(L-3I, L-4, L5, L5E)
FORMER AUTOVON 1ESS SWITCH
Currently 5ESS DCTN
42-31-28
71-27-47
This is a photo tour of the Littleton, MA AT&T site
that was a main station on the L-4 cable route. The site was constructed
approximately in 1964. The Littleton site originally had a 1ESS switch
that provided AUTOVON service for the New England Area. The L-4 system
was turned down in 1993. The 1ESS was replaced by a 5ESS in October
of 1988, and is now owned and operated by the federal government.
The L-4 has been replaced by fiber. The tower still supports a radio
link to Sanford Maine via New Hampshire using a TD-2A microwave system.
ENTRANCE
Entrance to this site is provided by a small concrete block structure at ground level. CCTV, alarms and locks insure security. There are no elevators. Four flights of stairs bring you to the first level. A small 20' x 30' concrete block building provides entrance to the facility below. CCTV and alarms provide security.
HIGH CEILINGS
The ceilings are 20 feet tall to allow for the 11' 6"
bays to hang from the ceiling on BIG SPRINGS. The bays were allowed
to move and secured to the floors with "bungi" cords. The Littleton
facility is in the final stages of having Abandoned in Place (AIP) equipment,
like the L-4 system, being ripped out by Lucent. My camera did not
have a power enough flash to take a great picture but the picture above
show the 20 foot ceilings and supporting pillars.
SPRING SUPPORTS
This photo shows some of the few remaining spring assemblies
that are still in the ceiling.
CABLE ENTRANCE
This is the entrance point into the facility for buried cable. The two large cables are L-3I and L-4 cables (Blackstone and Boston). The smaller cables go to other offices. One of the smaller cables was a private cable that supplied AUTOVON to the FEMA (then DCPA) Regional Center in nearby Maynard. There is also a fiber cable in the top tray. See photos of the Boston to Littleton route. Also see the Littleton to Ashbunham L-3 Route and Littleton to Chesterfield Route .
GAS TURBINES
Emergency power is supplied by three gas turbines.
Technician Rick Havens is shown standing next to a Solar 750 kW gas turbine.
POWER PANEL
Power distribution is provided by this panel next to the
gas turbines.
FRAMES
Wire frame panel shows destinations of circuits that travel
on the L 3/4 order wires. "OCDM" indicates cable that ran
to the FEMA underground facility in Maynard, MA.
MICROWAVE
Charles Dunne, President of the Telephone Museum examines vintage TD-2 microwave apparatus that still links Portland, ME to the Littleton Facility.