Tie inserter/remover is a rail mounted machine that can pull or place rail ties without the need to remove the track above them. This machine uses hydraulic cylinders to grab the exposed end of a rail tie. Another hydraulic cylinder then extends an arm outward and perpendicular to the track, pulling the tie out from underneath where it can be picked up by a tie crane. To place the tie, this process is repeated in reverse. This allows for a damaged tie to be replaced without the need for track to be removed along a route, eliminating the need to shut down a route for long periods of time.