'Although in these days of automation, we're cutting out the elbow work' I love how relative this is, I mean there is still a hell of a lot of elbow grease going on there. OK, compared to the navvies building the railways in victorian times this is probably light work, but compared to now, this is graft. Derrick hoists and a lot of manual pulling with no little or no safety gear. Great piece of history on film this.
This footage is absolutely incredible, the speed, efficiency, and bravery of the men in this video is unmatched. Nowadays a lot of line work is done from helicopters.
@@PhilbyFavourites I am simply saying it does not mean people are not brave now it means they simply minimise climbing up a pylon because of the obvious safety concerns the comment on replying to literally says unmatched with their level of bravery implying that it’s brave to risk your life because of helicopters being less accessible that is not the case. People are just more sensible that safer technology becomes available. They use it
Climbing a 120 ft pylon in flappy saggy garden wellies.... Cutting a one inch galvanised steel and aluminium cable with a one shilling and a tanner hand held diy hacksaw.... True mark of a man in the 1960's.
My dad worked for the BICC as a driver for 44 years, he delivered these cable drums throughout the country.This gang are most likely bicc employees, these drums more than likely came from their yard at Erith... now Batt cables as the Bicc only exists as Balfour Beatty.
What I found most interesting is the commentator said a precision operation down to the nearest "millimetre", in 1966 which was quite some time before the U.K. went metric.
Yes , Harry was commentating even as a young child . He did actually do the commentary on a series of aviation documentaries in the 80s - in his normal voice !
As a kid we lived right by this line of pylons. Before they went into service we used them as giant climbing frames, mother used to pull her hair out trying to stop us. I'm sure this is what set me up for career as a steel erector, the higher the better.
@@frasermalcolm2645well done Fraser, I had to quickly refer to my Anglo-Scotch reference library there. I salute you (or should that be yeeeu) RUclips - made for gently taking the Micky 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
2bravehearheart791414-idfl, They are not "engineers" they are linesmen of different grades, Trainee, Improver, Second class and First class. Nor are they all, strictly speaking "British." There were four main contract companies to the CEGB a public body, publicly owned. The majority of the linesmen and foremen with AEI were Irish. About half or more with J.L. EVE were Irish. When we rewired the original supply of electricity to the Harland and Wolf shipyard, in Belfast, in 1962 this was the wiring crew for A.E.I: Tommy Riley, General foreman Drogheda; Billy Burdock ,Dublin; Denis and Patsy McGill, Dublin; MIck Mundy, Tipperary; Chris Henry, Mayo; Frank Coghill, Scotland; Henry O'Brien, Donegal; John Doherty, Donegal; Tommy McDonagh, Galway; Tommy Eddy, Sunderland ;John Keaveney, Galway; Jimmy Keaveney, Galway;, Tim Cahill, Limerick; Chris Cahill, Limerick; Hector Todd, Penrith; Gerry Taggart, Belfast; Peter Mackin Belfast; The women who woked in the canteen of the Belfast Ropeworks in East Belfast used to call us the "freestaters" They were the kindest, most decent people, and we were sad leaving there going back to the next contract in Hereford. Although. and perhaps within their minds, good reason, we were viewed with considerable suspicion -and not well concealed hostility at first- by the black bowler, hatted men who lorded over the big gates of the then still working shipyard
We need to keep them to ensure electricity keeps flowing. We also need a hell of a lot more of them to expand grid capacity to where it needs to be to meet growing demand.
I feel like this is the sort of video that turns up on those Facebook groups called things like “Brother’s and Sister’s Proud 2 B British 🇬🇧🇬🇧”. “Remember when pylon men were REAL men?”
@Squant yep, but the ones selling the “Britain used to be great line” are the ones who bought a house in the 70s that has increased in value 10 fold, and will do anything to make sure that no one else gets to share in their unearned wealth.
I love Pylons, but My Carew and Bromley's Friends will look this pylons in Kent, I'm British Pathé and BBC of my academy stuffs of southeastern about this footage is incredible speed of this electricity wires with pylons from National Grid UK Limited in 1966. I'm gonna in to 0:01
Interesting.. they were likely BICC Construction company workers. And clearly using BICC cables... By then Balfour Beatty had been bought as a subsidiary. My grandfather ( PV Hunter)was still a director And deputy Chairman as well as research director. Soon after his death all the cable making was sold off. And BICC construction, and the remains of the group continued trading under the Balfour Beatty name.
Proper hard-working man, nothing like the softies we have today with there silly bright, yellow jackets and ridiculous hats, health and safety softies nothing like the lads of yesterday.
You have to thank these guys because they are the reason that their great-grandchildren are able to ignore the world and focus on their phones to be truly useless citizens of the future…..
The “working at heights regulations of 2005” put an end to the bigger risks of free climbing without being attached at all times. When I did my Overhead linesman training in 1987/88, a hard hat was required but we could free climb all over the tower and only have to attach to the tower at point of work. Since 2005 however, as soon as we put a foot/hand on the tower, we had to be attached permanently.
you get used to wearing them ..........nothing makes you feel as miserable as having wet feet on a cold winters day .....dont forget that this was a time when men were men , women knew their place , and sheep were nervous ....! and before the advent of the twin gods of health and safety ..... you got well payed but you earned it ....!
Have you seen the UK now the road working clowns hang around for weeks on a job faces glued to mobile phones not lifting a finger for weeks, 2.5 miles a week this lot covered.
Im 43 and can honestly say Ive never noticed one of these being built. I can only assume they were all built in the 60's and we havent got the ability to make them any more.
Heath and safety whats that? No helmets, no safety harnesses to clip onto and prevent falls..... clearly the CEGB cared about it's staff and contractors.....
In the 21st Century, this job would be made 10x more complicated with cranes, safety gear and "welfare units" - talk about how we've lost the plot of getting things done.
the building of pylons was a dangerous occupation in the 1960s, and many men lost their lives while doing this work. The exact number of deaths is unknown, but it is estimated that hundreds of men died while building pylons during this period.
the big one in Paris has become a monument.
And the one in blackpool!
'Although in these days of automation, we're cutting out the elbow work'
I love how relative this is, I mean there is still a hell of a lot of elbow grease going on there. OK, compared to the navvies building the railways in victorian times this is probably light work, but compared to now, this is graft. Derrick hoists and a lot of manual pulling with no little or no safety gear. Great piece of history on film this.
I love how the Pylons haven't changed one bit. The good ol' ones
There are new ones in the south west of England and they look really weird.
@@johnphillips4783they also seem to take forever to install and commission
This footage is absolutely incredible, the speed, efficiency, and bravery of the men in this video is unmatched. Nowadays a lot of line work is done from helicopters.
_"...and bravery of the men in this video is unmatched"_ - beg to disagree, watch Fred Dibnah doing his steeplejacking...;-)
Helicopter lineworking is very Dangerous.
It’s not bravery it’s just as cheaper to use a helicopter than pay. People are price to potentially risk their life.
@@UKsystems58 years ago it wasn’t cheaper to use helicopters.
Try to understand the historical context of the information……
@@PhilbyFavourites I am simply saying it does not mean people are not brave now it means they simply minimise climbing up a pylon because of the obvious safety concerns the comment on replying to literally says unmatched with their level of bravery implying that it’s brave to risk your life because of helicopters being less accessible that is not the case. People are just more sensible that safer technology becomes available. They use it
Climbing a 120 ft pylon in flappy saggy garden wellies....
Cutting a one inch galvanised steel and aluminium cable with a one shilling and a tanner hand held diy hacksaw....
True mark of a man in the 1960's.
My dad worked for the BICC as a driver for 44 years, he delivered these cable drums throughout the country.This gang are most likely bicc employees, these drums more than likely came from their yard at Erith... now Batt cables as the Bicc only exists as Balfour Beatty.
Erith !! gosh!! Haven't been to Erith for 60 years. I bet its changed.
Says bicc on the drums they are
What I found most interesting is the commentator said a precision operation down to the nearest "millimetre", in 1966 which was quite some time before the U.K. went metric.
Yeah ,good point
Thanks to parliament, Metrification was a huge thing in 1965, it led to a Quango in 1969 called the metrification board. The rest is history. ❤
Imperial millimeters, probably.
Good god. These guys are seriously proficient and they are taking serious risks. Very hard working men.
Fantastic piece of footage absolutely loved watching that and good to hear the voice of Harry Enfield doing the commentary.
Yes , Harry was commentating even as a young child . He did actually do the commentary on a series of aviation documentaries in the 80s - in his normal voice !
It is only recently I have grown to appreciate the grandur of these pylons proudly and majestically sweeping across the country. I hope they remain.
It’s very awesome footage to see these men build the L6 towers :)
As a kid we lived right by this line of pylons. Before they went into service we used them as giant climbing frames, mother used to pull her hair out trying to stop us. I'm sure this is what set me up for career as a steel erector, the higher the better.
@MrJonah53 where is the location of this please ?
@@laddersman I believe I'm right in saying that the Pylons run from Dungeness, to Winchester. We lived near Uckfield, in East Sussex.
@@MrJonah53 thankyou
The good old days of absolutely no safety equipment!
Yeah these days its takes 4 hrs to kit up
They did have special wellies for climbing those pylons ;-)
@@frasermalcolm2645well done Fraser, I had to quickly refer to my Anglo-Scotch reference library there.
I salute you (or should that be yeeeu)
RUclips - made for gently taking the Micky 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
RESPECT!
Fantastic footage of hard working British engineers 🇬🇧👍🏻👏👏
2bravehearheart791414-idfl, They are not "engineers" they are linesmen of different grades, Trainee, Improver, Second class and First class. Nor are they all, strictly speaking "British." There were four main contract companies to the CEGB a public body, publicly owned. The majority of the linesmen and foremen with AEI were Irish. About half or more with J.L. EVE were Irish. When we rewired the original supply of electricity to the Harland and Wolf shipyard, in Belfast, in 1962 this was the wiring crew for A.E.I: Tommy Riley, General foreman Drogheda; Billy Burdock ,Dublin; Denis and Patsy McGill, Dublin; MIck Mundy, Tipperary; Chris Henry, Mayo; Frank Coghill, Scotland; Henry O'Brien, Donegal; John Doherty, Donegal; Tommy McDonagh, Galway; Tommy Eddy, Sunderland ;John Keaveney, Galway; Jimmy Keaveney, Galway;, Tim Cahill, Limerick; Chris Cahill, Limerick; Hector Todd, Penrith; Gerry Taggart, Belfast; Peter Mackin Belfast; The women who woked in the canteen of the Belfast Ropeworks in East Belfast used to call us the "freestaters" They were the kindest, most decent people, and we were sad leaving there going back to the next contract in Hereford. Although. and perhaps within their minds, good reason, we were viewed with considerable suspicion -and not well concealed hostility at first- by the black bowler, hatted men who lorded over the big gates of the then still working shipyard
Excellent factual reply, pays homage to the mostly Irish constitution crews of UK infrastructure.
mostly paddys steel erectors
wow the quality of this footage is amazing
I can honestly say almost 60 years on I have never heard one person say how we need to keep these for posterity.
I believe they should be kept
We need to keep them to ensure electricity keeps flowing. We also need a hell of a lot more of them to expand grid capacity to where it needs to be to meet growing demand.
How we need to keep these for posterity ....... There I have said it
I love them.
I feel like this is the sort of video that turns up on those Facebook groups called things like “Brother’s and Sister’s Proud 2 B British 🇬🇧🇬🇧”.
“Remember when pylon men were REAL men?”
"The past was SO much better" is a very easy to sell lie.
@Squant yep, but the ones selling the “Britain used to be great line” are the ones who bought a house in the 70s that has increased in value 10 fold, and will do anything to make sure that no one else gets to share in their unearned wealth.
Not a different between the another countries today
@@IstasPumaNevadabut the past was better it’s just computer technology has advanced so much
i shall now think of these remarkable men, when i pass the pylons they constructed
0% steroid injection
0% gym
0% diet food
100% beautiful, perfect body shape
Zero GMOs
Zero antibiotics
Zero processed foods
Zero chemical preservatives
Ah yes the Pylon men, distant cousins of the Pillar men
He climbs up the glass insulators like it's a stepladder. No security harness and not a moment's hesitation. We had balls of steel in those days.
- "what if I slip?"
- "nice knowin' ya"
Thing of beauty
Love the massy tractor lifting the insulators 😮😌
It’s amazing that these guys were so nimble with a pair of bowling balls hanging between their legs.😎
The days before PPE was even thought about! Scary! *Thunder, wind and rain consideration?
Ahh the good old days. Not a safety harness in sight, just people living in the moment.
I watched some Japanese pylon men working through the snow on a bleak day in January. I couldn't help myself. I called "Bravo!".
Here in the Philippines, pylons are still built the old way similar to this video.
Absolute bloody Heroes.
I love Pylons, but My Carew and Bromley's Friends will look this pylons in Kent, I'm British Pathé and BBC of my academy stuffs of southeastern about this footage is incredible speed of this electricity wires with pylons from National Grid UK Limited in 1966. I'm gonna in to 0:01
By today's standards, an astonishing lack of PPE. Even the basics like hats, harnesses missing.
The mud they left on those insulators are still there to this day.
whereabouts are these pylons?
Nem semmi munka volt, ezek a dolgozók igazi hősök! 💪
Not a high-vis, hard hat or safety harness in sight. Just a lot of daring, common sense and ginormous balls
the music sounds like it was for west side story
Wonder what the mortality rate for this job was
Interesting.. they were likely BICC Construction company workers. And clearly using BICC cables... By then Balfour Beatty had been bought as a subsidiary. My grandfather ( PV Hunter)was still a director And deputy Chairman as well as research director. Soon after his death all the cable making was sold off. And BICC construction, and the remains of the group continued trading under the Balfour Beatty name.
Proper hard-working man, nothing like the softies we have today with there silly bright, yellow jackets and ridiculous hats, health and safety softies nothing like the lads of yesterday.
There used to be a power station in our town and we had a massive plylon nearby, it would hum when it rained
All are lean fit looking working men
happy pride
These days they would say Men is social construct of colonial education and must be eradicated LOL
Super video, no sign of any safety gear at all, brave men on those cables. Ridiculous musical accompaniment!
You have to thank these guys because they are the reason that their great-grandchildren are able to ignore the world and focus on their phones to be truly useless citizens of the future…..
This was 1966, the HaS@W Act came into effect in 1974.
this is a cool piece of film, I see these things all over and wondered about the guys who built them.
Back in the day before we all started getting ripped off with energy prices.
Pre hasaw - the risks they took
The “working at heights regulations of 2005” put an end to the bigger risks of free climbing without being attached at all times. When I did my Overhead linesman training in 1987/88, a hard hat was required but we could free climb all over the tower and only have to attach to the tower at point of work. Since 2005 however, as soon as we put a foot/hand on the tower, we had to be attached permanently.
Amazing video
excellent
I see that the early Monty pylon performances were somewhat less amusing than we became accustomed to🤪
All done in wellies
you get used to wearing them ..........nothing makes you feel as miserable as having wet feet on a cold winters day .....dont forget that this was a time when men were men , women knew their place , and sheep were nervous ....!
and before the advent of the twin gods of health and safety .....
you got well payed but you earned it ....!
Pylon Men❤❤❤
Interesting, but the absence of fall arrest gear gave me the cringe.
RIP the pylons of old. I love them things! :D
Fantastic video!!!
When blokes had big knackers!
I was unaware that they needed to lift parts or swing hammers with their testicles. Don't recall hearing that in the video.
Have to say, the historical preservation prediction has not come to pass.
Brilliant.
Have you seen the UK now the road working clowns hang around for weeks on a job faces glued to mobile phones not lifting a finger for weeks, 2.5 miles a week this lot covered.
3:01 Is he phoning directly with the electricity grid?
Getting stuff done!
Wow brave skilled men
Love pylons I do
No harness? These men had big balls
Practically speaking, enlarged testicles would make their job more difficult. I suspect their testicles were likely of average size.
This was built but 20 or 30 years after this this was gonna break cause of the galloping then it had to rebuild
Im 43 and can honestly say Ive never noticed one of these being built. I can only assume they were all built in the 60's and we havent got the ability to make them any more.
Not at all about 40 miles from where I live there were brand new pylons installed about two years ago
This feels like a superman episode gone wrong lol.
OMG Balls of steel
Random 1am thought, how do they get these pylons up
They were just always there, just now we use them for electricity
I've often wondered. I live right next to one and I think to myself, how comes they are still level and not sinking?
@@shivaunt71 deep and wide concrete foundations, my friend.
In some unforgiving terrain, the parts are helicoptered into place. Same way they build ridiculously tall radio masts.
2.5 miles every week you be lucky if they did 2.5 meters today
😂 so true
No safety harnesses back then……….” Keep one hand for the ship”
They were around but using them would really slow them up.
Heath and safety whats that? No helmets, no safety harnesses to clip onto and prevent falls..... clearly the CEGB cared about it's staff and contractors.....
In the 21st Century, this job would be made 10x more complicated with cranes, safety gear and "welfare units" - talk about how we've lost the plot of getting things done.
It must have taken ages with all those safety lines getting in the way .
In British Pathe of Electricity Pylons of Building in 1964 or 2000 for building a pylons with national grid UK in 1966?
How much extra it would cost with the layers of regulations and red tape to put these up today i wonder
where are your day-glo orange jackets? Hard hats? Where are your bloody hard hats? where do the Pylon Men chill out after work?
Millimetre perfect?? In 1966 I doubt many people knew what a millimetre was.
all with help from the xel' naga
BICC, British Insulated Callander Cables. It's all foreign rubbish now.
They do more than just carry power. Don't tell them, they might crack..
SuperPylon never appeared. Music is there.
Imagine trying to climb that now with today's health and safety. Would have to have full harness, hard hat and even a parachute 😂
Proper men
Thank goodness they wore safety harnesses back in the 60’s 😂
It would take 20 years and about £10b per mile these days.
I knew someone that fell from one of these, wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Seems wrong for me to “like” this comment
@@oddities-whatnot wise man!
A fate that would have been avoided for a harness at half the cost of a wheelchair.
A fate that would have been avoided for a harness at half the cost of a wheelchair.
Thant’s bad sorry for him but lucky to be alive people don’t have a clue what goes on to flip a switch
No hard hats,no high vis, no H&S dishing out grief.. Lots of common sense tho.
Absolute grafters
be much easier with a telescopic all terrain lift
I'm surprised he said down to the last millimeter
How big those arcing horns are on the ground
Legends
i thought it was an advert for levis at the start
At 0:29 nearly misses the foothold.
Imagine if he did
@@trivx427 I'm sure there were a number of workers and families who didn't need to imagine.
He missed his foot I sniped a heart beat
3 points of contact.
the building of pylons was a dangerous occupation in the 1960s, and many men lost their lives while doing this work. The exact number of deaths is unknown, but it is estimated that hundreds of men died while building pylons during this period.
Source ?
Who needs safety ?
I wouldn’t accept them stringing muddy insulators when a few boards, cardboard or hessian costs peanuts!
we climbed the newly built pylons as a kid at 15 years old as a dare before they wired them up the guys building were all paddys
No PPE back then!