Secrets of The Motorway - M45

#motorways #infrastructure #m45
Travel back in time to the 1960s and experience how motoring might have been "back in the day." Ok perhaps not, but the M45 motorway offers the closest experience you'll get to driving in the early days of motorways.
Unusually, it's been left to its own devices with little modernisation occurring over the years. A trip down memory lane couldn't be easier.

[@kirkmooneyham]

One of the best presenters on YT right now. Loads of facts, quality aerial shots, good pacing, and witty delivery. In an earlier era, I'd like to think you might have gotten your own programme on television.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Kind words mate, thanks a lot.

[@JuiceTerry87]

I'm from Coventry and used to work at Watford Gap, travelled to work via the M45. That's the only reason I've ever had to use it.

[@chrisweeks6973]

Back in the day, when the M1 was referred to as 'the road to nowhere' as it started after it left and ended before it got there, the M45 was actually a quite busy link road. Heavies from the south going to the north-west (and vice-a-versa, of course) had an almost 50-mile gap between the M1 and the M6. Many of them traversed this by going M45/A45/A452 at the Stonebridge roundabout, then joined the A5 at Brownhills and the M6 at what is today Junction 12. The alternative was the longer A5 route from Crick. The M45 was also, of course, the access from Birmingham/Coventry regions to the M1. The A45 was used by BSA testers from the Elmdon Airport Hotel (by todays BHX) and by Triumph testers from Meriden and (particularly south of the Coventry bypass) by the various Coventry car companies. A favourite for us lads on our bikes was across the carriageway from the Blue Boar Cafe (no Armco back then!) to the roundabout at the start of the M45, round the roundabout and back into the Cafe, before the needle lifted off the record in the jukebox... The other favourite was the Straight Mile of the B4453; it was alongside the Cafe. Today, the Cafe's site is occupied by the Texaco service station and McDonalds.

[@SamLyndonShow]

Really great delivery in this video. Love your cadence when you reference Geoff Marshall & again when you say "keeping on the railway theme, despite being a motoring channel, but there we are"

[@SamLyndonShow]

And the "some things never change"

[@davecorke9092]

I know this as the Jaguar test track as in the early 90’s i worked in Northampton but lived in Bristol so would be on this empty road very early on a Monday or late on a Friday…at which times Jaguar would often blast past in a prototype XJ220 at full pelt ! i can remember the wobble of my poor little Rover as it went past me at light speed ! D :0)

[@simonrook5743]

I live in Leamington Spa and used to commute to Northampton along the M45 daily, the fact it was so quiet wasn’t good for fuel economy! Last time I checked it hadn’t had a fatal accident for over 10 years. Also although it’s in Warwickshire it doesn’t connect to any other motorway in Warwickshire’s remit so the Police don’t routinely patrol it. The rail tunnel was built by digging down, building the tunnel and then back filling and this caused repeated subsidence of the M45 that was only finally solved in about 2005.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I didnt know about the subsidence..most interesting.

[@Lee_303]

I'm in NN & this road is superb for getting to Wales, quick route down the A46 which is three lanes between Cov & Warwick then lunch at Strensham before the lovely Heads of the valleys road, after the M50 of course.

[@imamiddleagedman]

Hottest temps recording in the Uk and you’re still wearing the hat 😅

[@AutoShenanigans]

You gotta commit.

[@Ajwatters]

Hats off to you sir 👏

[@johntheman2006]

This distracted me for the entire video. It must have been like a raging inferno under that thing!

[@johnturner4400]

Perhaps it’s a cool hat?

[@stephenphillip5656]

Hats protect against the 🌞.

[@188basstrom]

An abandoned railway bridge a symbol of the triumph of the road lobby.

[@iwindebank]

I think there’s debate over which Police force is responsible for covering the M45, which is why it’s an cracking 8 mile drag strip!

[@someguywithnocontent7871]

im 7 minutes in and only just realized, what the heck am I watching? I'm not against it tho

[@gavxps1]

You need to download time team, Im not sure why I love it and it is very boring, but...

[@Zacoota]

Driven past it pretty much every day and never knew what those listed towers are! interesting!.. and I agree it is one of the lowest traffic motorways and feels amazing after coming off congested M1.

[@davidheseltine85]

I don't knw why these videos have started to pop up on my feed, but for whatever reason I'm riveted by these endless motorway videos...

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching mate!

[@GRAHAMAUS]

The M45 makes an excellent long and mostly empty straight for high-speed testing of cars. Allegedly.

[@simonrook5743]

Rootes competition department at the Coventry end of the M45 used to use it for testing.

[@Mercmad]

@@simonrook5743 Rootes eh? humber 80's and hillman minxs then. No danger of driving too fast I'd say.

[@MiltonKeynesStreetLighting]

When i have used the A45 from M1 to A45 and from A45 on the slip road to M1, i always thought this was well designed and straight forward unlike some modern motorway slip lanes! I always tend to now use the A45 to join the M45 when driving up to Coventry from Milton Keynes. That was a great fun fact to watch!

[@bparr6968]

Using music from Ridge Racer type 4, an excellent choice 👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

It was such a great game!

[@01jvb]

Great video- I know the road well and you explained it well, though it could be stressed slightly more that the A45/M45 was a very important and very busy route from London to the Midlands and North in the '60's and early '70's. The A45 westwards through Coventry to Birmingham could give you a subject for another episode in its own right as it started life as Telford's Holyhead Road and it has been improved/changed in many places over the years and there are a few short stretches of abandoned/superceded road along the route.

[@TonyWhitley]

I grew up in a house on the A45 when it was *the* route north and south. I used to fall asleep to the hypnotising light from the headlights circling my bedroom, drifting off only to be disturbed by the distinctive, unpleasant sound of Comma lorries.

[@MegaBiscuit888]

Grew up on one end of the M45. Only road in Britain where you can find the top speed of your car. Used to get the Jaguar concept cars roaring up and down out of the factory up the road.

[@ChrisPage68]

My favourite stretch of Motorway. It was on the route from my home in North Hertfordshire to Coventry, where I studied at Hereward College in the mid-late 80s.

[@jgreystr]

Excellent stuff. Especially grateful for the 'train in ventilation shaft' shot!

[@Stealth360stealth]

Great video as always. I love learning little bits of trivia about what could be seen as mundane infrastructure. I think you said you would do it, but the M50 would be an excellent choice as a well preserved early motorway, similar to the M45. Another one which would be excellent would be the M31 (a bypass of the M25, or could be unofficially considered as ringway 5) which lives today in a partially built form as the A329(M)

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes the M50 is an odd one for sure... we'll get to it in good time :D

[@SBEARD12345]

I look forward to your M27 video.. weird junctions, slip roads to nowhere.. Maybe join it up with the M275, a double feature so to speak. Really good videos these.. short, punchy, gets the job done

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes indeed we do in tend to look at the collection of odd motorways around the M27. Thanks for watching

[@ap9970]

I am still waiting for them to join the M27 up to the A3(M)

[@mittfh]

The M50 Ross Spur is another "historic" motorway, with features including the hard shoulder disappearing under/over bridges, its original trumpet interchange with the M5 (which once stopped there) being converted into a roundabout when the M5 was widened, and the sheer madness of J3 with its right angle slip roads.

[@nathan_law]

I was just literally about to comment this

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah it looks like the M50 will make for a great film.

[@davyfella]

@@AutoShenanigans I have to admit that the 6km out and back run from Strensham roundabout (there's a nice handy layby in the middle) to J1 of the M50 is a good performance and handling check for any remap/suspension tune work.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I like the sound of that.

[@tasty_fish]

The M50 junction 3 right angle slip is one of my favourite things on the UK motorway network. It’s the only time I’ve ever managed to cycle on a UK motorway (before heading down the single track lane on the south side just yards from the main carriageway - amazed the health and safety brigade haven’t closed that lane off!). Ok, I was young and there was far less traffic back in the 1980s!

[@lukesmith8813]

Drove down this on Sunday. Empty. Absolutely flew along at strictly 70mph 😉

[@jontysquirrel7555]

I did my fastest 70mph journey along that road in a Vauxhall Astra VXR 😉

[@maccatt7274]

I absolutely didn't get the max limited speed out of my girlfriend's porsche on the M45, instead settling for the mandated 70mph......

[@highpath4776]

@@maccatt7274 new cars now have those onboard computers , the sat navs replay your every journey

[@MattF340]

The Great Central Railway, the original "HS2". A very short sighted closure.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I think a lot of closures were!

[@gronkpatrol]

No idea why I got recommended this video or why I clicked, but the video was well-edited and presented and the content was rather interesting too.

[@skylarius3757]

Nice drone shot of a train passing below the tunnel ventilation opening.

[@AutoShenanigans]

There was a fair bit of waiting around for that one :D

[@emdB67]

@@AutoShenanigans we, your viewers, thank you. :)

[@MikeWooshy]

The M45 is one of my favourite motorways. Great for..... My solicitor has told me not to say any more as I may leave myself open to prosecution.

[@davyfella]

The M50 used to be my favourite for the same reason. 1993, 3am, Sierra Cosworth 😉

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes I hear it sits across two police force boundaries meaning patrols are unlikely.

[@MikeWooshy]

@@davyfella The good old days!

[@MikeWooshy]

@@AutoShenanigans when it was first built (M45) it was rumoured Jaguar used to do Vmax runs along it.

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@MikeWooshy I've heard that they used the M1 for testing and I suppose it makes sense to use the M45 whilst you're there. These days it's just the M45 suitable for Vmax runs ;-)

[@starlight5229]

Like these 'Secrets of' videos very much. Great geek material 😁. Thank you

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's a lot of fun to make and Im glad you enjoy it.

[@unstoppable2180]

It's funny how Google Maps said it takes 7 minutes to drive from 1 end to the other on the M45, officially one of the shortest motorways ever.

[@AutoShenanigans]

surprisingly, it's quite low down on the "shortest" list.

[@unstoppable2180]

@@AutoShenanigans I actually never knew that, I thought it was one of the shortest motorways! I know a 1-mile long motorway built for a college called the M98.

[@katrinabryce]

@@unstoppable2180 The shortest motorway is the A8(M) which is 320 metres long. The shortest M motorway is the M898 at 1.6km. The one you are thinking of, I think is the M96 at the Fire Service College in Morton-in-Marsh which is 400m, not open to the public and used for training fire fighters.

[@unstoppable2180]

@@katrinabryce Oh yeah! I probably just got a bit mixed up. Also, the M96 is also used to train others I think, such as DOT, not just firefighters. Thanks for the correction.

[@zx85]

Brilliant production and content.. that overhead drone shot of a train going through the tunnel at 05:44 was perfect!

[@toolrestoration]

Oh the views are going thru the roof !! So well deserved been here since you weren't famous ......... !

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'm still not, but thanks for watching mate

[@ozzy3663]

First video I'm watching of yours and I just got total whiplash for the best is yet to come

[@MrSnout5]

In the early 70s, a friend and I made the mistake of hitch hiking at the start of the M45, at a time when this activity was quite common. We were headed back to our homes in London. It soon became apparent how few cars were using this route and it was several hours of waiting in the hot sun before somebody offered us a lift. Our luck changed then, as the driver was heading for London.

[@grahamariss2111]

Living in South Coventry I have often used the M45 and as a result used it to explore warp speed. Have you thought about doing the Midland Red M1 motorway coaches that were designed to go toe to toe with the diesels on the West Coast Main Line before the 70 mph speed limit was introduced. Tales of the coaches with a favourable gradient and wind walking away from trains on the stretches parallel with the M1. When the M5 was opened the similar Midland Red M5 motorway coaches offered a faster service from Birmingham to Worcester and Birmingham to Bristol than BR.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I lived in north Watford in the 1950s, and before new houses spoiled the view, I used to look across to the Watford bypass, in the direction of Odhams new printing works.. About 3pm, the Midland Red 'bus would pass heading for Birmingham. This was pre-M1 days and I think they were the very attractive AEC ones in black and red.

[@shaneord7527]

Sure I heard it was the fastest stretch of road in the UK going by average vehicle speed.

[@grahamariss2111]

@@johnjephcote7636 It woukd be a Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Company (BMMO) bus, this was Midland Reds own bus manufacturer and very advanced they were to having things like rubber suspension all round and independent front suspension, I think the motorway coaches had dusc brakes from Dunlop aerospace. The powertrain was their own 8.5 litre diesel that was supercharged and if I recall correctly some ran an 8 speed gearbox. This lasted until the early 70s but after years of struggling to get staff as wages in the car industry increased the bus manufacturing was finally killed with Midland Red being nationalised as part of National Express.

[@davidmalin5491]

I live right by this motorway and work on it as recovery driver. It was supposed to go all the way to Birmingham but the planners decided to leave end it at Thurlaston and have the rest as an A road so people who couldn’t use a motorway could have easy access to Birmingham. Of course building the M6 later allowed motorway access to the city. It is should have been pointed out about half way along it goes from being in Warwickshire to being in Northamptonshire so it is not patrolled by the police making it one of the fastest motorways in the country. I have actually driven along it at night and not seen another car on either carriageway.

[@alistairpatterson429]

Surprised you didn't mention the way it uniquely crosses jurisdictions of Nhants and Warks, meaning that heading eastbound beyond Dunchurch the road is uniquely unpatrolled as Warks police would need to drive all the way to M1 J16 if they received a call, and if Nhants police received one if they had just come off the M1 they would have to go all the way to Thurlaston to turn around. Officially, this means the motorway is particularly vulnerable to hijacking and the sorts, unofficially it means that you can test the top speed of your car as a young lad. The sheer lack of traffic means that maxing out your car often doesn't result in you passing another car let alone the fuzz. Love this road, right on my doorstep and it carries many of my late teen driving memories.

[@Neil070]

What's this? Building a reservoir in 1970 to meet increased water needs? What an innovative idea. Of course, we have no need for such panic measures in the 21st century 🙄

[@fndjfgsdk]

They try and build them, but planning law says no

[@BossySwan]

NIMBY idiots blocking progress

[@Neil070]

@@fndjfgsdk Incredible. A local pub was demolished recently for housing, green fields elsewhere on the edge of town, dug up for housing, both bitterly opposed by residents. But a reservoir to supply water for all those extra residents? No!

[@martincarr1284]

2015 I was working on the m45 it was supposed to be getting downgraded to an A road guessing that never happened. The layby or parking area you mentioned is a well known dogging site and the work I was doing had us on call 24/ so me and a mate ended up staying in a caravan in that lay-by for 5 months. Both of us are ex squaddies and thought we were open minded and seen terrible things but nothing could have prepared us for what we saw in that lay-by every night. Continual comings and goings of cars naked people running about a very attractive lady in a long fur coat and nothing else jumping from car to car. It was like another world we met a very nice Polish lorry driver who would park up put on his dress and high heels then try to get in our caravan to keep us "company" we politely declined lol. Was certainly an experience

[@76Sulaco]

Bloody hell. LOL

[@johnjephcote7636]

The joys of civvy street!

[@blueberrysavers3547]

i assume u mean the current m45 between the roundabout and the only junction. cause if the whole of the m45 were to be downgraded, then imagine being on a non motorway road that only leads to a motorway with no oportunity to leave?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Why do you think we visited..

[@martincarr1284]

@@AutoShenanigans that explains the hat it rolls down in to a balaclava

[@theuktoday4233]

Warning: Do not test your cars speed down this motorway just because one end is covered by Northants police and the other end by Warwickshire police and never the twain will meet!!!

[@looped7979]

Well i guess... The uk autobhan is unofficialy opened at night 😏

[@TheDreadnoughtgames]

Love these videos, but is there any chance you can leave the maps on screen for slightly longer - I have to keep pausing the video to be able to work out where everything is! Really interesting stuff though...

[@AutoShenanigans]

It can be a bit quick fire, sorry about that, it's the only way to retain peoples attention as we've all got ADD on youtube.

[@RichardDKneller]

Enjoyed some fast motoring when I discovered it decades ago!

[@ivancarter7564]

during the creation of the draycote res' they found a roman / saxon or alike village which the authorities wanted to keep so they originaly planned a island but that was way to expensive so they excavated it in doing delaying the reservoirs construction but they confirmed it was linked to the fosse way and the lunt fort

[@milehighclassics]

OUTSTANDING and fun to watch, I was thinking of the concrete styling and how it’s going, no one cares also I grew up in Croydon and I loved the place for the concrete only later in life, superb work keep it up.

[@Briggers0810]

Great video. I liked the Geoff Marshall idea reference. Possibly explains the "Sticking with the railway theme, which is a little odd considering we're a motoring channel" :)

[@Tomm9y]

Interesting video. You should know that the location on Draycote Water where you ended the video has recently altered alot. The area has been cleared of vegetation and a compound created to support dam improvement works. In 2023 large pipes are being installed through the dam, construction of the new pipework, chambers, and connecting pipework from the reservoir embankment. The work is to allow Severn Trent to lower the reservoir water level quickly and safely in the case of an emergency. This is to meet the new Government regulations and will be operational by December 2023. This was prompted by the near collapse of a dam in Yorkshire, it was found that there was no system to quickly lower the level of the resevoir nor to a safety reservoir, rules that had been ignored for many decades. As you already touch on bridges and railways, perhaps you could include some dams. They are great engineered structures, which improve our lives, not only by the supply of water but also as recreational (sailing, fishing windsurfing, walking, cycling) and nature reserves.

[@Craig-wp3pz]

M45, Got my first ticket on my motorbike there, test passed at 9:45am,ditch the 'L's trade in the 125, pick up new bike from Nightingales MCs, speeding ticket before 11......😥🏍 🎟 👮‍♂️ 🚨🤔 Edit: the field next to Draycott water 💧, is the home of the HUGE firepower tank show

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nicely done

[@Craig-wp3pz]

@@AutoShenanigans 3 points on day one, not the best start to a career!! But, did score a calibrated (by Nhants police) top speed of 126mph, sadly somewhat lower than a police BMW motorcycle 🏍 🏁 Contrary to popular opinion, Points DO NOT mean prizes

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@Craig-wp3pz "only" 3 points for 126... those were the days :D

[@Craig-wp3pz]

@@AutoShenanigans he felt sorry for me, didn't actually have a licence, just the pink pass slip,new keepers slip and receipt from Nightingales the bike shop, so wrote me up for 99 instead, 3 points, no ban but very expensive insurance......

[@jamesmckelvey]

A video on the A167(M) would be interesting

[@BibtheBoulder]

A motorway I have known since my childhood in the 1970's. Little used then, and little used now. Indeed, rumour has it that if you want to give your car or high powered bike a blast, this is the road to do it on....not that I ever have. Obviously.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I heard similar.

[@davebartos7743]

indeed it is as it sits betwixt 2 of our boys in blue county lines so is rarely patrolled. I definitely have not gone a tad over 70mph when i was in the midlands, No Siree.

[@smac4749]

I've heard that too, although have definitely not done anything like this on my motorbike, ever

[@Auldpharte]

My dad got a job in London with Rotax in the late fifties. We lived then in Birmingham, where we fully intended to stay. So he got lodgings in Acton, and commuted along the M45/M1 on Friday and Sunday nights. He acquired an Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III, in which he did the journey at warp factor 9. There were no speed limits in those days. I went with him on a couple of occasions. The Aston was almost devoid of sound insulation, so your ears rang for an hour or so after the trip. Fun, though, to an 11 or 12 year old boy.

[@BibtheBoulder]

@@smac4749 I concur S Mac. As tempting as it is, I never take my ZZR1400 over the legal limit...

[@NattyFlump]

"It would be silly to end the motorway at a roundabout" - M67 says hi, complete with queue backing up down the carriageway.

[@jammin023]

Almost as silly as putting a roundabout in the middle of a motorway, oh hi M271 didn't see you there...

[@alecjefferson6993]

I like the M45 living Coventry. It was Midland link to the M1 No traffic jams on it 🥰🧐👍

[@YetAnotherGeorgeth]

There used to be a counterpart spur road at the other end of ye olde M1 called the M10 which went to just south of St Albans, but it was downgraded to A road status when the M1 was widened through there. As far as I know all except the original junction is the same there, except the the signage and the central barrier.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I know it very well, it was a regular drive for me as a youngster.

[@simondavies7384]

Yes, the former M10 is pretty much as originally built, except for the M1 junction which has been completely rebuilt. The original line of the M1 is west of the current A414 bridge over the M1, and the original M1 bridge abutments are now buried in the embankment.

[@icetanker8062]

Im from cov and while I've used the A45 plenty of times, I've never been on the M45, maybe one day I'll go visit and be thoroughly underwhelmed

[@AutoShenanigans]

Absolutely.. and you'll get to take in the M1 as well if you go all the way along.

[@petestoney3694]

Living in the south of Coventry with a daily commute to Elstree the M45 was just a giant slip road to and from the M1.

[@Ralphs-House]

I love the M45. Hope they never change it. One of the few peaceful motorways!

[@misterjei]

Well now you've jinked it. Now Liz Truss is definitly going to turn it, into an autobahn.

[@Ralphs-House]

@@misterjei Aaaaaagh!

[@rxunfn]

with you talking about the port Talbot bypass. it's possibly one of the worst bridges in motorway history. as I live quite close to it our family travel on it quite frequently and it's horrid and even with the people that live right under it.

[@AutoShenanigans]

You paint a wonderful picture. I look forward to checking it out!

[@davidartina5022]

Fun fact is in the early 60s Jaguar test drivers would check the calibration of speedometers by measuring time with a stopwatch between two bridges. They often did this at speeds in excess of 100mph. There is some great Footage of Norman Dewis on the M45 in an early e-type.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Where can I see said footage mate...

[@philipread8733]

How on earth you made that interesting I'll never know ! Well done

[@AutoShenanigans]

We seem to have developed a technique for taking dull things and sprucing them up a bit into something just about watchable :D

[@timmylumsden8060]

@@AutoShenanigans ha!!!can you come and do a vid on my life please?

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

I used to speed test my cars on the M45 when I lived in Rugby.

[@matty6848]

I used to use the M45 whilst commuting back from Milton Keynes too Birmingham and if there’s one motorway that I found a complete strange anomaly it was the M45. It’s hardly used too the point you’ll see 2/3 other cars on the M45, which I can only conceive it was a kind of failed project whilst building other motorways. However if you want too speed test your car, it’s the motorway too do it. It’s always empty and in the 5 years I drive up and down it, I never once seen. Police car or speed camera😉.

[@stephencooper6766]

One of the main reasons you hardly ever see a police car on the M45 is because it crosses jurisdictions. If a Warwickshire police car drove down it they’d end up miles into Northamptonshire down the M1 and visa-versa. So unless they are following someone for a good reason they try not to go down it.

[@matty6848]

@@stephencooper6766 right I understand. Yes I can see why, now you’ve explained it like that.

[@driftingdan]

Little bit of naughty history about the M45... It was commonly used by locals for top speed test runs back in the day. They'd either get on the M1 at Crick, off at Watford gap services then slip out the service exit, over the bridge then back on the M1 to take the M45 exit towards dunchurch. Or alternatively, along the A5 then into Watford Gap services through the service road then onto the M1 as before. Once you've taken the exit it sweeps left for a little while before coming to a long right hand bend. After the first big right hander (which would usually be taken at a steady 130mph because of the single unsettling bump 3/4 round the corner) it then opened up onto the big straight (around 1.5 miles) where you could really get your foot in it. At the end of the straight, the road curves gently left for the next few miles giving plenty of room to ease off the throttle slowly and not need to brake dangerously... So they say!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes I've heard about such things... I wouldn't know of course.

[@mk2nathan]

Still is...;)

[@richardgale4827]

Look! Water in a reservoir! How's that for 1960s nostalgia?

[@AutoShenanigans]

I forgot to mention it's archive footage and not a true representation of modern day :D

[@pgmasterson1163]

@@AutoShenanigans Lol and there was me, in Stoke, thinking according to the hyperbolic media, that everything from Birmingham and South of it was a mass dessert and water had stopped existing.

[@markgilbert5209]

I've just walked there this evening, and it was a lot fuller than I thought it was going to be.

[@daveabbott]

Once took a car up to 155 along it at 2:00 in the morning, bends are tight at that speed.

[@Lee_303]

Ha ha yes, especially the roundabouts at the end of it.

[@chartwell5245]

Yep, It's basically a drag strip and the police are very rarely on it (but not never, I have seen them a few times). Rumour has it that it's on the divide between West Mids and Northants police areas and neither force can be bothered to look after it because it's so empty and, heading East, there's no way to turn around without going a fair way south on the M1.

[@sirrodney3443]

Ha Ha, me as well, I was delivering a Merc SLR 500 at the time. Didn't know the road but thought what the hell. Scared myself half to death. Came off the M45 onto the A45 and it was 40 mph average speed limit with one lane coned off. Had to use cruise control to save my license as it felt I wasn't moving after slowing down. A week later i went the other way in a petrol BMW 330i 6 speed manual estate. I was in the upper 140s for that one. Better car as well, much more fun. All this was around 18 years ago and haven't and probably wont use that road again but I often think of those journeys. Pure magic!

[@daveabbott]

@@sirrodney3443 I was in a Renault GTA Turbo. I think it was 86/87, so sad but I can even give you the reg hahaha.

[@sirrodney3443]

@@daveabbott Nice car, I didn't get to drive one of those, always wanted to. Potter about in a Landy Disco 3 these days. Took her up to 105 once, never again! Just as scary as the Merc, and as for the fuel consumption! Live 20 miles south of Bristol but friends in London. the approx 140 mile journey was about £95 and 3/4 of the tank. But when you have a car you love, it just dosen''t matter. Cheers.

[@cbmsysmobile]

M10 as was at the other end of the M1 was built at the same time, so the M1/M45 is the oldest Motorway to Motorway interchange *still in existence*

[@MrSnowMen]

Great video, 2 quick questions, 1) How do you manage not to get fined for using a drone over roads. 2) Ask Geoff to create a series, "Disused ventilation towers", Tim traveller might like that one too, Joking aside, great work on your series. I am amazed how you get your information,. Keep them coming, and thanks again,

[@AutoShenanigans]

We fly a sub 250g drone and keep our distance. Disused ventilation towers... coupled with the tunnels underneath and that could be an interesting video.

[@TheManWithNoName786]

Nice nod to Geoff Marshall there.

[@peteryoung4957]

Perhaps some of Owen Williams bridges should be grade 2 listed.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Some of his buildings are but im not sure on any of the bridges.

[@gagasmancave8859]

During the war my wife's grandad was in the home guard and used to guard the tunnel vents to prevent 5th columnists throwing bombs down them

[@dominiccottrill2387]

If you heard lots of cursing and swearing from one of the windsurfers, that was probably me. I'm sure you managed to edit that out.

[@MC-ee1ey]

John, great job again. You are the Ed Sheeran of all things roads.

[@jabberwockytdi8901]

If nothing else it made a good motorway test stretch for Jaguar and Triumph etc development departments.....

[@tgktgkify]

Back in ye olden days (1989-1991ish) I used to regularly use the M45 on my way from Suffolk to/from Coventry, in a Peugeot 205GTi. I saw the M45 as my last ditch opportunity to make up for lost time on the trip, being able to take advantage of the complete absence of any other traffic and maintaining a steady 70mph* for the entire length of the motorway. *ish.

[@stephenholt4670]

I grew up in Leamington Spa, before the M40 was built, so the M45 was our default route when leaving home to go to London and beyond (e.g. to France on holiday). I therefore associate it with the excitement of those occasions. The "Motorways merge" signs were always something to look out for, signalling our imminent arrival on to the M1. As an aside, I've always find it curious that the M45 is classified as a "pointless" motorway, given that it serves as the main link between the M1 and Coventry, and the A45 to the west of Thurlaston is dual carriageway all the way to Birmingham and generally quite busy...

[@markwalker2627]

It was not pointless for many Brummies living in SE Birmingham returning from London before the M40 was built. Use to use it all the time

[@EdgyNumber1]

2:47 Look at the bridge base. A deliberate safety feature was built in, the idea that instead of directly hitting the concrete pillars on entry to the tunnel, the shape was made to attempt to scoop cars back onto the lane. Obviously it wasn't completely effective as you can see Armco barriers installed but the consideration in the design of the bridge was there from the start. I do like those old Robert McAlpine bridges. 'Concrete Bob' was a pioneer in reinforced concrete structures for major infrastructure projects back in the day, not just on motorways.

[@davyfella]

I'll just keep mashing that like button to improve your algorithm stats. Good work fella

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice work, thanks very much indeed

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

5:23 - thank you for the drone flypast of these ventilation shafts! I always look for them when I am driving up to Coventry, and now you have finally shown me what they really are!

[@victoriawakefield6747]

your channel appeared on my feed a while ago and i have watched several of your videos and enjoyed them, i see the link now as i enjoy Geoff Marshall videos also, sometimes youtube is clever and gets it right.

[@Jim-Scott]

The M45 was part of my journey to the Royal Showground at Stoneleigh, when I used to go there a couple of times a month. I loved that road for two reasons: i) It was quiet, after the preceding M25/M1 miles, ii) It meant I was nearly there! I did the journey a few times with a proper train anarak (he now owns a railway museum!) and learnt all about those ventilation tunnels!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice place is Stoneleigh, been to a few shows there.

[@starlight5229]

Those tunnels were amazing! Never knew about them before 🙂

[@Andrewjg_89]

The M45 is quite a small spur motorway which allows traffic from Coventry to join the M1 South (London). Plus I like how you mentioned Geoff Marshall as well 😂

[@simoncolton3654]

As a child I used to ride along the M45 on my Penny Farthing. Breakneck speeds of almost 3.5 miles per hour. Had to stop when the council brought in those new fangled, speed sketch artists. True story. Fun fact.

[@nigelfisher3756]

Interesting content, incisive and clever delivery, what’s not to like? Yes, the M45 is close art hand a great for dusting away the cobwebs from my classic car and motorbikes. A motorist’s gem and much better than lots of the usual crap plastered on KZbin, thanks.

[@Herbster71]

M45, or Jaguar high-speed test track as it used to be known way back when.

[@mlc4495]

That Metal Gear Solid ending theme was.....interesting. Sung entirely in Irish, a bit of 90s gaming trivia for ya.

[@AutoShenanigans]

90s/00s references... We got it covered.

[@taridean]

I think the KZbin algorithm has tapped into my location data as this video has turned up on my home page and I live a few minutes away from the M45. 🤔

[@Cypher791]

🤫

[@GR-qb2vf]

The m45, every midlanders favourite dragstrip...

[@karlreading3201]

Disagree- as a local whilst it’s nice I have more fun on the m69

[@ianberry1713]

Agreed. I live in Rugby and it’s a great place to have an occasional blat at license losing speeds.

[@InstaSim6]

It's a shame this video wasn't about the M54 because it's currently the only motorway I've driven on Oh well maybe next time 😛

[@InfiniteLoop]

cyclists dismount, and you see the lines in the debris where they just ride around the gate.

[@sarahlivingstone8367]

Enjoyed that! Being a bit odd, I decided to look for the railway bridge on google maps satellite view and it's amazing how much of the railway route is still discernible. If you follow it south (about 10 miles), you'll get to Catesby Tunnel :D I think you should do another channel - Abandoned Railway Shenanigans ?

[@AutoShenanigans]

The tunnel is now a vehicle testing facility.. perfect :)

[@TheWallerbyboxer]

Keep going south to Hinton and you can see evidence of quite a large railway junction aswell

[@vincentharriman3283]

Parts of the GCR are now operated as heritage lines with work progressing to reinstate the gap between the two heritage lines.

[@Thinguns]

M54 - I assume it was built to connect the new town of Telford to Birmingham (so they could get to Ikea more quickly)... it connects to the A5 in Wellington & doesn't become the A5 (M)... why? So it's interesting to some of us 😁

[@AutoShenanigans]

Stay tuned.. I'm out tomorrow looking at the M54 ;-)

[@Thinguns]

@@AutoShenanigans anyone who's willing to sacrifice their time to go to Telford deserves a sub 😂 I'll keep an eye out for the video

[@robin_marriott]

This was my ‘ah God the M6 is shut’ emergency route to work when I lived in Northampton and worked in Coventry. On one hand it was great because there’s no speed limit, on the other hand it was bad because it still leads to Coventry.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Well we can't have it all I suppose :D

[@DarkSiege2]

Is the sister motorway (M10 may it rest in peace) next?

[@AddictedtoProjects]

I guess with the M45, and your video, I've just passed the introductory course to "geeking out on UK motorways" 😆

[@alessiobaruzzo1679]

Now, if you want a full master degree, I suggest this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4aoeYqehMR7mrs

[@martineyles]

Perhaps when you cover a railway and motorway that cross, a rail focused channel might be willing to do a short insert, and in exchange you could do a short insert for them if they do a video about the railway that crosses the road.

[@TheManFrayBentos]

Used to enjoy taking the M45 instead of the M6 if my journey ended in South Brum. Just got on there and took advantage of the lack of traffic to relax a bit. At 130.

[@TheOracle65]

I’ve been watching your most excellent channel for quite a while now but missed this one somehow. Your channel just gets better and better. The lightly sarcastic (and occasionally irreverent political) humour, the surprise video location switching, great drone shots and well researched information all make it very entertaining. The Geoff Marshall comment was inspired, I laughed so hard I spilt my tea.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one mate!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

You don’t point out that there’s no connection to or from the M1 North…

[@frasermitchell9183]

Kilsby railway tunnel took much longer to build than the railway either side of it, (the London to Birmingham Railway). Quick sand was found and lots of water. The contractor went bankrupt, and Rober Stephenson took over in direct command. It is generally considered that working on the tunnel shortened his life so horrible were the below-ground conditions. As far as I know the large castle-like vent shafts were built so the pumps could be installed to remove the constant flow of water. It is still a very wet tunnel.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I didn't know that.. very interesting!

[@pizzyp]

At least the road looks nice to drive on for an M road, you should take a drive along the M27 it's made worse than a Service road with chunks of concrete slabs as a road surface 🤦‍♂️ This was very interesting thank you 👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

M45 seems to be one of the best out there!

[@jonty2020]

Great video. The sister motorway to the M45 was the M10 which performed a similar function at the southern end of the then new M1. That road has now become part of the A414 following the remodelling of J7/J8 of the M1.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It is, I know it well. Sadly it's not quite enough for an entire episode.

[@zdavis4222]

I used to live near what was the M10 (before it got downgraded to an A-road) and I thought that stretch was quiet. This afternoon I drove along the M45 from the M1 Jn17 to Thurlaston and I have to say that it was even quieter. The road surface was not up to motorway standards in a few places and, like the M50 which I recently drove along, it didn't really feel like I was travelling along a modern motorway.