[yaantc]

> I bet it had diesel generators when it was in service with AT&T to boot.

20 to 25 years ago I visited a telecom switch center in Paris, the one under the Tuileries garden next to the Louvre. They had a huge and empty diesel generators room. They had all been replaced by a small turbine (not sure it's the right English term), just the same as what's used to power an helicopter. It was in a relatively small soundproof box, with a special vent for the exhaust, kind of lost on the side of a huge underground room.

As the guy in charge explained to us, it was much more compact and convenient. The big risk was in getting it started, this was the tricky part. Once started it was extremely reliable.

[tonyarkles]

> by a small turbine (not sure it's the right English term)

That's the right English word yes. And that's pretty cool!