We present a large-scale laboratory test for quantifying the lateral resistance of a timber tie in ballast for the expected range of in-service train loads in North American railway track. The test uses three configurations to evaluate the contribution of the tie-ballast base friction, crib (side) friction, and shoulder (end) resistance, respectively, to overall tie-lateral resistance. The tests use a 1.52-m (60 in.) long, 1.27-m (50 in.) wide, 0.51-m (20 in.) high, and 0.005-m (0.19 in.) thick reinforced steel box, or ballast box, filled with 0.45 m (18 in.) of base ballast. Crib and shoulder ballast is placed as required. For each test, a single timber tie is placed on the ballast and laterally pushed up to 40 mm (1.5 in.) at a loading rate of 0.05 mm/s (0.002 in./s) while vertical and horizontal loads and displacements are recorded. The test is then repeated at several vertical loads, ranging from 5 kN (i.e., the estimated weight of track superstructure) to 160 kN (i.e., the maximum potential in-service ballast load transferred to a single timber tie). The test results are used to determine the peak-lateral resistance per tie for each test and the relationship between lateral load and normal load for each test configuration. This paper details the estimation of the maximum potential in-service ballast load transferred to a single tie, the ballast box design, the test configurations, and the equipment characteristics. This paper also outlines the testing methodology and provides an example application on a ballast material, McAbee ballast, used by the Canadian National Railway Company in Western Canada.