Any engineering enthusiasts?

[philinotstine]

A few months ago we did some work in the old decommisioned cable car port at Fort regent. I took a few phone camera shots of this lovely old piece of engineering.Oh and Pris had to be there (virtually,anyway).

[revoL annaerB]

Today's technology is amazing but the older stuff is awe-inspiring in a way that modern tech isn't. Everything was built to do it's job and last way past it's expiry date.

Cheers for the pics and nice to see Pris checking things out, even if it was virtual.

[Dongo]

Wow! Was it only the hat that was hard?

[ARK ANGEL]

Never ceases to amaze me, I know it's built to more than do the job, but if I was building it and riding it daily, it would be twice the size at least.
I have this same issue with building rooms, flats, sheds, ramps or framework.
My stuff is overkill I know, but I'm just not comfortable otherwise.

Pete.

[carlys_guy]

really have to wonder how people from that era came up with some of the things they did. people now a days probably wouldn't have a clue how to do it. nice pictures pris looks great in her hat and work clothes.

carlys_guy

[minato]

Nice work Phil, your copy and paste is now near perfect.

The new tech is fine, but sometimes i regret old machines... Using new ones is sometimes forgetting to think when they use them... Some of my co worker makes incredible mistakes.

[teddykan]

Engineering as we know today has evolved since man walked on two feet - it started with simple hand tools, then weapons, then big structures. The Industrial Revolution was another huge step where machines as we know today started to evolve. Those old engineered structures were based on sound design principles (that date back to as far as records, e.g. caveman drawings, began). These structures were built to last, and hence in many ways, over-engineered. Today, cost and supply of materials really come to the fore, and we follow codes and procedures to build structures which have finite life and service period. We don't (nor can afford to) build them today like how we used to.
teddykan

[Muninn]

I love old engineering like that. I used to do the monitoring work on the Needles cable car on the Isle of Wight. They worry that the hill is moving, but it seemed fine when we measured up. Was fun using it when the wind kicked up!

Currently I have some dealings with an old underground water reservoir that we are looking to convert into a planetarium complex. Very sturdily built with wonderful brick arches. The Victorians took a lot of pride in their engineering. I haven't got any photos, but this place has an underground reservoir is similar to ours, but a lot bigger. Their engine house is quite spectacular. This photo from our last shoot came from there:



I do miss my old career in Civils, I'm more of a desk jockey now. I used to see all sorts of strange stuff that the public never see. I regret not getting chance to take a look inside the Humber Bridge some years back - you can actually walk the length of the bridge onside, there's even research offices in there

Originally Posted by ARK ANGEL

Never ceases to amaze me, I know it's built to more than do the job, but if I was building it and riding it daily, it would be twice the size at least.
I have this same issue with building rooms, flats, sheds, ramps or framework.
My stuff is overkill I know, but I'm just not comfortable otherwise.

Pete.

Yes, I have a habit of overengineering everything that I build. I built a wooden clothes horse that strong enough that I can actually lie on top of it! Consider it like how the Russians and Americans build spacecraft. The Americans went for lightweight and as cheap as possible. The Russians went for simple, rugged and functional. Their Soyuz craft has now been in use since the 60s, albeit in a very modernised state.

[Seth]

I do have an appreciation for the olde engineering which has most definately been influenced by my father. Spent many days as a kid been taken to see a lot of steam driven applications and the odd water powered mill with the huge wheels and all the mechanical working.

Recently hung up my boots as a design/production engineer. Sadly the industry has been run down in the UK and I would be lucky to find something that would pay more than what I was earning in 2007. I now put small boxes into bigger boxes for a living and I'm better off for it. I do miss having a problem to solve to keep the brain in gear though.