David you are correct there was no speed limit on the motorways for any vehicle or lane restrictions, the speed limit came in later and I think it was related to the oil crisis.
I can remember passing patrol cars doing over a ton and nobody bothered you as motorways were de restricted like in Europe especially Germany at the time
cheers Johnnie
Went by the Lazy Trout on the A49 a couple of weeks ago,and its open again.
Cheers Dave.
dexterboy:
Hi Bewick ,thanks for the Brady photo that octopus must have been able to do 60/70 mph I had a commer 2stroke that could do that when the motorways first started you could do 70mph and use all 3lanes was the British cellophane loads from up your way ? I used to take tankerful of Glycerine there from Levers Port Sunlight it was around Workington way if I remember ? Happy days ,thank you for your input
The British Cellophane factory was at Sandscales on Park rd. Barrow,it opened in the late 50’s and closed in the late 80’s or early 90’s and Brady’s were the hauliers throughout the time in operated,you wouldn’t know there had been a big plant there now the site is levelled.Bewick Transport ran all the cellulose pulp into the Plant for many years,from Royal Portbury first as Subbies to Western Transport and then Linkflow.British Cellophane had a second plant in Bridgewater both owned by Courtaulds and here again Bradys were the haulier,we did a few heavy loads out of there when I was on the Octopus the last one I recall was 28ton to Immingham,it should have been loaded on a couple Comets/4 in-lines but they were busy so we were sent over from S.Wales empty to load it.As regards speed,the Octopus speedo needle would go right off the clock but that wasn’t often,I re-call one day we had been in Leyland Motors at Oldbury with Pump trouble,we were there all day until early evening so when we set off down the M5 south we were followed by the workshop foreman,Dessy Bull,in the Vitesse service van and Eric Posstlethwaite the driver wound the Octopus up into the 80’s,which Dessy confirmed when we called in on our way back North two days later to have it checked over,he rekoned we weren’t far short of 90 mph when he had to peel off and return to Oldbury !.But I can say the Octopus was as steady as a rock when it was cruising but what you never did was jerk on the steering wheel or the trailer was all over the place,what you did was gently “aim” the motor,"nice and smooth john,nice and smooth " 
Cheers Bewick.
Getting back to Motormans on the Standedge, Its open Wed to Sunday only these days Im told, I think I will have a run down there just for old times sake & enjoy a nice breakfast in a old café that was very very good in the 50/60s era, & most likely still good, Regards Larry.
Regarding speed limits,this was what I found on goggle…
Q: When was the 70 mph motorway speed limit introduced in Britain?
A: The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this.
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously “derestricted” roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
I seem to recall seeing a pic of a speed camera on the Island Chris, it that a ‘Blackspot’ for accidents then?
Pete.
Chris Webb:
Regarding speed limits,this was what I found on goggle…Q: When was the 70 mph motorway speed limit introduced in Britain?
A: The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously “derestricted” roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
Remember the Midland red buses that did B’ham to London in 2 hrs, those went close on 100mph, our Commer 2 strokes would do 80mph but you’d have a headache for 2 days !
Was often dive bombed by Aston Martins on test M1 around Milton Keynes area.
Trev_H:
Chris Webb:
Regarding speed limits,this was what I found on goggle…Q: When was the 70 mph motorway speed limit introduced in Britain?
A: The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously “derestricted” roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
Remember the Midland red buses that did B’ham to London in 2 hrs, those went close on 100mph, our Commer 2 strokes would do 80mph but you’d have a headache for 2 days !
Those Midland Red Birmingham-to-London express coaches were BMMOs, billed to travel at 85 mph (and of course they could do more). They were real flyers. Robert
I seem to recall that, not long after the opening of the M1, with the announcement that more motorways were to be built around the UK, Foden introduced a high geared rear axle for long distance UK operations. Fitted to chassis with the 2-stroke engine, the few that appeared on our roads were certainly flyers, however tyre technology of the day was such that they used to fail with alarming frequency.
Maybe one for the “Good ideas that disappeared” thread!
Retired Old ■■■■:
I seem to recall that, not long after the opening of the M1, with the announcement that more motorways were to be built around the UK, Foden introduced a high geared rear axle for long distance UK operations. Fitted to chassis with the 2-stroke engine, the few that appeared on our roads were certainly flyers, however tyre technology of the day was such that they used to fail with alarming frequency.
Maybe one for the “Good ideas that disappeared” thread!
Now you’ve jogged my memory. Someone once told me about a company called Nord, from Derbyshire, who produced a high speed 8 wheeler to race down the M1. It went fast alright, the apocrophyll tales mention various speeds up to 100 mph, but they found that, yes, the tyres were knackered by Scratchwood. 
Just to keep the thread on track 
, isn’t Scratchwood a fairly old cafe? 
KW:
harry:
KW I can remember the A12 when Bert’s was there on the bend before Brentwood on the old road. Len used to run it and lived in the bungalow next door. He sold the plot for building land.I remember the cafe,but it was before my time.
Another one on the A12 was The Bungalow at Marks Tey,which as of last year was still there,as I called in for a dinner.
What was the one called as you came from Chelmsford towards Brentwood on the old A12?
They had a huge breakfast which I think was called the Truckers,it was double everything,with a steak & kidney pie and chips on top of it.The sign said that if you can finish the lot,then you got your money back.
Don’t know if anyone ever did.And what was the name of the one on the old A45 from Cambridge to St Neots?Just off a roundabout.The Comfort? Or was The Comfort on the A11?
Memory is getting bad.Deputy Dog’s at Barham,again on the old A45,used to be a good cafe when Tony Doggett opened it up.
Had a few good nights out there when he had the,ahem,exotic dancers on.
Those girls could have been magicians the way they made those pool balls disappearNever forget the day when the ministry men,as well as the customs,were having there dinner in Deputy Dog’s (the weighbridge was 500yds down the road) and a Dutchman came strolling in with a couple of carrier bags of baccy which Tony used to buy off him to sell in the cafe.
Red faces all around.
Think it was the Enterprise on the old A45
Mention of the Lazy trout cafe made me laugh ,my sister -in-law tends to as we say, live above her station the Grovesnor hotel in Chester is about as low as she would stoop for eating out a while back they had been on holiday and came up the A49 she was complaining she needed feeding so my brother who used to come out with me thought to wind her up,so he pulled into the Lazy trout when she got inside her eyes glazed with shock what?no best silver, no tea for two ,no table cloth omg torn seats ,when the breakfast came it was2/3of everything it was that big the national winner ARKLE would not have jumped it she was that traumatised she had to be helped back to the car ,we have never heard the last of it ,so yes guys the Lazy trout is confirmed as open Just like to to say the guys on this topic have been great whatever you want to know someone will know the answer. A great bunch of guys
Larry Let us know about the motor mans if you do call in for your dinner one day it would be interesting to hear what’s it like
windrush:
I seem to recall seeing a pic of a speed camera on the Island Chris, it that a ‘Blackspot’ for accidents then?Pete.
Pete.The only camera on the Isle of Man was at Ballaugh Bridge,being an accident black spot. It was burnt down a few days after.The police use hand held speed guns here.
Spardo:
Retired Old ■■■■:
I seem to recall that, not long after the opening of the M1, with the announcement that more motorways were to be built around the UK, Foden introduced a high geared rear axle for long distance UK operations. Fitted to chassis with the 2-stroke engine, the few that appeared on our roads were certainly flyers, however tyre technology of the day was such that they used to fail with alarming frequency.
Maybe one for the “Good ideas that disappeared” thread!Now you’ve jogged my memory. Someone once told me about a company called Nord, from Derbyshire, who produced a high speed 8 wheeler to race down the M1. It went fast alright, the apocrophyll tales mention various speeds up to 100 mph, but they found that, yes, the tyres were knackered by Scratchwood.
Just to keep the thread on track
Some NORDE information on the forum (put on by me) and it was an artic, not an eight. Designed to do two trips a day from Derbyshire to London, one of my neighbours worked on it and he supplied me the information.
Pete.
windrush:
Spardo:
Retired Old ■■■■:
I seem to recall that, not long after the opening of the M1, with the announcement that more motorways were to be built around the UK, Foden introduced a high geared rear axle for long distance UK operations. Fitted to chassis with the 2-stroke engine, the few that appeared on our roads were certainly flyers, however tyre technology of the day was such that they used to fail with alarming frequency.
Maybe one for the “Good ideas that disappeared” thread!Now you’ve jogged my memory. Someone once told me about a company called Nord, from Derbyshire, who produced a high speed 8 wheeler to race down the M1. It went fast alright, the apocrophyll tales mention various speeds up to 100 mph, but they found that, yes, the tyres were knackered by Scratchwood.
Just to keep the thread on track
Some NORDE information on the forum (put on by me) and it was an artic, not an eight. Designed to do two trips a day from Derbyshire to London, one of my neighbours worked on it and he supplied me the information.
Pete.
The last Foden that Tilcon had at the Gore was a 265LI eight wheeler,and the driver had 90mph out of it on the A438 Portwat straight going to Hereford, fully loaded.
Cheers Dave.
Regarding Isle of Man last time I went I actually seen a cop with a speed gun it was about 3years ago
dexterboy:
Larry Let us know about the motor mans if you do call in for your dinner one day it would be interesting to hear what’s it like
Will do, Regards Larry.
Dave the Renegade:
windrush:
Spardo:
Retired Old ■■■■:
I seem to recall that, not long after the opening of the M1, with the announcement that more motorways were to be built around the UK, Foden introduced a high geared rear axle for long distance UK operations. Fitted to chassis with the 2-stroke engine, the few that appeared on our roads were certainly flyers, however tyre technology of the day was such that they used to fail with alarming frequency.
Maybe one for the “Good ideas that disappeared” thread!Now you’ve jogged my memory. Someone once told me about a company called Nord, from Derbyshire, who produced a high speed 8 wheeler to race down the M1. It went fast alright, the apocrophyll tales mention various speeds up to 100 mph, but they found that, yes, the tyres were knackered by Scratchwood.
Just to keep the thread on track
Some NORDE information on the forum (put on by me) and it was an artic, not an eight. Designed to do two trips a day from Derbyshire to London, one of my neighbours worked on it and he supplied me the information.
Pete.
The last Foden that Tilcon had at the Gore was a 265LI eight wheeler,and the driver had 90mph out of it on the A438 Portwat straight going to Hereford, fully loaded.
Cheers Dave.
It must have had very high speed diffs in it 4.8s perhaps, I wonder how the brakes performed when trying to slow down ? Regards Larry.