Abstract: A railway anchor spreader has a rotating plate on each side of each rail, with the bottom of each rotating plate having a pair of jaws. The tie plates are lowered until the jaws strike the ballast, and the tie plates are then pivoted first in one direction, and then in the opposite direction, by a hydraulic cylinder located near the top of the anchor spreader plates. The jaws will thereby strike the tie plates, first pushing them in one direction and then in the opposite direction, to move the rail anchors away from the tie. The shape of the jaws ensures that pivoting the anchor spreader plate will not cause the jaws to strike the tie as well as the tie plate. A rail clamp capable of grabbing rails of various sizes is also provided.