remains closed with its future under discussion. Local culture Locally, the bridge is often referred to simply as 'the Transporter'. The bridge hosts an annual vintage bus running day, organised by The 500 Group. On this one day per year, usually a Sunday in April, vintage buses take people on free rides around Teesside. As part of the 2006 and 2007 events, the bridge made a special trip carrying a former Teesside Municipal Transport Daimler Fleetline, the first time a double-decker bus had used the bridge in 30 years. It has been featured in films and TV programmes including Boys from the Blackstuff, Billy Elliot, The Fast Show, Spender, Vera, and Steel River Blues. In the millennium celebrations of 2000, fireworks were fired from its length. The storyline of the third series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, saw the bridge dismantled to be sold to and re-erected in the US. The local council received calls from people worried that the bridge was really being pulled down, with the BBC adding a disclaimer on the end of the final episode of the series stating that 'The Transporter Bridge is still in Middlesbrough'. See also Newport Transporter Bridge – a similar bridge in South East Wales; Tees Newport Bridge – a vertical-lift bridge upstream of Middlesbrough. Warrington Transporter Bridge – a similar bridge in North West England, now disused. References Anon. (1911) "The transporter bridge over the River Tees", The Engineer, 112 (September) Fernández Troyano, Leonardo (2003) Bridge engineering : a global perspective [Tierra sobre el agua], London : Thomas Telford, Prade, Marcel (1988) Ponts et viaducs au XIXe siècle, Poitiers (France) : Brissaud, Prade, Marcel (1990) Les grands ponts du monde: Ponts remarquables d'Europe, Poitiers (France) : Brissaud, Woodhouse, Robert (2009) Tees Valley Curiosities, Stroud, Gloucestershire : The History Press, External links Middlesbrough Council official Transporter Bridge page Middlesbrough Council – Transporter Bridge friends and volunteers The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge at BBC Tees Transporter bridges Bridges in County Durham Bridges in North Yorkshire Transporter Bridge Crossings of the River Tees Grade II* listed buildings in North Yorkshire Bridges completed in 1911 Buildings and structures in Middlesbrough Toll bridges in England 1911 establishments in England Grade II* listed bridges in England