This close-up of the lantern reveals that no lamp was fitted in this Beta 5 - this has always been the case with this installation; the lantern is wired internally to only connect the NEMA photocell socket; the rest of the gear components are disconnected. In most cases where group-switching exists, if the control cell is attached to a lantern, the circuit is wired in such a way that the lantern itself operates manually, and is switched from within the pillar - this acts as a makeshift work light for engineers working on the pillar after nightfall. Not so with this setup.
The majority of the outgoing lanterns on the roundabout itself consisted of integrally-geared Philips MA 60 180 Watt SOX lanterns.
Despite the columns being group-switched, some of the outgoing lanterns were still individually celled. I suspect that this MA 60 may be a replacement for a failed, older lantern.
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A few columns supported remotely-geared MA 60s. |
These lanterns did not incorporate their own photocells, and so it was probably a remotely-geared version that the above integrally-geared example replaced.
Many of the new columns are situated away from their outgoing equivalents.
A variety of installations is seen below; the Saint Alkmund's Way high masts can be seen in the background.
A few of the outgoing columns were situated on the centre of the roundabout, including this example with a noticeably lopsided bracket.
A few of the new installations had been fitted with a lantern and bracket by the time that these photographs were taken. Thankfully, these brackets had not yet decided to follow the ways of the above installation!
The MA 60 visible in the background of the above photograph sported a very grubby canopy - this isn't really surprising, as the lanterns were probably around 35 years old by the time that they were removed.
The new lanterns are fitted with 250 Watt SON-T lamps.
The writing visible on the right of this picture spells out "Derby in Bloom", in plants. The roundabout will certainly be "blooming" bright after the new lighting is up and running!
A second Beta 5; this time a working example, was situated under the the bridge supporting the eastbound carriageway of the A52. The lantern was fitted to a base-hinged Abacus column.
Being situated under the bridge, the Beta 5 was in an absolutely filthy condition by the time that it was removed. Notice that this lantern does not incorporate a photocell - the installation was also group-switched from the 'master' Beta 5.
Back in the fresh air, another two columns could be seen.
This MA 60 looks rather out of proportion fitted to this rather spindly bracket!
The compulsory "MA lantern with loose front bowl clip" was fitted to this column.
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A couple of integrally-geared Thorn Alpha 4 135 Watt SOX lanterns provided illumination to and from Nottingham Road, Chaddesden. |
The Alpha 4s were both fitted to 10 m tubular steel columns made by CU Phosco.
Back on the roundabout, and this MA 60 (added after the the above records were produced) was attached to another base-hinged Abacus column; albeit, a more heavy-duty design in comparison to the type seen supporting the Beta 5 earlier.
Even from ground level, these lanterns appear very long.
A rather rusty column was visible on the other side of the splitter.
Both the new and old lanterns at the next location were fitted with Royce Thompson SC1000 photocells - the blue type fitted to the MA 60 would switch on at 70 Lux, and deactivate at 35 Lux, whereas, the type fitted to the Iridium would switch on at 35 Lux, and off again at 18 Lux.
The next outgoing column was a post-PFI replacement. Presumably, the previous column here had been damaged in a collision.
It is interesting that this Iridium was fitted to the column spigot, whilst the Iridiums installed for the PFI scheme are all fitted to brackets. Notice the presence of fingerprints on the new lantern's chassis!
More SOX lanterns that would soon be replaced...
The MA 60 on the left was one of the few integrally-geared examples to not be fitted with a photocell.
The column here was leaning slightly towards the roundabout.
This MA 60's canopy was also rather weathered.
The column's lean did not appear to be as noticeable from behind.
This Alpha 4 guided motorists travelling onto the roundabout from Sir Frank Whittle Road.
We return to MA 60-topped columns for the final photograph.
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