Tamping blade with improved inserts

A tamping blade comprising:

• a blade shoe of steel adapted for mounting on an end of a support arm, said blade shoe having a cut-out at a leading edge thereof to support at least one wear resistant insert;
• and
• at least one wear resistant insert rigidly positioned in said cut-out of the blade shoe, said at least one insert being of wear resistant material and comprising:
• a body having a first side and a second opposed side, first and second opposed major surfaces, said surfaces defining therebetween a thickness of the body, and first and second opposed shoulders defining therebetween a width of the body;
• said first side of said body defining a leading edge for a tamping blade, said leading edge being arcuate in shape between the opposed shoulders, and a first relief surface extending inwardly from the first opposed major surface to the leading edge;
• said second side and said second major surface being adapted to support the body on said tamping blade for impact loading of said first side of said body.