Lydney towers
Contents
Overview
The double-circuit line between Lydney Substation, Lydney, Gloucestershire and the River Severn is primarily SWE PL1. Around the first two miles of the line out of Lydney uses an unidentifiable tower type. Based on its similarity to CE PL4 (more so the angle towers, and the terminal towers that resemble PL4 angle towers) the towers may have been designed by Blaw Knox. The line has been claimed to be “Blaw Knox PL7” (Blaw Knox K5735) but that design is different.
On the far side of the Severn, the line splits into two single-circuit lines. One continues on to Castle Meads substation, Gloucester. The other goes around to the other side of the Severn to Cambridge Arms switching station, Cambridge, Gloucestershire. Both single circuit lines are a mixture of SWE PL1 (Milliken) and Callender’s; the lack of vantage points from which to observe the line makes it difficult to be clear on the arrangement.
All the Lydney towers are double earthwire, while the remainder of the double circuit line uses SWE PL1 which is single earthwire only.
| Designer | ? |
|---|---|
| Found | |
| Height (straight line tower) | ? |
| Voltage | 132 kV |
| Conductors | Single |
| Circuit count | Double |
| Design conductor | ? (0.175□″ SCA most likely) |
| Design earthwire | ? (0.07□″ SCA most likely) |
| Normal span | ? |
Tower forms
The following diagrams are shown to scale at 12 pixels per metre based on assumptions about the tower sizes:
All line towers seem to be 20 feet taller than standard height; it is not known whether the standard height line tower was simply taller, or whether all line towers are E20. The line tower diagram is adapted from Blaw Knox K5735 to match photographs. The DDT diagram is based on a mixture of Google Street View and detailed in-person photographs; it was not possible in person to stand far enough away to get a perspective-free shot.