Transporter bridges

[AY1975]

One form of transport that's been mentioned in passing on various threads on here in the past, but never had a dedicated thread as far as I can see, is transporter bridges.

According to Wikipedia there are currently only two working transporter bridges in the UK, in Middlesbrough and Newport, and a disused one at Warrington, although according to the Middlesbrough Council website the one there is currently closed (since 2019) because of safety concerns. It does have a visitor centre that you can visit, though.

Have you ever been across on either the Middlesbrough or the Newport transporter bridge, or on any others anywhere in the world? I think they're mainly used to transport vehicles although I believe that you can also go across on the Middlesbrough one as a foot passenger (or you could when it was in operation). Not sure if you can on the Newport one.

I also seem to recall that for a time in the late 1990s and early 2000s the Middlesbrough one was operated by Stagecoach.

 

[Dai Corner]

One form of transport that's been mentioned in passing on various threads on here in the past, but never had a dedicated thread as far as I can see, is transporter bridges.

According to Wikipedia there are currently only two working transporter bridges in the UK, in Middlesbrough and Newport, and a disused one at Warrington, although according to the Middlesbrough Council website the one there is currently closed (since 2019) because of safety concerns. It does have a visitor centre that you can visit, though.

Have you ever been across on either the Middlesbrough or the Newport transporter bridge, or on any others anywhere in the world? I think they're mainly used to transport vehicles although I believe that you can also go across on the Middlesbrough one as a foot passenger (or you could when it was in operation). Not sure if you can on the Newport one.

I also seem to recall that for a time in the late 1990s and early 2000s the Middlesbrough one was operated by Stagecoach.

I live in Newport and am familiar with the local one.

It's currently undergoing repairs/renovation and only open occasionally. Obviously you can view it at any time. When it is open you can cross in a vehicle or as a foot passenger on the gondola or climb the steps to the top and walk across. Not for the unfit, or with no head for heights but the views are superb on a clear day.
It's owned and run by the City Council; previously under the Highways Department who considered it a liability they'd like to get rid of but happily now under the Museums and Heritage Department who regard it as an asset to be preserved.

 

[CarltonA]

I've crossed on the Middlesbrough bridge about fifty years ago in my parents car. It was like a small ferry in many ways. You just line up and await your turn to board, then the "gondola" slowly moves over to the other side. One of the legs is sinking and it needs quite a lot of work to stabilise the structure.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The Vizcaya Transporter Bridge in Bilbao, Spain is rather spectacular (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) - and is fully available for cars, bikes and pedestrians. You can reach it by train from the city centre on the left-bank of the river or by the Metro on the right bank.

 

[snowball]

The only one I've ever been across is the Runcorn-Widnes one, which was replaced by the present fixed bridge in 1961. I was a small child at the time, and was disappointed when we were not hoisted up to the top.

 

[Delenn]

I travelled across the Middlesborough one at some point between 2009 and 2012 (to see the Dover - Tuxedo Royale). Was a lovely thing. I hope they get it working again.

 

[Vespa]

The only one I've ever been across is the Runcorn-Widnes one, which was replaced by the present fixed bridge in 1961. I was a small child at the time, and was disappointed when we were not hoisted up to the top.

If you go to the Widnes side you can see the old transporter office name marked in brickwork and opposite it is the old abutment for the gondola, there's metal plaques commemorating the opening of the transporter bridge listing the names of the big wigs and engineers involved, interesting stuff.

On the Runcorn side there's not much evidence of it.

 

[The North Briton]

The Vizcaya Transporter Bridge in Bilbao, Spain is rather spectacular (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) - and is fully available for cars, bikes and pedestrians. You can reach it by train from the city centre on the left-bank of the river or by the Metro on the right bank.

I visited a few years ago and, whilst the crossing is very cheap, took advantage of the all access ticket, which allows you to go up in a tiny lift to the upper gantry! Would recommend it for the views! I think it cost around 7 Euros at the time. It's a pleasant walk from the cruise terminal.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes the Middlesbrough transporter bridge is definitely in trouble. The local mayor was suggesting it would take many millions giving, what I'm sure was a guesstimate, between £10m and £25m which if its anywhere near accurate is no doubt way beyond the means of Middlesbrough Council alone. So concerning times!

I did use it a few times when it was operating but always in a car. I believe foot passengers were accommodated as well but I can't be certain.

Worrying times as obviously its something of a local landmark!

 

[Dai Corner]

Yes the Middlesbrough transporter bridge is definitely in trouble. The local mayor was suggesting it would take many millions giving, what I'm sure was a guesstimate, between £10m and £25m which if its anywhere near accurate is no doubt way beyond the means of Middlesbrough Council alone. So concerning times!

I did use it a few times when it was operating but always in a car. I believe foot passengers were accommodated as well but I can't be certain.

Worrying times as obviously its something of a local landmark!

The Newport Transporter Bridge received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as the city Council.

 

[Bald Rick]

I used the Middlesboro’ bridge about 20 years ago, just before it was moved to Arizona

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I used the Middlesboro’ bridge about 20 years ago, just before it was moved to Arizona

Ha ha - I remember that; a quite impressive piece of CGI for twenty years ago, I thought...

 

[stuu]

I remember going on the Newport one with my dad when I was 7 or something and being amazed by it. I took my son on the Bilbao one at a similar age and to say he was underwhelmed would be an understatement... I think the difference was at Newport you could get out of the car and stand by the gates which gave a sensation (to a 7 year old) of flying. At Bilbao you are in an enclosed cabin which doesn't feel much different to a ferry

 

[ainsworth74]

The Newport Transporter Bridge received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as the city Council.

Well that's slightly encouraging. I'm hoping that the Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority (and possibly now the Lottery Heritage Fund) will manage to pull some sort of deal together to get the thing sorted. So far the Mr Houchen (the metro mayor) has managed to avoid getting dragged in (as far as I can tell) but it can't be too much longer before someone has the bright idea of asking if the Combined Authority can help.

 

[2192]

I went over the Middlesborough bridge as a pedestrian in 2005 approx, and was disappointed that I received only a bus ticket marked "Stagecoach route 800".

 

[Dai Corner]

I went over the Middlesborough bridge as a pedestrian in 2005 approx, and was disappointed that I received only a bus ticket marked "Stagecoach route 800".

Definitely a winner on the 'shortest bus route' thread

 

[Lucan]

I received only a bus ticket marked "Stagecoach route 800".

You only went one stop? There's another thread about that

 

[VauxhallandI]

I find them incredibly depressing, not sure why but I just do.

 

[Gloster]

There is also the one over the Kiel Canal at Rendsburg in Germany, which is apparently back in use after a six year absence due to it hitting a ship. It is suspended from a rail bridge, so you get two forms of transport for one trip.

 

[XAM2175]

There is also the one over the Kiel Canal at Rendsburg in Germany, which is apparently back in use after a six year absence due to it hitting a ship. It is suspended from a rail bridge, so you get two forms of transport for one trip.

Not known as the Rendsburg High Bridge for nothing!

 

[Struner]

I’ve passed under the Hochbrücke in a ship & passed the bridge on a train, but never in a gondola. Interesting loop in the railway to get from the bridge down to the station.

 

[8A Rail]

If you go to the Widnes side you can see the old transporter office name marked in brickwork and opposite it is the old abutment for the gondola, there's metal plaques commemorating the opening of the transporter bridge listing the names of the big wigs and engineers involved, interesting stuff.

On the Runcorn side there's not much evidence of it.

Taken at ground level, the entrance to the old Transporter Bridge - https://www.flickr.com/photos/8a-miscellany/26208306280/in/dateposted/

 

[John Luxton]

Living not very far from the site of the world's largest transporter bridge at Runcorn the topic has always fascinated me. Unfortunately I can't recall crossing it as it closed before I was two years old though my parents did tell me that had taken me over it in the car a few times as a baby! At the end of the 1960 beginning of the 70s my mother bought me a fascinating little book on Transporter Bridges published by the Light Railway Transport League at a local model railway show. The cover was illustrated by an artist's impression of the proposed but never built tram carrying bridge across the River Ribble which was part of a project to link the Southport and Lytham tram systems.

A couple of years ago Pen and Sword Books published an excellent, detailed book on the subject which I couldn't resist and is highly recommended.

As for visiting transporter bridges the only one I have actually travelled over is the Vizcaya Bridge whilst on a cruise call around 10 years ago - but unfortunately I didn't have enough time to go up the towers as well as ride over it. I did visit the Middlesborough Bridge once with a group from the World Ship Society Merseyside Branch on a coach trip to port installations in the north east but when we arrived it was not operational.

I must get round to visiting the Newport Bridge - I regularly stay at Tintern - but on the only occasion I did try to visit bridge three or four years ago the heavens opened and I drove on!