of the rail are dismantled from their support ties the spikes and the rail seats not shown being allowed to simply fall away from the rail rail anchors 33 remain gripped to the base of the rail and are removed as railroad equipment 11 is moved in the direction of the arrow of fig1 several of these rail anchors are shown already removed to the right of the centerline in fig1 and fig6 and 7 show a typical rail anchor in the process of being removed surface 45 of the wedge at the leading end slopes away from the confronting surface of the rail anchor as shown in fig6 so as to ensure engagement between this rail anchor surface and surface 46 of the wedge as assembly 10 continues to travel in the direction of the arrows in fig1 and 6 the end of the anchor which overlaps the outer edge of the rail flange is progressively moved away from the rail web upon relative sliding movement between the anchor and surface 46 which slopes at a progressively steeper angle outwardly of the wedge before contacting the tailpiece which counters any tendency of the wedge to move inwardly of the rail during the removal process the rail anchor is completely freed of the rail base and falls to the ground during its continued forward movement the rail remains elevated above the ground as rollers 21 and 22 of assembly 10 engage the undersurfaces.