Looking for names of railway track parts?

Question

I am looking for the name of a piece of metal under the track rail it is odd shaped and closes around the rail , ahead and behind the cleat that has the spikes through it.

Answer 1

These are not tie plates, which go under the rail on top of the cross tie to keep the rail from digging into the wooden cross tie.

The piece you are referring to is called a "creeper".  They are installed to keep the rail from shifting forward or backwards, or "creeping", along its length.

They are necessary because most main line trackage today incorporates "ribbon rail", that does not have a joint every 39', which is the old standard, and produced the "clickety-clack" sound heard as equipment passed over the joint.  

Ribbon rail is manufactured in sections of 1320', a quarter mile, and transported on special trains designed for that purpose.  When being installed these pieces are welded together to form a continuous ribbon of rail.

Since there are no expansion joints, as the rails heat up in the mid-day sun, they want to expand along their length.  The creepers you asked about keep them from doing so and hold the rail in place.

Were it not so, the rail would buckle and result in a derailment.

Answer 2

Perhaps a "Tie Plate"? go to this link and it shows the basic parts of a railroad track

http://www.infovisual.info/05/046_en.htm...