81BG. Off Queensway, Marsh, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Situated on vacant land that lies to the east of the A500 Queensway, on the section between the A527 and A5271 roundabouts, are at least three abandoned 25 ft (8 m) Stanton 8 concrete columns with side-entry D-type brackets and the vandalised remains of two AEI 'Amber Mk IV' 51/74007 lanterns, along with another type of lantern of indeterminate manufacturer, for 140 Watt SO/H / SOI/H and 90 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamps. Historical maps identify the area where the columns are installed as a 'Coal Wharf', with four railway sidings connecting to the expansive mainline network that existed immediately to the east; presumably, the columns were installed to provide illumination to these sidings. I am uncertain as to when these fell out of use, but clearly, this must have been many years ago, given the number of well-established trees that have grown subsequently.

A slight clearing in the foliage allows two of the columns to be spotted easily - well, I say that, but I have travelled along the neighbouring A500 many times, and only spotted them for the first time in March 2025! The joint between the column and bracket is spalling heavily on this example.

The derelict nature of the lanterns allows their open-coil leak transformer ballasts to be seen clearly.

If any capacitors were installed within these lanterns, they appear to be gone now.

The second of the columns is situated slightly further south, closer to the new Etruria Valley Link Road.

Not only is the porcelain lampholder also broken on this example; the sealing gasket has detached partially from the canopy underside.

The insulation surrounding the two coils of this lantern's leak transformer looks to be degrading heavily from prolonged disuse.

The third column is further north of the other two, in an area that has resorted to nature far more successfully.

The bracket joint here is in poor condition too.

This column supports the different lantern type. This appears to be a Thorn Alpha 9 (or a very late example of the final incarnation of the Amber), which would suggest that this lantern served as a replacement to another Mk IV Amber.

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