Fishplates and fittings — identify the incorrect statement regarding the location and properties of fishplates in a rail joint.

Introduction / Context:
Fishplates are special bars bolted to the sides of rail ends to maintain alignment and transfer bending and shear across the joint. Knowing where they bear on a rail profile and their relative size helps distinguish correct statements from incorrect ones in exam settings.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Standard flat-bottom rails with fishing angles on the underside of the head and top of the foot.
• Fishplates engage these fishing surfaces via machined faces.
• Fishplates are much smaller in cross section than the rail.

Concept / Approach:

Fishplates do not clamp the rail web; rather, they bear against the angled faces (fishing) under the head and over the foot. Their cross-sectional area is significantly less than that of the rail; they are not meant to equal the rail’s section but to provide joint continuity and alignment with bolts and tight bearing surfaces.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check (if short method exists):

Cross-sectional drawings of standard joints show fishplates riding the fishing angles, with a much smaller section relative to the rail.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A and B correctly describe the bearing on fishing surfaces. Option E is a true functional statement. Option C is imprecise; while bolts and plates lie adjacent to the web region, the designed bearing is on the fishing faces, not directly on the web.

Common Pitfalls (misconceptions, mistakes):

Assuming fishplates match rail area; thinking fishplates bear on the web; ignoring the role of fishing angles.

Final Answer:

Cross sectional area of fish plates is normally the same as that of the rail section