A notched tie plate insulator adapted to be received within a recessed area of a tie plate of a railroad rail system. The insulator includes a bottom plate having a first side and a second side and a pair of side plates attached to the bottom plate. Each side of the bottom plate defines a notch therein. The side plate includes a longitudinal extending body having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a recess on the upper surface and a protrusion on the lower surface, wherein the protrusion of each of the side plates is received withi n the notches of the bottom plate.