Fire Engines Photos

Sorry Chris I hate to say this and dont want to sound like "mr know it all", so apologies, Newport Bridge had its final raise in November 1990 - I do have a picture with it on its final raise with the other fireboat "Cleveland Enterprise" sitting underneath the bridge whilst it was raised

Added by Adam Plumb on 20 July 2009.

Adam - please send your photo in, for us.

I am also a bit of a fan of Fireboats, and, interesting bridges.

I suppose, fastening the bridge, indicated that interesting marine traffic had long stopped going up-river.....

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 23 July 2009.

Hi gents. I definitely took this picture around 1984, however, it may well not have been the last occasion the bridge was lifted, I will have to check this. The industry on the river Tees like all the rivers in the North East have suffered from years of decline, with the result that you are lucky to see anything bigger than a rowing boat past this point, let alone any decent size ship.

Added by Chris Hall Teesside. UK. on 31 July 2009.

I have tried to find the photo print of the final raise and the Cleveland Enterprise sitting underneath it, I am sure there is some images of it on the internet though

Added by Adam Plumb on 31 July 2009.

Adam, you are correct about the date of the final movement of the Newport Bridge being 1990, the 18th November to be precise. A mate of mine used to work on it and was paid to sit in the control cabin for years...doing nothing !!!!!

Added by Barrie Green on 01 August 2009.

and what a job that would have been! I would of loved to of worked on it, would be nice to see it raise and lower again!

Added by Adam Plumb on 02 August 2009.

Does anybody know what happened to the Endeavour? My father in law helped in the design of the fire boat and is interested to know of its whereabouts.

Added by Alan Brown on 08 November 2009.

Sorted, a friend of mine seems to the the Garbage boat that works the Tees was the former fire boat. Looks the same, if you can find any pictures, but I am not sure. Can anybody confirm?

Added by Alan Brown on 13 November 2009.

What ?! - reduced to a Garbage Scow......still, I suppose better, than being left as a rusting hulk on the beach somewhere.



Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 13 November 2009.

just to let you know that i've seen the old tub working off the coast of scarborough in north yorkshire helping with the sea defences work over a couple of years ago! then on saturday while doing a risk assessment on the tees over this weekend (27/03/2010) what goes floating past! know that tub anywhere painted in a dull magnolia paint scheme on its old ground on the TEES..

Added by DAVID.A.TODD on 30 March 2010.

Interesting to read comments about The Cleveland Endeavour. I was wondering where it is now also. I worked as a marine fitter at the shipyard in Woolston Southampton where it was built. I was also part of the crew that delivered the craft to it's base in Middlesborough. Lots of happy memories.

Added by Ken Walton on 02 January 2011.

Yes the old fireboat is now the "Sarah D" owned by Svitzer, the tug people. I know this as I used to crew the Endeavour and the other fireboats on the Tees from 83 until their decommission. If you want to see other pics, the marine fire station at the transporter bridge still proudly displays them around the building.

Added by Telfer Whitfield on 11 May 2011.

Endeavour is indeed back on the Tees. Now named Sarah D and owned by Svitzer tugs and used as a work boat. Superstructure has been modified but she is still recognisable. How do I know? I was a firefighter and worked at the marine station on the fire boats for over 16 years. Glory days! sigh!

Added by Telfer Whitfield on 11 May 2011.

My father Lenny Swales was a firefighter stationed at the marine station he also used to crew the endeavour fireboat. I would love to hear from anyone who knew him or have any photos of him at work as he was a top man.

Added by John Swales on 25 May 2011.

Hello John Swales, I worked with your dad and Telfer Whitfield as a fireman at the marine on white watch. Yes indeed your dad was a top man , he kept us all amused with his anecdotes and choking on his blasted pipe. A sadly missed colleague and chum.

Added by Brian Upton on 14 March 2014.

Hello John Swales, I too was a fireman on the fireboat with your dad and Telfer Whitfield. We were all on white watch together. I remember your dad's reminiscences, which kept us entertained, and his blasted pipe which kept us coughing.Lenny was indeed a top man , a fondly remembered colleague and a good chum.

Added by Brian Upton on 16 March 2014.

I am just scanning negatives from 1984 including some of the Newport Bridge being raised. They are marked as the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, 24th July.

Added by Steve Lodge on 01 February 2016.

To stop any confusion regarding the Fireboats, the purpose built vessel was the Cleveland Endeavour, the fire fighting ex tug was the Cleveland Enterprise, and the smaller water jet propelled vessel was the Cleveland Innovation. I was the Skipper on the Cleveland Endeavour the day the Newport Bridge raised for the last time in 1990, the video is on you tube, as last raise of Newport bridge.

Added by Ken Dolan on 16 April 2017.

Hi Ken Dolan, do you know my father in law, Albert Simpson? He had a lot to do with the design of the fireboat when he was a serving fireman.

Added by Alan Brown on 18 April 2017.

The only Simpson I knew very vaguely was a Div Officer in the late 80s.


Added by Ken Dolan on 18 April 2017.

Does anybody remember Gordon Richardson.

Added by Tim Beadle on 05 June 2022.

The old water jet drive boat Innovation is still on the Tees at the Barrage. Currently out of use needing a new engine. Much missed by staff and volunteers as it was in regular use for debris clearing.

Added by John Owens on 26 March 2023.

The hydraulic boom has been adopted in recent years on several fire boats around the World, and seems like a very good addition to increase the flexibility and range of capabilities of these water craft. I wonder if this was one of the first?

Added by Rob Johnson on 26 March 2023.

I was in the design department of the builder South Ocean Services when the Cleveland Endeavour was being built in Woolston. It was designe by Denis Swire, a notable workboat designer in the New Forest. I believe it was the first use of the Simon Snorkel platform on a marine vehicle. The vessel propulsion was 2 x 250HP Sabre diesels (marinised Ford engines) and it had 2 x 10" pumps driven by Caterpillar engines providing fire services. On sea trials in Southampton water we laid a carpet of foam around 2 metres deep and probably 20 metres wide on the water for a distance of 200 metres. The port authority was not amused however they calmed down when we told them it was biodegradable AFFF.

Added by Joseph Jackson on 09 June 2024.

I recently came across an old photo of the Transport Bridge on FaceBook with an old fireboat. I asked my dad if he knew what it's name was (he's ex Teesside, Cleveland and London Fire Brigades). He could remember the boat but not it's name. Does anyone on here remember the old boat's name? My dad thought it might date from the WW2 era and by 1972 when joined was a bit clapped out. He was on the boat for a short period before doing his basic training in Durham.

Added by Neil Dahlgaard-Sigsworth on 05 January 2025.

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