Overhead and Cables
In April 1977 the railway re-opened the first 3 miles of line from Alresford to Ropley, the rest of the track to Alton had by then been lifted.
Before the line closed the overhead wiring had been replaced by BR with a surface laid cable, by the mid 1970s this had either been previously recovered or stolen so there was no communication along the line.
The initial plan had been to rent a couple of "private wires" from the GPO (shows how long ago this was) and an order placed before discovering the circuits were to be routed via either Alton or Winchester (I have forgotten which) and would have been 17 miles in length. This scheme was dropped, instead we put up our own overhead circuits between Alresford and Ropley as most of the poles remained, a total of 60 poles.
The wire used was Drop wire number 3 and later Drop wire number 6, this has a plastic coated steel conductor which rusts if the insulation is damaged, considerable trouble was experienced and over the years a lot of time was spent repairing faults.
Later a Ropley to Medstead overhead route was added.
If the Alresford to Ropley section became faulty by the time it was repaired the Ropley to Medstead section would develop a fault, it was a constant job trying to keep faults cleared.
The decision was taken to purchase underground cable, two 10 pair cables were mole ploughed between Alresford and Alton, it was thought by splitting the circuits over two cables it would reduce the loss of circuits in the event of any damage, however this didn't prove to be the case.
from Turntable October 22nd 1983
from Turntable January 12th 1984
from Turntable April 4th 1985
The old drop wire was recoved by the Swanage Railway for further use.
from Turntable April 1st 1984
from Turntable March 2nd 1985
A small section of the overhead pole route was still in existance 30 years later, although thankfully no longer in use.
A visit was made in November 2007 to take a picture only to discover the
wires had been finally cut down.
One of the few remaining poles Alresford November 2007
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
Loss of service Medstead to Alton October 2008
Latest type of joint - found in a skip and reused at Ropley
To simplify fault finding on the original buried cables a number of above ground test points were provided, this one is being installed, the small grey box is the connections 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.
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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