SABRE
@sabre-roads.org.uk
From the A1 to the V12, the members of SABRE (the Society for British and Irish Road Enthusiasts) explore the history and future of the British and Irish road networks. Why not join us? https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk
However, the article also goes on to say that "the first fully automatic electric traffic lights were at Piccadilly Circus in 1937", which isn't true. The first were in Princes Square, Wolverhampton in 1927, with a second set in Leeds in 1928.
Motorway Services Online@motorwayservices.uk · 3d agoOn this day 100 years ago (1926): the UK's first 3-colour traffic lights were unveiled with an experiment at a remodelled Piccadilly Circus
Surprise as Chiltern Chalfont has its rejection overturned, leaving us again with two rival service stations planned for the M25
Rejected Chiltern Chalfont plan returns
Guide to Chiltern Chalfont services on the M25 between J16 and J17: location of Extra services at Chiltern Chalfont, Chiltern Chalfont services reviews and more about Chiltern Chalfont services from…
motorwayservices.uk
And the full story is held on one of our other associated sites: Pathetic Motorways. pathetic.org.uk/features/num...
Pathetic Motorways
Examines and pokes fun at some of the lesser known British motorways. Includes photos and videos
pathetic.org.uk
Motorway Services Online@motorwayservices.uk · 6d agoOn this day 65 years ago (1961): the A1(M) Doncaster Bypass opened. One of the more forgotten vintage motorways, its narrow alignment remains a bottleneck today. The new road was so novel, there was considerable debate over how to tackle its unusual number.
Motorway signalling is a complex topic, with strict regulations about what can and can't be displayed. Emergency situations like the Pennines being on fire call for unusual - if unfortunately not consistent - messages.
Bryn Buck 🏳️🌈💛🤍💜🖤@showmeasign.online · last wk.Also, I'm really not loving this inconsistency with messaging - can we just have a single legend and stick with it???
On this day 60 years ago (1966): Frankley services opened. Two two-storey buildings nestled into the hillside now stand out as looking slightly archaic in the modern era.
Frankley - motorway services
A detailed history of Frankley motorway services, including the design, contracting and planning arrangement for Frankley, as well as some trivia.
motorwayservices.uk
Another #MapMonday means more #maps on SABRE Maps! This week we bring 8 Half Inch maps from 1970-72. Our favourite in this batch are the western half of the OSNI Half Inch Second Series from 1970, which includes all of County Donegal as well as the western half of NI. buff.ly/0iOZSxr
Family visit to Harlow, where it's always nice to stumble across one of the original 1950s pre-Worboys road signs.
Not my photos but here's two examples of accidentally capturing something we didn't think there was a single record of. This is the sign discussed here: www.roads.org.uk/blog/imperfe... TAKE PHOTOS. You may never know what you're accidentally preserving forever.
It’s the short-lived “French horn” sign at Strensham! See my history of this one notorious sliproad here: www.roads.org.uk/blog/imperfe...
Bryn Buck 🏳️🌈💛🤍💜🖤@showmeasign.online · 2w agoNot my photos but here's two examples of accidentally capturing something we didn't think there was a single record of. This is the sign discussed here: www.roads.org.uk/blog/imperfe... TAKE PHOTOS. You may never know what you're accidentally preserving forever.
On this day 35 years ago (1991): After getting caught short on the M40, John Major announced his 'Citizen's Charter' for service stations. It led to the government ending its involvement in service station planning, and trying to sell all its land to investment firms.
The Citizen's Charter that changed the industry
The history of the government's policy towards service stations, how the government regulates motorway services, and the regulations that motorway services must follow.
motorwayservices.uk
Sign from the construction of the Preston By-Pass, first section of the M6 Motorway, seen in a 1958 BBC Archives film on British roads. The lower name is that of Sir James Drake, Lancashire's County Surveyor & Bridgemaster, a highly influential figure in UK post-war road development.
Woolley Edge is the latest motorway service area to get some drive thru units
Drive thrus come to Woolley Edge
Guide to Woolley Edge services on the M1 between J38 and J39: location of Moto services at Woolley Edge, Woolley Edge services reviews and more about Woolley Edge services from Motorway Services…
motorwayservices.uk
Temporary arrangements where you are directed onto a motorway inescapably used to be frowned upon but recently they're starting to appear more. Maybe a consistent sign could be developed?
Some rather non-standard signs along with an installation of Revo Electric of Tipton street lighting - some of the fascinating scenes in another excellent BBC Archives film "The State of Britain's Roads" from 1958. @roads.org.uk @showmeasign.online @sabre-roads.org.uk youtu.be/yQesCbCXyTM?...
#MapMonday sees more #maps added to SABRE Maps, with three more Half Inch sheets added to our 1968 layer. A few weeks ago we complained about the 1961 Snowdon sheet not being ready for Number Six, well, he was there in 1968, and so is The Village! #ThePrisoner buff.ly/1rC4ClC
Y Rhiw. Still a few of the old style destination signs on the Llŷn in North Wales; not many originals now & more than a few replicas, some of which are 'better' than others but still a nice touch. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk
You can read all about it, and its cousins like the A4123 Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Road and A8 Edinburgh - Glasgow New Road on the SABRE Wiki. However, did you know that there was another A580 before the East Lancs was built? www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A580
A580 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
sabre-roads.org.uk
Mike@mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 3w agoHappy birthday to the East Lancs Road - now the A580 - the Liverpool-East Lancashire Road - that was formally opened on this day by HM King George V on this day in 1934 as one of the UK's first inter-city arterial roads. @showmeasign.online @roads.org.uk @sabre-roads.org.uk
Another #MapMonday, another set of #maps added to SABRE Maps. This week's additions are 10 Half Inch maps from 1966 and 1967, mostly covering Ireland, but there's one Welsh sheet in the batch as well for you all to enjoy, completely freely. buff.ly/Wl7J8b5
Just arrived on the Simulator, a virtual drive down to Exeter on the M5 - perfect for a sunny summer weekend away! Plus the little M49 is here, if you’d rather get lost around Avonmouth. Jump in at sim.roads.org.uk.
More OS, OSI and OSNI #maps at the Half Inch scale this week have been added to SABRE Maps, with 15 maps for you to enjoy. Disappointingly, the 1961 map of Snowdonia doesn't appear to consider The Village at Portmerion, soon to welcome Number Six, to be important enough to label. #ThePrisoner
Why not build a small portion of the M6 in a computer game where no one will ever find it? Anyway here is a postcard from Forton Services in No Man's Sky
Helen@internethelen.bsky.social · 4mo agoI feel like this stupid base I'm building in No Man's Sky is probably the last one I'll bother with and (dramatic voice) 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮'𝓼 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓴
The first Labour GLC administration in 1965 had ambitious urban motorway plans. But the public mood had changed by the early 1970s, the lived experience of Westway being one (but by no means only) nail in the coffin of those plans. By 1973, the campaign message was firmly anti-motorway:
Food for thought - how to potentially improve London's existing river crossings by closing one of them to vehicular traffic, and making tidal flow use of another to help with the stationary traffic.
Bryn Buck 🏳️🌈💛🤍💜🖤@showmeasign.online · last mo.One to scare or interest @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social Making the 1897 Blackwall Tnl for active travel, by turning the 1967 bore into a 3-phase tidal flow operation: 1: 04.15-13.55: nb only 2: 14.05-19.55: sb only 3: 20.05-03.45: 2-way traffic THREAD....
You can find out more about the A4(M) via the SABRE Wiki: www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/A4(M)
Making sure you're not a bot!
sabre-roads.org.uk
Today's amazing sign find, a 50+ year old direction sign that predated the realignment of the A585 or the completion of the M55, giving the impression of a primary B road. It will originally have said (A583) under Preston.
