Trip to Bromsgrove / Droitwich Spa 19-11-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
66697	Bromsgrove BS	Sidemoor, Broad Street (NW bound)	144	First Worcester
67657	Sidemoor, opp Sainsbury's Local Store	Catshill, opp Chadsgrove School	144A	First Worcester
67656	Catshill, adj Chadsgrove School	Sidemoor, Broad Street (SE bound)	144	First Worcester
47516	Sidemoor, Broad Street (SE bound)	Bromsgrove BS	144	First Worcester
32066	Bromsgrove BS	Droitwich Spa, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	144A	First Worcester
20104	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	Droitwich, adj Chalverton Court	18	Rotala Diamond
20104	Droitwich, adj Chalverton Court	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	18	Rotala Diamond
20607	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	Primsland, adj Tagwell Heights	19A	Rotala Diamond
20607	Primsland, adj Tagwell Heights	Droitwich, Ombersley Street East (Stop 3)	19A	Rotala Diamond
KX08 HMC	Droitwich Spa, Adj Victoria Square	Bromsgrove BS	145	iGo

Today we decided to re-visit Bromsgrove. We had checked the weather for today and it was for dry weather with some sunshine. We gave Matthew a list of place to visit in the Midlands and North West and from the list he chose Bromsgrove. Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 on to the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. I realised that we were going the wrong direction at this point becasue we are that used to going North! We passed D&G 174 on a #14 to Stafford. We joined the Westbound A50 and then we turned left to go South on the A500. As we went South we passed Kings Ferry coach YN15 DKL and Solus Coaches YS16 LNC which was in the Northbound layby. We joined the Southbound M6 and we made good progress. As we travelled South we saw Kingswinford Coachways JRZ 1844, The Travellers Choice PO15 KTL, Parks of Hamilton (National Express) LSK 808, Keele SU PN57 UZO and Eavesway YJ14 BYF. We joined the Southbound M5 and as we travelled down to junction 4 we saw an unidentified white coach and white minibus FD13 UPG. We joined the A38 and we ran into town over the M42. Just North of town we turned right onto Birmingham Road and we ran the last mile or so into the town centre. We parked up at Asda and we crossed over to the A448 where we saw First Worcester 32066 on a #144 to Birmingham and Rotala Diamond 30802 on a #43 to Redditch.

Rotala Diamond 30802 in Bromsgrove bus station

We crossed the road and mum went to order the food and Matthew went to the toilet. One of us should have gone with mum as we lost the last indoor table to a couple who a fritter between them! By the time we got to mum in the Market Plaice having lost the table she wasn't very happy with us :( Matthew had sausage chips and gravy with a bap washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw First Worcester 33043 on a #144 to Birmingham and Euroliners DX55 NLG on the #97 service. Once we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. In the bus station was Rotala Diamond Solo 20840 on a #202 to Halesowen.

Rotala Diamond 20840 in Bromsgrove bus station

Also in the bus station was required Rotala Diamond 30803 on a #42 to Redditch. Earlier we had seen required Euroliners DX55 NLG on a #97 Sidemoor circular service. It was 30 minutes before it was due to go again so we decided to go for a short run whilst we waited. Next arrival in the bus station was First Worcester 66697 on a #144 to Birmingham.

First Worcester 66697 in Bromsgrove bus station

We decided to do this bus so we waited in the queue to board it. we got on and we booked Worcestershire Connecta tickets at £7.20. We st down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station. We went North up the A448 and we turned left onto Stourbridge Road. We travelled North up the Road and when we past the hospital we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Worcester 66697 before it carried on towards Birmingham.

First Worcester 66697 in Sidemoor

Once of the bus we crossed over Stourbridge Road to the stop on the opposite side. The timetable on the bus stopped revealed that only the #144 stopped here and it was only every 30 minutes. The #144A no longer stopped at this stop! We look at the the road opposite and there was a bus stop on there too. A quick look ot the traveline site revealed that the #144A went around that corner, and there was one due 7 minutes before the #144. We also noted that the #97 stopped there too. So we crossed back over Stourbridge Road and down Broad Street. We walked past the bus stop at first. The stop which was clearly visible from Stourbridge Road was invisible when you stood next to it as it was inside a hedge! A few minutes latter we saw a #144A approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Worcester 67657.

First Worcester 67657 in Sidemoor

One thing I didn't do was check where the bus was going to... We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus went up Broad Street and to my surprise turned left onto Stourbridge Road. Uncle Dave said 'you do know this is a Catshill bus?' to which I replied 'No. I thought we were going back to Bromsgrove!'. We continued North to the roundabout and we went under the M42. We continued North to Catshill and we turned right onto Meadow Road. We still had passed the #144 so we decided to get up and get off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of First Worcester 67657 as it continued around Catshill.

First Worcester 67657 in Catshill

We crossed the road and we stood at the bus stop opposite to where we had got off. Next to the bus stop was a school with numerous minibuses parked up. Some of the minibuses observed included VX05 PZJ, ???? MBF, VU59 LZP and VU11 SZC. A couple of minutes later we saw another Enviro300 approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Worcester 67656.

First Worcester 67656 in Catshill

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver before we sat down near the front of this well filled bus. The last time we had this bus was from Droitwich to Bromsgrove back in April 2015. It was running a few minutes late so we decided to go back to the stop where we were to intercept the minibus on the #97. We ran down Meadow Road and we turned left onto Stourbridge Road. We ran down under the M42 and over the roundabout, and a further 1/2 a mile or so to the junction of Broad Street. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Worcester 67656 as it carried on towards Worcester.

First Worcester 67656 in Sidemoor

We crossed the road and we walked down Broad Street. Once again we walked past the bus stop in the hedge and we turned and walk back up the road. A few minutes later we saw First Worcester 67657 on the opposite side of the road heading into Bromsgrove the long way. The driver looked over to see us at the same stop as they had picked us up around 20 minutes earlier! At approximately 14:04 we saw Euroliners DX55 NLG in the distance... It emerged from King Edward Road and instead of turning left towards us it went right and disappeared down the road. After a while it dawned on us that it probably wasn't coming back up, so we needed an alternate plan. The was a #144 on Stourbridge Road at 14:16, so we quickly walked back up Broad Street and back to the stop where we had gotten off First Worcester 67656 around 15 minutes earlier. Whilst we waited we saw First Worcester 66691 going around the corner on a #144A to Catshill. A few minutes alter and we saw a First Worcester Streetlite approaching... As we have never been on one of these down here it was likely to be a required bus. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Worcester 47516...

First Worcester 47516 in Sidemoor

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down Stourbridge Road on the short journey into town and we turned right onto the A448. We ran past the bus station and we came into it form the Southern end before we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Worcester 47516 before it carried on back towards Worcester.

First Worcester 47516 in Bromsgrove bus station

We also saw First Worcester 66691 which had returned from Catshill on a #144A to Worcester.

First Worcester 66691 in Bromsgrove bus station

We decided that we would go in a differenr t direction now that we had missed the Euroliners minibus for today. We decided to go up to the top end of the bus station to look at he departures monitor. There wasn't much going in a different direction until around 14:50. There was a group of services that included a #42 to Kidderminster, a #144 towards Worcester and a #43 to Redditch. Matthew went to the toilet, and whilst he was there we saw required Rotala Diamond 30803 on a #43 to the hospital which would come back as the Redditch service later. WhenMatthew came out of the toilet we saw required First Worcester 66698 on a #144A to Catshill.

First Worcester 66698 in Bromsgrove bus station

A few minutes later we were surprised by the return of First Worcester 32066 on the #144 to Worcester, so we decided that we were going to Droitwich Spa!

First Worcester 32066 in Bromsgrove bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. As the top deck of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Worcester 32066 before we sat down.

Inside First Worcester 32066

We set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto the A448. We turned left onto Hanover Street and we continued onto Worcester Road. We passed the Bromsgrove schools where there were a collection of coaches including an unidentified Mikro coach. We continued South for a couple of miles and we joined the Southbound A38. Further South we passed Webbs of Wychbold and we passed through the village. Just South of Wychbold at the Holiday Inn Express we saw a white coach with a red, light green and dark green swoop on the side. We crossed under the M5 and we continued down the A38 as far as the B4065 where we turned left. We crossed under the railway and before we turned onto the Saltway we were passed by First Worcester Streetlite 63366 on a #144 to Birmingham. We turned left onto saltway and we ran around the town centre before coming back in the other end along Ombersley Street East. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Worcester 32066 before it carried on towards Worcester.

First Worcester 32066 in Droitwich Spa

We just missed Rotala Diamond 20607 on one of the town circular services, so we decided to visit the shop opposite. Matthew had a couple of cans of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars and we went outside to see if there was anything we could do, There was a local service due around 15:23 so we decided to do that. A few minutes later it turned up and it was required Rotala Diamond 20104 on a #18 to Chalverton Court.

Rotala Diamond 20104 in Droitwich Spa

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the road onto Victoria square and forwards onto St Andrews Road. We turned left onto Worcester Road and then left onto Saltway. We ran around town and we turned right onto Ombersley Way and we past the railway station. We followed the road to the left at the roundabout and we ran south for around 3/4 of a mile. and we turned into a small estate which appeared to be sheltered housing for the elderly. Once we had turned around in Chalverton Court we returned up Ombersley Way and back into town. We crossed the Saltway and we stopped in Ombersley Street East where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of the bus briefly displaying #30 solihull, before it was corrected to #20 Westlands circular.

Rotala Diamond 20104 in Droitwich Spa

Almost immediately we saw Rotala Diamond 20607 on a #19A town circular service.

Rotala Diamond 20607 in Droitwich Spa

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. In the distance we could see another fushia fronted First Worcerster Streelite on a #144 to Birmingham. We followed the bus out of town but we weren't able to catch up with it. We turned left onto the Saltway and we ran around town before turning right onto Ombersley Way and we past the railway station. We followed the road to the left at the roundabout and we ran around town back over the A38 and to the east into Copcut. We ran South close to the M5 and the bus turned around on the roundabout by Falcon Close before going Northwards back towards town. As we got close to town we passed Rotala Diamond 20104 on a #19C circular service. We joined the Saltway at it's Southernmost end and we ran up to the town before we turned right into Ombersley Street East where we got up and got off the bus. The bus emptied out and Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 20607

Inside Rotala Diamond 20607

Once off the bus we decided to have a little break away from the buses. We walked through town to the shopping centre and we used the toilet before we walked back into town. We checked the timetable, and there wasn't a bus for a while, so we stopped on the bench and Matthew had a Curly Wurly that we had brought at the shop earlier. We checked the timetable to see what was due. There was a First Worcester #144 to Bromsgrove at 16:24 and at 16:30 there was an iGo #145 service to Longbridge. It was starting to get dark now... The first bus turned up and it was the iGo #145 service. As it got closer we saw that it was required iGo Primo KX08 HMC, a former Scraggs Blue Buses vehicle.

iGo KX08 HMC in Droitwich Spa

We got on the bus and we flashed the Worcestershire Connecta tickets to the driver for the final time today. The bus was empty at this poing, so Matthew took a picture inside iGo KX08 HMC.

Inside iGo KX08 HMC

We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along the road onto Victoria Square and forwards onto St Andrews Road. We turned left onto Queen Street and we crossed over the cross roads onto Bromsgrove Road. We ran out of town ans we joined onto the Northbound A38. Having crossed under the M5 we ran into Wychbold and we turned right into Chequers lane. We turned left onto Stoke Road and 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 we saw an unidentified coach on the adjacent A38. We turned into the industrial estate and in a compound to the left next to a Kitchen place was a coach. We turned right onto Stoke Road and we ran up to Bromsgrove railway station. Since our last visit the railway station has been re-built and we drove right up to the entrance where we saw Johnson's YT09 FLP on rail replace work. We ran back onto Mew road and 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 Matthew took another picture of iGo KX08 HMC.

iGo KX08 HMC in Bromsgrove bus station

On the A448 outside the bus station we saw an unidentified Ashwood Coaches coach and an unidentified Angel Executive Travel coach. We crossed the road and we met up with mum on the way to the car. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll washed down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of town up the A448 and forwards onto Birmingham Road. We joined onto the A38 and we ran up to the M5 motorway. As we got onto the motorway we followed South Gloucestershire (National Express) BN64 FKP which was on a #330 service to Nottingham. We also saw and an unidentified white Mercedes minibus. We joined the M6 and we continued North through the dark night. We didn't see anything as such and we made good time up to the junction of the A500. Once of the M6 we ran North to Sideway. As we waited at the roundabout to join the A50 we saw 3 coaches... We saw a maroon double decker coach (ex Megabus?), Steve Aiken V89 KAX and silver double decker coach. We went East along the A50 to Longton and we came off it to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. In the first row we saw Z Carz Citroen minibus LV59 DZC.

Z Carz LV59 DZC in Longton

Next to the Citroen was Z Carz minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

Also in the first row was Z Carz silver LDV minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

Also in the first row was another Citroen, Z Carz minibus LV10 OTM.

Z Carz LV10 OTM in Longton

Closest bus in the first row was Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

In the second row was Z carz Airport Division minibus MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound this evening. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We continued forwards past the old Sommerfield store and we joined Spring Garden Road. We turned right at the end and at the roundabout we did a u-turn and went back down along the A5035. We ran through Dresden into Blurton and we got home around 18:45. For a late tea Matthew had bangers & mash with carrots followed by a millionaires shortbread. The rest of us had the pie that Mathew had made the day before.... Matthew tried the pastry but wasn't to keen on the mince beef and vegetable filling. It was a really nice pie though... :) Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark