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

[@TomScottGo]

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!

[@idgf_lucx]

Ok

[@AmigaX]

E

[@idgf_lucx]

*Love you tom*

[@realbaconproductions]

Thank you! Keep up with the amazing content

[@mikeksp9177]

Cool

[@samtherat6]

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]

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

[@ryshow9118]

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

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

@@redryder3721 Traffic causes traffic.

[@Karmy.]

You're still everywhere huh

[@jasbails9857]

"Planning"

[@jimmyb101]

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

[@madsduus4637]

:)

[@lemonmaster8933]

@becibooable1 aren't you

[@lemonmaster8933]

@becibooable1 why not?

[@Malakhaido]

Buzz*

[@lemonmaster8933]

@becibooable1 getting under my skin? Good one make me a coffee while you are at it thanks 🤣🤣🤣

[@MedlifeCrisis]

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]

"There are no accidents" - Master Oogway

[@woutervanr]

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]

“Technical failure” is actually Tom furiously pressing the button

[@calebosborn9527]

That's crazy. it actually is.

[@GmodPlusWoW]

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

[@carolleader5436]

love that this was uploaded as tower bridge is currently stuck

[@randaranatunga7259]

“Coincidence?……. I think not”

[@ToppyTree]

Tom must be trying to boost the views

[@safe-keeper1042]

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

[@woutervanr]

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

[@foobars3816]

Tom pushed the button wrong!

[@pmcburn1]

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]

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

[@dellekom]

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

[@Niamh9902]

@@Great_King_Rat probably an engineer

[@VoxelLoop]

@@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]

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.

[@chrisbduck1938]

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]

Never mind movie

[@flooku987]

Payday 2?

[@henrikericsson]

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

[@tommihommi1]

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

[@skrimper]

@@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

[@DuncanEllis]

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

[@MothGM]

Same

[@alexb8433]

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

[@ezekiel0606]

is this from the incredibles?

[@taylrthegreat]

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

[@beek.4860]

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

[@QuantumLeclerc]

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

[@JackeyBoyyy]

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

[@lilacbuni]

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

[@Jason-Clark235]

@@lilacbuni lucky

[@lilacbuni]

@@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

[@Jeb.07]

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]

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]

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

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

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

[@tylerphuoc2653]

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

[@iankemp1131]

@@ianshaliczer Spot on!

[@LG-jb9zs]

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

[@Liggliluff]

With a joystick

[@Zraknul]

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

[@ovinophile]

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]

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

[@CaptNSquared]

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

[@MrVickesson]

@@yt45204 vilken film? :)

[@MasterHigure]

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

[@AltonV]

@@MasterHigure yes

[@Hiro-sh5ke]

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

[@badgamedevreacts3855]

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.

[@yusufkhan-ig7dv]

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]

"We're having Technical Difficulties"

[@ThatSux]

That's timing .. 🤷🏻‍♂️👍

[@king999art]

@@JonatasAdoM ok, give this person biscuits!

[@theunknown4834]

A few hours ealier**

[@monochromedevdle5697]

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

[@Mogi-MC]

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

[@onezerosevensix]

😐

[@Kingdaybreak]

I to was hoping for this

[@andrewmorris483]

I was whole hoping, not half.

[@jj_am10]

.

[@AirQuotes]

Me too

[@jorgedlatorre]

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

[@chelsey8737]

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

[@sydssolanumsamsys]

even the proffessionals don't know

[@Nuskrad]

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

[@amahlaka]

🤣😅

[@SeanBZA]

Very, very carefully I would hope.

[@PaulTheFox1988]

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

[@Greendotz]

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]

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

[@crocodile2006]

Next Episode: How I accidentally caused the nuclear holocaust

[@joeyoest1105]

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]

we also haven't heard from Iceland in a while

[@adrianthoroughgood1191]

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

[@Rider0fBuffalo]

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]

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]

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

[@Ihaveagasmask]

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

[@TheOtherBill]

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

[@oliverc1293]

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]

It's called timing

[@grass904]

@@deadaccount2048 shut up

[@itzmarkfx]

@@deadaccount2048 shut up

[@diamondpi4121]

@@deadaccount2048 stop

[@uDaniels]

@@itzmarkfx let him have his fun

[@WolfXGamerful]

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]

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]

„Unintentionally“ i refuse to believe that

[@mishXY]

One of the most underrated coincidences of a millennium for sure

[@mishXY]

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

[@AlexusMaximusDE]

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*

[@arkhykatenka]

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.

[@pkobalt]

I spent a good 20 seconds wondering how it could possibly ever freeze over a river in Florida.

[@ScienceofLoud]

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]

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

[@adamallcorn8762]

Yo lmao, did not expect to see you here Nice

[@kubak3381]

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]

Fancy seeing you here!

[@HowP88]

@@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 🤔

[@evan]

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

[@asadsquirrel1314]

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

[@Yamezzzz]

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]

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

[@ytlurker220]

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

[@gwenynorisu6883]

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

[@papusman]

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]

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

[@twistedtachyon5877]

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

[@Zraknul]

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

[@koenven7012]

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

[@rufusgreenleaf2466]

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

[@SC-RGX7]

Can't wait

[@66Kusmu]

International Space Station space station

[@rufusgreenleaf2466]

@@66Kusmu I'll edit, never noticed 🤣

[@bnw5435]

And get the airlock stuck open

[@gnaskar]

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

[@FaradayBananacage]

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.

[@uknowngamer1017]

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]

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

[@baylinkdashyt]

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

[@halgerson]

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

[@Staarchild97]

The timing on this upload is impeccable.

[@DanielFernandez]

The vertical road reminds me a bit of Inception.

[@samtherat6]

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

[@Jason-Clark235]

Lifting bridge yes working bridge no

[@kennarajora6532]

I noticed that as well.

[@electron8262]

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

[@FlashMan16NG]

"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]

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

[@misham6547]

Surprise bike jump ramp?

[@JonatasAdoM]

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

[@karl-erlendmikalsen5159]

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

[@isoroxuk]

Or when Meatloaf is driving a bus

[@MinifigJez]

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]

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]

I'd assume this was filmed ahead of time

[@sasmalprasanjit2764]

It's Still Stuck

[@n646n]

Unfortunately no.

[@LegoEngineer003]

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

[@sankang9425]

Tom Scott, Lord of the Bridges

[@TheAgamemnon911]

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

[@thegardenofeatin5965]

I notice the video went mighty quiet at that point.

[@JonatasAdoM]

@@thegardenofeatin5965 Indeed it ended right at that moment.

[@acasccseea4434]

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

[@pdrg]

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

[@aquual1462]

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

[@yeahBradley]

"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]

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!

[@Lucasys]

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

[@Shahars71]

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]

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

[@woutervanr]

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

[@Mike-ukr]

@@woutervanr tanks

[@goldenghostinc]

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

[@Mike-ukr]

@@goldenghostinc It probably only goes up and down

[@KieranRogers1]

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"

[@Epinardscaramel]

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

[@zabintasrik4488]

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]

@@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]

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

[@stephenolan5539]

@@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]

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

[@MaxTheDragon]

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]

Onosecond

[@shambhav9534]

@@RegitKZbinr I wonder who really had the onosecond.

[@3rdJan]

why would such a button even exist lmfao

[@LiewLmao]

@@RegitKZbinr A wild Regit …takes me back

[@synergous571]

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

[@hierismail]

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]

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

[@choo_choo_]

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.

[@Dayl_Adams]

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

[@BenCarpendale]

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

[@Dayl_Adams]

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

[@BenCarpendale]

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

[@choo_choo_]

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

[@LasseVågsætherKarlsen]

I absolutely love these "normal day operations" videos of yours. They show parts of everyday life for a lot of people that nobody else is privy to. Absolutely love them.

[@Ethan783]

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

[@unnaturallynatural8885]

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

[@MrSam4850]

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

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

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

[@iankemp1131]

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

[@Em0srawk]

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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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]

wheres Gary Brannan when you need him

[@toledoseahawks3348]

@@f_f_f_8142 It is only illegal inside city limits.

[@Mj-ym4fg]

Tom Scott is such a likable person, no one can dislike this magnificent lad.

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

i dislike tom

[@noiceplayer144]

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

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

5:14

[@johnnorris2027]

Never has a no sounded more like a yes

[@amicloud_yt]

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

[@onezerosevensix]

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

[@markfryer9880]

Well you have Crane Drivers.

[@kairon156]

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

[@dcarbs2979]

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]

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

[@TheOnlyPommyman]

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.

[@BlissBatch]

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

[@cheddar1266]

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]

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

[@Goffy]

🐢

[@YourPhysicsSimulator]

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

[@randaranatunga7259]

@@tomepsilon exactly A true blessing from the lord

[@PugAshen]

This is looking like big Discovery Channel budgets are backing it up, but it's more informative and more interesting then anything Discovery is broadcasting these days... Thanks Tom, great work. I want to say, it can only get better, but it's such world class content, I have no idea how you are constantly bringing great content these days. Big Kudo's on you and your team.

[@randaranatunga7259]

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]

Weird.

[@turnonmyaxel]

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]

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.

[@ShutInCuber]

What makes these videos so good is that they’re literally mini documentaries. And I love me some documentaries, which makes these awesome to watch during short breaks.

[@alex0589]

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.

[@eumoria]

Starts on KZbin: "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]

Wait, when did the RI thing happen?

[@laplongejunior]

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

[@georgemangco2526]

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

[@itsPoddington]

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.

[@royer6626]

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

[@chriskeene]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the organisation and team effort to have that many simultaneous camera locations (drone, Tom, Traffic, tourists, machinery)

[@paulskinner]

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

[@jannicklange7318]

The title. The timing. PERFECTION!

[@RonBurgundy412]

I’m an American who only found Tom’s channel recently but his videos are amazing, can’t get enough.

[@bradentheman1373]

SAME-

[@sixstringedthing]

I read this in Ron's voice and it gave me a good chuckle, thanks.

[@TheRedstonedeluxe]

I believe most of his viewers are American

[@scsutton1]

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

[@gordonrichardson2972]

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

[@kllrnooooova]

Wait what? What happened?

[@not_dark_lord]

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

[@Jason-Clark235]

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

[@jipjomon]

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

[@tasty_fish]

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.

[@Lukemccarthy2011]

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

[@yanmorin5431]

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

[@notthatcreativewithnames]

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

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

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

[@LuizHartkopf]

@@notthatcreativewithnames hey step bridge, are you stuck?

[@DanAI17]

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]

God I love Britain

[@OhSome1HasThisName]

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

[@jonathanbott87]

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]

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

[@marshallsuber3346]

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

[@JustTooSalty]

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

[@Gloom-Rot]

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

[@legoheimerda3rd]

facts

[@alex0589]

"this button?" -tom

[@RToast13]

"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]

Nah a few years ago

[@nrdesign1991]

having a little onosecond in there

[@hmgkt]

The choreography you had to put in place with all your shots is amazing! The video deserves alot more than just likes! Well done Tom and team.

[@foxyang7634]

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

[@lukas8152]

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

[@dronespace]

😂

[@andybrown4284]

Loving the fact that this upload appeared around the same time it was hitting the news that tower bridge was stuck open. Waiting to find out that the gears had become jammed by a redshirted camera drone

[@hstdriver6616]

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!

[@daddyg9701]

These videos, the ideas, the writing, the perfect amount of backstory, the relative straight to the point nature and short length. They are absolutely amazing and easily some of the best content being put out on the internet for everyone to learn from for free.

[@BelYo]

A couple of years ago, we visited London with our ship. They raised the bridge (once during the night and once during the day) and we berthed alongside HMS Belfast. What an honor and a fond memory of my time in the navy!

[@Nhatanh0475]

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

[@FlyntofRWBY]

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

[@electrostarjudge]

Always. Also hello!

[@ampersand64]

WTF flynt of rwby fancy seeing you here.

[@RubenGarcia-pt8tp]

To be fair if you think about it the damn bridge lifting is also holding up the tourists

[@vodkawhisperer3923]

whats up checkmark

[@neolexiousneolexian6079]

Y'all should supercharge the drawbridge so you can catapult them into France.

[@patwawryk7717]

I wish I had Tom's privileges, it would be so exciting to see the world from his perspective, and I'm extremely grateful for his videos!

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Privileges?

[@archons-court]

@@Jabber-ig3iw he's invited to a lot of interesting things most people aren't because of his channel

[@taliaflor]

@@archons-court I think the better word would be 'opportunities', no?

[@patwawryk7717]

@@taliaflor Opportunity: A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Privilege: Special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.

[@iankemp1131]

Good job Tom explained immediately what bascules were, it's one of those words where you might think for a moment "Is that rude?"

[@NotParticularlyWitty]

"If it gets stuck up in the air it's a matter of you've got to fix it as soon as possible so you're not blocking up half of London" This didn't even get the chance to age, let alone well, did it...

[@nate6386]

Aged like milk

[@kezkai]

I can only assume its his day off

[@ericbambach3222]

Aged like shellfish!

[@awkwarddoesanart]

this aged like milk that wasn't even put in the refrigerator to begin with

[@angeloc1340]

It got stuck?

[@paulfaulkner6299]

Well done to the staff at the bridge for letting you do that Tom - and the fact that they have is a fantastic endorsement that they too approve of your channel's output. Congratulations to you too, I'll add.

[@Gloom-Rot]

The bridge controller was so wholesome

[@hotelmario510]

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

[@joanbennettnyc]

You have a gift for making each of us feel like we're there doing it too. Just genius.

[@safe-keeper1042]

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]

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]

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]

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

[@notoriousdip5495]

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.

[@oscarblair1134]

Anybody else watching this as Tower Bridge is stuck up? The Tom Scott effect.

[@marklonergan3898]

Taking a shot 5 minutes before due to raise - ballsy move. Good thing your the master of 1-takes! 😁

[@sundhaug92]

I mean, imagine gettinng the shot of the bridge going up or something wrong - "Sorry, we have to create massive queue again"

[@spiroagnew3909]

So that's how it got stuck.

[@DefinitelyAPotato]

*You're

[@Correc7edAuraYT]

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!

[@R9000]

As someone from Sheffield, I very much appreciate the fact that London's Tower Bridge appears to be operated largely by northerners.

[@JonatasAdoM]

At one point I thought it was Tom Scott speaking, but it was the operator

[@wscottwatson]

It all depends on what you define as a Northerner. They all look to be from far to the south of where I come from (Orkney)

[@TP-mv6en]

I think the guy talking about Blair and Clinton was from the south west

[@wiesorix]

I have passed many bridges like this on a small sailing boat, and I must confess: it's quite fun to see the traffic jams forming and pedestrians piling up just because you want to get to the other side for no good reason. Makes you feel special. But it never occurred to me that raising a bridge is so much work!

[@TheHuesSciTech]

You're certainly a different person to me, I'd just feel terrible for holding other people up like that... especially "for no good reason"... :-/

[@filipefreitas5365]

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

[@tarcal87]

"Right, how do we get this back down?" -asks the "I'm only 1 of 6 people in the world" guy as well

[@webchimp]

In the Netherlands there's a brilliant little pedestrian/cycle bridge where the bascules are set back and there is a section or roadway between them. When the bridge lifts, as well as tilting up the bascules also move forward so there is still a continuous path and you can continue to walk/cycle over the canal.

[@Freddos11]

That'd perfect for a video of Not Just Bikes :v

[@webchimp]

@ShaunDoesMusic It was on one of Bicycle Dutch's many hundreds of videos

[@macbitz]

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

[@breakingaustin]

"What do you do?" "I'm a driver" "Oh, What do you drive? Cars, trucks?" "Bridges"

[@baldychkn2949]

I'd consider that a massive flex

[@woutervanr]

Now that you point it out...why the f is it called a bridge "driver"?