How one little boat (and me) held up miles of London traffic at Tower Bridge

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  • čas přidán 8. 08. 2021
  • Tower Bridge is a tourist attraction these days: but first and foremost, it's a working, lifting bridge. And river traffic comes first. • Thanks to the Tower Bridge team: they have details of their tours here: www.towerbridge.org.uk/
    Produced by: Cambria Bailey-Jones
    Edited by: Guy Larsen
    Camera: Jamie MacLeod
    2nd Unit Camera: Jimmy Blake
    Drone Director: Matthew Bateman
    Drone Operators: Ian Hunter, Phil Conrad
    A Penny4 Production: www.penny4.co.uk
    Filmed safely: www.tomscott.com/safe/
    REFERENCES:
    Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act 1885, vlex.co.uk/vid/corporation-of...
    Hansard debate on Tower Bridge 1970, hansard.parliament.uk/Commons...
    🟥 MORE FROM TOM: www.tomscott.com/
    (you can find contact details and social links there too)
    📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: www.tomscott.com/newsletter/
    ❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com/ / lateralcast
    ➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: / tomscottplus
    👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: / techdif

Komentáře • 3,9K

  • @TomScottGo
    @TomScottGo  Před 2 lety +39700

    It's very rare that drones are allowed close to Tower Bridge, and also very rare that anyone outside the Tower Bridge organisation gets to push the buttons - so thank you very much to everyone involved in making this video happen!

  • @ovinophile
    @ovinophile Před 2 lety +3322

    Holding up the U.S. President’s motorcade by raising Tower Bridge sounds like part of a terrorist kidnapping plot straight out of a movie.

    • @LadyLexyStarwatcher
      @LadyLexyStarwatcher Před 2 lety +115

      Instead we got a lovely letter thanking them for the spectacle.

    • @CaptNSquared
      @CaptNSquared Před 2 lety +160

      @@LadyLexyStarwatcher The terrorists were to distracted looking at the bridge to kidnap the president.

    • @MrVickesson
      @MrVickesson Před 2 lety +10

      @@yt45204 vilken film? :)

    • @MasterHigure
      @MasterHigure Před 2 lety +13

      @@yt45204 Jönssonligan? It sounds very much like them.

    • @AltonV
      @AltonV Před 2 lety

      @@MasterHigure yes

  • @jimmyb101
    @jimmyb101 Před 2 lety +7019

    I love what the tower operator says at the end "Done this hundreds of times, and I still get a kick out of it" Great job Tom

  • @alexb8433
    @alexb8433 Před 2 lety +1907

    Tom: You ever tempted to just raise it when slow walkers are on it?
    Bridge Operator: The law REQUIRES I answer no

    • @ezekiel0606
      @ezekiel0606 Před 2 lety +29

      is this from the incredibles?

    • @taylrthegreat
      @taylrthegreat Před 2 lety +28

      Or in the words of mighty keef, not legally but yes

  • @chrisbduck1938
    @chrisbduck1938 Před 2 lety +8132

    I feel like this would be a good plot device in a heist movie. Hire a tall boat and block the target by raising the bridge.

    • @stephencolbourne44
      @stephencolbourne44 Před 2 lety +285

      Never mind movie

    • @flooku987
      @flooku987 Před 2 lety +117

      Payday 2?

    • @henrikericsson
      @henrikericsson Před 2 lety +314

      Was a plot point in one of Jönssonligan. They put a flagpole on a sailboat

    • @tommihommi1
      @tommihommi1 Před 2 lety +140

      Money transports and such know the schedule ahead of time and avoid getting stopped by the bridge

    • @skrimper
      @skrimper Před 2 lety +167

      @@tommihommi1 well duh, it would be a rogue boat. They wouldn't know it was coming until it was too late and they have to raise it so it doesn't collide

  • @carolleader5436
    @carolleader5436 Před 2 lety +7061

    love that this was uploaded as tower bridge is currently stuck

    • @randaranatunga7259
      @randaranatunga7259 Před 2 lety +440

      “Coincidence?……. I think not”

    • @ToppyTree
      @ToppyTree Před 2 lety +340

      Tom must be trying to boost the views

    • @safe-keeper1042
      @safe-keeper1042 Před 2 lety +519

      "Oh, we got this amateur to do the lift part and now the bloody thing doesn't work."

    • @woutervanr
      @woutervanr Před 2 lety +278

      Ha, well then the ending "Right, how do we get this back down" is very fitting 😂

    • @foobars3816
      @foobars3816 Před 2 lety +64

      Tom pushed the button wrong!

  • @LG-jb9zs
    @LG-jb9zs Před 2 lety +1262

    "so what do you do for a living?"
    "I drive a bridge."
    "You drive across a bridge?"
    "No, I drive the bridge."

    • @FeedsNoSliesMusic
      @FeedsNoSliesMusic Před 2 lety +33

      I feel like that's something more interesting to tell people about than it is to do.

    • @Liggliluff
      @Liggliluff Před 2 lety +17

      With a joystick

    • @Zraknul
      @Zraknul Před 2 lety +14

      I have a large console of buttons and a joy stick. No I'm not talking about Euro Bridge simulator 4.

  • @pmcburn1
    @pmcburn1 Před 2 lety +1206

    I absolutely love the interface design:
    You literally hit the buttons left to right in order. Just a really simple user design.

    • @Great_King_Rat
      @Great_King_Rat Před rokem +88

      Probably designed by a Bridge Driver, instead of some £4k/hour "Consultant"...

    • @dellekom
      @dellekom Před rokem +12

      Actially a dial with steps might be more logical as all steps depend on each other

    • @Niamh9902
      @Niamh9902 Před rokem +2

      @@Great_King_Rat probably an engineer

    • @VoxelLoop
      @VoxelLoop Před 7 měsíci +4

      @@dellekom Also from a software developer perspective, all the buttons being an identical colour and shape with a label distinguishing them is usually a bad idea. :)

    • @ziggybadans
      @ziggybadans Před 6 měsíci +3

      Yep this is exactly how passenger jet plane controls work too! For most operations when setting up the plane you just go left to right, top to bottom.

  • @oliverc1293
    @oliverc1293 Před 2 lety +2909

    Tom, have you just released this video at the exact moment that Tower Bridge is stuck open and causing massive delays? Surely this can't be...

    • @tomepsilon
      @tomepsilon Před 2 lety +128

      It's called timing

    • @grass904
      @grass904 Před 2 lety +57

      @@deadaccount2048 shut up

    • @plagah
      @plagah Před 2 lety +36

      @@deadaccount2048 shut up

    • @diamondpi4121
      @diamondpi4121 Před 2 lety +33

      @@deadaccount2048 stop

    • @noah4822
      @noah4822 Před 2 lety +5

      @@plagah let him have his fun

  • @MedlifeCrisis
    @MedlifeCrisis Před 2 lety +30000

    Tower Bridge is currently stuck open. I refuse to believe this a coincidence and cannot possibly comment on the allegations that Tom is secretly Lord Commander of Bridges and Yeoman of London Traffic.

    • @YourPhysicsSimulator
      @YourPhysicsSimulator Před 2 lety +1601

      "There are no accidents"
      - Master Oogway

    • @woutervanr
      @woutervanr Před 2 lety +1556

      This is just one of the many steps in Tom's easy 1337 point plan to take over the world. Don't worry, it's already too late to stop him anyway.

    • @Vonononie
      @Vonononie Před 2 lety +947

      “Technical failure” is actually Tom furiously pressing the button

    • @calebosborn9527
      @calebosborn9527 Před 2 lety +170

      That's crazy. it actually is.

    • @GmodPlusWoW
      @GmodPlusWoW Před 2 lety +308

      It's kinda hilarious that it happened shortly after Tom posted this video.
      Alexa, play Frolic by Luciano Michelini.

  • @jorgedlatorre
    @jorgedlatorre Před 2 lety +530

    Tom: "Right, how do we get this back down?"
    International news: "London’s Tower Bridge stuck open after technical failure, causing traffic disruptions"

    • @chelsey8737
      @chelsey8737 Před 2 lety +12

      I immediately came to check and see if anyone said anything about it! So funny 🤣

    • @sydssolanumsamsys
      @sydssolanumsamsys Před 2 lety

      even the proffessionals don't know

  • @badgamedevreacts3855
    @badgamedevreacts3855 Před 2 lety +97

    3:50 I wish more people understood that this applies to many fields, so many think that some jobs are easy like this or even a pilot, then they say something like "you get paid 50k to press buttons all year?! Sign me up!" When in reality the job is 100x more complicated and the reason why you get paid 50k is because you have years of experience that will make sure you can fix stuff when things go wrong.

  • @samtherat6
    @samtherat6 Před 2 lety +3629

    Tom’s timing is so fortunate. The last time the bridge was stuck was a year ago. Now it’s very likely that his video will gain more traffic as people look up the bridge and how it works due to this incident.

    • @redryder3721
      @redryder3721 Před 2 lety +199

      "More traffic". Heh heh, I see what you did there.

    • @ryshow9118
      @ryshow9118 Před 2 lety +159

      Sometimes you've got to make the algorithm work for you, even if that means *accidentally" dropping a wrench in a draw bridge 🤣

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Před 2 lety +12

      @@redryder3721 Traffic causes traffic.

    • @Karmy.
      @Karmy. Před 2 lety +1

      You're still everywhere huh

    • @jasbails9857
      @jasbails9857 Před 2 lety

      "Planning"

  • @Em0srawk
    @Em0srawk Před 2 lety +3220

    Lame villain idea: As an owner of a large boat, they periodically send demands to the local council for money, threatening to exercise their right of way and mildly inconvenience city goers by making them have to wait for the bridge if their demands aren't met.

    • @joeyverliesharen
      @joeyverliesharen Před 2 lety +181

      @@farmingthetnt8081 yes, that's the point. It is completely legal for them to cause traffic jams with all the associated economic consequences, and the only way to stop them, is to to meet their demands.

    • @f_f_f_8142
      @f_f_f_8142 Před 2 lety +123

      @@joeyverliesharen intent matters, it is perfectly legal to cross with the goal to get to the other side, it is not legal to cross with the goal of creating disruption. That also holds for pedestrians using traffic lights. In Germany it is even illegal to drive around in your car without a purpose.

    • @adrianroed2178
      @adrianroed2178 Před 2 lety +116

      @@farmingthetnt8081 Lease a large boat and plan routes through the bridge as often as possible. Once complaints start coming in, start a gofundme page for a smaller, better boat that won't need the bridge lifted to move through.
      Now you've done nothing illegal if people decide to support you in your endeavor to get a smaller boat.

    • @XaviMacBash
      @XaviMacBash Před 2 lety +12

      wheres Gary Brannan when you need him

    • @toledoseahawks3348
      @toledoseahawks3348 Před 2 lety +12

      @@f_f_f_8142 It is only illegal inside city limits.

  • @kakarotz9296
    @kakarotz9296 Před 2 lety +127

    I used to be a London tour guide. When we did coach or bus tours it was considered extremely lucky to be caught as the bridge was being raised, the tourists love it. we would take the tourists out of the bus onto the pavement to take photos (very naughty I know) but you were almost guaranteed a tip when you got to the Tower of London.

  • @arkhykatenka
    @arkhykatenka Před 2 lety +99

    I'm from St. Petersburg and we have 12 drawn bridges in the city, it's a big tourist attraction too. But they are drawn according to a schedule and always at night (for most of the night though, with short breaks), so the boats and ships just have to wait until that time if they can't fit under the closed bridge during the day and the cars have to wait until closing gaps at night. It also only happens during summer, because, well, in the winter Neva is frozen.

  • @yusufkhan-ig7dv
    @yusufkhan-ig7dv Před 2 lety +12786

    Tom: "I'm terrified I've pressed a wrong button"
    News a few hours later: Tower Bridge stuck in open position after "technical failure"

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM Před 2 lety +814

      "We're having Technical Difficulties"

    • @ThatSux
      @ThatSux Před 2 lety +199

      That's timing .. 🤷🏻‍♂️👍

    • @king999art
      @king999art Před 2 lety +131

      @@JonatasAdoM ok, give this person biscuits!

    • @theunknown4834
      @theunknown4834 Před 2 lety +27

      A few hours ealier**

    • @monochromedevdle5697
      @monochromedevdle5697 Před 2 lety +72

      @@JonatasAdoM *** M Y S T E R Y B I S C U T S ***

  • @beek.4860
    @beek.4860 Před 2 lety +3739

    Tom is living all of our childhood dreams. Pressing big buttons to lift drawbridges, climbing wind turbines, filming volcanoes, making fireworks...

    • @QuantumLeclerc
      @QuantumLeclerc Před 2 lety +171

      Blowing up manhole covers, going on expeditions to find Icelandic islands, swimming in powerplant waste water, etc

    • @MrFriendlyCsgoContent
      @MrFriendlyCsgoContent Před 2 lety +36

      @@QuantumLeclerc shame it cost thousands if not hundreds of thousands to do all of it

    • @lilacbuni
      @lilacbuni Před 2 lety +13

      The only one I've done is gone up a wind turbine (from inside) on a school trip

    • @Jason-Clark235
      @Jason-Clark235 Před 2 lety +3

      @@lilacbuni lucky

    • @lilacbuni
      @lilacbuni Před 2 lety +7

      @@Jason-Clark235 i guess but we were very scared, it shakes violently inside and is very loud but the view at the top is amazing

  • @Rider0fBuffalo
    @Rider0fBuffalo Před 2 lety +120

    I love how there is a joystick and not up and down buttons. Also how they determine 45 degrees with the iron works is awesome.

    • @weeardguy
      @weeardguy Před 2 lety +13

      I guess that the joystick provides a more gentle start and stop in hardware instead of a rather complex electronic solution to get the motors to start and stop gently.

    • @weberman173
      @weberman173 Před rokem +6

      holding a joystick is easier then keeping a button pressed down on the human, among having mor gradual controll if needed

    • @Ihaveagasmask
      @Ihaveagasmask Před rokem +2

      When I saw the joy stick I was thinking of someone using it like an arcade

    • @TheOtherBill
      @TheOtherBill Před rokem +2

      @@Ihaveagasmask Like playing pinball with the Giant Asteroid of Death.

  • @MinifigJez
    @MinifigJez Před 2 lety +460

    PLEASE tell me that it was Tom’s lift that had the technical failure causing the bridge to be stuck open for hours yesterday.
    (Although with editing time, I guess this was actually shot days or even weeks ago)
    Would have been a great ending to the video if it HAD been him !

    • @dh2032
      @dh2032 Před 2 lety +8

      I was wounding that also watch news link, and then see tom's video, hum, that seems to much of a coincidence to me? ¯\(°_o)/¯

    • @loreleihillard5078
      @loreleihillard5078 Před 2 lety +21

      I'd assume this was filmed ahead of time

    • @sasmalprasanjit2764
      @sasmalprasanjit2764 Před 2 lety +1

      It's Still Stuck

    • @n646n
      @n646n Před rokem +1

      Unfortunately no.

  • @Mogi.
    @Mogi. Před 2 lety +13355

    I was half hoping Tom somehow parked a small boat under the bridge while trying to recording a video and somehow managed to hold up traffic

  • @Nuskrad
    @Nuskrad Před 2 lety +390

    "Right, how do we get this back down?"
    That's what half of London is asking right now

    • @amahlaka
      @amahlaka Před 2 lety +2

      🤣😅

    • @SeanBZA
      @SeanBZA Před 2 lety

      Very, very carefully I would hope.

    • @Robinthefox88
      @Robinthefox88 Před 2 lety

      I would say give it a bit of time, maybe a cold shower coming in from the north, and if it hasn't gone down after 4 hours go see a doctor. :D

  • @ianmcnaney6528
    @ianmcnaney6528 Před 2 lety +75

    I love the last question: "How do we get this back down?" That's the million dollar question. They'll let you know when they've figured it out.

  • @ethanhobbs7278
    @ethanhobbs7278 Před 2 lety +300

    It’s said that Tom still hadn’t figured out how to get tower bridge back down

  • @FlashMan16NG
    @FlashMan16NG Před 2 lety +2367

    "It takes years of training to be a bridge operator" I believe it. Not because it's actually a difficult job, most of that time is spent training yourself to resist the urge NOT to raise the bridge when the worlds slowest pedestrians are walking over it.

    • @thegardenofeatin5965
      @thegardenofeatin5965 Před 2 lety +186

      Before you're allowed to be in charge of the draw bridge, you have to be bored with it.

    • @misham6547
      @misham6547 Před 2 lety +77

      Surprise bike jump ramp?

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM Před 2 lety +30

      @@misham6547 If you miss there is a river below. That could work.

    • @karl-erlendmikalsen5159
      @karl-erlendmikalsen5159 Před 2 lety +42

      @@JonatasAdoM But a concrete slab held up with a steel beam right ahead. That works less.

    • @isoroxuk
      @isoroxuk Před 2 lety +5

      Or when Meatloaf is driving a bus

  • @WolfXGamerful
    @WolfXGamerful Před 2 lety +1599

    At least Tom showed the bridge going back down. Otherwise this would be quite the funny story of how Tom unintentionally broke Tower Bridge.

    • @abarratt8869
      @abarratt8869 Před 2 lety +242

      Nah, his clip of it "closing" is just the clip of it opening played backwards. It's Tom's desparate attempt to not get blamed...

    • @Gurfi28
      @Gurfi28 Před 2 lety +15

      „Unintentionally“ i refuse to believe that

    • @mishXY
      @mishXY Před 2 lety +8

      One of the most underrated coincidences of a millennium for sure

    • @mishXY
      @mishXY Před 2 lety +3

      @@Gurfi28 how did you do the lower version of " ? Not even with a German keyboard would I know that.

    • @AlexusMaximusDE
      @AlexusMaximusDE Před 2 lety +11

      So, how do we get this back down? *Curb your enthusiasm theme starts playing* - *screenshots of new articles about the stuck bridge are being shown while the theme plays* - *roll CYE credits*

  • @yeahBradley
    @yeahBradley Před 2 lety +62

    "I've done hundreds of lifts and I still get a buzz out of it." How could you not? I would be giddy every time I got to push those buttons and see the bridge lift up.

    • @adrianthoroughgood1191
      @adrianthoroughgood1191 Před 2 lety +5

      I've got a 6ft x 12ft electric rolling gate and it gives me a kick to stand at an upstairs window and press the button on the remote and watch it go!

  • @KieranRogers1
    @KieranRogers1 Před 2 lety +23

    I have a feeling that laughing no after you asked him if he's ever tempted was actually a "yes, but I'll lose my job if I say that"

  • @Greendotz
    @Greendotz Před 2 lety +4639

    Tom puts out a video about Ocado's automated packing robots, two weeks later one of the robots shorts out and causes a fire in the warehouse. Tom puts out a video of him raising Tower Bridge (which was clearly shot a while ago) and within 24 hours Tower Bridge is stuck open. Clearly the Tom Scott curse is real.

    • @kaboomgaming4255
      @kaboomgaming4255 Před 2 lety +375

      what's next?! Launching a satellite but it explodes?

    • @crocodile2006
      @crocodile2006 Před 2 lety +484

      Next Episode: How I accidentally caused the nuclear holocaust

    • @joeyoest1105
      @joeyoest1105 Před 2 lety +177

      Curse? What if it's all a grand plan a la Unbreakable? Maybe Tom's orchestrating these technical disasters looking for someone worthy of taking the tech-communicator reins.

    • @Geert2682
      @Geert2682 Před 2 lety +184

      we also haven't heard from Iceland in a while

    • @adrianthoroughgood1191
      @adrianthoroughgood1191 Před 2 lety +244

      "If this pump ever breaks down part of Germany will be flooded" "Damn you Tom Scott!"

  • @TheAgamemnon911
    @TheAgamemnon911 Před 2 lety +1927

    "How do we get this back down?" Tom asks...
    Apparently, we don't.

    • @thegardenofeatin5965
      @thegardenofeatin5965 Před 2 lety +82

      I notice the video went mighty quiet at that point.

    • @JonatasAdoM
      @JonatasAdoM Před 2 lety +22

      @@thegardenofeatin5965 Indeed it ended right at that moment.

    • @acasccseea4434
      @acasccseea4434 Před 2 lety +40

      Ha! The news this morning was Tom Scott might have broke the bridge!

    • @pdrg
      @pdrg Před 2 lety +6

      I suspect that'll be Tom Scott's next film...

    • @aquual1462
      @aquual1462 Před 2 lety +25

      The funny thing is tha the bridge got stuck the next day after the video release

  • @DanielFernandez
    @DanielFernandez Před 2 lety +67

    The vertical road reminds me a bit of Inception.

  • @Nhatanh0475
    @Nhatanh0475 Před 2 lety +4

    6:42 I like that little blue boat. Just passing by.

  • @Hiro-sh5ke
    @Hiro-sh5ke Před 2 lety +687

    'If you've got the bridge up in the air and it breaks down'
    Couldn't be better timed.

  • @ScienceofLoud
    @ScienceofLoud Před 2 lety +5616

    As the timing is incredibly convenient I'd like to know:
    Did Tom bring the scheduling of this video forward to capitalise on trending traffic upon hearing news that Tower Bridge is currently stuck open?
    It's just too good to be a coincidence

    • @typemasters2871
      @typemasters2871 Před 2 lety +582

      Most likely coincidence because it looks like the video was available for supporters about a week before

    • @adamallcorn8762
      @adamallcorn8762 Před 2 lety +48

      Yo lmao, did not expect to see you here
      Nice

    • @kubak3381
      @kubak3381 Před 2 lety +109

      This video has been recorded on the 17th of July so it's rather unlikely that they'd be waiting that long to release just a 7min video

    • @krmr
      @krmr Před 2 lety +7

      Fancy seeing you here!

    • @HowP88
      @HowP88 Před 2 lety +61

      @@typemasters2871 surely if it was already available for supporters it is less likely to be a coincidence as it is easier to bring the public release forward than to rush the final production 🤔

  • @hierismail
    @hierismail Před 2 lety +16

    5:20 I think this is the most malicious thing Tom has ever and will ever say. I loved the giddiness; I felt it despite the masking of the giant grin.

    • @user-xw4mu6nz4t
      @user-xw4mu6nz4t Před 2 lety

      Someone clearly hasn't watched some of his older videos...

  • @papusman
    @papusman Před 2 lety +17

    This is the kind of stuff I love this channel for: a common occurrence you take for granted, that actually has a ton of thought and infrastructure put behind it.

  • @gunjandua4028
    @gunjandua4028 Před 2 lety +667

    "Are you ever tempted to just started raising at this point?"
    *nervous chuckling* "no"

    • @twistedtachyon5877
      @twistedtachyon5877 Před 2 lety +77

      Heh. Falls nicely into the category of "jokes engineers don't make".

    • @Zraknul
      @Zraknul Před 2 lety +20

      "I would like to keep my job, so I'm going to say no"

    • @koenven7012
      @koenven7012 Před 6 měsíci

      Due to a misunderstanding years ago, I'm now legally obliged to say 'No'.

  • @DanAI17
    @DanAI17 Před 2 lety +3889

    I love that you're allowed to delay thousands of people moving in the country's capital so that one small sailing boat can travel at most 900m up the river. The pinnacle of British right of way laws.

    • @Hoaxe72
      @Hoaxe72 Před 2 lety +122

      God I love Britain

    • @OhSome1HasThisName
      @OhSome1HasThisName Před 2 lety +81

      hopefully it breaking down today won't cause any changes to that law

    • @jonathanbott87
      @jonathanbott87 Před 2 lety +86

      In Chicago we have a number of draw bridges and one includes a subway line on the upper deck - the bridge is actively raised, and the trains get a red light and have to wait.

    • @draknusdesderdus7506
      @draknusdesderdus7506 Před 2 lety +73

      This law is the same here in America. Bridge designers just design around it nowadays.

    • @marshallsuber3346
      @marshallsuber3346 Před 2 lety +15

      Money always come before people. Thus is the way of the world.🤑

  • @JustTooSalty
    @JustTooSalty Před 2 lety +26

    I can't believe you caused it to be stuck open. Classic Tom.

  • @iamlikemex
    @iamlikemex Před 2 lety +34

    Can we bring back the park bench purely to talk about this and it’s terrifying coincidence in timing with the bridge being stuck open?

  • @DuncanEllis
    @DuncanEllis Před 2 lety +493

    I greatly appreciate Tom's obvious joy at getting to push the buttons.

  • @samtherat6
    @samtherat6 Před 2 lety +1115

    Description: “It’s a working, lifting bridge.”
    Release time: *lemme stop you right there*

    • @Jason-Clark235
      @Jason-Clark235 Před 2 lety +19

      Lifting bridge yes working bridge no

    • @kennarajora6532
      @kennarajora6532 Před 2 lety +1

      I noticed that as well.

    • @electron8262
      @electron8262 Před 2 lety +8

      It definitely is a bridge that opens, it's just not a bridge that closes anymore.

  • @unknownlucaa1010
    @unknownlucaa1010 Před 2 lety +4

    5:30
    Tom:Terrified i pushed the wrong button
    Few hours later:Bridge being jammed

  • @tasty_fish
    @tasty_fish Před 2 lety +49

    Love that river traffic still has priority to get to such a short stretch of water up to the next bridge and that it’s still governed by an act of Parliament. In a world that’s slowly becoming homogenised and sterilised it’s great to still have quirks like that.

  • @Jeb.07
    @Jeb.07 Před 2 lety +1020

    I love how casual the interactions between Tom and his recording crew and these workers are. It always feels like they’re just talking to an old mate about their job.

    • @ianshaliczer
      @ianshaliczer Před 2 lety +165

      Tom has a remarkable talent for finding people with really interesting jobs who are all really enthusiastic about them, but probably never get much of a chance to talk about them.
      Tom also has a real gift for interviewing people, the perfect mix of respectful deference to their expertise, a casual conversational style that gets even the most taciturn people to open up, and a great ear for translating technical jargon into everyday language.
      I want to live in a world where Tom Scott has a half-hour series on the BBC.

    • @uknowngamer1017
      @uknowngamer1017 Před 2 lety +12

      It reminds me of dirty jobs, just less dirty and with a younger, better haired, Mike rowe

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Před 2 lety +13

      _That's_ what makes Tom Scott videos what they are.

    • @tylerphuoc2653
      @tylerphuoc2653 Před 2 lety

      @@uknowngamer1017 And also, he's never been a correspondent on PragerU, while the dirty jobs guy sure has

    • @iankemp1131
      @iankemp1131 Před 2 lety

      @@ianshaliczer Spot on!

  • @rufusgreenleaf2466
    @rufusgreenleaf2466 Před 2 lety +519

    I can imagine one day Tom will tour the International space station. This chap will go far.

    • @SC-RGX7
      @SC-RGX7 Před 2 lety +8

      Can't wait

    • @66Kusmu
      @66Kusmu Před 2 lety +42

      International Space Station space station

    • @rufusgreenleaf2466
      @rufusgreenleaf2466 Před 2 lety +11

      @@66Kusmu I'll edit, never noticed 🤣

    • @bnw5435
      @bnw5435 Před 2 lety +25

      And get the airlock stuck open

    • @gnaskar
      @gnaskar Před 2 lety +30

      "You'd have to charter a rocket... So I charted a rocket"

  • @areamusicale
    @areamusicale Před 2 lety +4

    Goddammit, Tom! You broke it! Did you see the news today (August 10)? The bridge got stuck open.

  • @K0ALA.
    @K0ALA. Před 2 lety +4

    This is a crazy coincidence that this video is uploaded on the 9th August and that main UK news on the 9th August, is that Tower Bridge is stuck open

  • @scsutton1
    @scsutton1 Před 2 lety +393

    And now Tower Bridge is stuck open. There's timing and then there's this.

    • @gordonrichardson2972
      @gordonrichardson2972 Před 2 lety +26

      Plot twist: Tom filmed this weeks ago, and just made it public today. Well, that's my version...

    • @kllrnooooova
      @kllrnooooova Před 2 lety

      Wait what? What happened?

    • @notdarklord9227
      @notdarklord9227 Před 2 lety +3

      @@kllrnooooova the tower bridge is stuck in the open position

    • @Jason-Clark235
      @Jason-Clark235 Před 2 lety +9

      @@kllrnooooova tower bridge had a malfunction the exact time this was posted and is now stuck open

    • @sade1212
      @sade1212 Před 2 lety +10

      @@gordonrichardson2972 Isn't that how all of Tom Scott's videos are made?

  • @MaxTheDragon
    @MaxTheDragon Před 2 lety +3080

    Tom's worst nightmare:
    Tom: Right, how do we get this back down?
    Bridge guy: We can't. You pressed the wrong button and now it'll stay up for all eternity, cause of you.

    • @RegitYouTuber
      @RegitYouTuber Před 2 lety +206

      Onosecond

    • @shambhav9534
      @shambhav9534 Před 2 lety +40

      @@RegitCZcamsr I wonder who really had the onosecond.

    • @3rdJan
      @3rdJan Před 2 lety +31

      why would such a button even exist lmfao

    • @LiewLmao
      @LiewLmao Před 2 lety +5

      @@RegitCZcamsr A wild Regit
      …takes me back

    • @synergous571
      @synergous571 Před 2 lety +1

      @@LiewLmao i didnt even notice, i used to play a lot of battle cats

  • @hstdriver6616
    @hstdriver6616 Před 2 lety +7

    Amazing, had no idea the bridge operators actually controlled the speed and raise angle with a joystick. Just assumed that once they started the sequence it raised automatically to a predetermined speed and angle.
    Last time I saw the bridge raise in person was a couple of years ago. Just happened to be at the Tower of London with the kids for a day out. Had no idea it was going to happen but it was the icing on the cake for the kids!

  • @royer6626
    @royer6626 Před 2 lety +5

    As a videographer & editor for 30 years, excellent job!

  • @LegoEngineer003
    @LegoEngineer003 Před 2 lety +289

    I love how often they mentioned how bad it would be for the bridge to be stuck, and then the bridge got stuck today

  • @noiceplayer144
    @noiceplayer144 Před 2 lety +187

    Tom: you ever tempted to just start raising it at this point?
    Bridge operator: *laughs nervously* *no*

  • @Correc7edAura
    @Correc7edAura Před 2 lety

    You seriously have one of the most entertaining, knowledgeable, and fun channels out there. You show things people wouldn't normally see and you show people very important jobs that people have that don't get enough recognition and praise for how important it really is. Great video and thank you for sharing!

  • @hotelmario510
    @hotelmario510 Před 2 lety

    This is one of the best videos on this entire channel. So many camera angles, so much detail, so joyful. Love it.

  • @choo_choo_
    @choo_choo_ Před 2 lety +3272

    This has probably got to be the highest honor able to be bestowed among a British citizen.
    Forget being knighted, it's not like Patrick Stewart got to raise Tower Bridge.

    • @kilted_scottish_laddie864
      @kilted_scottish_laddie864 Před 2 lety +58

      I mean for people who are In southern England sure, not too sure about Scottish or Wales citizens would care too much lmao

    • @bencarpendale
      @bencarpendale Před 2 lety +11

      @@kilted_scottish_laddie864 but wales is in the south
      just not south east

    • @kilted_scottish_laddie864
      @kilted_scottish_laddie864 Před 2 lety +25

      @@bencarpendale and ? still a different country ?when I say south it’s essentially Londoners.

    • @bencarpendale
      @bencarpendale Před 2 lety +12

      @@kilted_scottish_laddie864 well yes but I live in Bristol which is right next to wales and still in the south of England

    • @choo_choo_
      @choo_choo_ Před 2 lety +4

      @@kilted_scottish_laddie864 They obviously don't count. Just like it wouldn't count for an Aussie. Take your pedantism somewhere else.

  • @amicloud_yt
    @amicloud_yt Před 2 lety +233

    "Bridge Driver"
    what an absolutely absurd job title
    i love it

    • @onezerosevensix
      @onezerosevensix Před 2 lety +9

      what do you do for a living?
      its complicated..

    • @markfryer9880
      @markfryer9880 Před 2 lety +5

      Well you have Crane Drivers.

    • @kairon156
      @kairon156 Před 2 lety +7

      @@markfryer9880 I like the word operator better for both Crane and Bridge but I think that's just me.

    • @dcarbs2979
      @dcarbs2979 Před 2 lety +6

      You can drive bridges at the airport. It's attached to a building but is technically a vehicle! (wheels, steering and transports passengers)

    • @amicloud_yt
      @amicloud_yt Před 2 lety +2

      @@dcarbs2979 good point! You can also be a Stairs Driver i suppose!

  • @alex0589
    @alex0589 Před 2 lety +1

    Very much appreciate the production value and the fact that the bridge never came back down after you posted this.
    Such a youtube gem this channel is.

  • @notoriousdip5495
    @notoriousdip5495 Před měsícem

    I’ve never had so much appreciation for the logistics and security that is applied, since what happened in Baltimore bridge collapse. It’s incredible the amount of work that goes into this.

  • @Lucasys
    @Lucasys Před 2 lety +289

    I thought this would be a real-time "How I broke Tower Bridge" video. Impeccable timing.

  • @MegaLoflof
    @MegaLoflof Před 2 lety +454

    I was so surprised that the actual action of lifting the bridge is done via a *joystick*!
    Humanity has managed to make lifting a bridge for boats to cross under it into the closest approximation of a video game it can get.

    • @rebmcr
      @rebmcr Před 2 lety +97

      Joysticks were invented to control machines. Video games only adopted them much later.

    • @woutervanr
      @woutervanr Před 2 lety +50

      I seem to recall US subs or something else militairy to be (partly) operated with xbox controllers...

    • @Mike-ukr
      @Mike-ukr Před 2 lety +12

      @@woutervanr tanks

    • @goldenghostinc
      @goldenghostinc Před 2 lety +10

      What would happen if you push the joystick left or right? 🤔

    • @Mike-ukr
      @Mike-ukr Před 2 lety +10

      @@goldenghostinc It probably only goes up and down

  • @TheOnlyPommyman
    @TheOnlyPommyman Před 2 lety +3

    That's amazing. You are so lucky. I was once lucky enough to work inside the Melbourne Westgate bridge and that was an experience I'll never forget, but nothing like this. Thanks for showing us what goes on.

  • @Feiqn
    @Feiqn Před 2 lety +78

    I can't believe Tom broke the bridge.

  • @unnaturallynatural8885
    @unnaturallynatural8885 Před 2 lety +240

    Guy holding up the baby to see the boat clearer is adorable

    • @MrSam4850
      @MrSam4850 Před 2 lety +9

      Meanwhile, the baby is wondering what the hell is going on...

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Před 2 lety +8

      I think it's adorable that there are so many people gathering to watch it.

    • @iankemp1131
      @iankemp1131 Před 2 lety +1

      And great to have the extra filming to capture these moments, not just the control room shots.

  • @evan
    @evan Před 2 lety +4749

    The shots in this are gorgeous. Camera quality is *chef’s kiss*

    • @asadsquirrel1314
      @asadsquirrel1314 Před 2 lety +25

      Fancy seeing you here, Mr I Don’t Like Sugar Puffs

    • @Yamezzzz
      @Yamezzzz Před 2 lety +39

      Have you seen the headline news? The bridge has been stuck open for over 12 hours. Biggest incident ever at the bridge.
      No traffic has crossed all day yesterday.
      Can't be a coincidence.

    • @teologen
      @teologen Před 2 lety +33

      @@Yamezzzz This video was available more than a week ago for supporters. It’s a coincidence. Coincidences happens quite often, actually.

    • @ytlurker220
      @ytlurker220 Před 2 lety +18

      I wish to believe it's a case of causation, not correlation, because... It's Tom Scott.

    • @gwenynorisu6883
      @gwenynorisu6883 Před 2 lety +5

      @@ytlurker220 it's actually an incredibly elaborate setup for a question in a new TechDif series...

  • @kimmycassie
    @kimmycassie Před 2 lety

    This was so amazing to see! It was so simple yet really great.

  • @lemonbrothers3462
    @lemonbrothers3462 Před 2 lety

    your videos are so simple yet always so amazing, it's a joy to watch everytime!

  • @Epinardscaramel
    @Epinardscaramel Před 2 lety +56

    1:46 “But also, physics.” is a nice answer to unfeasible requests from upper management.

    • @zabintasrik4488
      @zabintasrik4488 Před 2 lety

      I didn't like that answer, "if we don't raise the bridge, the boat will hit the bridge" clearly there can't be a way to control its movement right?

    • @stephenolan5539
      @stephenolan5539 Před 2 lety

      @@zabintasrik4488
      On Star Trek the Next Generation Q once suggested changing the gravitational constant but that doesn't work in real life.
      You can't just get rid of a ship's momentum instantly.

    • @zabintasrik4488
      @zabintasrik4488 Před 2 lety +1

      @@stephenolan5539 can't they request the raise before getting too close tho

    • @stephenolan5539
      @stephenolan5539 Před 2 lety +1

      @@zabintasrik4488
      They request a day ahead.
      But they can't go to the bridge and stop then go when it us open. That would take too long.
      Now I'm wondering why the people looking after Clinton didn't know the bridge was going to be raised at that time.

    • @zabintasrik4488
      @zabintasrik4488 Před 2 lety

      @@stephenolan5539 that makes a lot more sense tbh. Also same.

  • @lukas8152
    @lukas8152 Před 2 lety +330

    "Right, how do we get this back down"
    short answer: they didn't

  • @Pablo260492
    @Pablo260492 Před 2 lety

    My favourite landmark in London ❤❤❤🇬🇧
    Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

  • @jannicklange7318
    @jannicklange7318 Před 2 lety +2

    The title. The timing. PERFECTION!

  • @Gloom-Rot
    @Gloom-Rot Před 2 lety +1462

    Tom was actually in the control room at Chernobyl when the meltdown started.

    • @face7288
      @face7288 Před 2 lety +10

      facts

    • @alex0589
      @alex0589 Před 2 lety +153

      "this button?"
      -tom

    • @RToast13
      @RToast13 Před 2 lety +116

      "I am currently at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union."

    • @TypicallyThomas
      @TypicallyThomas Před 2 lety

      Nah a few years ago

    • @nrdesign1991
      @nrdesign1991 Před 2 lety +18

      having a little onosecond in there

  • @randaranatunga7259
    @randaranatunga7259 Před 2 lety +633

    Alternate title:
    Wholesome British fellow in a red shirt pleases a lot of people by pushing a button and helping them with traffic control
    (I’ve learnt that this is actually quite the spectacle and therefore edited it from “unpleases” to “pleases)

    • @tomepsilon
      @tomepsilon Před 2 lety +2

      Weird.

    • @turnonmyaxel
      @turnonmyaxel Před 2 lety +47

      tbh, most the pedestrians love it. If you are silly enough to cross the river at that bridge rather than London bridge down the road where there are so many tourist then you might as well enjoy the bridge lift they arent always that common

    • @ObadiahtheSlim
      @ObadiahtheSlim Před 2 lety +21

      A lot of tourists who didn't need to be anywhere in particular in any particular hurry were quite pleased. I go on vacation in an area with a draw bridge. If I don't have any particular need to get across that bridge, it's fun to watch it go up on the rare occasion that it does.

  • @lapiswake6583
    @lapiswake6583 Před 2 lety +7

    Funny that this went up the same day the bridge actually got stuck open. I spotted it was open from Blackfriars station, and got a closer look from Cannon Street station, but it was raining heavily so I didn't go investigate it closer in.

  • @blackrose4mChennai
    @blackrose4mChennai Před 2 lety

    Kids loved it!! Thank you team

  • @Lukemccarthy2011
    @Lukemccarthy2011 Před 2 lety +200

    London news: _"Tower bridge is stuck open due to a technical fault."_
    Tom: Oh no. Maybe I was supposed to hold the buttons.⊙﹏⊙

    • @yanmorin5431
      @yanmorin5431 Před 2 lety +27

      Or rather: "Tower bridge is stuck open due to technical difficulties."

    • @notthatcreativewithnames
      @notthatcreativewithnames Před 2 lety +11

      @@yanmorin5431 Mystery biscuits needed to help unstuck the bridge!

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Před 2 lety +12

      @@yanmorin5431 If someone is to blame here, there may be cause for a criminal write-up. You know, a citation needed.

    • @LuizHartkopf
      @LuizHartkopf Před 2 lety

      @@notthatcreativewithnames hey step bridge, are you stuck?

  • @eumoria
    @eumoria Před 2 lety +802

    Starts on CZcams: "My friend is going to throw drums off a small cliff."
    Here in 2021: "I'm operating Tower Bridge."
    I thought the lecture for the Royal Institution was peak science communicator stuff... It probably was but this is also amazing!

    • @gwenynorisu6883
      @gwenynorisu6883 Před 2 lety

      Wait, when did the RI thing happen?

    • @laplongejunior
      @laplongejunior Před 2 lety +7

      @@gwenynorisu6883
      "There's no algorithm for Truth", but no idea about *when* it was recorded

    • @georgemangco2526
      @georgemangco2526 Před 2 lety +2

      There was also a video about perpetual motion machine that the two did together. Well two videos, one on each channel.

  • @foxyang7634
    @foxyang7634 Před 2 lety

    after watching it, all I want to say is THANK YOU ! This is amazing one!

  • @stuearth5076
    @stuearth5076 Před 2 lety

    I used to work in an office near there, and would look up the bridge opening times so I knew when to look out the window and see it opening. I also once had the pleasure of going through it on a barge, it must be so cool to operate the bridge opening mechanism! Great video.

  • @uknowngamer1017
    @uknowngamer1017 Před 2 lety +264

    The production value is noticeably going up, even when I thought it wasn't possible. By this I mean the cinematography, the interviews, it all flows smoother than the river shown. Amazing job Tom, hopefully you read this note :)

    • @Codraroll
      @Codraroll Před 2 lety +15

      And all the angles. How many cameras were involved with this, I wonder?

    • @baylinkdashyt
      @baylinkdashyt Před 2 lety +3

      I had the same thought; I think there were 7 or 8 cameras on this, including the iDangle and the drone.

    • @halgerson
      @halgerson Před 2 lety +1

      Not to mention the camera person with the fancy support rig.

  • @Staarchild97
    @Staarchild97 Před 2 lety +175

    The timing on this upload is impeccable.

  • @macbitz
    @macbitz Před 2 lety

    Actually one of the most interesting videos I've seen all year. Thank you!

  • @mauree1618
    @mauree1618 Před 2 lety

    That was awesome, thanks Tom!

  • @paulskinner
    @paulskinner Před 2 lety +56

    The utterly outstanding timing of releasing this video. It’s currently stuck open.

  • @stevenjlovelace
    @stevenjlovelace Před 2 lety +71

    Next episode, Tom steers a giant container ship through the Suez Canal.

  • @alex_00730
    @alex_00730 Před 2 lety +20

    I thought Tom might have been the guy who got it stuck upright, I would have laughed so hard

  • @BonnoJ17
    @BonnoJ17 Před 2 lety +1

    Quality content, as per usual. Love it, Tom!

  • @cheddar1266
    @cheddar1266 Před 2 lety +190

    Tom Scott's videos feel ilke I'm sitting down in class to watch a lecture, except it's enjoyable to watch and I'm genuinely remembering the information

    • @tomepsilon
      @tomepsilon Před 2 lety +2

      ...which will never happen. That's why we're lucky to have Tom.

    • @Goffy
      @Goffy Před 2 lety +1

      🐢

    • @YourPhysicsSimulator
      @YourPhysicsSimulator Před 2 lety +5

      That's what real education trully is: making you feel interested in what you are learning and internalizing it

    • @randaranatunga7259
      @randaranatunga7259 Před 2 lety +1

      @@tomepsilon exactly
      A true blessing from the lord

  • @BlissBatch
    @BlissBatch Před 2 lety +257

    I totally get Tom's reaction-that looks ridiculously fun.

  • @DanLayton
    @DanLayton Před 2 lety

    I adored this video so much. I love London. What a TREAT!!

  • @markhunterbrooks
    @markhunterbrooks Před 2 lety

    An entertaining and informative video. It should become a classic. Thanks for producing it!

  • @FlyntofRWBY
    @FlyntofRWBY Před 2 lety +455

    It's always the damn tourists holding up the bridge lifting, isn't it?

  • @safe-keeper1042
    @safe-keeper1042 Před 2 lety +117

    I would never have imagined you could control the bridge directly with a joystick. I was sure they just hit a button and it lifted automatically.

    • @rollstuhlmeister
      @rollstuhlmeister Před 2 lety +3

      I was surprised that wheelchairs with a reclining seat would use the main driving joystick also for the seat. I don't know why it surprised me. It makes sense. But the bridge is maybe more surprising

    • @SabertoothSeal
      @SabertoothSeal Před 2 lety +4

      I could never do this job, the temptation to make the bridge do a little dance on the way up would be too great!

    • @urmomgay
      @urmomgay Před 2 lety

      @@SabertoothSeal same here. Tourists would love it, though!

  • @filipefreitas5365
    @filipefreitas5365 Před 2 lety

    I don't quite know why, but this video made me feel incredibly good today. Thank you!

  • @skye2281
    @skye2281 Před 2 lety

    I love your work, your preparation & your videos!

  • @itsPoddington
    @itsPoddington Před 2 lety +195

    When Tom, started to raise the bridge even just watching I could feel the weight of what a simple task means. Raising and lowering a bridge sounds simple, but ensuring safety measures are completed and knowing the impact it has must get the nerves tingling just a bit.

  • @killhour
    @killhour Před 2 lety +338

    Tom: "I know I can't break it but it still makes me nervous"
    Bridge: "Hold my beer"

  • @a.m8858
    @a.m8858 Před 2 lety

    I can't love the timing of this any more! Amazing video too :)

  • @tankgrrl
    @tankgrrl Před 2 lety

    That was FAR more exciting than I ever expected!