Changing cables

[caldridge]

There is this line of L3 pylons near me that keeps changing the amount of cables it's holding on the insulators.

The line starts at Melksham Substation, Wiltshire. They're holding two cables on each insulator.

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The pylons head up the B3353 at Whitley, near Melksham.
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They change to holding one cable on each insulator.

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Next the pylons head to Neston, near Corsham.

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The pylons then head to Leafield Industrial Estate, Corsham.

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Now holding two cables on each insulator again.

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The pylons head through the industrial estate.

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The pylons then head to Rudloe, near Corsham. They cross the B3109.

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The pylons then cross the A4 at Rudloe.

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The pylons then change back to holding one cable on each insulator, this time permanently.

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The line ends at Iron Action Substation, South Gloucestershire.

Christopher

[blueshift]

Nice pictures

I wonder if they are only operating at 132KV? in which case the twin sections would be for current carrying capacity using eg 2 thinner cables.
If the line were running at 275KV or 400KV then the cables would be bundled throughout to prevent corona losses. The arcing horns do seem to be rather far apart for 132KV though so it is a bit of a mystery.

Nick