GEC Z9531 Lantern Installations

The GEC Z9531 was the remote-geared, top-entry, 35W SOX version of the GEC Nightwatch. The canopy could only be made from aluminium, and the bowl either acrylic or polycarbonate. Once upon a time, they were fairly-popular throughout the UK, often being used on side-roads. They declined in popularity through the 1990s and early 2000s due to other 35W SOX lanterns competing with them, and more recently, concrete column replacement schemes. This decrease in popularity was not exclusive to the Z9531, as the whole Nightwatch range experienced the same downturn.

Cannock

One foggy December morning, I was due in Cannock for a hospital appointment. When I arrived, I had no clue where I was going and took a wrong turn, only to stumble upon these beautiful installations: an entire road of cast-iron columns! Only one column has succumbed to replacement schemes, and many older lanterns still remain. These are the GEC Z9531s. I plan to return and get clearer pictures soon, and I'll be keeping an eye out on the asset renewal process around this area. The road is Southbourne Place, Cannock. The first Z9531 is located atop column 2.

Some remnants of paint are visible on the aluminium canopy of the Z9531, evidence of a more-recent coat applied to these columns, but this was likely years ago.

The column is positioned right in front of someone's driveway, which is odd as the driveway looks like it was built recently!

Column 3:

The columns are genuine REVO cast-irons, which would probably have had REVO GLS lanterns fitted originally (such as REVO Lodestars for example).

Some installations also use different brackets, they could have been later-replacements for seized lanterns or damaged brackets when the old GLS lanterns were removed.

The lanterns are all fitted with 26W SOX-E lamps.

Column 4:

Column 5:

Each lantern is in good condition for it's decades of service!

Column 6:

The weathered paint allows us to see evidence of past paint-jobs!

The view from the base of this column was stunning! It's very rare you get to see a stretch of uninterrupted cast-irons like this in 2024!

Column 7 hosts the last GEC Z9531 on the street. Whilst there are other cast-iron columns, they support spot-replacement lanterns (1x WRTL 2500 and 2x Urbis Altra 2).

Tutbury

Column 1 of Ferrers Avenue sports a GEC Z9531.

The lantern appears to run 26W SOX-E, and is the later-type with a polycarbonate bowl.

An identical installation exists on Lancaster Drive, column E2:

This one is a bit grubbier than the previous example. Although it's not visible here, the lantern has a Zodion CdSi two-part detector drilled into the canopy.

I did tell a slight lie.... When I said there is an identical installation on this road, I actually meant there is two! Column E6:

The bracket has been taped up to stop the spalling concrete from falling!