Until it closed in 1977, the  London Hydraulic Power Company supplied water at a pressure of up to 850 lb. per sq. in., day and night, all the year round, through some 180 miles of cast-iron mains laid under the streets of London. Today the same network carries fibre optic cable.

don't know what interface would be required for this data node

mostly harmless, rarely telling the whole truth, occasionally mistaken for an adult due to age. 

they don't all appear to use the same standard

they don't all appear to use the same standard 
https://manhole.co.il/coverDetails.asp?c=8446

if you feel hard done by getting your USB plug the wrong way round spare a thought for steampunk hackers