Telegraph Poles

[Parham Wood]

Definitely pulling cable out of the ground is much easier than climbing for it, but years ago before concrete troughing etc. there were not so many cables around in many parts. I also think theft was much more infrequent then, today it is an easy buck. Believe me the block wire was left. I used to work in the S&T dept and on several occassions heard about such actions. It was often surmised it was an inside job, no disrespect on rail staff but as you say you had to know what you were doing hence the conclusion drawn. I do remember once (circa 1980) we had telecoms cable stolen, it was replaced and then it was stolen again overnight with a railway policeman stationed to watch the cable. It was buried cable but the soil was very sandy and the thieves just pulled the cable out from the other end to that which the gentleman was supposed to be watching. We gave up on that route then!

 

[Bedpan]

Originally Posted by Welshman View Post
I seem to remember reading somewhere that on lines to/from London, the crossbars were always on the London side of the pole.

Was that true, or am I imagining it?

I have been told that too, by an S&T engineer with personal experience of replacing the old wooden telegraph poles by hand. So he should have known what he was talking about.

Yes, when I was a lad I used to visit my Granddparents in rural Suffolk and in those days they had telegraph poles along the roadside there. I remember it being pointed out that the crossbars always faced towards London, and indeed they did.

 

[Flywaver]

Still a pole on Welney Bridges..