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Tower Workers

Started by delboy, January 06, 2011, 04:39:46 AM

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delboy

January 06, 2011, 04:39:46 AM
"If you want to write, write it. That's the first rule. And send it in, and send it in to someone who can publish it or get it published. Don't send it to me. Don't show it to your spouse, or your significant other, or your parents, or somebody. They're not going to publish it."

Robert B. Parker

Ed

#1
January 06, 2011, 05:16:28 AM
You couldn't pay me enough money to make me do that. I'd be fine while there's a ladder surrounded by a cage, but the free climbing outside would do me in :idiot:

I watched a thing on the Discovery channel about the workers who fix the high voltage power lines waaaay up on huge pylons. They sit on a platform beside a helicopter, then have to hold out a wand for the charge to jump across before they can get onto the cable. They sit on the 100,000 volt bare line while the helicopter flies away to a safe distance, they do their work, then have to wand the skid on the chopper as is comes back, and wand themselves away as they leave. I was thinking that wouldn't be a job you'd want to do after a sleepless night as a parent, when the kids were very young and keeping you awake all hours of the night.
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Pharosian

#2
January 06, 2011, 08:54:43 AM Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 09:17:47 AM by Pharosian
Quote from: Ed on January 06, 2011, 05:16:28 AM
I was thinking that wouldn't be a job you'd want to do after a sleepless night as a parent, when the kids were very young and keeping you awake all hours of the night.

I was thinking that wouldn't be a job you'd want to do as a parent. Period. :shocked:

What happens if someone forgets the wand the helicopter skid?

JonP

#3
January 06, 2011, 09:35:45 AM
Thanks, Del. I started watching that last year and felt ill after about 30 seconds. This time it took 2.

Excuse me a moment ...

Bec

#4
January 06, 2011, 09:53:40 AM
I watched all of it, but through my fingers - as my hands were covering my face. I couldn't do that job. Which is funny, 'cos I've twice jumped out of a plane from a greater height than that.

delph_ambi

#5
January 06, 2011, 11:11:59 AM
I watched it all no problem as I figured if the guy was going to fall he'd probably smash the camera and we wouldn't be watching the film in the first place.

I still wouldn't want the job. :o

Geoff_N

#6
January 06, 2011, 12:31:31 PM
I love that environment. The film conveyed the experience well. Dunno if folk here remember but a short of mine called Abandoned was critted here three years ago. The prot was a crane-driver on the top of the UK's highest crane at Canary Wharf, London. For research I persuaded the second tallest to let me go up to the cabin. That was nearby in Liverpool. Thanks to the CD critters the story was accepted for a print and ebook antho published by DDP. 

Just in case anyone wants it
Title: Twisted Tails Three, Pure Fear
purchase paperback or ebook including Kindle http://bit.ly/ferJ9l

Caz

#7
January 06, 2011, 01:34:29 PM
Great film, no idea how those guys can do it though. Oh boy that was high :shocked:
Some may say slaughtered is too strong a word...but I like the sound of it.

Ed

#8
January 06, 2011, 02:17:02 PM
Quote from: Pharosian on January 06, 2011, 08:54:43 AM
Quote from: Ed on January 06, 2011, 05:16:28 AM
I was thinking that wouldn't be a job you'd want to do after a sleepless night as a parent, when the kids were very young and keeping you awake all hours of the night.

I was thinking that wouldn't be a job you'd want to do as a parent. Period. :shocked:

What happens if someone forgets the wand the helicopter skid?

Something like a lightning strike, and the guy sat on the cable would be the conduit for it. Ouchie :shocked:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Rev. Austin

#9
January 06, 2011, 04:39:54 PM
Well we all know it's not the fall that kills you, it's the sudden stop.  Not for me, thank you!  :cheesy:
facebook.com/waynegoodchildishaunted
Stay in touch! I don't mean that in a pervy way.

delboy

#10
January 07, 2011, 02:30:02 AM
QuoteI love that environment. The film conveyed the experience well. Dunno if folk here remember but a short of mine called Abandoned was critted here three years ago. The prot was a crane-driver on the top of the UK's highest crane at Canary Wharf, London. For research I persuaded the second tallest to let me go up to the cabin.

Geoff, I thought of you when I posted this video. I actually thought "I bet Geoff could write a great story with this as a setting." I recall your crane tale, but also a really neat one about a guy trapped in a tractor. Sure that one was 'on the ground' but it was still a specific environment story.

Derek
"If you want to write, write it. That's the first rule. And send it in, and send it in to someone who can publish it or get it published. Don't send it to me. Don't show it to your spouse, or your significant other, or your parents, or somebody. They're not going to publish it."

Robert B. Parker

Geoff_N

#11
January 07, 2011, 03:15:38 AM
Quote from: delboy on January 07, 2011, 02:30:02 AM
QuoteI love that environment. The film conveyed the experience well. Dunno if folk here remember but a short of mine called Abandoned was critted here three years ago. The prot was a crane-driver on the top of the UK's highest crane at Canary Wharf, London. For research I persuaded the second tallest to let me go up to the cabin.

Geoff, I thought of you when I posted this video. I actually thought "I bet Geoff could write a great story with this as a setting." I recall your crane tale, but also a really neat one about a guy trapped in a tractor. Sure that one was 'on the ground' but it was still a specific environment story.

Derek
Thanks, Del. That isolated man in a tractor surrounded by birds was called Song of the Multitude. You have a good memory as that was written in 2008. Not found a home for it yet.
I've slipped a cheeky flash parody of Star Trek in my blog if you want a giggle

http://geoffnelder.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/star-trek-it-isnt/
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