Tag: Transmission Line

November 17th – An early finish from work, and a spin over from Chasewater to Cannock Chase. As the sun set over Norton, I surveyed the scene from the Cannock Road near Cuckoo Bank. As you may have gathered now, I’m fascinated by the signs of technology that dot the countryside – transmission masts and pylons in particular. A symbol of the modern age, to me they’re awe-inspiring, mysterious and, in their own way, beautifully elegant. Some folk regard them as ugly and a blot on the landscape, but I feel they’re a symbol of our progress. 

July 1st – I see the work to upgrade the electricity transmission line from Ray Hall to Drakelow continues apace – this is the same line that I’ve been watching in South Staffordshire. Here at Great Barr, the line is being rerouted to the south a few hundred yards. A new pylon has been erected, and the lines are being transferred over. Fascinating stuff.

June 15th – I’ve still yet to catch the linesmen in action, but work to install the new overhead lines over Mill Green continues apace. I’m not clear here if the cables in this shot are being pulled through to the ground drum or the other way around. Up near the pylon hanger, there seems to be the remnants of something attached to the lines, which is possibly the scars of a pair of Stockbridge dampers, so I think these are old lines being wound to the ground. This work continues to captivate me.

May 29th – I wondered how they replaced high-voltage lines with minimal disruption, one look at the pylons near Stockfields, between Hints and Canwell, answered my question.

I pointed out a couple of weeks ago that this transmission line was undergoing maintenance, and I noted today that there are now pulleys fitted under the insulators on the cable hangers. Presumably, the old line will be attached to the new and pulled through by a power winch. Slow, but steady. I’d love to see that in action.