Utility Pole Adventures
Last year I noticed that there was a power pole on the farm that was not in too good of shape. Likely an
original pole from about 1944 when electric power arrived at the farm.
I found out from a on-line document that the power company would not replace this, even though their line
from the transformer goes to it and also has their meters on it. This pole is the first pole after the
transformer pole that steps the (7000v!) down to 240v. I also talked to the lineman for the area (must
cover at least a 60m area, a busy guy) and confirmed this pole is the customer's problem. This may
depend on the power company and some would replace the pole with the meters on but not this one.
Anyway, I got a recommendation from the lineman of a electrician in the area who could do this. Not all
electricians are equipped to R&R power poles. Fortunately, I was able to get ahold of the guy quickly
and he was up to the job. Sort of a suprise as my experiences with a lot of trades folks leave something
to be desired in that they are not interested in a project, unless its a quicky.
I had the guuy out to survey the project about 2 weeks ago. The next problem was to source a replacement
pole. Oddly, these are not easy to come by for the general public. Some utility companies will sell
used ones but others not. New ones, haha. The local company one of the later. After checking out some
leads, I talked to a place that claimed to have both new and used poles for sale. A new pole seemed more
attractive than used so I made a trip there friday before last. About a 1.5hr trip I estimated to get
there.
So, I got to the pole place and find out they didn't have any new poles the size I needed despite what
the guy on the phone said. A real interesting "rustic" sort of place, haha. Hope OSHA does not pay them
a visit.... So, I got a decent enough used 30ft pole for $65.
Lots of traffic in that area so I tried to find a different route back to the farm to avoid lots of turns
and going through smaller towns. Actually went through Annandale on the way there a week before the UMV
zone meet was held there last weekend. Unfortunately, I missed a turn getting off US10 East of St Cloud,
MN due to my view of signs blocked by a truck and I got stuck going through the main shopping district of
St Cloud, MN and could not turn off due to excessive traffic. Arrgh! Having a 30' pole on a 18' trailer
can be a issue! 12 ft of pole out the back means excess care in turns. Eventually, I made it out of
town and was able to get back to the farm over 5hrs after I left.
So, here is the 30' pole on my 18' trailer when I arrived at the farm:
Next to unload it. I got out the 1936 Allis Chalmers tractor to lift it off and also took the
opportunity to soak it with a couple gallons of used motor oil for extra preservative.
Wednesday morning arrived and so did the electrician. It was time to start on this.
Here is the old pole:
Another view. And no, I was standing straight, its the pole leaning...
I had previously cut down and trimmed some brush and trees that were growing up around this pole. But,
this seemed like a good time to cut down a NOW rather good sized tree that should have been cut down
years ago that was leaning over one of the lines attached to the pole. So, while waiting for the utility
company lineman to arrive to disconnect the power, the electrician used my chainsaw and his bucket truck
to hack away on this.
We found out that removing one of the overhead lines from the pole would mean it fell over (that rotted)
so we ran a temporary wire from the pole to the stump of the tree just cut down to hold it up until the
main incoming line could be removed by the utility company lineman.
So he arrived and proceeded to disconnect the power line from the transformer pole:
Once the line was removed, the tether line from the stump was cut, and the old pole just fell over as it
snapped off at ground level. Totally rotted as expected.
The top end did not look too great either:
The electrician underestimated the rottenness of the pole and did not bring a auger assuming he could
pull out the pole and reuse the hole. Haha on him. So, he had to go get the auger and return. After
augering a new hole nearby, the replacement pole was manuvered into place.
Once the pole was set in place, replacing the hardware proceeded normally. None of the old conduit and
panels, etc was reused. It was from the 70s and as I fould out later attempting to strip it off the pole
was corroded and broke attempting to get apart.
In all this activity was trenching a new line to a garage that formerly was on its own meter (no reason
now, but made sense 30yrs ago). So it was a full day effort.
Here is the final result.
I spent much of the day offering any needed assistance and hauling away cut brush, etc. Totally
exhausted. The day after I finished clearing up the debris and getting rid of the old pole and other
junk from the job. There is still some dirt work type stuff to do to clean up the yard from all the
digging and so on.
Last year I noticed that there was a power pole on the farm that was not in too good of shape. Likely an
original pole from about 1944 when electric power arrived at the farm.
I found out from a on-line document that the power company would not replace this, even though their line
from the transformer goes to it and also has their meters on it. This pole is the first pole after the
transformer pole that steps the (7000v!) down to 240v. I also talked to the lineman for the area (must
cover at least a 60m area, a busy guy) and confirmed this pole is the customer's problem. This may
depend on the power company and some would replace the pole with the meters on but not this one.
Anyway, I got a recommendation from the lineman of a electrician in the area who could do this. Not all
electricians are equipped to R&R power poles. Fortunately, I was able to get ahold of the guy quickly
and he was up to the job. Sort of a suprise as my experiences with a lot of trades folks leave something
to be desired in that they are not interested in a project, unless its a quicky.
I had the guuy out to survey the project about 2 weeks ago. The next problem was to source a replacement
pole. Oddly, these are not easy to come by for the general public. Some utility companies will sell
used ones but others not. New ones, haha. The local company one of the later. After checking out some
leads, I talked to a place that claimed to have both new and used poles for sale. A new pole seemed more
attractive than used so I made a trip there friday before last. About a 1.5hr trip I estimated to get
there.
So, I got to the pole place and find out they didn't have any new poles the size I needed despite what
the guy on the phone said. A real interesting "rustic" sort of place, haha. Hope OSHA does not pay them
a visit.... So, I got a decent enough used 30ft pole for $65.
Lots of traffic in that area so I tried to find a different route back to the farm to avoid lots of turns
and going through smaller towns. Actually went through Annandale on the way there a week before the UMV
zone meet was held there last weekend. Unfortunately, I missed a turn getting off US10 East of St Cloud,
MN due to my view of signs blocked by a truck and I got stuck going through the main shopping district of
St Cloud, MN and could not turn off due to excessive traffic. Arrgh! Having a 30' pole on a 18' trailer
can be a issue! 12 ft of pole out the back means excess care in turns. Eventually, I made it out of
town and was able to get back to the farm over 5hrs after I left.
So, here is the 30' pole on my 18' trailer when I arrived at the farm:
Next to unload it. I got out the 1936 Allis Chalmers tractor to lift it off and also took the
opportunity to soak it with a couple gallons of used motor oil for extra preservative.
Wednesday morning arrived and so did the electrician. It was time to start on this.
Here is the old pole:
Another view. And no, I was standing straight, its the pole leaning...
I had previously cut down and trimmed some brush and trees that were growing up around this pole. But,
this seemed like a good time to cut down a NOW rather good sized tree that should have been cut down
years ago that was leaning over one of the lines attached to the pole. So, while waiting for the utility
company lineman to arrive to disconnect the power, the electrician used my chainsaw and his bucket truck
to hack away on this.
We found out that removing one of the overhead lines from the pole would mean it fell over (that rotted)
so we ran a temporary wire from the pole to the stump of the tree just cut down to hold it up until the
main incoming line could be removed by the utility company lineman.
So he arrived and proceeded to disconnect the power line from the transformer pole:
Once the line was removed, the tether line from the stump was cut, and the old pole just fell over as it
snapped off at ground level. Totally rotted as expected.
The top end did not look too great either:
The electrician underestimated the rottenness of the pole and did not bring a auger assuming he could
pull out the pole and reuse the hole. Haha on him. So, he had to go get the auger and return. After
augering a new hole nearby, the replacement pole was manuvered into place.
Once the pole was set in place, replacing the hardware proceeded normally. None of the old conduit and
panels, etc was reused. It was from the 70s and as I fould out later attempting to strip it off the pole
was corroded and broke attempting to get apart.
In all this activity was trenching a new line to a garage that formerly was on its own meter (no reason
now, but made sense 30yrs ago). So it was a full day effort.
Here is the final result.
I spent much of the day offering any needed assistance and hauling away cut brush, etc. Totally
exhausted. The day after I finished clearing up the debris and getting rid of the old pole and other
junk from the job. There is still some dirt work type stuff to do to clean up the yard from all the
digging and so on.
. You are fortunate to have grown up there.
An interesting story indeed; thanks (Boy, that old sucker was rotten!
) 
BP
We've got to quit saying, 
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