Footplate

A footplate is a flat plate or platform designed to bear the feet of a person, used on machinery and vehicles to provide a standing or working surface. In railway use, the footplate denotes the floor area of a locomotive or tender cab where the engineer and fireman stand to operate controls and supervise the train. It typically runs along the sides of the boiler and is reached by steps from the ground or from access ladders; it may also extend across the width of the cab.

The footplate supports controls such as the throttle or regulator, the reverser, and the braking gear, and it functions as a vantage point for monitoring signals, speed, and track conditions. Its design emphasizes safety and durability, with anti-slip surfaces, handrails or stanchions, and guarded edges to help prevent falls. In steam locomotives, the footplate forms part of the working area of the locomotive’s crew and is often separated into driver’s and fireman’s sides.

Outside railroading, a footplate can refer to a similar floor plate on other machines or vehicles where operators stand or place their feet, such as industrial equipment, cranes, or heavy machinery. In all uses, the term highlights a fixed platform kept in place to support foot traffic and enable operation of the device.