(26 May 2015, 2:19 pm)cbma06 wrote Im positive that the shields ferry used to have cars aswell, but im talking about 50 years ago or so. the mid tyne ferries went out due to the shipping industry went down the pan when joining the EU. at most of them time it was for the ship workers etc...

Its the same as the wear ferry which was used for the dock workers traveling from the north to the south and vice versa.

You're right. The Shields Ferry used to carry vehicles. This ceased sometime between 1967 and 1972 once the Tyne Tunnel had been opened and when the existing vehicular ferries were withdrawn from service - eventually replaced by the Freda Cunningham.

http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/hshields.html