Chris Hall's new independent website : Mid Hants Telephones
| From: Chris Hall Sent: 10th June 2007 When the Strowger exchanges were withdrawn from service on the railway several years ago the one at Medstead was left in-situ. At the time there was an idea to keep it as a museum item so the public could see a working example of the type of technology that was the core of the UK telephone system for most of the 20th century. It was later decided that it was not practical being open to the public located in an operational building plus the space it occupied was needed for additional equipment so the old exchange was dismantled and placed in store. Recently the management were approached to see if there was any interest in resurrecting this idea, the storage for the equipment was far from ideal and it was deteriorating. If there was interest it would be moved to better accommodation if not there were several people interested in giving it a new home off the railway. Following a positive response sufficient equipment has been salvaged to make a small demonstration exchange. At present the only intentions are to preserve enough equipment should it be required in the future. I have no idea where this exchange will be located or when but my thoughts are to have a number of phones connected to it so calls can be made and viewed, this type of exchange has the advantage that bits move and it makes a noise. Over the years a large amount of telephone items have been collected and if space permits some of these will also be displayed. |
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| From: Chris Hall Sent: 5th June 2007 The rack for the Alton signal post telephones has been installed in the telephone exchange and work has started on the wiring. This is the third system to be built this year and is based on the relay-based equipment fitted at Alresford. The main difference here is that a number of circuits need to be switched to Medstead when the signal box is closed. On the left is the power unit and standby batteries that run the phone system and computer equipment at the station. |
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| 21st January 2007: 'New' phones installed in 'new' Ropley signalbox Photo (March 2007): Chris Hall
Ropley signalbox code phone
The old wooden code phone has been connected. How to connect the modern code phone when the old one packs up: Remove plug from left hand socket (located in the cupboard under the phone) and plug in modern code phone left in the cupboard. |
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| From:
Chris Hall Sent: 14 January 2007: At present the main telecom activity concerns work on signal post telephone equipment (SPT) at three stations. The circuits are based on the system that has been in service at Alresford for some time. Ropley - shown in picture: work has started installing the equipment in the new signalbox ready for when it is opened later this year. Medstead - the equipment that was suffering from the elements in an external cabinet has been refurbished and installed in better surroundings in the signalbox. Placed in service on 14th January 2007. The rack is the same as the Ropley one but the 2 spare positions will be used by equipment for when the box at Alton is closed and some SPTs are diverted to Medstead. Both these racks are the product of the Medstead building group workshop, being made from a cut down full size rack. Alton - the equipment is at present being constructed, one difference for this site is if the signalbox is closed a number of SPTs are diverted to Medstead. |
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| From: Chris
Hall Sent: 04 December 2005 15:18 Subject: end of the line Tony
Removal from site of the remaining Strowger
exchange from Medstead station: although taken out of service at the
end of last year it is the last to be dismantled and disposed of.
This type of equipment was used by the Mid Hants for nearly
30 years.
Shows the always helpful Sunday PWay gang doing the hard
work.
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From:
Chris Hall
Sent: 19 November 2005 19:39 Subject: New cables Following on
from Pat Butler and his team who have installed
the new cable from Alton to Medstead members of Team Telecom have
started jointing it.
The pictures show Howard and Kevin in action on
Saturday near Alton; quite an achievement getting
them so far away from the buffet and a cup of tea.
No trains were running that day hence lack of high viz
clothing.
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Article (in pdf format) by Krone (UK) about Mid Hants telecoms
Removal of old
exchange
equipment from Alresford
and Ropley 
Photos (3rd April
2005):
Chris Hall
The Watercress Line, The
Railway
Station, Alresford, Hampshire, England, SO24 9JG
Tel
01962 733810
Fax 01962 735448
www.watercressline.co.uk
Telecommunications Heritage Group
Mid Hants Railway Signals & Telegraph
