Control panel from RAF Leuchars to sound their local sirens. Currently on display at the National Museum of Scotland on their Cold War Scotland Exhibition. #SirenSaturday

OTD September 25 1956 TAT-1 is inaugurated, the first submarine transatlantic telephone cable system. Running between Oban, Scotland and Clarenville, Newfoundland, the cable can carry 35 simultaneous telephone calls.

#BOOKGIVEAWAY Follow @coldwarpod.bsky.social then Reshare this post to enter a chance to win a copy of this book. T&C's & other ways to enter here coldwarconversations.com/giveaway/ #nuclearbritain #coldwarculture #coldwarhistory @bangpodcast.bsky.social

I am at the National Museum of Scotland today, and whilst I am not sure if I will get the time to attend the exhibit, it is an excuse for a reminder about the Cold War Scotland Exhibition.

#SirenSaturday 🧵 We can explore explore how the 1950's era "System E" Siren Control System *could* have worked in Edinburgh before it was replaced in the 1960's. Two open sources for how System E works can be found Here: ringbell.co.uk/ukwmo/Page21... archives.nato.int/reply-by-the...

East Berlin, Alexanderplatz, 9 September 1959. I post photographs taken on my many Berlin visits in the 1950s, 1960s. 180 historic street images of East and West Berlin are in my book "Berlin in the Cold War" (Amberley Publ.). #Berlin #DDR #GDR

45 years ago today at about 3:00 AM, the highly-volatile liquid fuel of a nuclear-armed Titan II ICBM exploded inside underground launch complex 374-7, 3.3 miles north-northeast of Damascus, Arkansas, and approximately 50 miles north of the capital of Little Rock, destroying the missile and silo.

Seventy years ago, the British Empire claimed its last piece of territory – a bleak and uninhabited island, 260 miles west of Scotland's Outer Hebrides. www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti...

#SirenSaturday Another converted Police Box. This retains it's Siren mounting plate. Police Box 15 'B', The Mound, Edinburgh. This was given Carrier planning number 254/6 in the early 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

If you squint the setup almost looks professional. After recently winning some documentation on eBay I spent yesterday evening photographing the contents. The folder in the picture contained very early procedures used by the UK warning and Monitoring Organisation.

📣Aluminium prefab klaxon! 🚨 espc.com/property/24-... (cc @docomomoscot.bsky.social @c20society.bsky.social )

Closest we get to a Siren Sunday as they test the UK phone based emergency alert at 3pm. Between the Siren network being decommissioned and the phone emergency alert being introduced there was no means of alerting members of the public who were not at that moment tuned in to TV or radio.

#SirenSaturday The "Leaf & Bean Cafe", A Nice stop for a drink before tackling Blackford Hill. Police Box 43 'A', Charterhall Road, Edinburgh. This was given Carrier planning number 254/82 in the early 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

As it is #MerchantNavyDay I though I would share some snippets from a booklet in my personal #ColdWar Archive. Published in 1961 this proposed measures which could be retrofitted/built into ships to improve their chances of surviving Radioactive contamination. #MerchantNavy

I swear the 1 o'clock gun was fast today. (Note1: Unscientific test based on phone and tram stop clocks.) (Note2: Timeball all was not visible from my location.)

Here's a sobering map. OTD 86 years ago, wartime evacuation of children from Scottish cities commenced. The Scotsman published this diagram showing where children from the different centres were being displaced to and a list of schools acting as assembly points for the departure railway stations

What possible relation does Trams to Granton have to do with #SirenSaturday? See if you can spot the Siren in this Picture. www.flickr.com/photos/12734...

When I was a member of a now defunct restoration project we were worried about making sure we didn't do anything to draw the wrath of the local community or council as we wanted to build support. Opening the bunker up for doors open day events took months of planning and work.

If this post has taught me anything, it's that a lot of people share a genuine affection for The Hunt For Red October. So, let's do this, before Big Tam Day is over for another year!

#SirenSaturday A worried policeman receives an attack warning over the Carrier Control Point and sounds the Sirens from the built in remote control panel. From a 1976 booklet on the "United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation" in my personal collection.

Free Fringe events on Leith Walk today at the Leith Walk Police Box until 7pm

#SirenSaturday Recently repainted with a call light in addition to the Siren base and mount. Police Box 26 'A', Kaimes Crossroads, Edinburgh. This was given Carrier planning number 254/ in the early 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

#PostboxSaturday A few weeks ago a nearby box lost its door, it's now looking rather high-tech.

#SirenSaturday I have final ventured to the South East of the City Now sporting a very colourful paint job: Police Box 35 'A', Drum Street, Gilmerton. This was given Carrier planning number 254/76 in the early 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

I have been catching up on the Cold War Conversations Podcast. If you have ever read "Command and Control" by Eric Schlosser (or the TV adaptation which I have never seen) this is a must listen! Fantastic telling of events, you won't regret listening.

Originally located in the middle of the Road Junction, this box was moved to the car park of the (locally) famous Goldberg and Sons Department store. It has moved again since the store was closed and demolished. There is a great picture from 1983 here: www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/history...

#SirenSaturday Parking must have been bad even for time lords as this was a frequent mover. Someone has cut the siren mount off in recent years rather than unbolt it. Police Box 6 'C', Tollcross, Edinburgh This was given Carrier planning number 254/57 in the early 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

Day One of the Edinburgh Fringe.

#ColdWar geeks in the UK have a double treat on BBC4 on Wednesday. They’re showing ‘Threads’ again at 11:15pm; but before that they’re treating us with a repeat of ‘The War Game’. Both are excellent films, and reflective not only of their time but also the evolving view of nuclear war.

Well if anyone wants to DM me, sorry, apparently I don't have a real face. 🤷‍♂️

Carter Hand Siren at Arbroath Royal Observer Post Museum. #SirenSaturday

For those based in #Edinburgh there is a "museum tram"(?) running about the network. I have no details other than my tram into town passed it in the loop at Haymarket, it followed us into Haymarket station, it appears to have a branded livery and was announced when it arrived into the tram stop.

I *was* grateful that NCAP managed to escape HES' botched shoving of everything on Trove and hoping for the best. But: 1️⃣ Launch new platform without subscription facility 2️⃣ "it's fine you can still use the old platform and subscriptions 'til year end" 3️⃣ Shut down old platform and redirect to new 🤦‍♂️

I Love it And as per the Box today you have even captured the Siren Mounting Plate. In the 1960's This box was "Police Box 29 'A', Cairntows Crossroads, Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh" and given carrier planning number 254/12. #EdinburghPoliceBoxes

That police box became the home of The SwimEasys. Details in the images.

#SirenSaturday One of the Pictures in Andy's thread aids in showing how the mounting plate for the Siren was a later addition to the Boxes. Police Box 46 'A', Braid Hills Road, Edinburgh. This was given the Carrier Planning Number 254/80 in the 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

Well I guess a silver lining from my point of view is I have been able to book a few extra archive visits in the coming weeks for cold war goodies. Speed running the Redundancy process in 3 working days was not on my bingo card for this year.

Unfortunately, with very little notice, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. So yesterday I decided to take another trip to the "Cold War Scotland" exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.

Question for those who know past #Edinburgh. Does anyone know the location of the old "Telford College Annex" either in or near to Dean Village?

When I have been touring #Edinburgh looking for remains of Sirens I have been aided by a list from the National Records of Scotland. Whats better than a List? Well a map of course! As a treat here is a rough and first draft of the powered Sirens in 1962. #SirenSaturday #EdinburghPoliceBox

It's sunny, I have the day off and there are records booked and awaiting me at the archives. Shaping up for a good Monday.

#SirenSaturday A Box enjoying the Park Life. Police Box 29 'D', Lochend Park, Leith. This was given the Carrier Planning Number 254/74 in the 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

Lovely picture with Cockenzie Power Station in the Distance. The South of Scotland Electricity Board had some protected accommodation, Funded by the Civil Defence Grants, at Cockenzie. It was intended to house comm's to enable the SSEB to evaluate damage to themselves after a nuclear attack.

#SirenSaturday This Siren was located on the Site of the Old Eyemouth Fire Station. Before Pagers Sirens were used to call out crews. Most were Dual use and could also be used for issuing attack warnings. If used for attack warnings it would have had a 257 Carrier Number.

#SirenSaturday Sporting a snazzy elevated Police Call light and a left behind Siren Base. There is no guessing it's former function. Police Box 18 'C', Quality Street, Davidson's Mains, Edinburgh. This was given the Carrier Planning Number 254/32 in the 1960's. #EdinburghPoliceBox

Reblupping myself for the evening shift, because for once there's actually something more important in the post than *just* an old building or people who died 200 years ago. Quite important if I say so myself ⚠️

A fantastic view of the roof of www.gairlochmuseum.org which is a great reuse of the 1950's Anti-aircraft Operations Room.

And it looks like that is the end of ncap.org.uk After browsing over lunch I now (in the Evening) I get a connection error or automatically redirected to ncap.org

A lot has been said about HES retiring other sites but if you use NCAP.org.uk it is in it's last few days before turn off. Remember to make a note of any favourites and chase for subscription refunds. www.ncap.org/news/2025/re...

A lot has been said about HES retiring other sites but if you use NCAP.org.uk it is in it's last few days before turn off. Remember to make a note of any favourites and chase for subscription refunds. www.ncap.org/news/2025/re...