12LA. Off New Cross Road, Telegraph Hill, London Borough of Lewisham Situated on the exit roadway from New Cross Bus Depot is a 25 ft (8 m) 'Avenue 3DN' column, and 'Arc 2' top-entry bracket, both of which were made by Concrete Utilities, and probably date from around 1952, when the existing tram depot underwent conversion to accommodate buses. Incidentally, London's last tram operated out of this depot on the 5th July 1953, as recorded in the British Transport Films' production, The Elephant Will Never Forget. The film doesn't include this installation, sadly, meaning that the original lantern that was fitted here is unknown - the current lantern is a 1970s' Thorn Alpha 3 (lamp control gear situated within the column base), with the top-entry connection altered to accommodate the side-entry lantern.

When photographed in late November 2024, the Alpha 3 was operating in daylight.

The installation is in rather poor condition, with a section of the internal conduit exposed within the bracket curve, part of the bracket's counterbalancing fin being damaged, and a structural crack existing in the column shaft itself.

The Alpha 3's bowl is missing (it appears to have been removed deliberately), allowing the 400 Watt SON-T (tubular high pressure sodium) lamp to be seen clearly. The lack of a bowl and the use of such a lamp will lead to a very glary output. A 90 degree pipe elbow has been threaded to the original top-entry coupler, and a short length of pipe fitted on the other end, to convert the installation from top to side-entry.

The base compartment is noticeably narrow, in comparison to the overall width of the concrete at this portion of the column.

Although the identification label is peeling and torn, the catalogue number QA3.WS.1250 remains visible, as does the relevant British Standard (BS 1788 1964), the intended light distribution - S.C.O. - semi-cut-off, and the Mark number (14).

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