Kidderminster Railway Station, Aggborough, Kidderminster, Comberton, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire With thanks to Dwight for discovering this Survivor. Located within the car park area is an approximate 12 ft (4 m) Abacus tubular steel column supporting an AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) Residential lantern, intended for running two 2 ft (600 mm) 40 Watt MCF (linear fluorescent) lamps. With the AEI brand having been withdrawn after 1967, following a buy-out by GEC, and the lighting division passing wholly to Thorn Electrical Industries, the approximate age of the Residential can be ascertained - it may have been discontinued before this, as AEI had launched the Saxby (what would go on to be the Thorn Beta 6), which was also a twin 40 Watt fluorescent lantern. Additionally, this is likely to be an earlier example of a Residential, as later examples used the same canopy and bowl as was employed in (what would become) the Thorn Alpha 9.

As with many railway station car parks, this area used to be the goods yard. Given the possible age of this installation, it may well have been provided to illuminate part of the goods yard area, and is now about the final remnant from those days that remains. This image is taken from the convenient pedestrian footbridge over the mainline station's two platforms. The heritage-style lantern in the background is part of the Severn Valley Railway's separate station complex.

The lantern has been modified to support a Zodion NEMA photocell wall bracket. Further internal modification may have occurred to convert the lantern to run a light source other than its intended fluorescent lamps.

The column's relatively short height becomes clear when pictured from the car park itself.

I assume that the photocell bracket was used, rather than installing a NEMA socket directly onto the canopy, as a) the method used would be quicker and easier, and b) less space is taken up within the lantern.

This elderly lighting installation contrasts sharply with the modern station building, dating from 2020. A small brick building alongside the column is likely to house the switchgear for the car park electrics. As the column shaft contains a painted '8' maintenance number, the lantern may well still be operational.

The bowl is of an unusual angular design; this is due to extra extrusions being required to accommodate the combined length of the lamps, lampholders and any fixing brackets. The translucence of the bowl material prevents the current light source from being determined.

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