OK folks, I popped across to Rochdale for a few pictures at sunset. Sadly it had gone dark by time I got to Kirkholt so the big Seagulls are pictured in the dark again.
But the main news is quite simple, say hello to the PFI.
File comment: Old and New at Gate Street
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File comment: Old and New at Midhurst Street
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File comment: Midhurst Street
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File comment: Philip Street (north)
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File comment: Philip Street (south). Note the lantern on the corner of Cecil Street - on my last visit this had been a Seagull, but in the 10 months since it has been changed over for a SON lantern - another down the road is the same.
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File comment: Lucknow Street
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File comment: Marigold Street. As with Cecil Street, this had been a Seagull on my previous proper visit 10 months ago, but since then the top entry concrete bracket has had some concrete cut away and this mounted side entry.
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File comment: New and Old at Ouvert Street... the Wardle Aeurole
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File comment: Kirkholt, The Strand. 90w Seagull with new headless column alongside.
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File comment: Eleco GR150 with a line of new columns, Balderstone Road
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I did know about these works when I popped over there briefly a couple of weeks ago. However my trip there was more of a case of doing it because I could as trains were diverted that way and were stopping at Rochdale, it was 'rare mileage' so to speak. The problem last time was I got dropped off right in the middle of some atrocious weather - rain, sleet, hail and a bitter wind - which meant my camera wouldn't work properly but it also went dark about 40 minutes before sunset so my pictures weren't very good. On my last visit, most of the columns were headless - so in 2 weeks only the lanterns have been installed. But it likely means that service transfers are roughly 2 weeks away in the area just south of the train station, with Kirkholt 3-4 weeks away. On the Oldham Road there are one or two new installations that are working, but not many. Also I noted one area where new columns had Sapphires on waiting to be connected.
If you get the chance, I would recommend getting some daytime photos of the Seagulls if you're likely to be in the area before they're gone as this is the last bastion of these ancient antiques. When the PFI is complete, Rochdale will no longer be a SOX haven of the North and as yet I don't know where will replace it with that title.
PLEASE
do not contact the council or the PFI contractor regarding these lanterns being saved. This is already being done by a professional enthusiast, and any further contacting the contractor may end up being seen as annoying and wreck any progress that has been made towards saving these wonderful old relics.