I am researching a former quarry railroad in my area and found this 5 hole single shoulder tie plate. I have not found any pictures of one with exactly the same hole arrangement. Would anyone have any information about it? It might be related to C.C.C. & St. L., or possibly the Berea quarry spur.
Thanks, Dave

80lbs dudley, NYC rail. Tall cleats on the bottom, and the extra hole is for dealing with joints iirc. What is the lettering cast into the shoulder say?

Unfortunately it is in poor condition and I can't make out any lettering. Geographically. Where it was found is about the location where there would have likely been a yard, perhaps 3 tracks deep, adjacent to the Big Four tracks. The railroad spur served the Berea quarries. Tie plate would have been after year 1900, and the quarries shut down by around 1940. The ties were in a group of trees and I could not find any date nails. I think it makes sense that the quarries would have used lighter rails, as they ran smaller "pony" engines like 0-4-0 pulling gondolas of sandstone, but perhaps this size rail was used on the main as well. I don't know for certain.

Odd. At first glance it looks as though the center hole on the plate's shoulder was punched after the outer two, but it has little or no wear. The outer two are worn and punched closer to the second pair indicating they were re-punched to accommodate a smaller base rail. I'm not familiar with 80# Dudley but very familiar with 105 Dudley and fairly familiar with 127 Dudley. 127 Dudley normally or frequently has three punching in the tie plate (2 on the shoulder, one opposite), while 105 Dudley in my experience has four as do most other size tie plates. Maybe they originally had only three, but after being relaid umpteen times acquired a forth? 105 Dudley used to be fairly common on East coast industrial lines, ex- NYC short lines, etc. The BC&G was laid with 105 Dudley with square joints! The worst.
Here is a chart of most of the USA's rail sizes:
http://www.icrr.net/rails.htm
Answer to this question: Measure the distance between the plate shoulder and the opposite punching holes and compare with the attached chart.

The closest measurement is 5 3/8. So if I am reading correctly, 90lb rail. My real concern is the age. If it is pre-1940 it would be the correct era.

I would say without a doubt it's pre-1940. More than likely it's early 1900's or even maybe late 1800's.

That's really great news. Thank you so much!