Transferring signal wires from one side of tracks to the other?

[Penlan]

On a real railway, how did they transfer the signal cables from one side of the tracks to the other?
On the assumption there's pulleys either side of the tracks, did the wires run in tubes - here I'm thinking about track circuiting, or in pre-grouping (my interest) did the wires just scrape the underside of the rails, was the ballast cleared/lowered to make way for the wires?
For my layout this is purely a cosmetic question, but I'm wondering, as I like to know even if I can't replicate it.

Edited February 5, 2021 by Penlan

[Grovenor]

Pulleys either side, the wires passing through between sleepers, in non track circuited areas not much effort was made to keep the wire clear of the rails although by design it should be as contact encourages rust. When track circuited then efforts had to be made to keep them clear including reducing the ballast level in that bed and maybe fitting in some rollers to hold them down. Even so such wires were a source of track circuit failures!

Edited February 5, 2021 by Grovenor
typo

[Penlan]

Thank you, I know it was a simple question, just I seem to have a bit of spare time to ponder these sort of questions.
Again, thank you.