174FD. Off Lea Hall Road, Kitts Green, Birmingham With thanks to Leo Conway for discovering these Survivors. Located adjacent Lea Hall railway station, within a now-disused compound, are (at least) three 5 m sheet steel mid-hinged Petitjean (Stainton) columns supporting Simplex Solumbra post-top lanterns, which are likely to date from the 1980s. The installations are likely to have survived as they are installed on the external side of the compound's security fence (which, presumably, did not exist when they were installed), making removal somewhat more complicated, and thus, they have been left in place when the rest of the compound was cleared.
The first (and most accessible) column is seen from the ramp leading between the station and the car park.
A portion of the Solumbra's canopy is bent out of shape.
The second column is glimpsed beyond the imposing Network Rail radio mast structure.
The close-up reveals that while a factory-fitted NEMA socket is installed on the lantern's canopy, it has never been used, and still retains its original protective dust cap.
The third visible column is installed opposite the western gates leading into the yard.
As can be seen, the years of disuse are allowing nature to claim back the site as its own.
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