Behind the scenes - tramway telephone exchange and clocks

Behind the scenes – tramway telephone exchange and clocks

/ March 28, 2011 / 4 Comments / News
28th March 2011
The Tram Group are currently diligently working on Mondays and Thursdays on 101, 114 and on various other jobs. These include maintenance of the telephone exchange used on the tramway, and the clocks that can be seen at tram stops around the site.
Below: An overview of the depot when all the trams and buses are at home. 114 and 101 are in a separate room to the right of this view.
Below: This is the motor-generator which is kept as a back up to the solid state rectifying set now used to provide the tramway supply. The motor receives ac current from the national grid, driving a generator to produce the 600v dc supply required for the tramway and trolleybus overhead. If we were able to generate our own electricity, we could supply ac to this and use it to run the tramway…

Below: Les Brunton resets the clocks – these dials indicate the position of the hands on the clocks out on site. The top dial is being advanced in this view.

Below: The Strowger telephone exchange, installed in 1992 and supported by the BTG and BT. Les is dialing up a test number which gives a reversed ring tone to indicate the exchange is functioning correctly. Behind him is the master clock which drives all of those around the site.

Below: The BTG had the foresight to stockpile extensive amounts of spare parts for the exchange. It would be great to continue the project started, and connect other areas of the Museum site together through the exchange (with 99 numbers there is plenty of capacity). We would love to hear from any potential volunteers who would be interested in getting involved in such work…