A morning living the high life with pylon engineers
WITH electricity pylons carrying up to 400,000 volts and towering more than 40 metres above the ground you need a head for heights and a lot of training to work safely on them.
I was invited to the National Grid training centre in Eakring, near Newark, one of only three training sites for the organisation in England and Wales.
After learning about the training process and having a tour of the site, two engineers allowed me to have a glimpse into their day and let me actually climb a pylon.
I was absolutely terrified but at the same time excited by the idea.
Pylons can range in height but have to be at least 36 metres to ensure the cables are a safe distance from the ground, so the one I was preparing to climb was 45 metres.
Luckily for me as it’s at a training centre, this pylon was not connected to any live wires!
The voltage carried by a pylon ranges from 275,000 to 400,000 volts and it takes years of training to safely work on them.
Even after talking it all through, I was still a little nervous about going up, but it was a sunny day with a gentle breeze, so I thought it couldn’t get much better than this. After being harnessed up, I popped on my hat, glasses and gloves before being attached to the safety line and carabiner.
This was the closest I had ever been to a pylon before, and it still had the usual danger signs across it. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting – maybe a narrow ladder in the middle or in a corner, but there wasn’t one.
It was literally a case of using the side of the pylon to pull yourself up, with carefully placed short metal poles spread out, so you can step up on them and also pull yourself up with them.
At first it was pretty easy, and was similar to rock climbing, with the poles alternating each side of the corner leg.
I soon got into a rhythm and despite it feeling like a tough gym workout, it was the experience of a lifetime and it was almost peaceful being able to see the county from a different view.
Around halfway up we had a short break, for my benefit. The engineers I was climbing with had clearly been doing this for years, and explained that they could be going up four pylons a day.
The halfway point had a thicker frame, so I was attached to a different rope so I could climb more inside the pylon and have a sitdown. I was probably only 20m in the air, but it was lovely to be able to have a rest and enjoy the countryside views.
My legs had been starting to ache a little as the gaps between each of the climbing poles were large at points, so it did feel like I was having to push and pull myself up. There were a few metal ridges that I had to navigate myself around as well, and I kept catching my knee or helmet going up, as my spatial awareness seemed to get worse the higher I went.
However, I’m not sure if having a break was the best idea, as it gave my brain a chance to catch up with my body and I suddenly got a bit light-headed and shaky.
On the rest of the way up, I did have to stop a few times and have a quick mini-break, where I wrapped myself around the bar and was clinging on for what felt like dear life. Plus, the gentle breeze I felt on the ground was more like a strong wind up higher up, whistling in my ear and pushing against me.
I’ve got such respect for all the engineers now, as I could barely get to the top, let alone doing it with materials and equipment to complete a job with high voltage wires.
I knew climbing up wouldn’t be easy, but I had no idea how much energy and strength it would actually take. Finally I made it to the 40m mark (130ft).
I could have scrambled up the last few metres to the top, but it wasn’t a flat base like I had expected, it was essentially a few bars going across the top, so nowhere that you could sit or stand securely. I didn’t fancy getting stuck and I was already exhausted by this point, so was quite happy having a chat and taking in the rest of the Nottinghamshire skyline from where I was.
Although I’m a bit gutted I didn’t spot Southwell Minster as it was behind some trees, I could spot Cottam Power Station, which was almost 20 miles away.
The views truly were breathtaking, and I would have happily sat there all day – but mainly because I was dreading the journey back down.
I thought going back down the pylon would be easier than going up, but it definitely was not.
I felt like I was climbing with my eyes closed as I couldn’t see the poles below me to put my feet on, so was essentially lowering myself down the side of the pylon and hoping to hit a pole with my foot every few seconds.
I had been a bit light-headed at the top, but was slowly feeling more and more like myself the closer I got to the ground, although I was absolutely starving. My motivation for the last few metres down was definitely that it was nearly lunchtime and I had food in my car.
The whole experience was amazing, but I think for me it was one of those things that I’m happy to do once and then never again, a bit like skydiving.
Although the team were all incredible and so supportive throughout the morning, it’s definitely a job for someone who enjoys an adrenaline rush.
I was absolutely terrified but at the same time excited by the idea
Laycie Beck