A vacuum circuit interrupter comprising: a first conductor; a vacuum switch comprising: a second conductor, and a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical connection with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly, said second conductor being outside of said vacuum envelope, said second conductor being electrically connected to said fixed contact assembly; a third conductor electrically connected to said movable contact assembly; a fourth conductor; an operating mechanism (28") structured to: (a) open and close the fixed contact assembly and the movable contact assembly of said vacuum switch, and (b) move said vacuum switch and the second conductor thereof between a first position wherein said second conductor is electrically connected to said first conductor and electrically disconnected from said fourth conductor, and a second position wherein said second conductor is electrically connected to said fourth conductor; and characterised in that the movable contact assembly of said vacuum switch includes a longitudinal axis; and that said operating mechanism (28") is structured to, first, open the fixed contact assembly and the movable contact assembly by moving said movable contact assembly along said longitudinal axis and away from said fixed contact assembly, to, second, move said vacuum switch and the second conductor thereof along said longitudinal axis and away from being electrically connected to said first conductor, and to, third, further move said vacuum switch and the second conductor thereof along said longitudinal axis, away from said first conductor and toward the second position wherein said second conductor is electrically connected to said fourth conductor. a first conductor; a vacuum switch comprising: a second conductor, and a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical connection with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly, said second conductor being outside of said vacuum envelope, said second conductor being electrically connected to said fixed contact assembly; a second conductor, and a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical connection with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly, said second conductor being outside of said vacuum envelope, said second conductor being electrically connected to said fixed contact assembly; a third conductor electrically connected to said movable contact assembly; a fourth conductor; an operating mechanism (28") structured to: (a) open and close the fixed contact assembly and the movable contact assembly of said vacuum switch, and (b) move said vacuum switch and the second conductor thereof between a first position wherein said second conductor is electrically connected to said first conductor and electrically disconnected from said fourth conductor, and a second position wherein said second conductor is electrically connected to said fourth conductor; and characterised in that the movable contact assembly of said vacuum switch includes a longitudinal axis; and that said operating mechanism (28") is structured to, first, open the fixed contact assembly and the movable contact assembly by moving said movable contact assembly along said longitudinal axis and away from said fixed contact assembly, to, second, move said vacuum switch and the second conductor thereof along said longitudinal axis and away from being electrically connected to said first conductor, and to, third, further move said vacuum switch and the second conductor thereof along said longitudinal axis, away from said first conductor and toward the second position wherein said second conductor is electrically connected to said fourth conductor.