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Report - - The Tees Transporter - Middlesbrough - July 2014 | High Stuff | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - The Tees Transporter - Middlesbrough - July 2014

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WildBoyz

Is this the future?
28DL Full Member
The Tees Transporter Bridge officially opened in October, 1911, and stands as both a grade II listed structure and an important symbol to the local area. Only two other ‘transporter’ bridges continue to exist in the United Kingdom. The original idea was devised by Charles Smith, the manager of Hartlepool Iron Works, in 1872, but the idea was not pursued until the beginning of the new century. Construction of the Tees Transporter Bridge subsequently took place between 1910 and 1911, and was built using 2600 tons of steel, at a cost of approximately £68,000. Upon completion the bridge was measured at a height of 223ft (68 metres), with a total span of 851ft (259.3 metres), making it the longest and largest of the remaining ‘transporter’ bridges in the United Kingdom; although this is often contested by those who claim that The Newport Transporter should be considered larger (this is because it is effectively taller by approximately 4.9 metres). All the same, the bridge ultimately connects Middlesbrough to Port Clarence and has since been used as an essential part of the A178 road. A ‘transporter’ bridge was specifically selected for the area to minimise the effect on transportation moving up and down the river, as that expanse of river was a main dockland area. The use of a suspended gondola, an integral part of the ‘transporter’s’ design, accounts for abating disruption and can effectively carry 200 people and 9 cars in one crossing; give or take, this takes around 90 seconds. Over the years the bridge has featured in a number of celebrated films and TV programmes, including Billy Elliot and Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Having settled in The Steel City for many weeks, we felt that an excursion to the North East was needed – why? Because it seems that no one has ever heard of the North East and, for some reason or another, it seems to have been missed off most people’s intellectual map of the UK. Access to the Tees Transporter Bridge during the day was interesting, to say the least, but, somehow we managed to sprint to the top undetected. The views of the immediate area and the Tuxedo Royale (the explore we’d just completed) were tremendous, and so we remained there for more than a moment. Sometime later, however, the views transformed dramatically and at this point I must hasten to add that it was entirely worth the effort as the views of the sunset across Middlesbrough, Port Clarence and beyond were, and still are, indescribable. The surrounding area, to the naked eye, is comprised of nothing but an industrialised vastness, yet, from our viewpoint we could truly appreciate the hundreds of years of effort, labour and intelligence. I sincerely hope you enjoy the photographs as much as we enjoyed being there…

1: The Tees Transporter from Underneath

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2: First Steps at the Top

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3: The First Glimpses of the Sunset Across Teesside

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4: Top Walkway

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5: Gradual Sunset

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6: Shot from Side Gantry

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7: Around the Middle of the Bridge

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8: The Sinking Tuxedo Royale (Former Nightclub)

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9: The Golden Hour

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10: Overhead Beams and Supporting Framework

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11: The Transporter's Old Rivets

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12: The Tuxedo Royale and Surrounding Dock Area

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13: Looking Down - Port Clarence Side

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14: Attempting to Lean Over the Edge

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15: Fading Sunset and Middlesbrough's Famous Cooling Towers

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16: On the Other Side

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17: Transport Ship

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18: The Transporter's Framework at the Side of the Main Gantry

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19: Main Staircase

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20: The Tees Transporter Bridge

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21: Bottom of the Main Staircase

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22: Main Staircase - Originally for Pedestrian Users of the Bridge

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AuntieKnickers

inquisitive historian
28DL Full Member
Great, that was always the last stop on a night out, the amout of times I fell trying to get on and off the revolving dance floor
 

ACID- REFLUX

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Nice ones mate, great pics/views :thumb

Should have given me a buzz, been in the area for the past week :( could have used me as a decoy :)
 

The_Raw

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Awesome work mate, especially during the daytime :thumb Those sunset shots are sublime, especially with the cooling towers alongside....
 

cliffc

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Hi

Excelent report the only issue i have is you were not look out over Tyneside you were looking out over Teesside

Cliff C
Smoggie
 

WildBoyz

Is this the future?
28DL Full Member
Hi

Excelent report the only issue i have is you were not look out over Tyneside you were looking out over Teesside

Cliff C
Smoggie

Cheers for pointing that out. Not sure how that happened, there's a pretty obvious divide between the Tyne and Tees. Mind must have drifted whilst writing that bit :) All sorted now.
 

Fudge

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
[video=youtube;EZZwT5XJeR0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZZwT5XJeR0[/video]
 
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