Thought the A1 went from Edinburgh - London ok now part of A1M
The A1 always heads London - Edinburgh rather than the above, as for the Thurso link on the info board maybe they were considering changing the A9 route number to A1 and doing some upgrade work on that road at various points. No doubt at the time they had big plans for the UK road network which eventually never took off when the money ran out, something we are well used to today. Having said that, when you look at the A1 now to when it was in the Sixties there has been vast changes but once Newcastle was reached it all stopped apart from some bypass work further North.
the heed:
crowbar:
prattman:
Here’s some more old stuff, this has been loaned to me by a work colleague who’s father saved these photo’s from going on the scrapheap.
Some of the photo’s have brief details on the back some do not unfortunately, but no doubt someone here might shed more light on them.
regards prattman.Hi prattman Love the photo of Heworth roundabout in centre of the photo is a chimney in my yard which l dropped [ Fred Dibner style] in 1973 so photo was before that crowbar[/qute]
crowbar what year did you leave the old railway yard to go to new yard i am trying to remember as i worked at both for you john
John We left Albany road in 1971/2 to go to Sunderland road for a year then to Abbotsford road in 1973 until 2013. l now have a small workshop at low Prudhoe by the Adam & Eve pub.
Are you going to the trucker do on Saturday if so you to see you there crowbar
Re the A1 Western By Pass. The DoT always referred to it as the London - Edinburgh - Thurso Trunk Road.
I did some site work on both sides of the bridge during construction in 88/89. The original idea was to build the bridge and then divert the A1 from the south end of the TVTE over the top behind Sunniside /Whickham and down Swalwell bank to link to the bridge. I have put on a copy of the DoT leaflet from 1992 when they put the proposed new road out for consultation.
They had already bought some of the land required behind the Bowes Incline pub and had done various test bores. They also wanted to widen the road between the Black Fell roundabout past the MillHouse pub to link to the A194M and down to the Tyne Tunnel.
I think all the objections from the Whickham /Sunniside residents put a stop to the plans.
Perhaps if the DoT had been allowed to go ahead we wouldn’t have the present problems. Today’s Journal has an article saying they want to make the A1 North of the river 3 lanes by reducing the central reservation, narrowing the lanes and imposing a 50 mph speed limit
Maybe if they had left the A1 signposted to Tyne Tunnel as they did when they were doing the bypass strangers would have followed it & we wouldnt have the probs as bad as now.I always said the same about the 604 from huntingdon to the M11 & the M11 itself it was never going to be wide enough East Coast ports London & Kent Traffic etc & then they 1mproved M6 /A14 & made matters even worse because before that those coming off the M6 would use the M1 now they carry on straight across but hey dont ask us we are only Lorry drivers!
greek:
Maybe if they had left the A1 signposted to Tyne Tunnel as they did when they were doing the bypass strangers would have followed it & we wouldnt have the probs as bad as now.I always said the same about the 604 from huntingdon to the M11 & the M11 itself it was never going to be wide enough East Coast ports London & Kent Traffic etc & then they 1mproved M6 /A14 & made matters even worse because before that those coming off the M6 would use the M1 now they carry on straight across but hey dont ask us we are only Lorry drivers!
same as A66 and A69 look how often A66 is closed in winter
the heed:
greek:
Maybe if they had left the A1 signposted to Tyne Tunnel as they did when they were doing the bypass strangers would have followed it & we wouldnt have the probs as bad as now.I always said the same about the 604 from huntingdon to the M11 & the M11 itself it was never going to be wide enough East Coast ports London & Kent Traffic etc & then they 1mproved M6 /A14 & made matters even worse because before that those coming off the M6 would use the M1 now they carry on straight across but hey dont ask us we are only Lorry drivers!same as A66 and A69 look how often A66 is closed in winter
At the time of construction in the early 70’s the Western by pass was only meant to be a local diversion to take the traffic out of Lobley Hill, Whickham and Dunston. The Tyne Tunnel was going to be the A1 permamently. Tyneside
tyneside:
the heed:
greek:
Maybe if they had left the A1 signposted to Tyne Tunnel as they did when they were doing the bypass strangers would have followed it & we wouldnt have the probs as bad as now.I always said the same about the 604 from huntingdon to the M11 & the M11 itself it was never going to be wide enough East Coast ports London & Kent Traffic etc & then they 1mproved M6 /A14 & made matters even worse because before that those coming off the M6 would use the M1 now they carry on straight across but hey dont ask us we are only Lorry drivers!same as A66 and A69 look how often A66 is closed in winter
At the time of construction in the early 70’s the Western by pass was only meant to be a local diversion to take the traffic out of Lobley Hill, Whickham and Dunston. The Tyne Tunnel was going to be the A1 permamently. Tyneside
That’s very true Tyneside, I remember lots of discussions at the RHA Meetings about it, There were several dissagreements among the members, Of course we all had our little bit to say, The one thing that is very true about it the Highway lot ignored much of what the hauliers suggested, So perhaps things may have been a lot different today if they had listened to what we all had to say, Regards Larry.
Truth is there is too much traffic now for all the River crossings to run quickly and smoothly, the new Tyne Tunnel is an improvement on traffic flow but it all comes to a halt once you get through it either way and the Western By Pass is a joke even more so since the 50 limit which most people still ignore little realising over 1400 motorists were fined for speeding since its introduction. During the peak times the central motorway is a hurry up and wait and one collision or a jumper on the bridge then everything stops. There was a plan at one time to make a crossing from St Anthony’s over to Pelaw around 1925 and considered at different times after that until finally in 1992, maybe it will come back again in the future.
Frankydobo:
Truth is there is too much traffic now for all the River crossings to run quickly and smoothly, the new Tyne Tunnel is an improvement on traffic flow but it all comes to a halt once you get through it either way and the Western By Pass is a joke even more so since the 50 limit which most people still ignore little realising over 1400 motorists were fined for speeding since its introduction. During the peak times the central motorway is a hurry up and wait and one collision or a jumper on the bridge then everything stops. There was a plan at one time to make a crossing from St Anthony’s over to Pelaw around 1925 and considered at different times after that until finally in 1992, maybe it will come back again in the future.
Well Frankydobo you’ve hit the nail on the head there, I remember when Costain was building the C/Motorway, We were involved hauling sand & roadstone to their batcher plant at The Manors, There was a meeting one day as to the progress etc, I wasn’t involved with the meeting but on of the fellows in a suit told me that half way through the development it was realised it wasn’t going to do what they thought it would as to the traffic problems, I think myself they got it very wrong from the start when you look at the unfinished bit when heading north, It goes nowhere, Just my opinion of course, Regards Larry.
That’s right Larry, you should be able to sweep through or around the City and carry on North without a hold up, I know the A1 isn’t perfect to Scotland but at least the old Villages, Towns and hard climbs have been bypassed and steady progress can be made to Edinburgh. Our City is as bad as London and Birmingham to get through today, it needs sorting out. Cheers Franky
IIRC what is now the Ncle central motorway was meant to be the eastern side of a whole motorway ring around the city. It was also going to be linked with the Gateshead fly over by a new bridge to the east of the Tyne bridge. Finance and other factors got in the way and I think that’s why there are so many unfinished “stubs"on the Newcastle side and the Gateshead fly over stops in mid air.
Another one of T Dan Smith’s " City in the sky ideas” !!!
tyneside:
IIRC what is now the Ncle central motorway was meant to be the eastern side of a whole motorway ring around the city. It was also going to be linked with the Gateshead fly over by a new bridge to the east of the Tyne bridge. Finance and other factors got in the way and I think that’s why there are so many unfinished “stubs"on the Newcastle side and the Gateshead fly over stops in mid air.
Another one of T Dan Smith’s " City in the sky ideas” !!!
Aye a lot of his ideas were totaly useless, I wonder what the T Stood for ■■?, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
tyneside:
IIRC what is now the Ncle central motorway was meant to be the eastern side of a whole motorway ring around the city. It was also going to be linked with the Gateshead fly over by a new bridge to the east of the Tyne bridge. Finance and other factors got in the way and I think that’s why there are so many unfinished “stubs"on the Newcastle side and the Gateshead fly over stops in mid air.
Another one of T Dan Smith’s " City in the sky ideas” !!!Aye a lot of his ideas were totaly useless, I wonder what the T Stood for ■■?, Regards Larry.
Thomas Daniel Smith !!! Tyneside.
tyneside:
Lawrence Dunbar:
tyneside:
IIRC what is now the Ncle central motorway was meant to be the eastern side of a whole motorway ring around the city. It was also going to be linked with the Gateshead fly over by a new bridge to the east of the Tyne bridge. Finance and other factors got in the way and I think that’s why there are so many unfinished “stubs"on the Newcastle side and the Gateshead fly over stops in mid air.
Another one of T Dan Smith’s " City in the sky ideas” !!!Aye a lot of his ideas were totaly useless, I wonder what the T Stood for ■■?, Regards Larry.
Thomas Daniel Smith !!! Tyneside.
Thank you Tyneside for a moment I thought it was ■■■■■ Regards LARRY.
Lawrence Dunbar:
tyneside:
Lawrence Dunbar:
tyneside:
IIRC what is now the Ncle central motorway was meant to be the eastern side of a whole motorway ring around the city. It was also going to be linked with the Gateshead fly over by a new bridge to the east of the Tyne bridge. Finance and other factors got in the way and I think that’s why there are so many unfinished “stubs"on the Newcastle side and the Gateshead fly over stops in mid air.
Another one of T Dan Smith’s " City in the sky ideas” !!!Aye a lot of his ideas were totaly useless, I wonder what the T Stood for ■■?, Regards Larry.
Thomas Daniel Smith !!! Tyneside.
Thank you Tyneside for a moment I thought it was [zb]. Regards LARRY.
Hiya,
And yes Larry a lot of people made a lot of money out of him being what you thought the “T” stood for.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hello Tyneside, Ive just been talking to my pal David Lowdon, from Seaton Burn & hes asked me to ask you If you remember a lad called Rand, He went to Gateshead Tech the same time as he did, He worked for you at that time. Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hello Tyneside, Ive just been talking to my pal David Lowdon, from Seaton Burn & hes asked me to ask you If you remember a lad called Rand, He went to Gateshead Tech the same time as he did, He worked for you at that time. Regards Larry.
Hi Larry. The name John Rand rings a bell. Not sure now but would it have been late seventies early eighties. If it is the lad I am thinking of he lived at Lumley, was pretty keen on motor bikes. Can you ask if this is correct.
tyneside:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hello Tyneside, Ive just been talking to my pal David Lowdon, from Seaton Burn & hes asked me to ask you If you remember a lad called Rand, He went to Gateshead Tech the same time as he did, He worked for you at that time. Regards Larry.Hi Larry. The name John Rand rings a bell. Not sure now but would it have been late seventies early eighties. If it is the lad I am thinking of he lived at Lumley, was pretty keen on motor bikes. Can you ask if this is correct.
I will ask David the next time I see him, He did say his first name was John, David served his time at Leylands when they were on the Valley & he was pally with this lad. Regards Larry.
tyneside:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hello Tyneside, Ive just been talking to my pal David Lowdon, from Seaton Burn & hes asked me to ask you If you remember a lad called Rand, He went to Gateshead Tech the same time as he did, He worked for you at that time. Regards Larry.Hi Larry. The name John Rand rings a bell. Not sure now but would it have been late seventies early eighties. If it is the lad I am thinking of he lived at Lumley, was pretty keen on motor bikes. Can you ask if this is correct.
Ive just spoken to David & he said that’s him, He just wondered if you new what he was doing now, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
tyneside:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hello Tyneside, Ive just been talking to my pal David Lowdon, from Seaton Burn & hes asked me to ask you If you remember a lad called Rand, He went to Gateshead Tech the same time as he did, He worked for you at that time. Regards Larry.Hi Larry. The name John Rand rings a bell. Not sure now but would it have been late seventies early eighties. If it is the lad I am thinking of he lived at Lumley, was pretty keen on motor bikes. Can you ask if this is correct.
Ive just spoken to David & he said that’s him, He just wondered if you new what he was doing now, Regards Larry.
Hi Larry. I did bump into him in the middle of Northallerton a few years ago. He was working on a farm down that way. Don’t know what he is up to now. Cheers Tyneside