The Transport Research Laboratory, apparently nestled between Beijing and Muzzy's landmark Kebab Van |
A British Pathé report showing the vast central area of the facility (1963)
The Transport Research Laboratory as an entity has existed in various guises since 1933, when it was established (then as the 'Road Research Lab') by the Ministry of Transport in response to the rise of the horseless carriage. Since then it has been used for testing new ideas around infrastructure (road signs, lights, junctions), vehicle safety and capability, crash barriers, road surfaces and all manner of other things in the ongoing mission to understand and influence (through legislation) the automobile's impact on society and the environment. They've even made films about their research, like this one:
Having been at work since the 1930s, it was inevitably also involved in warfare research during WWII, apparently playing a part in the creation of such things as the 'Disney Bomb' (a rocket-propelled explosive named in reference to an animated propaganda film funded by ol' Walt, which depicted one), the dam-busting 'bouncing bomb', plastic armor, and new techniques for building runways. Post-war, it even became the home of one of the now decommissioned Broadmoor sirens (1952-2016).
Another British Pathé clip, on a 'hands free' DS and a crash test (unrelated), from 1963
The research lab initiative was originally based in Harmondsworth, but in 1967 it was relocated to the facility in Crowthorne (their archived 1973 report goes into more detail), where it could better test vehicles and road layouts in a controlled environment. The mini-roundabout, the zebra crossing, speed bumps, a cyclist-friendly roundabout layout, and even the Green Cross Code were all developed through the TRL.
A road noise testing truck takes the banked corner
Personally, I first became aware of this site as a child. When I was being driven to band practice, I'd look out the car window and see, through gaps in the trees, a barrier for an unknown road running parallel to Nine Mile Ride. It sweeps up into a banked corner that arcs away and into the mysterious woods. As a young car addict it was a highly evocative sight, making you imagine what must go on there. I'm pretty sure I once saw a Caterham on the banking, which was exciting!
Over time, the test track also got used as a filming location, as well as a site for private companies and car shows – although the latter activity was halted due to local complaints about hooliganism. One thread on Pistonheads suggests that BTCC teams even used to use it for shakedown tests. By around 2013 though, the track had stopped being used as the TRL's activities there were scaled back, and it steadily fell into disrepair. Such a huge facility is expensive to maintain, and eventually the whole test track got sold off for redevelopment. The research lab's head office is still located in the middle of it, though, aptly accessible via a roundabout.
Aerial photo of the south-west corner of the track, before it was reworked. Those buildings and the dark-brown patch of land are now all covered in new houses |
Buckler's Forest
When I found out the site had been repurposed and was freely accessible to the public, I had to go and have a nosey around it. Originally the land owners' plan was to turn the place into a 'mini town', but public resistance and calls to protect the woodland area around it changed those plans a bit. Instead, the track was simply dug up and, as the museum-esque info boards around the site call it, "de-engineered." The place is now known as Buckler's Forest, referencing the Buckler sports car company that existed in Crowthorne in the 1950s (which was news to me).
An introductory info board. There are three recommended walking routes, with very pessimistic time estimates. |
Walking the route anticlockwise takes you around the smaller part of the figure-of-8 first, flanked on either side by dense forest. Dotted around the site are green boxes which previously contained "electronics" (presumably data gathering equipment for recording the weather or something related to testing) and now either contain information cards, are hollowed out to make small benches, or are stuffed with wood and bricks to make insect habitats.
At the end of this long sweeping curve, a forest fire watchtower reveals itself, now used only as a framework for mounting bat boxes and bird boxes to encourage the return of local wildlife. It's quite an impressive structure, towering (appropriately) above the trees and overlooking where a six-hectare (14.8-acre) circle of tarmac, dubbed The Pan, used to be.
Needless to say, it's not going to be any use for trying out new roundabout designs anymore. Unless they're for dirt bikes. When the pan was dug up, they discovered a watercourse beneath it, which subsequently received attention to establish it at ground level as part of a "blue network" (as the landscapers put it) through the whole area.
Take in such views as Some Murky Water and The Tops of Two Trees. Also the fire tower |
But the first time I went, I simply went right at the fire tower and kept following what's left of the track route anticlockwise. Even the dirt path that replaces the asphalt would be wide enough for a rally car, I reckon... certainly social distancing on foot wasn't hard to do out here.
But the best bit of this place is yet to appear. Take a break inside the little green box if you need to (mind your head), and then follow the curve between banks of trees... after a while, it will gradually reveal itself...
At last, I can see the other end of that mysterious banked corner! They've left it intact, allowing the tarmac to 'fade in' from under the grass and briefly assume its original width.
There's just something inherently impressive about a banked corner, especially one surrounded by trees to sufficient extent that you can't see where it ends. It reminds me of trips to Brooklands – albeit a fair bit smaller!
This one was designed to be taken at speeds up to 155mph (250km/h), which, considering it was the tightest corner on the main test course, isn't too shabby at all. Imagine something properly quick rounding this curve (towards us) at 155 and then firing out of it and straight across the flat open pan...
...alas, no such shenanigans are possible today, not least because an amphitheatre has been bolted onto the banking halfway around. They encourage you to climb up it and "admire the view" (of... some trees?), although the metallic staircase bears a resemblance to the Spa-Francorchamps 'death stairs' loathed and feared by motorsport reporters whenever it rains...
They're quite proud of Quadrophenia and the Sinclair C5, aren't they... those factoids were on the skidpan sign as well |
If this place isn't challenging you as a walking route, then feel free to try walking up that banking without the aid of those stairs a couple of times. Just make sure to descend safely... or stay at the top and walk further around from up high on the grass. Before long, you'll notice the curve start to level out enough for a safer shuffle back down to flat ground.
It is at this point that we must leave the main test course, as the long straight coming off it is blocked off and doomed to get housed-over. Instead, you'll notice a gravel 'slip road' uphill and into the woods.
But remnants of the vehicle testing facility are still to be found between these trees, as a network of small roads were threaded through them to test ideas for junctions in less well-sighted environments.
Just got to walk up this hill first...
Aha, some more tarmac. The route straight ahead shortcuts most of the remainder of this route, but that's no way to go about a photo blog! So instead of Forest Walk, let's detour around to Hill Start Hill, which you'll be surprised to know is a hill that was used for doing hill starts.
Pictured: not a hill |
Following the curve around the perimeter of this partially-preserved area takes you to a junction for cycle routes, the markings poking through from under the dirt until the adjacent road disappears completely under new grass.
And here's what the intersection looks like the other way, joining onto the shortcut I've avoided (or as they appear to call it, Beaconsfield).
A staggered crossroad (well, it would be if the stretch of tarmac left-of-screen was still there) then takes you off-road for a brief meander through the trees...
From in there, you emerge out here. Spin around and there's a fork in the road. One way takes you back onto The Pan, and the other up Hill Start Hill.
Follow the watermark... |
There are actually three different 'hills' (I presume of different gradients – one sign said 1:6) all converging at a plateau at the top, which is now a tranquil little picnic area.
Round these parts, Wednesday is Speed Control Hump Day |
Actually sign, it is you who must give way to nature |
If I've understood the map correctly then this (very steep) route off Hill Start Hill will eventually lead to a 'community hub' for the people living in all those shiny new houses.
Upon returning to the central area, you can just see the TRL head office overlooking all of this. Work continues to go on, although one assumes that most of the tests formerly conducted around here are now possible to simulate instead, or are otherwise done elsewhere at somewhere like MIRA.
It would've been cool to see the track being used as-was, and walking around here isn't quite as evocative as visiting an old race track... but at least I know now where that banked corner through the trees goes.
Visited this place a week ago, and if I'm honest was saddened by it all, I had mental visions of running over Belgian Pave in an Austin Landcrab, or indeed whizzing around the banked curve at over 100mph.
ReplyDeleteThe whole thing would have been better preserved as was, instead of cannibalising the roadways and test tracks and building yet more soulless housing.
If nothing else I made it up the banked turn without rupturing any ligaments, and managed a quick lie down afterward on one of the strange seating points, made from "deengineered" drainage covers
NimlaeOmosji Jared Ellenberg https://wakelet.com/wake/GsPZd9jH0JJd3P-Xo44Nx
ReplyDeletecoabestlugoo
There never was a skid pan there was a central area and a long straight with a terminal area at the end that had a Bridport stone and tarmacadam surface for Braking tests plus a 200ton concrete block for crash test's. The hill was actually used for blind summet testing not hill starts. And the Bank bending had a speed limit of 100mph you was never able to do 155mph however it did allow vehicles to exit the bend at higher speeds into the long straight which in itself had a glass panel room where a camera could take pictures of tyre treads and it was able to soak that part of the track with its water bars built in to simulate wet weather conditions
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I was there in the 80s for business and had no idea it had been turned back to nature since then. Looks like an interesting walk on a pleasant day. One thing – that's not a fire watchtower, it was the location of one of the Broadmoor sirens which would go off to warn locals that a patient had escaped from the nearby high security hospital.
ReplyDeleteFascinating read about the self-driving car advancements! Technology is changing the way we travel. If you have an older car in Caboolture that's become more hassle than highway, there are services offering Car removal Caboolture. They can conveniently remove your unwanted car and recycle it responsibly, potentially giving you some cash back to explore the future of transportation!
ReplyDeleteThe insights from the Transport Research Laboratory’s test are incredibly enlightening, particularly regarding vehicle safety and performance. The focus on rigorous testing highlights the importance of proper vehicle maintenance. For those looking to part ways with their car, Scrapping your car for cash can be a straightforward way to get value out of an old vehicle while supporting sustainable practices.
ReplyDeleteThis article on the Transport Research Laboratory's test track is truly informative! It's fascinating to learn about the advanced testing methods and how they contribute to vehicle safety and innovation. For those looking to dispose of their old vehicles responsibly, considering Cash for Scrap Cars Seven Hills is a smart move to support such innovative advancements.
ReplyDeleteJoli blog. Merci d'avoir partagé avec nous. Continuez à partager.
ReplyDeleteVous souhaitez acheter des véhicules Renault d'occasion ?
Véhicules Renault d'occasion à vendre