Gallery:GEC Lighting
Close up of GEC logo
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 14, 2006 by SubaruImprezaWRX
Rare street lamp type in Warren Road, Orpington, Kent
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 14, 2006 by SubaruImprezaWRX
The A2990 is lit its entire length with these Z9554s installed on possible Fabrikat columns, which look to date from the 70s or 80s. These have been here for as long as I can remember, and are in fantastic condition considering their age! There have been some MA50/60/SGS203 casual replacements, but the majority of them are still here!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 08, 2008 by Rojojnr
Spalling can be seen.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 14, 2006 by SubaruImprezaWRX
Among the MA60s on the slip roads leading on and off the A12 Eastern Avenue at Gallows Corner is this single surviving GEC Brick, which would be the original lantern to this column. The others have been gradually replaced by gear-in-shoe MA60s over the years. There is, however, one surviving example on the opposite slip road as well, although it is rather shrouded in trees.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
A lone Z9554 on a hockeystick column stands over Chigwell Road. This would have probably been a 70s/80s replacement for a concrete column.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 07, 2009 by Rojojnr
Just before the sharp right turn where the B175 starts its descent into suburbia stands this interesting installation. The GEC Z8426 is all alone here on its concrete column. I remember seeing these installations all over Hackney in the late 80's but this was and still is the only one in Havering. There is a superb view from the corner with the QE2 Bridge clearly visible.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 13, 2009 by Yorkletts
GEC 5' fluorescent lantern on a Concrete Utilities column. Fleetwood Lanc's. Erected 1966 and sleeved with an Alpha 3 SON in 1982. Picture taken circa 1981.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 26, 2007 by AL70
I found another GEC Z8691 on Shakespeare Road off Beach Avenue, near Minnis Bay! This one looks as if it's installed on a newer concrete column than my previous example, as the concrete still looks greyish in colour, so could well be the original lantern to be fitted to this column!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 23, 2008 by Rojojnr
Now here's something you don't see everyday - a GEC Z8896 has been installed here on a sleeved Eleco column. It's pretty rare to see this lantern on a sleeved concrete column. There were some others on plain right-angle bracket sleeves on Kent Gardens off Canterbury Road, but they were replaced by Arcs a few months ago!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 23, 2008 by Rojojnr
If you thought my hunt for Z8831s was over, think again! I spotted an example dayburning (which only goes to prove it is a Z8831) and installed on an unsleeved Stanton column on one of the back streets off Canterbury Road!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 23, 2008 by Rojojnr
This one's for you, Ben! Yes, it's a GEC Z8896 installed on an Eleco aluminium hockeystick. I haven't seen any other installations like this anywhere else in Birchington, so it could well be a Thanet special for this estate!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 23, 2008 by Rojojnr
Apologies for the tree-shrouded shot here, but it's actually incredibly difficult to photograph the lanterns on Mawney Road because of the large amount of tall trees on the road, as well as the sheer length of the brackets on those columns! The lantern is a rare deep-bowled GEC Z9554, which I'm guessing was probably installed on all of these columns before the shallow-bowled versions took over!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 19, 2008 by Rojojnr
Sotonsteve has already pictured some of these installations, but we were stuck in traffic on the M25 heading towards the toll booths and I found one of those GEC Z8591 lanterns installed on a footpath at the edge of the motorway, so thought I'd test my new Sony camera's zoom to the limit and snap it! I'm unsure of the manufacturer of the column, but it may be a Fabrikat.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2008 by Rojojnr
This is a close-up of the GEC Z9481 lantern on a Stanton concrete column I pictured previously off the A1306. I don't think it works anymore, however, as I haven't seen it lit at night. It is also installed perpendicular to a footpath, so perhaps there was a road here at some point and it has been replaced by the footpath. Who knows? I know the A1306 had its layout changed a few years ago, but whether this was something to do with it I don't know!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 15, 2008 by Rojojnr
Somebody has pictured these before here on SABRE - the Hall Lane turnoff on the A127 in Upminster has some amazing arched columns with a variety of lanterns (mostly Z9554s and MAs) installed. Here's one with a Z9554 installed on the bridge over the A127.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 02, 2009 by Rojojnr
Lighting the bridge spanning Hornchurch tube station is this unknown GEC post-top. I did know the code to this once as I managed to identify it on Tim's website, but now that website is no longer active, I've forgotten the product code! If anybody knows it, please let me know so I can correct this! Thanks!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
This cul-de-sac off Hornchurch Road is lit, from what I can see, by this GEC Z9536 lantern.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
Hornchurch Road still has a couple of GEC Z9554s knocking about - I suppose at the time of the mass replacement scheme during the mid 1990s when MAs were installed in bulk, these were newer lanterns than the rest, so they were probably left to burn for a few more years. This one is lucky enough to still be standing in 2009, hence why I thought I'd better shoot it!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
Here's a close-up of one of the classic Mawney Road installations with a Z9554 fitted.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 05, 2009 by Rojojnr
This (and some others behind) Z5678 is dayburning. I'm glad it was too to be honest, as that's how I knew these were Z5678s (the SOX version).
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 07, 2009 by Rojojnr
The Sainsbury's store in Barkingside has a rear access road lit by a few GEC Z5678s (SOX). One example which looked like it had a run-in with a Sainsbury's lorry has been replaced by a Thorn Gamma 6, but apart from that, all the lanterns are complete and seem to be working fine (there are some dayburners behind this example. This example actually isn't lit at night - the SOX lamp obviously needs changing - but I bet it must light the upstairs room of that house up well at night!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 07, 2009 by Rojojnr
GEC Dioptrion overlooking the bemused security guard's building at Dagenham Docks. This is right opposite the jetty. I had to dodge several glue sniffers to get this picture on 4th April 2009.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 13, 2009 by Yorkletts
Finally, here's a short bracket Z9554, just for living proof!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 22, 2009 by Rojojnr
Welcome to Epping Forest! Where Redbridge's black ZX2s on white Fabrikat columns end, these CU concrete columns with various SOX lanterns mounted upon them take over! This Z9454 welcomes us warmly into Epping Forest and gives us a taster of what we're going to see here! Fencepiece Road was up until 1995 completely SOX lit (I think Redbridge's ZX2s replaced some Thorn Alpha 5s on S&L columns), but now it's a third metal halide (some ZX2s have been replaced by Furyos), a third SON (the ZX2s) and a third SOX.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 22, 2009 by Rojojnr
The roundabout at the junction of Canterbury Road, Kings Road and Mickelburgh Hill is lit with this GEC post-top lantern, which I think runs mercury lamps, but how many I don't know! I keep forgetting the codes for GEC's post tops, so if somebody could identify this for me, I'd be really grateful!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 15, 2008 by Rojojnr
The first two lanterns on Mawney Road after the junction with the Eastern Avenue is this Z9554 and MA50, both installed on hockeystick columns.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2008 by Rojojnr
I pictured this installation previously, but it was rather shrouded by the tree! But now the tree has lost its leaves, I can picture it properly! So here it is in all its glory -in case you're wondering, it's a rare deep-bowled Z9554! It's certainly rare here, as it's the only one in the whole area, let alone Mawney Road!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 07, 2008 by Rojojnr
Just to keep you up to date on how much that Z8896 on Albion Road has been buried in ivy, you can see that it's only the bracket and lantern that are uncovered now! Thanet will have to get their shears out if they want this lantern to continue lighting the road! By the way, a walk after dark the other evening revealed that this lantern runs SON instead of mercury, as do a couple of others on this stretch of the road.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2008 by Rojojnr
This GEC Z9554 is a loner SOX lantern on this section of road, but only until recently! There was an Alpha 1 on an S&L column on the next column down, but this was retrofitted with an Arc (presumably because the lantern failed), and there were a couple of GR150s, but one was replaced with an MRL6 (probably during the 1990s) and another recently with an Arc. There were also two other GR150s around the College Road junction, but these were replaced with Arcs when the signal priorities were changed.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2008 by Rojojnr
Here's a long-bracketed version of the Chigwell Road Z9554s, just to prove they're still with us!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 22, 2009 by Rojojnr
Yep, they're still here, as I'd expect them to be! So that's another year that these Z9554s on Chigwell Road have survived! Let's hope they survive for a long while yet!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 22, 2009 by Rojojnr
Woodford New Road is SOX-lit with Redbridge's Z9554s, GR150s and MAs before the Urbis ZXs of Waltham Forest kick in. Here's a Z9554 I managed to shoot before the lanterns switch, but I only saw one GR150, which is a shame!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 17, 2008 by Rojojnr
Here's another Z9554 on Chigwell Road, this time mounted on a longer bracket. The column has also not yet been repainted!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 17, 2008 by Rojojnr
Chigwell Road, off the Charlie Brown's Roundabout about 2 miles away from my house, is lit with these GEC Z9554s on 1970s steel columns. I'm very surprised that they weren't replaced in the 1995 PFI to be honest, but I'm really pleased that they are still standing proud in 2008! Also, the columns appear to be being given a fresh lick of paint, so they'll probably remain here for quite some time yet!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 17, 2008 by Rojojnr
On the opposite side of the traffic lights is this Z9554 installed on a hockeystick! This was probably a 1980s/90s casual replacement for one of the 1970s installations seen in the previous photo! Just behind and to the left of this installation, you can just see a geared MA50, which, judging by its very grubby appearance, was probably a 1970s/80s casual replacement! In the foreground, meanwhile, you can see a flat-glass Trafficvision on the A12, as shown previously!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 12, 2008 by Rojojnr
I bet you wasn't expecting this, were you? Mawney Road is predominantly lit by these GEC Z9554s on these fantastic 1970s (possibly Fabrikat) columns! There are casual replacements in the shape of MA50/60s, SGS203s and a couple of Iridiums, but the Z9554s are still plentiful! On a driveway nearby there was also a Thorn EP145 lantern, but I unfortunately missed it! Better luck next time!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 12, 2008 by Rojojnr
Lighting the junction of Manston Road and Manston Court Road is this rather murky-looking GEC Z5590 lantern installed on what looks like a Stanton concrete column. You'd barely notice it if you travelled along Manston Road from the A299 as it's well hidden behind that tree in the photo! So I think I got the best angle on the installation here!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 10, 2008 by Rojojnr
Just up from the previous installation is another identical one, although the lantern here looks as if it's turned a little on its bracket!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 06, 2008 by Rojojnr
I took this picture to see what you thought of the SGS101 installed on a 90-degree sleeved bracket - I think it looks a little bulbous and spoils the installation a little. What do you think?
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 16, 2008 by Rojojnr
A close up view of a Z8426 lantern before they all vanish forever.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
A view of the old GEC Z8426 lanterns along a stretch of road in Bournemouth. These lanterns, at one point in the past, covered the whole of Bournemouth but apparently there are not many of these left today.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
A view of the old GEC Z8426 lanterns along a stretch of road in Bournemouth. These lanterns, at one point in the past, covered the whole of Bournemouth but apparently there are not many of these left today.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
A view of the old GEC Z8426 lanterns along a stretch of road in Bournemouth. These lanterns, at one point in the past, covered the whole of Bournemouth but apparently there are not many of these left today.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
These are the two of the last remaining 'Stanton' columns, in the Poole area, have not been sleeved and still has the original GEC Z8526 lanterns.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
Pictured in 1950, some old concrete columns with GEC Z9425 low pressure sodium lanterns.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jan 22, 2007 by sotonsteve
Once a common sight in the city, arched columns with GEC Z9425s, but now extinct, although a fair few of the columns remain in sleeved form with GEC Z9454s, or Urbis ZX3s with CDM-T lamps as is the case on the A35 Winchester Road.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jan 22, 2007 by sotonsteve
This is just one of many GEC Z9454's still standing on York's roads. This one stands above Tang Hall lane, which holds a great variety of different lighting installations. This one is on a Stewart & Lloyd column with stumpy outreach bracket. The brackets aren't so common in York, But S&L columns are still the mainstay of the lighting stock.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 07, 2007 by True Yorkie