Bathgate Compressor Station

The Pictures below: a Shotblaster in action, a Blast Kettle & a typical view of a section of a Refinery or Gas Terminal. The Photo of the Blaster is a bit 'sanitised', he would normally have a Halogen Spotlight attached to the top of his helmet (making it even heavier) as the area would be filled with dust making it impossible to see !

The week I gained my Qualification was also the last for that Phase of the Kirriemuir Compressor Station construction - but I would be back ! - We packed up (Linda & I) and headed back to our house in Linwood. This was just as well as she was by now heavily pregnant and needed to be booked into Paisley Maternity Hospital. We were only home for a few days and I was asked if I would like to cover a job at Bathgate Compressor Station which was handy as it was 'drivable' from Linwood.

Bathgate was unusual for me in that unlike previously where I was a 'one man band' I was now part of an established QA team headed by an SPI (senior pipeline inspector). All these guys worked for a company called Mapel with whom Solus Schall often had 'joint ventures'. This job was a welcome respite for me as they were a great bunch of guys, I could blend into the backgound and it was educational. The only drawback was I had twinges of jealousy when it came to 'Expenses Day', the Mapel guys had a far better deal than I ! The SPI who I will call DB would go to the bank every week and draw out a huge wad of cash. He would come to our hut at lunchtime and ask "Ok what are you guys needing this week ?" Each man would call out an amount and DB would peel off copious amounts. When finished he would look at the hardly diminished wad and say "That must me mine then !" and casually put in his pocket. This man was a 'hero', not only was he making a fortune he got to 'bonk' one of the receptionists in the stationary cupboard at lunchtimes !

One day DB asked me if I would accompany him as he needed a 'witness' - He was going to look at Radiographs of the last 'Butt Weld' on a section of pipeline. This had huge financial implications for the Contractor if it was not passed, due to the plant etc onsite costing £1000's a day. We go into the Radiography hut and DB peers at the illuminated 'films' (really just a photo in negative) and says "No good ! - what do you think Harry ?" - he wrongly assumed that because I was a Paint Inspector, I knew eff all about welding - he didn't know I had done the course ! - I peered at it as well "hmmm" was the only comment I could muster although frankly I could see nothing wrong with it ! The Contractor Rep announced "A Rolex says its ok !" - "hmmm, I don't know about that" counters DB - "A Gold Rolex says its ok !" says the Rep nodding grimly ! Before I knew what had happened the job was signed off and everybody happy (except me, I got eff all apart from some valuable 'education').

I made a decision to 'distance' myself from the Welding guys and went about my own business. I was walking about the site and it started raining, I noticed this 'old' painter painting some iron railings, I could see he was tradesman as he had a classic collection of immaculate brushes and was very professional.

"Excuse me" says I politely "you'll have to stop painting"
"Why ?" he responds gruffly.
"Cos its raining" I replied holding my hands up to the heavens.
"Who are you then ?" he asks suspiciously
"The Paint Inspector" I replied
"What the eff is that then ?" says he

I explained this to him and he stomped off in a huff to his tea hut. Later that day the Sun came out but the ground was still soaking. The Old Painter was back at his railings. I approached him again.

"What do you want now ?" he growled
"You can't paint, the humidity is too high" I explained
"How do you know that then ?" he asked

I produced my 'Whirling Hygrometer' and showed him how it worked. Muttering under his breath he stomped off again. The next day was sunny and dry so the Old Painter was happily whistling as he worked. I approached cautiously.

"See that section over there ! " I pointed "you'll have to do it again, there's not enough paint on it"
"What !" he exclaimed incredulously "how the eff do you know that !"
I produced my magnetic Dry Film Thickness Meter and demonstrated.
"Well thats it then ! The 'games' fucked" he roared, threw his brushes in the skip and stormed off the site. On later enquiry I learned he never worked again. Another career ended because of me !

The main contractor at Bathgate was Wimpey - the young Wimpey engineer responsible for the painters viewed my results with the Hygrometer with grave suspicion as the painters were more in the tea hut than out of it. He sneakily bought one himself and we both climbed up to the top of a 60" vent stack to compare readings. We both 'whirled' away furiously but could not agree, what was annoying him that his readings were in fact more detrimental than mine. I asked to see his to find out what he was doing wrong and proceeded to 'whirl' it. To my horror the top of it (the bit with the thermometers) flew of into space leaving me with only the handle. We both gaped as it flew through the air in a perfect curve and smashed into a thousand pieces on the concrete below ! Trying to keep a straight face I handed him his handle back. He stormed off furiously all the while casting doubts on my parentage, I heard the word 'sabotage' mentioned as well.

Ah well, that was another Xmas list I wouldn't be on !