insulators

I don't think that is code

Looks more like telegraph lines to me :)

Having worked on poles and lines like this, - these are not power lines. They could be telegraph but most likely good old telephone open wire lines. They could be control lines for the power plant but I doubt it. There is a larger cable attached to the pole below the open wire, most likely phone cable added to increase capacity but also sometimes used by the rail road.

They are on-line.

Ummm... let's see, the title says "telephone lines," now, I'm just saying, but that seems like a pretty good clue to me as to what these are.

See original - www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2632248823/

I am not sure there was ever a "Playfair Place", and wonder if "Playfair Stairs" is a better title?

Thanks beachcomeraustralia, we have amended the caption

The glass negative is in the Tyrrell Collection. and it is one of a pair with this photo in State Records NSW - investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/asp/photosearch/photo.asp... . Or

This photo was recently determined to be part of the Rocks Resumption photographic survey, the title and date of the image has been changed accordingly Here is a map of the Rocks Resumption area (last one in the sequence)

rural utility poles

being related to the "dynamite conspiracy" and the troubles with the Iron Workers Union www.geocities.com/ironworkers373/iwhistory3b.html query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=950CE3D7173CE6...

nudecowboy: thanks for supplying the context and sources. We'll update the source data and reload the description.

This exact photo was used on Page 3 of the April 26, 1911 Washington Post. The arrest of McNamara happened on April 23, so the photo was taken sometime in the interim. The barn was rented by John J. McNamara. Owned by "T. H" or "D." or "F. M." Jones (different Washington Post articles), a half mile or 3/4 mile west of Indianapolis. Dynamite and nitroglycerine were found inside. A photo of "F. M." Jones accompanies this photo in the April 26 1911 Washington Post.

nudecowboy decided to put on a kilt? Heehee...ahem.

Those look like the ones near where I live.