Trip to Bromsgrove / Droitwich 14-05-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
33405	Bromsgrove BS	Droitwich Spa, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	144A	First Worcester
20574	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	Witton, Opp Woodmans Way	20	Rotala Diamond
20574	Witton, Opp Woodmans Way	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	20	Rotala Diamond
20606	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	Witton, Opp Woodmans Way	20	Rotala Diamond
20606	Witton, Opp Woodmans Way	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	20	Rotala Diamond
108	Droitwich Spa, Adj Victoria Square	Bromsgrove BS	145	iGo
30805	Bromsgrove BS	Kidderminster BS	42	Rotala Diamond
CE52 UWS	Kidderminster BS	Kidderminster, opp Comberton Hill	15	Coniston Coaches
30805	Kidderminster, opp Comberton Hill	Bromsgrove BS	42	Rotala Diamond

Today we decided to re-visit Bromsgrove. We had checked the weather for today and it was for cool and sunny weather with some sunshine. It was supposed to be better to the South and West so we gave Matthew a choice of destination mainly from the Midlands, From the list Matthew chose Bromsgrove. Matthew got up around 10:00 and Matthew had toast and summer fruit juice. We set off through Blurton around 11;30 along Beaconsfield Drive where we saw white minibus NX03 BFP parked out a house. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout left again onto Blurton Road. We stopped at the Post Office so that mum could post some stuff off and we also stop at Blurton Sandwich Bar and Matthew had a single bacon oatcake. We continued to Heron Cross and we turned left onto the A50. At Sideway we went south on the A500. We continued over the roundabout and onto the Southbound M6. Going North there were quite a few coaches. We saw a number of national Express liveried coaches, with one of them being Park's of Hamilton LSK 807. We also saw an unidentified Whittle's coach and Longstaffe's OU14 SWN. The M6 was surprisingly clear and we got down to the M5 in no time. As we traveled down to junction 4 we passed another unidentified Taw & Torridge coach going the other way. We came off the motorway and onto the Southbound A38 As we went past Upper Catshill we saw First Worcester 32067 emerging from the side on a #144 to Birmingham. We crossed the M42 and we turned right into Birmingham Road to run the last mile or so into Bromsgrove town centre. We parked up in front of Asda and we walked to the bus station to use the toilet. The toilet was engaged so we went to check out the buses in the bus station. We saw required Rotala Diamond 30803 on a #43 to Redditch.

Rotala Diamond 30803 in Bromsgrove bus station

Seen for the first time in the new variation of the 'Olympia' colour scheme on a Worcester based bus, was First Worcester Plaxton Centro 66692. on a #144 to Worcester.

First Worcester 66692 in Bromsgrove bus station

we went back to the toilet and it was still engaged, so we went and used the gents toilet instead. After we had used the facilities we walked across the road to the market plaice chip shop cafe. It was quite busy and we had to wait a while for a table. We ordered the food and Matthew had jumbo sausage chips and gravy with a bap washed down with a ca of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. We checked out the Sidemoor circular to see if it was a required bus, and it was dud Euro Liners DK55 NLF.

Euro Liners DK55 NLF in Bromsgrove bus station

Had it been a required one, we would have done that service, but last time we did it we got off at the hospital and we waited for what seemed like ages for a First Worcester bus back into Bromsgrove. At the other end of the bus station was dud Clearway PEZ 3058 on a #99 Charford circular service.

Clearway PEZ 3058 in Bromsgrove bus station

We decided we were going further afield, and the first bus due was a #144A to Worcester. A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching from the North. It was dud First Worcester 33405.

First Worcester 33405 in Bromsgrove bus station

We decided to do this bus anyway, as it was going in a direction we wanted to travel in. We got on the bus and and we booked Worcestershire Connecta day ticket at £7.20 each before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Worcester 33405.

Inside First Worcester 33405

We sat down, and when the bus was due to leave we sat off out of the bus station onto the Southbound A448. As we went back past the bus station we saw First Worcester 33403 come in on the #144 to Worcester. We joined Worcester Road, and as we traveled South we past Commandery coach YN56 FET & Aston Coaches AS03 NNS. We joined the A38 and we ran down to Wychbold. As it was a #144A service, we turned into the garden centre where we saw Leyland Olympian A146 FPG, which is now a non-PSV vehicle operating as a mobile bar for the Sadlers, brewery in Stourbridge. In the car park on the other side of the site we saw 2 coaches, both too far away to identify. One was a Hemmings coach that was just about to leave and the other was a Grayway coach from Wigan. We continued South down the A38 and under the M5 before running into town. We went around town on Salterway and in from the West Side. We went into Ombersley Street East and we pulled up by the group of stop located there, where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Worcester 33405 before it carried on South towards Worcester.

First Worcester 33405 in Droitwich Spa

When we got off the bus we noticed a number of people waiting for a bus. We decided to do one of the circular buses if it turned up quickly before doing anything else. It just so happened that a minute or so later we saw a Rotala Diamond come around the corner. As it got closer we saw that it was required Rotala Diamond 20574 on a #20 town circular service.

Rotala Diamond 20574 in Droitwich Spa

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. As we waited for departure another Rotala Diamond bus pull up behind us. It was required Rotala Diamond 20606 on a #19C service. The bus set off out of town along Victoria Square and St Andrews Road before turning left into Worcester Road. We went forwards onto Queen Street and then left onto Salterway. At the roundabout we turned right onto Ombersley Way and over the railway past the railway station. We turned followed the road left and we turned right onto Briar Mill. We crossed over the A38 and at the next roundabout we went straight onto Westwood Road. We circled around a large but very nice housing estate, and we came to a roundabout and crossed back over the A38. We went straight onto Kidderminster Road and then right onto Salwarpe Road. At the roundabout we rejoined Ombersley Way, crossing over the railway line and we came into the town centre along Ombersley Street East were we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 20574 which was now about to work a #17 town circular service.

Rotala Diamond 20574 in Droitwich Spa

It seemed like a good time to have a break off the bus so we walked down to Victoria Square and we went down an alleyway and across a car park into the St Andrews square shopping centre. Matthew used the disabled toilet and then we stopped at a cash machine to get some money. We walked back to Ombersley Street East and we went into Spar shop where Matthew picked up a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. After we had paid for the goods we went outside to the bus stops and there were a few people waiting once again. A few minutes later required Rotala Diamond 20606 made another appearance, this time on another #20 town circular service.

Rotala Diamond 20606 in Droitwich Spa

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of town again along Victoria Square, St Andrews Road, Worcester Road and Queen Street before turning left into Saltway. We turned right into Ombersley Way and this time we saw LMS Dart KP51 SXY on an inbound #355 to Droitwich. We followed the road around to the left and we turned right onto Briar Mill. We crossed the A38 and we whizzed around the estate along Westwood Road. Having crossed back over the A38 and into town after we passed the railway station we saw an iGo Plaxton Primo parked up on the end of Saltway in a layby. We came back into the town centre on Ombersley Street East and we let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture of the inside of Rotala Diamond 20606.

Inside Rotala Diamond 20606

After we got off the bus we crossed over the road and Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 20606.

Rotala Diamond 20606 in Droitwich Spa

Another bus pulled up in Ombersley Street East, it was required Rotala Diamond 20610.

Rotala Diamond 20610 in Droitwich Spa

It came into town on a #133 from Kidderminster and it left out of service as it was the last trip of the day. We decided to head back to Bromsgrove now, so we walked up to Victoria Square to the Bromsgrove bound bus stop. There was a #144 due at 15:09 with a #145 at 15:15 we we assumed would be the iGo Primo parked on Saltway and almost certainly a required bus. Whilst we waited for our bus we spotted a Worcester bound service being worked by required First Worcester 33404 in heritage Midland Red livery. We crossed the road to get a picture of it as it came down Victoria Square.

First Worcester 33404 in Droitwich Spa

Matthew sat back down and had a small bottle of lemonade and a Milky Way. The #144 appeared and it was dud First Worcester 33405 which we had been on down to Droitwich earlier in the day! We decided to let it go and gamble on the bus around the corner being the bus we were about to catch and a required one too. We saw the bus turned the corner in the distance and it was indeed an iGo Plaxton Primo. As it got closer we saw that it was required iG0 108.

iGo 108 in Droitwich Spa

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver. As the rear of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside iGo 108.

Inside iGo 108

We set off out of town onto St Andrews Road before we turned left onto Worcester road and forwards onto Queen street. We went forwards onto the B4065 and we ran up to the A38. We crossed under the M5 and we ran into wychbold. We turned right into the housing estate and we ran out of town along Chequers Lane. As we turned left onto Stoke Road we passed iGo Solo 2002 on a Droitwich bound #145 service. We went forwards onto Shaw Lane and we ran fast through the countryside over the railway line and back under and into the village of Stoke Prior. We turned left onto hanbury Lane and we ran up to the A38 where we turned right. We ran up to Aston Fields where we turned right into Morrisons. After going around the car park to the bus stop outside the store we came back out and onto the industrial estate. In a compound to the left next to a Kitchen place was an old cream coloured coach. We turned right onto Stoke Road and we ran up to Bromsgrove railway station before turning left into Mew road. We ran up to and across the A38 and we entered the town centre from the East. We followed the road around to the A448 and we turned right going North into the bus station. When we pulled up on stand we got up and go off the bus. Once off the bus we crossed over to the back of the High Street and Matthew took another picture of iGo 108.

iGo 108 in Bromsgrove bus station

Whilst we were at the back of the High Street another bus made an appearance... It was required Rotala Diamond 30805 on a #42 to Kidderminster General Hospital.

Rotala Diamond 30805 in Bromsgrove bus station

We decided to do the Kidderminster bus so we crossed over and got on board. We flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station ans we ran down the A448, following the road to the right. We ran past sanders park and as we got beyond the edge of town ran we ran fast under the M5 and into the countryside. We traveled through the villages of Chaddersley Corbett, Mustow Green and Stone and then we ran into the East end of Kidderminster. We ran down Comberton Road past the railway station and we saw two National Holidays coaches parked outside. At the roundabout we went across onto Green Street ans around the one way system of Dixon Street and New Road. The bus then turned left onto Corporation Street and into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 30805.

Inside Rotala Diamond 30805

Once we got off the bus we worked out we had around 20 minutes before the bus was due to return towards Bromsgrove. We decided to go around the bus station and take a few pictures. In the centre of the bus station was required Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS in between working #15 services.

Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS in Kidderminster bus station

We also saw Rotala Diamond 30302 on a #303 service to Worcester via Ombersley.

Rotala Diamond 30302 in Kidderminster bus station

When we got around to the other side there was someone who told us that they don't allow photography in the bus station, so to be sure we stopped taking pictures and we headed out of the bus station. We crossed the river and we walked along Exchange Street and Matthew decided he wanted to use the toilet. We saw a sign pointing along the pedestrianised area we spotted the toilet block. Matthew used the facilties and we walked back towards corporation Street. In the car park by the College we saw two of their minibuses. We saw LDV minibus R948 DAB and Iveco minibus NX56 HBJ. We walked back towards the bus station and we saw Hollands BG58 XLM on layover from the #9A to Caunsall.

Hollands BG58 XLM in Kidderminster bus station

We walked around to stand 6 which happened to be wear the gentleman who mentioned the photography ban was. It turned out he was there with his carer and was also interested in buses, and he usefully informed us that the #15 went up Comberton Road to the railway station. Whilst we waited for the bus we spotted Arriva Midlands 3320 come into the bus station on a #297 service to Bridgenorth.

Arriva Midlands 3320 in Kidderminster bus station

The #42 came on stand first and it was as we guessed it might be Rotala Diamond 30805. It wasn't due off for another 5 minutes. The gentleman who informed us of the #15 bus was about to get on the Rotala Diamond bus when he spotted that Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS had pulled up along side it and it was due off first. The carer wanted him to do the other bus but the man insisted on going on Coniston Coaches Solo CE52 UWS... A situation I was very familiar with! We got on the bus and we Matthew misbehaved and honked the horn. We sat down towards the back of the bus and as the seats opposite to us were empty Matthew took a picture inside Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS.

Inside Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS

We set off out of the bus station onto Corporation Road and we went left onto new road and right onto Oxford Street. We crossed over the roundabout and we climbed the hill up Comberton Road and we saw the railway station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS before it carried on towards Stourport.

Coniston Coaches CE52 UWS in Kidderminster

Across the road we saw the National Holiday coaches again. The one that we could see was National Holidays NH13 BWH.

National Holidays NH13 BWH in Kidderminster

A few minutes later we saw the Rotala Diamond Plaxton Centro approaching in the distance up the hill. As expected it was Rotala Diamond 30805 on the #42 to Redditch again.

Rotala Diamond 30805 in Kidderminster

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of Kidderminster and when we reached the edge of civilisation we barreled along through the countryside at a rate of knots that the road requires. We went though the village of stone, Mustow Green and Chaddesley Corbett and we ran under the M5 and into the West end of Bromsgrove. We passed Woodstones coach BX12 CVR before running into town. We followed the road around into town and we pulled into the bus station where we got up and then got off the bus. Matthew used the facilities nad before we left we saw dud First Worcester 67664, which was on a #144A to Catshill.

First Worcester 67664 in Bromsgrove bus station

We walked over to the car park and we met up with mum. Matthew tucked into his sausage rolls washed down with a bottle of Irn Bru, and mum sprinted into Asda and brought a box of choc ices and got the parking validated. We set off out of Asda and onto the A448. We went North up Birmingham road and we joined the Northbound A38. We joined the northbound M5 and we passed another Woodstones coach and caught up with white Ford minibus HN14 CYU. We joined th M6 and the traffic was light. Going the other way we passed an unidentified bakers Dolphin coach. North of junction 14 we caught up with a couple of slow moving Solo's going North. They we were Solo's Fairbrother F15 & F18 perhaps going for refurbishment or they have been sold to a new operator? As they were moving slowly at junction 15 we came off and parked on the A5182 to watch then go past. Once they had passed we did a u turned and returned onto the A519 and then right onto the Northbound A500. Near to Clayton we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 229 going south. At Sideway we went east and we passed Merediths 684 DYX. We came off the a50 at Longton and we went to check out what was parked up at Z Carz. On the front row was Z Carz silver minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

Next to the silver minibus was Z Carz minibus PN06 ONM

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Ford minibus NA06 SUO

Z Carz NA06 SUO in Longton

Closest vehicle to the road was Z Carz Renault minibus MV53 KKO.

Z Carz MV53 KKO in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. We saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

We got back onto the high level A50 and we crossed over the A50 onto Baths Road so that we could visit Tesco petrol station to fuel up. After had filled up we got back onto the Westbound A50 which we did up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Road and we got home just after 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers & mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark