Secrets of The Motorway - M96

#infrastructure #motorway #fireservice
It's a motorway, but not as we know it. The Fire Service College situated in Moreton in Marsh is a fascinating place that hides a motorway! Ok, It's not quite the real thing but it's as good as you can get for a "pretend" motorway.
Join me this week as we explore the M96 motorway, the worst kept secret motorway in the UK... not only that, we'll be taking a look at the site upon which it's situated as there's a lot to see and do here... if you're a firefighter.
In this series we aim to explore what our motorway network is hiding. As we drive along at 70mph..ish...we simply just wouldn't be aware of what we're missing. This series aims to uncover some of the hidden secrets our motorways have to offer.
Find us on:
Twitter - @JonShenanigans
Facebook - Auto Shenanigans
Many thanks to:
Roads.org.uk
Pathetic.org.uk
Sabre-roads.org.uk
** Alex Saxon Music ** ‪@Slapbass90‬
Original video and music - • Fireman Sam Theme Cover
Website - alexsaxonmusic.co.uk/
KZbin - / @slapbass90
Instagram - / alexxsaxonmusic
Additional footage by ‪@johnlinden9106‬
KZbin - / @johnlinden9106
Original Video - • Fire Service College 1994
Additional footage by AP Archive & British Movietone
KZbin - / @britishmovietone
Original Video - • QUEEN OPENS FIRE COLLE...

[@sandwichbar8226]

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

[@AutoShenanigans]

Busy busy but very good indeed ta

[@robertansell4538]

Very good made us laugh at home 🏡 😂 sandwiches 🥪 😂

[@bobjohn3108]

I'm good

[@edentenn1310]

Sandwichbar8826, how the devil are you, have you had a good week?

[@PlanetsunofWilf2444]

I'm very devil too!

[@AndreiTupolev]

This would have been a good one for April 1. You could have done it completely straight and left people to wonder where on earth it might be and why they've never heard of it

[@rubberduck3y6]

I did check it wasn't April 1 when I got the notification!

[@DJgregBrown]

@@rubberduck3y6 No, it is real I have worked on it. Although I was often barred from it on the grounds when I worked there as a labourer, has VOSA do a lot of training and speed camera testing etc when I was there 20 years back.

[@TimothyWorel-xj9he]

Surely this fairly secret motorway should be in the North of Scotland.

[@SminkyBazzA]

I was tangentially involved with a volunteer search and rescue outfit that trained here, and got to visit as a "casualty" once. There's a collapsed building with tunnels and hidden speakers so you can pipe in awful sounds of injured people to be found. Us casualties had it easy, but the SAR teams were intense - they'd spend all night drilling and making safe, crawling through tiny spaces (which we'd spent the day filling with rocks), and then we'd get smuggled in to hide under some debris at the last moment. Massive respect for these people.

[@timbennett3348]

Sold my old van to the Firefighters college back in 2008. I expect it was then used on the motorway for training. It was never taxed again .

[@Lt_Crunch236]

As an American, these videos both fascinate me and confuse me. Obviously I’m adjusted to the American interstate system, but I love seeing how these Motorways are set up and why.

[@frandrinkall846]

The motorways confuse a lot of british people too.🙂

[@adiebarrett]

Well, it'll be great when they finish it.

[@MummaBear]

As you can see there is lots of planning. Very little thought and even less building. 😂

[@paultrewin5871]

I worked there as an instructor from 1991 to 94. Students studied there from 1 week to 3 months. I studied there for 2 years in total as well as working there. Happy days.

[@GRAHAMAUS]

You'd probably have used a training aid I designed and built for you lot then, that simulated the full operation of one of the fire tenders. It was my first project at a company I worked for in Tewkesbury (Pennant), from 90-92.

[@paultrewin5871]

@@GRAHAMAUS was it a computer thing? I was head of the BA school so I was on operational exercises on the airfield 75 % of the week.

[@GRAHAMAUS]

@@paultrewin5871 No, it was a display panel that mimicked the switches, gauges and levers of a functioning fire tender, so that when you operated it the gauges all read the right pressures and so on. I forget a lot of the details but I still (somewhere) have my design notes I made for it. Maybe you even specced it - we built it to a specification you (or someone there) gave us.

[@andygif290368]

i was part of a team that tested gantry and road side digital speed cameras on the M96 one summer about 10 years ago. it was fun but it was hard to get trucks upto speed on that short bit of carriageway, bikes and cars were ok.

[@oliverstemp9132]

Why did they need the speed cameras to work, just to make it extra realistic?

[@fatcontrole1]

@@oliverstemp9132 I presume they were testing the speed cameras rather than simulating a crash etc

[@jcadlols]

Imagine admitting you had anything to do with speed cameras in a public forum.

[@andygif290368]

@@oliverstemp9132 they fire service college didnt, the speed camera company needed the digital ones certified for UK use.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Interesting.. Andrew, do you know much about the HADECS style speed cameras that we tend to get nowadays?

[@philsharp758]

Moreton-in Marsh. New build semi-detached house, with private parking and driveway. Neighbours tend to have regular bonfires. Great stuff as lawys.

[@stevekelly5166]

And they like a bit of, 'WEE-WAH-WEE-WAH-WEE-WAH' music with blue disco lights at any time of the day or night.

[@petermdunn]

They used to hold a bonfire night every year. I don’t think they’ve had one since the lockdown.

[@Piffy]

This brought back some memories! My dad used to train here as a firefighter. He used to work away all week, coming home at weekends. But, I remember once we got to go and see him and he showed us all around the site. I remember being fascinated by the trains. I think we even stayed there for a night, which I remember being really excited about but in hindsight sounds like the weirdest family holiday ever 😂

[@Adamguildford]

It seems John, your previous video about the m6 toll, has made it into the Birmingham mail news article about the unused aqueduct bridge. Your channel is growing fast. Keep up the good work 👏 👍

[@andrewsouth9033]

I remember visiting here when I was in the fire cadets around the late 90’s. With the intention of becoming a firefighter in later life, that didn’t pan out. We had an extensive tour and was shown a wall with lots of pay phones along it which I was told was called the “wailing wall” stuck in my mind ever since! Great vid as always! 👌🏻👌🏻

[@iancharlton678]

Fascinating John…….. loving the series and the hidden gems. In my work, I use a lot of the exit and access points nearby (breakdown and RTC recovery) on the M25 and M11…… I’m also a sad aviation bore, fascinated by the sheer scale of the tell-tale A shapes that litter our island, swathes of our countryside that housed so many people, buildings and activity - within living memory, now only visible as strips in the farmland…… notable near us are RAF Hornchurch, RAF Fairlop and RAF Chipping Ongar….. If you ever run out of motorway shenanigans…… you could start tracking all these old wartime sites 😎🇬🇧

[@philsharp758]

The extended A shape was to allow early propeller planes to land in the most advantageous orientation to the prevailing wind at the time. Planes perform best flying into the wind, and avoid cross-winds, With the power of modern jet engines it is less of an issue. In the USA, in the inter-war period ,alternative runways near training bases would be of a triangle shape for the same reason. So, not alien landing sites or marks of the Illumanati. Or are they?

[@Yawnyaman]

Went there as an instructor this Summer. The only way you can really get to look at the M96 is to be invited. The site is used by many Govt agencies, especially the Police as well as the fire service.

[@thetrickeys2635]

As a coach driver I've driven along this stretch of motorway several times when taking school and college students to visit the site.

[@Stephen_Platt]

Had us in the first half, ngl 😂

[@stevewilson8467]

Another excellent and informative episode Jon, thanks. Regularly set on fire helping fire services to gain new knowledge and techniques - see also: Liverpool.

[@peterstean2138]

I've visited the Fire Service College several times on business - it's a very interesting place. They train firefighters from across the UK including the MOD, and run programmes for overseas rescue workers as well.

[@TrondBrgeKrokli]

Thank you for all the nifty details. For a boring piece of road that is only used for fire drill purposes, it is pretty interesting to know a bit about its history during the last 80 years. Thanks also for pointing out how much potential click-bait lots of other media sources use to claim that it is an "unknown secret motorway" of sorts.

[@outoftheburrough]

Always a pleasure John, an epic informative channel constantly teaching us new things, dragging out & dusting off the vintage theme tunes & a brilliant comments section to boot which always adds great knowledge and anecdotes

[@ll14elite62]

Another interesting use from a few years ago when I was a member, the Under 17 Car Club use this site for allowing under 17s to drive (usually their parents) cars. I vividly remember this being the first "motorway" I drove on back in 2018

[@philipellis7039]

I’ve been to Moreton and had no idea all that was there. Just lots of sports cars and motorbikes revving up the high street on Sunday afternoons, pubs and coffee shops. There is a small museum about the RAF history just outside the town.

[@beans197]

Babe wake up, new auto shenanigans video is out!

[@johnturner4400]

One of the few motorway overhead gantries without a protester on it…

[@monkehbitch]

Been there! I was waiting this. Amazing place, Moreton. Train there every so often. Bit of a bummer they began selling off land but at least it gets you closer to the m'way, the oil rig, shops and apartments are "good fun". But mainly the oil rig. The tower is off limits because of asbestos. I'm amazed they allowed "drone"

[@stevekelly5166]

But did 'they' allow the drone? 🙂

[@monkehbitch]

@@stevekelly5166 a lot of things appear to be relaxed since houses began popping up. So you're probably right.

[@AutoShenanigans]

They did not allow drone :D But no laws broken.

[@monkehbitch]

@@AutoShenanigans seeing the place buzzing in summer when fire services plus various other "organisations" from around the world descend on the place, is something else. Definitely worth revisiting.

[@garethdavies6550]

@@AutoShenanigans I saw your Facebook message about my urbex group and volvos, Jon, but I'm currently in Facebook jail. I'll respond to you when I'm out. Admin stuff went awry. Can also confirm, I've been here too. A hell of a place. Oil rig, rat run and fire observation exercises. Haven't been for a long time, but can't wait to get back here.

[@MrJep0]

I've been on this motorway when training as a retained firefighter. 👌👌

[@dburgess287]

Was it a nice day out😁

[@findthebadger418]

I’ve been here as HART 😂

[@Teesbrough]

There’s another one nearby - I think at Throckmorton - where I learnt how to unload cones from a, then, Highways Agency 4x4 and place them on the motorway to protect a car stranded on the hard shoulder.

[@1stdrive]

Fun fact: the fire training building at this college was featured in an episode of the cult UK TV show Interceptor. The show involved a man wearing a device on his wrist that fired an infrared beam of light just like a TV remote controller does. At the time this "zapper" as it was known was cutting-edge military technology. He had to chase two contestants wearing specially designed backpacks with infrared receivers on them. If he caught up with them and zapped their packs, the packs would lock and they wouldn't get to keep the money in them at the end. The show contained several scenes of the interceptor swooping over the building in his helicopter and running around the site so may be of interest to anyone who wants to see what this place looked like in 1989 😀

[@mach1mike351]

Interesting vid, My father was trained on Wellington's there and did indeed serve in the middle and far east in WW2 on 36 sqn.

[@stepheneyles2198]

I've taken part in fire training at TEEX - near Houston, Texas. It was the most gruelling week but exciting at the same time! I was only a translator for our firemen but they certainly got me involved in everything! Loved this episode - so much information about the (only?) motorway we'll never be able to drive on!

[@danielmarshall4587]

OH-EYE... busy time back in the early 40's, another very interesting video cheers.

[@paulhyde1834]

Brilliant! That sort of place fascinates me!!! Thanks....

[@stoopidpaki4806]

Love this channel. Between 1992-2000 my job required to spend most of my days and sometimes even nights driving across the motorway network - particularly Midland/Yorkshire/Manchester/London routes. This might sound weird but I have developed a strong nostalgic connection to the motorways and bywas of Britain. There are always some questons that scratch away in my mind and if anybody can answer them I would appreciate deeply - 1. How long does typical motorway carriage last before it is resurfaced? 2. How long do the central reservation metal dividers last before they are replaced? I know many have been replaced with concrete but still the old dividers are found on for instance the A38 between Derby/Birmingham. 3. What is the design life of typical motorway bridges? Is there going to be decade or two where all the bridges will need replacing? 4. How long before motorway signage needs reeplacing? I find myself wondering with these questions often when I use the same routes today - like is that sign the same I saw in 1993 or is that bridge the same etc.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

As far as the signs are concerned, at some point in the early Nineties they were all replaced because the lovely dark blue background was not EU-compliant and so was changed to the lighter blue which is standard across the continent. I'm hoping that we can go back to the original because the contrast with the text is greater and therefore much easier to read at 70+mph. We'll see.

[@clickrick]

Wow, I regularly visit Moreton-in-Marsh, and was there even yesterday, so I knew about the Fire Service College, but didn't know about the extent of the facilities they had there, much less that they had a motorway! Nice work, Jon 👍

[@stepheneyles2198]

It was especially nice to see the 'Stow M96' sign - can you imagine the uproar if they tried to build a real motorway through the Cotswolds!!

[@clickrick]

@@stepheneyles2198 Surely it'd be ok as long as it was built using traditional Cotswold stone, right?

[@tasty_fish]

@@stepheneyles2198 well, they’re starting work to build a 5-lane dual carriageway and grade-separated interchange through the Cotswold escarpment pretty much from next month (the A417). It will leave a permanent scar for ever (but most locals don’t seem bothered, sadly, as most are probably overweight and/or have never donned a pair of walking boots). The worst part is the total demolition of my favourite pub, 300 years old and closing permanently tonight 😥

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

These videos bring out the nostalgic memories of mine from when I was a kid obsessed with cars, motorways (family took lots of road trips) and playing with matchbox cars and creating roads and traffic jams in my room. (Much to the annoyance of my brother.)

[@6thdayblue59]

Brilliant and informative as always. Thank you for continuing to be the one 'notification' that I genuinely am excited to see each week. On behalf of all the supporters, Thank You

[@evansisgreat]

Your videos and presenting style really crack me up. Very enjoyable indeed.

[@AgentHeX_0007]

He's always on the scene. Fireman Sam! And his engine's bright and clean. Fireman Sam! 😄

[@AutoShenanigans]

You cannot ignore, Sam is the hero next door.

[@AgentHeX_0007]

@@AutoShenanigans Yes, yes he is 😁🚒👨‍🚒 Great content btw, watched all of the motorway vids. Keep up the great work.

[@cycklist]

Just the two apostrophes missing in the thumbnail. They have a purpose - cant and its are different words to can't and it's. They're not just decorative, amazingly.

[@AtheistOrphan]

Well you have to admit that it makes a change to the superfluous, unnecessary apostrophes that most people seem to add to plural words these days. (Or should that be these day’s?) 😉

[@duncanstreet4955]

Great little series - love your presentation style and sense of humour!

[@MarkSinclair]

I gotta say mate. I've recently found your channel and I've been suffering with a cold which has allowed me to binge watch your channel. I don't know what makes it so good to watch but keep it up. I love following along on Google Maps and Google Earth.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks for watching, get well soon!

[@2001davebowman]

Fabulous video as always, Jon. Boo hiss on them that denied you the opportunity to drive on it!

[@RingwayManchester]

Brilliant video mate!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate, have a good one!

[@richardgale4827]

Bloody love this channel.

[@jacobwhite1360]

This may have been my favourite video yet. This is exactly why we love your channel, awesome little bit of information and some great drone shots! I’d love a day out there and I’m not even a fire fighter lol

[@AutoShenanigans]

If you get them on a busy day, it's no doubt an entertaining watch.

[@loisbolton1800]

Love the ‘Fireman Sam’ outro. Took me back to when my boy was small.

[@txh3076]

Jon, You missed the new MS4 gantry and solar panel / turbine trial site at the top adjacent to the emergency area trials as seen at 02:54. This area is used for traffic officer training and National Highway Trials

[@stephenrobertson3606]

Great video. Love the closing music too!

[@boola69]

I wondered how long it'd be before this gem appeared and suffice to say I'm delighted it has. Mention M96 to anyone and they guess it's in Scotland (due to zone numbering) Informative, educational, entertaining and amusing as per usual. 👍

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another great informative Video Jon.

[@andrewwhitehead7463]

In a strange way this has to be one of your best videos, and they are all pretty good. Many thanks.

[@52robbo]

Fascinating, John. Thanks a lot.

[@jpeel2066]

Wouldn't want to be caught in a traffic jam on that motorway. Great video. All the best 🇬🇧.

[@44oblong]

Thank you for your videos - you present interesting information quickly and without faff.

[@ChaysVideoVault]

Nicely done John!! Just what I had envisaged!! Thaks again

[@russellb1212]

Fascinating, that’s some site and facility, an Auto Shenanigans special needed

[@GM-ii8gs]

Fun fact, a few years back, they had a fire there in a storage garage, it took out a couple of their fire engines, oh the irony...

[@IAMPLEDGE]

I'm surprised Jon missed this. Happened in 2009. Google Earth shows the building before and after the fire and it missing as it was demolished. They apparently lost 11 of the 12 fire service vehicles in the garage as well as 1200 gallons of diesel. The building didn't have sprinkler...

[@robhowarth77]

Always something new under the sun. Very interesting, thank you !

[@stur681]

I watched a quiz show on TV and this 'motorway' was the topic of one of the questions. Felt smug that I was able to confidently answer the question. Thanks Jon!

[@harrysingh6577]

That’s absolutely brilliant! Excellent episode Thank you

[@ddemaine]

Fascinating video as ever. Surely it ought to be M999?

[@peterbrameld696]

i’ve been watching your videos over the past few months, and feel at the time has come to say a very big, thank you! I love your presentation style, when I was working (I’m 80 years old now). I spent a lot of my life on the motorways, and it’s nice to hear stories associated with them, once again, thank you very much, greetings from Birmingham where we have motorways galore.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Hello sir! Thanks for watching. A gentlemen of your vintage must remember driving in the 60s when motorways became a thing?

[@Sarge084]

Excellent video, it set all my nerd senses tingling!!!

[@terrymoore9388]

Thanks John for finally getting access to cover the M96. My father was a Fire Officer who trained there a couple of times

[@getreal7964]

The best of the lot! M96!! Wow!!! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@xr6lad]

Ahhh Morton. Love the place. Used to rent a cottage there every Christmas for a number of years.

[@DEAD-DROP]

The Fireman Sam theme took me back haha An interesting little episode! Cheers John!

[@Zoltanlouis2009]

Hello, at the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service training centre there is a tarmac area used for RTAs with a motorway sign by it which displays the M999. I thought it was a nice touch

[@AdeReeves]

loving the random background in the opening scene 😆

[@chriswalford4161]

Great episode - I didn’t expect the M96 to show up here - well done on thoroughness, and good research.

[@RogersRamblings]

An interesting diversion to a junction deprived road. Good work.

[@timdench2583]

Who would have thought that such a short video about. Motorway that isn’t a motorway could be so interesting. Thanks Jon. BTW, they are Tornadoes.

[@madpixie2]

Great video John! I was aware of this place but wasn't aware of the history.

[@ShedTV]

'Which is the shortest motorway in Britain?' is a pub quiz favourite question. All the more fun when you live down the road.

[@AutoShenanigans]

It's open for debate that.. the M96 or the A308(M) is my answer.

[@jimbob67]

Wow John what a shame we can't visit it. Looks really interesting 👍

[@PRWolf]

Love these

[@tobyjackman3212]

This is the best video I've ever seen about anything

[@HBvD]

From the other side of the North Sea, thanks for this rather interesting video again!

[@neilhalley8897]

Ive just finished working at the college back in March after 23 years. Ended up as Incident Ground Manager. Fantastic place.

[@malcolmcog]

I knew the Fire Service training centre was there but didn't know about the pretend motorway, thaks for that interesting video !

[@DeannaEarley]

I've been waiting for this one!

[@fraserthomson5766]

Almost 60k subs, congrats!! :D

[@jo_clarke1960]

It's also used in various TV shows from 5th Gear to Casualty, guess it's a way of suplplementing the running cost. Never realised the areas proper use, thought it was like Crowthron and a vehicle testing centre, for crash safety and the like. They both been used for film.

[@davidhall7744]

Well there you go, ive driven through Moreton-in-Marsh loads over the years and never knew this place existed 😀

[@bungle321]

If Geoffrey was still alive he would have absolutely loved this channel, He was such a brilliant bloke, just like you Jon

[@edwardr7577]

I was lucky enough to drive this motorway when my daughters were attending the under 17 car club there. An amazing site, but that motorway is short. Plus if you need to stop, there are no service stations on it !!! Amazing site.

[@adamlee3772]

Excellent video again.

[@Slapbass90]

Thanks again for the shoutout Jon! Really enjoyed the video! I’ll have to get working on some more covers of classic cartoons.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Awesome work mate.. thanks!

[@niallobrien-moran6596]

Great video as always. Thumbs Up.

[@officialmcdeath]

Nice one! Starting with a 9, thought that might be one of those little motorway link stubs you find in lowland/ central belt Scotland \m/

[@UKTOOLTALK]

This is rapidly becoming one of my favourite KZbin channels!,keep up the good work sir 🤟🤟

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one mate!

[@oldtechnobodycaresabout]

My mum does emergency services radio stuff and went to see the control room there, apparently there are lots of flies in there!

[@robtt997]

Must be fun living in those houses next to the facility . No two days the same 😂

[@swish843]

I like the very 80s style daytime program fireman SAM theme at the end

[@marcwaller3657]

The Wellington remains are still there (at the mam) but not much survived so don't expect to see more than a few bits. Lots of other interesting planes and bits there though so it's well worth a visit.

[@01mememememe]

Well done Sir John Shenanigans

[@Prognosis__]

I recon I have have a problem...I love driving and roads...as an Australian, I like this channel

[@arthurball470]

I had to land my glider there during a failed cross country flight. It was a Saturday and there was no one about. Kind of spooky. Did eventually find the sports club and managed to get retrieved. Girl on reception was made up as it brightend a boring shift and would give her something to talk about in the pub that night.

[@AutoShenanigans]

I always wondered what you do when you run out of height.. I guess land where ever is good!

[@davefloyd9443]

Known as 'landing out' or 'landouts' not fun but fairly regular: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iofJe6qLeLiom6M

[@Theforestbandit]

Well done John in getting access to the M96, You explained it really well . Cheers

[@robertansell4538]

Good lad this john

[@angelsone-five7912]

Interesting, every weekend I drive a coach to the nearby area, several times, and I didn`t even know this place was there.

[@ScratchOMatic]

I love fireman Sam theme song at the end

[@darcyphillips70]

Superb episode dude, very familiar with this site having worked there on a few occasions over the last 30 years ❤👊💥