Used to work in for BT in the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire area 40 years ago. There was always some weird kit in exchanges. For a long time I wondered what it was connected to , until I started visited some of the now abandoned ROD bunkers and other places. I then realised what this kit connected to. Its all 40 year old tech now but in its day it was sort of advanced ( pre internet). Always amused me that the comms to these ROD bunkers ran on overhead cable ( telephone poles). They would be gone in a flash if there was ever a nuclear attack, rendering them useless anyway. In those days the exchanges still had tons of Strowger clockwork kit. System X was installed and system Y being installed . The air conditioning took up more space than the equipment. Someone told us that Derby exchange had the longest MDF in the country (36000 subscribers). Not sure how true it was. Interesting times !
As an engineer who works in these places, it's funny for me to see these videos from your perspective. Telephone exchanges are very much not abandoned though, and most (not all) of what you filmed there is still active and doing it's thing. Lots of empty spaces due to consolidation over the years with technology improvements, and then resulting in many not requiring much personnel.
There’s lots of stuff just lying around. Is that normal? It looks like everyone just left? I can imagine as headcount was reduced, offices were abandoned.
@@rachelcarre9468 cheaper to leave old crap there than bother getting rid. Though more recently Openreach have been pushing for recovery of EAD kit (from customers) and recovery of the copper lines once fibre is in, so maybe they’ll be cleaned out. Plus as I mentioned, being part of Exchange Exit, this building will be left by Openreach in the coming years, so they’ll have to clean it out for that.
It's always been an ambition of mine to get into this bunker since I was told whilst playing on Barr beacon that the mound that's fenced is a bunker. My childhood imagination has always ran wild... so thanks for showing. It's such a shame you can't share locations :( Still trying to find the sandwell bunker.
One wonders how many of these are dotted around the country, and how many are super top secret, really interesting video, nice to see water cooling being deployed.
Once again a very interesting explore, i always enjoy your slideshow / tunes at the end, keep up the good work ya cheeky scallywag ( P.S. I'm impressed at your technical knowledge as well !)
@@KIRBZVIDS piece of trivia for you then generating set has. Paxman RPH engine... Used to look after one of a pair of 8RPH mk3's ex Thames water pumping station. The had generators 350kva each... Anyway from memory they RPH's were all v - shaped. 2 cylinder all way up to 16. 4.54 litres per cylinder...
Used to work in for BT in the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire area 40 years ago. There was always some weird kit in exchanges. For a long time I wondered what it was connected to , until I started visited some of the now abandoned ROD bunkers and other places. I then realised what this kit connected to. Its all 40 year old tech now but in its day it was sort of advanced ( pre internet). Always amused me that the comms to these ROD bunkers ran on overhead cable ( telephone poles). They would be gone in a flash if there was ever a nuclear attack, rendering them useless anyway. In those days the exchanges still had tons of Strowger clockwork kit. System X was installed and system Y being installed . The air conditioning took up more space than the equipment. Someone told us that Derby exchange had the longest MDF in the country (36000 subscribers). Not sure how true it was. Interesting times !
I lost it when you dropped Venjent for the montage haha
Beacon exchange and its a comms bunker for ww3. Worked in there loads of times
As an engineer who works in these places, it's funny for me to see these videos from your perspective.
Telephone exchanges are very much not abandoned though, and most (not all) of what you filmed there is still active and doing it's thing. Lots of empty spaces due to consolidation over the years with technology improvements, and then resulting in many not requiring much personnel.
And part of Exchange Exit, so about to be consolidated so much that other exchanges can take over it's duty.
There’s lots of stuff just lying around. Is that normal? It looks like everyone just left? I can imagine as headcount was reduced, offices were abandoned.
@@rachelcarre9468 cheaper to leave old crap there than bother getting rid. Though more recently Openreach have been pushing for recovery of EAD kit (from customers) and recovery of the copper lines once fibre is in, so maybe they’ll be cleaned out. Plus as I mentioned, being part of Exchange Exit, this building will be left by Openreach in the coming years, so they’ll have to clean it out for that.
It's always been an ambition of mine to get into this bunker since I was told whilst playing on Barr beacon that the mound that's fenced is a bunker. My childhood imagination has always ran wild... so thanks for showing.
It's such a shame you can't share locations :(
Still trying to find the sandwell bunker.
Sandwell bunker don't show up on the website I use which gives exact co ordinates etc
One wonders how many of these are dotted around the country, and how many are super top secret, really interesting video, nice to see water cooling being deployed.
Once again a very interesting explore, i always enjoy your slideshow / tunes at the end, keep up the good work ya cheeky scallywag ( P.S. I'm impressed at your technical knowledge as well !)
Thanks 👍😉
@@KIRBZVIDS piece of trivia for you then generating set has. Paxman RPH engine...
Used to look after one of a pair of 8RPH mk3's ex Thames water pumping station. The had generators 350kva each...
Anyway from memory they RPH's were all v - shaped. 2 cylinder all way up to 16.
4.54 litres per cylinder...
I think they need a new Sump Pump. Better call a plumber.
That Ringing Machine is literally a motor spinning with a bunch of cam switches to produce the different dial tones you hear on a telephone line
super cool.
Love that CDMA track !
Great interview!
Where is all the people going to sleep please thank you
If you had of unplugged that last rack, you would of made a lot of people have a really bad day! lol. That was active.
Nice you got in
AT 11:11 this video really pops off
Wow bruv, the grow you could have in there 😮 🤑🤑 cool video btw👍🏻
🤣🤣 openreach dog 😂
What's the song please?
Vengent calling for you