Welcome to UKASTLE

Welcome to UKASTLE - the UK Association of Street Lighting Enthusiasts.
UKASTLE was set up in May 2007 with the aim of providing a focal point for all things related to street lighting. Since then we have engaged in many fantastic discussions and shared forgotten or little known information, and as members we have learnt a lot from each others' contributions. Whether you're a lighting devotee, a collector of lanterns, a photographer or just someone who is curious to find out more, please register with us via the discussion forums and enjoy being a part of this association.

Photo Of The Month

Here is where we showcase the best streetlighting photo of the current month. The winning photo is chosen by our membership from a list of photos that have been submitted by each member who has chosen to participate. [phpBB Debug] PHP Notice: in file /home/fhlinux134/u/ukastle.co.uk/user/htdocs/pullposts-potm2010.php on line 282: Undefined index: special_attachment_id
Thu Mar 04, 2010 11:57 pm
The winning photo for february is this, showing a Bleeco Worthing lantern on Concrete Utilities Avenue 2D column, pictured September 2009 in Littlehampton West Sussex.

Photo by Phosco152



Recent Messages on the Forum

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Re: New Urbis Products
Posted by: sotonsteve @ Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:03 am
"Alex" wrote
Just been reading the posts in the South West Discussion Thread about the arrival of the Evolos. It has just suddenly occured to me, do you think Urbis incorporated the Sintra into the design?


Not at all. Completely different.

Re: Google Street view
Posted by: sotonsteve @ Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:01 am
The Street View updates will blanket both urban and rural areas. I'm not sure of the extent to which rural areas will be covered, but Britain's Street View coverage will be more like that of the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, etc.

Re: If you were a council, what would you be installing?
Posted by: mazeteam @ Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:18 am
Reality...

Main Roads would see 10m columns with AC Ford decorative brackets and a small lantern runing Cosmo Lamps (something the size of the WRTL 2-tone)

Intermediate roads would see similar columns to above but with 80w PL-L used in Libra's

Non-pedestrian areas would see 180w SRS201's on standard columns/brackets. 12m.

Residential Streets lit by Urbis Opalo's on AC Ford swan neck on top of 5m columns. Areas requiring more light would have 6-8m columns with Urbis K-Lux fitted, running either 57w PL-T or 45-60w Cosmo. Footpaths lit by K-Lux's or post-top QSS's running 42w PL-T.

Areas of 'heritage' would be lit with special order installations from Kingswood. Footpaths lit by Metropolis 3.8m column fitted with Half-cradle Globe lantern, or Chantry lantern ('posh' wrtl 2015). Wall mounted lighting for footpaths would use "Promenade" style wall bracket with Banded Circa 2000 Split Shpere lantern. In the pedestrianised heart of the area, we'd go for something a bit extra special - such as Montmarte 4.8m column with 4x 120 degree lantern cluster ('Swan' bracket) of either 'Chenonceaux' or 400mm Cradle Globe lanterns. Roads within the 'heritage' area would be lit with 8m Nominal column with Esplanade 2x 180degree lantern cluster of Circa 2000 Banded Split Shperes, columns having Fluted shaft ring, fluted mid collar, fluted base collar, cast panelled door with Coat of Arms cast in. (roundabouts would be similar, but column would be in middle of roundabout with cluster of either 3x 120 degree or 4x 90degree lantern arrangement).
See - Heritage lighting can be done without bl**dy albanies everywhere!!


as for fantasy... well, I'll have to think about that, but it may involve a few Flying Saucers!

Re: East Anglia discussion
Posted by: mazeteam @ Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:49 am
My bike light would do the trick!
On a related note, I found where the photocell controller is for the low-level Thorn Orus lights are over the bridge in York - a feeder pillar by the road. All I have to do is stop there and dump my rucksack on the top of the pillar and the lights should come on!

Re: East Anglia discussion
Posted by: Stelmer @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:29 pm
The amount of fun one could have with some bright, focused light source directed onto them cells at night.... :lol:

Re: South Coast PFI
Posted by: Stelmer @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:24 pm
They have to do something....the opportunity for a big joke is too great to miss!!!!!

I've been thinking about their energy efficient white light statement and wonder if infact it is true?

People round here believe the white light iridiums are more energy efficient than the 35w SOX MI26's and Beta 5's. When infact there's approximately a 3rd more new columns erected than old ones removed. Not to mention that they might run 60w lamps.

Re: If you were a council, what would you be installing?
Posted by: Urbis Saturn Land @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:22 pm
If i was a council i would reallisticly be installing Urbis Opalo's and Saturn's running CFL/MH. In fantisy it would be Revo Prefects, Sol'eterns and Sold'or junior's. Along with a mish mash of Eleco / GEC / Thorn products.

If you were a council, what would you be installing?
Posted by: Indust @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:11 pm
Both realistically, and just pure fantasy...

Realistically:

For main roads I'd look into installing SOX for retrofits ad casual replacements, SON and Cosmo for main roads - I'm not too keen on metal halide.

Main road SOX: Philips SRS201
Main road SON: Thorn Riviera, Phosco P678
Main road CPO: WRTL Airtrace, Urbis Evolo

Main road columns would consist mainly of two tone blue painted CU columns with long outreach brackets. 8 to 10m in heights would be used the most. Post-top would only be fitted if the bracket gets in the way of powerlines! (All lengths)

For side roads I'd install CFL (PL-T and PL-L) and SOX. If it's for a highly dangerous area I may be persuaded to use metal halide...

Side road SOX: Philips XGS201, Philips XGS103/4, WRTL Delta, WRTL 2601 & WRTL IRIS
Side road CFL (PL-T): WRTL Delta, Phosco P567
Side road CFL (PL-L): Thorn Celest, WRTL Iris

Columns would usually be of 5m, but 6m may be used on more intermediate roads. Side entry brackets would be used for all installations apart from maybe the Thorn Celest (and the 2601). Lanterns are to be fitted post-top in areas with high vandalism, or on corners with thin pavements. Columns will be painted two-tone green.

For areas that are prone to high vandalism, I'd use Vandalite Skyes and WRTL Vectra Gaza Strips.

Wow, quite a few lanterns, and that is my realistic one!

Motorways, I would use: SRS201s, Airtraces, Thorn Orus lanterns, Arcs, Iridiums, MRL6s and Pilotes.

Unrealistic one another time. :P

Re: Radio control switching
Posted by: mazeteam @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:02 pm
I know the zodion system has a delay... their write-up states that data can be sent to lanterns "in as little as a couple of hours", thus 2hr is the minimum time (apparently) that data is sent from the server to the lights.

Re: South Coast PFI
Posted by: mazeteam @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:01 pm
York city council have signed up to something so that CO2 emissions are reduced, and have stated that many less-efficient lights will be replaced by white light. Given the scale of the resultant scheme from the 'trial' remote monitoring scheme, I would not be suprised if the whole city centre is soon remotely monitored... We may have a race between cities!

Another thought: if I was installing streetlights and my contract started on April 1st, my first installation would be an April Fools Joke... like a 5m column with the biggest most ridiculous bracket ever known to man, with a 60w bulb hanging out the end of it, or something similar! :lol:

Re: Thorn Alpha 6
Posted by: mazeteam @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:54 pm
I can't think of the other guy :oops: ... unless mr Greenall moved north.

Re: Unidentified Lanterns
Posted by: mazeteam @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:53 pm
To be honest, I can't answer it, because I haven't been to blackpool for a good few years now! It's either Thursdays or Friday's I go out on travels, and if 'bingo' is on the blackpool route then I may end up over there... but until then I can't make any confirmations!

Re: East Anglia discussion
Posted by: mazeteam @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:49 pm
I'll tell you why I think the minicell isn't fitted to the canopy... because the gear is visible in the base of the lantern, having a minicell in the canopy would mean three more wires going up the spines of the lantern. If you have an opaque bowl like on a GEC Z5670 series then the three extra wires don't stand out, but on a clear bowled lantern having a blue brown and white wire will be clearly seen.

Re: South West Discussion
Posted by: mazeteam @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:38 pm
"Phosco152" wrote
"Phosco152" wrote

Close up of the Evolo.




I didn't look properly at the time but the lampholder doesn't look right for SON. Sotonsteve says that this is a Cosmopolis MH lamp. So white light in Salisbury, only the 2nd installation after some of the Iriduims on the ring road. Can't wait till they get turned on.. ;)

They do actually look a lot better than the Iridium probably since they are not white and no where near as bulbous.

The lamp holder is pushed much farther into the optic so the acr tube of the lamp is dead centre. It's the same for the Cosmo Sapphires going up in York. I think that may be the only difference between a PGZ12 lampholder for Cosmo and the GU10 lampholder which (in theory) would also take a cosmo lamp - the PGZ12 has a metal sheath around the base and protrudes a bit more...

Re: Google Street view
Posted by: David @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:28 pm
Talking of Dartford, I remember those CU columns from when I was at Uni in the 1990s. There used to be many more of them along that road, and they must have been a sight when the installation was unspoilt. I also fondly remember this old chap on the Dartford to Gravesend road - the longest available version of the CU Avenue 3DNN column and bracket and supporting a gear-in-head Philips MA50 (MA60 in disguise). I thought to myself that it was surely going to come down in a gale one day and be replaced like all its neighbours have, but Google Street View confirms that it has survived far beyond my expectations!

And no matter how hard I search, I still can't find these Dartford tall-coned fluorescents in Google Street View, nor for that matter any of the town's side-entry fluorescents - and there used to be a good number of them!

Re: New Urbis Products
Posted by: Alex @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:46 pm
Just been reading the posts in the South West Discussion Thread about the arrival of the Evolos. It has just suddenly occured to me, do you think Urbis incorporated the Sintra into the design?

Re: South West Discussion
Posted by: Phosco152 @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:35 pm
Yep, Google seems to show that type of concrete column in Swindon and both Indust and I have seen large concrete bracketed columns - although we both saw them from a distance on different occasions - so there may be more modern concretes around too. I need to get up there one weekend have spend a day a doing a more thorough explore. My last trip did turn up this gem of an unsleeved Stanton 7b.

Re: South West Discussion
Posted by: QSM Quandary @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:16 pm
Just remembered this -

I don't think these concrete columns with the large curved and finned brackets are extinct in Wiltshire just yet because I spotted a couple still remaining on Marlborough Road by the roundabout with Pipers Way in Swindon. I think these are holding GEC Z9454 lanterns.

These columns are situated on an original alignment before the roundabout was constructed presumably in the '70s so this could be why these still survive today also the fact Swindon is administered independently from Wiltshire Council!

The current replacement installations are '70s octagonal steel columns with curved brackets fitted with Thorn Rivieras which I can remember the original Revo Hyperions being on these back in the early '90s.

Re: Google Street view
Posted by: Urbis Saturn Land @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:01 pm
I wonder if it has been on the RAC Wales rally circuit at Cardiff :lol: I can finally see where and how difficult the corners are and what lanterns are used to illuminate the the whole track.

Re: Discontinued lanterns
Posted by: Indust @ Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:00 pm
"Gramma6" wrote
The Beta 6 used to be installed around all of our local Government offices on pretty much exactly the same type of column as in the picture on Simon Cornwell's page on the lantern. They were all replaced in the mid 80s by Beta 79s. We had a few on our local side roads usually only as casual replacements for GEC's far more common (on the Fylde Coast) Z8256 lantern.

It's interesting that the Beta 6 had an anti-vandal bowl option made out of Darvic, a type of plastic produced locally to me by ICI. Darvic had a bad reputation for warping, perhaps explaining the rarity of these lanterns today!


It's probably more the multi-lamps and the energy consumption that finished them off, not forgetting just simply their age now...

 
             
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