Secrets of The Motorway - M898

[@AutoShenanigans]

How the devil are you!? Yes I said Erskine wrong a few times. Also, watch to the end.... x

[@1Three8Fiver]

Good god no, why would you do that to us? >_< That was not wicked sweet awesome.

[@iano6944]

Otherwise a very entertaining video 😉

[@Snowy-96]

😮 Lorraine "do you wanna see ma Growler" 🤣🤣

[@tayne5009]

Come on Joan, it’s not like Erskine is a difficult word to pronounce. It’s just occurred to me Jack that if you have any plans to expand Secrets Of The Motorway internationally ( les secrets de l'autoroute ?? ) then you should perhaps brush up on the local lingo.

[@drmal]

The old GMTV with Lorraine theme?

[@alistairholt]

I like to imagine that one day, John will be found in some bushes near a motorway endlessly repeating the outro to these videos while rocking back and forwards

[@AutoShenanigans]

Happens every week, it wears off after a few hours and I can go home.

[@Jothamvvw]

What about the intro though?

[@chrisward2668]

I dont think he is very far off, Lol

[@welshdave5263]

​@@Jothamvvw I think that happens three times each morning before he is able to get out of bed.

[@thomas8692]

​@@AutoShenanigans😂

[@David_Crayford]

As ever, Jon is outstanding in his field. And next to a bridge. And on a shoreline...

[@AutoShenanigans]

I'm outstanding a lot!

[@peterrust3715]

Erksine? Irksome Keep up the great work. Thanks

[@ranulfdoswell]

Saying he's outstanding in his field is a pretty straw-man argument!

[@Assimilator1]

🤣

[@garybarnes4169]

My only qualification for being outstanding in my field is my LANTRA tractor-driving ticket.

[@millstonebarn]

Am I the only one who actually waves at Jon at the end of every Secrets of the Motorway episode?

[@Dan23_7]

Yes 😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

Waving friend!

[@dougkabler3032]

no

[@David_D.]

No! 😂😂

[@Snowy1of1]

Find myself waving manically as I ride down these Mways with Jon's voice in my head "Qwicked sweet awesome" Great vid Jon, nicely done! 👌

[@Camberwell86]

Go on Jon. This is one of the fastest climbs from 10k to 100k subs I've seen in a while and it's well deserved pal 😎

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate, it's growing steadily, and the sub count is on the up too :D

[@hairyairey]

​@@AutoShenanigans100k by the end of the month I reckon, treasonous colonials day at the worst.

[@andrewthorne6653]

How quickly has it grown ? I did not look at his subs when I joined in winter

[@PenryMMJ]

Building the M898 without slip roads was in fact a stroke of genius. It means they won't have to spend 300 billion pounds and take 35 years to upgrade it to a "smart motorway".

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehehe, good point.

[@uzijn]

Did you mean "without hard shoulders"?

[@Sarge084]

I have quite specifically used the button specifically placed for indicating my admiration for yet another fine production of 'Secrets of the Motorway'. Thank you all the way from Thailand!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I know nothing of Thailand other than what's in the holiday brochures. Is it really £50 for a house? Thanks for watching :)

[@Galerak1]

@@AutoShenanigans I believe the correct response here should have been along the lines of "Hwicked, sweet, awesome" 😉😁😂👍

[@Sarge084]

@@AutoShenanigans I've just had a house built for £45,000, on land we already own, and that's in a small village in a rural province an 8 hour drive from Bangkok. Of course, if you wanted to live in Pattaya, Phucket or Bangkok you're going to pay a lot more. Shame I can't post pictures in ewetoob comments! Edit: I have no idea what the rents are like but rentals vary from one room + shower room to a villa, it depends what you need and what you can afford.

[@TheRip72]

@@AutoShenanigans They drive on the left! Some of the big inner-city light controlled interchanges have timers displayed by the lights so you can see when they are going to change. Many of their dual carriageways have houses & shops along the side so you try to avoid the left lane. The street food is also amazing & unlike common opinion, it is not all spicy.

[@OldLordSpeedy]

​@@AutoShenanigans For rent for a day? Week? Month? I have had pay ฿1'000 monthly for my apartment with view to the Thailand sea from 2000 till 2010 with free cold water. I paid extra for power and no need sat or cable. I not known how exchange ฿ => £ at these times. English £ is and was never regularly money in the Kingdom of Thailand.

[@abarratt8869]

It's funny when you say "this slip road isn't it use any more" and a vehicle drives along it!

[@AutoShenanigans]

It doesn't happen often :D I think they were working on the electrical boxes/radio stuff, it seems access to the motorway is still fenced off. Still... it was funny :D

[@Decrepit_biker]

You managed to get the bridge name right ONCE at 0:39..... 😂😂😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

So I got it right. Success.

[@nickdsnik1675]

So easy to wind up the scotch.

[@Decrepit_biker]

@@AutoShenanigans absolutely 🙃

[@Decrepit_biker]

@@nickdsnik1675 who rattled your cage then?

[@david1731048]

@@nickdsnik1675 Just out of curiosity, do you say "Scotch" just to try and wind us up, or just out of ignorance?

[@Tpavra]

The absolute best motorway in the UK, where the holiday to the highlands begins when going north..... You leave behind the chaos of modern lfie and head up onto the A82 into the mountains and Highlands.... Always love it when on this stretch going North.... going south,,... Not so much!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I feel like that when I finally get to the A74/M74 from England. Then you get to Glasgow.

[@Dan23_7]

@@AutoShenanigansI absolutely agree Jon/john We’re off to Moffat next weekend, J15 A74M 136 miles from Leyland, a mere stone throw (with a strong arm).

[@gazzaman28]

I live in Dumbarton, so pretty much any journey home we feel like we're leaving the world behind going over the bridge.

[@neilbain8736]

I think the old Erskine Ferry was used as a spare for the Renfrew Ferry. This was used in the video for Simple Minds' Waterfront video. Here are some spurious facts. I've been over and under it quite a lot. The bridge gives you an excellent view of the river Clyde below and the walkway is always used for getting excellent pictures of the Waverley and other vessels as they pass below. The bridge is almost exactly on the 10 mile marker from Glasgow Bridge (statute or nautical, I'm knot sure :) You can see it below on the North Shore. Interesting tidal things happen below. This is where the fresh waters of the Clyde (!) give way to the seawater. You can tell by various factors. There may be visible changes in the current stream flows. If you're on a vessel- usually the Waverley as she's the only one giving public sails, there will be distinct changes in the wash from the paddles from salt to fresh water. There will be a noticeable audible change and the foam will look less foamy. But the overriding indication will be the sudden change from almost no smell to the type that is best not invited in for a cup of tea unless you put down newspapers and open a window. It's the sort that has done a fair bit of living rough hanging around in towns and fields and could do with a decent wash. On the underside of the bridge is a patch. The whole story is worth a video on its own. One of the few remaining shipyards made a vessel of some sort a few years ago and arranged for it to be towed out to sea on a spring tide. This duly happened but the vessel was either lighter or the tide was higher than anticipated, and it comprehensively goosed the bridge, lifting the deck but not collapsing it leaving a sticky out bit shaped gouge, the ideal image of a pointy thing shaped channel. The bridge was closed for some time. It was pretty shook up. The patch was just as ignominious. There's a great black sticking plaster shaped cross, and it's exactly like you'd see on Calamity James out the Beano. It's not as if it isn't obvious if you're on the shore below or sailing under. One good thing that did happen is that the leaking water main (at least we hoped that's what it was) that went across the bridge was fixed. It used to pee on us in mid stream as we sailed below. Of course we all knew, and got out the way, but it was a good way of spotting tourists.

[@AutoShenanigans]

awesome info cheers mate.

[@derekheeps1244]

It is also a matter of note that , after the QE2 was completed , her mast had to be left off so that she could pass under the bridge , and then be fitted further downstream , There are some famous photos of the QE2 passing under .

[@jimmythejock4376]

I once accidentally nearly went over the Erskine bridge with my lorry but stopped at the toll booths and explained my mistake and they let me take that little road down under and back up the other side. Nice guys 😊

[@AutoShenanigans]

Did you wait at the traffic light!?

[@jimmythejock4376]

@@AutoShenanigans I don't remember there being traffic lights 🤔

[@williamross2579]

Short, but sweet…. Sunday soak after gigs, and an episode of ‘Secrets of the Motorway’… calming bliss. Lorraine looks disturbed 😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

She is disturbed. wa-ah-ah-ah.

[@Fletchiee]

Fun fact, those historical satellite photographs aren’t from a satellite but are from a light aircraft. The ones used for aerial surveying & mapping.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes probably correct

[@davidtraynor8075]

Erk sin is the best ever pronunciation of this place! Love it John. Keep it up ❤

[@DubStu]

Fun Erskine Bridge facts; they once installed (and they might even still be there) nets to prevent people ending it all by jumping to a watery demise in the Clyde. And the bridge was famously closed for a quite a while when a recently built oil drilling platform was floated out from the shipyard nearby and promptly twatted the brdige; apocryphally, because someone didn’t account for the Clyde being tidal…

[@raymondokonski7018]

They took the nets away after they increased the height of the pedestrian railings from 4ft to 8ft. An important fact missed is that it has 4 telephone boxes on each end of the pedestrian walkway (E&W) for free calls to the Samaritans.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah just higher railings now. There's a lot to be said about the bridge, but it's technically not part of the motorway so I had to keep it brief.

[@Purple_flower09]

​@@raymondokonski7018my understanding is the fact the nets were not sufficient was highlighted when two teenage girls from a nearby care facility ended their lives together. The bridge had become well known for people ending their lives in previous years, often landing in the gardens of houses below. It feels wrong that more effective action wasn't taken sooner.

[@raymondokonski7018]

@@Purple_flower09 I took a macabre interest in the alternative use for the bridge when I spotted the 4 phone boxes. Do remember the nets never actually caught anyone it was mainly to protect the trains and the roadway. The girls you referred to absconded from a care home / on the Renfrewshire side away from the nets. Prior to them a 20-something male jumped over and hit the mud of Clyde, I recall he reached 5ft and had to be dug out by the fire service. Apropos nothing, look at the pedestrian walkway that crosses the M8 in Anderson - high fence over the hotel car park, which then drops in height over the M8 running lanes…..

[@johndododoe1411]

Sad that the government is taking away peoples ability to leave their sphere of influence decisively .

[@jimmyandrews3963]

I was there last week, driving from Glasgow to Fort William. I remember noticing the very high number. Cool to think I’ve been on the highest M road in the UK

[@RedKnight-fn6jr]

...and perhaps Scotland has the highest motorway (in altitude) for the UK - is it the M62 (highest in England) or M90? Not sure...

[@LB1973]

@@RedKnight-fn6jr Highest motorway in Scotland would be on the M74 at Beattock at about 1000ft, Shap is slightly higher so If your doing Glasgow to the M1 the high point is actually in England, M62 is about 1200ft. M90 is fairly low Fife is more rolly hills than mountain. If there was a M9 extension (and there should be!!) going between Perth and Inverness Drummochter on the current A9 is about 1500ft and in the top 12 or so in Scotland for paved roads (Cairnwell Pass is top at 2200 feet)

[@parakart]

I see Lorraine was keeping the growler concealed for that last shot

[@chrisshelley3027]

Indeed the money shot.

[@AutoShenanigans]

growler :D

[@jonnyroberts225]

And no one said shit or bollocks.

[@chrisshelley3027]

@@jonnyroberts225 That's because Jon only attracts quality subs.

[@jonnyroberts225]

@@chrisshelley3027 I was following on with the growler reference from BoSelecta...but it's ok.

[@hairyairey]

This same situation occurred with the building of the free flowing Catthorpe interchange - there is surprisingly no motorway warning sign after junction 1 of the A14. Where it becomes by definition the A14(M). For completeness, you can only go onto the M6 or M1 northbound after this point.

[@Bakabakaonichan]

At the risk of sounding "cringy", it's been cool to join this channel's rise in popularity over the past 6 months, here's to the big 100k! Quick question, after you're done with the Moterway series (I predict you're going to finish it with the M25 btw, feel free to prove me wrong), are there any plans to explore the country's A-roads? I live in and around the A16/A17 area to the East, and there's a lot of cool little things around that not many people outside of the locals know about. Could be interesting! Hope you're well John, and the rest of the team of course.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I hope I have enough ideas to keep me off the A roads... there are too many :D thanks for watching.

[@Assimilator1]

@@AutoShenanigans Roman roads! 😁

[@almac414]

@@AutoShenanigans you at least need to do the big ones like the A1, A5 and A9 :)

[@mcdon2401]

When I was a kid, I can remember my parents letting me hand over the money for the toll whenever we drove across.

[@circadianizzy]

Wasn't expecting this to get a full video, but here we are! Turns out there's a lot when it comes to how this one came to be!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I also wasn't expecting a decent length video.. but ramble on long enough...

[@jamessylviasyracuse-little865]

@@AutoShenaniganssurely this is a motoring series rather than a walking one. Maybe your next series should be John’s Ramblings…

[@Shaun30-3]

Hi John ,M898 no running hard shoulder ,must be the original smart motorway! ( Danger motorway's Ban them) just a lay-by Great video mate drive safe!😀↙🚗👍

[@mitchummendeodrant]

They have been banned, but the ones in place currently might not be removed

[@AutoShenanigans]

"smart"

[@Shaun30-3]

@@mitchummendeodrant I think the English traffic department are still building one on the M56 from the A556 junction towards Manchester airport Im glad there no motorways around Wrexham we do have A483 and A55 Dual carriageways↙↙🚗🚙🛻🏍🚦👍

[@MarcusNesbitt4]

Dont understand why the bridge cant be a motorway. You said its to allow pedestrian's and cyclists to cross and as such cant be a motorway, but the M48 does exactly that whilst still being a motorway.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Its not really about the peds/cycles, I was trying to keep it simplified. Its other forms of transport, tractors, farm vehicles etc.

[@MYCROFTonX]

Erskine... as in... 'er skin is as soft and radiant as powdered plutonium... not irksome... I like it being called Irksome though. Wickedsweetawesome as usual... too short though.

[@stephen4518]

Interesting, but felt somewhat irksome at your perpetual mispronunciation of Erskine. You kept saying your own version as "ERK-SINE" and not "ERS-KINE", as it is actually written.

[@geoffreymartin2764]

The shortest highway in Australia is the Bradfield Hwy. The roadway on Sydney Harbour Bridge. 2.1 km.🏳‍🌈

[@michaelmcdaid433]

Great as usual and even better as I can see my house in the outro.

[@_Steven_S]

I've always wondered why it was given it's own number. Is the interchanges between the B815 and A726 the reason why it's not just a sliproad on/off the M8?

[@benjaminamurphy900]

Factually this is class. However it reads as one long confused (Question within statement) utterance and therefore fails academically. I know this isn't Oxford or Cambridge stuff but if you could tweak the delivery in future videos it would be much appreciated.

[@peteryoung4957]

A short video 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣for a short motorway. Lots of interest fact though for such a short motorway. It'd be awesome walking across the bridge.

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

I drove along the M898 and over the Erskine Bridge ten days ago. The motorway is so short that I forgot to look for the loop road opposite where the tollbooths used to be. I remember cycling from Paisley, taking the road under the Erskine Bridge and pedalling furiously to get up the hill to the A898 and then up the surprisingly steep gradient on the bridge itself. As I contemplated a relaxing moment of freewheeling down to the north side, I noticed that a maintenance van was coming up in the opposite direction. After slamming on the brakes, I lifted myself and my bike over the barrier onto the footpath. The van driver probably felt a bit guilty, as I received a very hearty thank you from him. When I was driving over the bridge the other day, the gradient didn't seem nearly as great as when I cycled across it.

[@ptonpc]

A nice treat to see a video about this motorway but please! 'Erk sine' bridge? That's hurts lol. It's Erskine, pronounced 'Err skin' as in "Oh err, your skin is showing"

[@mikusguitarius]

Bagpiped theme. Most pleasing 👍

[@njrmodelling]

Really nice to see somewhere I know well. For 17yrs we lived in a house that is over your left shoulder in the opening scene. Our kids spent many hours in the tree on the old football pitch

[@AutoShenanigans]

Always cool to hear from a local, or ex local :D thanks for watching.

[@dunkyhut]

Probably a very boring fact, but at the offices beside the toll booths you used to be able to buy a book of tickets, saved about 10p a trip if I remember correctly. As I said, a very boring fact.

[@bunter6]

Back in the 90's a got a blowout coming round the northbound exit bend and ended up going backwards down the verge on the left and was only saved by the prodigious amount of bramble bushes which arrest the cars descent. The slip road was closed while a hiab came to lift my sorry looking MG Maestro from its prickly rest and all vehicles including the large number of trucks going to the massive Compaq (now HP/DXC) 24/7 factory had to be diverted over the bridge. I imagine I got called plenty of things that evening.

[@ochayethegnu2915]

My wife used to comment that working in the Erskine Bridge tollbooth “must be the most boring job in the world”. Every. Single. Time. What a relief it was when they were taken away.

[@redboyjan]

"Those toll machines are good, they do work hard"

[@AutoShenanigans]

I guess the only thing more boring was hearing her say it time and time again... ""Wives" gotta love em.

[@ochayethegnu2915]

@@AutoShenanigans She would say the same about me pointing out the house where Jackie Stewart grew up and the garage he worked in. Every time we pass it. And they’re still there…

[@mybookfacetube]

@@AutoShenanigans Yeah, just not your own. 😳

[@amcluesent]

It's pronounced Er-SKIN not ERKS-in

[@PhilMacVee]

Please dial the narrative speed down to maybe 90 percent. Your commentary is breathtaking. Your content needs to be heard.

[@themekfrommars]

I thought “no hard shoulders” was a recent genius innovation from people who brought you rubbish government?

[@richiec9077]

I know that stretch of motorway very well crossed it so many times often where you're not meant to lol, I remember dismantling the fence that runs alongside it so we could build a fort got into shit off the traffic police for that one , used to take my motorbike to the other side of it to run about on the old aa gun emplacement site. Those were the days 👍😉😀

[@bettyswallocks6411]

Is the M898 it shorter than the A308 (M). Also, what happened to the bit between junctions 8 & 9 on the M4?

[@keithkilvert]

You are my procrastination Guru... Thanks so much for videos....

[@willtricks9432]

Are you sure John is your Guru?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah to be fair... I'm not your guy for that so I'll assume this is sarcasm of the highest order, which I like.

[@keithkilvert]

@@AutoShenanigans No, no, you've got me all wrong.... I do like the videos, but, you give stuff me to watch when I should be doing "the little list" of stuff to I always seem to have at the weekend... Drives the boss lady nuts....

[@frasermitchell9183]

Apropos the Erskine bridge, I've actually crossed using the old chain ferry, (in about 1961/2 in my parents Dormobile), and the new bridge many years later. On the approach to the old ferry were signs indicating the waiting time. The Clyde Tunnel opened in the early 60s so much traffic went that way initially until the Erskine Bridge opened in 1971.

[@craig.bryant]

I’m commenting to prove I stayed all the way for Lorraine Kelly (who plays a character called Lorraine Kelly)

[@Dustmadeout]

Would be cool if you'd come to Germany and talk about our autobahns.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I agree.

[@lonoreturns]

Awesome. I live right next to this. FYI I had to rejoin the M898 to chase a cyclist. Shouting at him to turn round as he was about to cycle down a motorway. He was heading for Port Glasgow. Shouted he wouldnt do it again and carried on.

[@Purple_flower09]

That person was completely bonkers. Especially as there is a perfectly usable cycle route to Port Glasgow which I've used many times.

[@theredestbull]

i like the scottish intro, so epic every time

[@AutoShenanigans]

Scotland scenery.. it's good isnt it.

[@paulfisher126]

Interesting point made about the Erskine bridge staying as an A road so the pedestrians and cyclists can still use it, so with that in mind.... M48, its a motorway, and it can be used by pedestrians and cyclists

[@AutoShenanigans]

There's more to non motorway traffic than peds/cycles. The M48 has separate walkways on either side for those. You can't however drive your tractor across it.

[@Assimilator1]

"Turns out that's bollocks" shoot down your own script! 🤣 love it!

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehehe, it is what it is :D

[@ulazygit]

‘A special motorway’ … I’m sure this could be considered ‘politically incorrect’, notwithstanding this motorway has no shoulders! Thanks, Jon, for another smashing vid!

[@AutoShenanigans]

special as in special like a special occasion. Not THAT kind of special.

[@Tylan_the_gamer]

you should make a video on the A167(M), also known as the Newcastle central motorway. its only 1.2 miles long and has a superimposed section of road. it would make for a cool video

[@AutoShenanigans]

I might just do that one day.

[@civvieal64]

It also has some interesting "junctions" and slips...

[@tijn001]

I don't understand why a separate and isolated lane for pedestrations and cyclists alongside the main road wouldn't have worked. It would've allowed the full stretch of the road to be a motorway whilst also allowing other traffic. It wasn't fully clear, but I hope pedestrians and cyclists weren't sharing the road with high-speed motor traffic...

[@mcdon2401]

The pedestrian/cycle lane is fully segregated behind armco and fencing.

[@EvilGav]

If it was a motorway, then it would also be blocked from use by learner drivers, < 125cc motorbikes, and tractors. With the ferry gone, that would mean a 25 mile detour via the Clyde tunnel.

[@jimjolly4560]

It's not just pedestrians and cyclists who have to accommodated. There are also motor vehicles (I'm going to suggest learners, tractors and mopeds, there may be others) who cannot use motorways. Because the Erskine Bridge replaced an existing crossing, their continued use had to be provided for- either make the bridge an A-road or keep the ferry going for non-motorway traffic.

[@neildaniel8232]

If they did that you'd end up with the same issue that they have at the M48 Severn Bridge: no way for mopeds, tractors etc to go across. On the M48 you're actually allowed to drive a moped along the cycle path but have to put your hazards on and stick to 15mph. A colleague at work does it twice a day! He's screwed when they close the bridge due to high winds though, has a 30 mile detour when he has a top speed of 35!

[@jennyd255]

So... according to the end still it would seem that maybe Jon secretly moonlights as Lorraine during the working week. All I can say is they've got a bloody good makeup team there. You would never guess! 🤭 oops what a giveaway.... er, anyway back in the real world : Great Video

[@AutoShenanigans]

My moobs are bigger than hers...

[@chillybrit2334]

If you ever return from the sane and lovely Scots part of this rock to the rather shit hole like London region. Would you care to cast your insightful eye over whatever the fuck it is they are pissing about with at the A3 / M25 junction. It seems to be a massive long running project, involving new bridge constructions etc etc. Costing an absolute fortune no doubt. And when all is done.... still no free flowing access from the A3 to the M25 or vice versa... just a similar queue of traffic everyday for a more shiny roundabout than was there previously. Love your work :D

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes i had heard of some work going on down there, "improvements" rarely are.

[@dtblench]

Could you cover Sutton Bank in Yorkshire? Its an HGV killer, caravans are banned from it and guessing plenty of history and content for it as you don't find much on KZbin aside a few POV videos. I've been at the top of it in a HGV and bottled it lol Brilliant vids, love the channel

[@AutoShenanigans]

I've driven it.. it's interesting but a little short.

[@bryansmith1920]

Oi John you on a zero hrs contract or wot I get the Popcorn out of the cupboard put the salt on it come back in the room, 😳😳😳and your leaving, I know its a Motorway in Scotland But you couldn't even last 6 mins 😂😂😂😂😂

[@AutoShenanigans]

That's good for "view time" if you can do that another 10 times... KZbin will love it.

[@gbhxu]

How to put someone of their Sunday Lunch. You put a still of Lorraine Kelly at the end of the video, Would have been better with either Sarah McMullan, Judith Ralston, Jenny Falconer or even Carol Smillie

[@AutoShenanigans]

I feel Lorraine Kelly was the correct choice.

[@TheSynthnut]

Great video as ever, even if a little short, like the subject I guess. Slightly irksome though is your pronounciation of Erskine, which seem to have interchangable S and K ???

[@AutoShenanigans]

yes, messed it up.. wasnt going to drive all the way back to correct it.

[@tedcopple101]

I miss sax solo's. As a child of the 80's they were a large part of my upbringing. I think Gary Barlow and his Milion lovesongs killed them. Bad Gary.

[@AutoShenanigans]

No one does a sax solo anymore.

[@malcolmyoung7866]

Ah the ‘gorge’ juss Lorraine. Used to Eva neighbour of my mother in law when she (Lorraine) lived in Tayport! Anyhoo.. great video only ever been a cross that bridge twice in me life…

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one mate, thanks for watching

[@renn2210]

Crazy coincidence. I was on the M898 earlier today

[@petercotton89]

It's been a very busy week, thanks for asking. On holiday for two weeks now. Thanks for the video! I'd love to see something on the little chefs, try to visit as many old sites as possible with a little history about them too?

[@sirgurky]

I was only thinking about Little Chef the other week! would be awesome to see, I remember the one near me on the A1079 for years as a kid.

[@AutoShenanigans]

The trouble is, most are either piles of rubble or a Starbucks. However, there are plans somewhere for a little chef video of sorts :)

[@sirgurky]

@@AutoShenanigans Both my locals are Mcdonads and a sex shop!

[@jaymitchell1181]

@@AutoShenanigans Abington next to the m74 had 2 as it was the main route b4 the motorway was built. It's a tennis court now for the village to use.

[@circadianizzy]

​@@sirgurky A1079? I used to live just off it!

[@DarkSitesChannel]

What are you going to do when you run out out of UK motorways, cause I now need my weekly fix of this silliness? Worlds Most Dangerous Motorways, Secrets of the Autobahn, Unbuilt Motorways.....

[@AutoShenanigans]

Im not really sure. I've got a few ideas.

[@roderickmain9697]

Hardly seems worth it. Interestingly, (which Im sure you will get to shortly) are the crossings across the forth where the new Queensferry crossing is a Motorway and the Forth Road Bridge has been reduced to non-motorway traffic (well busses certainly) and pedestrians. (Great view from the middle BTW). Also, while not a motorway at all, the Kincardine bridge a bit further upstream has an interesting history and has now divided in two so that traffic doesnt have to go into Kincardine....unless you want to.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Love a good bridge me :D

[@amgetnauld]

Another fascinating story . Good lad keep them coming . Weirdly entertaining, bit like train spotting I suppose. 👍👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks mate

[@retiree1033]

Irksin Bridge? The miss-pronounciation just adds that extra element of entertainment to an already enjoyable channel. Keep it up boy! 😄

[@AutoShenanigans]

Im annoyed about it because I was aware of the problem but nothing I could do. Oh well, it keeps the comments flowing doesnt it :D

[@AndreiTupolev]

That workmen's truck at4:27looked like the kind based on golf carts that's used on, well, golf courses and the like, certainly not exactly suitable for a motorway, so it may not have come off the M89898 whatever it is

[@AutoShenanigans]

I have since learned that the workmen are the bridge maintenance team and yes, they use little golf buggy type things to get around.

[@davidartina5022]

Pedant alert. But the proper Severn bridge (now the M48) has a footpath and cycle lane alongside the motorway.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It does. But you cant drive your "non motorway regulation" vehicle across it.

[@andrewjworden288]

How many of us click the "button specifically for that" before the video even starts... I do!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Glad to hear, youtube sees that as very positive engagement :D

[@LabTech41]

Given his getup and penchant for standing in the middle of nowhere, I wonder how often sketchy characters approach him thinking he's a dealer.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I am the sketchy character, no one dares approach.

[@PhilipMurphyExtra]

Its a short video because its a short motorway

[@AutoShenanigans]

that's about the size of it.

[@KarrierBag]

The M181 is 1.5 miles so just a tiny bit longer, is the M181 the second shortest motorway though? also only has a junction at each end.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yeah you're probably right on that.

[@KirkNorthrop]

I’m not sure why the full GMTV theme fits your channel so well. I think you should maybe consider hiring a saxophonist to follow you everywhere you go.

[@AutoShenanigans]

That sounds ideal, I'd love that.

[@fillng]

wonder if the work detail stopped for some comments.

[@jacquesvandenberg1873]

Exciting, interesting and informative! Well done John, I've learned so much from your videos over the years, and I still keep learning new things whilst been entertained on your channel! Please keep it up 😊

[@AutoShenanigans]

well thats good to hear, thanks for watching :D

[@CaersethVarax]

Reaching the vinegar strokes of 100k!

[@toon10001two]

I'm surprised you can make a 6 minute video on this one. It's basically just some sliproads!

[@AutoShenanigans]

I was also surprised but sometimes the motorway provides :D

[@richardred100]

Ah GMTV. The same as TV-am but a rather excited person playing the saxophone in the theme music

[@AutoShenanigans]

Awesome 90s Sax and guitar solos.. the best kind.

[@CallumDinnen]

I've never understood why the M898 isn't just regarded as a slip road of the M8.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's a bit of an odd one for sure!

[@davidfowler729]

GM:TV long version with all of the angry sax. WOAFT!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's a banger!

[@d1now]

The bridge cannot be motorway because it needs to be open to all traffic including pedestrians? The M5 bridge at Avonmouth is a motorway and is open to all vehicles! Non-motorway vehicles have their own lane segregated from the motorway, just as Erskine Bridge has service lanes each side....

[@AutoShenanigans]

Ah well, I didn't want to bore anyone with too much detail, but you've got mopeds/tractors and a whole host of other vehicles that would usually not be permitted on the motorway meaning the M5 bridge isn't technically open to all traffic. The Erskine bridge is open to all traffic but if it were part of the M898, this would not be the case resulting in a massive detour for farmer McDonald.

[@d1now]

@Auto Shenanigans mopeds, pedestrians etc can all cross the Avonmouth bridge using the dedicated lane to the east side of the bridge! I know as I have done that very thing many times when I worked in that area.

[@alanmichael5619]

One day John will run out of motorways and he'll be forced to do "Secrets of the A Road".

[@AutoShenanigans]

We'll see... if I get desperate for ideas...

[@M3G4UK]

Congrats on 95k subs good sir! I've been subbed since the days when you had under 1k and am glad to see your hard work pay off! 🎉 Stellar content as always!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one mate, thanks for sticking around

[@archechme]

I'm surprised there was no "your mum" jokes when you mentioned abnormal loads

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehehehe.... I initially had all the your mum jokes lined up, but then though no.. it's predictable.

[@pluxauag7555]

Fingers crossed you use the 'Get Fresh' music as an outro. Awesome video as always.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate

[@ilovex1981]

What a pesky annoying irksome bridge on an otherwise excellent video. Nice one.

[@AutoShenanigans]

hehe, yes.

[@sandwichbar8226]

Hello Jon, how the devil are you, have you had a good week?

[@pmwilkes1]

Bar far, one of the most interesting channels on KZbin. And it's about roads. Love it. Keep up the good work. Subscribed.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one mate, thanks for watching!

[@brantnuttall]

2:55 something to add to my bucket list!

[@ste2442]

Near 100k followers of this fine page , let’s get it shared folks so John can waffle on a bit , thanks us and crack on with the best Sunday KZbin upload out there . Then we can all go Back to our Sunday stuff happy . Cheers John boss content la 👌

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one mate, thanks for watching

[@oakwood950]

Weird - I was on the M898 today and I don’t live anywhere near Scotland.

[@AutoShenanigans]

You've made a wrong turn then from the sounds of it.

[@auldfouter8661]

This wonderful man seems destined to turn up near all the old farms in my mother's family tree. The Parks of Drumcross ( just west of the featured junction and shown on the OS map at that point) were noted Clydesdale horse breeders. Even Dad's side of things gets a look in - Gavinburn , on the north shore , has a panoramic view of the Erskine Bridge.

[@richiec9077]

I remember the old house of drumcross before it got knocked down a few years ago. I remember exploring it when it was derelict, and used to play on the anti aircraft gun emplacement and ride my motorbike there too as I actually grew up on the other side of the motorway in question to drumcross farm

[@katrinabryce]

The shortest A(M) motorway is the A8(M) which runs for 320 metres between the M8 and M73, and also the newest.

[@nowster]

That's so last week. 😆

[@katrinabryce]

@@nowster It's not showing up on my feed 🤷🏻‍♀🤷🏻‍♀

[@nowster]

@@katrinabryce He did it in the M73 episode.

[@markbooth1117]

Question: Why then does the M48(Severn Bridge) have pedestrian access ? There is a path on the bridge on the water side of the bridge,coming towards England that allows pedestrians, cyclists and also mopeds(50cc) , etc under the motorway power limit (125cc) to get across the bridge in both directions. I have been across walking and also on a moped. Just wondering why the difference

[@AutoShenanigans]

You cant drive your tractor across the Severn. You can across the Erskine. Ped/moped access via the pathways to the side isn't technically related to the main carriageway regulations.

[@markbooth1117]

@@AutoShenanigans Hi John, fair enough.

[@richiec9077]

You can drive your moped over the Erskine bridge either way no problems along with the other traffic and not in the seperaty lane for pedestrians and cyclists. You have to obviously leave the bridge traffic when heading southbound before the road turns into motorway regulations.

[@Andrewjg_89]

I wonder why it’s a Motorway without a hard shoulder and is a very short motorway in Scotland. Compare to other motorways that you done that are both long and short. And yes the M898 is the the only motorway that has the highest number in the UK. Mind you the bridge that carries the A898 is stunning.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's a nice bridge indeed, apparently inspired that larger version of the same thing in France.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Yeah exactly 😂

[@MrTumshie]

I don't want to come across as a moaning pedant, but I am one and find it hard to hold in sometimes. It was almost impressive how often you manage to mispronounce such a simple name as Erskine. Not "Erksine". I'm left wondering if it was deliberate but am totally unable to come up with a reason why you'd do such a thing. Unless it was for a dare or a bet, in which case that's fair enough. It did make it harder to enjoy the video, but not impossible. I wasn't going to mention it at all but as the video went on and Erksine kept getting mentioned I found my serene self turning into my pedant self against my will. Sorry about that. Keep up the good work but maybe a wee bit more attention to pronouncing Scottish place names please?

[@AutoShenanigans]

None of the above, I just messed it up. I mispronounce the places in Wales and England if that helps. Any guesses on how to pronounce "Bozeat"

[@MrTumshie]

@@AutoShenanigans Only clue I have on that pronunciation is what google tells me and I've no idea if that's right, better to ask a local. Even that doesn't always help around here- Anstruther for example has a least two different ways of being said depending on if you're local or really local.

[@AutoShenanigans]

@@MrTumshie You see the issue with getting place names right ;) Although I'm being unfair, in the case of Erskine, I just said it wrong, it's not difficult... but apparently it is.

[@MrTumshie]

@@AutoShenanigans Oh, I do understand and I realise there aren't always going to be locals around to ask in the spots you film in. Vast majority of the time I just ignore such wee errors and enjoy the video. In fact if you hadn't said it properly the first time it probably wouldn't have annoyed me enough to comment. ;o) And maybe if I'd had a better sleep last night... Anyway, thanks for replying, and you could even take my girning as a compliment. If I didn't enjoy your videos so much I'd just have switched off and unsubscribed.

[@TheOriginalBSG]

finally…

[@mgutkowski]

Erskine not Erksine. You're like a yank saying "aks". Urgh. 😄

[@AutoShenanigans]

yes