The Monumental C**k Up Thread.

[Drago]

As redently discussed elsewhere, the Calmac ferries, late, over budget and of questionable fitness for purpose.

The new SNCF trains...that were to wide to fit into the stations.

The Mars Climate orbiter that went AWOL because engineers on the project were working with different units.

These are all pleasing, amusing and tragic examples of monumental cock ups. What other such examples do you know of?

 

[Chris S]

BREXIT

 

[Drago]

BREXIT

Oh for the love of Trump, don't get my thread locked!

 

[Drago]

Just asked Mrs D and she came up with a real left field cock up.

Operation Barbarossa. A monumental cock up of supreme proportions, and I'm surprised Mrs D even knew about it.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The Garden Bridge, a proposed pedestrian bridge across the River Thames in London,

 

[SteveO69]

Many years ago, I worked with a lady who's husband worked in procurement for British Rail (BR).

BR ordered 2 snow clearing units from Sweden, (as the Swedish know a bit about snow), at huge cost.

The units were transported by road / ferry from Sweden to the UK, to a depot in the Midlands. They were greeted by the great & good of the (at that time, nationalised) rail industry, including the British Rail Brass Band. Plus of course press & TV crews from both countries.

They lifted the 1st unit off the truck onto the tracks, and it missed.

Apparently, Sweden runs a different gauge to the UK.

Red faces all round. BR tried to blame the Swedes, who simply replied, this is the (our) standard, you didn't specify anything else.

Back on the truck, back to Sweden for modification, (at more huge expense).

 

[Ming the Merciless]

HS2

 

[Drago]

The Home Office employing illegal immigrants as cleaners.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The Millennium Bridge: a pedestrian bridge across the River Thames, nicknamed the "Wobbly Bridge”

 

[Drago]

Michael Fish and the Great Storm of 1987.

 

[SteveO69]

HS2

Beat me to it.

 

[Ripple]

A period dignity officer a.k.a. women's menstruation officer in Scotland.
A man got this post.

 

[Chris S]

The Austin Princess was too wide to go down the tunnel connecting the two halves of the Longbridge factory. They had to move the unpainted bodies between the two using a transporter. When it rained they would go straight into the paint shop soaking wet.

 

[craigwend]

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/la...k-a-year-due-to-ground-conditions-17-12-2024/

 

[Ripple]

The Home Office employing illegal immigrants as cleaners.

There was even a better one - an illegal immigrant worked for Border Force as an officer.