Telephones

Panel Telephones

There are three automatic telephones on the panel and three concentrator telephones.

Concentrator telephones

The concentrators are arranged in four blocks of buttons along the bottom of the panel. The A position has two blocks of buttons with a separate handset for each (Concentrators A and B) and the B position has two blocks of buttons with a single handset (Concentrator C1 and C2).

The concentrators contain all the buttons for the signal post telephones, box-to-box telephones, points zone telephone and user-worked crossings.

Receiving a call

When a call is incoming a light in the button for the circuit will flash. If the handset is in the cradle then a beeper will sound in sympathy with the flashing. If the handset is not in the cradle a long single beep will sound once.

To answer the call first lift the handset and the depress the button of the circuit of the incoming call. The beeper will cease and the light in the button will illuminate solidly to indicate that the handset has been connected to that extension.

It is only possible to connect to once extension at a time.

Second call arriving

If a second call arrives while the first is still in progress (or the handset is not in the cradle), a long single beep will sound once. The button will flash as described above as a reminder that a second call is waiting.

Making a call

To make a call first lift the receiver and then depress the button for the extension required. A light will illuminate solidly to indicate that the handset is connected to that extension. A ringing sound will be heard until the remote extension is answered.

Terminating a call

To terminate a call either replace the handset in the cradle or depress the extension button again. If the remote handset is replaced then the button will extinguish. If the remote handset is not replaced then the button will flash slowly until the hanset is replaced (but the beeper will not sound).

Swapping calls

It is possible to swap between one call and another but depressing the circuit button for the current call and then answering a second. Depressing the circuit button on the second and then the circuit button on the first will re-connect to the first call.

The remote extension will hear silence while not connected. The circuit button for the call not currently connected will flash slowly (as the remote user has not replaced their handset).

Multiple phones on single circuits.

In the case of remote SPTs several telephones may be on the same set of wires. These SPTs have a button inside the case for the driver to depress to be connected. The button generates a pulse signal which advises the concentrator which extension is calling in order to illuminate the correct button. During the progress of a call on one of these circuits no other circuit may ring in or be rung out. Remote users attempting to use an extension during such a time will hear silence, and a plate inside the telephone cabinet advises them that this may happen and to try again shortly.

Automatic (ETD) telephones

Adjacent to each of the three concentrator telephones on the panel is an ETD telephone. These are not connected to the concentrators and have their own independent ringers.

A - 0779193 B - 0779190 C - 0779192

For an outside line 91 must be dialled in prefix to the GPO number (was it 91 in 1985?). The telephone exchange is in Swindon so the Swindon area code (01793, 0793 in 1985) can be omitted.

Back desk telephones

On the back desk there are:

- A GPO (automatic) telephone

- An ETD (automatic) telephone (0779189)

- A direct line to Swindon Control (was it Swindon in the 1980s?)

- A direct line to EWS Newport (0775294)

- A direct line to Malmesbury Road Bridge (0779014)

- A direct line to the back desk at Bristol PSB (0775553)

- fax machine (0779195)

The automatic telephones function the same as any other ETD extension. The number keypad on the direct line telephones is not used and lifting the handset initiates a call to the destination.

Outside lines can be obtained on 0779189 and 0779195.

Telephone directory

Reading PSB (back desk) 0782397

Swindon B IECC - [redact]

Uffington RR - 0779296 (66m 42c)

Uffington RR (outside) - 0775815 (66m 42c)

Uffington P-Way Cabin - 0779816

Uffington HCR - 0775817 (66m 39c)

Bourton RR - 0779138 (72m 16c)

South Marston Generator Room - 0779330

South Marston REB - 0779085

Highworth GF

Highworth RR - 0779137 (76m 24c)

Down Yard GF

Goods Yard GF

Down Siding GF - 0779206

Shunter

Swindon Panel Relay Room - 0779134 (77m 19c)

Swindon Panel Generator Room - 0779076

Swindon Platform 4 Helpdesk

Swindon Platform 1/3 Helpdesk

Swindon Station Manager - 0779150

Swindon Chargeman - 0779156

Swindon Booking Office - 0779188

Swindon P-Way office - 079109

Traincrew Mess Room

Swindon West Relay Room - 0779139 (77m 34c)

West End Crossing

Stop Board, Engine Line - 0779181

North Sidings GF

Rodbourne A GF

Rodbourne B GF

Rushey Platt GF

Rushey Platt HCR

Studley HABD Cabin - 0779135 (also extn outside) (80m 60c or 81m 40c)

Wootton Bassett East RR - 0779140 (83m 08c)

Wootton Bassett Siding GF

Wootton Bassett HCR / PPD - 0779209

Wootton Bassett P-Way Cabin - 0779036

Dauntsey LST - 077968 (87m 51c)

Chippenham Station

Chippenham RR - 0779943 / 0779969

Chippenham RR (outside) 0779927

Chippenham MOM - 0779930

Chippenham MOM Fax - 0779931

Thingley HCR - 0779950 (95m 32c)

Thingley Jcn RR - 0779948 (96m 10c)

Thingley (New) RR - 0779949

Thingley GF - 077947

Bristol PSB (Main Panel) - [redact]

Wootton Bassett West RR - 0779136 (84m 04c)

Wootton Bassett West Crossovers / HCR - 0779210

Callow Hill LST - 0779097 (85m 30c)

Malmesbury Road LST (linked to direct phone on back desk) - 0775558 (93m 30c)

Hullavington RR - 0775820 (also extn outside) (95m 25c)

Hullavington P-Way Cabin - 0779114

Bristol PSB (Stoke) - [redact]

Workshop GF

Collins Lane Equipment Room - 0779200 (shared with EJ ACE)

Purton Common

EJ Evaluator Room - 0779200 (shared with Collins Lane)

Minety Crossing - 0779242

Kemble GF - 0775813

Kemble Up Platform

Kemble Down Platform

Kemble Chargeman

Kemble Generator Room - 0775813

Kemble Relay Room - 0775814

Kemble P-Way Cabin - 0779812

Gloucester PSB - [redact]

Swindon Control - 0775414

Swindon Control Fax - 0775451

Swindon Control Engineering Desk - 0775422

Swindon Control Emergency - [redact]

Ashchurch MOM - [redact]

Bath RR -

Didcot RR - 0783123