End of an Era
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It is 24 years ago today that the last public electro-mechanical exchange ceased in use in the UK public telephone network.
It was located on the UK's most remote inhabited island - Foula, population about 30 - way out in the Atlantic to the west of the Shetland Islands. It was a tiny 20 line 'Island Automatic eXchange No 5' where the subscribers were still dialling two digits to reach each other until that day. The exchange was connected to the rest of the BT network by a 32 mile lone 2GHz microwave link bit originally it had been a low-band VHF radio link using a 'rhombic' aerial mounted on top of four 70ft high telegraph poles. Exchange on the right with the microwave equipment in the middle and the 'Main Distribution Frame' was a Krone Box 301 on the wall on the left. The exchange now survives in preservation. An excerpt from the BBC Radio 4's programme 'The Secret Life of Telephone Numbers' broadcast about ten years ago can be heard on Lerwick (01595) 708222. |
Re: End of an Era
What a mess outside. Who has done that?
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Re: End of an Era
To be fair, it looks as if the photo was taken in the middle of stripping everything out. Hopefully it wasn't just left like that.
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I've just phoned that number. Wonderful! Thank you Pellseinydd.
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Wasn't left like that outside once we'd finished.. Note that the sheep wasn't part of the BT team - just nosey - seeing what was going on. |
Re: End of an Era
Makes more sense now- at first sight the brain assumes that the little pieces of rock and stone are associated with the crates and toolboxes, and gives a total sense of disarray!
Was the car a hack used on the island, or did you manage to ferry it in? Dave |
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You'd be surprised how long it lasted out. |
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Rhenigidale, a place you can stay in a nice, small independent hostel - I have, and I was the only one there! Go if you get a chance...
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No,it looked like it had been broken into so thank goodness for that.Did realise there there is not a lot of room inside.
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