In a railroad track, a composite pad is useful between a lower flange of a railroad rail and an upper surface of a railroad tie, particularly but not exclusively a concrete tie. The composite pad comprises a bonding member, preferably a plate made from galvanized, powder-coated steel and a polyurethane pad. Such a plate, if used, may be powder-coated with a composition comprising a polyester, acrylic, or epoxy resin. The pad is cast onto the member so that the member is bonded directly to the pad. An adhesive layer comprising a methacrylate ester composition bonds the member to the upper surface of the tie, at the lower surface of the member, so as to resist relative movement between the member and the tie and so as to retard infiltration of sand, water, or debris therebetween.