Local Thorn Alpha 8s

 The original Atlas badged, twin-lamp Alpha 8 was used in Derby along with the Alpha 3 in the 1960s. However no examples remain on public roads. The same cannot be said for the later Thorn Alpha 8 as many examples can still be spotted in this area. The oldest date from the late 1970s/early 1980s; the newest date from the mid-late 1990s. All Thorn examples are geared for 150 Watt-250 Watt SON lamps except for two, which run mercury lamps instead (due to their proximity to a Zebra Crossing).

This aluminium-bodied Alpha 8 is at the opening to the Derwent Street underpass. It is group-switched along with several other lanterns from an unknown control point. This lantern is likely to use a 150 Watt lamp.

This double Alpha 8 installation is to be found in Matlock - although one lantern appears to be somewhat camera-shy!

Just up from the first Alpha 8 on this page is this example with a painted canopy. An Atlas Alpha 8 would originally have been fitted here - notice how the bracket reduces in diameter prematurely. This example is likely to use a 250 Watt lamp.

Time was nearly up for this Thorn Alpha 8 on Friar Gate towards the end of 2010, as new columns supporting Urbis Cabrios had been installed in preparation for the completion of Derby's Inner Ring Road.

This later GRP-canopied and flat-glass version was a replacement for an Alpha 3 at some point.

Across the road from the double version above is this GRP Alpha 8 - this time, a bowl is used.

A very weather-beaten Alpha 8 stands over some recycling bins in a car park in Hatton.

Another Alpha 8 in the same car park is in much better condition.

This wall-mounted example is in Bolsover.

This Alpha 8 in Markeaton Park was used to replace an WRTL Arc lantern running a 100 Watt SON-T lamp. Unusually, the Alpha 8 runs a (Philips at the time of writing) 250 Watt MBF lamp. This option was chosen as the Park Department had preferred the night time appearance of the 125 Watt MBF Beta 79, which had been installed here (albeit on a shorter column) prior to the Arc being installed. A part-night 'Night Star' photocell is employed here.

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