A view taken from the Transporter Bridge looking towards Bells Works across the River Tees. c1940 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A view taken from the Transporter Bridge looking towards Bells Works across the River Tees. c1940
This splendid view, one of the first entries by the Picture Stockton team to the site, shows the rail layout of the Clarence railway downstream of the Transporter Bridge. The terminus of the line was originally built to ship coal in competition to “Port Darlington” ( i.e Middlesbrough) on the other side of the river. But when Bell Brothers began the manufacture of pig and wrought iron, and then discovered salt, the sidings were vastly expanded.
The extent of the sidings and the branch heading slightly northeast, towards the salt wells, fully bears out the recent observation by Gordon Armes that these required a two man signal box. Just look at the rows of waggons, as the works was gearing itself up for WWII.
Anybody remember the MTB that used to moor very close to the transporter? Two geordies that were mates of a mate bought it and used to fish for lobster up in Torridon. Made a very successful business as far as I heard.