Western Electric Cuts 35,000 Glendale Phone Lines to ESS in 47 Seconds

Speedy Cutover Service, SXS switching cutover to ESS filmed live at Glendale CA central office, 1984 — AT&T Tech Channel

AT&T Tech Channel

Deploying 51 installers to sever 927 pre-tagged cables simultaneously compresses network cutover downtime from an hour to just 47 seconds.

AI-assisted summary of Speedy Cutover Service, SXS switching cutover to ESS filmed live at Glendale CA central office, 1984 — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Western Electric's Speedy Cutover Service modernized Pacific Telephone's Glendale office, transitioning 35,000 subscriber lines from an aging step-by-step electromechanical switch to an Electronic Switching System (ESS). (0:20)
  • Extensive pre-cut preparations spanned one month, involving continuity testing, cable isolation, and the erection of 127 feet of scaffolding along the intermediate distributing frame. (0:20)
  • A coordinated crew of 51 installers severed 927 cables simultaneously in exactly 47 seconds, reducing subscriber service disruption from hours to well under a minute. (2:45)
  • Execution required strict safety protocols, including specialized cutter sharpening to avoid electrical shorts and real-time clearance with TSPS operators to confirm zero active emergency calls. (1:41)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on May 12, 2015, by the AT&T Tech Channel on YouTube, this 1984 archival film documents Western Electric's Speedy Cutover Service at a Pacific Telephone facility in Glendale, California. According to the description, the video captures the live, real-time transition from an aging step-by-step (SXS) electromechanical switching system to a modern Electronic Switching System (ESS), dramatically reducing service downtime from nearly an hour down to under a minute.

## TL;DR The video highlights the transition of 35,000 telephone lines from an electromechanical step-by-step office to an electronic switching system at the Glendale central office. Following a month of advance continuity testing, cable identification, and staging 127 feet of scaffolding, Western Electric deploys a team of 51 installers and three supervisors. After operators confirm over a dedicated conference bridge that no emergency calls are in progress, the crew receives the command to cut. Utilizing specially sharpened handheld cutters, the team severs all 927 cables simultaneously, completing the physical cutover in just 47 seconds.

## Atmosphere & style The presentation carries the brisk, earnest professionalism of an internal corporate documentary before shifting into an exhilarating technical sprint. It blends methodical engineering explanations with the raw, mechanical spectacle of massive cable frames, scaffolding, and vintage telecom hardware. The final countdown builds genuine suspense through cross-floor radio checks and operator confirmations, erupting into a fast-paced, disco-scored frenzy of physical labor as dozens of technicians frantically slice through heavy cabling to beat the clock.

## Bulletin - [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) Western Electric's Speedy Cutover Service modernized Pacific Telephone's Glendale office, transitioning 35,000 subscriber lines from an aging step-by-step electromechanical switch to an Electronic Switching System (ESS). - [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) Extensive pre-cut preparations spanned one month, involving continuity testing, cable isolation, and the erection of 127 feet of scaffolding along the intermediate distributing frame. - [02:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=165s) A coordinated crew of 51 installers severed 927 cables simultaneously in exactly 47 seconds, reducing subscriber service disruption from hours to well under a minute. - [01:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=101s) Execution required strict safety protocols, including specialized cutter sharpening to avoid electrical shorts and real-time clearance with TSPS operators to confirm zero active emergency calls.

## Key takeaways - [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) The Glendale, California facility housed one of the oldest active 35,000-line step-by-step (SXS) switching systems in the Bell System prior to modernization. - [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) Western Electric offered the Speedy Cutover Service to replace slow, traditional switch cutovers with rapid, highly synchronized physical cable cuts. - [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) Traditional cutover procedures frequently took many minutes or up to an hour, causing lengthy loss of active telephone service. - [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) Planning and preparation began approximately one month prior to execution, focusing on continuity testing, tracing, and individually tagging 927 cables. - [01:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=101s) Technicians constructed 127 feet of scaffolding along the intermediate distributing frame (IDF) the day before the cut to reach the upper cable banks. - [01:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=101s) The cutover team consisted of 51 installers and 3 supervisors, assigning roughly 20 cables to each technician. - [01:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=101s) Installers used handheld cutters sharpened with a specialized technique designed to slice cleanly through multi-pair cables without causing short circuits. - [01:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=101s) Management established a dedicated audio bridge connecting the cut supervisor directly to the TSPS operator located three floors above to monitor emergency traffic. - [02:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=165s) Cutover authorization remained strictly on hold until Glendale 11 CGO operator Mary Ellen verified that no emergency calls were currently in progress. - [02:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=165s) Following the 'Let's cut it!' command, the 51 technicians severed all 927 cables in exactly 47 seconds. - [02:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=165s) The synchronized severance compressed total out-of-service time to under a single minute while successfully migrating 35,000 subscriber lines to ESS.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=20s) Modernizing Glendale Central Office with Speedy Cutover Service

At a Pacific Telephone central office in Glendale, California, technicians prepared to replace one of the oldest functioning telephone switches in the United States: a 35,000-line electromechanical step-by-step (SXS) office scheduled for cutover to an expanded Electronic Switching System (ESS) installation. To handle the transition, Pacific Telephone selected Western Electric's Speedy Cutover Service, a specialized offering engineered to execute the changeover rapidly, reliably, and economically.

Western Electric account representative Rick Snowden detailed how the process minimizes disruption compared to traditional industry procedures. Rick Snowden explained: “Speedy Cutover Service is a method by which installers come into the office to be transitioned from the step or crossbar to ESS, and actually perform the physical cut of the old office away from the new office.” He emphasized that service downtime is reduced dramatically, noting that “The 'out of service' time is just a matter of seconds as compared to previous methods that took minutes and even up to an hour in some cases.” The process requires extensive advance preparation, beginning roughly a month prior to cutover day, when installers perform continuity testing, trace and physically isolate the cables, and tag each bundle to ensure an error-free operation on the night of the cut.

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Speedy Cutover Process Flow accDescr: Steps involved in preparing and executing the Western Electric Speedy Cutover Service from SXS to ESS. subgraph Preparation["Advance Preparation (1 Month Prior)"] A["Identify and analyze target cables"] --> B["Perform electrical continuity tests"] B --> C["Physically separate and tag 927 cables"] end subgraph Staging["Staging & Coordination (Day of Cut)"] D["Erect 127 ft of scaffolding along IDF"] --> E["Brief 51 installers on specialized cutters"] E --> F["Establish bridge to TSPS operator 3 floors up"] end subgraph Execution["Live Cutover"] G["Confirm zero active emergency calls"] --> H["Issue command: 'Let's cut it!'"] H --> I["Sever all 927 cables simultaneously in 47 seconds"] end Preparation --> Staging --> Execution ```

- **Location:** Pacific Telephone central office, Glendale, California. - **Scope:** 35,000 lines transferring from an aging step-by-step system to an electronic switching system (ESS). - **Advance Prep:** Teams arrive approximately one month early to run continuity checks and tag lines to ensure no live equipment is severed accidentally.

---

[01:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=101s) Pre-Cut Preparations and Final Briefing

Physical preparations intensified the day before the cut with the construction of 127 feet of scaffolding along the intermediate distributing frame (IDF), giving technicians direct access to the upper cable banks. On the night of the operation, Western Electric deployed a crew of 51 installers and 3 supervisors dedicated to severing 927 separate cables.

During the pre-cut briefing, Western Electric supervisor Gary Brennan outlined expectations and technical precautions for the crew. Gary Brennan instructed the crew: “There's approximately twenty cables per person. These cable cutters are sharpened in a special manner so they will cut a clean cut through these and not cause any shorts.” Following a dry run to rehearse positioning, the technicians stood ready along the frame with their sharpened cutters in hand. Three floors above the IDF, Pacific Telephone managers maintained a dedicated telephone conference bridge linking the cut supervisor directly with the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS) operator overseeing local emergency calls.

- **Scaffolding:** 127 feet erected along the upper section of the IDF frame. - **Workforce:** 51 installers and 3 supervisors managing 927 designated cables (averaging roughly 20 cables per installer). - **Equipment:** Handheld cutters sharpened specifically to slice cleanly through multi-pair cables without pinching wires and causing electrical short circuits. - **Communications:** Real-time conference link established between supervisors and the TSPS operator handling active emergency traffic.

---

[02:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk&t=165s) The 47-Second Cutover

Protocol mandated that the cutover could not proceed until all active emergency calls cleared the exchange. Roughly one minute prior to the 11:00 PM target window, the cut supervisor joined the bridge to verify line status with the Glendale 11 central grant office operator: “Mary Ellen, would you call the operator to make sure there's no emergency calls in progress please.” Mary Ellen queried the operator, confirming, “Hi, this is Mary Ellen at Glendale 11 CGO. Have you got any emergency calls in progress at this time? Good enough - it's all clear, Don.”

With the all-clear confirmed, the order went out across the floor: “Okay Western, cut the cable.” A supervisor shouted, “Cut it! Let's cut it!” The room erupted into a frenzy of physical effort as 51 technicians chopped simultaneously through thick bundles of cable, letting the heavy, severed lines drop away from the IDF frame. Within moments, the shout echoed through the room: “Okay! Cut complete!” A supervisor called out over the commotion, “Nice cut Western, 47 seconds!” The cut effectively transitioned all 35,000 subscriber lines to the new ESS office with less than a minute of total interruption, demonstrating the speed and precision of Western Electric's Speedy Cutover Service.

- **Final Clearance:** Mary Ellen verified zero active emergency calls with Glendale 11 CGO before authorizing the switch. - **Execution Time:** Complete severance of all 927 cables achieved in exactly 47 seconds. - **Service Impact:** Out-of-service transition window compressed from traditional hours or minutes down to under one minute.

## Mentioned AT&T Archives and History Center, AT&T Tech Channel, Electronic Switching System (ESS), Gary Brennan, Glendale 11 CGO, Glendale, California, Intermediate Distributing Frame (IDF), Mary Ellen, Pacific Telephone, Rick Snowden, Speedy Cutover Service, Step By Step switching system (SXS), Traffic Service Position System (TSPS), Western Electric

## Video description A brief but surprisingly exciting 1984 video showing the preparation and live, real-time cutover from Step By Step switching system (SXS) to a new electronic switching system (ESS) in Glendale, California.

Western Electric offered the Speedy Cutover Service to switching offices throughout the Bell System. Western Electric installers would visit a facility and prepare it, installing the new equipment inside the facility. They would identify and mark the existing cables that would need to be cut, then prepare employees for the cutover to the new ESS system.

Previously a cutover from step-by-step (or from crossbar service) to ESS would take many frantic minutes, upwards of an hour, during which time active telephone service would be lost mid-call. With the speedy cutover service – 51 installers simultaneously cutting 927 cables as fast as possible, all on cue – the interrupted service could be brought down to well under a single minute.

The climax here is unquestionably the moment of truth, the cutting of the cables, which is shown in real time. After making sure no emergency calls are underway, and with a shout of "Let's cut it!" the race is on, with three camera set-ups and a disco score capturing and preserving the moment of truth.

Footage Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saRir95iIWk)

中文简报

西方电气47秒内将格伦代尔3.5万条电话线切换至ESS 出动51名安装人员同时切断927根预先标记的电缆，将网络割接停机时间从一小时压缩至仅47秒。 视频重点介绍了格伦代尔中心局将3.5万条电话线路从机电式步进制局割接至电子交换系统（ESS）的过程。经过一个月的提前导通性测试、电缆识别以及搭建127英尺脚手架的前期准备，西方电气部署了由51名安装人员和三名主管组成的团队。在话务员通过专用会议桥确认没有正在进行的紧急呼叫后，团队接到了剪切指令。团队使用特制的锋利手持剪线钳同时剪断了所有927根电缆，仅用47秒就完成了物理割接。 西方电气的快速割接服务对太平洋电话公司的格伦代尔机房进行了现代化升级，将3.5万条用户线路从老旧的步进制机电交换机切换至电子交换系统（ESS）。 (0:20) 割接前的广泛准备工作持续了一个月，包括导通性测试、电缆隔离，以及沿中间配线架搭建127英尺的脚手架。 (0:20) 由51名安装人员组成的协同作业团队在整整47秒内同时切断了927根电缆，将用户服务中断时间从数小时缩减至远不足一分钟。 (2:45) 该操作需要执行严格的安全规程，包括对剪线钳进行特殊打磨以避免短路，并与TSPS话务员进行实时确认以确保当时没有紧急呼叫。 (1:41)

Original transcript

[0:20] The place: a Pacific Telephone central office in Glendale, California, [0:24] one of the oldest functioning switches in the nation, a 35,000 line [0:28] step-by-step office, is going to be transferred to an expanded ESS facility. [0:34] Western Electric Speedy Cutover Service [0:38] was selected by Pacific Telephone [0:40] to provide a fast, reliable and economical transition [0:44] from the old to the new system. [0:47] Features of the service are explained by [0:49] Western Electric account representative Rick Snowden. [0:52] "Speedy Cutover Service is a method by which [0:56] installers come into the office to be transitioned from the step or crossbar [1:01] to ESS, and actually perform the physical cut [1:05] of the old office away from the new office. [1:08] The 'out of service' time is just a matter of seconds [1:10] as compared to previous methods that took minutes [1:13] and even up to an hour in some cases. Several installers come to the office [1:19] maybe a month before the cut and they [1:22] analyze the cables to be cut and [1:26] perform continuity tests to verify to make sure that they have the exact [1:30] cable, and move them away from other existing equipment. [1:33] After they're identified they're tagged so that on the night of cut [1:37] it can be a clean operation and nothing else gets cut." [1:41] For this cut 127 feet of scaffolding has to be erected the day before [1:47] to accommodate the installers cutting the cable from the upper portion of the [1:51] intermediate distributing frame. [1:53] On the evening of the cutover [1:56] 51 installers and 3 supervisors are assigned to cut the 927 cables. [2:02] Western Electric supervisor Gary Brennan briefs them: [2:05] "There's approximately twenty cables per person. [2:09] These cable cutters are sharpened in a special manner [2:13] so they will cut a clean cut through these and not cause any shorts." [2:17] Following a short rehearsal the Western Electric installers [2:21] wait with cutters ready. [2:22] Three floors above the IDF frame [2:25] Pacific Telephone people are hooked up to the cut supervisor and [2:30] TSPS operator who is handling emergency calls. [2:33] "I will be on that conference line approximately one minute before 11. [2:37] They will give us the order to cut [2:41] as soon as all emergency lines are down." [2:45] "Mary Ellen, would you call the operator to make sure [2:47] there's no emergency calls in progress please." [2:51] "Hi, this is Mary Ellen at Glendale 11 CGO. [2:54] Have you got any emergency calls in progress at this time? Good enough - [2:58] it's all clear, Don." [3:00] "Okay Western, cut the cable." [3:03] "Cut it! Let's cut it!" [3:44] [shrieks] [3:50] "Okay! Cut complete!" [3:58] "It's cut." [4:00] "Nice cut Western, 47 seconds!" [4:04] Western Electric's Speedy Cutover Service an economical, dependable, [4:08] quick response to telephone company needs.