RELIEF SIGNALMAN

Took this photo back in 2002 in Anglesey when the 400Kv power line renewal was taking place between Pentir Substation and Wylfa PS. This photo was taken prior to a thunderstorm brewing up - thunder started and they all shouted to come down as fast as they could.

Has anyone on here know what is the average depth of a pylon leg underground?. I know an example on marshy ground that they went down 80 to 100 feet without hitting the bottom, so pipes were hammered to the ground welded together and filled with concrete.

Pylon King Thank you, yes that's the sort of thing they used.

Speaking to my cousin earlier regarding the time he worked for the National Grid he was telling me that there are plenty of PL1S pylons around the Warrington area which he worked on during his employment between 1970-2000. They refurbished quite a lot in the area including the two giants over the MSC by Acton Grange Junction few years ago. He also got called out to attend to a failed pylon sinking in the marshes at Stafford Common about 20 years ago. Some of the PL1S pylons along the marshes there (North of Stafford) were in a condemned state due to their age I suppose, even the insulators were not free to swing with the cables and the metalwork had seized up altogether. When he got there the pylon was leaning over at 30 degrees and a substitute temporary single tower had to be erected on a concrete block with loads of stay wires to carry the cables way from the sinking pylon. The condition of the line in that area was actually really bad and they decided to scrap it as they found another pylon starting to lean and the concrete feet had completely disappeared below ground. The rest of the line into Stafford itself was kept and modified including the same line that crossed the WCML just north of Stafford station. Have anyone here got any photos of these temporary single tower mounted on a single concrete block?. Reminds you of a lattice crane jib in the vertical position.

Yes, still there. the 400Kv L6's run from Deeside to Pentir (near Bangor), 132Kv Deeside to Pentir via Dolgarrog. Also a 33Kv from Dolgarrog on light pylon structures running to Minffordd Substation near Bangor (info from one of my cousins who worked with the National Grid 1970-2000).

Yes, its still there on top of that hill. The other lightweight looking pylons on the other side of this pylon on the hill were removed many years ago and replaced by single poles carrying the 3 phase bars across. There are still some of the lightweight types still in existence as the power line heads towards Colwyn Bay before changing to poles again before reaching there. Last visit to Anglesey also saw some early type of pylons that used to carry 66Kv??, nowadays 33Kv from Llanfair PG? to a place called Caergeiliog near Valley. Will try and find a photo of one to put on here.

The photos of the two pylons carrying power over the Manchester to Chester railway line now carry 33Kv. They probably date back to the 1930's and 1940's. They look very similar to the ones they had on the Crewe to Legacy (Wrexham) power line, since replaced by 33Kv poles, also north of Crewe near to the site of Coppenhall Junction which they crossed the WCML an continued towards Winsford, the rest of the power line were on double poles with long crossbar at the bottom carrying 4 wires and a smaller one on the top carrying the other 2. They have since been replaced by standard 33Kv poles. Over in North Wales further examples can be seen carrying 33Kv between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. There is one example of a similar tower overlooking Llandudno from the top of a nearby hill. This one being built by the North Wales Power Company and probably dates back to the 1930's .

Think the "Gullet Sidings" were also used at one time for MGR trains to run round from the docks to Fiddlers. Any such move nowadays can now use the reinstated chord from Olive Mount to Edge Lane. Anyone got any photos of Top Of Grid and Foot Of Grid GF (EH No19 & 20?)

I think, if you look closely at Hard Days Night that they are getting off at Marylebone as well ! Still reckon the Great St Trinian's Train Robbery is my favourite filmed on the Longmoor Military Railway. RS