Thorn Beta 5, from abandoned footpath

Interesting little save today, is this Philips MI26. Last repaired in 2001, with the year 2000 dated on the remains of the lamp.

This was off a path very close to where i live, along two other 5m columns supporting a early 1980s Thorn Beta 5 with nema socket and a later Beta 5 running a 2 part photocell dated 1998.

The path is rather strange one to having columns, since there is no such need for there use. Since near by is a main redway with square brown columns supporting Philips ME50s (SGS201s), running from Simpson Road to the Open University in Walton Hall.

There is also a access road put in at the same time of the redway which strangely, the access road went no where. The access road fitted with Urbis Aramis 70w, on 6m square brown columns. The whole sqaure column installation dating from 1993 / 1994.

I believe originally the three columns supporting the 35w SOX lanterns (which seemed to been at least seven, going by the column number 7), which the MI26 came off was the original path to the OU before the redway came in 1993 / 1994.

The path seem to get forgotten about lighting wise, around the same time the access road was blocked off due to travellers camping on the road. Making the Urbis Aramis go into dis-repair, and the three 35w SOX lanterns. Even the Aramis don’t work since there lamps have gone black.

After getting the MI26 home i got around to testing the lantern. To no surprise a new lamp and the MI26 came back into life for the first time in many years.