Peak Rail, Matlock Town, Matlock, Derbyshire Dales Installed on the heritage railway platform at Matlock (as opposed to the adjacent National Rail one that provides services to Derby (and beyond) along the Derwent Valley Line) are a number of 10 ft (3 m) cast iron columns supporting post-top SUGG Rochester lanterns. Originally, these would have run gas mantles, but have been converted to run electric light sources at some point. Sadly, none are in operational condition any longer - they do not contain power supplies, for one thing, and none are fitted with lamps either.

The columns are all ex-Midland Railway products - one of the companies that once operated services along this section of line, leading eventually to Manchester, prior to services being curtailed in the 1960s - and here, are painted in the traditional MR colours of red and cream.

As can be seen, the gas pipe connection towards the base of the lantern has nothing attached any longer, and the lantern itself is devoid of a light source and bowl.

This installation is the furthest west on the platform.

On this example, the gas pipe still appears to pass down the column.

The lantern's enamelled reflector is in relatively poor condition, with daylight being visible through a corrosion hole that has formed in the material. A bayonet lampholder survives in the centre of the lantern.

One of the interim stations at Darley Dale uses the same style of column, although these feature a different paint colour, and are topped with the more traditional four-sided style of gas lantern (also now converted to electricity).

The end of the line these days is at Rowsley South, with more Rochesters - these are in working condition.

These refurbished lanterns each run three LED golfball lamps. The ladder bars are missing from this particular column.

Two further painted columns are to be found elsewhere in the Rowsley South yard - no doubt, awaiting installation somewhere on the heritage railway. Noticing me photographing the columns, a volunteer told me that these had been sourced from across the country - after removal from the Midland Railway network, they seemed to turn up just about everywhere but not locally!

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