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Picture identification

ASTONITE

ASTONITE

master brummie
I downloaded this picture a couple of days ago , its title said 'old Birmingham'. It doesnt look familiar to me, any of you sleuths out there recognise where? No doubt someone will even name the lorries!
 
I was going to say the M5 too. When it was built I seem to remember that it was only 2 lanes but am not sure. Nice piece of strait road and seemingly a bridge at right angles. Just guessing Swan Lane bridge at Upton Warren???
 
Yes it was originally two lanes, but the image is showing two lane BUT no hard shoulder so maybe not the M5
 
What about the A452 Collector Rd the section that runs from Marston Green to Castle Bromwich. Before the M6 was built along side of it.

Phil
 
I see two others have beat me and I agree with them. The two lanes and the terrain look remarkably like the A45 just befor the Allesly turn travellin from Brum.
 
I used that road so often at one time Stitcher I could have driven it blindfold.
 
Yeah, come to think of it, I was a passenger in a car going west on the M5 in the early days and we had a windshield shatter. I can remember that we pulled off onto the shoulder out of the way of the traffic.
 
Bernie D'Boult, I drove whenever I went to the Stock Car Racing near Binley. I also drove it for years to get to the M45 six days a week as I drove to Chelsea and back. I cant be certain but it does look like it.
 
I think it was the M1. I can remember going on this first motorway when it had only just been opened. My then boyfriend and I went on it by mistake and as there was hardly any traffic on it, did a U turn over the central reservation !!!!!!! Can't believe we did that now.

Judy
 
It was Rupert - I recall going down to London soon after it opened. My Dad stopped on the Hard (though in those days they were more like firm) shoulder to make a cup of tea.

The picture shows no Hard shoulders and only two lanes - so not the M1. Also at that time the M1 Started just Sth of Rugby so not a Birmingham photo.

Picture of M1 As it opened


 
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The vehicles suggest it is earlier that the Sutton Coldfield by-pass is my feeling.
 
We are looking for a seriously long piece of straight road with two bridges close together. There are two bridges close together over the A45... one for Fillongley Road and one for Walsh Lane. The A45 is straight right there so perhaps it is a picture of one of those bridges taken from the other.
 
Observations; Presumably running North/South or South/North given that the late afternoon or early morning shadows are at right angles to the road. Given the lack of, and age, of the vehicles I would think it pre-dates the motorways, including the lack of hard shoulder.
Interestingly there are posts either side of each carriageway, not unlike the current motorway marker posts, presumably with reflectors on them.
So my bet, if it is in the Birmingham area, would be the Meridan by-pass as it was known. The collector road has been mentioned but I think it is too old and, from memory, there is only one road bridge over that which is the Water Orton road which crosses it at an angle.
 
Just a thought, the M45[the once busy but now largely forgotten motorway] was only 2 lane!

Rupert, I didn't spot that the photo' must have been taken from a bridge, good job I didn't get a job as a detective!!
 
Rupert, have just checked the map, between Walsh Lane and Fillongley Road the A45 runs almost East/West! But given the photo' has obviously been taken very late/very early in the year, it might work with the shadows!
 
Am I mistaken or is there a 'slip road' showing the other side of the bridge? There is one to Maxtoke Lane in about the right position on the map.
 
Just think how many Rovers and Triumphs were tested along there!
 
Not to mention Jaguars.

Mind you the 'Meriden Mile' - the run from the Meriden cyclists memorial towards Hampton in Arden was used a lot as well.
 
Thankyou all for your time and effort, I didnt think that it would be so difficult, I have quite a few unidentified photos in my collection, how about this one, again, I have no clue as to where it was taken ,or when.
 
malvern said:
A45 Coventry-Birmingham
Click to expand...

Fully agree. I think the photographer was on the Fillongley Road bridge.

Meriden Mad Mile! My pals and I would cycle or walk from Marston Green to Meriden to watch the Triumph motorcycles being speed tested along there, the road testers often flat on the tank, giving it large!
I own a 1969 650 TR6 Trophy and occasionally do the same......not often enough, come to think of it.

Ian
 
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