A railroad tie formed of a polymeric or polymeric composite material and configured for enhanced mechanical interaction with an underlying ballast. The tie includes at least a top longitudinal surface, a pair of side longitudinal surfaces, a bottom longitudinal surface, and two end faces. At least the bottom longitudinal surface includes a plurality of indentations formed along a length thereof. Additionally, the tie includes at least one serrated edge portion having a plurality of serrations, the at least one serrated edge portion formed along at least part of the longitudinal length of the tie at an edge between at least one of the side longitudinal surfaces and the bottom longitudinal surface to provide for enhanced mechanical interaction with the ballast.