Trip to Bilston / Dudley 30-01-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4584	Bilston BS	Dudley BS	82	NX West Midlands
4594	Dudley BS	Wolverhampton BS	126	NX West Midlands
4146	Wolverhampton BS	Wednesfield, opp Chadsway School	59	NX West Midlands
2210	Wednesfield, opp Tithe Rd	Wolverhampton BS	57	Arriva Midlands
5405	Wolverhampton BS	Wednesfield, adj Lewis Grove	59	NX West Midlands
4032	Wednesfield, opp Lewis Grove	Wednesfield, adj Hall St	69	NX West Midlands
4592	Wednesfield, Church St (Stop WA)	Bilston BS	25	NX West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Bilston. We had checked the weather and with the North of the country in the grips of hurricane Gertrude, we decided to travel Southwards. We gave Matthew a list of Midlands destinations, and from the list he chose Bilston. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and strawberry juice for breakfast. We set off just before 12:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We went West to the A34 where we saw First Potteries 65706, unusual power on the #10 to Hanley. We headed North and then turned left onto Whitmore Road. We briefly joined the A519 before going onto the Southbound M6. On the M6 going South we saw Johnsons YK15 OJH which was heading Northwards, and we caught up with Stagecoach Magicbus 54202 on a M11 service.

Stagecoach 54202 on the M6

We continued South, and we saw An unidentified Eastville Coaches coach and Astons AIG 5288. We came off the M6 at Junction 10, and we went Westwards along the A454 for around a mile, and then we joined the A463 Black Country route. At the Eastern end of Bilston we went North on the A41 and we then turned left onto Church Street where we parked up. We walked the hundred or so yards to the bus station and Matthew went to the toilet before we had dinner in the bus station cafe. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a small bottle of Coke. whilst we ate we saw Diamond Rotala 20002 and 20003 on the #23 Wednesbury to Portobello service. We also saw Coastal Liners ex First Dennis Trident V882 HBY on the #905 Wolverhampton to Mecca bingo service. There was also a Thandi Dart, Y152 NKL on a #334 to Walsall. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked out of the inside of the bus station. We immediately saw required National Express West Midlands 4584 on a #82 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4584 in Bilston interchange

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this to the unexplored town of Dudley and he said yes. We got on the bus and we booked nBus Day Tickets at £4.80 each. We went upstairs and we sat down. As the rear of the bus was empty, Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4584.

Inside NX West Midlands 4584

The bus set off out of the bus station and we went Southwards onto the A41. We turned right onto loxdale Stree and over the tram line, going forwards onto Salop Street. We trundle through undulating housing estates full of near identical semi-detached houses and we went over the railway into Coseley. We crossed a dual carriageway and we saw a Northbound National Express coach. We went through a small village called Roseville and we traveled South again through yet another housing estate of semi-detached houses. Eventually we joined a main road and we went South-Westwards into Dudley town centre. It seemed like a quite small rural town, but when we turned into the bus station it was quite big. We Got up and got off the bus into this large open bus station with 20+ stands and several areas where buses were stood on layover. We decided to go and have a look around the bus station as we had never been before. Whilst there we saw required National Express West Midlands 4431 on a #205 service to Kingswinford.

NX West Midlands 4431 in Dudley bus station

At the other end of the bus station we saw required National Express West Midlands 4273 on layover in a designated area between stands.

NX West Midlands 4273 in Dudley bus station

The was another small parcel of land opposite to the bus station where buses were parked on layover. On layover were National Express West Midlands 2108 & double decker 4357.

NX West Midlands 4357 in Dudley bus station

After seeing the buses parked up adjacent to the bus station, we turned to see National Express West Midlands 1771 on a #313 service to walsall.

NX West Midlands 1771 in Dudley bus station

At the bottom end of the bus station we saw required National Express West Midlands 4192 on a #241 to Merry Hill.

NX West Midlands 4192 in Dudley bus station

Also on layover was required National Express West Midlands 4195.

NX West Midlands 4195 in Dudley bus station

We also saw required National Express West Midlands 841 on a #27A to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 841 in Dudley bus station

We walked back to the main entrance of the bus station and we looked at the departure board to see what we could catch. There was a #126 service to Wolverhampton that was very frequent, so we decided to walk over to stand R. On the way we saw required National Express West Midlands 4742 on a #87 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 4742 in Dudley bus station

We stopped part way along to the stand and we saw Rotala Diamond 20844 which was on a #226 to Merry Hill.

Rotala Diamond 20844 in Dudley bus station

We sat down at Stand R and whilst we waited Matthew shared a Milky Way double bar we me and uncle Dave. A few minutes later the bus pulled onto the stand and it was required National Express West Midlands 4594 on the #126 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 4594 in Dudley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The bus set off out of town and Northwards up Priory Road. At the end of Priory Road we turned left onto Birmingham New Road. The journey up to Wolverhampton was now pretty much straight up the road for around 4 miles. On the way up we passed National Express West Midlands 4139, 4142 & 4587 going the other way towards Birmingham. We entered the town centre and ran past the tram station and onto the ring road before entering the bus bus station off the roundabout. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4594.

Inside NX West Midlands 4594

We decided to visit the toilet at this point. On the way we popped out of the bus station as we saw Arriva Midlands 3750 departing on the #9 to Bridgenorth.

Arriva Midlands 3750 in Wolverhampton bus station

Afterwards Matthew went to the toilet and then we went into the East wing of the bus station to see what was about. We saw Arriva Midlands 3752 on a #8 to Telford and Arriva Midlands 2261 on a #50 to Wednesfield. We saw an older double decker on stand F so we went over to investigate. It was required National Express West Midlands 4146 on a #59 service to Ashmore Park.

NX West Midlands 4146 in Wolverhampton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Piers Row. We turned left into Tower street and right into Market Street before turning right again into Queen Street and back onto Piper Row. We went past the Slade Rooms and we joined the Northbound ring road for a few yards. We double back on ourselves before turning left into Wednesfield Way and going under the railway line. We carried on along a duel carriageway that had some well done graffiti on a wooden board on the Southern side of the road. After about a 1000 yard we turned left onto Wolverhampton Road. We went past New Cross Hospital and the bus emptied out a little. Matthew used the chance to take a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4146.

Inside NX West Midlands 4146

We left the main road and we went up Wednesfield High Street. We decided to get up and get off the bus once we had passed the High Street. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4146 as it carried on towards Ashmore Park.

NX West Midlands 4146 in Wednesfield

We walked up towards the bus stop on the opposite side of the road. On the way we saw Arriva Midlands 2261 which we had seen leaving Wolverhampton earlier on the #50 into Wednesfield.

Arriva Midlands 2261 in Wednesfield

It was quite busy at this junction. We saw Arriva Midlands 2722 & 2734 on #71 services going either way, and we also saw Arriva Midlands 2550 on a #57 service to Bilston and National Express West Midlands 4132 & 4134 on #59 services. We decided we were going to catch the #69 service from Walsall to Wolverhampton which had a timetable at the stop. The bus was due at 15:36. At around that time the bus came around the corner and it was one of the early Volvo / Plaxton President double deckers that we wanted to catch, required National Express West Midlands 4072.

NX West Midlands 4072 in Wednesfield

Unfortunately the bus went sailing straight past. Although the stop had the #69 timetable on the board, the flag didn't have the #69 timetable on it. After a short walk around the corner it was obvious why that this was. The bus that came from around the corner had a second stop about 50 yards away. The bus stop that we were standing at was for bus approaching from straight down Wood End Road. After a quick look at those timetable on Lichfield Road, we decided to go back to where we were to wait for the next #57 which was booked to be an Arriva Midlands bus. We thought that it may be required Arriva Midlands Solo 2550 which we had seen going the other way. Whilst we waited for the bus to come Matthew ate a bag of Milky Way Stars. We saw the bus approaching and it was a Dennis Dart. AS it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 2210.

Arriva Midlands 2210 in Wednesfield

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off back down Wednesfield High Street and right onto Graisley Lane. There was a Centro Employ at the back of the bus who was surveying passengers who asked us where we were going to. I took the opportunity to let him know about the discrepancy between the bus stop flag and the timetable board on Lichfield Road, and he sent of an e-mail there and then to his boss! We weaved through the back streets on the other side of New Cross Hospital and we came back onto Wolverhampton Road at the junction with Wednesbury Way. We ran back into town along the dual carriageway and we crossed under the railway line. We crossed the ring road and we ran along the contraflow lane adjacent to the ring road that took us straight to the entrance of the bus station. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Matthew didn't get a picture inside the Arriva Dart as the Centro employee stayed on the bus to continue surveying passengers. Once again we wanted to only spend a short time in the bus station. Across the way was branded double decker National Express West Midlands 4599 which was about to work it's usual #529 service bus service to Walsall via Willenhall.

NX West Midlands 4599 in Wolverhampton bus station

In the middle stands we saw required Arriva Midlands 2211 which was going to be working a #65 service to Fordhouses.

Arriva Midlands 2211 in Wolverhampton bus station

That bus wasn't due off for another 10 or so minutes, and it was due off another stand. There was another required bus on the #59... It was National Express West Midlands 5405.

NX West Midlands 5405 in Wolverhampton bus station

We decided to do this bus and then we could catch a #25 from Wednesfield down to Bilston as the final bus of the day. We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 5405.

Inside NX West Midlands 5405

The bus set off put of the bus station and took the route exactly the same as we had done when we were on National Express West Midlands 4146 earlier in the day. On Tower Street we saw Banga Travel YT51 EBA about to work the #545 to Bilston. We went through town and across the ring road onto Wednesfield Way. After we went under the railway line we passed Arriva Midlands 2703 coming the other way. We turned onto Wolverhampton Road and we went up Wednesfield High Street. This time we decided to get off the bus one stop further up around the corner and opposite to the stop for were the #59 & #69 actually stop at, just in case on of the older buses did turn up. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 5405 as it carried on towards Ashmore Park.

NX West Midlands 5405 in Wednesfield

As we were crossing the road we saw couple of buses approaching. One was a Y reg double decker on the #59 the other was a Plaxton President like we hoped! As it got closer we saw that it was required National Express West Midlands 4032.

NX West Midlands 4032 in Wednesfield

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. We weren't going to be able to go to far on this bus as we had to get back to the High Street for the #25 down to Bilston. We stopped in the high Street to let off a few passengers. As the seat opposite was empty, Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4032.

Inside NX West Midlands 4032

We carried on around the corner and onto Wolverhampton Road before we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4032 as it carried on towards Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 4032 in Wednesfield

Once off the bus we went back towards the high Street. We were able to get a good view of the Guru Nanak Sikh temple which is quite a magnificent building. As we were crossing over the High Street we saw a bus approaching. It was required National Express West Midlands 4148 on the #25 to Pendeford.

NX West Midlands 4148 in Wednesfield

Once at the bus stop, we had less than 20 minutes to wait for the bus back to Bilston. Whilst we waited we saw required Arriva Midlands Solo 2550 for the 3rd time today on the #57.

Arriva Midlands 2550 in Wednesfield

A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required National Express West Midlands 4592.

NX West Midlands 4592 in Wednesfield

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Day ticket to the driver for the final time today. We went upstairs and the bus set off down the High Street. We turned left onto Alfred Squire Road and we went Eastwards. At Ashmore Lake we went South down Fibbersley and down towards Willenhall. We came into town from the West and we turned right onto Bilston Street. We traveled South-Westwards for around a mile and a half and then we turned left onto the A41 and into Bilston. We entered the bus station and we let the bus empty, before Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4592.

Inside NX West Midlands 4592

We got off the bus and Matthew used the toilet in the bus station. Whilst we waited for mum to bring the car around we went around the bus station to take a few more pictures. We saw Banga Travel Solo V252 JRR on the #545 to Wolverhampton.

Banga Travel V252 JRR in Bilston interchange

We also saw National Express West Midlands 817, which was on layover from the #43 West Bromwich service.

NX West Midlands 817 in Bilston interchange

We also saw required National Express West Midlands 4141 which was on a Dudley bound #82 service.

NX West Midlands 4141 in Bilston interchange

Mum turned up in the car and we walked over to her in parked up by the Market on Wood Street. She had of curse brought Greggs Sausage rolls which Matthew washed down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We Set off Eastward along the Black Country Route and we we went forwards onto the A454. We joined the Northbound M6 at junction 10 and we had a relatively quick quiet run up to junction 25 for Stoke. We went North up the A500 to Sideway and then we went Eastwards along the A50 towards Longton where we came off to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. On the front row we saw Z Carz Volkswaggen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

The closest minibus on the front row was Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz taxi minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

We turned the corner into Willow Row to see what was in the compound this evening. In the foreground we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we crossed over the main road to go and get some fuel from the Tesco petrol station. After topping up we got back onto the A50 which we did up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we traveled through Blurton and forwards onto Church Road. We passed First Potteries 53123 on a #23A to hanley and First Potteries 43877 on a #22 to Longton. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:30. For a let tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark