The M8 Motorway's Mysterious Horn

#cars #driving #infrastructure #motorway #m8 #scotland
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Have you ever driven on the M8 motorway and noticed the strange looking Horn poking out above the trees? What does it do...? Why is it here? What's the point at all? Find out the answers to this and more in this very video.

[@colinnich]

I imagine even if you drove past it at motorway speeds with your radio off and window down, you'd still only hear about two words. Gotta love public sector spending 😂

[@ptonpc]

It was REALLY loud, you could hear it for a few seconds before and after passing it. Even if you were travelling at 60 / 70 with your windows up AND the radio on. I never heard the entire track but that damn teletubbie music is still in my head.

[@davidtraynor8075]

"zzzzZZZOOON FFFOOORrre"

[@paulmcneill]

And those two words are ‘Eh-oh’

[@DansModelBench]

Oh come on Colin, the private sector can waste money as good as anyone can. Just look at executive bonuses.

[@PineappleSkip]

When I'm cycling down the hard shoulder on the highway, people occasionally shout things out of the window at me. Unfortunately, at 60 mph I only hear about half a syllable e.g. "ge..."

[@PenryMMJ]

I don't know much about art, but I know a load of old sh*t when I see it.

[@dave_h_8742]

It's not old sh*t it's MODERN sh*t 😂

[@ClydebridgeStation]

Why didn't the Scottish arts Council use the horn to broadcast their own messages? They could have blown their own trumpet!

[@trudilm3864]

I doubt they were broadcasting Radio One. Whatever it was, was 'sanctioned' by the politicians paying for it.

[@stevee5]

The tellytubby horn 😂😂 thats what everyone called it

[@markarnold8160]

Driving along in the dark at night when suddenly a voice says, "Where have all the Teletubbies gone?" would probably scare the crap out of all drivers!

[@diabrettic]

out their tatas on buckfast probably lol

[@Ralnon]

Somebody needs to hack that thing - and that idea is inspired.....

[@graememckay9972]

My mate was brought up in Polkemmet park. His parents ran the pub and had the adjoining house. His mum still lives there. Disappointed that you never found that in your research and gave "Graemes mates mum" a shout out.

[@winterwatson6811]

you have to assume he’ll fix the error next vid

[@seanstewart8942]

😅 brilliant

[@colinmeechan587]

I like the owl place

[@jerryjones8513]

Some people just don`t think these days do they. Poor Graemes mum !

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

I mean, fancy not hearing Graeme's ma's story. A classic example of bit lazy what used to be called Wiki-research, but will soon be lunar level laziness with the friend of the indolent 5hat GeePeeTee.

[@hunterraylewis547]

As much as it may be "distracting" to drivers. For kids in the back of the car before smartphones and tablets, these art installations keep them entertained. I remember as a kid knowing that we we're near our uncles just by looking out for the metal horse. So adding the landmarks gave kids and passengers that can't stand the repetitive nature of standardised blue and white signage and similar junction layouts with something more interesting to look at and to build a better locational memory and awareness of the M8.

[@thetessellater9163]

But John was never a child - it shows in his wry presentation 😉

[@AutoShenanigans]

Shows how old I am, I was a "child in the back" before all of this art stuff.

[@MarcusHawksley]

​@@AutoShenanigansI remember from my childhood to excitement of seeing the white horse, I'm sure my parents had us searching for it from the beginning. Now I think of it, I think I was told there might be another one, keep looking 😂 I guess we finally understand the motivation of the Britons throughout the ages to create such monuments😅

[@sizenineelm]

The trees have grown up around the horn significantly over the last 10 years - it used to be very visible, but now you can almost miss it driving past.

[@AutoShenanigans]

Quite right... it's been "forgotten" about I think.

[@flyingpanhandle]

Nah, Its definitely still highly visible. I was on the M8 on Saturday, didn't cross my mind I should have been looking out for anything until I spotted this. Don't know about you, but a massive whacking horn stuck out like a sore thumb to me!

[@TheLiamis]

It did its job, laundering 160 grand of taxes.

[@KJames2345]

And I thought sirenhead was fiction, turns out he's real.

[@timmycee9940]

​@@TheLiamispretty small fry compared to track and trace or dodgy PPE though. And at least it's nice to look at!

[@andywhite15]

They could use the horn to shout " STOP HOGGING THAT LANE YOU IDIOT!" 😂😂😂

[@toainsully]

Or playing music

[@mariemccann5895]

Or ask for the SNP's money back.

[@driverfilmsshortwavechannel]

Or "Sounds shit mate" when a car drives past with an aftermarket exhaust drives past

[@TheCptES]

"Haw bawbag! Move to the left lane you prick!". We could put one on every motorway in the land, with regional variations of course. Imagine the hours of fun if you're stuck on the motorway and a loudspeaker is just berating everybody along the way.

[@paulsengupta971]

@@TheCptESIt has to be someone in a control room. "You....yes, you, in the blue Nissan!"

[@Ring_Zero]

The sounds broadcast by the Polkemmet Horn were intended to demonstrate the futility of such an installation beside a busy motorway. There were times it could barely be heard over the traffic noise, even when you were standing right underneath it!

[@highpath4776]

you could have broadcast the motorway sounds of another busy motorway

[@Galerak1]

I remember one journey along the M8 that was anything BUT boring, it was dark, foggy and we'd had a freak snow storm earlier that day so there was about 4-5 inches of snow drifts in certain sections. Add to this the fact I was driving a double deck coach, with a trailer, that wanted to do anything but drive in a straight line I can confirm that the journey was butt-clenchingly exciting and took in excess of 3.5 hrs (about 3 of which I had arse cheeks twitching like a rabbits nose). Fun times 😂🤣

[@sarkybugger5009]

A mental image that is going to take some shifting...

[@pierrari458]

This needs to be made into a film... in real time.

[@johnturner4400]

Good job it wasn’t winter….

[@Conmanthompson2]

You Should Drive In Scotland Later Than

[@stevekelly5166]

@@Conmanthompson2 Q: "You Should Drive In Scotland Later Than" A: 10 past 8 Did I win? What did I win if I did? A grammar keyboard for me CP? Good luck in year two at school my dearie.

[@chrisshelley3027]

Only John could give us the horn quit like that.

[@rubberduck3y6]

He's given us all a massive horn!

[@munehaus]

Came here to find this comment. Was not disappointed. 🙂

[@Petestleger]

When you get to a certain age, some cables are useful for keeping your horn up.

[@imaner76]

The blue 'pill'ar supports they should have called them.

[@Jon6429]

For everything else there's a Nut Bra kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIDMkoava5lmeJY

[@stuarta1988]

Random fact, my great grandfather used to be the groundskeeper of Polkemment country estate.

[@DasArab]

Glad you got around to this, was starting to think you hadn't noticed them. BTW two Iconic things I feel you missed on your M8 travels, the Kirk Of Shotts and a bit further along on the other side the Clock and Temp Gauge at the quarry.

[@CalumMorrison]

I love that clock. How else would I know it's '*;05 pm and £_°c each day?

[@DasArab]

@@CalumMorrison Never miss it every time I pass it, never 👍

[@dissonantdreams]

And the two transmitter masts, Kirk o’Shotts & Black Hill (the tallest structure in Scotland) that are along the same stretch…

[@thagreatadante]

I played Polkemet (its a 9 hole course) back in the day when this monstrosity actually worked and believe me even a few meters away from it whatever it spouted was still unintelligible from the ground with the motorway traffic in the background. Served only to distract someones T shot at best.

[@IronFanJoe]

Reminds me of seeing Bill Bailey's gig in Sheffield, many years ago. He had a massive horn, that was the full width of the massive stage. Incidentally, it was his biggest ever gig at the time. The horn was very loud. He kept trying to do his witty and insightful routine. Everyone kept shouting *"Horn!"* He spent the most of his time blowing the big noisy horn instead. 😆 😎

[@starlight5229]

Love Bill Bailey. Such a massive talent 👍🏻🙂

[@trudilm3864]

I don't remember who it was, but I remember a gig in our ex methodist church, he was totally freaked out by the two large gilt eagles at the back of the stage. That will be a night for his memoirs.

[@nigbipples4413]

Before you leave the M8 altogether you should take a look at 'The Loop' that connects the M8 with the M77 (eventually) at J21. It has the peculiar effect of having you drive the same bit of road, in the same direction, whether you are going TO Ikea (for example) or back FROM Ikea. It's difficult to describe but quite confusing if, like me, you find yourself making a couple visits to Ikea (for example) one after the other. You end up having to check the back seat to see if it's full of flat pack to know whether you're going home, or to Ikea. For example.

[@East_Anglian]

Actually, given the quality of said flat packs, you could be going (back) to Ikea, as much as from - that doesn't help !

[@southcalder]

I remember the council had to do a big advertising spiel about “using the loop”. I was taking my cat to a vet in Govan, and on all the lampposts were huge posters with “use the loop” written across them. Presumably to stop people driving up leafy Dumbreck Road to reach the M77. I remember thinking it was subliminal as the way they had drawn the loop was exactly the same as the SNP (the ruling party in Glasgow) logo. Someone else clearly thought so too, as a few weeks later, at no doubt great expense, the posters had been replaced and the loop was squarer.

[@Ian-mi2ni]

"On art and other pointless things" says John on his KZbin video. Love the videos and look forward to you realising you are in the arts.

[@giotto4321]

With some art hanging on the wall right behind him. ;)

[@ericbeaton7211]

When I was still working I used to pass this thing a couple of times a week and always wondered what its purpose was. Thanks for the video.

[@letzvisit1661]

It’s a lovely park and worth a visit. We always called it the tellytubby horn I didn’t know others said the same lol

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Definitely not pointless. Public art is a good thing.

[@PiousMoltar]

In principle. The thing is, people have very different tastes when it comes to art.

[@enisra_bowman]

yeah, but i would but that art there in the "pointless" category, that doesn't have any meaning like that stupid Banana taped on a wall or some brutalist fountains that are mostly Grey blocks while Art doesn't mean "nice paintings or statues", Public Art are often some weird Public Funding sinks that gave us here a modern carnifex, pyramidial mounts or some jagged corten plates in a round-about instead of something meaningfull or at least nice to look at

[@Hornedbear]

Informative stuff as always John. More please.

[@Ackerman-ti1fc]

Enjoying this series. Been watching them from the start. Keep up the great work dude. 👍

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate, thanks for watching!

[@derekgray644]

Growing up and taking part in underage drinking as a whitburn resident, we used to go out the estate and walk down to the horn to stay away from the cops. Still remember the huge novelty of it all when it was put up, and we all did indeed as you mentioned, call it the teletubbie horn. Time for tubby bye bye.......aye. it was installed long before there was a junction 4a or a heartlands services/development.

[@ClelandFan81]

Brilliant video. Nice to see my local area covered in a bit more detail. Had things worked out differently, there could have been a racetrack on the site of the park in the 60s. But just like Forrestburn, it never materialised.

[@liammccall4533]

So glad you did this. I was shouting at your m8 video saying “what about the horn!”

[@marcussharma]

Amazing insight as always!

[@MissingPlanet]

I've just noticed the map on the wall behind you. Looking back, it's been there in previous videos, so I don't know if anyone's commented on it before. It seems to be centered on St. Albans and appears to be from the mid to late '80s as the M25 between Watford and South Mimms looks like it's missing. Hopefully this means you know the area and will do my favourite motorway as a coda to Secrets Of The Motorway. The M10 was downgraded in 2009, but I've always hoped it would get a SOTM video anyway.

[@hairyairey]

Last time I cycled down it (on what is the widest cycle lane I have ever seen!) the emergency phones were still in place, around 2014.

[@thetessellater9163]

Well spotted

[@AutoShenanigans]

You are correct. The M10.. or "test track" as we used to call it. I might do something on it at some point but I'm not in a rush, there's not much to see and access is a pain in the arse.

[@hairyairey]

@@AutoShenanigans it's worth mentioning that Google Maps showed it as the M10 for years afterwards. Reminds me when I cycled along the A27 near Portsmouth and loads of cars were beeping at me, thinking I was on the motorway. They clearly weren't paying attention to the end of motorway sign!

[@TheMightyKinkle]

The first time I drove past this, I was listening to Jeff Wayne's War of the World's and it reminded me of the the Martian ships

[@AutoShenanigans]

Great album that.

[@rochellehewston9367]

Love your commentary. The horn sounds like Mark Drayford at first Your presentation John is superb, I look forward to each new video. Thank you again

[@thomas05ish]

Another example of worthwhile public spending !!! It’s so easy to spend a lot of cash when it’s not your money!

[@UK.RoadsCyclingandTransport]

Awesome episode

[@thetessellater9163]

Love the wry presentation, excellent info, jolly stuff

[@AutoShenanigans]

Cheers mate, thanks for watching!

[@jjcale1976]

For 10 years I've been wondering what this big trumpet is for. I did not want to check on the internet .... Thank you for the solution 😀

[@kit131179]

Pass this every day and never knew this, god I love this channel 😂

[@simonbarnes5776]

Thanks! Another fun video

[@AutoShenanigans]

Thanks a lot mate, appreciate that!

[@seanrodgers1839]

Love your steel pipe shelf

[@s1m0ngr1ff1n]

Great work John - you gave us the horn :D

[@andygray7478]

When we were driving along the M8 years ago I used to tell my son that was a Teletubbies horn 😂😂

[@andrewthorne6653]

I was hacked off when you missed this out two weeks ago but now I understand a full video dedicated to it thank you keep up the good work. I guess to spent a week and a half in Scotland filming all the videos in one go?

[@AutoShenanigans]

Yes I thought it was worthy of it's own video.

[@Nealson454]

What a legend! I thought you were joking when you said that horn would get it’s own video.

[@Medicina2024]

Very interesting thank you

[@AutoShenanigans]

Nice one, thanks for watching!

[@elelegidosf9707]

Thanks John, for giving us all the horn

[@mandywithell]

Not on the M8 but on the M80 - when I was Driving along the M80 always looked out for "Arria" at Cumbernauld. A very impressive sculpture by Andy Scott who also was responsible for the Kelpies at Grangemouth next to the M9. On my very last drive in Scotland discovered the mural "Lucie" in Cowdenbeath by the artist Kerry Wilson. Am always impressed by the art installed next to Motorways and main roads - think of the impact of "The Angel of the North"!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Aria is a babe. I made a visit as part of this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bofZd4iPbp2eqtU

[@southcalder]

Aria has another name around these parts…. It relates to the feet of a desert dwelling beast of burden.

[@mandywithell]

@@southcalder Apropriate 😀 I wonder why?😀

[@Panburns]

I would like one of my “morning farts” to be broadcast through the horn. If I ever win the lottery, I will pay for this historic event to take place. And yes I am a idiot. Thanks John for all the content, you are awesome.

[@msamour]

Well that was a good roast at the end there. 😂

[@caravaningincarathevan467]

Oh my goodness you are reading my mind. I drove past it on Monday and was going too ask you about it.

[@granddadmark7639]

Loved the voice over at the end 😅

[@michaellavery4899]

There used to be a school (in the Larkhall area of the M8, I think) that was built (in the 1970's I think) with solar panels on it's roof. The problem was it was north facing, the opposite direction than the optimal south facing to maximise the amount of sunlight captured. The rumour was it was done accidentally due to misinterpretation of the architects plans. I have done some online research but cannot find any reference to the structure. If any reader can provide further information regarding this, I would be grateful to hear any information they had to offer.

[@tobyjackman3212]

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

[@AutoShenanigans]

Top man! cheers mate

[@KylesGardenService]

I was brought up in the village along the road from there I remember when I was younger I used to call it the tellytubbie horn

[@roobear78]

played golf at the course next to it,could barely hear the thing so dont know how it caused noise complaints

[@KevReillyUK]

I've never heard of this thing, but as a former player of the videogame _Darwinia_ I'd have shat bricks if I'd caught sight of it out of the corner of my eye on a misty night. In the game, the things that launch spider-eggs onto the landscape look *very* similar.

[@philiprhodes5537]

Thanks for this I’ve been past this thousands of times in the truck when I’m up that way and always thought of it as looking like the tellytubbies horn which I’ve always known it as.. Also seen the horses head in falkirk and theirs what looks to be an angel at the side of the side of the m73 near gartcosh… I did always wonder if this horn had any sort of real use or just there as a peice of art

[@kingofthepod5169]

Never seen dry humor move this fast. I'm impressed.

[@AndrewG1989]

As you pretty much done the motorways in England, Wales and Scotland. Maybe you should do motorways in Northern Ireland. And perhaps do major A roads that could of been motorways but were kept as Trunk roads. Such as the A14 that goes from Winsford in Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border to Felixstowe in Suffolk. And to feature the new A14 road bypass south of Huntingdon and the former A14 concrete viaduct that was demolished that was replaced of the new A14 Huntingdon South bypass.

[@5impleSteph]

I think it should just say “time for teletubbies, time for teletubbies” constantly

[@scottishdigger4991]

I’m from Whitburn and am Sure music came out the big teletubby horn, brill vids mate

[@aconnell1221]

I can't understand why local residents complained about the noise.....the nearest house is half a mile away to the south.

[@tinyweegiant4045]

As a local, I remember thinking "have you not noticed you're building a loudspeaker on a golf course" that'll go down well

[@goddam9925]

Amazing it just get better !!

[@minibus9]

nice video, clearly there is alot of horseplay where ther horse sculpture is

[@FinnDeacon]

Thanks

[@gordslater]

when I was younger I used to get the horn a lot, but these days it's just a distant memory

[@JD-wn3cc]

Nice little reference there which I'm sure will please some of our over-excited cousins across the pond.

[@ngaugefan696]

Drove past this several times. I thought it was for sampling air for polution/air quality measurement. Glad I now know,. 😊

[@joannelaws2937]

Can't get over the thought of that thing shouting 'Time for Tubby Bye-bye!' at the passing cars on the motorway 🤣

[@leelizington9501]

A bit of Alan Watts at the end would have been cool 😊

[@hoggmotorsport]

Teletubbie horn 🤣🤣🤣 mint!! Cheers Jon 👍

[@utopia3161]

Thanks, been wondering what the use for the horn was

[@willtricks9432]

A bit of Ivor Cutler would have suited. "Oh look. at thistle". At 200 DBs.

[@DV8Rx]

literally just drove past this on Monday, after seeing the BTCC at Knockhill !

[@scotbotvideos]

Always hated that carbuncle.

[@jennythescouser]

If I heard that poem and music in the middle of some local village, I'd probably think I'd woken up in some dystopian future policed by robot dogs or something.

[@haggisdaddy]

You've maybe missed out on the best (tenuous) M8 link. The 1979 Dechmont woods alien abduction case. Literally a stones throw from the M8 and the only case to be a criminal investigation into alien activity.

[@bigdod1000]

The telly tubby horn by a couple who stayed in St Combs Aberdeenshire Scotland at one time Matthew Dalziel and his partner Louise Scullion AKA Dalziel + Scullion !

[@nidostar2013]

Thank you John. I've driven past that horn a few times when up visiting my grandchildren. I thought it was some sort of early-warning system in case the English invaded! Now I know differently. It reminded me that a friend once told me that if the Scots had wanted an overwhelming "yes" result in favour of independence they should have held the referendum in England! 😆😆

[@garethoneill5676]

Sounds like your friend is a sore loser. Are they over it yet?

[@-matty-3541]

Ahaha @00:30 its the coop new house thought id seen it before lol (every day) coming back to the yard in my truck 😂😂😂

[@workonesabs]

I always wondered.. now I wish I hadn't!!!

[@AutoShenanigans]

Excellent!

[@BroadwayJoe99]

So it basically played discarded segments from "Dark Side of the Moon", or inadequate copycat versions thereof. Cool!

[@christiankelly1981]

Apparently the horn marks the half way point of your journey between the two big cities

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Good facts a long M8 John, not much use that horn at 70 mph Thank's mate

[@joeweston3252]

what bright spark thought that horn would have been a good idea !

[@peterkinch6857]

I was once on the M8 in winter and there was a temporary digital sign by the side of the road with two traffic cops stood next. To it with the sign displaying .. beware of distractions!!

[@alanglasgowbassist]

I never knew that! Always assumed it was part of a factory or industrial area!!

[@CH11LER.]

The horn is now only used as an emergency alarm to warn motorists of a potential haggis stampede when the numbers of the native creature exploded in the area in around 2016

[@tatata1543]

Don’t give up the day job.

[@flyingporker100]

Were they right hand haggises (go clockwise round the hill), or left-hand haggises?

[@6thdayblue59]

Tell us more about these cables, that keep the horn standing upright . Men of all ages would love to know more about this. Not sure if I should risk the “double entendre” or not……… Will drop a coffee in support as always

[@AutoShenanigans]

hahaha. Im not that old yet, but soon...

[@camthebam10]

I used to shout "teletubbies" when driving past this as a kid

[@shieldsyx]

It also used to play Clyde 1 radio station. on a few occasions back in the early 00’s I had the privilege of spending time stuck in traffic within ear shot of it and would rather just listen radio in the car

[@craigsutherland9161]

Always wondered what it was for

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

3:45 No wonder the residents complained.

[@AtheistEve]

To be fair to the giant loud speaker shouting at the road. We’ve, many of us, had to put up with roads constantly shouting at us as we try to live alongside them. Not to mention the constant vibrations that shake the houses, making china clink in our cupboards.

[@facelessvaper]

Oh I thought, actual horn, siren per se, try Mortal Ash hill A18 near Morrisons at 10am on a Tuesday, there's a lovely siren & the horns themselves are huge!

[@timstephens78]

When the pyramids were first built, there was a flock of sheep that were dyed pink set loose to keep the grass short.

[@Vtarngpb]

That’s a nice horn there bud!

[@stuartmacdonald9289]

My family have always called it the Tellytubby horn. 🤣🤣🤣

[@guss2099]

How can a few bits of metal and a concrete plinth be that expensive! I remember now, government money!🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Mark-yk1ny]

So they spent all that money to make you not look at the bloody road 😳 some people need to get their head tested

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

The owl centre is obviously there to allow people to say "I know a *cracking* owl sanctuary" in order to test people's knowledge of worthless Alan Partridge trivia.