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An electrically-insulated tie plate for electrically isolating parts of a railroad rail system from each other. The electrically-insulated tie plate includes a base plate having a recessed area for receiving a railroad rail and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering portions of the bas

An electrically-insulated tie plate for electrically isolating parts of a railroad rail system from each other. The electrically-insulated tie plate includes a base plate having a recessed area for receiving a railroad rail and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering portions of the base plate.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A tie plate, comprising: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface and defining a peripheral edge; a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed are

The invention claimed is: 1. A tie plate, comprising: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface and defining a peripheral edge; a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed area on said first surface of said base plate for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween; a layer of electrically-insulating material covering at least said first surface of said base plate; and a plurality of slots defined on said base plate, at least one slot extends transversely through each of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members from said first surface to said second surface of said base plate, said slots each define an inner surface, said inner surface covered by an inner layer made of an electrically-insulating material, wherein said slots are adapted to receive fasteners for securing a railroad rail. 2. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members extend a width of said base plate. 3. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said layer encapsulates said base plate. 4. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate is a metallic core. 5. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members are made of an electrically-insulating material. 6. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically-insulating material comprises a polymeric material. 7. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically-insulating material comprises a polymeric material containing reinforcing fibers. 8. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner layer is molded onto said inner surface of said slots on said base plate. 9. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner layer is insertable into said slots on said base plate. 10. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said layer and said inner layer are made of the same electrically-insulating material. 11. A tie plate assembly for a railroad rail, comprising: an electrically-insulated tie plate adapted to receive a railroad rail, wherein said tie plate comprises a base plate having a first surface and defining a peripheral edge, a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed area on said first surface of said base plate for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween, and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering said first surface of said base plate; a plurality of slots defined on said tie plate; a fastener passing through one of said slots for securing said tie plate to a rail tie; and an electrically-insulated clip secured to said tie plate via said fastener, said clip having a surface comprising a first ledge and a second ledge, said first ledge adapted to coact with the railroad rail and said second ledge adapted to coact with a rail joint attached to the railroad rail for securing the railroad rail to said tie plate. 12. The tie plate assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tie plate is made of an electrically-insulated material. 13. The tie plate assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said tie plate is made of fiberglass. 14. The tie plate assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said clips are made of an electrically-insulating material. 15. The tie plate assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said clips are made of fiberglass. 16. An electrically-insulated tie plate, comprising: a metallic core having a first surface and a second surface and defining a peripheral edge; a plurality of slots having an inner surface defined in said metallic core; a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said metallic core, said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members define a recessed area on said first surface of said metallic core for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween, wherein at least one slot extends transversely through each of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members from said first surface to said second surface of said metallic core; and a layer of electrically-insulating material covering said first surface of said metallic core and said inner surface of said slots. 17. The tie plate as claimed in claim 16, wherein said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members are made of an electrically-insulating material. 18. An electrically-isolated railroad rail system, comprising: a pair of railroad rails; a rail joint attaching each of said railroad rails together; an electrically-insulated tie plate having a plurality of slots for receiving said attached railroad rails; a fastener passing through one of said slots for securing said tie plate to a rail tie; and an electrically-insulated clip secured to said tie plate via said fastener, said clip having a surface comprising a first ledge and a second ledge, said first ledge adapted to coact with said railroad rail and said second ledge adapted to coact with said rail joint for securing said railroad rail to said tie plate. 19. The tie plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said layer is an extruded member adhered to said first surface of said base plate. 20. A tie plate, comprising: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface and defining a peripheral edge; a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, wherein a recessed area is defined between said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween, the recessed area defined by an inner surface of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members and a portion of said first surface of said base plate; a layer of electrically-insulating material, said layer includes a pair of legs connected by a base and defining a U-shaped cross-section covering said inner surface of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members and said first surface of the recessed area of said base plate, wherein said layer further comprises lips covering an upper surface of said shoulder members, wherein each lip depends from a respective leg, wherein a remaining portion of said first surface and said second surface of said base plate does not include a layer of electrically-insulating material; and a plurality of slots defined on said base plate and spaced from said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members, said slots extend transversely through said base plate from said first surface to said second surface. 21. The tie plate as claimed in claim 20, wherein said base plate is made of metal and said electrically-insulating material is a polymeric material. 22. A tie plate, comprising: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface and defining a peripheral edge; a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, each of said shoulders having a shoulder upper surface, wherein a recessed area is defined between said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween, the recessed area defined by an inner surface of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members and a portion of said first surface of said base plate; a layer of electrically-insulating material, said layer includes a pair of legs connected by a base and defining a U-shaped cross-section covering said inner surface of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members and said first surface of the recessed area of said base plate, each of said legs having an upper surface wherein said upper surface of said pair of legs are positioned above said respective shoulder upper surfaces, wherein a remaining portion of said first surface and said second surface of said base plate does not include a layer of electrically-insulating material; and a plurality of slots defined on said base plate and spaced from said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members, said slots extend transversely through said base plate from said first surface to said second surface. 23. A tie plate arrangement, comprising: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface and defining a peripheral edge; a pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members defined on said base plate, each of said shoulders having a shoulder upper surface, wherein a recessed area is defined between said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members for accommodating a railroad rail therebetween, the recessed area defined by an inner surface of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members and a portion of said first surface of said base plate; a layer of electrically-insulating material, said layer includes a pair of legs connected by a base and defining a U-shaped cross-section covering said inner surface of said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members and said first surface of the recessed area of said base plate, each of said legs having an upper surface wherein said upper surface of said pair of legs are positioned above said respective shoulder upper surfaces, wherein a remaining portion of said first surface and said second surface of said base plate does not include a layer of electrically-insulating material; and a plurality of slots defined on said base plate and spaced from said pair of longitudinally-extending shoulder members, said slots extend transversely through said base plate from said first surface to said second surface; a fastener passing through one of said slots for securing said base plate to a rail tie; and a clip secured to said base plate via said fastener, said clip having a surface comprising a ledge adapted to coact with a rail joint attached to the railroad rail for securing the railroad rail to said tie plate. 24. The tie plate arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein said clip comprises an electrically-insulated material.