Railway telephone exchanges

RAILWAY TELEPHONE EXCHANGES OF THE BRITISH RAILWAYS

Changes since around 1990 have not been taken into account (assistance welcomed!).

Note that regional 'ownership' of exchanges changed over time.

BR headquarters and associated bodies

BR HQ (222 Marylebone Road)

ETD code 015. Numbers in range 5xxx, 6xxx. Believed to have been an Ericsson prototype PABX4 bought cheaply (or else some reject export exchange).

Exchange served BRB extensions in 222 Marylebone Road, Melbury House and Dorset House. The exchange also served British Waterways Board office located in Melbury House (these had a separate switchboard number for P.O. calls.

BR HQ (Rail House)

ETD code 015. Numbers in range ####

BT Advertising (Newman Street)

ETD code 063, later 00-4. Numbers in 52xx range (originally 063-82xx, then 065-82xx). Parented on Euston. Located in Newman Street, W1.

BT Police (Tavistock Place)

ETD code 00-4. Numbers in 88xx range.

Department of Environment, Marsham Street (01-212 xxxx)

Reached on level 78 from BRB (local grading only). Same code previously went to Ministry of Transport, St Christopher House, Waterloo for same purpose (latter had auto connections to MoD, etc.).

Government Telephone Network (GTN)

ETD code 099. Not available everywhere

London Transport

See separate notes.

MoD Main Building

Auto-manual connections from Euston 063-4970 and Paddington 076-2999, manual connections from BRB, Liverpool Street and Waterloo.

National Carriers Ltd (Great Northern House)

See Kings Cross (GN House).

National Carriers Ltd (John Street)

PABX located at NCL head office, John Street, WC1. Served by Liverpool Street with numbers in range 026-3xxx.

National Coal Board

Manual connection from BRB.

National Rail Supplies

ETD code 027. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Doncaster.

Northern Command

Manual connection via York operator.

Railway Companies Association

Located at Fielden House, Great College Street, Westminster.

Transmark

Two-digit exchange (probably PABX1 or BRB No. 1 PABX), reached on level 72 from BRB (local grading only). Transmark was BR's consultancy and market research company, located near to the BRB in Dorset Square.

Western Command

Manual connection via Crewe operator.

Eastern and North Eastern Regions

Alnmouth

ETD code 035. Numbers in 72xx range. Parented on Newcastle. Planned as: 035-5xxx.

Barking

ETD code 026. Numbers in 8xxx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Barnsley

ETD code 019. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Sheffield.

Bishop Auckland

Manual in 1937.

Blyth

Planned as: ETD code 035. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Newcastle.

Boston

Manual in 1916.

Bradford

ETD code 033. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Leeds.

Bread Street

Part of the LNER's system of Relay Automatic Telephone Company (RATCo) exchanges with linked numbering installed 1927. Numbers in 6xxx range. Bread Street was the LNER's city management office in London and was blitzed during the second world war.

Brentwood

ETD code 029. Numbers in 7xxx range.

Broxbourne

ETD code 026. Numbers in 62xx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Bury St Edmunds

ETD code 024. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Ipswich. Abolished before 1989.

Cambridge

ETD code 022. Numbers in 2xxx range. BRB crossbar equipment. While Cambridge was still manual callers dialled 022 for the Liverpool Street operator, who connected calls to Cambridge.

Chelmsford

ETD code 029. Numbers in 5xxx range.

Chesterfield

ETD code 019. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Sheffield.

Chesterton Junction

CCE depot had 25(?)-line German-made PAX.

Colchester

ETD code 024. Numbers in 32xx range. Parented on Ipswich. BRB crossbar equipment.

Darlington

ETD code 034. Numbers in 2xxx, 3xxx range.

Darlington Bank Top

Manual in 1937.

Darlington Stooperale

Manual in 1937.

Darlington North Road Loco Works

Manual in 1937.

Doncaster

ETD code 027. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1916.

Doncaster (second unit)

Planned to have ETD code 018 with levels at Lincoln (2xxx), Boston (3xxx), Grimsby (4xxx), Willoughby (5xxx) and Immingham (6xxx). Not completed like this.

East Ham

ETD code 026. Numbers in 82xx, 83xx range.

Ely

ETD code 022. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Cambridge. This was the plan, not sure if it was carried out.

Felixstowe

ETD code 024. Numbers in 29xx range. BT Herald exchange, dials 024 for parent at Ipswich. Parented on Ipswich.

Five Arch (Kings Cross)

Manual in 1916.

Goole

PABX with no P.O. lines only.

Grantham

ETD code 027. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Doncaster. Manual in 1916.

Grimsby

ETD code 018. Numbers in 62xx range. Parented on Scunthorpe.

Halifax

ETD code 033. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Leeds.

Hartlepool

Planned as: ETD code 034. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Darlington.

Harrogate

ETD code 033. Numbers in 8xxx range. Parented on Leeds.

Hatfield

Manual in 1916.

Healey Mills

ETD code 033. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Leeds.

Hertford

ETD code 029. Numbers in 42xx range.

Hitchin

ETD code 029. Numbers in 22xx range. Also a PAX made by STC with numbers 3xx for Control purposes.

Manual in 1916.

Holloway East Goods

Manual in 1916.

Hornsey

ETD code 021- Numbers in 20xx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Manual in 1916.

Huddersfield

ETD code 033. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Leeds.

Hull

ETD code 032. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on York.

Huntingdon

The auto exchange planned for installation here was in fact placed at St Neots, with the same code and numbers. Manual in 1916.

Hull

Manual in 1937.

Ilford

ETD code 025. Numbers in 82xx and 83xx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Immingham

ETD code 018. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Scunthorpe.

Ipswich

ETD code 024. Numbers in 22xx range.

Kings Cross

Part of the LNER's system of Relay Automatic Telephone Company (RATCo) exchanges with linked numbering installed 1927. Numbers in 3xxx range, serving locations on the station. The exchange was located on the top floor of the West Side offices, alongside Platform 8 (platform 10 in those days before renumbering). Its physical location was on the first floor, about halfway along the platform from the barrier. Reg Freer, a rather resourceful technician, had his office/mess room opposite and had wired up a contact on the door to that corridor so that a discreet buzzer sounded whenever anyone came up the stairs to visit the exchange.

The equipment was housed in a large number of steel-cased cabinets, all painted black and a manual switchboard of about four positions in the room next door. Sam Hallas recalls one of the technicians telling him the key switches in the switchboard were so worn that the points on one side of the contacts had worn holes right through the plates on the opposite contacts, making connection rather intermittent! In common with most other relay systems, the equipment at Kings Cross did not return dial tone. This was a frequent source of fault reports to the technicians, who took pleasure in telling their calls that this was quite correct—there was no dial tone because the system was so fast it didn't need one!

The exchange closed in 1973 (in August it was still powered but had no subscribers connected). Up to around that time it was still used for railway trunk calls, with four tie-lines from the GN House operator (no ETD facilities at GN House until Norton Folgate was commissioned).

Manual in 1916, known as 'Central'.

Kings Cross CS&TE

PAX on level 40 of Kings Cross main exchange, during 1970s. Two-digit numbers.

Kings Cross East Side Offices

PAX on level 52 of CS&TE PAX, during 1970s.

Kings Cross (Great Northern House)

ETD code 021. PABX3? Numbers in 42xx range (40 level disconnected and used as a 3-digit PABX for National Carriers Ltd). Located in basement of GN House, serving originally only the divisional office in the building. When Kings Cross closed it took over the extensions on the station and elsewhere. No ETD facilities until Norton Folgate opened (see entry for Kings Cross). Closed when building vacated and now located ????.

Kings Cross Loco, Parcels and Police exchanges

Each manual in 1916.

Kings Lynn

ETD code 024. Numbers in 62xx range. BT Herald exchange, single beat ringing tone. Parented on Cambridge. Planned as: 022-5xxx.

Knottingley

ETD code 032. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on York. Planned as: 027-8xxx, parented on Doncaster.

Leeds

ETD code 033. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual connection to Queen's Hotel.

Leeds City (joint LMS & LNE)

Auto in 1939, with 2xx, 3xx and 4xx numbers.

Leeds (LNE)

Manual in 1937.

Lincoln

ETD code 018. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Scunthorpe

Liverpool Street

New exchange: ETD code 021. Numbers in 2xxx range. Known as Norton Folgate but approached from a small gateway in Commercial Street beside the rail overbridge. Operator assistance for a while on 022 (until code allocated to Cambridge).

Old exchange: On east side of station, possibly in Hamilton House, on ground floor. Part of the LNER's system of Relay Automatic Telephone Company (RATCo) exchanges with linked numbering installed 1927. Numbers in 2xxx range.

Liverpool Street and Kings Cross were the largest RATCo exchanges in the UK. Liverpool Street had 600 lines installed, with around 10,000 relays and a quarter of a million contacts. Outgoing (and incoming) Post Office calls had to be completed by the operator.

Marylebone

Manual exchange connected to the LNER's system of Relay Automatic Telephone Company (RATCo) exchanges installed 1927. Dialling code 4 from any other exchange. Had line from the LTE system (XRL 7162) for connecting calls to Metropolitan Line stations beyond Rickmansworth (which was done very grudgingly).

Marylebone station PAXs

Two Ericsson 23-line PAXs made in 1940 (not interconnected) on top floor of station building installed during WW2 for local communication.

Middlesbrough

ETD code 034. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Darlington. Manual in 1937.

Morpeth

ETD code 035. Numbers in 73xx range. Parented on Newcastle. Planned as: 035-4xxx.

Newark

ETD code 027. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Doncaster.

Newcastle

ETD code 035. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual connection to BTH hotel. Manual in 1937.

Newcastle Freightliners

ETD code 035. Numbers in 29xx range.

Norwich

ETD code 024. Numbers in 63xx, 63xx range. Parented on Ipswich. This was the interim scheme; the ultimate was to make Norwich a zone centre as 023-2xxx with satellites at Lowestoft 023-3xxx and Great Yarmouth 023-4xxx.

Parkestone Quay

ETD code 024. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Ipswich.

Parkestone Quay Sealink

ETD code 024. Numbers in 74xx, 75xx range. Parented on Ipswich.

Peterborough

ETD code 028. Numbers in 22xx range. Manual connection to GN Hotel.

Control PAX had 2-digit numbers.

Manual in 1916.

Retford

ETD code 027. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Doncaster. Manual in 1916.

Romford

ETD code 021. Numbers in 85xx, 86xx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Rotherham

ETD code 019. Numbers in 77xx range. Parented on Sheffield. Abolished some time before 1989.

Royal London House

ETD code 026. Numbers in 22xx range. Closed when building vacated.

St Neots

ETD code 028. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Peterborough..

Control PAX made by STC, numbers in 4xx range.

Scarborough

Planned as: ETD code 032. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on York.

Scunthorpe

ETD code 018. Numbers in 2xxx range. Scheduled to enter service August/September 1974. Planned as: Doncaster 027-4xxx..

Selby

ETD code 032. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on York.

Seven Sisters

ETD code 026. Numbers in 52xx, 53xx range.

Sheffield

ETD code 019. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual connection to BTH hotel.

Shenfield

BRB crossbar equipment. Previously a PABX1 with access by P.O. lines only (no railway junction circuits).

Shildon

ETD code 034. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Darlington.

Shirebrook

Manual. Reached via Worksop operator.

Spalding

Planned as ETD code 028. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Peterborough..

Southend East

ETD code 026. Numbers in 42xx, 43xx range.

Stratford

ETD code 025. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Previously part of the LNER's system of Relay Automatic Telephone Company (RATCo) exchanges with linked numbering installed 1927. Numbers in 5xxx range.

Sunderland

ETD code 035. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Newcastle. Manual in 1937.

Thorpe-le-Soken

ETD code 024. Numbers in 83xx range. Parented on Ipswich.

Tilbury Riverside

ETD code 026. Numbers in 72xx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Tinsley

ETD code 019. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Sheffield.

Tweedmouth

ETD code 035. Numbers in 74xx range. Parented on Newcastle. Planned as: 035-6xxx Berwick.

Wakefield

ETD code 033. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Leeds.

Wath

ETD code 019. Numbers in 44xx range, using digit absorber. Parented on Sheffield.

Welwyn Garden City

ETD code 029. Numbers in 32xx range. Also a PAX made by STC with numbers 2xx for Control purposes.

West Hartlepool

Manual in 1937.

Whitemoor

ETD code 028. Numbers in 52xx range. Parented on Peterborough..

Wickford

ETD code 026. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Liverpool Street.

Witham

ETD code 024. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Ipswich.

Worksop

ETD code 027. Numbers in 4xxx range (planned 7xxx). Parented on Doncaster.

York

ETD code 032. Numbers in 2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx ranges. Manual connection to Royal Station Hotel. Auto in 1937, with 2xx, 3xx, 4xx and 5xx numbers. 034 and 035 zones originally planned as second and third units on York.

London Midland Region

Aldersgate Street

Manual in 1949.

Allerton

ETD code 051. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Liverpool.

Alperton

ETD code 063. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Euston. Exchange closed when Middlesex House closed.

Atherton

Manual in 1915.

Appleby

ETD code 044. Numbers in 52xx range. Parented on Carlisle. ?Abolished.

Banbury

ETD code 050. Numbers in 79xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Previously 067-32xx. See also WR.

Bangor

ETD code 055. Numbers in 42xx range. Parented on Llandudno. Manual in 1915.

Barrow

ETD code 044. Numbers in 52xx, 53xxx range. Parented on Carlisle. Previously parented on Lancaster as 046-32xx.

Bedford

ETD code 064, later 00-4. Numbers in 064-52xx, then 00-482xx and 83xx range. Parented on Euston. BRB crossbar equipment.

Manual in 1937.

Bescot

Manual in 1915, 1935.

Birkenhead

Manual in 1915.

Birkenhead Central (known as 'Mersey')

ETD code 052 7. Numbers in 2xx range. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Siemens Brothers PAX, which gave such persistent trouble that the cover was always left off. 10 selector links serving stations and bookstalls on the Mersey Railway and some stations in the Wirral. Three-digit numbers (probably a 200-line exchange). Two tie lines (one in, one out) to Lime Street on level 9. The G-relay contacts burned out through over-use; exchange generally in a terrible state. Overhauled by Reliance Telephones Ltd. There had been a similar exchange at Eversholt Street and when it closed, all spares were sent to Birkenhead.

Birmingham

ETD codes 050 and 067 (latter now withdrawn). Numbers in 2xxx, 3xxx and 4xxx range. Manual in 1915, 1935.

Birmingham Aston Goods

Manual in 1935.

Birmingham Central Goods

Manual in 1935.

Birmingham Lawley Street Goods

Manual in 1935.

Birmingham Queen's Hotel

Manual in 1935.

Birmingham (Smallbrook)

PABX (presumably) serving new Divisional offices, with numbers in 2xx and 3xx range (1960).

Blackburn

ETD code 047. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Preston.

Bolton

ETD code 049. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Manchester.

Blackpool

ETD code 047. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Preston.

Bletchley

ETD code 064, later 00-4. Numbers in 32xx and 33xx range. Parented on Euston. Manual in 1915, 1949.

Blisworth

Manual in 1915, 1949.

Bolton

ETD code 049. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Manchester. Manual in 1915.

Bow and Old Ford

Manual in 1949.

Broad Street

ETD code 063. Numbers in 8xxx range. Parented on Euston. Exchange closed when station closed. Manual in 1915.

Burton on Trent

ETD code 056. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Derby. Manual in 1937.

Bushbury

Manual in 1915, 1935.

Buxton

ETD code 049 (previously 048). Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Manchester. Manual in 1915.

Camden

Manual in 1915, and in 1949 via Euston 237/239.

Canning Town Goods

Manual in 1949.

Carlisle

ETD code 044. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1915.

Carnforth

Manual in 1915.

Chester

ETD code 053. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Crewe. Manual in 1915.

Chesterfield

Manual in 1937.

Colwich

Manual in 1915, 1936.

Commercial Road Goods

Manual in 1949.

Copley Hill

Manual in 1915.

Corby

Manual exchange parented on Nottingham, closed between 1970 and 1986.

Coventry

ETD code 050. Numbers in 62xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Manual in 1915, 1935.

Crewe

ETD code 053. Numbers in 2xxx, 3xxx and 8xxx range. PAX in DMO had three-digit numbers matching last three digits of PABX extension numbers.

Noted as auto in 1936 (numbers 2xx, 3xx and 4xx) and 1959 (2xxx numbers). Manual in 1915.

Derby

ETD code 056. Numbers in 2xxx, 3xxx and 5xxx range. Manual connection to BTH hotel.

Auto in 1937 with numbers in 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 6xx, 7xx, 9xx range.

Derby BREL

ETD code 056. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Derby. Incoming operator is on 4011. Locally they dial 0 operator and 7 for ETD.

Derby Castlefields

ETD code 056. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Derby. Closed between 1970 and 1986.

Derby Research

ETD code 056. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Derby. Closed between 1970 and 1986.

Ditton

ETD code 051. Numbers in 5xxxx range. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1915.

Dublin North Wall

Obtained via Holyhead operator.

Dudley Port

Manual in 1935.

Earlestown

Manual in 1915.

Edge Hill (Liverpool)

Manual in 1915.

Ellesmere Port

Manual in 1915.

Eversholt Street

See Birkenhead Central.

Euston

ETD code 063, now 00-4. Numbers in 2xxx,3xxx and 4xxx ranges. Level 2 of the 064 and 065 exchanges was teed to level 2 of 063 to provide operator access on 2100. Auto room was on ground floor of power box.

Auto in 1962, with numbers in range 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, 7xxx, 8xxx.

Euston Hotel

Manual in 1962, via Euston 8616/8617.

Euston Mitel demonstration PABX

ETD code 055. Temporary arrangement in 1981.

Fenchurch Street

Manual in 1949, via Euston 8643.

Garston

Manual on 052-5000. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1915.

Greenfield

Manual in 1915.

Haydon Square Goods

Manual in 1949.

Heaton Lodge

Manual in 1915.

Heysham (Sealink)

Manual. Parented on Lancaster 046-2322/3.

High Wycombe

ETD code 00-4, previously 064. Numbers in 61xx range. Opened after Joint line transferred to LMR.

Holyhead

ETD code 055. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Llandudno. Manual connection to Dublin North Wall. Manual in 1915.

Hooton

Manual in 1915.

Horwich

ETD code 049. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Manchester. Incoming operator on 7011. Locally they dial 0 operator and 7 for ETD.

Previously 049 7-2xx and 3xx (1970s).

Hooton Lodge

Manual in 1915.

Kettering

ETD code 056, previously 058. Numbers in 86xx range. Parented on Derby, previously Leicester. Manual (magneto) until the 1970s.

Lancaster

ETD code 047. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Preston. Previously zone centre with ETD code 046, numbers on 2xxx range.

Manual in 1915.

Leamington Spa

ETD code 050. Numbers in 78xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Previously 067-72xx.

Leeds (LNW)

Manual in 1915.

Leeds City (joint LMS & LNE)

Auto in 1939, with 2xx, 3xx and 4xx numbers.

Leicester

ETD code 056, previously 058. Numbers in 8xxx range. Manual in 1937.

Leighton Buzzard

Manual in 1915, 1949.

Lichfield

ETD code 050. Numbers in 60xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Formerly 061-6xxx when a satellite of Rugby. Manual in 1915, 1936

Liverpool

ETD code 051, formerly also 052. Numbers in 2xxx and 3xxx range. Level 2 of the 052 exchange teed to level 2 of 051 to give access to operator on 2100. Manual in 1915.

Llandudno

Manual in 1915.

Llandudno Junction

ETD code 055. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1915.

Longsight

Manual in 1915.

Lougborough

Manual, reached via Leicester operator.

Luton

ETD code 00-4. Numbers in 84xx range. Parented on Euston. BRB crossbar equipment. Manual in 1949.

Maiden Lane Goods

Manual in 1949.

Manchester

ETD code 049 (originally 048 was Manchester Piccadilly and 049 was Manchester Victoria). Numbers in 2xxx and 3xxx range. Manual connection to Midland Hotel.

Manchester Exchange

Manual in 1915.

Manchester London Road

Manual in 1915.

Morecambe

ETD code 046 71. Two-digit numbers. Closed between 1970 and 1986.

Northampton

ETD code 050. Numbers in 82xx and 83xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Auto room was located on Platform 1 (not now). Formerly 061-4xxx when a satellite of Rugby. Manual in 1915, 1949.

Northwich

ETD code 053. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Crewe.

Nottingham

ETD code 057. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1937.

Nuneaton

ETD code 050. Numbers in 68xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Formerly 061-5xxx when a satellite of Rugby. Manual in 1915.

Ordsall Lane

Manual in 1915.

Oxenholme

ETD code 046. Numbers in 52xx range. Parented on Lancaster. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1915.

Patricroft

Manual in 1915.

Penrith

ETD code 044. Numbers in 42xx range. Parented on Carlisle. Manual in 1915.

Poplar Docks

Manual in 1949.

Preston

ETD code 047. Numbers in 2xxx range Manual in 1915..

Railway Clearing House

Manual in 1949, via Euston 8135/8136.

Rhyl

ETD code 055. Numbers in 52xx range. Parented on Llandudno. Manual in 1915.

Roade

Manual in 1915.

Rotherham (Masboro')

Manual in 1937.

Royal Mint Street (City) Goods

Manual in 1949.

Rugby

ETD code 050, formerly 061 when it was a zone centre in its own right. Numbers in 64xx and 65xx range, previously 061-2xxx. Parented on Birmingham. Auto room located under power box. Manual in 1915.

Rugeley

Manual in 1915, 1936.

Runcorn

ETD code 051. Numbers in 8xxx range. Parented on Liverpool.

St Helens

Manual on 051-8000. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1915.

St Helens Junction

Manual in 1915.

St Pancras station

Manual in 1949, via Euston 595/597.

Sealink (former Shipping Division)

ETD code 063, later 00-4. Numbers in 36xx-39xx range.

Sheffield

Manual in 1937.

Sheffield City Goods

Manual in 1937.

Sheffield Queen's Road Goods

Manual in 1937.

Sheffield Wicker

Manual in 1937.

Shrewsbury

ETD code 062. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1915.

Silecroft

ETD code 044. Numbers in 54xx range. Parented on Carlisle.

Skipton

ETD code 047. Numbers in 5xxx range, previously 7xxx. Parented on Preston. Previously manual on 046-2245/6.

Springs Branch

Manual in 1915.

Southport

ETD code 051. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Liverpool.

Stafford

ETD code 053. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Crewe. Manual in 1915, 1936.

Stalybridge

Manual in 1915.

Stechford

Manual in 1915, 1935.

Stockport

ETD code 049. Numbers in 6xxx range. Previously 048-3xxx. Parented on Manchester. Manual in 1915.

Stoke on Trent

ETD code 053. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Crewe. Manual in 1936.

Stonebridge Park Power House

Manual in 1949, via Euston 398.

Stourbridge

ETD code 050. Numbers in 77xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Previously 067-82xx.

Tamworth

ETD code 050. Numbers in 69xx range. Parented on Birmingham. Formerly 061-8xxx when a satellite of Rugby. Manual in 1915.

Tebay

Manual in 1915.

Tilbury

Manual in 1949.

Tring

Manual in 1915, 1949.

Toton

ETD code 057. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Nottingham. Previously PAX on 057 31-xx.

Tyldesley

Manual in 1915.

Victoria Docks Goods

Manual in 1949.

Walsall

ETD code 050. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Birmingham. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1915, 1935.

Warrington

ETD code 051. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Liverpool. Manual in 1915.

Waterloo (Liverpool)

Manual in 1915.

Watford

ETD code 076, now 00-4. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Euston.

Manual in 1915, and in 1949, via Euston 9 or 88.

Watford (The Grove)

ETD code 076, now 00-4. Numbers in 80xx range. Parented on Euston. Manual exchange here in WW2 serving LMS emergency headquarters.

Wellingborough

ETD code 056, previously 058. Numbers in 85xx range. Parented on Derby, previously Leicester.

Wellington

Manual in 1915.

West Hampstead

ETD code 00-4. Numbers in 85xx and 86xx range. Parented on Euston. BRB crossbar equipment.

Whitchurch

Manual in 1936.

Widnes

Manual in 1915.

Wigan

ETD code 051. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Liverpool. Previously manual on 051-6000. Manual in 1915.

Willesden Junction

ETD code 076, now 00-4. Numbers in 62xx-64xx range, originally in 7xxx range. Parented on Euston. Manual in 1915, also in 1949, via Euston 8691/8692.

Wolverhampton

ETD code 050. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Birmingham. Manual in 1915, 1935, 1956.

Wolverton

ETD code 064, later 00-4. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Euston. Appears to have been auto in 1949, with numbers on every level from 1x to 0x. Manual in 1915.

Workington

ETD code 044. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Carlisle.

LMS trunk and carrier circuits in the 1930s

Euston - Glasgow trunk

Crewe - Glasgow trunk

Carlisle - Glasgow trunk

Glasgow - Ayr trunk

Glasgow - Irvine trunk

Glasgow - Perth carrier

Perth - Inverness trunk

Inverness - Wick trunk

Perth - Aberdeen trunk

Perth - Oban trunk

Carlisle - Dumfries trunk

Carlisle - Stranraer trunk.

Scottish Region

Aberdeen

ETD code 037. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Dundee.

Aberdeen Station Hotel

Autophone PAX, probably 25-line (early 1970s).

Ayr

Transferred to Glasgow zone 041-85xx. Originally in ETD code 030. Numbers in 32xx range. Interim access on 030-3100.

Bathgate

Planned as: ETD code 036. Numbers in 72xx range.

Dunfermline

ETD code 036 (originally 039). Numbers in range 62xx, also 631x and 630x Auto Rescall.

Dundee

ETD code 037. Numbers in 5xxx range (534x and 539x were Auto Rescall).

Edinburgh

04-62xxx. Previously: ETD code 036. Numbers in 22xx-25xx range. Manual connections to Caledonian and North British hotels.

Edinburgh (previous exchange)

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONES AT EDINBURGH

A big step in the art of communication engineering was taken with the opening of the new private automatic branch exchange at Waverley station, Edinburgh, on December 12 [1938]. Previously the telephone system at Edinburgh consisted of three separate exchange boards, one of which was owned and maintained by the Post Office and had 12 exchange lines and 46 extensions to different departments. The main bulk of inter-departmental calls was handled by a central battery system which had over 100 extensions—one of which reached across the Forth to Burntisland, in Fife—and five Glasgow trunks. The third exchange consisted of a small board having three extensions to the Coaching Stock and Control offices, and three trunks to Burntisland, Coatbridge and Newcastle, being used for the purpose of rolling-stock control.

The new manual board has two operating positions, and is equipped for 200 extensions, with provision for further extensions if required, 15 Post Office junctions (13 of which are used), and trunk circuits to Glasgow (five), Newcastle, York and Aberdeen, all except the extensions being multipled on both positions.

The automatic equipment presents several new features, the chief being the employment of the new 2,000 type two-motion switch which has been adopted as standard by the Post Office. This exchange is one of the first to be equipped with this type of switch, of which there are 52.

Among the various facilities afforded by this type of exchange is the direct-access system of obtaining local calls through the public exchange. Users of extensions which are provided with this facility have only to dial “9” in order to be connected automatically with an exchange line. The caller then dials the five digits of the local Post Office number. All incoming calls from the public and railway trunks are handled by the manual board operator and then extended to any office.   Outgoing trunk calls, both Railway and Post Office, are obtained via the Operator. The new “free line signalling” system is used on the exchange lines. A small green light is shown below the first free line, the light moving along to the next free line when the first becomes engaged. This saves the operator the necessity of testing the lines to see if they are free before inserting a plug.

Secretarial sets are provided in the rooms of certain officials. By means of this equipment calls made to the official's number are passed to his personal staff, who, if the call is for the chief personally, depresses a button on the telephone, thereby calling the principal's attention. The latter can, if he so desires, disconnect the other telephone by depressing a key on his instrument. A “priority” key is fitted on certain extensions which enables the user to break in to a call. One of the most useful features of the automatic equipment is that, if an extension receiver is left off the rest, a signal is sent to the switchboard to inform the operator, who can then rectify the fault immediately.

The greatest advantage of this method of working is in the liaison of Post Office and Railway telephones, thus giving a direct connection from the public to any office fitted with a telephone.   The change-over from the old system to the new was made on Sunday, December 11, in accordance with a carefully prearranged programme. Dials had been fitted to the old C.B. telephones, and in certain cases new instruments fitted and temporary alterations made so that the telephones would continue to work under the old system until the change-over. At 10 a.m. on the Sunday, insulating strips were withdrawn from the new equipment and the fuses removed from the old, thus effecting an immediate transfer of the trunk lines, Post Office junctions, and the majority of the extensions. Outlying extensions such as Haymarket, Portobello and Leith on “party lines”, i.e., two or three telephones on the same circuit, but with selective ringing apparatus, were then visited, and the temporary work removed. The entire installation, including the two carrier (high-frequency) telephone circuits, was successfully changed over and inaugurated at 8.50 a.m. on Monday, December 12, by Mr. George Mills, Divisional General Manager, Scottish Area, and Mr. A. Moss, Signal and Telegraph Engineer, Scottish Area, the first call being put through to Mr. R. Gardiner, Superintendent, Scottish Area.

[source: London & North Eastern Railway Magazine, January 1939]

Edinburgh apparatus room showing final and group selector racks

Edinburgh second and third units

The 038 and 039 zone were originally hypothetical zones within Glasgow exchange. Both zones were absorbed into zone 036 with linked numbering, on 20th May 1974 for 039 and w.e.f. end October 1974 for zone 038.

Falkirk

ETD code 041. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Fort William

ETD code 041. Numbers in 77xx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Glasgow

ETD code 041. Numbers in 2xxx, 3xxx range. Operator assistance on 041-2291. Manual connection to Central and North British hotels.

Glasgow Central

ETD code 041. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Glasgow Hope Street

ETD code 041 5. Three-digit numbers. Closed.

Glasgow LMS

Manual in 1930s.

Glasgow College Goods LMS

Manual in 1930s.

Glasgow PABX at 302 Buchanan Street LMS

Auto in 1930s with 2x-7x numbers. Listed in directory as PABX but may have operated as a PAX.

Glasgow Queen Street LNE

In 1930s.

Glasgow second unit

Planned as: ETD code 030. Numbers on 2xxx (shared with 041), 5xxx (Irvine), 6xxx (Dumbarton), 8xxx (Ayr), ?xxx Kilmarnock.

Greenock

ETD code 041. Numbers in 55xx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Inverkeithing

ETD code 036. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Edinburgh.

Inverness

ETD code 037. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Dundee. Manual connection to BTH hotel.

Irvine

Transferred to Glasgow zone 041-82xx, 83xx. Originally in ETD code 030. Numbers in 22xx range. Interim access on 030-2100.

Kilmarnock

Transferred to Glasgow zone 041-87xx. Originally in ETD code 030. Numbers in 42xx range. Interim access on 030-4100.

Kirkcaldy

ETD code 036, originally 039. Numbers in range 82xx.

Motherwell

ETD code 041- Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Paisley

ETD code 041. Numbers in 52xx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Perth

ETD code 037. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Dundee. Manual connection to BTH hotel.

St Rollox LMS

Manual in 1930s.

Stirling

ETD code 041. Numbers in 72xx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Thornton

ETD code 036, originally 039. Numbers in range 83xx.

Yoker

ETD code 041. Numbers in 75xx, 76xx range. Parented on Glasgow.

Southern Region

This is covered mainly by Mike Tyrrell's document.

Brighton

Manual in 1922 (at which time it was the sole telephone exchange on the LBSCR).

Croydon

New PABX was to be supplied by GTE (Omni type?) and incorporated in ONLE scheme.

Feltham

PABX3. This was in the top of a disused building in the middle of a disused site that had been a huge marshalling yard. The building had been vandalised, there were no lights in the stairway or halls, and it was infested by pigeons. I had to go there on a few occasions in 1973, and none of the other BR technicians at Waterloo would dirty their hands and go. I wrote a letter describing the disgusting and unhealthy conditions, and they just laughed, and said it was a hysterical letter. I cannot think of the manager's name but Malcolm Ballinger would know....happy days!!! [Geoff Mawdsley]

London Bridge

Manual 'switchboard' noted in 1922 directory; this appears to have been the sole exchange on the SECR, although some locations had plugboards that allowed one circuit to be connected to another.

Waterloo

Notes on original auto.

Western Region

Aberystwyth

Manual in 1949.

Abbotswood Junction

ETD code 075. Numbers in 51xx range. Parented on Gloucester. Closed by 1986.

Aldermaston

Aldermaston exchange was a wartime installation situated in a heavily constructed building on the Headquarters Offices site at the back of the station on the down side. The exchange was a 200-line pre-2000 type auto made by STC plus a two-position switchboard. It was connected to Reading exchange by 20 tie lines from switchboard to switchboard. To accommodate the extra lines an additional pole route was constructed between Reading and Aldermaston on the opposite side of the line to the existing route it is believed by U.S. forces staff. It was said that the Aldermaston auto wasn't new when installed during the war. It is said to have been the Reading station exchange which during the move was replaced by a six position manual board (that's progress!).

The exchange served headquarters staff situated in large concrete huts. In 1955/56 I remember these to be mostly audit staff who sat and counted returned tickets all day. There was also, I remember, a single engine shed on the site, no doubt to facilitate transport for the top management at nearby Beenham Grange. I think the Grange was given up at the end of the war, but the Aldermaston site continued in use until 1958 when the remaining staff moved to new offices in what had been McIlroys Dept store in Oxford Road, Reading. The operators at Aldermaston were withdrawn some time at the end of the war and the tie lines terminated on relay sets. The site was taken over in about 1958 by Sterling Cable. [Source: the late Bryan Ruffell]

Avonmouth

ETD code 074. Numbers in 31xx range. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Banbury

A new combined Great Western Railway and Post Office telephone switchboard has been brought into use at Banbury, connecting up the local offices and outlying stations, with a trunk line to the Birmingham (Snow Hill) telephone exchange [reported Great Western Railway Magazine, page 256, 1934].

PABX with numbers in 2xx range, opened when station was rebuilt c. 1960. See under LMR for replacement.

Barmouth

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Barry

ETD code 071. Numbers in 5xxx range, previously 65xx and 67xx. Parented on Cardiff. Abolished before 1989.

Manual in 1949, 1955. Auto in 1965 with 2xx and 3xx numbers, reached on Cardiff level 5.

Bath

ETD code 074. Numbers in 51xx range. Parented on Bristol. Auto in 1935, with 2x, 3x and 4x numbers.

Beenham (WW2 HQ)

PMBX reached on Aldermaston level 92.

Birkenhead Woodside

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Birmingham

Manual in 1944. Located at Snow Hill.

Brentford

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Bridgend

ETD code 071. Numbers in 72xx range. Parented on Cardiff.

Bridgwater

ETD code 074. Numbers in 81xx range, originally 21xx when Bristol was 2-xxx. Parented on Bristol.

Bristol

ETD code 074. Numbers in 2xxx range. Previously 074 2-xxx. Auto directory of 1935 shows numbers starting 1xx, 2xx and 3xx. Directory of 1943 shows different numbers, starting 2xx, 3xx and 4xx, implying renewal of exchange.

The old auto exchange was pre-2000 type equipment, located in a building standing on concrete pillars parallel to Collett House [John Trigger]

Contract for the provision of automatic intercommunication telephones at Bristol Temple Meads station: The General Electric Company Ltd, London [reported Great Western Railway Magazine, page 174, 1934].

Bristol Satellite

ETD code 074 20 with two-digit numbers, noted in directories c. 1970. Believed 25 lines, located on same equipment room as main auto exchange, provided to give overflow capacity [John Trigger].

Bristol Templegate

BR Property Board. Obtained via Bristol operator.

Builth Wells

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Cardiff

ETD code 071. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1932, auto in 1940 (numbers 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx and 6xx).

Cardiff Bute Docks

Manual exchange in 1925.

Cardiff Queen Street

Manual exchange in 1925.

Cardiff Docks

No ETD code as accessible on Cardiff local grading only. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Cardiff. Cardiff Docks first gained its own PBX in November 1947.

Carmarthen

ETD code 073. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Swansea. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Cheltenham

ETD code 075. Numbers in 41xx and 42xx range. Parented on Gloucester. Manual in 1949, 1955, 1958.

Chester (GW)

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Chippenham

ETD code 077. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Swindon.

Cirencester Town

Manual in 1958.

Didcot

ETD code 078. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Reading. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Evesham

ETD code 075. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Gloucester.

Exeter

ETD code 070. Numbers in 22xx and 23xx range. Manual in 1932, auto in 1942.

Exeter Central

Manual in 1955.

Fishguard Bay Hotel

Manual in 1949, not listed 1955.

Fishguard Harbour

ETD code 071. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Cardiff. Previously 073-26xx. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Gloucester

ETD code 075. Numbers in 2xxx range, operator on 1000. Manual in 1949. [Gloucester Eastgate and Gloucester Central both listed as manual 1955]

Haverfordwest

ETD code 073. Numbers in 8xxx range, previously 27xx. Parented on Swansea.

Hereford

ETD code 075. Numbers in 7xxx range. Parented on Gloucester. Manual in 1932, 1949, 1955.

High Wycombe

Manual exchange in WR days, listed 1955 but not 1949. See LMR.

Hockley

Auto PABX in 1994, numbers 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x. Dial 0 for Birmingham operator.

Honeybourne

Manual in 1949, 1955, 1962.

Hooton

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Kensington Olympia

ETD code 076. Numbers in 72xx range. BRB No.1 PABX, presumed closed now. Manual in 1920.

Lanelli

ETD code 073. Numbers in 41xx range. Parented on Swansea.

Leamington Spa

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Liverpool GW

Manual exchange in 1925.

Machynlleth

Parented on Shrewsbury. Reputed to be the last manual exchange converted to automatic on BR.

Manchester GW

Manual exchange in 1930.

Margam (previously Margam Yard)

ETD code 073. Numbers in 31xx range. Parented on Swansea. Automatic in 1956 with 2xx numbers (dial 4 for Port Talbot operator).

Margam Hump Yard

ETD code 073. Numbers in 61xx range. Parented on Swansea.

Moat Lane

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Moretonhampstead

Manual in 1949, not listed 1955.

Neath

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Newbury

ETD code 078. Numbers in 52xx range (5150 operator). Parented on Reading. Installed in the 1970s or 1980s.

Previously a single position manual switchboard in a small room built under the footbridge on the up platform. [Source: the late Bryan Ruffell]

Newport Alexandra Docks

Manual exchange in 1925.

Newport High Street

ETD code 071. Numbers in 62xx, 63xx and 64xx range. Parented on Cardiff. Manual in 1932, auto in 1934 (numbers 2xx and 3xx).

Newton Abbot

ETD code 070. Numbers in 52xx range (5100 operator). Parented on Exeter. Manual in 1932, 1949, 1955.

Old Oak Common

Auto satellite of Paddington, numbers in range 3xxx. Closed before 1970.

Old Oak Common main substation

15-line plug board and Ericsson magneto telephone for calling substations. Also a 10-line switchboard belonging to the LEB (c. 1970).

Oxford

ETD code 078. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Reading. Manual until early 1970s, reached on Reading level 4 (ringing tone continuous 17Hz).

Oswestry

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Paddington

ETD code 076, later 00-3. Numbers in 2xxx range. Exchange located at Royal Oak. Noted as manual in 1930, auto in 1938.

Paddington (auxiliary exchange)

Noted in 1962 directory for various RHQ departments. Two-digit numbers in range 1x-7x, reached on Paddington level 5.

Park Royal

ETD code 076. Numbers in 42xx range. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1955, not listed in 1949.

Penzance

ETD code 079. Numbers in 5xxx range. Parented on Plymouth. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Plymouth

ETD code 079. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1932, auto in 1942 with 7xx and 8xx numbers (auto exchange was located at Millbay station).

Pontypool Road

A new telephone exchange at Pontypool Road has been brought into use [reported Great Western Railway Magazine, page 8, 1921].

In connection with the closing of the Pontypool Road telegraph office, a small automatic telephone exchange has been provided for local use, and the omnibus telephone circuits have been extended to the Newport (High Street) telephone exchange [reported Great Western Railway Magazine, page 256, 1934]. Extensions numbered 2x, 3x and 4x plus 80 for Newport operator.

Pontypridd

ETD code 071. Numbers in 66xx range. Parented on Cardiff. 2xx numbers in 1967.

Port Talbot

ETD code 073. Numbers in 71xx range. Closed between 1970 and 1986. Manual in 1932, 1949, 1955.

Reading

ETD code 078. Numbers in 2xxx range. Out-of-area extension at Wokingham booking office, SR (outside line gave Reading dial tone). Various omnibus circuits were terminated on Reading exchange and could be accessed on the following codes: 291 GW & GC joint line; 293 Berks. & Hants. line;295 ditto; 296 ditto; 298 Henley on Thames; 290 Basingtoke. Various manual trunk circuits on the 7 level. Auto in 1936 with 2xx numbers, manual in 1932.

Royal Oak (Ranalagh Bridge substation)

20-line magneto manual board with extensions to local electrical substations and Leicester Square LT control (c. 1970).

St Blazey

ETD code 079. Numbers in 3xxx range. Parented on Plymouth.

St Ives

Manual in 1949, not listed 1955.

Severn Tunnel Junction

ETD code 071. Numbers in 68xx, 69xx and 60xx range. Parented on Cardiff. Auto in 1949.

Shrewsbury

See LMR for auto exchange. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Slough

ETD code 076, later 003. Numbers in 62xx, 63xx, 640x range. Parented on Paddington. 640x numbers were auto party line from Maidenhead to Hugh Wycombe. Auto in 1966, manual in 1932, 1949, 1955.

Smithfield

Manual exchange in 1925.

South Lambeth

Manual exchange in 1925.

Southall

ETD code 00-3, previously 076. Numbers in 52xx range. Parented on Paddington. manual in 1949, 1955.

Stoke Gifford

ETD code 074. Numbers in 41xx range. Parented on Bristol. BRB No. 1 PABX.

Stroud Central

Manual in 1949, 1955, 1958.

Sudbrook

ETD code 071. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Cardiff.

Swansea

ETD code 073. Numbers in 2xxx range. Manual in 1932, 1949, 1955.

Swansea Harbour (British Transport Docks)

Manual, obtained via Swansea operator.

Swansea Victoria

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Swindon

ETD code 077. Numbers in 2xxx (BREL works), 3xxx and 4xxx range. The 2 level is Strowger and the 3 and 4 levels electronic. Manual in 1932, 1949, auto in July 1952.

Taunton

ETD code 074. Numbers in 82xx range. Parented on Bristol. Manual in 1932, 1949, 1955.

Torquay

ETD code 070. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Exeter.

Truro

ETD code 079. Numbers in 4xxx range. Parented on Plymouth. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Westbury

ETD code 074. Numbers in 71xx range. Parented on Bristol. Manual in 1949, 1955.

Westerleigh

ETD code 074. Numbers in 89xx range. Parented on Bristol. 25-line PABX3, replacing Ericsson Minirax (?) with 074 29-xx numbers. Located in signalling relay room.

Weston Super Mare

ETD code 074. Numbers in 61xx range. Parented on Bristol. Auto in 1935, with 2x and 3x numbers..

Weymouth (GW)

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Whitchurch

Manual in 1949, 1955.

Wolverhampton

Auto in 1944, numbers in 2xx and 3xx range.

Worcester

ETD code 075. Numbers in 6xxx range. Parented on Gloucester. Previously manual on 075-6.

Green Line telephone system

The control offices themselves are directly connected with each other by means of the super control trunks or what has come to be known as the 'Green Line'.
This "Green Line" as at present [1949] constituted consists of five circuits connected to the Paddington Exchange:

No. 1 serving Birmingham, Oswestry and Chester.

No. 2 serving Birmingham, Worcester, Gloucester and Bristol.

No. 3 serving Swindon and Bristol.

No. 4 serving Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.

No. 5 serving Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth.

In addition there are two direct circuits to Reading. Switching facilities are available in each control office to connect each divisional superintendent to the line.
All are connected to position No. 14, which also has extensions to the Operating Superintendent, his Assistants, the London Divisional Superintendent and his Assistants and certain sections of their offices. Intercommunication is available between the control offices on each circuit by dialling the code applicable; by dialling "9" a simultaneous call is given to all parties on the line including the Paddington operator. An ingenious switching arrangement enables conference facilities to be set up from head-quarters to all control offices or superintendents or to any specified group of control offices as desired.

There is also a headquarters conference telephone system which was put in during the War and is now in use daily which links the various Regional Operating Superintendents with each other and the Railway Executive. It is colloquially known as the 'Tin Can' at Paddington due to the fact that the telephones originally fitted were encased in a metal box. [BR WR Lecture & Debating Society paper no. 369, read 15th December 1949].

These circuits connected the area control offices to the Paddington Switchboard. This enabled all the area control offices to be connected through to the operating superintendent or his assistants, either individually or all at once. The conference facility being all important. There were as far as I know no individual telephones on these circuits—they were terminated at one end on the controller's desk (similar to a key-operated switchboard) and at the other end terminated on the Paddington switchboard. The dial first mentioned by John Batts at Royal Oak would, I believe, have been either on the switchboard itself or on the carrier equipment in the exchange equipment room or carrier room, where these were separate. There were five circuits: 1) the North of England, 2) Midlands, 3) Bristol, 4) South Wales, 5) West of England. These circuits were all on carrier on largely open wires except, I believe, for the Oswestry - Chester section of the North of England circuit which was physical. Calling in all cases was by 750 cycle tone. The dials on the carrier equipment enabled the telecomms lineman to carry out line tests. The switching carried out by a large can of relays attached to the carrier equipment. [the late Brian Ruffell]

Trunk circuits

Super-telephone trunks have been provided connecting Paddington with the train control offices at Reading, Swindon, Westbury, Bristol, Gloucester, Worcester, Newport, Cardiff, Tondu and Swansea. The complete scheme for the Cardiff telephone train control has been brought into use [reported Great Western Railway Magazine, page 8, 1921].

Access to outside lines

The normal PABX access code for outside lines is 9 but the code 91 was adopted on the ATE 211-type exchanges installed on some parts of Western Region, notably Paddington, Reading, the old Cardiff exchange, Newport, etc.. This avoided emergency calls being dialed as 9-999 and routed them to the railway operator on code 99.
It became increasingly necessary during the 1970s to stop emergency calls being placed direct with the Post Office operators as railway exchanges often crossed county boundaries, causing confusion as to which authority to contact. Examples that spring to mind would include Hertford North where the phones in the Enfield area were Hertford extensions but the Enfield area was part of London. The same applied around Reading, where emergency calls in Reading itself came under one set of circumstances and outside the town itself one or more different agencies were involved.

In order to overcome these anomalies the railway adopted 111 as an emergency code and the BR switchboard staff had the direct line numbers for each emergency service control room. It cost much circuit modification and ingenuity to make the 111 system work with the Strowger equipment and when they finished this, the EU decided to introduce a pan European emergency code of 112. So the railway nearly got it right but not quite. Of course with electronic exchanges you can make any number do anything nowadays. [Malcolm Ballinger]

BRB = British Railways Board

BREL = British Rail Engineering Ltd

LEB = London Electricity Board.

LT = London Transport.

MoD = Ministry of Defence.

ONLE = One Number London Exchange.

RHQ = regional headquarters.

ETD CODE & No. RANGE LOCATION REMARKS

000 Reserved for international access

001 Regional fault control Where implemented

00-22xxx, 23xxx WATERLOO ONLE

00-24xxx Denison House ONLE

00-26xxx DDI numbers ONLE (01-922 6xxx)

00-271xx, 270xx Denison House ONLE

00-272xx-279xx Victoria ONLE

00-28xxx Hither Green ONLE

002-xxxx Sea Containers ONLE (projected)

00-31xxx, 30xxx PADDINGTON ONLE

003-5xxx Southall ONLE

003-6xxx Slough ONLE

004-3xxx Wolverton ONLE

004-32xx, 33xx Bletchley ONLE

004-36xx- 39xx Sealink UK , Evdesholt House ONLE

00-41xxx, 40xxx EUSTON ONLE

004-42xx, 43xx Wolverton ONLE

004-52xx BT Advertising ONLE

004-61xx High Wycombe ONLE

004-62xx-64xx Willesden Jct ONLE

004-7xxx Watford ONLE

004-82xx, 83xx Bedford ONLE

004-84xx Luton ONLE

004-85xx, 86xx West Hampstead ONLE

004-88xx, 89xx BT Police ONLE

004-80xx Watford (The Grove) ONLE

00-48xxx Luton ONLE

00-5xxxx Reserved for Liverpool Street & King's Cross ONLE

00-55000-55099 Tilbury

00-55200-55419 Seven Sisters DDI 01-465 9xxx

00-55500-55699 Southend

00-56000-56199 Shenfield DDI 01-465 9xxx
00-56600-56919 Barking

00-57000-57649 Stratford

00-57880-57999 Romford

00-58170-58299 Welwyn Garden City

00-58720-58769 Hertford

00-58780-58999 Hornsey

00-59100-59179 Barking

00-59200-59299 Southend

00-59300-59319 Welwyn Garden City

00-59350-59369 Hertford

00-59370-59449 Hornsey

00-59570-59599 Romford

00-59600-59679 Seven Sisters DDI 01-465 9xxx

00-59700-59799 Shenfield DDI 01-465 9xxx

00-59800-59949 Stratford

00-59950-59989 Tilbury

006-6xxx CROYDON Code used for Croydon extensions only. Croydon satellites are 095.

Since abolished.

00-62xxx WIMBLEDON 00-621xx, 626xx = 01-545 51xx,56xx

00-64xxx, 00-65xxx CROYDON

009 Speaking Clock

011-2xxx, 3xxx WATERLOO replaced by ONLE

011-7xxx Victoria

011-8xxx Hither Green

012-2xxx BECKENHAM

012-28xx Swanley

012-31xx Orpington

012-7xxx Dartford

012-8xxx Charlton abolished

013-2xxx ASHFORD

013-31xx, 34xx Dover

013-32xx Hoverspeed Dover

013-35xx Folkestone

013-62xx Hastings

013-68xx Canterbury West

013-7xxx Tonbridge

013-71xx,70xx Ashford DDI extns 0233-617xxx

013-81xx Maidstone

014-22xx, 23xx CHATHAM
014-24xx Sittingbourne abolished

014-25xx Sheerness abolished

014-26xx Gravesend abolished

014-31xx Maidstone now 013-81xx

014-71xx Canterbury East abolished

014-72xx Faversham

014-82xx Margate

015-5xxx, 6xxx BRB HQ replaced by ONLE

015 72-xx Transmark abolished

015 78-xxxx DoE Marsham Street 01-212 xxxx

016-xxxx LTE

017 Victoria NRP

018-2xxx SCUNTHORPE

018-3xxx Immingham

018-4xxx Lincoln

018-62xx Grimsby

019-2xxx SHEFFIELD

019-4xxx Wath

019-5xxx Chesterfield

019-77xx Rotherham abolished

019-8xxx Tinsley

020 Liverpool Street NRP

021-2xxx LIVERPOOL STREET

021-20xx Hornsey renumbered 00-5xxxx

021-4xxx Kings Cross

021-5xxx Stratford renumbered 00-5xxxx

021-6xxx Shenfield now 00-56xxx, 00-59xxx

021-82xx, 83xx Ilford

021-85xx, 86xx Romford now 00-5xxxx

022* Liverpool Street operator (for Cambridge)

023 Kings Cross NRP Originally projected for Norwich zone

024-2xxx IPSWICH

024-29xx Felixstowe Herald, dials 024 for Ipswich (zone centre)

024-3xxx Colchester

024-4xxx Witham

024-6xxx Norwich

024-7xxx Parkeston Quay Sealink

024-82xx Parkeston Quay BR

024-83xx Thorpe-le-Soken

024-8xxx Bury St Edmunds abolished
025-2xxx CAMBRIDGE

025-62xx King's Lynn Herald, single beat RT

026 LIVERPOOL STREET

026-3xxx Wickford

026-4xxx Southend renumbered 00-5xxxx

026-5xxx Seven Sisters renumbered 00-5xxxx

026-6xxx Broxbourne

026-7xxx Tilbury renumbered 00-5xxxx

026-8xxx Barking renumbered 00-5xxxx

027-2xxx DONCASTER

027-3xxx Retford

027-4xxx Worksop

027-6xxx Grantham

027-82xx National Supplies

028-2xxx PETERBOROUGH

028-3xxx St Neots

028-5xxx Whitemoor

029-2xxx HITCHIN

029-32xx Welwyn Garden City renumbered 00-5xxxx

029-42xx Hertford renumbered 00-5xxxx

0301 CELLNET (authorised Cellnet users dial 761 for ETD )

030-2xxx IRVINE Zone abolished, to 041

030-3xxx Ayr

030-4xxx Kilmarnock

032-2xxx- 4xxx YORK

032-5xxx Hull

032-7xxx Knottingley

033-2xxx LEEDS

033-3xxx Healey Mills

033-4xxx Bradford

033-6xxx Wakefield

034-3xxx DARLINGTON

034-4xxx Shildon

034-5xxx Middlesbrough

035-2xxx NEWCASTLE

035-29xx Newcastle Freightliners

035-3xxx Sunderland

035-72xx Alnmouth

035-73xx Morpeth

035-74xx Berwick

036-2xxx EDINBURGH renumbered 04-62xxx

036-5xxx Inverkeithing

037-4xxx Aberdeen

037-5xxx DUNDEE

037-6xxx Perth

037-8xxx Inverness

038, 039 Edinburgh second & third units

041-2xxx, 3xxx GLASGOW

041-4xxx Glasgow Central

041-5xxx Paisley

041-55xx Greenock

041-6xxx Motherwell

041-7xxx Falkirk

041-72xx Stirling

041-75xx, 76xx Yoker

041-77xx Fort William

041-82xx, 83xx Irvine

041-85xx Ayr

041-87xx Kilmarnock

042 Glasgow second unit, later became 030 zone

043 Liverpool NRP

044-2xxx CARLISLE

044-3xxx Workington

044-42xx Penrith

044-52xx,53xx Barrow

044-52xx Appleby ?abolished

044-54xx Silecroft

045 Manchester NRP

046-2xxx LANCASTER Zone now abolished: incorporated into 044 and 047 zones

046-3xxx Barrow ...

046-5xxx Oxenholme ...

04-62xxx EDINBURGH DDI 031-550 2xxx

047-2xxx PRESTON

047-3xxx Blackpool

047-4xxx Blackburn

047-5xxx Skipton previously 7xxx

047-7xxx Lancaster

049-2xxx, 3xxx MANCHESTER formerly M/cr Victoria

049-4xxx Buxton

049-5xxx Bolton

049-6xxx Stockport

049-7xxx Horwich

050-2xxx, 3xxx, 4xxx BIRMINGHAM

050-5xxx Wolverhampton

050-62xx Coventry

050-64xx,

65xx Rugby

050-68xx Nuneaton

050-69xx Tamworth

050-60xx Lichfield

050-77xx Stourbridge

050-78xx Leamington Spa

050-79xx Banbury

050-82xx, 83xx Northampton

051-2xxx, 3xxx LIVERPOOL

051-4xxx Warrington

051-5xxx Allerton previously 5xxx Ditton

051-6xxx Wigan

051-7xxx Southport

051-8xxx Runcorn

052-2xxx Liverpool second unit, abolished

052-5111* Garston (M)

053-2xxx, 3xxx, 8xxx CREWE renumbered 05-32xxx

05-32xxx CREWE DDI 0270-532xxx

05-33xxx CREWE spare DDI 0270-533xxx spare

053-4xxx Stafford

053-5xxx Stoke-on-Trent

053-6xxx Chester

053-7xxx Northwich

054 Derby NRP

055-2xxx LLANDUDNO 055 was Mitel PABX demonstration exchange at Euston in 1981.

055-3xxx Holyhead

055-42xx Bangor

055-52xx Rhyl

056-2xxx, 3xxx, 5xxx DERBY

056-4xxx Derby BREL

056-6xxx Burton

056-8xxx Leicester formerly 058-8xxx

056-85xx Wellingborough formerly 058-85xx

056-86xx Kettering formerly 058-86xx

057-2xxx NOTTINGHAM

057-3xxx Toton

058-2xxx, later 8xxx LEICESTER zone now part of Derby 056 zone, numbers unchanged

059 Crewe NRP

060 Birmingham NRP

061-2xxx RUGBY zone abolished, to 050

061-4xxx Northampton

061-5xxx Nuneaton

061-6xxx Lichfield

061-8xxx Tamworth

062-2xxx SHREWSBURY

063-xxxx THIRD-PARTY ORGANISATIONS

063-2xxx, EUSTON replaced by ONLE

3xxx$

4xxx$

063-5xxx Middlesex House abolished

063-6xxx Willesden

063-7xxx Watford

063-82xx Bedford

063-84xx Luton

063-85xx, 86xx West Hampstead

064-2xxx Euston second unit

064-3xxx Bletchley

064-4xxx Wolverton

064-6xxx High Wycombe

065-2xxx Euston third unit

065-8xxx BT Advertising

066 Euston NRP

067-2xxx Birmingham second unit, abolished

067-3xxx Banbury

067-7xxx Leamington Spa

067-8xxx Stourbridge

070-2xxx EXETER

070-5xxx Newton Abbott

070-6xxx Torquay

071-2xxx CARDIFF

071-4xxx Sudbrook

071-5xxx Barry

071-62xx-64xx Newport

071-65xx, 67xx Barry Docks abolished

071-66xx Pontypridd

071-68xx-60xx Severn Tunnel Jct

071-7xxx Bridgend

071-8xxx Fishguard Harbour

073-2xxx SWANSEA now 07-32xxx

07-32xxx SWANSEA

073-3xxx Margam

073-4xxx Llanelli

073-5xxx Carmarthen

073-8xxx Haverfordwest

074-2xxx BRISTOL

074-4xxx Stoke Gifford

074-5xxx Bath

074-6xxx Weston-super-Mare

074-7xxx Westbury

074-81xx Bridgwater

074-82xx Taunton

074-89xx Westerleigh

075-2xxx GLOUCESTER

075-4xxx Cheltenham

075-5xxx Evesham

075-6xxx Worcester

075-7xxx Hereford

076-2xxx, 3xxx PADDINGTON replaced by ONLE

076-4xxx Park Royal

076-5xxx Southall

076-6xxx Slough

076-7xxx Kensington Olympia

077-2xxx Swindon BREL

077-3xxx, 4xxx SWINDON

077-5xxx Chippenham

078-2xxx READING

078-3xxx Didcot

078-4xxx Oxford

078-5xxx Newbury

079-2xxx PLYMOUTH

079-3xxx St Blazey

079-4xxx Truro

079-5xxx Penzance

080-22xx, 23xx WOKING

080-3xxx Salisbury

080-4xxx Basingstoke

080-45xx Andover abolished

080-71xx Aldershot abolished

080-8xxx Guildford

081 Preston NRP

08-2xxxx London Transport 2xxxx

08-3xxxx London Transport 3xxxx

086-22xx-25xx WIMBLEDON renumbered 00-62xxx

086-31xx Surbiton abolished

086-72xx Ascot

086-82xx$ Wimbledon level abolished

086-84xx Feltham

086-85xx Staines

086-86xx Strawberry Hill

089-2xxx SOUTHAMPTON

089-28xx Brockenhurst

089-29xx Fawley

089-3xxx Bournemouth

089-4xxx Weymouth

089-46xx Weymouth Sealink

089-6xxx see 089-8xxx

089-7xxx Eastleigh

089-8xxx Portsmouth now 089-6xxx

089-86xx Portsmouth Sealink now 089-6xxx

089-88xx Ryde now 089-6xxx

093-71xx, 72xx Redhill initial temporary code

094 SOUTHAMPTON initial temporary code

095-2xxx, 3xxx CROYDON Croydon extensions now on 006 (summer 1988)

095-41xx- 44xx Earlswood, Three Bridges, Haywards Heath

095-5xxx Redhill abolished

095-75xx Streatham

095-76xx Three Bridges ?re-numbered

095-78xx Dorking

095-82xx, 83xx Sutton

096-2xxx BRIGHTON

096-31xx Haywards Heath to 095 zone

096-31xx Worthing renumbered 83xx

096-32xx Lewes

096-35xx Chichester renumbered 83xx for DDI

096-37xx Horsham renumbered 84xx

096-4xxx Friese Green House

096-5xxx Newhaven Harbour Sealink

096-72xx Eastbourne renumbered 82xx

096-74xx Lewes renumbered 82xx

096-81xx West Worthing

096-820x-824x Lewes

096-825x-829x Eastbourne DDI 0273-228xxx

096-830x-834x Worthing

096-835x-839x Chichester DDI 0273-228xxx

096-84xx Horsham

099 GTN Not available everywhere

Notes:

1. Locations of zone centres are shown in capital letters.

2. M ..... manual exchange

NRP ... National Radio Plan exchange

$ ..... level abolished

3. 021-3111 (Barking) gave Barking P.O. DT following delay. Use DTMF.

4. Incoming operator at exchanges with switchboards is the first digit of the lowest level in use, followed by 100. Locally they dial 100.

5. Incoming operator at BREL Derby and Horwich is on the appropriate level, followed by 011. Locally they dial 0 operator and 7 for ETD.

6. ETD code 082=LT 2 level, 083=LT 3 level. Code is advertised as 08. Originally the codes were 002 and 003 (before implementation of ONLE). Existing four-digit numbers were prefixed 3, existing five-digit numbers (27xxx) unchanged. 10xxx numbers accessible from LT only (for access to regulators, etc.)

Other codes: 120 for BR R/Ts (code advertised as 12). Line controller 100 (and 900 in emergency). Operator is 0, faults 151, emergency 999 and 19 is breakdown message recording (also on 08-34960, 37620). New LT exchange brought into service 1.9.84.

7. 038 (Kirkcaldy) and 039 (Dunfermline) were intended to be second and third units on Edinburgh, but in fact were hypothetical on Glasgow. During 1974 they became linked numbering with 036 Edinburgh.

8. Much of the Glasgow 041 zone is to be renumbered 04-5xxxx with the last four digits corresponding: the exceptions are Stirling and Fort William. 037- numbers at Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen and Inverness also are due to go into the 04-6xxxx range, but there will be some renumbering at Aberdeen and Inverness to allow for DDI. Otherwise the last four digits correspond, as with 041-numbers.

ANE/12.11.89

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