Gallery:Thorn Alpha
There are still plenty of Alpha 3's on the Canterbury Ring Road. Sadly this double column has been the victim of lighting vandalism and now possesses a Philips SGS203 and Alpha 3 on the same double column. In the foreground a pristine Alpha 3 (but this column is not currently working - likely to be a bulb failure)
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Nov 11, 2006 by Brenley Corner
Main Road in Romford, Havering is lit by some more of those 1970s columns seen with Urbis ZXs on London Road, but this time with Thorn Alpha 8 MK IIIs installed. I've a feeling these replaced MA90s, as I've pictured another column further along at Gallows Corner with one installed already, but I could be wrong. These were probably installed between 2000 and 2004, as I think that's when the lantern (in the form of the WRTL MRL8) was discontinued by WRTL. These are certainly very smart installations indeed!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 07, 2009 by Rojojnr
Here's another unusual lantern for the area - the Alpha 3! There are a couple of these in Epping Forest, however. I've pictured an identical example already, but thought I'd better make the most of these wonderful installations. The Alpha 3 here probably retrofitted an Eleco or Revo lantern.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 07, 2009 by Rojojnr
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The only lantern of its kind left on the road - at one time, this whole road used to be lit end-to-end in these gear-in-shoe Thorn Alpha 3s, but they have been replaced by a wide variety of SON lanterns over the years, namely MRL6s, P678s and Arcs. Margate seafront also used to be lit by these, but none of those remain, as you will soon see!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 16, 2008 by Rojojnr
Here's a complete installation with chunky black column and bowled Thorn Alpha 8 in Beckton.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2009: All the Alpha 8s have now been retrofitted with bowled Arcs - quite a few of them did lose their bowls, so I suppose Newham council wanted to 'tidy up' a bit.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 27, 2008 by Rojojnr
A garage on Ripple Road is lit with MRL6s and Alpha 8s mounted unusually low on hockeystick columns. This is one of the Alpha 8s - as you can see, it does match the column rather nicely, but I'm thinking of the over-excessive lighting it will provide at night!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2008 by Rojojnr
Hornchurch Road also has a couple of Thorn Alpha 4s, which were probably earlier casual replacements for Z9554s before the MAs in the mass replacement scheme came along. This installation looks like a complete casual replacement as it's on a different column to the rest of the installations on the road.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
And here's the third and final Alpha 4. It has sadly lost its bowl, which probably means a casual replacement SON lantern is on the cards, but at least you can still see it's an Alpha 4.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
This is the second Alpha 4, on the opposite side of the road to the first one.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
Around the junction of South Street and Rom Valley Way, no less than three Alpha 4s (one has sadly lost its bowl) can be spotted. This is the first - I suppose I should have taken a shot directly underneath the lantern for a closer look, but you can still appreciate the lantern (just about!) from this angle.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
Where the parade of shops on Green Lane ends, there is a lone MK II Alpha 8 which has lost its bowl. All installations here used to have these installed, but sadly now all but this one have been retrofitted with SGS203s and more recently Iridiums, although this has been a gradual process.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 12, 2009 by Rojojnr
There's an Alpha 9 in that tree, somewhere! I'm not sure if it's a council or privately owned installation. It's probably the latter as Barking and Dagenham council wiped out all its SOX in the early-mid 2000s. The nearby Whalebone Lane used to be lit with Alpha 4s (now lit with SGS203s retrofitted onto the existing columns and a few Iridium casual replacements), so having an Alpha 9 here is/was quite fitting. I don't know if the installation still works or not as I haven't been along here at night for ages
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 12, 2009 by Rojojnr
Now, I wasn't expecting this! One of the long-bracket columns on Manor Road has this Thorn Alpha 3 installed, probably as a replacement for an HW745. I'm rather surprised Epping Forest chose to use it as a casual replacement - they were always more of a fan of the MRL90! But it's great to see Alpha 3s still in use around here anyway - all of the Redbridge-owned ones on Wanstead High Street were replaced last year!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 22, 2009 by Rojojnr
I was wondering when I'd get a picture of a Thorn Alpha 4! Well, here is one! This is the 135w geared version - all I need now is a picture of the 90w version! This is on Broadmead Road, and has been used as a casual replacement for a Z9554 - Redbridge obviously fancied a change from the MA50! I'm certainly glad they did too!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 17, 2008 by Rojojnr_-_Coppermine_-_20372.jpg)
The final installation on Broadmead Road before the junction with Woodford High Road is this Alpha 4 on a longer bracket than the previous example. The column is shrouded in the trees, making it look as if the Alpha 4 grows on trees, which unfortunately it doesn't! I wish it could though!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 17, 2008 by Rojojnr
These columns are possibly made by Concrete Utilities. These streetlights, in the Poole suburb of Canford Heath, are mostly lit with Thorn Alpha 8 lanterns though the original lanterns were the GEC Z8526. Most of these streetlights, in this area, already have been replaced with the post top Alpha 2000s as shown earlier.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
These columns are possibly made by Concrete Utilities. The lanterns are the earlier versions of the current Thorn Alpha 8 lantern. Situated in the Poole suburb of Canford Heath.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
This is the larger of the double type. The spread of modern post top Vectra's is continuing fast and the Thorn Alpha 1 on the sleeve in the distance looks set to bite the dust shortly.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 22, 2006 by Truvelo
This is one unusual type of concrete column, with Thorn Alpha 3 lantern, only found at Pottery Junction in Poole. I've seen plenty of this example in Germany especially throughout Berlin.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 20, 2006 by DorsetWay
Here are examples of the quite tall concrete columns with Thorn Alpha 8 lanterns present in the 2012 Olympics sailing venue of Weymouth. The original lanterns, until the early 90's, were of the GEC Z8526 type also known as Turtles.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Sep 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
This wonderful installation has failed - the bowl is now loose.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2006 by Bryn666
At the very beginning of Butts Green Road is this tall sleeved concrete column with a MK II Alpha 8 fitted. There are a few more of these along Butts Green Road, but as you'll see, it is predominantly SOX lit.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
Hornchurch is home to a couple of early aluminium-canopied Alpha 8s on a double-bracket installation at the beginning of Suttons Lane. Note also the rather crudely installed Urbis Sapphires on the zebra crossing on the right!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Aug 28, 2009 by Rojojnr
I might have pictured this before, but the gas station beside the A406 just outside Ilford is lit with these cut-off Alpha 8 MK IIs installed on what look like early Fabrikat columns. These installations seem very popular around gasometers, as nearly every gas station I know around here has these installed!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 17, 2009 by Rojojnr
This Alpha 4 is a loner on Chigwell Road, since all other casual replacements are MA50s. Redbridge were quite a big fan of the Alpha 4 before the 1995 mass replacement scheme - they were a lot more Alpha 4s around than MAs, but in recent years the tables have turned and the MA50 is king for SOX now! I think the Alpha 4 still does get used occasionally though!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 22, 2009 by Rojojnr
During w/c 5.03.07, an era came to an end when Philips Iridiums replaced Alpha 3s along the Canterbury Ring Road.
Closer-in view
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 10, 2007 by Brenley Corner
The last original 60's lighting along the Canterbury Ring Road when the 1969 Alpha 3 lanterns were swapped out for Iridiums. The columns are still original. In this photo the double column displays a Philips Iridium and a Philips SGS203. Both replacing Alpha 3's but at differing times, the SGS203 now being the older lantern on the column.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 10, 2007 by Brenley Corner
This is the other Alpha 1 on Canterbury Road. It's installed on a newer design of S&L column to its neighbour, but even this looks extremely worn out! I would think, therefore, that the Alpha 1s are probably the original lanterns to the columns, if not maybe a top-entry Wardle or something. It'd be really interesting to find out what lanterns (if any) were previously installed on these columns!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2008 by Rojojnr
UPDATE: I regret to have to inform you that this installation is about to bite the dust! A WRTL Arc has been installed on a new column with a short bracket right next to the installation. Thankfully, it's not quite the end of an era though, as the other Alpha 1 over the road is still intact with no imminent replacement! However, it is still very sad to see such a classic installation disappear! This installation has done extremely well though - it must be at least 40-50 years old and is extremely rusty, so I can definitely say it's served its time and replacement is pretty inevitable! I just wish a nicer lantern such as an MA50 or even an Alpha 4 could've been used, or even better, the column repainted and restored to its former glory, but I doubt that would've been possible due to the extreme rusting.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2008 by Rojojnr
This is the first of two Thorn Alpha 3s (thanks Sotonsteve for the correction!) installed on the forecourt of a Total petrol station on Canterbury Road. It, as well as its twin just opposite, still runs a mercury lamp, and has strangely been painted white! There is a bit of rusting on the column just below the bracket, but apart from that, the installation is in a pretty immaculate conditon considering its age! According to Sotonsteve, these lanterns are very popular on former Elf garages - I have a hunch that this was at one point an Elf garage and only over the last couple of years has changed to Total!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 16, 2008 by Rojojnr
This is the twin sister of the first Thorn Alpha 3. It too runs a mercury lamp, and the column is in a slightly better condition than that of its fellow sibling. However, the bowl is rather green on this installation compared to the other, which proves that the lantern still runs a mercury lamp!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 16, 2008 by Rojojnr
This Alpha 9 is on Beach Street and is installed on an S&L column with a longer bracket than usual. Another classic installation!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 15, 2008 by Rojojnr
Most of the side streets off the seafront are installed with Alpha 9s mounted on S&L columns painted black. These also look great!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 15, 2008 by Rojojnr
The roads around Beltinge (Reculver Road, Sea View Road and Beltinge Road) are all lit mostly with these wonderful shallow-bowled Thorn Alpha 9s on S&L columns. There have been a number of casual replacements in the form of MAs, along with a few SGS203s, Arcs and Iridiums, but most of these are still standing proud in 2008! Make the most of them while you can!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Dec 15, 2008 by Rojojnr
Station Parade in Westgate is lit by Thorn Alpha 3s mounted on a mixture of sleeved and unsleeved CU concrete columns. However, the first installation on the road is a wall-mounted example. These are becoming ever rarer on many streets in Britain, and the Thanet, for one, is now no longer a place where Alpha 3s are common!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2008 by Rojojnr
Just before the road switches to dual carriageway with those Y installations and SGS203s is this dayburning deep-bowled Thorn Alpha 5 on a steel column. As you can see, there are a lot of SON casual replacements here too, so this is very much a loner here! I also don't know of any other Alpha 5s on the Thanet, so this could well be the only one on the island! I'm sure I saw another deep-bowled one on a different column along this stretch of road somewhere, but couldn't find it for some reason!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 30, 2008 by Rojojnr
This is a short-bracket version of the installations back at Beckton. This looks just as good as the cut-off MRL6 installations and the Alpha 8 is another lantern which looks great here in my view!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Oct 25, 2008 by Rojojnr_in_Beckton_-_Coppermine_-_19223.jpg)
The Beckton Triangle Retail Park is lit mostly by these GRP canopied Thorn Alpha 8s on chunky black columns with a large amount of support webbing beneath the bracket. Any ideas as to who makes these columns?
UPDATE: After driving past here today, I found that the section of these installations between this junction and the Beckton Roundabout have all seen their Alpha 8s replaced with bowled Arcs, which actually look quite neat on these installations! Next time I come this way, I'll take some pics for you!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jul 27, 2008 by Rojojnr
An Alpha 3 on a n old column in the middle of a pedestrianised area of Canterbury - complete with old road signs mounted high on the wall dating back to when this was the A2 (prior 1963)
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Mar 18, 2007 by Brenley Corner
A good condition Alpha 1 (pic is bluury)
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jan 27, 2007 by True Yorkie_-_Coppermine_-_10018.JPG)
I Love this picture! On the left is a concrete column with Thorn alpha 1. The main focus is the huge cooling towers of this billingham plant, and the stack on the right.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jan 27, 2007 by True Yorkie_-_Coppermine_-_9758.jpg)
Even before I got into streetlighting, I knew subconciously that this was an odd lantern - I came along later in last year to take this picture. With the Dorman Long works behind, this is right next to south bank rail station. this magnificant lantern is either 55w or 90w SOX, and the column looks as though it's spalling a bit!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jan 14, 2007 by True Yorkie
This part of the A28/A2050 Canterbury Ring Road still has original(?) double columns with Alpha 3 lanterns. Two good examples show in this wide shot
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Nov 11, 2006 by Brenley Corner
These are the shorter version of the 'Stanton' columns this time with the Thorn Alpha 3 lanterns. These streetlights are quite common in 1970s built neighbourhoods throughout Poole.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 10, 2006 by DorsetWay
The number one lantern of Poole, the post top Thorn Alpha 2000s with shallow bowls grace most major roads and streets of Poole. This example of of these lanterns, in the suburb of Canford Heath, were installed only a few years ago replacing old concrete columns with 20/30 year old GEC lanterns.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 09, 2006 by DorsetWay
These columns used to be a common sight on most of Poole's larger roads but most have gone having been replaced with the Thorn Alpha 2000s. This road, at Corfe Hills, probably has the very last ever batch of unsleeved concrete streetlights in the area as they are more likely to disappear soon.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 01, 2006 by DorsetWay
Some concrete streetlights, once all over Poole, were repaired being sleeved using the Thorn Alpha 8 lantern.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 01, 2006 by DorsetWay