4GA. Off Friar Gate, Derby City Centre Attached to the retaining wall that supports the long-abandoned Friar Gate railway station (part of the Great Northern Railway's so-called "Derbyshire and Staffordshire Extension" line, which closed completely in 1968) are several Thorn Beta 5 lanterns; designed originally for running 35 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamps, but now retro-fitted with high output spiral compact fluorescent lamps instead. Despite these conversions, at least one of the Beta 5s appears to have fallen into disuse, while another is situated somewhat further along the retaining wall, in an inaccessible location.
The retaining wall is of typical railway Staffordshire blue brick construction, which is very hard and water resistant. The sandstone blocks to the right forms the start of Andrew Handyside's 1878 cast iron bridge over Friar Gate, whereas the derelict building on the horizon to the left is the former Bonded Warehouse. At the time of photographing in November 2024, works to restore the building and its surrounding goods yard had just commenced, and this access road may see changes of its own as part of the redevelopment.
Zooming in on the closest Beta 5 reveals something unusual about their mounting method - rather than being affixed using a standard bracket, a section of angle iron has been bolted through the back of the lantern's canopy, while the supply cable enters by the usual means. An early 1990s' Fisher-Karpark (Zodion) SS5 photocell is fitted, although this is likely to have failed, as often when the garage is open, the lantern is operating in daylight. The use of a plastic bowl toggle, combined with this shape of Beta 5, suggests that it is a mid-1980s' model.
The second Beta 5 is in poor condition, and judging by the amount of halogen floodlights that surround it, probably isn't going to be repaired any time soon.
Despite the conversion to compact fluorescent (using a lamp with its own in-built control gear), the original SOX ballast remains visible on the rusted gear tray, just disconnected. The bowl clip is broken, which is probably why the bowl itself is missing.
This too has an older SS5 fitted, but the cell's casing is broken.
The third example was pictured through a gap in some wooden gates that prevent access any further along the roadway.
Given the hardness of the bricks, the wall plate for the bracket is secured through the softer cement lines. A Sirebeck S300 photocell, again from the 1990s, is fitted here.
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