Changes to Route XW

[caldridge]

Hi everyone, there has been some changes to L3 route XW.

Well there's that new guest L2 pylon in the line near Westerleigh, but just south of Westerleigh the line has been split in two.

Here's the pylons just heading from Westerleigh.

flic.kr/p/VA1APK

There is now a terminal tower in the line before it reaches the M4.

flic.kr/p/VA1W9M
flic.kr/p/WKWrQW

The L2 pylon heading over the hill.

flic.kr/p/WywfbU

There's the rest of the line, the split is a few hundred yards apart.

flic.kr/p/WKWWUs

The other half is at new housing estate at Lyde Green another terminal tower was put in on Willowherb Road.

flic.kr/p/WyxffQ

The pylons heading off to Bristol.

flic.kr/p/VA42gM
flic.kr/p/Wyy5LC

The line may have been placed underground to make room for the new housing estate, there's houses being build behind the terminal tower, which is where the removed section used to be.

flic.kr/p/VA4Ctk
flic.kr/p/VxreE9

Enjoy!

Christopher

[yv47r]

Looks like the new housing estate has forced the under-grounding of this section of the XW circuits. Interesting how they have used L3 DT towers but added the extra little angled arms on the top crossarms which looks to be a recent modification. And the extra L2 D tower as well fairly obvious in the background with the wider crossarms and pulled in insulators - wonder if that is a replacement or additional tower?

Cheers Paul

[caldridge]

The L2 is an additional tower as there never used to one between the two L3s, got some more pictures of it here.

flic.kr/p/WJFt28
flic.kr/p/Vvbp8Z

That was the section that had those V shape insualtors.

Christopher

[pylonsbuzz]

When I thought L2 was Discontinued, my bad!

[yv47r]

I suspect it may well be the re-use of an L2 tower made redundant elsewhere that they have kept in stock in parts and when needed to reuse it they just prepare the stubs and erect the tower. Imagine that conversation...
linesman: hi there, I would like an L2 D tower please. store foreman: certainly sir, what extension base panels do you need? lineman: just an E10 extention base this time. sf: certainly, I will go into the store warehouse and get you one.....
Or do they really make new L2 towers from scratch?? I always thought that as you have seen in your photo thread to Drakelow they simply replace L2s for L8s.
Cheers Paul