the surface on which a locomotive crew stands. In fact it usually extends all round the engine, but the term is now taken to mean the floor of the driving cab.

The footplate of a steam locomotive is a large metal plate that rests on top of the frames. It is the full width of the locomotive and extends all the way from the front buffer beam to the back buffer beam. The boiler, the cab, and other superstructure elements are in turn mounted on the footplate.