The Newport Transporter Bridge, Wales
Constructed in 1906, The Transporter Bridge at Newport in South Wales is the highest of it's type in the World and boasts the longest beam span of any transporter bridge. A scheduled Grade 1 Monument, the bridge is operational during the summer months, but in the winter undergoes routine maintenance. It is older than either Middlesborough or Warrington - Britain's two other Transporter Bridges.Spanning the River Usk, the gondola can accommodate six cars and a total weight of up to 300 tons. Each cable stay is under 42 tons load and is anchored into solid granite blocks buried 25 feet below ground at each end. The gondola is transported across the Usk in a little over 60 seconds - powered by two 35HP DC electric motors. Originally these drew current at 460V DC from a pair of mercury arc rectifier connected to the 440V AC supply from the grid, but these were replaced with conventional rectifiers in the 1950s, themselves change for switched mode units about 10 years ago. The motors were made by Lancashire Dynamo & Motor Co and each copper clad armature takes about 3 days to clean out the residual carbon, using a Stanley knife. This winter, the solid oak decking on the East bank staithe is being replaced prior to the public operating season.
The Newport Transporter Bridge, Wales
Constructed in 1906, The Transporter Bridge at Newport in South Wales is the highest of it's type in the World and boasts the longest beam span of any transporter bridge. A scheduled Grade 1 Monument, the bridge is operational during the summer months, but in the winter undergoes routine maintenance. It is older than either Middlesborough or Warrington - Britain's two other Transporter Bridges.Spanning the River Usk, the gondola can accommodate six cars and a total weight of up to 300 tons. Each cable stay is under 42 tons load and is anchored into solid granite blocks buried 25 feet below ground at each end. The gondola is transported across the Usk in a little over 60 seconds - powered by two 35HP DC electric motors. Originally these drew current at 460V DC from a pair of mercury arc rectifier connected to the 440V AC supply from the grid, but these were replaced with conventional rectifiers in the 1950s, themselves change for switched mode units about 10 years ago. The motors were made by Lancashire Dynamo & Motor Co and each copper clad armature takes about 3 days to clean out the residual carbon, using a Stanley knife. This winter, the solid oak decking on the East bank staithe is being replaced prior to the public operating season.