Discover the Magic: Top 12 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Paris' Tower Bridge You Can't Miss!

1. Weightlifting Bridge

What do Tower Bridge and a weightlifters' gym have in common? They've both got some serious hydraulic power to boast about: During its construction, Tower Bridge was the largest and most advanced bascule bridge, using steam-powered hydraulics to lift the bridge in just 60 seconds, and while it now operates on electricity and oil, you can still marvel at the original pumping engines in its Engine Rooms.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

2. Tower Bridge's Youth

In a world where "you're older than the Tower!" just doesn't have the same ring to it: Tower Bridge, that iconic symbol of London, took a mere eight years to build in the late 19th century, solving quite the traffic conundrum without disturbing the busy river below – all while being a young whippersnapper compared to its eleventh-century elder sibling, the Tower of London.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

Discover how the iconic Brooklyn Bridge made its debut in 1883 as the world's longest suspension bridge, now carrying over 120,000 vehicles and 4,000 pedestrians daily while maintaining its National Historic Landmark status. 🌉

=> Fun Facts about The-Brooklyn-Bridge

3. Semaphore Traffic Lights

While sailors may have wished for traffic lights, Tower Bridge actually took it up a notch: sailors rely on a technicolor semaphore to know when it's their turn to waltz beneath the bridge. Installed in 1952, this intricate system involves red and green lamps on the bridge towers and cranes, alarm bells, and even radio contact between bridge operators and ship captains, making sure everyone knows when it's safe to cross or time to pause for a bridge lift.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

4. Hydraulic Transformation

Once upon a time, Tower Bridge was a weightlifting champ, effortlessly pumping iron with a hydraulic assist: The bridge's original hydraulic system used pressurized water stored in accumulators, each containing a 20-inch ram supporting a hefty weight to maintain pressure, installed by none other than William Sugg & Co Ltd. Nowadays, this antique bodybuilder has traded its old-school workout for a fancy electro-hydraulic drive system designed by BHA Cromwell House, flexing its muscles with modern hydraulic motors.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Bascule Balance

When the weights and scales of justice tip in the Tower Bridge's favor, Lady Justice responds with a "bascule" it up: Each of Tower Bridge's two bascules weigh a monumental 1,000 tons, while 11,000 tons of steel were used in its construction—still lighter than the Eiffel Tower's 18,000 tons of steel!
Source => factinformer.com

6. Speedy Bridge Lifting

When it comes to bridges, speed isn't usually the first thing that crosses our minds - but if you blink, you just might miss it: Tower Bridge raises its bascules in a lightning-fast 60 seconds to their maximum angle of 86 degrees, outpacing the competition and setting world records in bridge-lifting feats.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

7. Riveting Salaries

Feeling "riveting-ly" rich and part of the penny elite: The Scottish riveters who built the iconic Tower Bridge were banking around £137.78 per week, equivalent to £610 today, making them among the highest earners at the Bridge, while other workers earned a meager 4 to 6 pennies a day.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

8. Fast and Smooth Bascules

Quick as a wink and smooth as butter, the Tower Bridge bascules have definitely got some pep in their step: Taking just 60 seconds to raise to the impressive angle of 86 degrees, they rank among the fastest-operating bascule bridges worldwide.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

9. Bus Jump Heroics

Talk about a leap of faith: In 1952, London bus driver Albert Gunter channeled his inner Evel Knievel, soaring over a rising Tower Bridge bascule and nailing the landing - all while keeping his 20 passengers safe and sound. The truth behind this epic jump? Facing an unexpected opening of the bridge, our quick-witted hero floored it and leaped into history, earning himself a £10 reward and a well-deserved day off.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

10. Tower Bridge Identity

Breaking news: the Tower Bridge has an identity crisis and can't decide whether it's named after its towers or the Tower of London! Here's the serious scoop: In reality, Tower Bridge owes its name and tower-inspired design to the nearby Tower of London, and was conveniently built to offer better access to the historical fortress.
Source => londontopia.net

11. Royal Architectural Harmony

When Queen Victoria said "bridge, meet castle," the Tower Bridge was brought into existence: This neo-gothic masterpiece, completed in 1894, was designed to blend with the nearby Tower of London, and stands at a majestic height of 42 meters above the Thames, and 33.5 meters above road level, featuring stunning glass floors, Victorian engine rooms, and offers panoramic views of London.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk

12. Gymnastic Bridge Feats

If the Tower Bridge were a gymnast, it could stick an impressive split in just a minute, making it worthy of a standing ovation: The bascules of the iconic bridge can be raised to a jaw-dropping 86-degree angle within 60 seconds, thanks to the power of hydraulics that replaced steam power in 1976 – a feat of engineering that continues to amaze visitors who venture into the Engine Rooms.
Source => towerbridge.org.uk