The Thames Tunnel: The World's First Underwater Passage

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[@megaprojects9649]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/megaprojects for 10% off on your first purchase.

[@andrewbirch5738]

You used the wrong picture for John Armstrong, the one you used was a Major General, 31 March 1674 - 15 April 1742

[@LewpyDrewpy714]

A few actors. You sir. And The Queen. She's cool AF. I miss Princess Diana too. But other then that. Your country is a shit hole. And you all let it happen. The USA is going the same way.

[@ryurazu]

you should do some of the greatest Ancient Megaprojects or even some of the destroyed/unfinished megaprojects.

[@shoogie1994]

"I dont know how many people would go down there today..." he says to all of the engineering nerds who totally would lol

[@philthewriter]

Went down there a couple of years back with my job, is very interesting.

[@plunder1956]

I believe the tube line still runs through it, it did when I was young. With a powerful torch, you can probably see some of it from the tube.

[@TrevorTrottier]

The KZbin views alone from that video

[@joelbarwood7172]

I'm upset that we can't do that now because of liability

[@philthewriter]

@@joelbarwood7172 They still open it up every now and again and give tours. Not sure how often that is though.

[@Legitpenguins99]

Everyone knows the most important Brit is Simon Whistler. Who else could be the bald Fact Boi with 47 seperate KZbin channels?

[@codykidwell1369]

That made me lol fucking skynet hahaha

[@mattyt1961]

47? which ones did he close?

[@andreyradchenko8200]

@@marvindebot3264 Sky-what? We all know it's CABAL.

[@amb163]

I'm honestly surprised only seven people died in this 16 year project, given the highly experimental nature of it all and the total lack of any real safety measures. I mean, the Golden Gate Bridge was built about century later and eleven people died during its construction.

[@twstf8905]

Haha yea good point lol safety wasn't exactly a priority back in the early 1800's like it is now, or the last 100 years anyway. 😂

[@jasonwilde197]

Well Joe Biden lost 13 Americans in a few months. 200 or so Afghans also died in that Suicide attack, but that isn't covered as much. I'm honestly surprised more didn't die because of this Potato of a president we have now.

[@jasonwilde197]

​@@alexroge6495 Look up how many died during Joe Biden's FKed Up Afghanistan Withdrawal

[@jasonwilde197]

@@alexroge6495I think I have found a "Lefty." YOU! FYW, There are over 10,000 Haitians at the Southern Border right now. Are you gonna house them yourself???

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

@@jasonwilde197 and how many THOUSANDS of indigenous children were killed in the public school system….

[@KazM-Made]

It's not WAPping - but "WOPping" - I'm surprised at you not checking that gizmo of yours for that lol

[@patrickoriordan1757]

Wah-ping 🤣

[@doctorlolchicken7478]

He does it on purpose.

[@martxw]

But he said whopping price tag - so frustrating!

[@fyve4321]

He misprounces quite a bit wrong in his videos. Really annoying.

[@MartinWillett]

@@martxw that is another example of the same strategy to increase interaction. Cunning.

[@C2K777]

Simon: Goes out of his way to get names around the world correct. Totally cocks up the pronouncement of Wapping 🙄😁

[@twocvbloke]

Rhymes with Fapping, innit? :P

[@C2K777]

@@twocvbloke Nope, zero points. Try again 😂

[@PMA65537]

Is this a cunning plan to increase comments and youtube promotion?

[@MartinWillett]

@@PMA65537 Exactly. Probably the first time was a mistake but later it has become a deliberate strategy to increase interaction.

[@stuartord7728]

@@C2K777 wopping

[@Iamtheliquor]

Now you’ve gotta do the first Mersey Tunnel (Queensway). It was the longest underwater tunnel from when it opened in 1934 until 1955. The two pilot tunnels met within less than 1 inch in 1925

[@mattwhorlow9900]

In the 1860's the Cornish miners at Botallack dug a mine shaft which ran half a mile out beneath the Atlantic ocean. Not sure if it counts as a tunnel, with only one open end - but a staggering achievement none the less (also worthy of a mega projects), Eye witness accounts talk of a shaft running 45 degrees, pitch black with the sound the the Atlantic pounding above your heads. Must have been worse than hell.

[@Iamtheliquor]

@@mattwhorlow9900 Sounds really interesting and well worthy of a mega projects!

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

The whole ventilation system itself is almost a mega-project

[@paullumbard5201]

@@mattwhorlow9900 I'm pretty sure he's made a video on that already

[@wpjohn91]

Search for the deepest well in britain. Crazy deep and thin took years.

[@tannernewbanks5961]

A funny way to look at this is that a small, wood-eating worm was instrumental in helping an up-and-coming Engineer to create a means of making a massive tunnel under a river that would thin traffic in a densely populated city. Good job Worm 👍

[@OriginalWillowbark]

Made me think of a book I enjoyed called - A History of the world in 10 and a half chapters. [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_the_World_in_10%C2%BD_Chapters]

[@s14tat]

All hail the mighty worm.

[@noniewatson7845]

@@s14tat L L

[@noniewatson7845]

@@s14tat l Ll L Ll L L L L

[@HarryNicNicholas]

i think humans are over-rated, i think that most of human invention and discovery has happened by accident more than design, we find things but we were looking for something else, and it would be an interesting "side-projects" to see how many constructions were inspired by insects and how many by mammals.

[@d-swank7599]

Fun fact, the term “bitter end” is nautical in origin, it’s the last link of anchor chain on a ship.

[@pixelkatten]

And that's how we learned that we shouldn't lick anchor chains!

[@Shinzon23]

Also known as "We're completely screwed because we can't actually anchor,so we're going to go into the rocks and all die"

[@hardrays]

is that an olde english way of saying thats the end that goes into a locking mechanism presumably with teeth (or "dogs") for the purpose of securing it to a winch or windlass? or is it that it exclusively forms a U shape which is a bight? perhaps both are mutually true. do tell

[@vice.nor.virtue]

Its also one of Placebo's greatest hits. Really that track is amazing, definitely Top 5 stuff for this rock group.

[@nevadahamaker7149]

A suggestion for another Megaprojects video is the project to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle with a deep-bore tunnel, followed by the careful demolition of the viaduct. It involved the use of the world's largest tunnel boring machine, which had to be repaired partway through the project by digging down to it and essentially replacing the head of the machine. It was a huge and expensive project and I think it clearly qualifies as a megaproject.

[@vice.nor.virtue]

omg that sounds like a goddam mess and i cant wait to hear more

[@tedjones3955]

I love learning about things I'd never heard about before. Thank you Simon for my continuing education. Great success to you, from Canada 🇨🇦

[@DomyTheMad420]

7:11 THANK YOU to who-ever bloody added that picture. the diagram never really told me much, this is a million times more informative then the same ol' diagram we've all seen a dozen times

[@jessicalypsojessicakyliemc9879]

You should do something on Big Muskie, the largest walking dragline ever made. The thing was a MONSTER!!

[@aceundead4750]

I saw muskie and was really hoping it'd be something to do with the fish, i was wrong

[@AnonimityAssured]

"Wapping" to rhyme with "tapping" rather than "topping"? I was still getting over "center" and "tunneling".

[@kathybell616]

I think it would be cool if you did a megaprojects on that hospital they slammed together in two weeks in China!

[@iainballas]

I mean... say what you want about the Chinese government but they can *organize*.

[@Direkin]

It wouldn't be much of a video. It's not a hospital, just a large quarantine facility , and it was built using standard prefab parts you would see on any construction site office. Also, the first photo used by Chinese media turned out to have been stolen from a completely unrelated website.

[@seanet1310]

7 deaths for such a dangerous activity, I would say that sounds incredibly low for the time thanks to innovations.

[@russellfitzpatrick503]

The Brunels were so far ahead of their time (for the age in which they lived) that it was almost science fiction what they proposed ..., and sadly why so many of their projects failed (to succeed)

[@fredericrike5974]

Along with all the other modern regulations and rules not present were those that required careful, accurate info and stats on injuries and deaths "associated" with the project. But is was a tremendous leap forward and foreshadowed the future of the art. FR

[@jamiearnott9669]

Definitely worthy of "megaprojects". A fantastic achievement for London and Britain. Unfortunately the problem it was meant to solve stills remains. If you have ever travelled through the blackwall tunnel and realised that most of your day has gone, I can attest to that ;-) On a human note, I'm surprised that there is a father and son, I thought Brunel was just one person

[@jamesclendon4811]

There were also a father and son --John and Washington Roebling--involved in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, a comparable Megaproject. The son sometimes ruefully commented on how many people he met who thought he was dead, his father's death during early stages of the construction being well known.

[@oldthrasbarg641]

Let's put this in perspective for the time it was built 7 deaths is remarkably low for what was achieved. The channel tunnel cost 10 people their lives and that was with modern technology. Not just the engineers but the workers were truly revolutionary and achieved amazing things

[@trooperdgb9722]

To be fair you are comparing a 396 METRE long tunnel, with a 50 KILOMETRE long one!

[@oldthrasbarg641]

@@trooperdgb9722 and a TBM to Dave with a pick and shovel

[@mattyt1961]

I was wondering what the numbers on more 'advanced' tunnel projects would have been. I figured it would be similar or higher per year. I would love to have been wrong though.

[@RCAvhstape]

Not only were the number of deaths surprisingly low for such a project, but even adjusted for inflation it seems fairly cheap by modern standards. Look at the Big Dig in Boston or any major project in US cities for that matter; they are all astonishing examples of waste compared to this.

[@Sorarse]

I'm guessing Simon has never been to London from his mispronounciation of Wapping.

[@LarryJohnVA]

A Wapping error

[@newingtonrock4562]

mispronunciation, not mispronounciation

[@Sorarse]

@@newingtonrock4562 Dyslexic fingers.

[@sandybarnes887]

Sounded OK to me

[@DudeInFlares]

And doesn't know much about the history of British newspapers.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:20 - Chapter 1 - The center of the world 2:20 - Chapter 2 - The tunneling fiascos 3:40 - Chapter 3 - Marc Isambard Brunel 5:10 - Mid roll ads 6:25 - Chapter 4 - The tunneling shield 8:10 - Chapter 5 - Plans 9:25 - Chapter 6 - Construction begins 10:35 - Chapter 7 - Slow hazardous work 13:00 - Chapter 8 - Flooding 14:10 - Chapter 9 - Stop work 15:05 - Chapter 10 - Completion 16:05 - Chapter 11 - Opening 17:40 - Chapter 12 - Legacy

[@extragoogleaccount6061]

Good show 'ol chap!

[@stevek6921]

I never knew Sir WInston was fond of keeping squirrels under his lapels. 18:32

[@flamencoprof]

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel was scary enough for me. Quite a strange experience, went from the Greenwich side to the Isle of Dogs development back in about 1996/7..

[@michealmatthews9377]

good explanation of how shafts are sunk. the brickwork is constantly added as the ground is dug away , and the whole structure sinks.

[@noahmead4652]

A Megaprojects on GPS would be great!

[@faultiermusli7709]

Simon’s probably got the square space talking points memorized at this point hehehe

[@aguaarch]

Next megaproject. Cleaning of the "great stink" of river thames 😉

[@Georgie94]

Love your videos on all your channels! Keep up the great work. :)

[@epkesel]

Video suggestion: The movement from gas to electric energy Such as the first street lights being put in, houses with poor wire insulation, the crazy inventions from people who didn't understand electricity (electric table cloths and metal outlets), to the reason certain safety measures exist today. Very interesting thing to learn about

[@fps079]

Thanks, Simon. I appreciate your projects.

[@matt47110815]

Interesting. This was 70 years before the (also impressive) Elbe Tunnel in Hamburg. Wow. Well, the Elbe Tunnel is still walkable, and when i was a kid it was still open for Car Traffic as well. It features Lifts for Automobiles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbe_Tunnel_(1911)

[@chazzyb8660]

It is still used by the (for this part at least oddly named) TfL 'Overground' railway. When it is closed for engineering works they have conducted walking tours through it, where much of the original structure can be seen, great fun, and well worth doing, if you get the chance.

[@SMEGTACULAR]

I remember hearing you talk about this on the biographics podcast while binging at work like I do daily.

[@theycallmemrclean1901]

Huge fan of your work. just found you here. great . Thank you Simon

[@Nipplator99999999999]

You don't have to entice me to finish watching the video to the end. I can be completely honest when I say that you are the only presenter I have watched every made by them completely. With the small caveat of skipping some sponsor ads.

[@atomdent]

Fascinating show thanks!

[@stephenhammond6962]

Another great video Nomis! 👌 Keep it up fella 👍

[@alexcrouse]

16 years of digging, and ONLY 7 deaths? That's actually incredibly good for the time.

[@andyrbush]

Brilliantly presented.

[@Torresgamingchannel]

Simon started his channels in almost a full suit, I live in the hope that we may see him soothingly narrate in pyjamas.

[@sowhenthen]

Waiting for his onlyfans

[@donaldmangel4732]

Mega project and your other vblogs are the best. Absolute fan here. My comment is about how gorgeous your beard has become. I need to order your beard oil!

[@peterblake4837]

Bristol University library has most of I K Brunel's note books, and a lot of his correspondence. The archive is in a controlled room. A potential visitor must have formal permission to access the archive, which we were lucky enough to obtain. While we were there, a project to put much of the collection in an accessible form was in progress, so we were able to work with the original material.

[@wtmayhew]

I’ll vote for a Mega Projects on the Severn Tunnel. I saw a film done on the Severn Tunnel by one of the British railway companies made, I believe, in the late 1930s. It would be great to see a modern view of the project.

[@phillmaltese757]

Love the picture u put out for brunell.. the good old freemason hand in the coat

[@bushmanPMRR]

Yet another incredible feat of engineering from the greatest engineering country in the world. Not least that there was only seven deaths which depending on who you believe, only one more than the death toll for the Epire State Building over a century later.

[@clarkkent6043]

I love this kinda content!!!

[@SDCornishman]

I’ve enjoyed the program’s that you offer. They remind me of the old radio programs were the product commercial was written into the script ie The Burns and Allen or Jack Benny programs.

[@mickeydodds1]

No, it was not 'dumping earth' into a flowing river - how pointless is that? What Brunel did was to position a boat above the breech and dump in hessian sacks full of clay interspersed with tough, springy tree branches, which served to form a cohesive mass to plug the breech.

[@alekspen]

The amount of subscribers this channel has in such a short time, is a mega project in itself

[@nickwood176]

Great vid, as usual. Okay I think that Sir W Churchill was a sound, worthy result as pommie #1. ( I am one of those convict Australians btw :) ). But I was kinda hoping for Spike Milligan to scrape in. Just sayin'. Cheers Nick

[@pamelamays4186]

More tunnel stories please!

[@WolvenSpectre]

The runner up in that poll, which was part of a program called The Greatest Breton was Princess Di (it was shortly after her death and it was starting to come out that she was doing more than just what she was doing publicly as a member of the Royal Family and was doing it while dealing with mental health issues but without 'permission' to get help) That show was a hit and the producers were stuck with a problem... you can't have "Who is the Greatest Breton This Time" so they packaged the design of the show and licenced it to TV Networks Internationally. Some places like Canada it was a huge hit ("The Greatest Canadian" and the winner was Tommy Douglas aka Kiefer Sutherland's Maternal Grandfather) while others like the US and South Africa it proved to be such a heated topic that the shows were cancelled due to strife and threats of violence.

[@robertgaines-tulsa]

This reminds me of a sci-fi film made in 1935 call Tunnel that was about building a trans-Atlantic tunnel that linked The United States and Britain. It's a fun movie, but something like that would probably never happen. There's a huge problem. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs North to South in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. It's essentially a continuous rift volcano. Good luck trying to tunnel through an active volcano. That, and the Atlantic ocean widens little by little each year something like the average growth of a fingernail. But, hey, don't let that stop you from enjoying the movie. They didn't take the mid-Atlantic ridge seriously until the '60s when Plate Tectonics was finally accepted into geology.

[@DarylBaines]

Your "Thank you for watching" is always delivered so wonderfully ... do you have a fan club?

[@bryangilreath7333]

It's incredible how few people actually died building some of these first of their kind, engineering master pieces done so many years ago. Yet even today after a over a century to learn and perfect building techniques, bridges and tunnels continue to kill workers aswell as innocent bystanders. The pedestrian bridge at Florida international university crossing over 8th st being a prime example. It suddenly and unexpectedly collapsed killing 6 i believe just a few years ago. The worst part is, just hours prior to its collapse it was signed off as safe to continue building, even though there were multiple very large cracks showing in the concrete already. This would be another video I'd love to see you cover.

[@bgood267]

loved it. i see the new ways it is did. not much difference, better gear is all.

[@amenditman]

Will you do a megaprojects video about the London Taxi test?

[@seshamblin788]

You should do one on the hawks nest tunnel. Has a lot of history where I’m from and is an amazing feat of human engineering from the early 1900’s

[@highpath4776]

I see there is one image showing Lancashire - Cheshire. This is of the Wapping Railway Tunnel of 1830 built in Liverpool (engineered by Joseph Locke and George Stephenson effectively completed in 1829 before the feeding railway of Liverpool and Manchester was opened, it operated for many years as a rope hauled goods line, and ran under Edge Hill to the dock area of Liverpool, this one is not Brunels' Thames one.

[@alancranford3398]

The Thames tunnel is a tribute to 19th Century English stubborn determination. Thank you for this Megaprojects presentation.

[@classyorange3362]

Oh, right. The emergency hatch. The locked emergency hatch for emergencies, the emergency hatch locked especially for emergencies, the emergency hatch... A few drops of water in his tunnel-

[@fredericrike5974]

It took a long time to change that attitude, both in Britain and America; in 1910 or so, 500+ women died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire because they were unable to get off the fifth floor by exit doors locked and chained to prevent use to the stairs after "worktime" started- to prevent the women working there from "taking to much time" to potty- which was only on the first floor, five flights of stairs below. the pictures in NY papers of women, dresses afire leaping out of the windows greeted NY residents the next morning. Not to worry, the male factory manager escaped unharmed, his office being on the other side og the locked, chained exits. He had the key to the locks! the scheming socialists and communists the Right keeps claiming started American unions were hardly necessary- the moguls greed and insensitivity did all the damage needed. The same was true in the British mining industry and the rails also- poor pay, terrible, incredibly dangerous conditions and leadership that didn't give a tinker's damn about worker casualties or welfare. And yes, some early socialists and many who became socialists when their own political voices refused to listen or help let conditions become unbearable. FR

[@lauramacclinic2252]

MegaProject Suggestion: You touched on this in another video, but let me expand. 'Cowboy' was not the biggest profession in the American West. In fact, the cowboys were simply there to provide food for the MINERS. MINING in America was a MEGAPROJECT and cattle fed the miners. It's like people making movies about the caterers to the Pyramids at Giza and forgetting altogether to discuss the Pyramids. Just up the road from my flat is the Jerome Mines. DEFINITELY a MEGAPROJECT. Copper was originally discovered there by the Spanish in the late 1500s. (The 1500s is an AMAZINGLY LONG-Time ago for Americans) The history of the Jerome mines in the history of the evolution of mining techniques. Each time new mining, they could mine a little further into the Jerome mine. The mines in America were very different from the mines in UK. The mines and mining towns were diverse places. The richest person in Jerome was a woman, she was also the richest person in Arizona. She ran the brothel. But, there was also a large population of Chinese who ran popular restaurants like the "English Kitchen." There were Mexican, Native American and African-Americans, working alongside the immigrants from the UK in the mines. Many immigrants from UK, who were tired of dying in UK mines came to Jerome to die in a proper American mine. The Jerome mines are an excellent history of mining technology and engineering. The Jerome mine is a MEGAPROJECT !

[@lauramacclinic2252]

Today, Jerome is an artist community full of trendy shops (owned by semi-famous musicians) & galleries. I'm going to one of the galleries today to buy a lovely painting to hang in my living room. It's a painting of Death Valley. A place that has innocent, romantic and fond memories of ....

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you

[@shgjjj2879]

A video on kingdom Islamabad brunnels achievements would be awesome

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

A video about the _Thames Tunnel?_ To put it in 1960s parlance, everyone is going to DIG THIS...😉

[@Tone720]

Even the original incarnation of this got further than the great "Garden Bridge" of recent times before it was abandoned...

[@trespire]

Correction Simon, @10:59 Kingdom Isambard Brunel was not ONE of the greatest engineers of the 19th century. He was THE greatest.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@trespire]

Sir Mark Brunell's fur lined jacket rocks !

[@paulsky54]

Could this be the First. A mound of rocks close to the north shore of the Firth of Forth, The Moat lies a quarter-mile (0.5 km) southwest of Culross in W Fife. It is notable because Sir George Bruce of Carnock created an offshore coal mine here in the late 16th century, quite possibly the first occasion in the world this had been attempted. This mine was also unique because it was one of the first to have two entrance shafts and employed innovative drainage techniques, using a chain and bucket system. An entrance shaft on the shore was used for access, while the offshore shaft provided ventilation, together with a platform for loading the coal onto ships. So impressive was this feat of engineering that no less than King James VI asked to visit in 1617. He was duly conducted through the workings, although was sufficiently shocked to emerge surrounded by the sea that he thought an attempt was being made on his life.

[@billotto602]

I couldn't agree more with the choice of the greatest Britain ever. I've got an English Springer Spaniel named after him. He single handedly saved Britain & quite possibly the western world.

[@lauraheyman2011]

Can you do a video on the Brunel son about some of his achievements?

[@anthonyC214]

In NYC we had John Holland, the engineer who designed the tunnel under the Hudson River connecting NY and NJ. John Holland also invited the first modern US Submarine and he is the Father the the US Submarine Navy Service

[@rayfridley6649]

Anthony, are you possibly thinking about Clifford Holland, a tunnel specialty engineer who was involved in designing and directing the construction of the first underwater motor vehicular tunnel under the Hudson River. See Simon Whistler's video on the NYC subway. There, in the comments section, I wrote more on Clifford Holland's role and accomplishments.

[@AivinJohn]

You must make an episode on Indian general election s.. biggest election in the biggest democracy

[@froggystyle642]

The KZbin algorithm WILL submit to your barrage of uploads

[@Grummash]

WOPPing.... not WAPPing! 😂😂😂

[@toddyoung569]

I LOVE OLD TIMEY RADIO! Goddamn Redcoat.

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

Brunel deserves his own video

[@twocvbloke]

Imagine tunnelling away, only to be met with a sudden torrent of water that was full of turd, yeesh....... :S

[@StarScapesOG]

Please do the Bingham canyon copper mine in Utah USA, it is the largest mine ever and is still growing!

[@joeylawn36111]

18:32 Anyone else think that that pic of Churchill had a baby squirrel climbing up his left shoulder?

[@chazelwazel]

I had always assumed that Simon the presenter was from London, but the way he pronounces ‘Wapping’ he’s definitely not.

[@bryangilreath7333]

Simon we need the facts about the now famous Tic Tac video, aliens, UFO's and the Pentagon's new found and incredibly creative name of UAP.

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

That’s Absolutely insane Simon! There’s no way in hell I’m going down there!

[@StarScapesOG]

You should do Bagger 293, it is the largest vehicle ever built!

[@jeast417]

You know what else would be epic? The other 12 ussr 5 year plans!

[@chunellemariavictoriaespan8752]

11:44 =*Cough* Pasig River *Cough*... Wait... How did you guys made Thames clean when we can't even succeed with Pasig!

[@AndrewWinterRBC]

Hi Simon --- very interesting, but I was really hoping to learn how the engineers approached keeping groundwater out of these tunnels. This has always baffled me how these structures have kept out the groundwater for 100 years, using what? - some bricks?

[@PietroGrandi909]

I would actually pay today to go down and see the work in progress of such a marvel. Like, a couple of times a month 😅

[@twstf8905]

Hahaha "A cesspool of unspeakable horror!" 😂

[@annconover1277]

Can please do the Smithsonian either here or on Side projects?

[@mustafaemad3614]

Finally top-10 comment, I have been commenting for a long time, and hope one of my Mega Project suggestions reach you Simon. Aswan High Dam, Bar Lev Line and Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

[@michaelely4349]

Another 19th century project with similar engineering drama - the Garnier opera (yeah, I know it's French) might be worth a look?

[@teganvincent3295]

Please please pleeeaaase do the statue of unity in India! It's absolutely colossal! And I had no idea it existed until the other day!

[@killman369547]

I don't think i'd want to watch anyone dig a tunnel 1800's style but to be able to pay to go down and see a modern tunneling project, now that i'd be interested in.

[@PetrSojnek]

Hey it's an actual megaproject for a change :D

[@classyorange3362]

I just started, but why didn't they just build a second bridge??!

[@PMA65537]

Shipping needed to pass those points. When they later built Tower Bridge it had to lift to let ships pass. You could only add bridges upstream of London Bridge.

[@MartinWillett]

Because a bridge downstream of London Bridge would either block shipping, which would result in you being sued and/or murdered, or it would have to be a monster.

[@fredericrike5974]

Simon, an after thought on tunneling; the Tunnel Boring Machines, devised more than two decades ago, dig by the very same means, but do so by vastly mechanical operation- the operators are inside and thus protected from most of the vagaries. I think Brunel would be proud. Not so sure I agree about Churchill, but I know him only as a "figure from history" where you and your countrymen see him more personally. But that history of Churchill's goes back all the away before WW 1, and many of his decisions were poor ones (he fought the idea of an independent Ireland and maintained the Crown's right to oppress and expropriate Irish property through most of his life) and a few , like his backing of an oil fired national navy which led to he "scheme" (American definition) which led to his help creating the first British government /private corp since about the East India Company- a corporate entity that by 1930 had proven as rapacious and greedy as the EIC. Gonna make a suggestion; "do" Sir Winston, from 1898 to his death as a "deep dig" bio- it likely would be informative to all! Tooddles! FR

[@theangrymick9743]

Have you ever considered doing the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel?

[@TheGhostOfFredZeppelin]

18:21 "You guessed it, Frank Stallone!"

[@katajha831]

I named my new kitten Simon Kingdom Whistler Kitty Webb. After Simon said he wished his middle name was kingdom was his middle name.