Mel’s Memorable Open Wire Experience
By Mel Berns

For 40 years, I dismantled millions of lbs. of wire for railroads, Western Union, AT&T’s Long Lines Division, and the old Postal Telegraph Company as well as miles of bomb circuits all over the country. This included the Alaskan Railroad. I can’t count the number of poles I cut and pulled over the years, mostly bare green wire and the alloy of the old weather proof signal wire.
I’m 75 years of age now and haven’t climbed a pole in 30 years–the hardest and most fun job there ever was!

Feather River Canyon with open wire crossing on H-fixture.