Back in the 70s I worked for a boiler controls company. Notoriety was obtained by the size of a generator trip, some guys tripped 600MW units, off the grid, others of more lowly status were in the 120/60MW zone. One guy kept the London Underground going by holding his finger on a pneumatic line, taking it off would have plunged the said into dark chaos. One guy managed to put a Gas Turbine of 50MW on the grid that they didn’t want. My claim was tripping a steam turbine on a 300,000T tanker off Sardinia into darkness, while it was pumping crude. All I did was admire my handiwork after fitting a relay, and my hand (with said iron) touched another relay……….
That reminds me, I tripped Ghurkha’s Gennies at sea.
I was a 16 junior, shin and ? well maybe rough as rats, I was asked by duty Mech to help him parallel Gennies, he says all I have to do is watch the switch lights as they go out turn to off. what he forgot to mention one very important light would go on and off as the power was transferred, e.g. don't touch that one.
Following my instructions as soon as light went out I broke the circuit switch, followed by a very loud bang as all the breakers behind me tripped, ship goes into darkness and I can hear all the fans winding down, shat myself?
Duty mech comes running in and said what you done, he was pissing his self as he said I looked as white as a sheet, he sorted it out and said best I go and reset all the fans, he will sort out the OOW.
