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| Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge celebrates centenary | Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge celebrates centenary |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| By Nigel Thompson BBC News, Tees | By Nigel Thompson BBC News, Tees |
| In recent years the numbers of drivers using the Transporter Bridge has seen a significant increase. | In recent years the numbers of drivers using the Transporter Bridge has seen a significant increase. |
| Motorists, it seems, are opting to use Victorian engineering rather than take the often jammed Tees flyover. | Motorists, it seems, are opting to use Victorian engineering rather than take the often jammed Tees flyover. |
| The bridge, which turns 100 on 17 October, is a sign of home to some, and a sign of great engineering to all. | The bridge, which turns 100 on 17 October, is a sign of home to some, and a sign of great engineering to all. |
| The giant blue steel structure joins Port Clarence to Middlesbrough across the River Tees, and although passengers are now on the up, they hit a low in 2006 when only 90,927 made use of the bridge. | The giant blue steel structure joins Port Clarence to Middlesbrough across the River Tees, and although passengers are now on the up, they hit a low in 2006 when only 90,927 made use of the bridge. |
| Now on the rise, more than 122,000 drivers crossed in 2009. | Now on the rise, more than 122,000 drivers crossed in 2009. |
| Commuters form the traffic these days, with many shoppers and tourists using it during off peak periods. | Commuters form the traffic these days, with many shoppers and tourists using it during off peak periods. |
| The bridge is not only a symbol of the industrial north, it has also far exceeded the working life envisaged by its designers when it opened to traffic in 1911. | The bridge is not only a symbol of the industrial north, it has also far exceeded the working life envisaged by its designers when it opened to traffic in 1911. |
| During the dark days of World War I the bridge came into its own with two thirds of those using it working in the munitions factories north of the Tees. | During the dark days of World War I the bridge came into its own with two thirds of those using it working in the munitions factories north of the Tees. |
| Munitions factories | Munitions factories |
| In March 1919, after the Armistice, more than 500,000 passengers used the bridge - a figure that has never been exceeded. | In March 1919, after the Armistice, more than 500,000 passengers used the bridge - a figure that has never been exceeded. |
| Ninety-one-year-old Morris Taylor, a retired welder from Stockton, knows exactly what kind of challenge it is to keep the bridge in operation. | Ninety-one-year-old Morris Taylor, a retired welder from Stockton, knows exactly what kind of challenge it is to keep the bridge in operation. |
| After being battered by a German bomb during World War II, the bridge was in need of urgent repair, so Mr Morris and his team were drafted in. | After being battered by a German bomb during World War II, the bridge was in need of urgent repair, so Mr Morris and his team were drafted in. |
| "We felt the urgency to get it done," he said. | "We felt the urgency to get it done," he said. |
| "Real steel is a lot harder than the mild steel the bridge is constructed of. The vibrations of the car going backwards and forwards and the heat took their toll. | "Real steel is a lot harder than the mild steel the bridge is constructed of. The vibrations of the car going backwards and forwards and the heat took their toll. |
| "There's a lot of movement, and over the years it brought about a sawing action. We had to cut out the flanges and put new ones in. | "There's a lot of movement, and over the years it brought about a sawing action. We had to cut out the flanges and put new ones in. |
| "It was so important, it was the only crossing at the time, apart from the Newport Bridge. We were up there solid from start to finish, from February to September. | "It was so important, it was the only crossing at the time, apart from the Newport Bridge. We were up there solid from start to finish, from February to September. |
| "We were 200ft in the air, during thunder and lightning, it was a hell of a storm. I had to sheltered under the walkway! | |
| "We worked seven days a week... but it was £2 a day pay, it was worth it!" | "We worked seven days a week... but it was £2 a day pay, it was worth it!" |
| Love on the bridge | Love on the bridge |
| Kenneth Thompson took a trip across the bridge in 1946 just after the end of World War II. | Kenneth Thompson took a trip across the bridge in 1946 just after the end of World War II. |
| Mr Thompson, who was on compassionate leave from the forces at the time, said: "I met a friend that I hadn't seen in years, I was in the Navy, he was in the Army. For some reason or other, I cant remember why, we went to Middlesbrough. | Mr Thompson, who was on compassionate leave from the forces at the time, said: "I met a friend that I hadn't seen in years, I was in the Navy, he was in the Army. For some reason or other, I cant remember why, we went to Middlesbrough. |
| "I'd never been on the Transporter before, and we decided to go on it. And whilst on it, I met Joyce." | "I'd never been on the Transporter before, and we decided to go on it. And whilst on it, I met Joyce." |
| Joyce Thompson, now Kenneth's wife was out with her friend. | Joyce Thompson, now Kenneth's wife was out with her friend. |
| "We didn't usually talk to strangers, but we felt sorry for these two guys in uniform. There were no lights, you weren't allowed lights on. I didn't know what I was getting myself in for," she said. | "We didn't usually talk to strangers, but we felt sorry for these two guys in uniform. There were no lights, you weren't allowed lights on. I didn't know what I was getting myself in for," she said. |
| Mr Thompson said they then got on the bus, exchanged names and addresses, and then he took it from there. | Mr Thompson said they then got on the bus, exchanged names and addresses, and then he took it from there. |
| "I was surprised when I got the letter, so I wrote back. He said he was pleased to meet me, and could I write back to him. When he came out of the Navy, he got a job, and now we've been married 62 years," Mrs Thompson said. | "I was surprised when I got the letter, so I wrote back. He said he was pleased to meet me, and could I write back to him. When he came out of the Navy, he got a job, and now we've been married 62 years," Mrs Thompson said. |
| Even though it can lead to a lifelong happy marriage, the numbers of people using the bridge declined as the construction yards and industrial north of the Tees shrunk. | Even though it can lead to a lifelong happy marriage, the numbers of people using the bridge declined as the construction yards and industrial north of the Tees shrunk. |
| Today in Port Clarence, near Hartlepool, there is a sense of isolation, a far cry from how life was in the heyday of the bridge, when scores of workers crossed and it was open seven days a week. | Today in Port Clarence, near Hartlepool, there is a sense of isolation, a far cry from how life was in the heyday of the bridge, when scores of workers crossed and it was open seven days a week. |
| Now open Monday to Saturday, the bridge runs 07:00 - 19:00 weekdays and 09:30 - 15:30 on Saturdays. Sometimes it is closed due to poor weather. | Now open Monday to Saturday, the bridge runs 07:00 - 19:00 weekdays and 09:30 - 15:30 on Saturdays. Sometimes it is closed due to poor weather. |
| Lee Gattley-Hall, one of the 800 residents of Port Clarence, said he had enjoyed a mixed relationship with the bridge. | Lee Gattley-Hall, one of the 800 residents of Port Clarence, said he had enjoyed a mixed relationship with the bridge. |
| "I think it's class - it's right on your doorstep, but I used to go to Middlesbrough College, just across the river, and when the bridge is off, it seemed so far away," he said. | "I think it's class - it's right on your doorstep, but I used to go to Middlesbrough College, just across the river, and when the bridge is off, it seemed so far away," he said. |
| These days the bridge is subsidised to the tune of about £200,000 a year, and has been awarded £2.6m of lottery money to be spent on a new gondola and lifts. Councils on both sides of the water have agreed to continue spending money on the bridge to keep it going. | These days the bridge is subsidised to the tune of about £200,000 a year, and has been awarded £2.6m of lottery money to be spent on a new gondola and lifts. Councils on both sides of the water have agreed to continue spending money on the bridge to keep it going. |
| The Big Screen in Middlesbrough will be showing some short films and footage from the Transporter Bridge's 100-years in operation on Sunday 16 October from 15:00 - 18:30 and Monday 17 October from 12:00 - 16:00 BST. | The Big Screen in Middlesbrough will be showing some short films and footage from the Transporter Bridge's 100-years in operation on Sunday 16 October from 15:00 - 18:30 and Monday 17 October from 12:00 - 16:00 BST. |