These lanterns were to be saved by someone from a streetlighting group and offered to collectors at cost price. I put my name down for one a month ago but have heard nothing since. Although GEC Bricks were relatively common in areas where full cut off is required the M25 examples had the gear in shoe which made them quite unique.StockburyRoundabout wrote: ↑Sat Jan 01, 2022 20:56Once the SOX is gone from this area, it will truly be the end of an era. Started when the M3 was upgraded to Smart Motorway, removing the columns on the M3 carriageway completely and replacing columns on some slips.Chris5156 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 30, 2021 09:42 The SOX lights on the sliproads at M25 J12 - which were original to the opening of the interchange in the 70s - have finally been switched off, and new LEDs are going up at the moment. They were still working until about a month ago, except for the southbound-to-westbound slip where they'd been out for quite a long time.
Fond memories of the familiar orange glow of the SOX on the slips (and once upon a time the main M3 carriageway). That's been a sight for as long as a remember and they predate my existence by around 25 years at my estimation. The charm of SOX is something that we'll probably never see again.
I presume this replacement also includes the SOX still present on the verges next to the M25 carriageway on the approach to the slips?
I took a bunch of photos of them 21 years ago expecting them to be replaced but I never thought they would last this long. The catenary on the M25 in the distance went years ago.