British Engineering - As it was...

[zimzum42]

http://www.halcrow.com/Who-we-are/film_archive/Victoria-line-archive-film/

Awesome short film about the construction of the Victoria line

Shame we can't seem to do things so well nowadays...

 

[Night Train]

Then an inspection is made to ensure the footing is well and truely in the clay.



The next stage is to fill the hole with reinforced concrete, having first removed the inspector!

 

[Paulus]

Not a hard hat or Hi Vis jacket in sight. Flat caps, ciggies and drinking from a fire bucket. Men were men, once.

 

[Arch]

Not a hard hat or Hi Vis jacket in sight. Flat caps, ciggies and drinking from a fire bucket. Men were men, once.

I've seen a few vintage heavy haulage films recently, and that's a notable feature. It's also noticable that many of the men look quite old. Yes, people did look old sooner, partly to do with losing teeth, and partly perhaps down to the prevalence of shirt andf tie even for labourers, but there does seem to be a lot of time-served experience on show. I guess if you lived to be middle aged, you proved you had the sense to be out of the way of the pile driver, or whatever.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Great stuff. Like the tunnel worker drinking from the fire bucket - wonder if that's still allowed?!

 

[Night Train]

As the tunnel shield advanced a bit of clay fell down and hit a worker on the back as he was shovelling. He just finished the shovel load and looked up before carrying on.

No claim, no blame, just get the job done.

 

[Night Train]

I also noticed the bridge sections were made by Rubery Owen. I have a video about them from the 50's showing them making wheels, axles and chassis for cars and trucks.

 

[mcshroom]

Not a hard hat or Hi Vis jacket in sight. Flat caps, ciggies and drinking from a fire bucket. Men were men, once.

They are definitely wearing hard hats on the drilling bit.

 

[Arch]

They are definitely wearing hard hats on the drilling bit.

I didn't spot that. I did notice one yellow hard hat in one shot, one bowler, and something that looked a bit like a pith helmet!

It would be interesting to see a modern similar project for comparison. I can't help thinking that there would be a lot more men in suits looking at plans, and fewer navvies with shovels. A good thing, or not? Good that so much labour is done by machines perhaps, but where does it leave the chaps whose talent was for navvying?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Are we really harking back to an era when workers had to drink out of a bucket? Should we be bringing the practice back? If so who for?

Buckets are only for those who prefer a larger portion.

 

[vernon]

Buckets are only for those who prefer a larger portion.

My kid brother used to have a drinking bucket when he used to work in a powder coating plant with a huge oven inside it. It was hot and thirsty work.

I was gobsmacked when I first saw him drink from it. He'd get through a bucket and a bit per day.

The animal.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

There is this from 1977 - 80 mostly covering Britain's OTHER subway system as it was modernised (although part 1 covers the Argyll Line re - opening).<br>Yet again, spot the hard hat! (although all that hair that as was the fashion back then would probably have acted to soften any landings ).<br><br>&nbsp;DISCLAIMER: I put these up, but they now don't seem to be working, so just click on it and follow the link to see them instead.<br><br><br>'After all, watching men at work in holes in the ground is one of the great spectator sports'<br><br><br>[media]
<br><br>&nbsp;This]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lIfubhHZDQ&amp;feature=related[/media]<br><br>&nbsp;This
part is good:

[media]
<br><br><br><br>....And]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGeHgdMVujM&amp;feature=related[/media]<br><br><br><br>....And
now it seems to have decided that it will bugger up my text br br br br br.<br>

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Also a good part:

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osLdmPaZjhs&feature=related[/media]


And, there is no faffing about in THIS film!:

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f23s4Xbqnek&feature=related[/media]

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And not a set of railings in sight at the tunnel 'entrance' as they lower the loco in!:

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gukzfiwvaaM[/media]


and, here it is in recent years, complete with the little battery loco seen in the film above now residing at the Glasgow Transport Museum:

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8tvDSDk9-Y&feature=player_embedded#at=110[/media]

 

[Night Train]

I hope this isn't going to be a helmet debate!

I've seen a few vintage heavy haulage films recently, and that's a notable feature. It's also noticable that many of the men look quite old.

Here you go.
[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe-3Kdt7J7s[/media]