"...in modern money is more..." this is the insightful commentary we are here for.

@truckerlee5975

Жыл бұрын

If your not quick ,you've missed it.

@markkilo4519

Жыл бұрын

Got me laughing, I like how he puts funny bits in 😎

@jacobwhite1360

Жыл бұрын

Honestly this epsiode had me in stitches.. ‘here you’ll find Severn view services, along with a view of the Severn’ 🤣👌🏼 just hilarious dry humour it’s too good

@andymoss

Жыл бұрын

Exactly the comment I was going to leave! Comedy gold!

@underwaterdick

Жыл бұрын

I laughed when he said that so seriously 🤣

Shout out to the wasp for its admirable work ethic, still contributing to KZread videos when all of its mates have buggered off on holiday or whatever wasps do in winter....

If the subtle intro of the playdays theme that often stopped at the “Why” bird stop while talking about the river “Wye” bridge was on purpose, then you have truly excelled yourself.

After this episode I definitely think you should do a ‘secrets of the railway’ episode 🤣

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised the "usual lot" haven't done it already! I'd love to see abandoned railway stations, old junctions and infrastructure.

"When constructed was £8 million, which is today's money is more." - CLASSIC! I love the granularity of insight!

I was a teenager when the old Severn bridge was built and it was a huge deal back then. So much so my mum and I took a coach trip to view it from South London. Yep a coach day out trip to view a bridge. We travelled over the bridge, turned round at the next junction and returned back over it and stopped at the services on the English side. The cafe had a huge viewing area to see the bridge and to be totally honest, it was a hell of a sight back then. Of course as I got older and was driving, the bloody bridge was shut every time there was a strong breeze!! The last time I went to Wales I went down the M48 and stopped at the sadly rather run down services for old times sake. It’s still a good looking design of the 60’s. Thanks for your videos who knew I cared about Motorways? But it seems I do. I watch all your videos thank you.

@AutoShenanigans

5 ай бұрын

Weird... who'd drive miles to look at a motorway bridge.... :D Nice one, thanks for watching!

The humour, the quarry and the hidden slip roads. We’re here for it all, love it!

Around 15 years ago I did a lot of work in South Wales (I live in London). I always used the M48. You get a much better view from the bridge and the traffic levels are tiny compared with the M4. Even during the day I would find myself on an empty road, so foot to the floor. It's also nice driving on an old-style motorway.

_"Why is there a wasp"_ - We get some free philosophy with this week's expisode 🙂

Jon, there isn't a single video you've made that I haven't enjoyed. The amount of interesting facts and detail you cram in at such a rate along with the excellent humour is fantastic. Seriously hoping you blast past 100k subscribers - this channel is one of the best out there! Cheers. Si.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, that's great to hear :)

TV Theme Tunes I recognise on the Secrets of the M48 motorway are Playdays and Woof! plus the piano instrumental version of the theme tune from Home & Away.

Pressing the appreciation button before I have watched this as I know it's gonna be quality.

Playdays and Home and Away? You spoil us!

-floodplain field is part time lake *housing developer* Yes this seems like the perfect place to put a random, disconnected neighborhood with no surrounding jobs or highstreet.

Can I just pause to say how much I appreciate your music choices. I can't think of anyone else on KZread that would end a video on an obscure motorway with a hauntingly beautiful piano cover of the theme from Home and Away.

6:00 Woof!

@Jaygreig86

Жыл бұрын

ah yes. Was rattling my brain on this one

Wasp 🐝 😂😂 “Why is there a wasp 🐝” 😂

I am old enough to have done the Aust ferry, a primitive drive on, drive off ferry before the first bridge was built

@tomarse99

Жыл бұрын

One of the old ferries is still to be found under a bridge near Newport. They’ve just demolished the remains of the ferry buildings on aust side sadly

I've ran the maths, and 8 million pound in today's money is indeed more.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

It took me a couple of days to figure it out... but yep!

You definitely need to come up to Newcastle for the A167M, which has got to win the prize for the most bizarre motorway in the country

Nice Top Gear swipe 👊🏻

Great video, John. I'm afraid that I did laugh when you were spotted by that wasp. The bad tempered stripy bastards always go for me, too. I was at work once, and was surprised to see a biggish wasp grabbing spiders from their webs and flying off with them. That's a wasp I am not going to argue with.

Genuinely think this is one of the best geeky channels on the u tubes. Thanks, I love it

There was a time when you could see the Severn from the actual Severn View Services. The great big glass building on site used to house the services and I can well remember it. But then someone must have realised it could make more money as a commercial space and the services were removed to the brick built sheds they are today - a great shame. I love your videos and your humour especially the 'throw away' lines. Brilliant.

@misterflibble9799

Жыл бұрын

When the Second Severn Crossing (now the Prince of Wales Bridge) opened, traffic along the M48 dropped substantially, and so did footfall to the services. There was no longer enough traffic to support the large building.

@kevinoates1910

Жыл бұрын

Check out his video series on service stations it covers this

Does anyone else enjoy their Sunday Night notifications, letting us know that we all have another informative, educational but comically and entertaining post to watch ? When I was young, the 'Antique Roadshow' triggered fear and denial of incomplete homework or assignments that were overdue at school / college. Sundays now are about John giving us a 'feel good' post, and we all know that life in the World is good, with his content and presentation style. We know things are a little crazy in the World right now, but this man has given us all a unique and honest way to remind ourselves of the things we like and enjoy, and we shouldn't feel bad about it. Oh Bugger, I have just remembered that I have a presentation to write before 8am........ Arghhhhhhh See you all next week 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

So theres the Forth Bridge and the Severn Bridge... still looking for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th Bridges... At least there is also an Exe and Wye bridge...

I'm actually very fond of the M48 and use it fairly regularly. It feels like a portal back to an earlier era of the motorway - two lanes, low traffic volumes, and of course the original 1966 Severn Bridge, which is still a thing of elegant beauty. Also occasionally visit the viewpoint you show at 2:08. It now has a melancholy atmosphere of being forgotten and neglected, but back in the 1960s the bridge was one of the world's engineering marvels and that viewpoint was once a destination in its own right.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

I like Severn view services as it's easy to see how "glamourous" it all was back in the day. Sadly as you say.. forgotten and neglected.

@Titaniumparts

Жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigans With your obvious fascination with the topic I can't imagine that you don't have a copy of Joe Moran's excellent book 'On roads' (2009) but, if not, then I'd wholly recommend. A brilliant cultural history of our relationship with the motorway.

"Why is there a wasp?!" Wasp: " Why is there a KZreadr?!"

My mate asked me why I was watching a bloke half yelling facts about roads. The next day, he subscribed and said the word bollocks isn't used enough but it'll do.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Duly noted.... I shall add it to the script next time :D

Another great video. I like driving along the M48. The low traffic volumes remind me of, being driven by my parents, motorways in the 1960/70's.

Subtle playdays music just before the river Wye segment. Made me think of Whybird 😂 good job nice touch

Interesting choice of music today. Sure I heard Playbus, Woof and Home and Away! It's clear I'm getting old!

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

You got it!

2:16 "Which in Todays Money is More" dunno why but that made me laugh

@Jameshoward999

Жыл бұрын

liz truss and brexit you can blame for that

Sevenview services where there's a services and also a view of the river Severn. Fuck that slayed me!

Lived in Chepstow for 32 years and I’ve never seen these landmarks from these angles. Great video thanks.

I like lotomotives too John! 😂

@Jawst

Жыл бұрын

4:39 😆 we like accidental entertainment

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Didnt even notice :D woops .

I love driving down this quiet motorway compared to the new M4 - Especially as they didn't take the opportunity to go three lanes when making all that new section so it often gets very busy. As a local resident it's also been very convenient since the toll booths were taken out, making trips into Wales more of a 'thing' rather than really having to consider it for the exorbitant tolls previously.

Severn View services... the services you can't actually see the Severn from, where as the office building that you see when standing at the viewpoint used to be the old services building.. and was called Aust Services

When I was a puppy I was an avid Blue Peter watcher, and they featured the building of the Severn Bridge, so you can imagine how grown up me got rather excited about crossing the bridge for the first time! Despite having crossed the bridge a millionty times, in a professional capacity, I still get a buzz from visiting engineering marvels featured on Blue Peter, and I've travelled the world to do this, including walking up to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Bladdy hell, is that the theme from "Woof"!? Classic.

@Lenzar1986

Жыл бұрын

It actually took me a couple of minutes to recall what it was from but yes.

1:35 Probably the greatest single sentence of script you've written yet, well done sir.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

It took a couple of attempts :D

The outro's are just perfection each time I see them. What an amazing view. UK is a beautifull island!

The original Aust services were much bigger and quite 'posh' when launched. As teenagers, we used to drive to the Aust services from Cardiff in the evenings as it was about the only place open :-) They are now an office complex, with smaller, meaner services built nearby.

@Punchiecat

Жыл бұрын

Yes I remember stopping at the original services as a kid - what seemed like a massive restaurant with a view out over the river.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Do you remember using the "subway" entrance into the old larger building?

@chrispenn715

Жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigans oh yes. Forgot about that! Exciting when you're a kid! We drove there on the day the bridge opened too! I was about 8 yrs old 😂

I enjoy the wasp interactions.

8 million pounds today is £141,217,948.48 Which is indeed 'more'.

I live in Chepstow and the M48 is the best motorway as it exists outside the realms of which speed limits exist in

@davidyendoll5903

Жыл бұрын

Dont tell everyone !

The wasp from your M3 video came back for you! 🤣

3:42 “The modern boundary between England and Wales is marked out by the river. Why?” Probably because it was a convenient place.

@GingerJourneys

Жыл бұрын

The river is called Wye. Its a play on words.

@davidroddini1512

Жыл бұрын

So I guess some Caerwent into the video after all and it wasn’t just thrown together without any research then. 😉

the M48 is also home to one of the UK's few non-motorway Special Roads - the footpath next to the main bridge, which allows pedestrians, cyclists and moped riders to cross the Severn

@mattslip179

Жыл бұрын

Beat me to it! I rode my motorbike over the bridge on the footpath when I had L plates

@BenCurrington

Жыл бұрын

Home to Severn Bridge parkrun I believe!

Well this presses a few buttons. As a kid in the 60s I remember crossing the Severn on the Aust ferry with my grandparents and watching the bridge being built. Fast forward to the 90s, I work in TV and was the sound guy for a documentary about the building of the new bridge. You mention the army training area and its use as an Airsoft site? Well that is Dragon Valley Airsoft. And guess who is a Marshal there.

"Which, in today's money, is more." I can't even be mad

Great video and extremely accurate details. I was an Army Apprentice at Beachley 1963-66 when it was the Army Apprentices College Chepstow. I watched the Severn and Wye Bridges and the viaduct constructed, having arrived as the underground work reached ground level. It was fascinating to get such a close up view of these incredible structures. As I was being trained as an Ammunition Technician, an Army explosive expert we visited Caerwent and watched the Royal Navy propellants and nitroglycerin being manufactured. I went back to Beachley 1973-76, and again 82-86 as a member of the staff. The area has been a great part of my life. It is so deserving of its Grade 1 listing - mention of which was your the only omission.

@just4laughs76

Жыл бұрын

sadly soon to be a housing estate once DIO cross all the t's needed to sell it.

As a Dutch guy and no more knowledge about the UK other then a fortnight London, I can't wait for the next vid. It baffled me to see that hardly any motorway looks the same (junctions - fly overs and such). But your quirky way of telling, and then the little things, hardly known to those that live nearby, yep, perfect. Keep on being yourself, I love it.. 👍👍👍

Love the effort you put in to each episode. Looking forward to you reaching the 100K subscriber mark

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Angus, that's super awesome.. I really appreciate it.

I wonder how many Doctor Who or Blakes 7 episodes were filmed in that quarry!

So the 4th Bridge is in Scotland, the 7th in Wales. Where are the other ones ?

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

A good question.

The newer M4 route is actually longer than the old route by about 1 mile. I measured it in my car once!

@baconbreadwithbacon

Жыл бұрын

You're actually correct which is hilarious.

The M48 is one of the few motorways that has an organised half marathon on it crossing the Second Severn Bridge. (The Great North Run is the other one I know of as you briefly go along the entire length of the tiny A167(M)). The group that organises this half marathon also does night runs along the Second Severn Bridge starting in the graffiti'ed tunnel you were standing in front of.

@NickW1111

Жыл бұрын

Parkrun too - every Saturday morning starting just north of Aust bridge and crossing into Gloucestershire then Avon, then back to finish in that graffiti’d tunnel.

Ah, Happy memories of when it used to be the M4, a 55 minute journey, riding my Triumph Bonneville from Cardiff to Oldbury Power Station through winter snow- just thinking about it makes me shiver!

The other thing worth noting is that the Severn Bridge section is now limited to one lane for HGVs and buses, if you look at the signs in both directions - 7.5 tonne limit on the second lane.

I lived in Hemel and went round the roundabout on a bus four times a day getting to school, from 1971 to 1974. They did several experiments on layout, including a spiral, where you went to the centre and then began moving out two junctions before your exit. It was like a race track as one tended to accelerate going through it. Lots of squealing tyres. The first day of the “magic roundabout” scheme was indeed chaos, with queues running miles. I was late for school (in the next town, so the only one affected) and the office did not believe my story until the headmaster also turned up late and told the same story.

The piano tune at the end is absolutely killing me. incredible work.

"which in today's money is more" 🤣 Another great video John, thank you.

It would have been a castle crossing. Sheep aren't very high. It was like that at atherstone, cattle bridge and crossing.

Hurrah! Another enjoyable episode of "Jon visits quarries under the guise of making a video about a motorway"

@huwlewis9059

Жыл бұрын

‘Quarry Shenanigans’ doesn’t have the same ring about it 😀

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

There's been a lot of quarries hasn't there...

This was absolutely awesome... I love your style of humor mixed with interesting (and often obscure) information about the motorways.

Another titbit of information to those who are interested, including the author (massive fan btw) - the first Severn bridge (M48) as depicted in your video, has access hatches along the walkway (they look like submarine hatches, its the easiest way I can explain them) upon which the engineers can inspect the deck and cables. I did a job about two decades ago for Laing O'Rourke, who at the time were in charge of the maintenance of the bridge, no idea if they still are, upon which I had to upgrade the firmware and config on a Cisco router housed within the bridge. I got escorted along the walkway via one of their cars (standard car but it had an amber flashing light they stuck on the roof) It was very odd driving along the walkway, and even more odd to actually go underneath the road section of the bridge. Think cramped dark hole with 70MPH traffic going past above and a massive drop below you, with only the bottom of the bridge to keep you safe. It was an ADSL connection to that router with the exchange being miles away, which meant the signal losses were big, again no idea of the situation nowadays. It was used so the engineers could remotely monitor the integrity of the bridge, cables and whatnot. Anyway, that might explain the access you question at 2:39 as their vehicles needed access along the footpath both east and westbound, and there are specific sections for them to turnaround.

@andrewshore262

Жыл бұрын

New manholes were installed in the deck boxes to assist access for the strengthening work and for future inspection and maintenance. When the bridge was originally built, it was intended that the box girder deck would be sealed and kept dry with silica gel. For this reason the original access manholes were very small. Hence it is rumoured that a one-time Chief Highway Engineer of generous proportions was unable to visit the inside of the bridge deck. Prior to strengthening, there was only a thin layer of road surfacing on the steel deck units. A thicker layer was desirable but had to be rejected because of the effect of the extra weight on the cables.

My grandad worked on the 2nd Severn Bridge - I got to to go a third of the way across whilst it was being built... it took me until 2019 to cross the rest of the way. (This comment would probably make more sense on one of the M4 videos, but you know algothrim etc)

I can’t not watch this every week. I don’t know why, I’m just drawn in. I found myself today talking bollocks to my nephew about Lancaster services and I know exactly where I learnt it.

Missed opportunity for a "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" but I did chuckle at the home & away theme

"Which in today's money is more." Fantastic insight there. 🙂 5:55 _Woof!_ That's a theme I haven't heard in a long time.

@trevormegson7583

Жыл бұрын

My type of Economics !

Another ace video full of facts and Humour! The Playdays theme tune and the "Wye Bridge" love that obscure connection.

Perfect comment. Back in the old days when it was good. Yes indeed Top Gear was GOOD!

The maintenance road was similar to that on the SSC that allowed people who couldn’t pay the toll to be turned around. What’s often forgotten about the original crossing was it used to have tolls on both sides prior to the second opening, at that point they reverted it to just entering wales. Severn view services was amongst the busiest in the country back in the day and a fine services at that. It literally died on its arse overnight when the SSC opened which was a shame and the original building sold off. I still have my certificate for walking across the SSC the day before it opened, something you can’t do unlike the original which you can still walk/cycle across. Roll on the M49 and ‘that’ junction fiasco

"Closer each day... Home & Away..." As always an excellent insight into the fascinating world of UK motorways. Thanks John!

"You know, in the old days when it was good..." Priceless, catty, but Priceless 😄 🤣 😂 😆 If Carlsberg made insults.......

@gavindavies793

Жыл бұрын

If they did, they'd do it just off the end of this very motorway at the brewery site at magor!

One thing you missed John. At the Severn View Services is also an office block housing a company called Brightside Insurance who operate illegal practices in their sale of insurance products.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

ooo.. sounds fruity... whats the story there.

@ringosimon1

Жыл бұрын

@@AutoShenanigans The company were advertising as broker who search the market, but in reality only every put business through to an insurance company that they themselves owned. This left customer thinking someone had searched for the best price while actually they could have saved money. They were also loading on extra products that customers did not need like key cover and claiming commissions for doing so without again telling customers.

@ChrisBrown-px1oy

Жыл бұрын

Brightside occupies the original services building, where the view is; it was sold and the present nondescript buildings put up as a downgrade associated with the second crossing.

Caerwent (pronounced (c-eye-r went) is right on my doorstep. It has also been used as filming for Doctor Who and Torchwood, and also briefly in the first Captain America movie in 2011. Caerwent also backs directly onto Wentwood, the most ancient woodland in Wales. Also Chepstow, the biggest town on the motorway, has what's considered the oldest stone castle in Country, with the oldest part constructed in 1067. And Rogiet is pronounced rog (like log) -et!

I use this stretch from Almondsbury to Aust almost everyday. It’s a wonderful stretch of motorway to traverse. Thank you for doing this video, I always love watching your content.

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

It's not bad.. it'll be great again once they finish the bridge repairs or whatever it is they're doing.

There aren't many videos I click as soon as I see them, but this series is up there! Great work as always John!

Hi John. This has got to be one of the best channels on KZread. Love the content, even better with your hilarious comments. Brilliant 👍

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Cheers mate!

I'm sure you know this but if the Google Street View image for a particular road has been updated, you can see the older images by clicking the little clock icon at the top-left (desktop only, not on mobile) and choosing an earlier time stamp. Obviously only goes back to about 2007-08 when Street View first started but you can get a decent 15 years' worth of context for some frequently updated locations.

@danielhindley8

Жыл бұрын

It now works on mobiles too.

@bobblebardsley

Жыл бұрын

@@danielhindley8 Oh nice, even better! Thanks for that, I didn't know they'd added it 👍

@jezkendall1893

Жыл бұрын

@@danielhindley8 Neat - I'd not realised they'd added that 🙂

@tmb8807

Жыл бұрын

Yep. Good example of that is the old Devil's Punch Bowl route of the A3.

2:45 it’s probably nothing more than a secret road leading to one of those MI5 lockers like you see in bond films for them to stash guns and cash in. If there’s no more episodes I’ll guess you went back and found said locker….

The commentary always makes me chuckle!

liking the choice of music, nostalgic after school cartoons 👍

Another great video mate, a lovely part of the world over the Severn Bridge.

Brilliant as always, thanks.

Best yet John. Well done and keep it up!

Unseasonable wasps! We had one the other day as well! Little blighters! 🐝

Another golden gem of a video!

another excellent video well done

Always a pleasure to watch your videos John. Keep up the great work.

You forgot to mention that all of Captain America was filmed in Caerwent except the street scenes that were filmed in Manchester 🤣

YAY a new one. Awesome yet again!

Epic video as always John :-) really enjoying them ! Can't wait for the next one!

Another of my preferred routes into Wales, especially when the toll was removed! 😅 The Welsh and Roman names caught you out again - Roj eeee et (Rogiet) and Ki er went (Caewent). Caerwent is a special Roman settlement with lots of remains to see.

Great video as always

Nice 5ft 9 Bridge I have seen a 4ft 9 Bridge in bedford where the bedford Bletchley line crosses the river great ouse

@AutoShenanigans

Жыл бұрын

Local (ish) I shall check it out...

I've only recently found this channel and by golly am I glad I did, you fecking tickle me, and your vids are really interesting.

"which in today's money is more" 😂🤣🙃

@AhsokaTanoTheWhite

Жыл бұрын

Indeed, got a good chuckle out of me.

@richnewt

Жыл бұрын

It's this type of commentary I subscribe for