A fastening mechanism for coupling track rail to a substrate includes a fastener body formed by a metallic base and an overmolded non-metallic coating. Metallic pillars are coupled with the fastener body, and define bores for receiving anchors held fast within a substrate. The coating encases the metallic base and extends peripherally around the metallic pillars to position vibration-attenuating non-metallic material between the metallic base and the metallic pillars.

A tie plate is formed with a profile defining two parallel protrusions with bores for receiving the respective ends of two clips. The two clips engage the flange of a rail to secure the rail to the plate, and therefore, to tie disposed below the plate. Since the protrusions are made integrally with the the plate, the resulting tie plate is able to support the rail securely even in the presence of large forces and/or twisting moments on the rail resulting from a train passing over the plate.

A tie plate is formed with a profile defining two parallel protrusions with bores for receiving the respective ends of two clips. The two clips engage the flange of a rail to secure the rail to the plate, and therefore, to tie disposed below the plate. Since the protrusions are made integrally with the the plate, the resulting tie plate is able to support the rail securely even in the presence of large forces and/or twisting moments on the rail resulting from a train passing over the plate.

A method for singulating, orientating and distributing tie plates along a section of a track of a railroad is disclosed using a vehicle adapted to travel on rails including a tie plate singulating assembly, a tie plate flipping assembly, a tie plate quarter turn assembly, and a distribution assembly. The tie plate flipping assembly flips shoulder-side down tie plates into a shoulder-side up orientation while maintaining shoulder-side up tie plates in the shoulder-side up orientation. A diverter of the tie plate quarter turn assembly advances tie plates into a rotation inducing abutment resulting in the tie plates turning toward a desired orientation. The distribution assembly distributes tie plates to accumulation slides, controlling distribution with a dealer assembly and orienting discharge assembly to distribute the tie plates in a desired spacing and orientation along the track of a railroad.

A method for singulating, orientating and distributing tie plates along a section of a track of a railroad is disclosed using a vehicle adapted to travel on rails including a tie plate singulating assembly, a tie plate flipping assembly, a tie plate quarter turn assembly, and a distribution assembly. The tie plate flipping assembly flips shoulder-side down tie plates into a shoulder-side up orientation while maintaining shoulder-side up tie plates in the shoulder-side up orientation. A diverter of the tie plate quarter turn assembly advances tie plates into a rotation inducing abutment resulting in the tie plates turning toward a desired orientation. The distribution assembly distributes tie plates to accumulation slides, controlling distribution with a dealer assembly and orienting discharge assembly to distribute the tie plates in a desired spacing and orientation along the track of a railroad.

An extruded PVC railroad tie with glass fiber reinforcement contains glass fibers and clumps of pelletized glass fibers that enhance friction of all surfaces that are not coated with a cap stock. Parallel spaced apart interior walls enhance structural integrity. Two interior walls provide structures for threaded channels to threadedly and frictionally engage bolts for securing rail connection hardware. Interior compartments provide empty space for air and ballast. Air in the compartments moderates thermal expansion. A protective cap stock covers one or more sides, such as the exterior top and side surfaces of the tie. The bottom surface, which may be substantially devoid of a cap stock, exhibits roughness to grip and frictionally engage underlying ballast.

An extruded PVC railroad tie with glass fiber reinforcement contains glass fibers and clumps of pelletized glass fibers that enhance friction of all surfaces that are not coated with a cap stock. Parallel spaced apart interior walls enhance structural integrity. Two interior walls provide structures for threaded channels to threadedly and frictionally engage bolts for securing rail connection hardware. Interior compartments provide empty space for air and ballast. Air in the compartments moderates thermal expansion. A protective cap stock covers one or more sides, such as the exterior top and side surfaces of the tie. The bottom surface, which may be substantially devoid of a cap stock, exhibits roughness to grip and frictionally engage underlying ballast.