The other day, a fellow asked me why some of the old poles had track spikes driven into them on both sides..In replying to him, i told this individual that before radio communication was provided, we use to get are train information through the wires,(line-up, s) In explaining to him that we, d drive spikes on both sides of the pole shinny up the pole and hook the portable phone with alligator clips to the 2 outer wires which was the train dispatchers line of communication....He kinda got a kick when i told him it was a dangerous job in bad weather, clipping the to clips to the bare line in a thunder storm and get jolted off the pole....Thus explaining the purpose of the insulators.....Just a tid bit