GEC Z9454 Lantern Installations
Designed for use on "A" roads, GEC Z9454s were a relatively common sight throughout the UK. The Z9454 was the remote-geared, side-entry version of the group; it ran either: 140W SO/H, 140W SOI/H, 90W SOX or later 66W SOX-E. The lantern was later renamed the WRTL MRL 90.
Birmingham
Installed along Dunlop Way are a couple of GEC Z9454s on steel columns.
The first lantern is in excellent condition, if a bit grubby!
The columns' are worn and scratched, and much of the paint has come off.
The second installation is nearly identical to the first.
...But unlike the first, the bowl has had to be held on via two cable ties.
Crewe
Along Delamere Street is this solitary GEC Z9454 mounted atop a short sleeve. The GEC column is 8m tall. Originally the column probably had a concrete bracket and a GEC Z8430CM lantern on it.
The lantern's bowl has developed thousands of tiny stress cracks.
The door is still original.
Stafford
On Tollgate Drive are a few GEC Z9454s, or more likely Siemens/WRTL MRL 90s as these appear newer.
Inside are 66W SOX-E lamps.
Tamworth
The GEC Z9454 is an exceptionally rare lantern in Tamworth. Despite this, three exist right in the heart of the town. Situated on Moor Street, these Z9454s all work, lighting the road with a dim orange at night.
Close-ups reveal that the lanterns are still in amazing shape (just a bit grubby). You can just about see the 90W SOX lamp inside this one!
This second example has a cracked bowl, yet still stands strong!
Here are a few photos from a couple of years later in 2025 of the same lantern as pictured above. It has now been fitted with electrical tape to keep the damaged bowl supported.
The moon perfectly aligned with the lantern in this photo, providing a soft contrast between two of my greatest interests (street lighting & space)! The photo did have to have some blur removal though, owing to my race against the forthcoming storm...
