Secrets of the Motorway - A74M

[@geecars6263]

This whole series should be deadly boring, but it isn’t -I find myself looking forward to the next episode

[@swskating3865]

I agree... Also, I don't feel geeky

[@TheChiefSmeg69]

I know right? They are fascinating and really should not be! I’m always dead happy when a new episode appears 😂

[@theunknownstuntman4010]

My wife says isn't it boring, I'm like no I'm really into it

[@Venemofthe888]

he keeps your attention and gives you nice facts along the way and im learning so much

[@TheThejpmshow]

Not the content but the way it’s presented isn’t it

[@timdench2583]

I thought you handled the Lockerbie segment very sensitively Jon. Well done. Good quality video as always

[@hairyairey]

I was about to make the same point. Oddly enough we had a blowout on the M74 heading south and were recovered to a garage in Lockerbie. If had known about the memorial garden I would have gone there.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Agreed..

[@matthewskinner4814]

Completely agree. Well done John.

[@TheThejpmshow]

Here here

[@bradlane5058]

Totally agree well done Jon

[@JakeRoot]

Bloody hell, the beep from the car. Perfect.

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehehe, I shouldnt stand in the road.

[@sassythesasquatch4425]

@@AutoShenanigans Hi-vis and hard hat will dtop the beeping 🤣

[@purgostevejohal5771]

😂😂😂

[@potsplayz-coregamesandmore]

LOL

[@bonetiredtoo]

About 1k from the very start of the M74(M) at Gretna is the site of the worst rail accident to occur in the UK at Quintinshill where, in 1915, due to appalling signalling errors, there were multiple rail collisions, one involving a troop train. 226 people were killed in the disaster.

[@timdench2583]

Thanks for the reminder. I saw a documentary on this a while back. So very sad.

[@kirkmooneyham]

Bad enough to have to take the chance of being killed in the Great War, but to die in a troop train accident at home, that's an entire other level of tragedy.

[@mybeasty3560]

The majority of deaths was due to the troop train catching fire due to its wooden coaches and gas lighting.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Indeed, I was aware but thought 1 disaster was enough for the video.

[@TIMMEH19991]

@@mybeasty3560 and the fact that the troops were locked inside the carriages.......

[@DavidAspden]

Good approach to the Lockerbie segment. Sat peacefully on the bench. It was highly relevant to the series and was good to see the original footage, though I don't think I'll ever forget it. Then you show the memorial and I think you got the tone right.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate

[@sjprmc7510]

The gate is used to take traffic off the M74 in event of an accident and closure. Drove through it once for that exact reason.

[@baldyhead]

And now I can't get "What's the story, Balamory?" out of my head. Thanks for that!

[@AutoShenanigans]

No worries at all!

[@starlight5229]

That was a great one Jon! Very good. That car behind you! 😂 Got me thinking.... Surely there must be a Secrets of the Motorway 'bloopers' vid in the effing? 😁 Ooops sorry, in the OFFing 👍🏻😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'd like there to be... but I just dont have enough "funny bloopers" it's usually just me swearing to myself in a very non funny way.

[@starlight5229]

@@AutoShenanigans And there was me thinking you were naturally humorous! 😂

[@kgbgb3663]

Junction 22 (at 11:02) is weirder than you say. The northbound on-slip, over at the left-hand edge of your satellite view, starts off in the middle of Gretna Green without warning that that is what it is. The direction sign at the entrance is the normal black-on-white of local roads, with a motorway-blue patch indicating that you can get to Glasgow that way by joining the A74(M) later. (It says (A74(M)), _in brackets,_ not A74(M).) The road is clearly two-way, so you think you are still on a local road. Once committed, you pass a gate leading into a field, and _then_ a sign that that you are on the A74(M)! If you are not allowed on the motorway, your only legal option is to do a 3-point turn in the field gateway, and go back the way you came. It turns out that the only reason for the bi-directional road, and for the lack of motorway restrictions right from the junction back in Gretna Green, is for the farmer to be able to get farm machinery to that field and back without breaking motorway restrictions!

[@johnmg88]

Always thought that was an odd junction, that explains it.

[@jasonboyle7203]

74 likes for your reply spooky

[@chingadapistolero]

I use that slip road everyday and its all ways baffled me ! Mystery solved thank you👍

[@mfranssens]

@@jasonboyle7203 no there isn’t. Bdum tish.

[@davidb3172]

In December I and my parents drove past flight 103's crash site. There was a section of the fuselage, unrolled in the field to the west of the A74, with a line of windows. I have paid my respects to the memorial in the graveyard off the A709.

[@xr6lad]

The actual fuselage? That’s unusual.

[@rangersineurope9766]

Who knew watching this 2 weeks ago would rescue me when there was an accident today just after J15. The only info board on road flashed up M74 closed Beattock just as I was approaching J15. Everyone else ignored breezed past the offslip got stuck for hours between 14/15. Just me a couple of Juggernauts flying up the old Carlisle / Glasgow road for 30 minutes with empty motorway below us then an empty motorway all the way to Hamilton. Eerie. Thanks for your work. (There was one of those gates lying open you couldve just nicked out onto an empty motorway halfway between 14/15 but thought better of it)

[@simongreene1]

Very well written, especially the bit about Lockerbie.

[@AutoShenanigans]

T hanks mate

[@fdotcameron]

The one I've been waiting for! It's always fascinating taking the B7076 and seeing the remnants of the A74, there are so many central reservations, carriageways and junctions still visible

[@scottyg7284]

Yup, I always use it if I have the time to spare.

[@rogerduerden373]

The B7076 is one of my favourite motorcycling roads when I'm heading down to England - there's scarcely any traffic on it and it's much nicer than the motorway.

[@James-gf9jl]

One of the great landmarks on the old A74 was the Redmoss transport cafe and I had a plan to ride the old dualled section up that way. Procrastination being the thief of time, I didn't manage to get there until last year. The cafe had shut down and the Northbound carriageway had already been covered over and grassed.

[@TheLegoblockstudios]

@@rogerduerden373 but dear god the potholes though!

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's a great road and if you aren't in a hurry, a better way to go than the motorway.

[@seldom_seen_kid]

Great Scottish series Jon. You never mentioned the forest north of Crawford at junction 14 that looks like a big willy. When I see it I know I've only got half an hour to go until I get home. Haste ye back.

[@danmcintyre9176]

I'm not the only one that thinks it looks like a big dick then, yay!

[@F34RCHIEF]

Haha yeah I wondered if he was gonna feature the willy

[@missbitch67]

Blimey, I've never seen that😂I'll look out for that next time I'm travelling North to junction 12😅

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehehe... I noticed it but couldn't find a good way to incorporate it into the video.

[@sammymac6767]

The fact that I lived in Ecclefechan and didn’t even realise that the B7076 was part of the old A74. Drove down the B7076 hundreds of times. Thank you for the eye opener Jon

[@mxg75]

In the rural US, I’ve seen gates onto the Interstate between exits, in areas where it may be 8-10 miles between exits. It’s used by emergency vehicles to access the highway. In particular, it allows ambulances to get their passenger patients to the hospital a bit quicker then they could on local roads, without having to drive all the way to the official exit.

[@stuartmcconnachie]

At a guess it’s there for emergency access to the power station.

[@lefthandedspanner]

there's a few of them here as well, mostly in or near big motorway-to-motorway junctions like M18/M62 where there's no access to or from the local road network, and the nearest official access points are a long way off

[@christopherrosindale3175]

The old A74 dual carriageway section between Junction 22 of the A74 (M) and the former end of the M6 at the Carlisle (North) junction used to be called the "Cumberland Gap," in a sarcastic reference to the congestion which traffic being funnelled from 6 lanes into 4 lanes, and then back out into 6 lanes again, used to cause. When it was finally rebuilt into part of the M6, several major changes were made: 1) All of the road junctions on it - consisting of entry/exit slip roads onto crossing/parallel minor roads, were completely removed, with the only remaining trace of them being the former Southbound exit/entry road North of the M6 Carlisle (North) junction (this is now gated off, with the Northbound exit/entry road opposite being removed and replaced by an embankment topped by a wooden fence). 2) A replacement parallel road was built from the M6 Carlisle (North) junction up to the "Metal Bridge" pub (which lost its access junction from the A74 dual carriageway), then across the now shared old dual carriageway River Esk bridge (a new bridge was built alongside to carry the Southbound M6 carriageway) and on to Gretna. 3) The previous dual carriageway bridge over the West Coast Main Line railway was completely demolished, and replaced by a new motorway bridge built alongside, although the now overgrown approach embankment to the old bridge can still be seen on the North side of the tracks. Other features of note on this section of the now M6 are: 1) The Waverley Route - the motorway crosses the trackbed of this closed railway, which ran from Carlisle to Edinburgh, immediately North of the Carlisle (North) junction. On one side, the low embankment can be seen crossing a field, on the other, the old A74 still crosses a bridge (hard to see behind the scrubby trees beside the motorway) over the line next to the site of Park House Halt, below the former Park House pub, which is now a restaurant (I clearly remember myself and my parents having dinner there many times, while heading back North along the M6 to our home in SW Scotland, because we could rejoin the A74 dual carriageway at the now-removed entry/exit road just North of there, which I mentioned earlier). 2) Former weighbridge station - this used to be beside the the Northbound carriageway just North of the Waverley Route's trackbed, but was totally demolished when the motorway upgrade took place and was replaced by a new one next to the service station further North. No trace of it now remains. 3) Original dual carriageway overbridges - these were all retained when the motorway upgrade took place, with the new outside lanes being squeezed underneath them, requiring gaps in the hard shoulder under each bridge and new concrete retaining walls to support the bridge abutments. 4) Former "Metal Bridge" pub A74 junction - this had an underpass to allow Southbound vehicles to reach the pub on the Northbound side by passing under the dual carriageway. As this junction was removed during the motorway upgrade, I have no idea if the underpass still exists or was filled-in, but it would be interesting to know.

[@rossmathieson9636]

I remember driving the road while it was still under construction. The fragmentary nature of the construction meant that there were some sections where you would still be driving the old A74 dual carriageway (with the new motorway being built on another alignment), then further on find yourself on a section of 'old' A74 alignment which was finished its upgrade to motorway standard, then further on find yourself on the completely new road, etc. This situation continued for a number of years, and kept changing as new sections were completed, but for 'simplicity' it was decided to retain the A74 designation for whatever section of road was being used as the main route at any given time. When the final motorway section was open, and it became possible to designate the road as a motorway in its entirety, it was considered least confusing to give it the 'temporary' A74(M) designation. This would then have become the M6 when the final section from Gretna to Carlisle was complete. But politics happened in the intervening years, and we're left with the temporary numbering seemingly now permanent. It would be daft to change it really.

[@xr6lad]

Yes let’s keep daft and drop total common sense. Why have any cordination. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@rossmathieson9636]

Yes let's waste tens of thousands on new signage during a cost of living crisis

[@richardmosley4549]

Never in a million years did I ever imagine I'd be watching vids about motorways and absolutely loving them! John, you are a f king magician!

[@driving_all_over]

One thing you did miss at Gretna Services was the M74 sign on the southbound on slip unless they’ve removed it

[@missbitch67]

It was still there 2 weeks ago, it's usually my first stop when travelling South from East Ayrshire.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Can't say I'd noticed it.

[@colinsharples1214]

"Reasons unknown" is definitely the best way to describe the Beeching cuts.

[@Woody93185]

Just as I was expecting either the M9 or M8.. boom he hits us with the A74(M) curve ball lol

[@KM-cb8ff]

Same lol. Been looking forward to the M8 one. Particularly with it being a motorway going through a city, lots of unbuilt sections and abandoned parts and for anyone local...M8 magazine back in the day!

[@bobblebardsley]

@@KM-cb8ff Also despite never having driven it, it's one motorway I feel extra familiar with because it's *always* in the traffic updates on the radio.

[@TheGiff7]

@@KM-cb8ffM8 has to be one of the most unlikeable motorway in Scotland if not the U.K. At least the section between Langbank and Newhouse.

[@Species1571]

Guess he's saving the big ones, M8, M9, M90 for last.

[@AutoShenanigans]

surprise!

[@KeithAndrewPGbiz]

I fricking love that Balamory theme.

[@RClaffieJr]

Nicely done with Lockerbie

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate

[@erroneousbosh]

I look after one of the masts on the top of the hill just off to your left in that opening shot.

[@370DatsunZed]

Excellent episode. I knew a magnificent police officer who was one of the first on the scene at Lockerbie....unimaginable horror. Very sensitively presented Sir.

[@AutoShenanigans]

First on the scene :( Some of the things I read during research told me I wouldn't want to be that guy...

[@roysmith59]

As a lorry driver i`m used to the motorway network so i did`nt think i`d find this channel interesting, but i do , thanks for the hard work you do .

[@jonjohnson2844]

I love seeing old bits of road and the story behind them; I live very close to what was a huge road and railway junction - the latter has largely gone but I still enjoy discovering the remnants of it.

[@MadMax76er]

Love the lorry at 9:15 just ignoring the roundabout at the top of the slip road and just driving over it

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehe, not just me that noticed that :D

[@tripnick555]

I now have the Balamory theme song stuck in my head, thanks Jon!

[@southcalder]

The A74(M)/M74 is my favourite motorway. Not only is it my local motorway, but it’s the one that takes me to sunnier climbs.

[@Jeff-yz1wx]

Great vid! If you're interested, the "Water of Milk," gets its name from the fact it passes through the district of Castlemilk in Glasgow.

[@pedanticradiator1491]

This Water of Milk is in Dumfriesshire not Glasgow

[@bathhead]

Fairplay I like watching this because of your whit. For example keeping the car behind you tooting ect, but I must say you done the Lockerbie section with such humility was so nice and respectful. Just wanted to applaud you on such amazing work 😊

[@AutoShenanigans]

The car took my surprise a bit.

[@BeanoMark]

Thank you for the respect given for the Lockerbie part, nailed it.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Difficult section to film, wasn't expecting that, the "atmosphere" is... different.

[@TIMMEH19991]

You do seem to have a great skill in making something that should be as exciting as watching paint dry really fun to watch. Keep it up!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot mate, might make a video about watching paint dry one day.

[@theresnobodyhere5778]

some little interesting details get missed one being you can drove all way up from london and its all lighted up with lamp post as soon as you pass Carlisle join m74 theres no street lamps or road lights gantry,s its bleak and dark especially when its lashing rain at 3 am in winter its 90 miles of driving through a black hole until you reach hamilton services 4 miles before entering glasgow

[@barrymontgomery408]

The then government should have given road dualling companies a chance to build the a74 into a decent highway between 2 motorways namely the m6 and m74. The a34 and a43 are fine routes as they were built properly by road builders.

[@tomo8910vids]

Your commitment to dead pan motorway history journalism is second to none

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks. No one else can be bothered it seems....just me...

[@tristacker]

Ah, the Cumberland Gap. A great section of road where fast motorway traffic from the north and south would suddenly encounter a bit of road populated by pedestrians, cyclists and tractors. It was hair raising to use. The only downside to extending the M6 north from Carlisle was the demolition of a particularly nice pub, the Highland Laddie, at Todhills.

[@brianartillery]

And a cracking tune by Lonnie Donegan.

[@acciid]

That last section of the A74 was actually pretty decent, with grade separated junctions and wide lanes. In the days before the motorway, the A74 on the Scottish side was much worse, with at-grade junctions, narrow lanes and very narrow central reservation. Some pretty tight corners too.

[@williamalmquest3082]

An excellent video. One of your best. Your presentation skills turn what should in theory be boring subjects into informative, educational and entertaining videos. Well done as always!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate. I'll have got the hang of it by the last episode I'm sure.

[@paulsengupta971]

I personally don't think they're boring subjects. But that probably says a lot about me.

[@chrisblay]

That car horn under the bridge. 🤣🤣

[@liamheron7681]

I have the pleasure of driving specially on this stretch of road every day for work. And the use of the old road and motorway is very handy for making deliveries

[@AutoShenanigans]

The B7076 isnt it.. great bit of road :)

[@barrymontgomery408]

Hi john you covered the lockerbie air disaster very sensitively. I remember that horrible tragedy very well.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate.

[@johnmcdermott9516]

this episode up there as one of the best yet. Adding a 👍for J14 and B7040 to Wanlockhead and Leadhills

[@ewanduffy]

7:00 one of those killed was a distant cousin of mine - resident of 13 Sherwood Crescent. The memorial garden is located on the site of his house.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Oh dear. It was such a long time ago but sorry to hear.

[@ewanduffy]

@@AutoShenanigans I visited the visitor centre outside Lockerbie many years ago. When I mentioned my relative's name, the guide gave a big hug, telling me her sister had worked for my relative's wife's family and she had known him.

[@ScotiaDiesel]

2:06 Hey, I can see my house! Thanks for the interesting video, I use the A74(M) and surrounding roads pretty everyday. It's great to know more about it!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@smelge]

Those gates are all along the A74(M). I've seen the one between Crawford and Moffat open for emergency services to access.

[@Ireallymissmymind]

I have been up and down that route like a fiddler's elbow for the past 55 years and have a kaleidoscope of memories of some of the horrors of the pre-(M) days, such as the miles of tyre-killing, noisy concrete slab carriageway around Lesmahagow and the bits that were still single carriageway. I can't remember where it was but there was a popular pull-up for HGV's with a burger van and a small wooded area. There were also no toilets. Getting out of the car on a hot day with the wind in the right direction immediately informed you of that.

[@gavster_999]

The Lesmahagow stretch had a huge impact on my imagination even as a kid riding in the back of Dad's car. I drove the old section again a couple of years back and it's astonishing to think they squeezed a thundering dual carriageway into such a tight space.

[@rabsrealm]

Interestingly, that wind farm led to Scottish power having to foot the bill for a new infill radar site to be built in Westfield, Cumbernauld about 1 mile north of the M80. The radar site was built to mitigate the loss in low level coverage for national air traffic services when the turbines went up.

[@bryansmith1920]

John I'm still chuckling over tha quip aboot tha cup oh whiskey, tha sassenach, As an ex-Truckie the amount of little bits of tarmac or straight lines in wooded land, all ways left me thinking I must check that out, I never did, And the Famous Lawrence David trailer tunnels, If it ain't cut by a bus, It's cut by a Lawrence David trailer, The foliage on the side of a road, All over the UK,

[@MrGreatplum]

Very enjoyable episode as ever - I thought the section on the Lockerbie air disaster was very well handled - it’s one of the first big news events I remember

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah same for me. Thanks for watching!

[@neilburns8869]

Thank you for your respectful summary on what happened that night in Lockerbie in December 1988. It's very important that the people of today who perhaps weren't born at the time are made aware of the horrific events of that night. I also hope that you tried out Cafe 91 while you were in Lockerbie, a lovely wee establishment and place to take a well-earned Cup of tea or coffee.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching mate!

[@JonBowe]

Went passed the Lockerbie disaster a week or so after the event, it was devastating to say the least. We had to travel to Stirling and back in the works HGV to pick up machinery. As far as when I first travelled the A74 it was duelled all the way, and I remember the A74M and all the roads up to Stirling being upgraded to Motorways along the way over the period of 1991 - 2008, when it was my last time living up in the North of Scotland. You had to plan your journeys to ensure you missed the peak times around the upgrades.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Not a pretty sight I imagine :(

[@JonBowe]

@@AutoShenanigans No it wasn't from what I remember, especially with debris still around the landscape. The worst part was the people rubber necking and nearly causing accidents on the road. A copper was having a right go at a family that stopped their vehicle to gawk at the aftermath on the A80. He had some choice words for them, and that sticks in my head as they were in front of us going back South.

[@RichieRouge206]

Making an uninteresting subject interesting to me is one hell of a skill. I'm sure I am not the only one who finds a video about a British motorway more interesting than the never ending supervar restorations out there. Great video as always John - love your sense of humour

[@robbiehillier1760]

A great episode, like all of them John! Very sensitive and well handled around Lockerbie, very well presented! Only another 2500 to get 100k subscribers!!! Fingers crossed....keep up the great work. I Really enjoy the channel. Thank you.

[@pauldevenish]

A lovely segment to the sad tragedy at Lockerbie. I work on the railways and spoke to a driver who was on an Anglo Scottish freight that night. He was stopped outside Lockerbie and stepped down to contact the signaller and said all he could smell was aviation fuel, and made his eyes sting. Needless to say the train didn't continue as the debris had damaged the station and brought down some of the overhead wires.

[@dough740]

While the A74M was being built, all the signs were M6JV (M6 Joint Venture). The Lockerby stretch was built by an Italian company who had no experience of UK motorways, so was finished very late and had to be rebuilt in places

[@sarkybugger5009]

So, they learned fast...

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Whadda mistake-a ta make-a !!!

[@mrglide7078]

@@johnmoruzzi7236 fugeddaboudit 🤷‍♂

[@Escapee5931]

I guess they built Spaghetti Junction too?

[@AlanJayJ]

You missed my favourite sign at J13 the beginning (or end) if your driving north and leave for the A702 for Edinburgh there is a a reminder to drive on the left 😁400 miles from the channel

[@IndigoJo]

The A74(M) was built northwards from Gretna in the 1990s while the M74 was built southwards from Glasgow. They met up at some point but the government decided to keep the numbers as they were. As I understand it, the plan was to number the M6 right the way up at least as far as the A702 junction, but then Scottish devolution happened and the Scottish Government didn't want to give a Scottish motorway an English number.

[@Robotnik]

About time devolution was ripped up. Basically an at arms length Westminster body to keep blame away and conquer and fordeal .

[@katrinabryce]

The main problem isn't so much changing the signs on the motorway itself, but all the other signs around Scotland pointing people towards it.

[@PrograError]

@@katrinabryce why not double sign it.... it's M6 and M74 just like the americans do with their interstates...

[@AndreiTupolev]

Och, we'll have nothin' to do wi' they Sassenachs' motorway numbers

[@epender]

Well it's not quite like that. Motorways in Scotland are numbered to follow their A-road counterparts, and as far as I know, this pre-dates devolution. That's why the A8 follows the M8, and why there is no M7, because the A7 has no equivalent motorway. As far as I know, there is no A6 road in Scotland for the M6 to follow.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Thanks for this video mate, i will travelling down here on Friday so will be looking out for the M6 sign on the M74 at the DVSA. I thought the Lockiebie section was very well done and respectful, i was too young to remember that fateful night but it still hits you in the feels as its close to home.

[@GazMoby]

Very enjoyable as always 👍

[@PaulMichael1084]

"BEEP!" "Oh Fuck!" brings to mind one of my favourite film quotes, that being "COR, COR. BANG! Fuck I'm dead!"

[@rickydub6950]

Definitely keep an eye out, the bridges have eyes at varying points of the day and night. Cracking vid again John, covering another regular road for me 😁👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

The A74M has become a regular road for me over the last few weeks... it's great. I've been lucky so far.. no cameras. Or should I say, nothing in the post yet.

[@mickyday2008]

I watched this from start to finish and don’t know why. Keep up the good work.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Are the gates perhaps to allow access to the motorway for emergency services that might otherwise have to travel a significant distance to a proper junction ?

[@David_D.]

Yes, indeed they are. 👍🏻

[@stuinNorway]

They are for mulitple functions. Emergency vehcle access, if they need to skip past miles and miles of queues, for maintenance vehicles, if they are resurfacing for example, they can allow trucks of materials access without looking th eentire 15 mile section, and they were initially used as site access under construction. Not driven the road since I levt the UK in 2006, so looking forward to having no "A74" without an M between the M6 and A74M in a few weeks when I pop over for a visit.

[@TimothyWorel-xj9he]

Beautiful scenery, just marred by the wind farm.

[@markarnold8160]

This motorway is the epitome of bad communication and planning - but I'm so glad it exists as the journey up around Beattock is fantastic viewing.

[@soulstorm_music]

You could paint a wall then discuss the subtle change in colour as the paint dries and still make it hugely entertaining 😂 Great stuff again, thanks

[@dallen521]

The history of the A74(M) projects were fascinating to say the least. The English/ Scottish politics had a big effect. Labour coming in to power and the cancelling of one of the phases, caused much naming chaos. I have many, many stories of the construction of a number of phases. As for the Clyde Wind Farm, keep a look out for extensions.

[@TheSaintsray]

One of your best videos, superbly done. Admittedly, this is my auld stomping ground of Gretna, and that helps me like it, but it's an excellent and informative video about this quirky wee bit of the road network. The former 'gap' in the motorway network between the motorways prior to 2009 was, as you noted was nicknamed the Cumberland Gap and that was half-inched from the Lonnie Donegan record, although the Gap was somewhat less than 15 miles. It's the only motorway that goes from Scotland to England, or vice versa, if you will.////// If you ever do one of your driving challenges in future, you should get three people travelling in different cars (one fast, one average, one jalopy) from say, Southampton or somewhere on the coast to Scotland (Gretna being perfect, having a motorway, an A-road and a B-road all going through the township), just the fast car has to do B-roads, the average car A-roads and the slow car motorways (although obviously the crappier motor would have to be motorway-legal).//// Also, arguably, Gretna is the only 'township' in the UK.

[@LB1973]

I always thought it was called the Cumberland Gap after the Darien Gap in Central America

[@AutoShenanigans]

It boggles my mind that us, the UK, worldwide economic powerhouse (I nearly said that without laughing) didn't have a single motorway linking Scotland and England until 2008. We're just shit.

[@Dunphy6000]

I replayed the beep at least four times 😂😂 great vid once again John

[@DMCDObidon]

I lived in Hawick when Lockerbie happened. I was in the Leisure centre at the time and saw all the Fire and ambulance trucks racing to the scene. Didn't know what had happened at that point but obv something big had gone down.

[@johnf5817]

an aeroplane.

[@DMCDObidon]

@@johnf5817 🤣🤣 well yes, literally and figuratively 🤣🤣

[@AutoShenanigans]

oof... too soon? :D

[@DMCDObidon]

@@AutoShenanigans ha ha I'll be ok 🤣

[@stepheneyles2198]

Balamory theme in the outro if I remember rightly? loved that bit where the speed camera is filming the motorway as well - glad they didn't think you were 'up to something' and run you in!! 😄

[@jamesabbott5242]

Awesome Video

[@ChristopherSmith-dq2xs]

If you cut the swearing in episodes you could sell this to a telly firm. I never thought I would find this interesting but I am hooked.

[@rogerduerden373]

At last, my local motorway gets to reveal its secrets! Wicked, sweet, awesome...

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching

[@TimothyWorel-f8j]

Your presentation makes a mundane subject interesting. A former guv'nor of mine and I had a similar success with a series on Financial Reports for Non Financial Managers. Painstaking research, too Jon. Have a good week.

[@javbw]

When you visit Japan, I can be your transportation Manager and we can do secrets of the Tollway… there is a lot of history and rework of the system, both in the newer “ring” roads around greater Tokyo and extensions out into the countryside 😄

[@AutoShenanigans]

Japan you say... Land of the Wangan and Daikoku. And the best cars. And food. And whisky. Is there anything you aren't good at? One day I hope to visit.

[@Croesquared]

This is great stuff. You can really trace so much of British history from the motorways. Cheers from the USA!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@andrewrobertson4878]

The only section of motorway I've enjoyed....it's like a 3 lane rollercoaster and a challenge to keep the speed down when heading south.

[@Dan23_7]

Haha definitely up and down, me and the wife went to Moffat for the day yesterday and on our way back south we saw 2 vehicles that had been pulled over. Obviously for excellent driving 😂😂

[@alistairthow1384]

It's supposed to have the highest avg speed of any British motorway, by the way!

[@driving_all_over]

For good progress it’s probably the best motorway in Scotland, then you get north of Abington on the M74 and it drops to 2 lanes

[@alistairthow1384]

@@driving_all_over usually J8 before progress slows a wee bit😉

[@aldo5428]

oh yes, especially with 28 ton on your arse end…

[@mayorifujino]

As someone who has lived in the area of the end of the M6, we use that sneaky way into the gretna service station all the time

[@AutoShenanigans]

I think many still do :D

[@derekheeps1244]

M6 is ENGLISH , M74/A74M is SCOTTISH . That is all . The old A74 also still exists alongside . We're passing Beatock , a steady climb , the gradient's against her , but she's on time . Don't forget the classics .

[@davefb]

I've seen the "harry potter" steam train go up that, whilst it was fairly dark, it was quite a sight ( to say the least )...

[@davidtraynor8075]

Thanks again John for another enlightening episode. I appreciated the acknowledgement of the Lockerbie tradgedy, a small town forever changed due to the callousness of others. I will keep my eyes peeled for the M6 south sign!!! I actually flash my hazard lights every time i cross over junction 45 of the M6 into Scotland. It's guid tae be hame!

[@AL-zg5qs]

Creeping towards the magic 100K subscribers 🙂

[@ethzero]

... not unlike that car at 1:50 😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nearly there, thanks for watching!

[@mattie2695]

It's become near tradition for me to just relax every Sunday evening with some super noodles and a auto shenanigans video lol. Keep at them Jon! I never thought I'd be so interested about motorways in a country I've never been to 😂

[@k.r.baylor8825]

I look forward on Sunday night to Jon's latest, too. And I'm in the States and haven't been north of the M25 in my UK visits. It's time go back and rent a car to do some exploring on the motorways of England and Scotland.

[@AutoShenanigans]

@k.r.baylor8825 Not been north of the M25!!? You've not seen the "real" England or Scotland. Just be warned, the further North you go, the harder the accents are to understand :D

[@AutoShenanigans]

@mattie2695 Great to hear, thanks for watching!

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

Brilliant piece of road - I love the drive between Abington and Forton (Lancaster) on the M6. Not many gantries, never busy unless there's a crash and the road is very wide and well sighted. If they ever decide to trial increasing speed limits this is the perfect section. Could quite safely do 90 on that stretch.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'll bear that in mind.. ;-)

[@bombardygamer4248]

I was driving on this motorway only three days before you published this video, on my way back from a visit to Edinburgh. Really didn't see many sights on the southbound carriageway, as I sort of wanted to get home, but I think I may have missed the wind turbines, as when I was going northbound, it was raining so heavily that I could only see about 1/4, maybe 1/2 mile in to the distance, sometimes if that, so I probably missed it. If I decide to drive next time I visit Scotland, maybe I'll see it. I also did always wonder why they decided to call it the A74 (M) and the M74 rather than just having it be the M6. Just bloody typical that it was the English that took too long (I'm English so I feel entitled to make this comment). I originally thought it might have just been because Scotland likes to do things differently, but blaming Scotland was definitely a mistake. Anyway, great video as always, I always like to see these.

[@AutoShenanigans]

The fog can cover up the scenery around that area quite extensively. It's a lovely drive though!

[@David-tm4yj]

Pop over to Northern Ireland please, we have a few funky motorways.

[@AutoShenanigans]

You do, it's just a bit of an arse with that sea in the way.

[@Brentwoodmartin]

Well done (again), “old bean”! Great vid John. I agree with Tim, you highlighted the Lockerbie tragedy thoughtfully and sensitively. Thank you for that.

[@Cpr1234]

1:52 I bet that wasn't part of the script😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

Funny you say that..

[@danmcintyre9176]

Nice one Jon. This is mow my loval motorway. I used to live in Rotherham and my girlfriend lives in Ayr so after work on the Friday id load up the car and make the 5 hour drive up the A1, cross over on the A66 from Scotch Corner and then turn right onto the M6, which when you cross the border becomes the A74(M) When i retired i moved to a small village in east ayrshire called Mauchline. Now i use that motorway regularly to visit my parents in north Wales. Its a cracking drive, and i van offer a top tip for dealing with the camera vans; set cruise at 70 amd turn up the music, its such a pleasure to drive on.

[@greg5639]

How the cuff did we get hooked on a channel about motorways ? I've come to the conclusion that it's something to do with John's voice , I'll call it strangely hypnotic, but any females watching might call it wonderfully sexy ! 😂😅 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'm yet to hear from any females on that matter... I'll just wait.. any day now I'm sure.

[@greg5639]

@@AutoShenanigans wow, you've made me have one of those belly wobble laughs, duck. It still surprises me how we find this motorway stuff intriguing. I hope you carry on for many more years. It's my Sunday morning treat. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the female attraction for you, or should i say effection?🤞👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@taytos-gingah]

"Sort of place that would be ideal to install a wind farm, oh, you did" Shouldn't of made me laugh as hard as I did, so dry, love it.

[@morrisminor4252]

I know we basically have one motorway but would you ever come over Northern Ireland:)

[@yodaslovetoy]

9* M1 motorway (Northern Ireland) M12 motorway Belfast Urban Motorway M2 motorway (Northern Ireland) M22 motorway (Northern Ireland) M3 motorway (Northern Ireland) M5 motorway (Northern Ireland) A8(M) motorway (Northern Ireland)

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah I'm trying to work out if I can do NI. Currently it's a maybe.

[@jameswameek1]

Great video. Whiskey and shortbread. Love it

[@ricequackers]

The fact that the whole thing isn't numbered M6 winds me up more than it has any right to.

[@rogerswift1983]

ditto, sets my austism off big style

[@AutoShenanigans]

Made worse by the continuation via the A14 and M11. It could all be one massive single motorway, with junction numbers running into the 100+ I reckon :D

[@ricequackers]

@@AutoShenanigans At least the A14 isn't actually motorway standard (even if imo it should be upgraded as such). But even more annoying is the new Huntingdon bypass stretch which *is* motorway standard but wasn't blessed as the A14(M)!

[@portlandfester7510]

Wonderful your amazing at presenting no wonder it’s so popular look forward to the next

[@Baddad36]

Fun fact. Michael Forsyth was the Scottish Secretary at the time. Margaret Thatcher's bestie. The Conservatives in Scotland were looking into political abyss and Michael thought if he returned to the troublesome Scots the Stone of Destiny AND built a three lane motorway from Glasgow to the border all would be forgiven. It wasn't. But for several years travellers were faced with an enormous three lane road that was pretty empty until the border where it changed into a dual carrageway and gridlock.

[@EvilGav]

It's always amazing how empty the road is (once out of Glasgow), until you get to the M55 interchange for Blackpool. South of that it starts to get so much busier.

[@red00eye]

Michael Forsyth .... Margaret Thatcher's bestie. There are very few sentences that you can say with certainty 'no one in human history has said this sentence before' 😂

[@auldfouter8661]

@@EvilGav The A74 dual carriageway was never empty when you had to dash across it on the old staggered junction with the A70 at Douglas. Going east you had to go into the fast lane and then wait on the fast lane to cross the central reservation and the southbound side of the A74 to resume your journey to Edinburgh ( from Ayrshire). A nightmare in foggy conditions- I had to roll down the window and listen for traffic coming up the dual carriageway as I travelled to my cousins 21st birthday celebration. ( January 1980 ).

[@neilburns8869]

There's still the West Coast mainline that runs down past Beattock and before losing their WC franchise there had been some talk about reopening Beattock railway station and another one a bit further North in Lanarkshire in Symmington because Virgin Trains were looking to run a service from Glasgow Central to Carlisle that would have stopped at stations like Carluke, Motherwell, Carstairs, Symmington, Beattock, and Lockerbie before terminating at Carlisle.

[@auldfouter8661]

Aww I was waiting to hear him say Ecclefechan but it never happened.

[@witchieblackcat]

Nice video. Thought Lockerbie was particularly sensitive. Although you missed knob wood which is best seen when driving north near Crawford. There's a glimpse of it over your shoulder a 1:59 of the video.

[@DrumToTheBassWoop]

Why not just call it the M674 😂

[@falsecrimestoryteller]

They could have