All equipment was pre 2000 type and the numbers were in the range 2XX.

The A unit contained 4 selectors ( believe they were called link circuits ) plus junction relay sets and the C unit the main distribution unit ( MDF ) common services, tone and ringer relay sets.

A complete UAX12 had been purchased from Hursley, near Winchester when it was withdrawn from service with the introduction of STD in the early 1970s.

The UAX12 at Hursley was a double unit with numbers in the range 2XX and 5XX, its replacement was a UAX13S, this was a standard UAX13 fitted with discriminators for linked number scheme working. The numbers became 752XX and 755XX. The local code from Winchester was 75.

8 racks of UAX12 racks were obtained for the sum of £10, somewhat of a bargain, comprising of 3 A units, 3 B units and 2 C units.

Additional selectors came from another recovered UAX12 at Cholderton.

Some years later when the UAX13S was replaced with a System X exchange a number of discriminators were obtained for a scheme on the railway that was never implemented, they remain in store, unused, to this day. The numbers changed to 775XXX with the introduction of the digital exchange.

Ropley UAX12

Initially a small DIY switchboard was installed connected to Alresford, later a UAX 12 was placed in service on March 2nd 1979 - one A and one C unit were provided, numbers were in the range 3XX, two both way junctions were provided between the 2 stations.

To dial from Alresford to Ropley the code was 9 and in the other direction 5.

Call barring was provided on the junctions.

The two exchanges worked well but did not offer much scope for the railways planned eastward extension, a start was made on an additional rack that would have been used as a tandem exchange, this was based on 2000 type selectors but never saw service as newer equipment was later obtained.

 

 

 

UAX 12 C unit

 

UAX12 A unit

 

Pictures from Atkinson Telephony volume 2

 

 

For more details of UAX12s visit The UAX Project

.

Home