[OscarFoxtrot]

Yes.

Either there was a Linked Numbering Scheme, or there were local codes. In a Linked Numbering Scheme the parent exchange would have numbers starting eg 7xxxx. Satellite exchanges would have numbers starting 81xxxx, 82xxxx, 83xxxx etc. Dialling from a satellite exchange the exchange would recognise what was an own-exchange call and drop the first two digits, and calls for another satellite exchange would route to the parent exchange by the 8, then the outgoing junction circuit 1, 2, 3 etc.

Subscribers on the parent exchange had direct access to the junctions by dialling 81, 82, 83 etc.

With exchanges not in Linked Numbering Scheme, there were local codes, usually starting 9 (or sometimes 8). Eg 9 for the parent exchange then 8081 for the Speaking Clock. This lead to local codes like 981 from B to A, but A to B would be 81. C to B might be 9812 etc. Basically with local codes you had to dial the digits that controlled the actual routing of the call over the junction circuits. In the Director system the director part of the exchange took the exchange code (ABBey etc) and translated it into the digits required to route the call even if that was through two or three tandem (intermediate) exhcanges).