One of the great things about the Tyne tunnel (apart from it providing a way under the river Tyne, of course) is that its entrances are watched by webcams. These allow people to better plan their journey by checking the volume of traffic and - most important of all - enable anyone who is feeling bored to gloat over traffic jams from the comfort of their desks.
Checking the cameras one Friday afternoon I noticed (at right, circled in red) a car broken down, pulled up on the verge with bonnet raised. Note also the policeman talking to the driver of the big red lorry. Don't policemen nowadays have villains to chase etc etc?
The sun went down, the temperature fell, the traffic dispersed, the car... stayed put. Bonnet still raised it was seen cold and alone (left, below) entering the weekend. First thing on Monday morning it was still there - but at least someone had the dignity to close its bonnet at some time over the weekend. To whom does this car belong? What's wrong with it? What will be its fate? Will it be rescued or will it be towed away by the council? So many questions - so few answers.
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A crisp and sunny Wednesday afternoon: the car's still there. Thursday dawns overcast and the little white car is still weathering the elements, static and alone. Notice how much less traffic there is at 09:49 compared to 09:17, by the way. Well worth bearing that in mind if you're ever planning on going through the tunnel. Avoid rush-hours like the plague or else you crawl through a fume-filled concrete tube nose to tail. Worst of all, the car radio doesn't even work so you'll have to resort to playing that ancient scratchy tape you found lurking in the glove-box or playing a very tedious game of 'eye spy'. "Something beginning with 'T', heh? Well, let me see...". Thursday night and the car's still there. We're approaching a whole week now. Can't be long until the local disaffected youths start breaking it up for spare parts.
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On a wet Sunday at lunchtime, over a week after I first spotted it, it's still there. Then suddenly, early on Monday afternoon - it's vanished. I would have sworn it was still there on Monday morning but you'll have to take my word for it because I can't find any cached photographs.
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