History
TRL Limited, trading as the Transport Research Laboratory, is a fully independent private company offering a transport consultancy and research service to the public and private sector. Originally established in 1933 by the UK Government as the Road Research Laboratory (RRL), it was privatised in 1996.
During the Second World War the Laboratory contributed to the war effort. Among its contributions, under William Glanville, were research that aided the development of plastic armour, the bouncing bomb and the Disney bomb.
In the 1970s, the TRRL moved from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Department of the Environment
At the TRRL, Frank Blackamore developed the mini-roundabout which was adopted in 1975.
It became an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport in 1992 and changed its name to Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). It was privatised in 1996, though plans were criticized at the time
Report.
Access was pretty easy. We first arrived at one of the old testing warehouses that had been shut down a couple of years ago. The building was in pretty good shape apart from a few vandals that had thrown a brick through the office window.
Was interesting to go through some of the papers reading the tests that had been performed on various vehicles.
Was cool to see the old test track and various other buildings – was almost like walking on abandoned roads with the old road signs and various car parts. Regret not bringing a bike in or similar as it was A LOT of walking around the site. The entire site is absolutely huge and we didn’t get to see everything unfortunately as the main part of the site was still active (As of this minute now the entire site is empty and they are preparing for demolition very soon).
Pics
View attachment 700657
Cheers for taking a look!
TRL Limited, trading as the Transport Research Laboratory, is a fully independent private company offering a transport consultancy and research service to the public and private sector. Originally established in 1933 by the UK Government as the Road Research Laboratory (RRL), it was privatised in 1996.
During the Second World War the Laboratory contributed to the war effort. Among its contributions, under William Glanville, were research that aided the development of plastic armour, the bouncing bomb and the Disney bomb.
In the 1970s, the TRRL moved from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Department of the Environment
At the TRRL, Frank Blackamore developed the mini-roundabout which was adopted in 1975.
It became an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport in 1992 and changed its name to Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). It was privatised in 1996, though plans were criticized at the time
Report.
Access was pretty easy. We first arrived at one of the old testing warehouses that had been shut down a couple of years ago. The building was in pretty good shape apart from a few vandals that had thrown a brick through the office window.
Was interesting to go through some of the papers reading the tests that had been performed on various vehicles.
Was cool to see the old test track and various other buildings – was almost like walking on abandoned roads with the old road signs and various car parts. Regret not bringing a bike in or similar as it was A LOT of walking around the site. The entire site is absolutely huge and we didn’t get to see everything unfortunately as the main part of the site was still active (As of this minute now the entire site is empty and they are preparing for demolition very soon).
Pics
View attachment 700657
Cheers for taking a look!
