please empty your brain below
Warrington?

ian | 23.01.17 - 7:22 a.m. | #

Love it. Here's a video of one in operation that's at Newport, Wales too. https://youtu.be/KxzOQwktMCc

Geofftech | 23.01.17 - 7:25 a.m. | #

Beautiful structure. Interested to read in Wikipedia that Terry from Terry and June thought it was a bridge and drove off the end in 1974.

Kevin | 23.01.17 - 7:39 a.m. | #

@ Ian

There is a transporter bridge at Warrington (one of three that used to span the Mersey) but it has been out of use for half a century. There is also one at the Royal Victoria Dock in London, but it has not yet had the gondola fitted.

Middlesbrough's is the only operational one in England, but not the only one in the UK. I have visited the one at Newport, which is similar to Middlesbrough's - even to there being nothing to do on the far side! Walking across the top is a vertiginous experience, as the floor is open gratings.

Timbo | 23.01.17 - 7:45 a.m. | #

The bridge was demolished and shipped to Arizona in "Auf Wiedersehen.Pet"

Apparently the special effects were good enough for some people to believe it had really gone!

Timbo-checks-Wikipedia | 23.01.17 - 8:03 a.m. | #

Open every day except Sundays, Mon-Sat early mornings (first bridge 07:15), lunchtimes and evenings (as in 18:15 Mon-Fri and 15:00 Saturdays), and we have issues with tube stations shutting early!

Is it Middlesbrough that no longer has any buses in the evenings? - I think the times of bridge operation were cut at the same time.

Still anon | 23.01.17 - 8:33 a.m. | #

Pedant alert: The houses in Montrose Street are not back-to-backs, which shares a rear wall but has no rear access; these are "proper" terraces with yard and alley

[Google Maps link]

dg writes: Noted, and amended, thanks.

Novaelius | 23.01.17 - 8:33 a.m. | #

I'm glad you got to travel across it. When I went there the refurbishment was supposed to have finished but hadn't (I think the contractor had gone bust) so I never got to travel on it.

But I have been on the one at Newport and there you are also allowed to walk right across the top, which is a good experience.

Jon Combe | 23.01.17 - 8:49 a.m. | #

The Newport Transport Bridge is also well worth a visit. There is a blog showing photos of the bridge in 1947 and 2016 here http://alondoninheritance.com/cycling-around-britain/newport-transporter-bridge-1947-and-2016/

Dave | 23.01.17 - 8:50 a.m. | #

Middlesbrough's my home town. DG, while your track record is one of not being needlessly unkind, I am still grateful to you for the kid glove treatment you have applied. There are still buses in the evenings, but really not many of them at all.

I'm a shift worker on Teesside, and still split my time between living with my Dad in Middlesbrough when I'm on shift and with my wife in Walthamstow when I'm off shift. (I like my job, she likes hers, and I can cope with six long coach journeys up and down the country every five weeks.)

I'd say that I haven't yet found anywhere in London that does fish and chips that are as much to my taste as the ones on Teesside, but we're off to Poppie's tonight so that might yet change. Maybe.

Chris | Homepage | 23.01.17 - 9:23 a.m. | #

Former Middlesbrough resident here.

The Transporter is *after* most of the chemical works and refineries, coming upstream.

You didn't mention the splendid Waterhouse Town Hall.

dg writes: Covered in sheets and scaffolding at the moment.

Or, nearer the Transporter, the former National & Provincial Bank.

dg writes: True. I've added a photo on Flickr :)

http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/2009/06/01/national-and-provincial-bank-cleveland-club-middlesbrough/

And, surely you arrived by train and didn't miss the North Eastern Railway tile map at the station? Identical to this one

http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/2011/08/09/north-eastern-railway-tile-map/

dg writes: Saw that, thanks.

Maybe next time.

David | 23.01.17 - 10:17 a.m. | #

I have only visited York, but when ever I see images of the North of England, it always looks so run down, like the life has been drained out.

dg writes: Perhaps you should visit the North of England and see some of its beauty for yourself.

I have the idea that all modern buildings, are nearly always built with massive government subsidises.

Michael | 23.01.17 - 12:02 p.m. | #

I used to travel over that bridge in the 1950's. I clearly remember, if the gondola was not imminent, people using the stairways and going across the walkway at the top. On occasions bikes were put over a shoulder and carried over as well.
No glass lift in those days.

GB | 23.01.17 - 1:50 p.m. | #

The volunteer I spoke to said that when climbing the staircase, the worst bit was the last flight, because this was the longest and also the steepest of the lot. I can't imagine doing it with a bike!

diamond geezer | Homepage | 23.01.17 - 4:01 p.m. | #

Clears throat.

Newport is in England, perhaps England has 1.5 transporter bridges.

dg writes: The Newport with a transporter bridge is in Wales.

Bill | 23.01.17 - 5:06 p.m. | #

don't think i've ever seen so many "dg writes"...is today a record?!

dg writes: possibly.

Grumpy Anon | 23.01.17 - 7:41 p.m. | #

The transport bridge is one of those things in the country I've always wanted to see, but have had no reason to be in that part of the country (yet).

dg writes: Wait and see...

Karl, Dover | 23.01.17 - 9:04 p.m. | #

I'm relieved that today's post has gone down OK with actual Middlesbrough residents: http://fansonline.net/middlesbrough/mb/view.php?id=5152875

diamond geezer | Homepage | 23.01.17 - 9:22 p.m. | #

You've made our local rag as well (at least online)

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/gobsmackingly-good-value-what-one-12496284

dg writes: Oh blimey :)

Bruce | 23.01.17 - 9:45 p.m. | #

@Bruce - nice to read those comments from Middlesbrough locals :-)

EskimoPie | 23.01.17 - 9:51 p.m. | #

The one in Warrington was a railway transporter bridge

The Admiral | 23.01.17 - 10:12 p.m. | #

The one in Warrington was built to carry rail wagons, but was (according to you-know) converted to carry road vehicles in 1940.

Malcolm | 23.01.17 - 11:06 p.m. | #

#fansonlinemiddlesbrough are obviously not regular readers. DG visiting Middlesbrough for football indeed, although I recall he did visit Arsenal once, under protest.

scrumpy | 23.01.17 - 11:33 p.m. | #

Just a coincidence that West Ham United had an away fixture at Middlesbroug last Saturday then?

Timbo | 24.01.17 - 7:02 a.m. | #

Only just seen this excellent post. DG has a penchant for Dangleways!

michaelH | 24.01.17 - 12:32 p.m. | #

I was at Uni there for four years but never went on it. 🙈 For a year I drove passed Seal Sands on route to my placement and it often felt very wind swept.

Rick | 24.01.17 - 5:35 p.m. | #











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