The Tees Transporter Bridge was opened in September 1911 to replace the ferry service that had operated since 1830.
There have been some twenty transporter bridges constructed around the world but the Tees Transporter Bridge is one of only three remaining in Great Britain. The other transporter bridges are a public weigh bridge in Newport, Gwent and a private bridge in Warrington, Cheshire which sadly is no longer in use.
Still fully operational the bridge provides a regular quarter hour service, carrying an average 300 passengers and 200 cars each day. The bridge is jointly owned and maintained by Middlesbrough and Stockton councils.
The Transporter Bridge is Grade II in the statutory list of buildings of special acrhitectural or historic interest. In 1993 the bridge was awarded the Heritage Plaque for engineering excellence, which is the Institution of Mechanical Engineers' highest award.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middlesbrough_Transporter_Bridge
The gondola cannot operate in dense fog or high winds.
Winding House.
Newport Bridge was built by Dorman Long & Co Ltd between 1931 and 1934 .
Lifting span 270 feet by 66 feet with a total weight including counter weights of 5400 tons. Lift height is 99 feet. Operated by two 325 hp electric motors (1 1/2 minutes) or by reserve 450 hp petrol engine (2 minutes).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tees_Newport_Bridge
