Warsaw radio mast

The Warsaw radio mast (Polish: Maszt radiowy w Konstantynowie, lit. 'Konstantynów radio mast') was a radio mast located near Gąbin, Poland. It was the world's tallest structure at 2,120 ft (646.30 m) from 1974 until it fell on 8 August 1991. Built to send Polish state media around the world, its voice could even reach faraway places such as Antarctica.

Designed by Jan Polak, building began on 5 July 1969 and finished on 18 May 1974. The mast sent out radio waves on a frequency of AM-LW (longwave) 227 kHz before 1 February 1988 and 225 kHz (1332 metres) afterwards. Its powerful signals, from two MW transmitters, could be heard almost everywhere on Earth. Because of the huge potential difference of 120 kV between the mast and the ground, it stood on a special 2-metre (6.6 ft)-high insulator.

The mast stood as a symbol of national pride because it was the tallest structure in the world at the time, taller than the KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, US. It was built to let people everywhere listen to Polish radio, including places like Antarctica. The mast sent out Polskie Radio's Program I, sometimes called "Jedynka," and its strength allowed it to be heard in parts of Canada and the United States.

Construction

The Warsaw radio mast was built in Gąbin, Poland, because of its good soil and central location. It replaced an older transmitter in Raszyn that could not cover all of Poland. The new mast was very tall, measuring 2,120 feet, and was made of steel tubes arranged in a triangle shape.

The mast had many sections and was supported by strong wires tied to the ground. Inside, there was an elevator to carry workers up for repairs. Lights were placed on the mast to warn airplanes, and a special line carried the radio signal from the transmitter building to the mast. The station also had its own power supply and a system to send programmes from Warsaw.

Problems

About ten years after the mast was built, inspections showed damage from wind shaking the structure. The parts that held the mast up were also affected, making repairs very hard and costly. Because Poland's money problems grew worse, they could not build a new, stronger mast.

By the late 1980s, the mast was in bad shape due to a lack of proper tools and training for the workers. An inspection in May 1989 found broken wires holding the mast, and more damage was found before it eventually fell in 1991. The builders did not fully understand the forces on such a tall structure, which also contributed to the problems.

Specifications

The Warsaw radio mast was the world's tallest structure, reaching up to 2,120 feet. It was built to send Polish radio signals around the globe, even to faraway places like Antarctica. The mast was made of steel and stood on a special design to stay strong against wind and weather.

It had a powerful transmitter that could send out strong radio waves. There was also a special building nearby that helped manage the signals, and an elevator to carry people up the mast for maintenance. The mast was located near Gąbin, Poland, and was a remarkable engineering feat of its time.

Staff

The radio station was led by Zygmunt Duczmalewski from 1974 to 1980, and later by Witold Czowgan from 1983 to 1986.

The mast employed 30 engineers and technicians, along with 15 administrative staff. Because many workers came from different parts of Poland, a new block of flats was built in Sochaczew to house them. Specialized staff stayed in guest rooms at the transmission building. The facility also had guards hired by the Ministry of Interior from the local area.

Collapse

On August 8, 1991, the Warsaw radio mast fell down during work to fix its wires. A strong wind twisted the tall tower before it broke in half. The buildings nearby stayed safe, but a crane was destroyed. Two workers were blamed for the accident and faced consequences. After this, Poland’s tallest structure became a shorter tower in Olsztyn-Pieczewo.

Replacement

After the Warsaw radio mast fell down, Polskie Radio used an older transmitter near Warsaw with a tall mast. This older mast had been used since 1978 to send out radio waves on a special frequency AM-LW 198 kHz. But they couldn’t use two special frequencies at the same time because it would cause interference. So, they had to stop using one of the frequencies until they could build a new transmitter or find a way to switch between the two frequencies.

Because it was important for Polish people living far away to hear the radio, the Polish government wanted to rebuild the tall mast. They started working on it, but local people protested, saying the mast would be unhealthy. Because of this, they looked for a new place to build. After many protests, they chose a place near Solec Kujawski. There, they built a new transmitter in 1998–1999. This new transmitter could send out radio waves on the frequency AM-LW (long wave) 225 kHz with a lot of power. After this new transmitter started working, the older one near Warsaw was used again for a different radio station until 2009.

There was also a smaller tower near Gąbin that was used for sending radio signals until 1998. It was taken down in 2021. The area is now protected and managed by a company called Orange Polska SA Real Estate Sales Office.

State since 1991

After the Warsaw radio mast fell in 1991, most parts of the site stayed where they were but were not used and began to fall apart. Some people from the local area visited the old mast on special days, like its 20th anniversary in 2011.

In 2018, a radio transmitter was given to a group that looks after a radio park in Babice. It was moved to Warsaw to be fixed up, and there are ideas to use it in a museum. By the end of September 2021, another tower close by was taken down and removed.

In popular culture

The Warsaw radio mast was added to The Guinness Book of World Records for its height. Later, taller structures like the Burj Khalifa were built.

The mast and its nearby tower, the Raszyn Mast, appeared on stamps made by the Polish government. The Warsaw Radio Mast was also shown in the Polish Film Chronicle, a newsreel shown in cinemas before movies.