Neil Ramsay 

I really enjoyed Ian's article on telegraph poles, but didn’t rush to add them to my line because of the perceived risk of damage.

A visit to the old 3 foot lines in County Donegal has really changed my mind. Despite being closed for 50 to 60 years, telegraph poles still mark the line of the trackbed through the wild moorland areas. In fact, the overriding impression of these railways even when still open, must have been of empty countryside, plain track with minimal earthworks, and lines of these poles.

Inspired by Ian’s article, I decided to try and get some photos and dimensions, alas not as easy as I thought due to bogs, streams and rivers!

Finally I tracked down a reasonably accessible example near Fintown station on the Glenties branch. I also managed to acquire a ceramic insulator, which despite its origin in the wilds of Donegal, is marked GPO 1944, so will be fine for all those Welsh lines.

The pole itself is 9 inches in diameter at the base, slightly tapering towards the top.

I calculated the cross pieces as 5 and 4 ½ feet respectively of 3x3 inch timber. The height based on photos is about 25 feet, and I estimate the poles to be something like 60 yards apart.

The brown and white insulators are 3 inch diameter, 4 ¾ inches high. A nice feature is the one on the top of the pole with a little flared base. Others seen at the Barnesmore gap on line to Donegal town combine this feature with the little ‘pitched roofs’ (see photo below) – and only one cross piece as Ian has modelled his example.