An anchor spreader apparatus for moving rail anchors, which are secured to a rail, away from a tie, the anchor spreader apparatus being mounted on a rail vehicle, the anchor spreader apparatus comprising: a mounting member; a rail clamp assembly movably mounted on the mounting member to allow a clamping surface of the rail clamp to move into engagement with the rail; and an anchor-engaging assembly movably mounted on the mounting member to allow an anchor-engaging jaw to move into engagement with a respective rail anchor and to allow the anchor- engaging assembly to move relative to the rail clamp assembly, characterised in that the anchor engaging assembly comprises: a pair of spreader arms which are pivotally mounted to the mounting member, wherein the mounting member has a longitudinal axis which extends in essentially the same plane as a longitudinal axis of the rail, the spreader arms extending from the mounting member in essentially opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of the mounting member; a first cylinder positioned proximate to the mounting member and being pivotally connected to first mounting sections of the spreader arms, the first mounting sections being spaced from the mounting member, the first cylinder causing the spreader arms to rotate about the mounting member; anchor-engaging arms extending from the spreader arms, the anchor-engaging arms having said anchor-engaging jaws; a pair of clamp arms which are pivotally mounted to the mounting member; and second and third cylinders (360; 362) positioned on either side of the mounting member and extending in the same direction as the mounting member, the second and third cylinders being connected to and extending between respective second mounting sections (346, 326) of the spreader arms and clamp arms, whereby with the rail clamp assembly clamped to the rail and the anchor-engaging assembly positioned proximate the anchor, retraction of the second and third cylinders (360, 362) causes the anchor-engaging jaws of the anchor-engaging assembly to move along the mounting member toward the rail clamp assembly, causing the rail anchor to be moved relative to the tie. a mounting member; a rail clamp assembly movably mounted on the mounting member to allow a clamping surface of the rail clamp to move into engagement with the rail; and an anchor-engaging assembly movably mounted on the mounting member to allow an anchor-engaging jaw to move into engagement with a respective rail anchor and to allow the anchor- engaging assembly to move relative to the rail clamp assembly, characterised in that the anchor engaging assembly comprises: a pair of spreader arms which are pivotally mounted to the mounting member, wherein the mounting member has a longitudinal axis which extends in essentially the same plane as a longitudinal axis of the rail, the spreader arms extending from the mounting member in essentially opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of the mounting member; a first cylinder positioned proximate to the mounting member and being pivotally connected to first mounting sections of the spreader arms, the first mounting sections being spaced from the mounting member, the first cylinder causing the spreader arms to rotate about the mounting member; anchor-engaging arms extending from the spreader arms, the anchor-engaging arms having said anchor-engaging jaws; a pair of clamp arms which are pivotally mounted to the mounting member; and second and third cylinders (360; 362) positioned on either side of the mounting member and extending in the same direction as the mounting member, the second and third cylinders being connected to and extending between respective second mounting sections (346, 326) of the spreader arms and clamp arms, whereby with the rail clamp assembly clamped to the rail and the anchor-engaging assembly positioned proximate the anchor, retraction of the second and third cylinders (360, 362) causes the anchor-engaging jaws of the anchor-engaging assembly to move along the mounting member toward the rail clamp assembly, causing the rail anchor to be moved relative to the tie. a pair of spreader arms which are pivotally mounted to the mounting member, wherein the mounting member has a longitudinal axis which extends in essentially the same plane as a longitudinal axis of the rail, the spreader arms extending from the mounting member in essentially opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of the mounting member; a first cylinder positioned proximate to the mounting member and being pivotally connected to first mounting sections of the spreader arms, the first mounting sections being spaced from the mounting member, the first cylinder causing the spreader arms to rotate about the mounting member; anchor-engaging arms extending from the spreader arms, the anchor-engaging arms having said anchor-engaging jaws; a pair of clamp arms which are pivotally mounted to the mounting member; and second and third cylinders (360; 362) positioned on either side of the mounting member and extending in the same direction as the mounting member, the second and third cylinders being connected to and extending between respective second mounting sections (346, 326) of the spreader arms and clamp arms, whereby with the rail clamp assembly clamped to the rail and the anchor-engaging assembly positioned proximate the anchor, retraction of the second and third cylinders (360, 362) causes the anchor-engaging jaws of the anchor-engaging assembly to move along the mounting member toward the rail clamp assembly, causing the rail anchor to be moved relative to the tie.