: Apparatus for replacing underground pipe with a replacement pipe, comprising: a resistance plate for positioning against a wall through which a cable protrudes, the opposite end of the cable connectable to a mole having the replacement pipe connected thereto, said resistance plate having a slot therein through which the cable passes; a pair of hydraulic cylinders (11, 12) extending substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said resistance plate spaced from each other on opposite sides of said slot; a pulling bridge secured to each of said cylinders (11, 12) at the end thereof opposite said resistance plate, said pulling bridge being reciprocally moveable by operation of said cylinders (11, 12) in a pulling stroke and a recovery stroke, said pulling bridge having a cable gripping assembly thereon for gripping the cable during the pulling stroke and releasing the cable during the recovery stroke; and a holding bridge mounted to said resistance plate spanning said slot, said holding bridge having a gripper assembly thereon for gripping the cable during the recovery stroke and releasing the cable during the pulling stroke; characterized in that the hydraulic cylinders (11, 12) each comprise a first end and a second end and a cylinder rod (11b, 12b) projecting from the second end, the first ends of the cylinders (11, 12) are mounted to the resistance plate and the pulling bridge is secured to each of the cylinder rods (11b, 12b), and the holding bridge is separate from the hydraulic cylinders (11, 12) and releasably detachable from said resistance plate, and in that said slot in said resistance plate and the spacing of said cylinders (11, 12) define a space which is large enough to allow passage of a mole thereinto to facilitate detachment of the mole from the replacement pipe being pulled by the mole. a resistance plate for positioning against a wall through which a cable protrudes, the opposite end of the cable connectable to a mole having the replacement pipe connected thereto, said resistance plate having a slot therein through which the cable passes; a pair of hydraulic cylinders (11, 12) extending substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to said resistance plate spaced from each other on opposite sides of said slot; a pulling bridge secured to each of said cylinders (11, 12) at the end thereof opposite said resistance plate, said pulling bridge being reciprocally moveable by operation of said cylinders (11, 12) in a pulling stroke and a recovery stroke, said pulling bridge having a cable gripping assembly thereon for gripping the cable during the pulling stroke and releasing the cable during the recovery stroke; and a holding bridge mounted to said resistance plate spanning said slot, said holding bridge having a gripper assembly thereon for gripping the cable during the recovery stroke and releasing the cable during the pulling stroke; characterized in that the hydraulic cylinders (11, 12) each comprise a first end and a second end and a cylinder rod (11b, 12b) projecting from the second end, the first ends of the cylinders (11, 12) are mounted to the resistance plate and the pulling bridge is secured to each of the cylinder rods (11b, 12b), and the holding bridge is separate from the hydraulic cylinders (11, 12) and releasably detachable from said resistance plate, and in that said slot in said resistance plate and the spacing of said cylinders (11, 12) define a space which is large enough to allow passage of a mole thereinto to facilitate detachment of the mole from the replacement pipe being pulled by the mole.