Off Vale Road Bridge, Rhyl, Denbighshire With thanks to AgentHalogen_87 for informing me of these Survivors. Positioned on a closed-off section of platform at Rhyl Railway Station are three Abacus base-hinged columns that still support post-top lanterns intended for running multiple 5 ft (1500 mm) MCF (linear fluorescent) lamps. The lanterns are similar in appearance to the GEC Z8288, but are likely to be a slightly newer product that was based on the GEC lantern's design. One particularly noticeable difference is that these fittings do not have the letters forming the station name affixed to the bowl, as the Z8288s did.
The disused section of platform extends for a considerable distance, with a further five Abacus columns now topped with Philips SGS 203s (two of which are on the platform) continuing after the fluorescent fittings cease. These columns are likely to have supported GEC Z8260 twin 2 ft (600 mm) 40 Watt MCF lanterns originally. The long platforms hark back to a very different time, when their full length would have been necessary to accommodate the lengthy trains transporting numerous holidaymakers to the seaside. Alas, such days are long gone now.
Although translucent, the Perspex bowls possess sufficient transparency to allow some internal dirt to be spotted.
This example looks to be positioned rather closely to the adjacent colour light signal, but that is because of the perspective - in reality, both items were spaced further apart, and the column / lantern would not be likely to cause sighting issues for the signal. Incidentally, the green aspect is showing for the Holyhead to Chester Transport for Wales Rail service, which was due to arrive imminently at platform 1.
The bowl on the third example had a slight crack in the plastic at one end.
The second of the three installations is seen from the vantage point of a nearby car park.
The lanterns must feature a tube that slides down into the column, which is then locked in place with four bolts that are tapped into the column shaft.
Another Survivor that is visible from the bridge is this rather sad-looking Thorn Alpha 9 attached to an 8 m column, complete with a local resident keeping watch.
It really is in terrible condition, and the lantern is not much better!
Aside from the bowl having been lost, and the 90 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamp smashed (notice the cap still installed within the lampholder), the internal wiring has been cut, and (what was probably once) the ballast is now just a rusted lump of metal.
This is a 1980s' example, with the Royce Thompson P42 two-part photocell detector likely to be original.
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