Progress Report, Alyeska Pipeline -- 1975

[@deanstackhouse8775]

My first job as an apprentice operator (#3) was in Valdez and I was sent to bunk in the northernmost baracks moved in from a Canadian logging camp, and it showed...and it snowed...as it blowed. When the wind-up alarm clock rang in the morning the "12" was the only thing I could see of the clock, the rest having been covered in snow by drifting into the room. Power was out and heat was, of course off. It was said that "White Hats up north got the heating fuel without water and we got the fuel with the water. First R &R out bought me an Eddie Bauer goose down sleeping bag good for Zero degrees which travelled everywhere with me. This 4 year stretch was one of the best learning and earning opportunities I've ever had and with it came some great memories. Land got too expensive for the pieces like I desired, my homesteading dream vanished with the pipeline bill's passing so I bought me 40 acres on an Idaho Panhandle mountain and this is still home.

[@Anonymous20087.]

We just had a celebration of life for my dad who passed away this time last year. He told me stories about this. He was an engineer on this project. To see it is amazing!! Thanks for all your hard work and perseverance ❤️

[@irishoak7269]

I'm from Winchester Kentucky, it was pretty cool seeing that Codell truck.

[@kenreeves262]

I started working on the pipeline in September of 75 in Glennallen camp with the culinary union so I worked in the cafeteria. My new wife got a job at Valdez terminal camp also in the cafeteria. My wife was 19 and I was 20. After Christmas break my wife got to Glennallen with me and we stayed for 2 years. We had to work 9 weeks to get 1 week off, mostly we worked 18 weeks so we could get 2 weeks off. I made $14.00 an hour, almost twice than what I was making in Anchorage. It was great money for us with the overtime working 7 10's plus overtime. We are still together after 47 1/2 years and we just retired 2 years ago. We left Alaska and moved to Oregon but we go back in the summer to visit kids and grandkids. It was a great 2 years and enabled us to buy our first house.

[@bryanrahn9499]

Are you related to John Reeves?

[@truck_it_23]

Awesome story. And to know you guys are still together is even better. Thank you for all the hard work back then. I'm a truck driver and I leave next thursday to fly up to Fairbanks and drive the Dalton. I can't wait to see the pipeline in person.

[@billytruelove6199]

I went up in May of '75...first to Tonsina, then to Glennallen ...working on a 798 VSM crew for MK-R...stayed until right at Thanksgiving...came back to Texas for a few months, then went back in '76 to work on the mainline and repairs for Arctic Construction...first in Dietrich area, then up thru part of the Atigun Pass area, then I was in Galbraith Lake and northwards...then finally back to Dietrich again before going home at Thanksgiving again.. set out '77 because I had started back to college.. my two years there were two of the best of my life...absolutely loved it...my Dad was one of the original Local 798 members starting in early 1950...3 years before I was born...

[@ethanwhite1014]

That’s crazy I wish I could’ve pipelined in the good times but I was born too late

[@mikewhipkey6863]

That's pretty cool I work on pipelines in southwestern Pennsylvania

[@JS-oy6nn]

3rd generation 24 year welder member of 798 My dad and uncle were up there, was really hoping to do a tour myself but it’s looking like a literal “pipe dream” now. 🤨

[@gwarrichmond6232]

@@JS-oy6nn *I know this is an old comment, but I'm going to ask anyway. Why would it be a pipe dream to go on a tour ? Is that not allowed or something. I've always wanted to take a trip to Alaska and see it myself, since I had family work on building it. But the way that sounds, that's now not doable.* Thanks

[@stevennewman8276]

@@gwarrichmond6232 seriously? A "tour" meaning kinda like a deployment...a job on the pipeline. Not like a tourist tour.

[@WalksInPortland]

In 1975, I worked as a Teamster (fueler) on the northern stretch of the project, from Franklin Bluffs to Atigun Pass. I worked 12x7x7 with two weeks R&R. It was a memorable experience, especially for a 20-year old. Also good food and good pay! As I recall, I was one of three local (Alaska) men in our crew. Although I was born and grew up in Alaska, I gotta say it was pretty darn cold in Atigun Pass in December 1975 though.

[@davidotness6199]

I was there. Job steward for the Franklin Bluffs to Happy Valley, Toolik, Galbraith Lake, and Atigun. I saw -75 F at 5 Mile that winter. I was fuel truck driver at the time. Also born and raised in Alaska. And still here.

[@jonrukavina9011]

Hi Mark, I was at Dietrich in late Oct. '75. I remember one night the camp temp. was -57 with everything running so I certainly do remember the early cold. Worse for you up there in the flat open tundra! I was first a school bus driver & then in a fuel truck . One night at a pipe storage yard, I was fueling an outside tank overhead when it overflowed & gushed in my face & soaked my clothes. I was lucky to be near a heated building to get dried out. But the aurora made me feel better! I also was at Prudhoe Bay in Sept. '75 & for a couple of months in '77. I was at the Ralph Parsons camp at Prudhoe when Elvis died. Never forget being told in the hallway about that. In '75 was at Pump Station #5. '76 saw me back at Dietrich, then all summer between Old Man, Prospect, Coldfoot too. '77 saw me between north of Fairbanks in the White Mtn. area, then got sent south to a little bit north of Delta Junction, stayed at Pump Station #9, then moved on down to Pump Station #10. I'm from Minn. & so much snow through there they had to cut the Richardson Hwy. through the Summit Lake Lodge which burned in '93. My brother worked at Delta Junction & Isabel Pass camps & I have him to thank as he knew someone here who knew someone there, etc. to get me up there. Have been back to visit in '84, '95, '01 for the honeymoon, '03, & '15 for a trip from Homer to Prudhoe Bay, showing my wife all the places I'd been. Stayed at Cold foot twice & on the wall at the restaurant is a pic of the pipeline camp from Aug. '76 when I was there! Fun to watch this & reminisce!

[@scottrayhons2537]

I remember the bumper stickers that said "Relieve gas pains...build the Alaska pipeline"

[@upload2137]

For or qworedor

[@upload2137]

@@scottrayhons2537 the alyaskan pipeline service company this is a significant expense for the export of crude oil

[@drmorganful]

There will never be another like this one.

[@scoterplow50]

Paul Morgan there will be one even bigger awnwire is opened up now thanks to the greatest president that ever lived. But it won’t be anything like the first you are right about that.

[@davidwingfield7780]

I worked at a foundry that made some of the valves. Pacific Southern Foundry in Bakersfield, CA. I remember that I could almost stand straight up in the valve. It took all three (3) furnaces to melt enough steel to fill just one (1) mold.

[@martinphilip8998]

My late wife’s uncles founded Flo Con. Now Vesuvius or visa versa. Her dad invented the slip form paver. Civil Engineers all. All except the last brother. All he ever did was build and acquire about 60mil in real estate. I’m a democrat but I respect that and people like him. He’s 90.

[@dennisholst4322]

Wow

[@dolphincliffs8864]

I like that internal pneumatic clamp,I know what an egg is ,I weld but not a pipeliner. Very cool hearing this!

[@MotoVet86]

Here I am as an inspector in 2023. The methods haven’t changed much.

[@mcarroll598]

I’m 41 years old and am so fascinated this project took place. So awesome!

[@no_more_free_nicks]

Yep, now we had global warming thanks to this :D

[@wz7285]

I was running Dozer, Scraper, and Blade at that time, down on the Kenai Peninsula, and glad I was there and not up north!!

[@TaigaTurf]

Truly a marvel of engineering in some of the most unforgiving wilderness on Earth.

[@andyrbush]

I started in the oil industry in 74. I wanted to go to Alaska but was too young and yet to gain enough experience. I struck lucky though in 80 when I went to what was considered then to be the oil industry's Middle East holiday camp, Das Island. Retired out of the industry in 2016, had a great time through out.

[@u.s.militia7682]

I totally remember this happening and I was only 6 years old. I can remember the adult men talking about it all the time when my Pepaw would visit Shorty’s Garage in Cadiz Kentucky. It must’ve been a huge deal for a 6 year old to remember it.

[@wyattdean5658]

Cool video. Drove once Alaska too see the pipeline.

[@realberla2518]

Joe Biden looked at these hard working Americans and thought, hell no

[@dariusdarko8838]

Amazing

[@crowleywilliam1]

Sept 1975 i was the youngest person at 18 to work on the trans alaska pipeline

[@redbird1824]

No you weren't.I was 18 myself in 1975.but my buddy Brain Moss had lied about his age and he was 17 .He was from Washington state[the side that does not rain much] and was a teamster at Prudhoe Bay driving a truck back and forth to the dump..

[@rawhide1337]

I doubt it, My father was 19 on the pipeline

[@chente5365]

Yall pussy my uncle was 16 on the pipeline

[@crowleywilliam1]

@@chente5365 you had to be 18 to work on it he was dreaming about it . probably worked in gas station selling donuts to pipeline workers

[@jakedaly7906]

@@crowleywilliam1 wooooosh

[@Frank-sf1wh]

I know nothing of this job site, but my uncle was a welder on the job.

[@drmorganful]

Sure do miss it!

[@DavidHuber63]

Spreding coal dust to melt snow into the soil to get to the bank faster is a Brilliant idea 👍

[@DavidHuber63]

@@randycraft3166 oop, sorry Brother Randy, Thank you🙏

[@stephaneracicot791]

AAAAAA yes side burns no florescent vest no emisions system like def fluids on the cats cigarettes and could get hired on the spot..

[@georgevue8175]

Joe Biden's 1st vote ever when elected to Congress was a vote against the Alaska pipeline.

[@dennisholst4322]

Clean horse

[@todds9121]

And he hasn't got anything right since.😂

[@MitzvosGolem1]

What are both Narrators names? I hear his voice on many videos from old days. Awesome video.. Proud! Thanks

[@rafe2787]

I insulated the pipeline and did the Tanana River crossing

[@2strokeunlimited2.06]

I would love to have this as a job

[@georgevue8175]

30 miles south of Boston - In high school one of my buddies brothers worked the pipeline as an electrician. He came home & invested all the $$$ he made into real estate and became a multi millionaire. I was angered when Joe Biden shut down the Keystone pipeline because he hurt many Americans as he took away a great opportunity for them.

[@ryansanderson3867]

14:23 that smile though 😍

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

I remember in grade school in the 1970’s reading about the building of The Alaska Pipeline. One therapist I had who took a trip there thought that I would love Alaska with the Northern Lights and the stronger presence of the Libertarian party but said that the mosquitoes were really bad.

[@ilovejesus5035]

V v ok0. 9c. 7

[@mattywho8485]

That cutie @ 14:23 must of had to fight the suitors off with a stick day after day !

[@williamschlenger1518]

1975 I worked on gas pipelines in New Jersey.A couple of guys wanted to quit & go to Alaska until they found out steak was 45$& everything else was inflated.

[@billyanderson9574]

Lol.....I would have Gladly paid $45.00 for a steak just for the opportunity to leave Jersey. What a shit hole just like New York city.

[@mizzo_beeto]

@@billyanderson9574 lmaoooo

[@jonrukavina9011]

William, I'm afraid your friends were a little bit misled. I drank at several bars in Alaska & never paid $2 for a beer & my mixed drinks in Fairbanks were $1.75. Sure, I heard all of these stories about exagerated prices; while higher than the lower 48, but that's logistics.

[@DavidHuber63]

Imagine the mountains of rock they dug out from underground to make pipe to transfer the oil they pumped out from underground.

[@jeffreyd508]

He said "laying pipe"....that was pretty cool

[@chrismanning1746]

When I was young I laid some serious pipe

[@jeffreyd508]

@@chrismanning1746 Are you the brother of the world renowned Nick Manning by any chance?

[@chrismanning1746]

@@jeffreyd508 Truck driver from Connecticut There's a lot of manning around the states

[@DJ-zs7ms]

The most awesome job to be on History was made

[@scottrayhons2537]

How does that work when several welders all welding at the same time. Everybody uses the same ground cable and it don't backfeed to another welder?

[@AW-nz5st]

Every machine has it's own ground, each machine acts as it's own circuit. These were also independent engine driven welding machines, and were not really interconnected. Same thing applies with grid powered welding machines. The welding ground is deliberately isolated from the "grid ground" to prevent currents feeding either way.

[@mackcarson6729]

DC welders were the most stable. Current wise. Gave more consistent runs. EVERY inch of those butts was X/Rayes. One repair. Warning. One cutout. You gone. Those "stovies "we had on the 36in Gas lines were probably the best in the world. They got enuff. We operators were on ?80 plus pound a week they were up around 300/320 pound beside us. I missed the Alaska line back in '60's was on Sahara/Atlas Mountains one instead.

[@auvelry4753]

could anyone tell me what the machine inside the pipe that they are pulling out at 6:09 is?

[@carlbass4449]

Internal pneumatic line up clamp

[@jeffreyd508]

14:23 She got the pipe before getting this high paid job

[@scoterplow50]

I was in high school then but I remember the news telling that whores where making 5000.00$ aweek there. Back then that was a lot of money.

[@fidelissunday2407]

Engr fidelis

[@farcountrydag]

Sounds like Leonard Nimoy narrating it.

[@Obshowersyndicate]

Wonder how much gold they found

[@truthseeker5890]

Or how much went through the project and was never seen... a lot dug up and reburied.

[@Anonymous20087.]

My dad was an engineer on the project and didn't bring home gold but he did bring home half of a mastadon tusk and a whole tooth once. Very cool

[@Anonymous20087.]

My dad was an engineer on the project and didn't bring home gold but he did bring home half of a mastadon tusk and a whole tooth once. Very cool

[@arborist460]

Codel is overy the job I'm on today

[@Obshowersyndicate]

5 welds dam on each joint

[@Michael-fc4ch]

Old homelite chainsaws

[@deanstackhouse8775]

I noticed that too because I had one just like it. It gave me about two decades of good service. I'm bettin' you had one too, or maybe a saw mechanic.

[@truthseeker5890]

Yep, that was the brand then. We had a 360 Automatic. That was a very good saw.

[@whitedirewulfblackdeathblood13]

The Alaskan pipeline

[@jaswinderkaur-si9lw]

Trillions and trillions of dollars business in the world of pipeline

[@johnjaco5544]

Our new oil pipelines Been constructed with Chinese steel

[@MitzvosGolem1]

Only Chinese take out food is made in USA now... Not funny

[@jp6614]

Japanese steel.

[@davidotness6199]

@@jp6614 TAPS is Japanese steel. That's a fact.

[@tanyahanna6523]

Alaska pipeline.🍥🆓. .approved.🍥🆓.real 1975.. prescription.🍥.the brothers Grimm..🧙👛🛍️👜🇨🇭🔋🍥..thanks, Lisa Pardee🍥

[@jclar3565]

MEN!

[@brandonsmoot4056]

bruh it takes so little effort to remove most of this noise and boost the gain.

[@job38four10]

The prosperity arteries of American success, and still no good documentary construction video of the historic Alaskan pipeline, what a shame. What there is is a bunch of fuzzy staticky video and sound or a bunch of environmental BS.........

[@jaswinderkaur-si9lw]

Trillions and trillions of dollars business in the world of gas pipeline business waiting lists loans passed quintillion dollars business