Thorn Alpha-Ten, 90-watt cut-off lantern. Dating from the early 70's, this is an unusual looking lantern by anyone’s standards, and a lantern that is not commonly seen despite being made by a company as well known as Thorn. Designed specifically as a cut-off lantern, that is, where most of the light emitted from the lamp is concentrated below the lantern's horizontal and on to the road surface immediately below. Alpha-Ten cut-off lanterns were generally found situated close to level crossings and bridges, and on roads near to airports, where stray light from normal streetlighting could be deemed hazardous.

The Alpha-Ten is of a rugged cast aluminium construction with no control gear fitted within the lantern, and has a clear non-prismatic plastic bowl. Looking at the Alpha-Ten, you might be mistaken in thinking that its large aluminium canopy appears big enough to accommodate two or three 90-watt SOX lanterns side by side, but in actual fact it only accommodates one, with a small stainless steel reflector plate above it. Access to the lantern’s interior is made by releasing the two toggle clips at the side of the lantern, which allows the bowl to hinge downward to gain access to the sodium lamp.

The ex-Bramcote Thorn Alpha-Ten is in very good overall condition, but both the lantern and bowl are in need of a good wash and clean. The small vee reflector that sits above the lamp is clearly visable with the lamp removed.

The first Alpha-Ten lantern in the collection came from the Bramcote area of Nottingham in 2004, although another was later acquired from Borrowash, Derbyshire in late 2005. Not much is known about the ex-Bramcote Alpha-Ten, other than for some reason it had been fitted with a 55w SOX lamp and stood close to a bus stop in Bramcote, Nottinghamshire. This lantern is thought to have been replaced by a WRTL MRL8 250-watt SON lantern.

Despite its width, the Alpha-Ten is also quite shallow in its overall depth. Note that this one has a two-part photocell fitted to the canopy. The size of the lantern is indicated by the bunch of keys.

The Borrowash example had been in use with another Alpha-Ten on the Victoria Road Bridge, Borrowash, that spans the A52 (Derby-Nottm Road, aka Brian Clough Way). However, following a H&S review of bridges by Derbyshire CC earlier in the year, it had been decided to remove these two columns from off the bridge, as it was thought that they could fall onto the carriageway below if a vehicle was to collide with either of them. They were removed during a nighttime operation in October 2005 when part of the A52 was closed to traffic for safety reasons; both lanterns being replaced with Industria Arc lanterns mounted closer to the sides of the bridge. Following their removal, the better example of the two was subsequently saved for the collection.

The Bramcote Alpha-Ten is by far the better lantern and will be the one initially restored, as it needs little doing to it other than a good clean. The Borrowash Alpha-Ten has spider-cracks in its bowl, but is otherwise good, so until another bowl can be sourced it's likely to remain unrestored.

One of the Alpha-Tens that were still in service on Victoria Bridge, Borrowash in July 2005. This ex Derbyshire CC lantern is now in the collection, but needs a new bowl. The white line on the bowl is a reflection from the road surface below.

Also seen at Borrowash in July 2005 is the second Alpha-Ten, but this had lost its bowl, and was left dayburning for months before finally being disconnected and taken down with the column in October 2005. The lantern's bowl had been missing for sometime and the condition of the lantern's interior looks to have deteriorated as a result of this.

Column clutter on Victoria Bridge, Borrowash in July 2005. a picture taken prior to the removal of the Alpha-Tens and their columns; asided of the Alpha-Tens, also evident in the picture are, two Industria Arc's, Deep-bowled Alpha-9, and Philips Irididem lantern.