Back on page four of this thread, John Kokas mentioned small tie inserter/extractor machines. Here's a photo of one at th Buckgahuda & Western in St. Marys, Pa. It is a Canron Section Gang machine. It's adjustable from standard to three-foot to two-foot gauge, and according to Tom Bauer of the B&W who sent the photo, it has done work in all three gauges. It features a couple of hydraulic cylinders that can lift the rail a bit to make it easier to make the exchange, and the appendage closest to the camera has a jaw that grips the tie. Some models also include rubber tires so it can be easily removed from the track to allow trains to pass. If we could track one of these down, we'd be all set.
