Model Railway Forum

Walkingthedog wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2024 2:06 pm And your ping pong equipment.
Brian I seem to recall a similar way of tensioning telephone wires.

Hi Brian. Yes these were telephone wires - 200lb copper. The UK railways had/still has the second largest telecoms system in the UK. The former GPO was the largest. The railways used pole routes for telephone connections, block signalling controls and to provide power to remote signals, such as motor driven distant semaphore signals and colour light distant signal battery charging. Today, 650v AC power cables are used for signalling installations and Fibre Optic cables for telecoms.

Thankfully GPO wires only carried 50 volts but more when ringing. I can remember touching one with a wet ear at just the wrong time.

I bet that gave you "ringing in the ears" Brian

Still doing it Barry.