The World's Deadliest Construction Projects

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  • čas přidán 7. 06. 2024
  • Not unsurprisingly, blowing up mountains with TNT 175 years ago in order to build a 2,000-mile-long railroad appears to have been unsafe.
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Komentáře • 755

  • @briangarrow448
    @briangarrow448 Před 3 lety +490

    I was working in construction as a young man and was on a job where a coworker fell over 80 feet to his death. He left a wife and two young daughters. The guy was a journeyman with years of experience and was an expert mountaineer. One mistake can kill. Climbing and building massive infrastructure projects is inherently dangerous work. Be safe out there and remember- we all deserve to go home at the end of the shift!

    • @matchrocket1702
      @matchrocket1702 Před 3 lety +48

      I worked in machine shops for many years. Any day you came home with two thumbs and eight fingers was a good day.

    • @5amH45lam
      @5amH45lam Před 3 lety +4

      Amen. ✌️

    • @cynthiasimpson931
      @cynthiasimpson931 Před 3 lety +14

      Gee...the most dangerous job I ever had involved medical records. However, we had to be sure of accuracy, because incorrect medical information could kill someone. My husband was a lab tech, and he could have blown up the hospital if he hadn't known what he was doing. Now he drives a school bus, where he's responsible for the safety of a bunch of other people's children. I agree - for those who work in construction, be safe out there.

    • @noth606
      @noth606 Před 3 lety +15

      @@cynthiasimpson931 Well, I am not making life or death decisions now(used to be in the Army though) but I have a perhaps surprising angle to what you said. I work as a Software Developer and GDPR data removal/safety officer (EU privacy regulation) and one mistake would shut our global operations down worldwide leaving 26.000 people out of work. The fine for one failure to comply with GDPR regulation is so high we would instantly be forced to shut down completely and fire everyone, it sounds perhaps hyperbolic but our profit margin is much smaller than the fine is in terms of global turnover.

    • @heathercopeland21
      @heathercopeland21 Před 3 lety +15

      My dad was a safety officer on an oil rig back in the 80s and had a guy fall off a Derrick and die. The guy refused to stay clipped to the safety line while up there and he ended up losing his footing which resulted in the fall. Dad said that was the worse death he ever witnessed while on the job. That guy had been written up in the past by my dad for not following safety rules too

  • @KaitharVideo
    @KaitharVideo Před 3 lety +221

    "I will drag this country into the industrial era, even if it kills you" -- Stalin, probably

    • @hasbrosbeforehoes
      @hasbrosbeforehoes Před 2 lety +8

      Peter the great basically said that exact thing when he was in charge.

    • @Kaiserboo1871
      @Kaiserboo1871 Před 2 lety +7

      @@hasbrosbeforehoes yeah but he didn’t kill nearly as many people as Stalin. Also Peter is an extremely funny character to read about while Stalin was a paranoid asshole.

    • @qetoun
      @qetoun Před 2 lety +1

      That was Einstein who said that,

    • @KorokHaze93
      @KorokHaze93 Před rokem +1

      Well done

    • @wowplayer160
      @wowplayer160 Před rokem

      Industrial revolution was just a tool to spread and solidify communist power.

  • @TwoToneWalt
    @TwoToneWalt Před 3 lety +20

    I've been to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery a number of times and it never fails to move me looking at the ages of the poor souls that are there. RIP.

    • @stuartmcpherson1921
      @stuartmcpherson1921 Před 3 lety +2

      Well looked after by the locals. Good museums around town plus the one at Hellfire Pass. My father was there.

  • @ignitionfrn2223
    @ignitionfrn2223 Před 3 lety +24

    1:50 - Chapter 1 - The suez canal
    4:35 - Chapter 2 - Burma siam railway
    7:00 - Chapter 3 - White sea/baltic sea canal
    9:40 - Chapter 4 - Transcontinental railroad
    12:50 - Chapter 5 - Karakoram highway

    • @MrAngry3232
      @MrAngry3232 Před 3 lety

      Chapter. 1 is panama not suez

    • @gluteusmaximus1657
      @gluteusmaximus1657 Před 3 lety

      You forgot the great wall between Mexico and the US ;-))

    • @brianhoulahan3507
      @brianhoulahan3507 Před 3 lety +1

      @@MrAngry3232 No its not.

    • @yawg691
      @yawg691 Před rokem

      Comment is over a year old but I still really appreciate it thank you!

  • @XoADREADNOUGHT
    @XoADREADNOUGHT Před 3 lety +156

    "Although with Stalin, people are going to die anyway." lmao priceless

    • @rautamiekka
      @rautamiekka Před 3 lety +8

      The sad part: it ain't an exaggeration 1 bit.

    • @arthas640
      @arthas640 Před 2 lety +4

      It's kind of funny how people often talk about how rampant capitalistic industrialization in the Victorian era was so rough and soul crushing but Stalin and Lenins socialist/communist industrialization was FAR worse. At least Victorian era child coal workers got a choice and got enough food to live, while stalin's slaves had to resort to cannibalism to get enough calories to finish their pointless prestige project for the communist officials ego

    • @rautamiekka
      @rautamiekka Před 2 lety +1

      @@arthas640 Very true.

    • @jujutrini8412
      @jujutrini8412 Před 2 lety +1

      @@arthas640 i always see comments the other way around. People always exclaim in regards how many people died due to Communism but forget that Capitalism and Industrialisation cost many many lives - they tend to forget about the trans Atlantic slave trade!

    • @sanniepstein4835
      @sanniepstein4835 Před 10 měsíci

      @@jujutrini8412 Slavery was practiced worldwide until the Brits and Americans ended it, so it has no special connection to capitalism.

  • @cjfhsb3143
    @cjfhsb3143 Před 3 lety +16

    The fact this man has about 5 channels yet still puts all this effort into each one is ridiculous

    • @dedwardskbd
      @dedwardskbd Před 3 lety +3

      5? Don't think so small.
      1. Top Tenz
      2. Today I Found Out
      3. Biographics
      4. Geographics
      5. Business Blaze
      6. Casual Criminalist
      7. Megaprojects
      8. Sideprojects
      9. Highlight History
      10. Visual Politik
      11. Simon Whistler Show
      Maybe more?

    • @Gabrong
      @Gabrong Před rokem +3

      He is just reading, maybe comes up with topics. Others are writing and editing.

    • @kaldo_kaldo
      @kaldo_kaldo Před 8 měsíci

      @@dedwardskbd Into the Shadows, xplrd

    • @harryshuman9637
      @harryshuman9637 Před 2 měsíci

      He's just a narrator and supervisor, he has a writer for each channel.

  • @joshk.6246
    @joshk.6246 Před 3 lety +149

    Do a special just on roadways and how something we take for granted has changed the world!

  • @brianw612
    @brianw612 Před 3 lety +17

    I was working with a room mate years ago on a ski resort midrise in Breckenridge. We were laborers cleaning up on a high floor with no power or lights. My buddy, very poor eyesight, asks me to check out a darkened area he had been fumbling around in. He came inches from stepping off down the elevator shaft. Sights were not as safe back then.

  • @Shitballs69420
    @Shitballs69420 Před 3 lety +32

    Simon we've still got some critters here in North America. (Bears, wolves, cougars, coyote) some less inhabited areas can be a little sketchy sometimes

    • @tompiper9276
      @tompiper9276 Před 2 lety

      We've got hedgehogs.... 😊

    • @billhughes7927
      @billhughes7927 Před 2 lety +4

      Lol there’s tons of animals/wildlife m in the US. I live 30 min from NYC in Jersey the most densely populated state and see black bears regularly and deer all the time.

    • @flexinclouds
      @flexinclouds Před 2 lety

      Yeah hiking in the mountains in Glacier National Park Montana, had it's fair share of bears, moose, mountain lions, mountain goats, rams, etc. Only got sketchy after a 15mile hike left my fiance and I in the dark for the last few hours. As if the sheer drop-offs weren't bad enough, i noticed a big cat stalking us about 50ft away on the mountainside. I was very thankful for buying my 9mm S&W right before the trip😄

    • @JacquelineUnderwood
      @JacquelineUnderwood Před 2 lety

      I live in the VA Appalachian mountains, my neighbor had a black bear give birth in their front lawn...but tbf black bears are a LOT less dangerous than grizzlies or polars.

    • @ref5095
      @ref5095 Před rokem

      Wild hogs...

  • @seanbrazell6147
    @seanbrazell6147 Před 3 lety +45

    How about an episode about the massive, half built and now abandoned underground super particle collider in (where else?) Texas?

  • @juliatarrel1674
    @juliatarrel1674 Před rokem +27

    Thank you for showing the Australian wreaths and flags in the section on the Burma railway. It's rare that Australia and/or New Zealand (Aotearoa) are recognised in cases like this.

  • @seanj3667
    @seanj3667 Před 3 lety +46

    Let’s now forget when the governor tried to get ride of the town of Rock Ridge because of the quicksand in the way of the railroad.

    • @dk50b
      @dk50b Před 3 lety +4

      Sean Johnson is right!

    • @ezekielbrockmann114
      @ezekielbrockmann114 Před 3 lety +2

      @David Johnson is right about Sean Johnson being right!

    • @EricDKaufman
      @EricDKaufman Před 3 lety +6

      we can't afford to lose some horses. Send the ________s.

    • @maylast2557
      @maylast2557 Před 3 lety +2

      @@EricDKaufman hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

    • @dk50b
      @dk50b Před 3 lety +8

      @@EricDKaufman Dang, that was lucky. Doggone near lost a $400 handcar.

  • @AMagrow
    @AMagrow Před 3 lety +79

    Simon, taking over the internet and educating the world 🌎 😘

  • @imouse3246
    @imouse3246 Před 3 lety +21

    As someone used to breathing regularly, I would not fancy a drive on the 16,000 foot elevation portion of the 'friendship highway'.

  • @patsabol8699
    @patsabol8699 Před 3 lety +2

    Thank you so much for this channel. You always come up with interesting topics and the depth of research is readily apparent. Thanks, again.

  • @TestingPyros
    @TestingPyros Před 3 lety +27

    When I was in my teens, a local hospital (St. Josephs, across from Mission) did an expansion. One time, a worker was moving a concrete form platform to be taken to the next floor. They both fell off, with the table falling on top of the person. Amazingly, there were two 50 gallon drums where the person fell. Because of this, they received some bad injuries, but weren't killed. I believe this was around 1980-85.

  • @codyg7936
    @codyg7936 Před 3 lety +3

    My grandpa used to deliver steel and beer by the truckload to the construction workers in New York, he finally asked what they were using all of the beer for and one of the supervisors told him if the workers didn’t get the beers they didn’t go up there (referencing the guys walking on the beams of the building frames with no harnesses)

  • @jwenting
    @jwenting Před 3 lety +3

    The Panama canal gets worse when you consider the tens of thousands who died in the first attempt to dig it (by the French) which was given up, the US project later continued in its tracks.

  • @kampfgruppepeiper501
    @kampfgruppepeiper501 Před 3 lety +1

    That was very interesting and informative, thank you Simon!

  • @JB-rl7hh
    @JB-rl7hh Před 3 lety +1

    Luv those Chapters touch Simon. Nicely done!

  • @TheJediCaptain
    @TheJediCaptain Před 3 lety +48

    Would the events listed in Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' would make a good Biographics video?

    • @jerff
      @jerff Před 3 lety +4

      Seconded

    • @jerff
      @jerff Před 3 lety +10

      Maybe an epic blaaaazzzzeeeee video???

    • @QBCPerdition
      @QBCPerdition Před 3 lety +5

      Maybe not Biographics but TIFO or even Side Projects.

    • @CharChar2121
      @CharChar2121 Před 3 lety +2

      I really want to know about that

    • @grayhatjen5924
      @grayhatjen5924 Před 3 lety +5

      edit: according to Wikipedia, We Didn't Start The Fire references 118 different events/people/etc
      That would be a seriously long video. And I want to see it.
      Maybe split into parts though. Because if you address every single event and person... Okay, now I need to go see how many topics that would be.
      But it should still be a thing.

  • @henkdouma8448
    @henkdouma8448 Před 3 lety +35

    04:00 There still are no locks in the Suez-canal, Simon. Confused with the Panama-canal I guess?

    • @davidanderson_surrey_bc
      @davidanderson_surrey_bc Před 3 lety +7

      What, no locks?? But surely they have bagels.

    • @carlsaganlives6086
      @carlsaganlives6086 Před 3 lety +1

      @@davidanderson_surrey_bc The Suez Canal is like Venice in a way, with the palm trees blowing in the breeze over the countless café's and 5 star restaurants lining the sparkling waterway and lush banks.

    • @MegaReception1
      @MegaReception1 Před 2 lety

      Yeah thought the same thing : sea level canal no locks. greetings from Panama.

  • @jonathanwhite8904
    @jonathanwhite8904 Před 3 lety +44

    Legend answer the the original section of the Great Wall of China cost upwards of a million people lives. I know there's not a way to vet that but surprised that that didn't make the list at least for an honorable mention

  • @alden1132
    @alden1132 Před 3 lety +2

    Watching Simon express wonder at the length of a year is an example of the kind of moment the keeps me watching the videos of his many channels.

  • @Nafi_IRL
    @Nafi_IRL Před 3 lety +22

    the first quote about us watching more if death is involved was 100% spot on. I clicked just because of the title (False - I clicked cause I watch ALL of Simon's 100 channels. All Hail Simon.)

  • @way2crazie620
    @way2crazie620 Před 3 lety +32

    I'm slowly watching you chuck in OG Business Blaze jokes into your other side channel's hahahaha. Nice one bro haaha

  • @russelmurray9268
    @russelmurray9268 Před 3 lety

    Superior work sir, excellent delivery thank you

  • @MistaLiir
    @MistaLiir Před rokem +1

    Simon, you're a legend mate.. i learn so much from all your videos, and i can't get enough.. keep posting mate, because i keep watching! Cheers from Denmark!

  • @CodyRushDriving
    @CodyRushDriving Před 3 lety +4

    Prior to recent events I worked as a rigger for live entertainment. Videos like this really make me appreciate today's safety standards.

    • @grayhatjen5924
      @grayhatjen5924 Před 3 lety +1

      I'm on mobile so I can't tag OP, but if you happen to see this, know that riggers are badass and keep people alive.

  • @mariedonna1488
    @mariedonna1488 Před 3 lety

    Thank you, Simon. That was very interesting. We frequently watch documentaries re: disasters of all types including construction mishaps.
    I lived in Plymouth, MA. It is located at the beginning of the peninsula called Cape Cod.
    In order to cut out traveling around said peninsula, the Cape Cod Canal was built. When I was a child, we would often go and picnic in the dunes along canal.
    The are 2 huge(to me) bridges crossing canal. We would walk along canal road. There is a placque on one wide cement pillar. It states that during construction, workers(?3) fell far into pillar where cement was being poured. It was fascinating to me.
    Thanks, Simon! Mary from FL 🌴

  • @andreyradchenko8200
    @andreyradchenko8200 Před 2 lety +5

    The thing is, getting all that safe equipment everywhere would be nearly impossible if those hand-built roads and channels weren't made in the first place. It's still unbelievable how people managed to do it all in the middle of nowhere. Woods, wild steppe, northern woods/swamps/boulder fields (yes, that's how it is in Karelia and Finland). It was all impassable barriers before.

  • @Mochrie99
    @Mochrie99 Před 3 lety +158

    I assume the date when you mentioned Isma'il Pasha was supposed to be 1863, not 1683. :) Other than that, it's a great video!

    • @alexisesguerra2544
      @alexisesguerra2544 Před 3 lety +8

      I heard that too n was like, “... what???” 🤣

    • @davidleahy27
      @davidleahy27 Před 3 lety +2

      Aren't yous guys very clever

    • @jameskipp66
      @jameskipp66 Před 3 lety +7

      I was about to say the exact same thing... I listened to the same part a couple times make sure my ears weren't screwing the pooch

    • @y2keef
      @y2keef Před 2 lety +1

      I can't say I was around for either year so no problems here 😅

    • @TheMattc999
      @TheMattc999 Před 2 lety +3

      @@y2keef well, if the project wasn't started until 1859, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have changed policies relating to that project in 1683.....
      Edit- unless they were pre-emptively changing policies because Nostradamus told them to.....

  • @CYCLONE4499
    @CYCLONE4499 Před 3 lety +5

    Also more archeology projects would be greatly appreciated! There are a few ongoing right now that are extremely fascinating

  • @pavelow235
    @pavelow235 Před 3 lety

    Good Channel, interesting answers to basic questions, time spent enjoyably .

  • @cronquist09
    @cronquist09 Před 2 lety +1

    Thanks Simon for more great info. I think it's important to learn about these projects and the human toll it takes to compete them. Especially because so many could have been prevented if the administrations in charge held the value of life in higher regard. May the workers rest in peace and their sacrifice be remembered 🙏

  • @beccafichtner5305
    @beccafichtner5305 Před 3 lety +86

    "Playing with firearms," Simon chuckles. No, seriously, it's America. People do that here.

  • @llamalord111
    @llamalord111 Před 3 lety +124

    I'm literally about to go to work, I'm in construction :/

  • @johnmorgan1629
    @johnmorgan1629 Před 3 lety +14

    Knew someone who worked on the Death Railway during WWII. It haunted him for the rest of his life.

    • @fredgervinm.p.3315
      @fredgervinm.p.3315 Před 3 lety +2

      I walked part of that in 2009, the suffering...
      Sgt USMC

    • @stuartmcpherson1921
      @stuartmcpherson1921 Před 3 lety +2

      My father never talked about his time there.

    • @johnmorgan1629
      @johnmorgan1629 Před 3 lety +2

      @@stuartmcpherson1921 I feel for anyone who had to go through that.

  • @sportscardprofessor
    @sportscardprofessor Před 3 lety +5

    How about a video on the engineering feats of the Southern Pacific Railroad (western transcontinental railroad), including speed of construction during Trans-Cont. construction, the snow sheds w/ cab-forward engine, Tehachapi Loop, and Colorado River redirection.

  • @LostNspace-jn1ds
    @LostNspace-jn1ds Před 3 lety +7

    Isma’il Pahsa banned forced labor in “1683” ?!?! 🤨.....I’m surprised your editor didn’t catch that date 🤷🏽‍♂️

  • @dallasbishop7929
    @dallasbishop7929 Před 11 měsíci

    I absolutely love all you're work keep it up .

  • @stephenlane9168
    @stephenlane9168 Před 2 lety

    Always interesting & informative. I spend more time on your videos than I do working in a week. True. 🤷🏻

  • @johnniewalker8410
    @johnniewalker8410 Před 3 lety +4

    He always doesn't want to ask if we enjoyed his videos. I'm gonna get the ball rolling. Simon i enjoyed the video.

  • @MrFmiller
    @MrFmiller Před 3 lety +6

    Having worked as a Civil Inspector for the past forty three years I appreciate the advancement of safety philosophy. During my career working much of time on highways roads and bridges including expansion projects by far the most dangerous aspect has been working in or adjacent to traffic. The average motorist is only somewhat cognizant of the hazards in work zones and less than average motorists are downright dangerous. The number of vehicle caused fatalities and near misses far exceeds those from the construction itself.

    • @stevencrisp753
      @stevencrisp753 Před 2 lety

      Only slightly related to your point (drivers will pay less attention to roadworks they perceive as empty) are there safety reasons besides bad project management for miles and miles of road to be restricted either when no works are going on or works are only taking place in a single small section?
      There's a project underway on the M4 in the UK that stretches for about 40 miles, and 20 miles of it I can fully understand being permanently coned off because they've destroyed the driving surface to do their works, but at least half of the restrictions have what seems like perfectly driveable roads behind the cones and very, very rarely any workers or construction vehicles inside (I drive for a living so I often pass through the area multiple times a day at all times of day or night depending on my shift and route).
      I'm not saying it would be a magic bullet, but at least in the UK if people knew roads only get coned off if you're going to potentially kill someone (or at least do big damage to your car by driving it into a hole) by going through them people might take them more seriously on average. I get leaving stuff up overnight/for the weekend cos it's a pain to set up / take down, but this particular project has been months and months with no noticeable changes behind the cones for large sections.

    • @philgiglio7922
      @philgiglio7922 Před 10 měsíci

      I was barely missed by a car while setting forms for a driveway and I was wearing an orange safety vest

  • @georgehebdon2756
    @georgehebdon2756 Před 3 lety

    Just subscribed, great presentation, 👍👍👍👍👍👍

  • @chrisvickers7928
    @chrisvickers7928 Před 3 lety +3

    The Quebec Bridge disasters, yes there were two, deserve an honorable mention although between them they only took 88 lives. The bridge first collapsed during construction in 1907 and then again in 1916. We Canadians are persistent however and the bridge was finally completed in 1919. It still operates today carrying 3 lanes of cars, one of rail, and one of pedestrians.

    • @HappyBeezerStudios
      @HappyBeezerStudios Před 2 lety

      "When I first came here, this was all swamp. Everyone said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built in all the same, just to show them. It sank into the swamp. So I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one stayed up. And that's what you're going to get, Lad, the strongest castle in all of England." from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

  • @wesbeuning1733
    @wesbeuning1733 Před 2 lety

    THIS is what I need more of

  • @brianjamesthomas
    @brianjamesthomas Před 3 lety +4

    No locks on the Suez, my friend. It’s all at sea level. Sailed through it myself not long ago in fact. Just straight through.

  • @gravesclayton3604
    @gravesclayton3604 Před 3 lety

    Simon, you're material and presentations are getting better, and more entertaining all time, lol!

  • @kirbycraft9325
    @kirbycraft9325 Před 2 lety +1

    I'm very grateful that you talked about the Railway Bridge of Burmese Railway. It should be Number 1 of the 7 Manmade Wonders of the World. Poor souls! A truly heartbreaking story.

  • @thekeytoairpower
    @thekeytoairpower Před 3 lety +7

    EAR&H had lots of beast related deaths. No tigers but the lions did their work. The movie "The Ghost and The Darkness" features some of it.

    • @Bambisgf77
      @Bambisgf77 Před 2 lety

      That is a great movie based on real like events & some very interesting men.

  • @beachboy0505
    @beachboy0505 Před 3 lety

    Excellent video

  • @rsjc852
    @rsjc852 Před 3 lety +1

    Loved the video, Simon!
    but I think you meant 1863 instead of 1683 when talking about Isma'il Pasha! (3:24)

  • @winzracingNZ
    @winzracingNZ Před rokem

    Loved this

  • @TheEvilCommenter
    @TheEvilCommenter Před 3 lety +1

    Good video 👍

  • @hasanchoudhury5401
    @hasanchoudhury5401 Před 2 lety +1

    All construction are inherently deadly process during and after the projects.
    All parties need to prepare for all of the disasters ! Excellent discussions. Regards.

  • @davegoldspink5354
    @davegoldspink5354 Před 2 lety

    Great video Simon but I watch your videos simply because with death or not your videos are legendary. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

  • @fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718

    3:20 1683? Damn, steam engines and the Suez Canal are older than I thought. Kinda like the Ming Dynasty from the 1500's BC.

  • @marklipson
    @marklipson Před 3 lety

    Great episode.

  • @exxor9108
    @exxor9108 Před 2 lety

    I think it would be interesting if you did videos on events in video games. xD I like your narration style!

  • @codyg7936
    @codyg7936 Před 3 lety +1

    One bridge fails everyday in the USA....there’s a whole program dedicated solely to replacing delapidated bridges

  • @nicholasvernon6780
    @nicholasvernon6780 Před 3 lety +7

    How about an episode on the real bridge on the river Kwai?

    • @natalieg90
      @natalieg90 Před 3 lety +1

      That's a shout. My grandad fought in Burma. lucky he wasn't captured survive the war. Defo More needs to be done to rember that part of the world and what happend we rember ve day but vj day is fading to memory we can't let that happen

  • @DiscoveryBalochistan
    @DiscoveryBalochistan Před 3 lety +1

    Subscribed✌️🌟

  • @TheLoxxxton
    @TheLoxxxton Před 3 lety

    Yep. I am definitely seeing a little Blaze bleed over for sure. Keep going Simon no legs the OG Blazers are watching

  • @sailinbob11
    @sailinbob11 Před 3 lety +1

    Yaaaa ! My grandfather was an engineer building diversionary dams,and bridges,in the jungle, in support of the Panama Canal project. Cool...

  • @marcoosvald8429
    @marcoosvald8429 Před 2 lety

    I rode the KKH on the roof of a bus from Xinjiang to Islamabad back in 89'. The roof of the bus seemed safer the way buses tended to plummet off the road and into the Indus River below. I wanted the illusion that I would be able to at least jump to safety should our bus veer off course. Besides; the insides of the vehicles were so over cramped and overloaded with people, and smuggled goods, and sickness was rampant. The roof offered a spectacular view and fresh air albeit subfreezing temps. We sat with our backs to the wind and our backpacks propped up as windbreaks . The Khunjerab Pass is officially 16,000' in height and the name translates to Pass of Blood due to the many smugglers and bandits that preyed upon the unsuspecting and weary travelers along the root. Thanks for the video and the rush of memories that came flooding back.

  • @jamesLeeTECHTRAININGllc

    Excellent video. Sadly, construction is still one of our deadliest occupations.

  • @jemkey6930
    @jemkey6930 Před 9 měsíci

    Great video Mr Simon. When he mentioned the camps for the American transcontinental railroad (gambling, drinking, and playing with firearms) a typical party at my relatives' house sounds exactly like that. 😂

  • @Firstname137
    @Firstname137 Před 3 lety +1

    Years ago I fell from a roof and was saved by my harness.
    I was working on removing some hazardous material from the roof of a building that had been used by the Govt in the 80s-90s. It was built to withstand bad weather, snow in particular.
    On the day I was working, it was particularly hot.
    At some point during the buildings life, they had coated the roof with a type of asphalt that was very slippery when hot.
    I was working about 4 or 5 feet feet from the edge when I slipped. It was like a slip and slide, I couldn't grab on to anything as I neared the edge and I had made the dumb mistake of leaving my harness on a little loose so as not to hinder my movement.
    I was stuck dangling from the roof for a few minutes, I was left with a nasty bruise but my man parts were safe.

  • @Beryllahawk
    @Beryllahawk Před 3 lety

    This was pretty damn amazing actually. Both for the achievements and accomplishments, and for the horrifying things that were done to people in order to GET those accomplishments done.
    Also, maybe I slept through that part of US History class, but I didn't know the Transcontinental Railroad had its eastern end point in Omaha... That's kind of nifty, seeing as I was born in that city. For some reason though, I was under the impression that the eastern end started in St. Louis. So that was cool to learn something new about a topic I thought I was familiar with!!

  • @dennismacwilliams196
    @dennismacwilliams196 Před 3 lety

    What a great video

  • @SDGamer99
    @SDGamer99 Před 3 lety

    I'd like to see a mega project video on the Suez Canal. I'd also like to see one one the Panama Canal. The transcontinental railroad was covered in another video, so maybe we can get these two as well.

  • @undertoe3730
    @undertoe3730 Před 3 lety

    Even for a serious subject like DEATH, the ad libs and hilarious quips you present your posts with keeps me coming back for more! Keep up the good work...oh, BTW sniffle sniffle boo hoo and sob...that's for the serious side of your show...I actually CAN show a little (albeit VERY little) sad emotion now and then...tee hee

  • @colleenross8752
    @colleenross8752 Před 3 lety +1

    Willow Island: 51 workers were killed when part of a cooling tower being built at the Point Pleasant power station collapsed. Still the deadliest construction accident in US history

  • @jarikinnunen1718
    @jarikinnunen1718 Před 3 lety +2

    The "Stalin Canal" took life every meter of its length. They collected bones and then laid the last canal gate in concrete.

  • @bartfoster1311
    @bartfoster1311 Před 3 lety +2

    Talking about workers being eaten made me think of the Maneaters of Tsavo. Not sure which channel that would even fit into, maybe a sideproject?

  • @loupiscanis9449
    @loupiscanis9449 Před 3 lety

    Thank you

  • @anarchyantz1564
    @anarchyantz1564 Před 3 lety

    Simon you need more channels like Mega Disasters and Side Disasters.

  • @edwinjoy9
    @edwinjoy9 Před 3 lety +6

    Just a suggestion Simon: It would be great if you could mention the source for all these info

  • @cruelladevil967
    @cruelladevil967 Před rokem

    Your voice will be sooo good for podcasts. I can't stop listening you😋

  • @sabrstravels6815
    @sabrstravels6815 Před 3 lety +1

    the first project that came to mind was the Hoover Dam, but with just over 100 deaths it doesn't come close to making it onto a list like this

  • @nystemy
    @nystemy Před 3 lety +4

    "There were no locks like there are today. And since the seawater flowed freely, the level changed with the prevailing tide which meant crossings often hairy for heavily laden ships." 4:00
    Well, it is true that there were no locks back then. But the Suez canal still has no locks even today. They aren't needed to be fair.
    That the water level changes a bit depending on the tide and that this effects shipping through the canal is somewhat known, but generally speaking the canal authority keeps some track of this fact and ensures that ships don't get stuck due to it.
    Though, the Suez canal gets blocked more than once a year regardless.... Though, usually not by one of the world's biggest cargo ships.
    Somehow having a canal in the middle of a sandy desert prone to storms is a good recipe for poor visibility and ships running aground at the less deeply trenched edges of the canal.
    The Suez canal also used to have an infinite height limit, but then Egypt and Japan decided to build a non opening bridge over it in the mid 90's, a bridge that is only providing 70 meters of clearance, the Suez max is 68 meters tall for some buffer. Now, 68 meters is fairly tall to be fair, far taller than most ships on the seas. But the bigger issue is that the bridge makes it hard to build a second lane on the canal.

  • @phoenixsixxrising
    @phoenixsixxrising Před 3 lety +1

    I feel like the audio is louder on megaprojects and sideprojects, maybe it's just because of the smaller set? most of the channels are shot in the bigger room. Not complaining, just noticing after watching so much Simon, I instinctively rebalance my audio before clicking between channels lol

  • @phantomechelon3628
    @phantomechelon3628 Před rokem

    Love how Simon low-key calls us psychos at the beginning of the video because we watch videos like this. 😆

  • @firetiger582
    @firetiger582 Před 3 lety

    Hey Simon, I have a suggestion for a video. When I was younger I read a book based on a US civil war nurse and her life. She was some how in every major battle of the US civil war and the way they told the story was amazing. Do you think you could go over some of the greatest nurses in history or even he specific story of "Gentle Annie the true story of a civil war nurse" the book is old and hard to find now a days. Thank you

  • @AidanWigger
    @AidanWigger Před 3 lety

    Can you do a video on highway 1 in California? It's the most amazingly beautiful road I've ever been on but it's always under construction because of landslides and stuff. It's over some pretty treacherous land and people die on it all the time. It's also incredibly long! Seems like a perfect thing for a video.

  • @michaelhudecek2778
    @michaelhudecek2778 Před rokem

    Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

  • @Raz.C
    @Raz.C Před 3 lety +1

    @Sideprojects
    At 3:25 Simon says forced labour was abolished in 1683. I believe he meant 1863. The Suez Canal was built in the 19th century, after all, not the 17h.

  • @christobalcolon6601
    @christobalcolon6601 Před 3 lety +1

    Simon, you need to include the Irish labourers who built the mills in Lowell, Massachusetts.

  • @anthonyholroyd5359
    @anthonyholroyd5359 Před 3 lety +1

    Your mention of Nanga Parbat reminds me of just how much I want to see (after your geographics Everest video) a Geographics video that runs through the 14 '8000ers'. The 14 mountains over 8000m High.
    Where they are, when they were first climbed, the major hazards and the fatality rate . . . Maybe with some of the interesting stories associated with them.
    Nanga Parbat (9th highest mountain on earth) for example, was the only 8000er to be first summited solo. The guy who did it? Hermann Buhl?
    Well here's the Wikipedia version of his story:
    The final push for the summit was dramatic: Buhl continued alone for the final 1,300 metres (4,300 ft), after his companions had turned back. Under the influence of the drug pervitin (based on the stimulant methamphetamine used by soldiers during World War II), padutin, and tea from coca leaves, he reached the summit dangerously late, at 7:00 p.m., the climbing harder and more time-consuming than he had anticipated. His descent was slowed when he lost a crampon. Caught by darkness, he was forced to bivouac standing upright on a narrow ledge, holding a small handhold with one hand. Exhausted, he dozed occasionally, but managed to maintain his balance. He was also very fortunate to have a calm night, so he was not subjected to wind chill. He finally reached his high camp at 7:00 p.m. the next day, 40 hours after setting out.[28] The ascent was made without oxygen, and Buhl is the only man to have made the first ascent of an 8,000-metre (26,000 ft) peak alone.

  • @jmt979
    @jmt979 Před 3 lety

    Buddy great channel. There are still no locks in the Suez!

  • @kevinrussell2718
    @kevinrussell2718 Před 3 lety

    I was half-expecting the Settle-Carlisle Railway Line to be included in this list. Although the actual number of deaths during the construction of this 72-mile long main line through the higher parts of Yorkshire Dales in the UK were actually quite small when compared with other projects on this list, the proportion of deaths against the size of the workforce (more than 6,000 people) was quite considerable.
    A smallpox outbreak during construction resulted in 80 deaths, whilst other deaths could be attributed to workplace accidents; and the harsh weather conditions (with people being literally blown off the fells by strong winds) - even today, the area can quite literally experience all four seasons in one day!
    Despite this, construction was completed within 6 years, and in addition to local passenger trains and freight trains, the route saw through express trains from London St Pancras via Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds to Glasgow St Enoch ("The Thames-Clyde Express") and Edinburgh Waverley ("The Thames-Forth Express" - later to become known as "The Waverley").
    Slated for closure as part of the "Beeching Cuts" of the 1960s (a threat that hung over the line until 1989), the Settle-Carlisle remains open to this day, albeit with a much-reduced passenger service - the last expresses between London & Scotland ceased running over the line in 1976, leaving a through service between the East Midlands and Glasgow Central to hang on until 1982. Freight also reduced drastically over the line, although in recent years the line has seen a resurgence in recent years due to increased traffic on the West Coast Main Line.
    However, the line has long been a favoured route for steam-hauled excursion trains, hauled by some of the most famous steam locomotives in the UK, including "Mallard"; "Sir Nigel Gresley"; "Flying Scotsman"; "Duchess of Hamilton"; and one of the newest steam locomotives in the country: "Tornado".

  • @kyrab7914
    @kyrab7914 Před 2 lety

    I like Simon's little asides, like ah yes the workers were just expendable

  • @holton345
    @holton345 Před 3 lety +4

    Simon, I would like to see an episode that compares and contrasts the German Autobahn and US Interstate Highway systems.

    • @bjarulez
      @bjarulez Před 3 lety +1

      And the British road system

    • @steelrat5563
      @steelrat5563 Před 3 lety

      @@bjarulez we have a system? When did that happen?
      ;)

    • @bjarulez
      @bjarulez Před 3 lety +2

      @@steelrat5563 Ok, the mess that we call a system

    • @michaeladolph7134
      @michaeladolph7134 Před 3 lety

      Well our Autobahn here got on most sections nooooo speed limit :)

  • @scottjs5207
    @scottjs5207 Před 3 lety

    Thank you for satiating our morbid curiosity.

  • @timgalvin3323
    @timgalvin3323 Před 3 lety

    Great way to end the day.

  • @joseybryant7577
    @joseybryant7577 Před 3 lety +1

    Bridge on the River Kwai is an amazing book. Recommend it to everyone. Kolyma Stories is also amazing, for anyone interested in gulags.

  • @whoever6458
    @whoever6458 Před 3 lety

    That road they built looks a little bit like this one I've been on in the Andes Mountains that went from Lima, Perú up into the mountains. The road went so high that some people got altitude sickness just being on the bus on the way there. I was fine on that one but I got a little bit of altitude sickness when I went to Lake Titicaca because that was really high up!

  • @lingthegreat
    @lingthegreat Před 3 lety

    Cheers 🍻 big fan of all your content. Probably because I have a history degree 📜

  • @issuma8223
    @issuma8223 Před 3 lety +13

    3:23 1683???

    • @djm5640
      @djm5640 Před 3 lety +4

      Crazy to have photos from 1683

    • @issuma8223
      @issuma8223 Před 3 lety +2

      @@djm5640 It was the steamships that impressed me.