Secrets of The Motorway - M18

#infrastructure #yorkshire #motorway
Well it seems I've visited all of the motorways found in Southern England. Ignore the M25. This means it's time to start venturing up to that northern bit of England and we'll do that this week via the M18 motorway. It runs from near Sheffield to the M62 and at 27 miles long there are sure to be many a landmark along the way... like warehouses and distribution centres. Good.
In this series we aim to explore what our motorway network is hiding. As we drive along at 70mph..ish...we simply just wouldn't be aware of what we're missing. This series aims to uncover some of the hidden secrets our motorways have to offer.
Find us on:
Twitter - @JonShenanigans
Facebook - Auto Shenanigans
Many thanks to:
Motorwayservices.uk
Pathetic.org.uk
Roads.org.uk
Sabre-roads.org.uk

[@davidbower642]

fun fact: the bmw prep centre is where they deactivate the indicators

[@cuddlepaws4423]

They also teach salespeople how to instruct new BMW drivers in how to drive like a twat.

[@IN_THIS_DAY_AND_AGE]

The airport is deliberately unprofitable so that the owners, Peel group, can sell the land for housing, but only after they got the local council to pay for the access infrastructure to be upgraded. They have previously done this at other locations.

[@volvos60bloke]

digusting comment not in keeping with are brexit value's???

[@DanielAtHome1]

@@volvos60bloke what?😂

[@Prognosis__]

I’m Australian and don’t give a toss...don’t ask me why I watch this...John commentary is why

[@lxtechmangood9503]

Thought they wanted to use robin hood airport for warehouse/ storage / distribution rather than housing!!

[@barrieshepherd7694]

Anything but aircraft

[@scythal]

I love this series! I don't live in the UK myself but I find myself watching a new episode of Secrets of The Motorway every Sunday evening and finding out what the various motorways in the UK have to offer.

[@WhiteDieselShed]

Keep watching it cannot be long before a video of we travelled 2 miles and it took 4 hours.

[@McRocket]

Ahhh...the Hatfield Service Station. Back in the late 1960's, my tortoise's, previous owner bid to put his idea for a service station there. It was - originally - to be called 'Hatfield Jump Jet Airport and Service Station'. You see, back then? There was a military/commercial craze for V/STOL (Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft. Britain had the only operational, combat aircraft with V/STOL capability - the Hawker Siddeley Harrier or 'Jump Jet'. My friend - Sir Arnold Billsburystone (or 'Sab' for short) - had this brilliant idea of converting the Jump jet concept into commercial airliners. But small ones - that only carried about 20-25 passengers. He proposed to Hawker Siddeley for them to: - lengthen the Harrier fuselage - install a second engine (one on each side of the fuselage) - the Bristol Siddeley Pegasus. - and place a passenger cabin in the new 'bit' in the middle. He was going to call this aircraft the 'Billsburystone Passenger Jet 1'. Or 'BPJ 1'. What does all this have to do with the Service Station in Hatfield? Well, Sab proposed that the service station also include the first ever, V/STOL passenger aircraft terminal. People could use the service station normally. Or, could park their vehicles and take 'Jump Jet Service' to various locations in Great Britain. And - later - possibly on the continent. As nearby Doncaster had been itching for an airport - they threw their support behind the proposal. They even offered to help fund the Service Station/Jump Jet Airport if they could name it 'Doncaster Jump Jet Airport and Service Station'. Things were moving along beautifully - more or less - until the first prototype of the BPJ 1 started flight testing in 1971. These took place at RAF Belted Pathway outside of Rebelstruck. The first 5 1/2 months of flight tests went well. But, on April 29, 1972, with 24 passengers onboard (most were reporters - plus Sab)? The aircraft crashed into a local, maximum security penitentiary (the infamous, Rebelstruck Penitentiary). Everyone onboard was killed - as well as 2 guards and 11 inmates at the facility. However, the damage done to the penitentiary allowed numerous, convicted murderers/rapists to escape. It took local authorities over 2 weeks to re-capture all of the escapees. And the carnage and horror that they caused during that period came to be known simply as the 'Rebelstruck Fortnight'. Needless to say, the horrible press from this event destroyed any chance of the aircraft 'taking off'. All funding from the government was cut. And the project was shelved. And, with Sab dead? So died the application for the service station. Of course? All the above is made up. 😉 ☮

[@jeremybeck7244]

That is truly fascinating.

[@antichicmusic]

Bloody hell, I am so gullible, you are a damn good story maker ! 😂👍

[@willwonka1325]

Seemingly my day is incomplete without the sledgehammer wit of John and his Motorway shenanigans

[@tomstc]

Your enthusiasm for the Amazon distribution centre was inspiring

[@circattle]

It was announced yesterday that one of their three warehouses in Doncaster is going the same way as the airport.

[@lefthandedspanner]

another point of interest is that junction 5 (M180) is the location of a lost motorway, the A18(M), which existed between 1972 and 1978 - it was a link between M18 and the A18 near Tudworth the eastbound carriageway is now the exit sliproad of M180 junction 1, while the westbound carriageway is completely abandoned

[@trickzohd]

he will probably talk about that when he does m180 episode

[@West.Ham1964]

I'm so glad you compared the size of the ikea site to the Isle of Wight. It really put it into perspective for me 👍

[@TheRip72]

That was a bit of a random comparison. I found it amusing though.

[@Species1571]

It was a bit left field, since official figures are always measured in fractions of the area of Wales, or number of double decker buses.

[@tomwood5896]

​​@@Species1571 double decker buses are units of height or length. The official unit of area for things smaller than Wales is a football pitch.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I have become bored with the standard "football fields" "double decker busses" "size of wales" units of measurement.

[@Species1571]

@@AutoShenanigans You have started to think outside the penalty box.

[@Chickenboots1]

I strangely addicted to watching these motorway videos. Keep them coming 👍

[@lefthandedspanner]

fun fact: during construction, the link road at junction 3 was known as the Finningley And Rossington Relief Road Scheme, or by its brilliantly pirate-like acronym, FARRRS as can be deduced from its silly-looking four-digit number, the A6182 into Donny itself was a relatively new road, designed to serve the huge rail depot and industrial areas at Trax Park an additional benefit of the link road is that it provides a hitherto non-existent link between the M18 and the A638 (former Great North Road) to the south and east of Donny

[@BossySwan]

FARRRS later went on to release their single Pump up the Traffic Jam

[@johng7rwf419]

Use the M18 when the A1M is bolloxed around Donny as is a regular occurrence . Great video as always...

[@roderickmain9697]

M18 always did seem an oddity. For most of my younger years it was simply the connection from the M1 to the A1(M). Interesting stuff.

[@lefthandedspanner]

the fact the north-facing sliproads on the M1 are relatively straight, while the mainline turns a sharp corner through the junction, is the biggest giveaway that the M18 was not part of the original plan - that, and the fact junctions 31 and 32 are so close together, are the only real bodge on the otherwise excellently designed M1 (apart from the huge mess at 23A/24/24A, but we'll just ignore that)

[@bfapple]

@@lefthandedspannerM18 to Sheffield is only a problem in the afternoon.

[@Aengus42]

Dvorak's beautiful largo from the New World symphony. Otherwise known as "The Hovis Music" because of a 1973 Hovis advert called "Bike" directed by Sir Ridley Scott of all people who went on to make The Martian & Gladiator plus one or two others ;o) Shot on Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset everyone thought t'was on top of t'world oop Norf. Carl Barlow, t'kid in t'ad. went on to be a fireman but he's now retired at 58 (Lucky bastard!) and if that don't make you feel old nothing will! Cheers mate! A beautiful end to the video 💜☮️😎

[@peabody1976]

John, you need a Auto Shenanigans shirt with the modified M sign and "Wicked Sweet Awesome" underneath. It's all about the merch.

[@michaelblake8837]

That's GOT to be an upcoming video, surely; top 10 largest warehouses? Top 10 tallest bridges? Come Mr Shenanigans, bring it on! Love the show etc...

[@richardhopwood7343]

Love this series, look forward to it every Sunday and great to see you heading northwards.

[@southcalder]

I expect secrets of the M876 to be a short video. But not as short as secrets of the A8(M).

[@richardhopwood7343]

@@southcalder now you've got me Googling motorways. I too hope we get a 3 hour A8(M) bumper Christmas special

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, that's nice of you, appreciate it. Other than the M25 there are no southern motorways left so it's all North from here!! Have a good Christmas.

[@TeddyZlegg]

@@AutoShenanigans Any plans to do the M90 Jon? It even has a spur! PHWOOAARRRR!

[@wenlocke]

My main memory of the M18 was that it was the route we used to use to get from Sheffield to the Bridlington/Scarborough coast. drop down the one junction on the M1 to get to the M18, M18 up to the 62, and then over the A614 past Home-On-Spalding-Moor and Driffield. That and the constant "bumpy road" signs due to mining subsidence.

[@boola69]

Another banging episode and glad to see you've made it to God's Country. Hope you enjoyed your visit to Yorkshire.

[@trevormegson7583]

Aye, welcome up North our kid.

[@bobspeller2225]

The history of our motorways, who wood have guessed all that. cheers Bob

[@mrc7478]

TOP 5 WAREHOUSES Great video. Really good. Nice to hear Bullseye and also the rousing Emmerdale theme.

[@imSatnav]

The section new section between the A1M and the M62 was locally known as 'the road to nowhere' because we couldn't see the point of it. BTW just as an aside. The music at the end, Djorvaks's 'Ode to a New World' has got naff all to do with Yorkshire. It was written by a Czech composer about America. Even the village that the Hovis advert was filmed in was in Dorset. Other than that. Great work. Just love these. Merry Christmas. 🎅🎄

[@rosiefay7283]

Dvořák. But yeah, that's right. The street featured in the advert you mention is Gold Hill, Shaftesbury.

[@imSatnav]

@@rosiefay7283 so sorry. Yes, that's what happens when you don't Czech auto correct. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

[@tobyjackman3212]

This is the best video I have ever seen about anything

[@ianstewartorr8455]

We always drink Yorkshire gold tea it is wonderful thanks for another great video greetings from Scotland thanks 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 bullseye

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yorkshire Gold... the sign of a professional.

[@shakedown1979]

Keep it up mate, bang-per-buck (or minute in this context) consistently about the highest on KZbin… And genuinely entertaining that you wished it ran longer!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot mate! Appreciate that :)

[@Scott757300]

Finally a motorway I use often and am familiar with! Not that I ever get the chance to notice almost anything you’ve mentioned as I’m usually too busy dodging lorries to look, but will certainly be trying to look next time!

[@Bungle-UK]

Living in Hull with family in Sheffield, I can tell you that the two lane section of the M18 is a complete and utter nightmare! I live simply to see a third lane.

[@tomgruitt6563]

Thanks! Lovely job!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, that's awesome. Have a good Christmas!

[@markjlewis]

Thanks for yet another exciting episode. Are we going to get a special treat on Christmas day as it's a Sunday this year? It's sure to be more entertaining than the King's Christmas speech.

[@stepheneyles2198]

Oh! Forgot that there will be a *King's* speech this year!!! I wonder if it will be any more interesting than the Queen managed in previous years!! 😀

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, that's really kind of you. I'm not sure on an Xmas day release, I've run out of xmas based ideas already.

[@markjlewis]

@@AutoShenanigans Not to worry, hope you (and the elves that help you make your videos) have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I look forward to you brighten up my Sunday afternoons in 2023 with yet more exciting episodes. Hoping you make the magical 100k soon and do something special to mark the "milestone" (get it????). Unfortunately there isn't a signpost in the UK that says 100,000 miles to..... unless you can prove me wrong.

[@johnlladron735]

Thank you very much for your weekly motoring masterclass of stuff that we never knew we needed to know and still don't...probably.

[@Speedkam]

Lovely stuff. There is a highway cops station just off junction1 at Hellaby. They hang around junction 1 a lot given its quick to access all parts of motorway network in South Yorshire and proximity of Mc Donalds.

[@marbleperson]

"Welcome to another exciting episode of Secrets of the F**king Traffic" the series is always entertaining and this is no different.

[@stevec1097]

Good bloody evening! As I watch this 😁

[@Alan_Watkin]

good work john you make mundane motorways really quite fun

[@MitchellKJones]

Infrastructure, maps, roads, highway code, signs etc. are all part of my special interest, which is why I am so glad I found your channel the other month! Let's get to 100K+ subs in 2023!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, that's most awesome indeed. Glad you like the content :D

[@bobblebardsley]

Having barely ventured south of the M62 in very nearly 40 years on this planet, it's nice to see some landmarks I recognise in one of your videos 😄 Excellent music choices as always, even if the outro made me cry. It's been a long run-up to Christmas 😅

[@simocreations]

Ey up John. Had a bed week of flu but today just got better with a new episode. Have a good Christmas guys

[@AutoShenanigans]

Get well soon! Or drink a load.. it's Christmas and therefore acceptable.

[@tonys1636]

That's the problem when the MOT became the DOT and split forming various agencies including the Highways Agency. "Oh we can't be bothered to faff around with service areas let's sell 'em off and let catering companies tell us where we want them and the service needed. Bugger those that need to use 'em".

[@theelliottline3637]

I couldn't help noticing that the article on the closure of Robin Hood airport had the very rare 4 word combination 'Prime Minister Liz Truss'

[@Mustang00007]

Another exciting installment on the only man that cares where Britain's roads lead you..fantastic!

[@Victorflange]

This has become my Sunday treat, thanks for another great episode

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, that's really kind, appreciate you watching. Have a good Christmas!

[@christopherjordan4812]

Love this series John it’s a Sunday highlight glad you’re filming in Yorkshire

[@woodthomas14]

Thanks for getting lovely drone shots of places I regularly traverse at ground level.

[@iandonkin6762]

Awesome outro music - very nostalgic and brings a tear of happiness to a Yorkshire-born eye!

[@paulgregory1364]

I live near and I've been on the M18 so many times over the years and I thank you for learning me something!!!

[@circadianizzy]

Yorkshire, my home county! Just wish there were more motorways in North Yorkshire to talk about, but that being said the A64 pretty much does a good enough job for York as is.

[@JetfireQuasar]

I frequent the A64 for work as you said it works well enough the only issue the road has in terms of traffic is the exit off the M1 northbound, they need to expand it to 2 lanes instead of one lane off the motorway into a 2 lane filter road

[@circadianizzy]

@@JetfireQuasar True. Can also be some traffic on the approach to York itself, but that's not too much of a surprise given that the city centre is about as bad as the M25

[@whyyoulidl]

Hey, only 11 secs in and you had me in stitches! Your vids just get better n better...

[@team-118]

Wicked. Sweet. Awesome..

[@sveigyr2973]

Merry Christmas my guy! ty for being you :)

[@SuperAMJS]

Some quality warehouse knowledge shared here Jon...

[@supertouring22]

The greatest opening of a youtube video ever. Impeccable timing 👌

[@nst1981]

Nearly 5 million views on the channel Congratulations. Jon

[@AutoShenanigans]

Wow, yes it is! I hadn't realised.

[@adrianrutterford762]

Thanks for another interesting video

[@jackhinson4743]

Spent 5 years commuting the full length of this daily, it's got to be the dullest stretch of motorway in the UK. 2 lane sections are tedious, all you have for a view is endless flat farm land and the occasional distribution centre. Thank God for hybrid working! Good info at the end though. I always wondered what the strange man made river at the m62 junction was all about.

[@MrGreatplum]

Excellent - any video that uses the music for Bullseye gets a thumbs up from me!

[@AtheistOrphan]

Just look what you could’ve won! (A speedboat).

[@mikebuckley5072]

My neck of the woods. My Mum always used to say the only way they got local support was to promise Hatfield/Dunsville that they'd have their own junction but they changed their mind. Doesn't seem very feasible given the location of the M180 Junction. I can vaguely remember the A630 being extended EdenthorpeArmthorpe for the M18 junction. Good content. Completely agree with previous posters, Peel Group are $%^$'s.

[@YorkshireBeaver]

Its now got one. Link road from m18 services to stainforth near station.

[@mikebuckley5072]

I had not seen that, thanks. I'm no longer local but plenty of memories playing in the old Dunsville quarry, long gone now - Quarry Park.

[@christopherthompson2078]

Me thinks you was cold doing that video. Bbbrr. Roll on summer x excellent one x merry- Christmas 🎄 to you John x

[@AutoShenanigans]

Freezing! But I'm dedicated to motorways... Have a good Christmas!

[@SJR313]

Keep up the great work and have an amazing Christmas!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Many thanks, Have a great Christmas mate!

[@mightybrows8809]

You are a national treasure - have a great Christmas!

[@jamesskinner9020]

Awesome channel, thanks John!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, appreciate that! Hope you are well.

[@Trish1]

Another interesting video! So a new channel for you: Secrets of the largest warehouses and distribution centres! Amazon, BMW, IKEA, Next …. Great drone footage 👍

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another brilliant and informative video Mate.

[@katiemace8864]

Brilliant I think your videos are great and knowledge is enlightening

[@sabinebogensperger1928]

Part of our route to visit family in Yorkshire, so (semi) familiar territory! Thank you for another interesting episode.

[@mrc7478]

Great surname, Sabine

[@donalddodson7365]

Jon? / John? / Jawn? 🤯 I tune in for the shenanigans and fet treated to "New World Symphony." As a recovering oboist / English horn-ist, one of my first solo pieces of music back in the 1960's. On behalf of your viewer base in the US, cheers. 🤗 Don't forget to check the tyre pressure.

[@PatGilliland]

Shitty week, cup of coffee, shot of Bailey's and abandoned slip roads - perfection!

[@TheMightyKinkle]

Woooo, can't wait for the M62 video!

[@orwellboy1958]

Another Christmas cracker, John , complete with witty anecdotes and a party hat, well a woolly one at least.

[@juliankent8875]

Brilliant episode again John. Have a great Christmas 👍

[@truckerlee5975]

Brilliant opening 🤣..Reminds me of Easter eggs in films .

[@TheMightyKinkle]

Yesss, I have traveled the M18 many a time an I always wondered what that half built junction was. I see people riding dirt and quad bikes there often too

[@AndrewG1989]

M18 motorway is a ideal motorway for not just Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster but also for the M180 Doncaster-Grimsby motorway. Very impressive video as always. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 😊

[@tinrobot1746]

The M180 is such a boring road - hence why I got caught for speeding there.

[@AndrewG1989]

True. I haven’t been on the M180 to Grimsby and M181/A1077(M) to Scunthorpe.

[@nervo6321]

Great informative video...cheers man.

[@marksmith1944]

Nice 1 👍⭐. keep warm buddy 🥃🥃. Merry Christmas 🎅🏻 🎄 & ALL the Best for 2023

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate, have a good Christmas

[@RichieRouge206]

Great video John!

[@willtricks9432]

I was hitch hiking to Durham back in the 80's and was dropped at the M18/A1M interchange which is not pedestrian accessible. Spent 20 minutes waiting to be hassled by the Police and was finally picked up by a nutter in a Mk1 Escort, he said he was being chased by the police,so we got in? He took us north to the next junction at 90mph weaving through the traffic. Nice spot to view the world for 20 minutes.

[@simongleaden2864]

On the run and stops to pick up a hitchhiker? That was a line in The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy!

[@willtricks9432]

@@simongleaden2864 Been a fan of the Guide since a youth and It is a parallel. He was no Zaphod. More like "Geno" by The Comic Strip. Cheers

[@markdoyle9834]

Excellent

[@chrisharris9633]

Loving the subtle Easter Egg soundtracks on these 😂 second only to Homes Under the Hammer

[@_______-]

Thanks for the memories, I used to live on Gatewood Lane and remember them building the M18. My dad drove his car right up to the hole they were digging for the foundations of the bridge, and terrified me in the process 😂. Used to ride my bike around the land that was never to be the services, and as a 17-18 year old got stopped for speeding around the bridge that opens this video.

[@ascproxima]

Good bloody morning too from the a3(M).

[@johnmoloney5296]

Happy Christmas to you and yours john

[@NeilCrossley]

Great content again pal

[@restyleband5522]

Another fantastic video, thank you for coming over to my neck of the world Jon. If I knew you were coming I would have treated you all to a curry at the local curry house in Thorne. Maybe I will get to treat you all next time if you cover the M180 section mate. Keep these videos coming, they are great to watch and I have learnt something new today about my local Motorway!!

[@SpartanMJO12]

Spice Hut, hopefully!

[@Keith_1]

have accidently found your videos and have to say how interesting they are

[@AutoShenanigans]

Welcome along!

[@DiscoDave50]

When I was a youngster I always used to go on bike rides from my home in Rossington to Wadworth which takes you over the M18, and a now disused railway line to the pit. Always used to stop and watch the coal trains and the cars at the bridges. Memories.

[@aidy6000]

Busy week for me this week John. thanks. hope you not been too hard pushed lad.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Another interesting video 👍👍👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@DJW1981]

Eeee, cracking video that is lad. Emmerdale and bullseye, I'll let you off that that Jim Bowen were from't wrong side o't'pennines.

[@jackthetrainspotter3915]

Ah yes, The M18. I was waiting for this vid to come- as a former resident of the nearby Goole I've travelled this motorway countless times to get to and fro places! Fun fact about The abandoned sliproads- Moto was going to continue as normal and build Hatfield yet Built at Jct 5 after hearing about the Planned Hatfield bypass (recently finally installed) as they saw it as an opportunity to Serve both roads and increase traffic to The services.

[@joeweston3252]

by gum they have some ruddy great warehouses up that way interesting the airport went good one john .

[@AutoShenanigans]

Huge it seems!! Surprising given the flat pack nature of everything...

[@jlcgaming8178]

Weekly reminder that its sunday and i have work tomorrow 😂 Top video as always John.

[@andrewstevens2133]

EXCITING 😅 I FRUGGIN LOV3 THIS

[@lapiswake6583]

Very interesting. I drove the original section, M1 to A1M, this evening on my way back to my parents' house for christmas. I've never been east of j2 though

[@mhoppy6639]

I regularly used the M18 at the turn of the century when I commuted from Beverley to Sheffield three times a week. In those days it was *VERY* quiet. Now it’s packed until you change into the 62 and reach Goole. Then the traffic disappears!

[@SteveDull]

Everybody loves a bit of 'bully' on a Sunday afternoon

[@TheFlyingBusman]

Welcome to my old stomping ground. Not much to see round J6 of any note these days. I remember the M18 being built. The road I grew up on was bisected by the M18 but prior to that was a single track lane onto the A614 Selby Road.

[@regularguy3665]

Quite liked the Emmerdale interlude. Spent a few hours on the M18 when my brother lived in Hull for a couple of years.

[@jamesabbott5242]

Awesome video

[@SuperstarComponentsLTD]

Made my day. Keep it up❤

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Thank you for putting in the hard yards and for the consistently top entertainment. Somehow. The off-piste information never fails either. I presume that all the BMs come on a ship to Hull from Hamburg do they? Or are they in those enormously long car transporter wagons trundling up the west London line perhaps? I hope, at least, that all that bloody chipboard comes on a ship though. Thanks again and Merry Christmas y'all.

[@minibus9]

great video