Thames ISC

Thames ISC
	The Thames ISC was installed in two stages which were officially known as: Phase 1-Thames A (pictured opposite) Phase 2-Thames B Peter Walker* quotes "We always called them (Thames) 1 and 2 - I think the folks who did the 'official' designations said that you couldn't use numbers!"

Thames A (Phase 1)

Thames 1 TXK5 came into service at Mondial House in 1978. Again, two separate incoming and outgoing units, but both had links to the TXK6 Thames 2 exchange. Each unit had around 2500e capacity.

Larger photos: TXK5 switchroom (230k) and TXK5 switch (147k)

ISMC - International Switching Maintenance Centre for TXK5s

Centralograph Equipment for print outs of call failures.
Service Equipment Alarm for monitoring forced release of equipments.
Traffic and Statistical Meters for analysis.
Electronic Traffic Recorder (MET2 at Mollison ISC, Stag Lane)

Thames B (Phase 2)

Thames 2 TXK6 used the Ericsson AKE13 SPC controlled codebar switching system. SPC was necessary to support the CCITT6 common channel signalling system. It had a capacity of 5000e. The last analogue ISC to survive – it was withdrawn in 1992.

Inspecting an AKE switch... [Click for a larger image]

Centre photo: John Maurer (IMTR); Peter Benton MD, Post Office Telecoms; Pat Hastings, Executive Engineer; Jack Smith, Head of Group.

*Peter Walker was the project manager for Thames (extension) and Keybridge in 1981/2.

| Mondial ISC | Mondial Index | Mondial Gateway |