How it should look, terminal pole on the Festiniog, March 2010.
Although the cables transformed the reliability of the phone service between station after a time it was noticed a number of faults were developing, this was traced to damage caused by rodents chewing the cable, a battle which we were to lose. Damage the complete length of the line was experienced, sections of cable having to be replaced, again the faults developed faster than they could repaired, at one point there were fewer working circuits between Alresford and Ropley than in the days of the overhead route. 
Cable sheath showing rodent damage
Loss of service Alresford to Ropley September 2008 - flail damage
Loss of service Medstead to Alton October 2008 - more flail damage

The picture above shows the remains of a 30 pair joint on the cable between Alresford to Ropley, a passing loco set fire to the grass. All that remained of the casing of the joint were the metal bolts. The post was used as a connection for a plug in phone point, now no longer used. July 2010.

After repairs had been made. The troughing protects two new joints as the damaged cable was not long enough to rejoin directly.
Nigel loads the Wickham trolley for a trip to Alresford for some testing and a cup of tea.

Latest type of joint - found in a skip and reused at Ropley

When The Alton colour light signalling was place in service 2 ground frames and an external phone were recovered.
A new home has been found for the phone and associated box in the yard at Medstead.
This is for use of the Wagon Group, who find it useful to call to see if the tea has been made, there is also an extension from this line into their workshop located in the green wagon.

To simplify fault finding on the original buried cables a number of above ground test points were provided, this one is being installed, plus a plug in phone socket. The small grey box is the connection for the West Ground frame telephones at Alton.
Post Office Wallet tool number 3 on the end of the sleeper.
A completed route box, as they were called. Shows the plug in phone point, this one was connected to Alresford exchange, extension number 2220.
Mid way to Ropley the circuit would become a Ropley extension.

View of a route box with the cover off and a plug in phone point on the right.
Picture taken in 2010, long since out of use but never recovered, a job for a day when there is nothing better to do.

Tele 704 - type of plug in phone issued to train crews.

Howard and Kevin jointing near the Medstead up distant signal.
Shown is a phone point used on the new cables, with the introduction of the Norstar exchanges they were removed from service.
Following the donation of some new cable the Alresford to Medstead cables were replaced, with a mixture of armoured cable and un-armoured cable in plastic duct.
Cable was in store for most of the route from Medstead to Alton, however there was then an episode of in fighting in the railway and the cable was not laid, later stolen it delayed the job for a couple of years
Medstead to Alton was re-cabled at a later date, circuits being changed over to the new cable in December 2005.
As well as telephone circuits signal circuits and the inter station computer links use the cables.


Mole ploughing the original cables between Medstead and Alton - 21st April 1985
Several people in the picture are still active on the railway.
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