All the excitement surrounding the Gateshead Millennium Footbridge's arrival at the Quayside gave us all some highly memorable images of that extraordinary crane on its barge. Easily the most spectacular sight on the river since the Tall Ships, I'm sure you all saw this collossus dwarfing the Tyne Bridge as it loomed overhead, gently lowering the footbridge onto its pylons. The broadcasters got swept along with it all and told us how the Asian Hercules would be heading off for its next assignment, leaving an impression of this huge, powerful, steel gent turning up wherever he is needed to lend a hand.

Evocative stuff, but I'm still passing him on my way into work every day as he rocks at his mooring in the Wallsend Slipway. No longer at his incredible full extension, he's still quite a sight, towering above the rooftops as I walk down the hill on my way home, as I first saw him a couple of months back when I couldn't work out how I had never noticed this one particular crane before.

Hope he brings such excitement wherever he goes. A modern marvel and right up there with the Mulberry floating harbours for making you shake your head in wonder at the ingenuity of humankind.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

Answers

I can see it now from my office window!

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000