Chris Webb:
Lonewolf Yorks:
Some good stuff there guys, you ARE being quoted.But what about our southern colleagues, lets have the same kind of thing about the other end of this mighty highway.
Perhaps best not mention the Grantham Gobbler eh Lonewolf.
Nor Winnie at the Haven,
ni v7victor, belford bank was the same as the peth at alnwick and felton, steepest part was about 3/4 up, got stuck behind 1 of s-c-cooks old scammell one day his second man was sitting on the nearside front wing. soon has they hit the steepest bit he pressed the cold start in you couldn’t see or breath for black smoke, seemly this was a regular thing for them , least we could skip gears on the banks but the scammell had to go down through the box, they left leg and arm must have been a blur 
tested you skill of gear change and driving in them days, 
bumper
bumper:
ni v7victor, belford bank was the same as the peth at alnwick and felton, steepest part was about 3/4 up, got stuck behind 1 of s-c-cooks old scammell one day his second man was sitting on the nearside front wing. soon has they hit the steepest bit he pressed the cold start in you couldn’t see or breath for black smoke, seemly this was a regular thing for them , least we could skip gears on the banks but the scammell had to go down through the box, they left leg and arm must have been a blur
Thats right,I was Running up berwick with Road services forth darlington depot, with old Albion’s,and ended up with some of Cook’s old stuff after Tayforth took them over. them scammells were hard work with the gate box,Vic.
I remember my old man and his mates used to use the Ponderosa in the Sixties, I wasn’t sure of its exact site, think it was Rainton but some older guys will know, there was Lawsons also, his night trunk mate Jimmy Simmons was getting some light hearted cheek from the girls behind the counter one night so he said “Hey, a’ll smack ya backside if yi keep that up”, one of the girls replied “You wouldn’t dare” but she wasn’t quick enough to get away and he caught her put her across his knee, whipped up her skirt and walloped her, she went howling off into the kitchen. You would get Twenty years for that these days, infact you probably would of then but it was all just laughed off, they made sure they kept behind the counter after that though.
Cheers Franky.
The cafe on the southbound side at Rainton was called The Windmill, and as for slapping the girls, that could be dangerous, most of them were recruited from borstols or appoved schools, The Lawson family also owned this one.
Dave.
hi lads, this is where the bus terminal for northumberland was in newcastle back in the 20-30 tys its the junction of the A1 northumberland st and percy st, the church is still there the rest has gone, also the heaviest load to cross the tyne bridge when it was part of the A1, bumper
The monument thing is still there too, or was recently anyway. Great pics Bumper I might use the heavy load one in particular.
Lonewolf Yorks:
and having relatives in Birmingham,
I’m sorry to hear that Wolfie.
Ken.
Before the A1 went on the route it is now, as a lad, we lived in Gateshead. (My Dad and Sister still do, sadly Mum passed away in 2010.) I used to visit Gran in Birtley, and got the bus there. We are talking around 1974, and although it was only about 3 miles, it seemed a lot further. I used to get the bus at the south end of the Tyne Bridge, and the route then went passed the 5 Bridges Hotel, onto Low Fell,and finally into Birtley.
Interestingly enough Wolfie, I found this on Wiki:
“The first route of the Great North Road ran via Wrekenton on the present B1296. The second route ran via Low Fell on the A167. The third route ran from the A1(M) junction 65 via the A194(M) and the A19 Tyne Tunnel, to the Wideopen A1/A19 Junction.”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A167_road
Ken.
Quinny:
"The first route of the Great North Road ran via Wrekenton on the present B1296.
[/quote]
Mention of that road still makes me smile - it is still part of the high load route through Newcastle, and we did a high/wide/heavy load (from Hull to Grangemouth) through there on the last Saturday before Christmas about 2000 or 2001Interesting going right past St James’ Park around 2pm, luckily they were playing away
Actually that first route, still called Old Durham Road today, was generally not used in preference for the Low Fell route because of the gradient up Long Bank as long ago as the 1700s.
Inclines we hardly notice today in our powerful vehicles were serious problems for horse drawn coaches. Two well known problem areas were Gunnerby Hill southbound into Grantham and Stangate Hill up to Alconbury.
Bumper that 1st pic of Northumberland st & percy st dont look that much different now just some ot the road markings have changed
Know Low Fell well used to take the bike along there many times ( long before the rust bucket know as the angel was there )
Long Bank yep still as bad now not changed
Lonewolf Yorks:
Stangate Hill up to Alconbury.
It looks nowt that hill, but doing it several times a week on a pushbike, I can confirm it bloody well is! Pretty much flat or downhill from there to the Smoke though
Come on southern lads, didn’t you use the A1?
Lonewolf Yorks:
Come on southern lads, didn’t you use the A1?
Back to the north again,The cafe and filling station at Stannington station road ends,Can’t remember the name, but there was a talking mynah bird just through the door. Somone will re member the name of place and maybe bird?Vic.
The "Jet " garage one side is still there & can park behind it ( although not many spaces ) the Cafe I believe is now an Indian ( not been in so cant comment )
You can still fuel up until 22.00 pm
animal:
The "Jet " garage one side is still there & can park behind it ( although not many spaces ) the Cafe I believe is now an Indian ( not been in so cant comment )You can still fuel up until 22.00 pm
I remember that Mynah bird at the Stannington cafe,there was a notice that said “Do not swear at this bird” which was an invitation to do so. I’m sure it’s the one that used to say “BRS drivers are barstewards”.
When I worked for Glass Glover we used to change over round the back of the filling station when on trunk.
Chris Webb:
animal:
The "Jet " garage one side is still there & can park behind it ( although not many spaces ) the Cafe I believe is now an Indian ( not been in so cant comment )You can still fuel up until 22.00 pm
I remember that Mynah bird at the Stannington cafe,there was a notice that said “Do not swear at this bird” which was an invitation to do so.
When I worked for Glass Glover we used to change over round the back of the filling station when on trunk.
Yeah,thats the one, other side of road to the jet garage thats there now.cheers. Vic.
Great idea for a book LW. I like you love the A1 & always have. I live less than 400yds from the side of it now too (though the road had no bearing on that ). Has anyone mentioned my favourite cafe,the name of which escapes me? It was between the road & railway just north of Grantshouse,unfortunately derelict now but they used to serve cracking grub in there. Loved Musselburgh too but there were so many great eateries in the good old days of The Great North Road. Good luck with the book, I’ll be investing in a copy when it’s released! ( by the way,should I confess to having been a member of…The A1 Truckers Club? I’ve still got the sunstrip !)
v7victor:
Lonewolf Yorks:
Come on southern lads, didn’t you use the A1?Back to the north again,The cafe and filling station at Stannington station road ends,Can’t remember the name, but there was a talking mynah bird just through the door. Somone will re member the name of place and maybe bird?Vic.
I don’t remember the name of the mynah bird but boy could it swear!!! Probably all those uncouth haggis bashers fault as we refined geordies would never use language like that. PS tin hat’s on.regards, kevmac47.
