North West Railway Telephone Directory

A post by Boynton lead me to London and North western Railway Telephone Directory, 1915. Making a telephone call must have been stressful for Railway employees if these instructions are any guide.

TO MAKE A CALL ON TRUNK LINE.

Insert the telephone plug in jack. If busy back buzzer sounds a private message is passing on the line and the plug must be immediately withdrawn.

If when the telephone plug is inserted in the jack, the busy back buzzer does not sound, place receiver to ear, and if no conversation be heard, press button and speak to operator saying, "Are you there," "Is line engaged." If no reply is received replace receiver on hook and call Exchange on vibrator key. Do not wait for reply ring back, place receiver to ear , speak to operator in London and ask for office required and wait with receiver to ear until called party speaks, occasionally saying, "Are you there" to warn any party listening in that the line is engaged.

DO NOT USE VIBRATOR KEY UNTIL IT HAS BEEN ASCERTAINED FOR CERTAIN THAT THE LINE IS DISENGAGED.

If Station required is one of the stations permanently connected to the trunk line the busy back buzzer will sound whilst the operator in London is calling the party asked for. Under these circumstances the busy back buzzer may be disregarded and the buzzing will cease when the operator has gained the attention of the party wanted.