Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of fragmenting or subdividing bars or railroad rails are disclosed in which a plurality of rails are lifted by a front-end loader and placed on their sides on a chain driven roller system. Three sets of hydraulic cylinder and plunger assemblies actuate holding, notching and breaking mechanisms which are used to fragment the rails. Actuation of the first pair of hydraulic cylinder and plunger assemblies causes the activation of a hold-down bar which prevents movement of the rails and actuation of the second pair of hydraulic cylinder and plunger assemblies causes a knife member to notch the bottom flange of each rail. The third pair of hydraulic cylinder and plunger assemblies is mounted at a non-perpendicular angle to the horizontal. Operator actuation of this third pair of cylinders causes a breaking member, which pivots about an axis below the rails, to travel in an arc.