I have a similar tale of crashing the University mainframe.
We had a CDC 6600 and then later a CDC Cyber model that was software compatible with 6600. This system had a front end from Modcomp. All the terminals were on this system and connected to the NOS OS on the CDC.
During a project to build a microprocessor (6809) based Front end to the front end I got permission to use additional features of the Modcomp. With Modcomp manuals in hand and 6809 code ready to go into "Transparent Mode" I ran my code for the first time. Nothing happened, or at least not what I expected. The RJE station on the floor had tradition of Turning off the lights if the 6600 was not accessible. I checked and they were dark. Dam my bad luck, Just when I was testing my code. Fifteen minutes later with the connection back I ran it again. Again nothing and yes the lights went out again. I slowly put 2 and 2 together and made a phone call, reluctantly. They screamed at me, ... a lot, but I did have permission. I gave them my code. Several days later they told me to run it again. Suddenly nothing happened again but the good news was the RJE lights stayed on. My code never ran right but at least I wasn't Crashing the Mainframe.
During a project to build a microprocessor (6809) based Front end to the front end I got permission to use additional features of the Modcomp. With Modcomp manuals in hand and 6809 code ready to go into "Transparent Mode" I ran my code for the first time. Nothing happened, or at least not what I expected. The RJE station on the floor had tradition of Turning off the lights if the 6600 was not accessible. I checked and they were dark. Dam my bad luck, Just when I was testing my code. Fifteen minutes later with the connection back I ran it again. Again nothing and yes the lights went out again. I slowly put 2 and 2 together and made a phone call, reluctantly. They screamed at me, ... a lot, but I did have permission. I gave them my code. Several days later they told me to run it again. Suddenly nothing happened again but the good news was the RJE lights stayed on. My code never ran right but at least I wasn't Crashing the Mainframe.