So you want to be a Mechanical Engineer?

Today's video brought me the pleasure of sitting down and interviewing Mr Richard Gibbon who has been a long time friend, mentor and great Engineer. The topics we discuss span a period of 70 years and as I'm sure will agree cover a great breadth.
Both Richard and I hope that some interest can be found in this footage and first prise goes to who ever spots the erroneous date that we mention in regard to one of the historic topics discussed!
Richard in action moving the bullet train:
• York's Oriental Expres...
Richard in Timewatch's Rainhill Trial reconstruction:
• Timewatch Rocket and...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:22 So you want to be a Mechanical Engineer?
02:35 Start in Engineering
05:47 Starting in the Factory
11:35 That's Power!
13:07 Join the Merchant Navy
16:05 Saving the chip machine!
18:15 Ferodo Brakes
19:35 River Don Steam Engine
22:38 The Willing Man Will Find a Way
23:53 The WIBBIYer!
24:40 York Railway Museum
27:05 Paint Shop Wind Ups!
30:07 Moving the Bullet Train
33:15 Stephenson's Rocket
34:52 SS Great Britain
40:11 Scrap Heap Challenge
41:35 Conclusion

[@davidberlanny3308]

A really great interview liberally sprinkled with funny anecdotes, you can see that you both really enjoyed yourselves doing that. I followed on reading most of the comments and happened on the link to the Rainhill Trials BBC video, which was great viewing and a younger version of Richard appeared. Your very lucky to have had a mentor like him at just the right moment. I hope you are able to do some more videos with him. Good luck from Spain!!

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Have a look in the description for the video of Richard moving the Bullet Train as well

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@MrCrispinEnterprises Well worth watching even though the sound level is low. Richard is right the bullet train was or is an iconic engine. I have been fortunate to have travelled on a few different HSTs perhaps the best was the French TGV, the Chinese one was very functional. I think the Spanish AVE stands up very well and they have been very lucky to have been able to build a whole new network to standard gauge, the Spanish system is a wide gauge with a fair few narrow gauge systems. The branch of the HST to Granada, where I live, is three rail the standard gauge shares the wide gauge. They are currently commissioning a gauge interchanger, I bet Richard would like to see that!!

[@garyhinson3876]

“The willing man will find a way” what a statement! I have worked in engineering for 43 years, to be exact, in an iron foundry for whole of my working life. I specialize in the electrical side of things, but I am multiskilled, and a home machinist. I fear Richard is one of a dying bread, and I find it difficult to find people with any genuine interest which is quite upsetting to me. I can relate to Richards stories and his positive attitude and love that statement. Thanks to Richard and yourself for this, really enjoyed it

[@alexjamieson3822]

I completely agree, in my experience, the “willing man” is becoming ever more elusive in current times. As an engineer who graduated at the turn of the century (2001 😆) even then, the ability to run a machine was treated as a formality rather than a necessary skill, and to see an “office boy” go down to the machine shop and fix something himself is often met with sheer contempt! Not the way it should be in my opinion.

[@richball9576]

What a lovely mentor you have Mr. Crispin! Richard is such a wonderful man! It seems that you are both very lucky to have each other.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@LJbradbury]

Great to hear from Richard, I too have been faced with similar issues when serving in Bosnia with the Royal Engineers. Having to improvise, adapt and overcome situations. Like trying to repair a bridge over a large deep gap with a crane that is no where near able to lift the weight. I figured out that if I lifted a corner there was enough capacity and deflection in the bridge to complete the task. We only had 24hrs to repair the bridge and we succeeded. So I can appreciate those kinds of scenarios and overcoming them.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Nice story!

[@FunkOsax]

I've only just discovered your KZbin channel. I'm 71 now, and it makes me wish that I'd never left engineering in my late 20's. However, I've been forever grateful for the grounding that engineering taught me - I'm prone to the "I bet I could fix that" whenever stuff breaks or "wears out", and it usually takes me 10 times longer than it should have. This was lovely to watch and hilarious in parts. The respect and admiration you have for each other is priceless. Wonderful, thank you.

[@cynic-al]

What a wonderful man, an exciting life and a great ambassador to the profession 👍

[@tsheritageengineering]

A lovely interview, Richard is a great engineer, a great model engineer, and someone who am I honoured to call my friend.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Yes it was great to get it all down in one video

[@ronwilken5219]

I can fully appreciate his desire to be a mechanical engineer. I did a two week "student observation" period at the Roan Antelope Copper mine in my home town of Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia. (Zambia) We were given a couple of days in each of the above ground work shops and I got to see a 400 HP electric motor off a crushing mill that had burned out, delivered to the electrical shop still smoking. It took twenty tons per square inch pressure in the porta ram to get the drive coupling off so we could get the armature out for repair. They had a lathe in the machine shop that was used for truing up the armature copper faces. Its load capacity was thirty tons, six feet swing and over thirty feet bed length. They taught me to weld and gas cut drill steel for the underground workers. I was exhausted after the two weeks but it certainly steered me in my endeavours to someday own my own workshop. Thanks for the video and I trust Mr. Gibbon will continue for a few more years of happy retirement yet.

[@ronitsingh85]

Loads of inspiration for everyone, young and old. Thank you both!

[@StuartsShed]

Great interview, thanks for presenting that. It’s always inspirational to hear from an experienced and enthusiastic engineer, willing to openly share their knowledge. Cheers.

[@AndysDIY]

A fantastic interview video!! Fascinating to hear about this mans achievements and how he has helped to shape your journey as well!! I could watch these all day :)

[@mchiodox69]

Loved it. And the grit in the oyster is one of the most essential traits of a great engineering team.

[@matts_shed]

Thanks so much for sharing this Crispin. Really really enjoyed it. A truely Inspiring man who's stories will now live on to inspire others like us for ever.

[@antonymilne3654]

Absolutely love this many thanks for taking the time

[@ahchu3256]

A most excellent, interesting and educational interview. Well done! You are lucky to have this fine gentleman in your life.

[@stevebosun7410]

Hi Mr C, what a fantastically interesting man and a wonderfully conducted interview. Thank you.

[@georgejohnson1498]

What a lovely video! Thank you. Best wishes from George

[@p.m3735]

Fascinating and interesting gentlemen. Thank you to both of you for doing the interview. Really love taking to and hearing from people with his skill and experience. Excellent episode.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@samrodian919]

What a wonderful experience to listen to Richard talk about his extraordinary career. Thank you Mr Crispin for bringing this to us, and it's nice to see that you have a very high regard for him.

[@stefanbreuer6973]

Absolutely fascinating and inspirational, thank you for sharing your wonderful stories!

[@sd13900]

Well done for a fabulous interview of an inspirational engineer, conducted with respect and great affection.

[@martinsmith1447]

What a man he is! Very interesting video, you are lucky to have him in your life. Make sure you get as much of his knowledge as you can!

[@Engineerd3d]

Amazing interview. Thank you for doing this.

[@warrenjones744]

On the shop floor along with engineering school? that is the way things should be done! Richard is a Gem. You are so fortunate to have such a friend and mentor Mr C. I really enjoy your talks with Richard.

[@TERRYB0688]

Mr Crispin, what a wonderful interview so much knowledge and so many experience’s brilliant 👍👴🏻

[@joell439]

What a fantastic interview. A willing man will find a way. 👍👍😎👍👍

[@carlwilson1772]

Thank you for this wonderful interview and for recording the experiences of this inspirational man. I have a great affinity for his maxim "The willing man will find a way". Thoroughly enjoyed this.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Morning Mr Crispin 🤠 That was absolutely fantastic just chatting about Richard’s life stories 😀 Hopefully you could do some more interviews like this 🤩

[@thebadger2101]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you, both of you.

[@hammeys1]

This was great, loved the talk.

[@daverichardson5861]

Very interesting life story. Lots more to tell. Many thanks for sharing.

[@terrytopliss9506]

This was a great video Mr Crispin,thank you.👍👍

[@samshublom8761]

I thought I would just glance at this, but wound up watching it straight through. Wonderful interview! I wish I had done something like this with some of my mentors and teachers I have had. In 40 years you will look back on this and be glad you did it. Well done!

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

It's great to be able to put this together for Richard in return for many years on help.

[@paulcaswell7152]

What a thoroughly enjoyable video. A lovely insight into the world of engineering.

[@bostedtap8399]

Great interview, very interesting and lovely man. Thanks for sharing.

[@antstephenson9497]

Absolutely fascinating, thank you very much.

[@gregharris3747]

A fantastic vidoe Mr Crispin what a great bloke Richard is. & I have so much to thank him for when he was working at Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield. As boy I would go down on Sunday's to see the mighty River Don Engine in action. being absolutely fascinated by this great 12,000 HP monster I was always drawing detailed pictures . Richard saw this & trusted me as I got a little older with this wonderful engineering manual book dating back to 1905 that came from the mill full of all these fantastic working drawings of all the parts . So with great dedication I put them all together with my pens on a drawing board to create a detailed line drawing which is on display at Kelham Island Museum today, He was always very helpful & so supportive. I learnt so much about this great engine from him I'm so pleased he got the job instead of the other guy . We can't thank him & his team enough in restoring The River Don Engine getting her back up to steam for visitors past & present to see . The willing man will find a way Take care Richard & all the very best Greg Harris

[@andyoverall1951]

Great character, we need more like him.

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

Thank you very much Mr.Crispin, what a wonderful man Richard is. Great stories.

[@Airtight215]

I absolutely love when you have Richard on. His enthusiasm is only surpassed by his knowledge and it’s such a joy to listen to his stories. He’s likely forgotten more than I’ll ever learn and seen more than I’ll ever hear. Don’t get me wrong, you’re okay too, but I imagine that’s just Mr. Gibbon rubbing off on you.

[@uries15]

"We can't let it beat us!" I heard Richard say on more than one occasion. What an inspirational thought!

[@malcolmfoster2937]

Great video, thank you both. Keep up the good work.

[@user-de8bu5es6f]

So many words, All, so VERY TRUE.

[@brucewilliams6292]

Lovely, simply lovely. Thanks for the video.

[@landroverihtractor1965]

I was on holiday when this was posted and completely missed it - what a treasure to find 5 months later! I can only dream of the stuff you guys in the machining world can do but this video was really special for an unskilled person like me - who usually finds a way to do the jobs I have to do (none so precise as yours). Thanks for posting endless hours of engineering, entertainment and inspiration.

[@steved8038]

Thank you that was a totally fascinating interview,what a wonderful chap and a highly talented engineer.its because of men like him that Britain taught the rest of the world engineering.

[@sanctuaryjunction8413]

That was a great video. Such a lovely man and a host of topics. You are a lucky man Mr. Crispin to know such a person. I was in the NRM the day after the Bullet Train had been pushed in the night before and got caught peeping under the cover.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Nice story!

[@Rustinox]

Well, that's a riveting video. Thanks you very much for posting this interview. I really enjojed that.

[@rickymale8203]

Simply brilliant. Thank you both.

[@stevenlawrence1036]

Thoroughly enjoyed your interview with Richard and he’s followed his passion and passed it onto you Crispin, what a gift of friendship and knowledge , everyone I believe can be an engineer or a scientist or whatever all you need is the right opportunity and the right person to train them .. you had this from Richard and your a credit to his knowledge, I’ve been practicing grinding myself in and off as you know and apparently pretending to be a J&S operator lol but I may not be as technical minded but belief in yourself and thee right training you can achieve great things . See you at work mate 👍🏻

[@markcrotty5094]

Very cool interview thanks for sharing

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Crispin, A fabulous video, thank you... Take care Paul,,

[@olennemac2502]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Thank you for doing it. I have been a Mechanical Engineer in the US for 40 years. I think I'd love spending time with Mr. Gibbon hearing more of his stories and sharing some of my own. I'm happy to say that I "passed" his engineers test although I must admit the last criteria, "Know when you have met your match" took a number of years to develop. While I have always enjoyed designing and building things and have had a lifelong love of steam engines, I only started hobby machining, actually running a lathe and milling machine in the past 2 years. I have 4 small engines under my belt so far. I have a lot of catching up to do! Thank you Mr. Crispin for your videos, they have been quite helpful!

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks for your comment

[@NellsMechanicalManCave]

Great video and what an amazing man !

[@retromechanicalengineer]

Exactly how I feel about being a Mechanical Engineer. Thank you for sharing the interview with us Mr C. I commend membership of the IMechE to all who work or have an interest in this fascinating field. Dean

[@TomChame]

Absolutely first class, thank you, Crispin.

[@jerryleejohnsonjr1377]

Hello from Michigan Mr Crispin ! Thanks for sharing this wonderful man with us. Great video.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@waynebouskill5796]

Absolutely brilliant and beautiful man, to say the least, thank you Mr. Crispin for sharing such a wonderful life of Richard.

[@mk1cortinatony395]

Thank you for highlighting Richard's skills as a speaker and engineer. What a man, I feel you are of the same cloth yourself and why I subscribed quite a while back :)

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Many thanks

[@ninthm00n]

Excellent video and very interesting. Thank you Mr. Crispin Cheers from USA

[@theoldclockhouse]

Really enjoyed that interview. Thanks

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Watched this over 3 periods absolutely brilliant thanks for posting met my match true fully understand

[@5thgearouttahere]

What a video, and gee what a mentor to have. My sincere commendations & admiration to Mr. Gibbon. Thank you for this video it's a real pleasure. Will hang around.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@rodneykiemele4721]

Enjoyed this video.very much, thank you, Mr. Crispen

[@yambo59]

This was a most enjoyable and fascinating look at the life of challenges of this wonderful mans engineering career, and hes even sporting enough to include the times things didnt go as perfect as they could have just like real life - but again my hats off to both of you Richard Gibbon and Mr. Crispin for collaborating to bring us such an entertaining inside look at the life and career of such a celebrated mechanical engineer who also played a pivotal role early in Mr. Crispins own career. Youre lucky to have such a great mentor and freind in your life Mr. C., one is lucky to find such a valued friend in life. Again hats off to you both for a great video.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@piotrlenarczyk5803]

Thank you for video. It is an unique opportunity to hear stories and tips from experienced engineer:).

[@gb_engineer]

Fascinating and is inspiring to any budding mechanical engineer - particularly for my son, thank you!

[@HaxbyShed]

Really enjoyed that. Watched it all. The 新幹線 is my favourite. I lived in Japan for a while and travelled on the bullet trains. The acceleration is tremendous. Each time I visit the NRM I sit on the bullet train and I could probably watch the video on repeat for hours. Cheers

[@rodbennett4790]

G'day Mr Crispin. How wonderful for Richard to have worked on such great projects. Thankyou to him and to you for sharing the story. From a fellow mechanical Engineer!

[@CraigsWorkshop]

That was brilliant. Thanks Richard and Crispin - lots of insights and interesting and funny material here. Loved the French address. :-)

[@julianlyons711]

Really interesting to hear the story and sit in on your discussion via you tube

[@leicmick]

Thank you MrCrispin i really enjoyed this video and what a intertesting lovely man Mr Richard Gibbon is

[@stevefowler3398]

EVERY BOY should be given a MECCANO set. It was the learning tool and foundation for learning so many skills. Some never enjoyed it. But will always have that instinct to look at how things are built. Most people now, couldn't change a plug.

[@nickmiller76]

And should also own a clapped-out motorbike at the age of sixteen, one that needs loads of hands-on work to keep it going.

[@jeremykemp3782]

I very much enjoyed this little gem of a video thank you

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@adamsheffield4704]

I’ve really enjoyed listening to Richard discuss his experiences in engineering. I’m laughing to find out that he was in charge of the River Don steam engine in Sheffield. That was the first engine I had ever seen in steam. It made such an impression and really started me down the model engineering path. Thank you both for sharing.

[@FISHBREATHH]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@TheTW11]

I really enjoyed that. Great content Mr Crispin.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks

[@kennylakits4093]

That was awesome!!!!! A truly great man!

[@edpopelas2844]

Here is another: “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.” It’s a great thing that folks such as you and Richard can share your experiences and insights here on such a silly platform as KZbin. We are all great full and inspired. What was that phrase again? And long may that continue.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

The Willing Man will Find a Way!!

[@slypig24]

Thanks for conducting a great interview, and cheers from Australia 🇦🇺 🦘

[@James-fs4rn]

👍you are very fortunate to have such a mentor.

[@tonythorne4623]

Very interesting and we'll presented well done both.

[@leighmackay7486]

Forty-five minutes well spent. Cheers to both of you.

[@Gurnhillsgarage]

Richard seems like a top bloke, very inspirational. It would be great to have a cup of tea with Richard and listen to all the stories and life experiences he has. Consider yourself lucky Mr crispin... and thanks for the interview very well done. Cheers

[@creativecomposites6193]

An example to every budding engineer.Great interview.

[@goodfortune6399]

That's a great video and I love the paint shop

[@ColdCoffee122]

A brilliant video, thanks.

[@robindebreuil]

This was so good. Thank you.

[@Mr73050]

I remember meeting Richard some years ago when he was driving the Trevithick replica at Telford Power Station.

[@MrPossumeyes]

Thankyou, Mr Crispin. Yes, that was very interesting! And thankyou to Mr Gibbon, too.

[@grendel1960a]

whilst not exactly an engineer, I do like working with my hands, with lathes and mills, ny career has been one of 44 years of draughtsmanship, i found i had a knack for it at school, and its been my career ever since, I learned on the drawing board, then relearned in CAD, in the late 1980's ( I asked my boss if i could learn these new CAD machines in my lunchtime, very soon I was one of the experts). I love seeing a well drafted drawing, and I love working with my workshop tools.

[@bertjetolberg103]

Sounds pretty close like an engineer My career is almost the same except that i never had a boss

[@distraughthogrider7969]

What helped you learn to design? Drawing practice, books, educational media, work?

[@grendel1960a]

@@distraughthogrider7969 I learned technical drawing at school, then started work on the drawing boards , after which I ended up working with CAD, so mostly self taught and taught by my older colleagues.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

I started my journey as a over enthusiastic tractor mechanic and moved into the oilfield. The machinery old and extra large, i was asked repeatedly to make it do one more job. Thanks for sharing!

[@624Dudley]

Superb, Mr. Crispin. Simply superb. 👍

[@RedDogForge]

"The Willing Man will find a Way" right then. my new motto. cheers!

[@simonbirt6121]

An inspiration to us all.

[@hmw-ms3tx]

This was an excellent video. What an interesting man. Listening to him describe what it takes to be a mechanical engineer was like reviewing my life to date. I too became a mechanical engineer and like he said about himself, it started young. I don't remember a time when I wasn't fascinated by mechanical things. I do remember in 1977, when I was five, asking my mom to put some holes in a few of my Lego blocks so I could have axles where the Lego people never intended them to be. We didn't have a drill in the house and so, to my mom's credit, she sized up my axles, found a nail that was the right size, held it with a pair of pliers over the element of our stove until it was red hot and then melted the holes were I wanted them. Like Richard said 'the willing man (or mom) finds a way.' By my mid teens I was fascinated with gas turbine engines and tried building one out of an old turbocharger that I mounted in a bench vise. I could only get it to run for a few seconds before it would flame out. It wasn't a complete loss however as my first job interview after graduating from engineering was at a gas turbine overhaul shop. Like Mr. Crispin I was asked by one of the three senior engineers who were interviewing me if I knew how a gas turbine worked and I told them about trying to build one. I got the job and was thereafter referred to as 'Turbo-vise' by the senior engineers. I agree that you need an endless curiosity and desire to never stop learning. Also, the feeling you get when you dream something up and then build it and see it work is second to none. Thanks again for the great video. Ken

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Good comment thanks

[@markrainford1219]

Your mum sounds great.

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Yes indeed!

[@BasementEngineer]

Such a curiosity and willpower should be apparent at an early age, say age 6 or so. Further, there should be a curiosity to see how things work and interest in repairing household appliances. Someone who has never repaired a bicycle, lawnmower, changed a fuse or tried to repair a clock, will never make a decent mechanical engineer.

[@hmw-ms3tx]

@@markrainford1219 She is. When she was in her mid sixties I built a garage to put my workshop in. She insulated well over half of it by herself, putting the fibreglass batts in like a pro.

[@martinlamb8891]

I have never commented on a video before but this was very good .. and I like that you do things a different way.....

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks for your comment

[@Steviegtr52]

Great talk Mr Crispin. Steve.

[@youngmuttley]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@richardwigley]

Amazing video, and an amazing man. A joy to listen to

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Thanks