set limit, 𝑅𝑅ᵣ 0.2 640 MPa
Minimum elongation 6.65�𝑠𝑠0∗ 12%
*Gauge length as defined by AS/NZS 4291.1
3.4 Screw threads
Profile and basic dimensions of the fishbolt screw threads shall be in accordance with the ISO coarse
series 6 g for external screw threads as given in AS 1275.
3.5 Shape, dimensions and finish
The shape and dimensions of fishbolts shall be in accordance with Figure 1 and Table 3.
The finish shall be in accordance with the following requirements:
(a) Bolts shall be cleanly finished, sound and free from defects detrimental to their
end use.
(b) Ends of fishbolts shall be either reasonably square with the centreline of the
shank or rounded (see Figure 1). Where the ends of the fishbolts are finished
square, a nominal 45° chamfer is to be provided to a depth slightly exceeding the
depth of the thread.
NOTE: Fishplates not in accordance with AS 1085.2 may require the shank of the bolt to have a different
shape than the oval one given in this Standard.
Figure 1 Fishbolt profile
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Table 3 Fishbolts Profile
Fishbolts profile
Dimensions (see Note 1) Nominal thread dia. (see NOTE b)
M24 (M22) M20
Pitch of thread 3.0 2.5 2.5
Shank diameter 𝐷𝐷 min 23.6 21.6 19.7
max 24.8 22.8 20.8
Oval section of shank Major 𝑉𝑉 min 30.5 28.0 24.4
axis
max 32.5 30.5 26.4
Minor 𝑢𝑢 min 25.0 23.0 21.0
axis
max 25.7 23.7 22.0
Head dia. to view 𝐴𝐴 min 43.0 40.0 36.5
max 46.0 43.0 39.0
Head radius front view 𝑅𝑅3 min 18 18 18
max 20 20 20
Min. radius under head 𝑅𝑅1 1 1 1
Radius under oval shank 𝑅𝑅2 3 3 2.5
Head thickness 𝑘𝑘 min 18 18 15
max 20 20 17
Length of oval shank 𝑓𝑓 min 18 18 15
max 20 20 17
Length of unthreaded shank 𝑙𝑙𝑠𝑠 min as ordered as ordered as ordered
(see Notes 3 and 4)
as ordered as ordered as ordered
max
+4 +4 +4
Length (see Note 5) 𝑙𝑙 min as ordered as ordered as ordered
Length of thread shank 𝑏𝑏 as ordered as ordered as ordered
max
(See Note 6) +4 +4 +3
Chamfer depth 𝑐𝑐 3 2.5 2.5
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
NOTE 1: All dimensions are in millimetres.
NOTE 2: M22 is a non-preferred thread size but is listed in this Standard due to the need to replace
bolts in existing installations.
NOTE 3: Length of unthreaded shank (ls) is the distance from the last witness of thread on the shank
to the bearing face of the bolt. For bolts with rolled threads, ls is the distance from the top of the
extrusion cone to the bearing face of the bolt.
NOTE 4: Length of grip (lg) is the distance from the bearing face of the bolt to the first full thread
(which equals the length as ordered (l) minus the thread length (b)).
NOTE 5: The nominal length of a fishbolt is the distance from the underside of the head to the
extreme end of the shank including the chamfer. The nominal length is the length as ordered.
NOTE 6: The purchaser and supplier may agree on different length of thread. It is recommended that
the thread should not extend past the inside face of the fishplate
Section 4 Nuts
Nuts shall be in accordance with AS/NZS 1252.
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Appendix A Means of demonstrating compliance with this Standard
(Informative)
A.1 Scope
This appendix sets out the following different means by which compliance with this Standard can be
demonstrated by the manufacturer or supplier:
(a) Evaluation by means of statistical sampling.
(b) The use of a product certification scheme.
(c) Assurance using the acceptability of the supplier’s quality system.
(d) Other such means proposed by the manufacturer or supplier and acceptable to
the customer.
A.2 Statistical sampling
Statistical sampling is a procedure which enables decisions to be made about the quality of batches of
items after inspecting or testing only a portion of those items. This procedure will only be valid if the
sampling plan has been determined on a statistical basis and the following requirements are met:
(a) The sample needs to be drawn randomly from a population of product of known
history. The history needs to enable verification that the product was made from
known materials at essentially the same time, by essentially the same processes
and under essentially the same system of control.
(b) For each different situation, a suitable sampling plan needs to be defined. A
sampling plan for one manufacturer of given capability and product throughput
may not be relevant to another manufacturer producing the same items.
In order for statistical sampling to be meaningful to the customer, the manufacturer or supplier needs to
demonstrate how the above conditions have been satisfied. Sampling and the establishment of a
sampling plan should be carried out in accordance with AS 1199, guidance to which is given in AS 1399.
A.3 Product certification
The purpose of product certification is to provide independent assurance of the claim by the
manufacturer that products comply with the stated Standard.
The certification scheme should meet the criteria described in HB 18.28 in that, as well as full type
testing from independently sampled production and subsequent verification of conformance, it requires
the manufacturer to maintain effective quality planning to control production.
The certification scheme serves to indicate that the products consistently conform to the requirements
of the Standard.
A.4 Supplier’s quality management system
Where the manufacturer or supplier can demonstrate an audited and registered quality management
system complying with the requirements of the appropriate or stipulated Australian or international
Standard for a supplier’s quality management system or systems, this may provide the necessary
confidence that the specified requirements will be met. The quality assurance requirements need to be
agreed between the customer and supplier and should include a quality or inspection and test plan to
ensure product conformity.
Information on establishing a quality management system is set out in AS/NZS ISO 9001 and
AS/NZS ISO 9004.
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
A.5 Other means of assessment
If the above methods are considered inappropriate, compliance with the requirements of this Standard
may be assessed from the results of testing coupled with the manufacturer’s guarantee of product
conformance.
Irrespective of acceptable quality levels (AQLs) or test frequencies, the responsibility remains with the
manufacturer or supplier to supply products that conform to the full requirements of the Standard.
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Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
Appendix B Information to be supplied by the purchaser (Informative)
The following information should be supplied by the purchaser:
(a) The number of this Australian Standard, i.e. AS 1085.4.
(b) The nominal size of the bolt thread.
(c) The length of the bolt (𝑙𝑙) and the unthreaded shank length (𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙).
(d) The nominal size of the nut or the size across flats (e.g., 41/40 across flats).
(e) Quantity (mass or number of pieces).
(f) Exceptions to the requirements specified, and any special or supplementary
requirements (e.g., locking clips).
(g) Packaging requirements including any assembly or treatment.
(h) Whether washers are to be packed together with the bolts and nuts.
NOTE:
Spring washers for use with fishbolts and nuts are described in AS 1085.7.
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AS 1085.4:2024
Railway Track Material – Part 4: Fishbolts and Nuts
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ISBN:978-1-76139-786-8
