Trip to Lichfield / Burntwood 19-01-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3911	Lichfield BS	Rugeley BS	825	Arriva Midlands
2373	Rugeley BS	Brereton, Coalpit Lane	24	Arriva Midlands
3913	Brereton, Coalpit Lane	Rugeley BS	825	Arriva Midlands
2404	Rugeley BS	Brereton, Thompson Road	24	Arriva Midlands
3909	Brereton, Library	Lichfield BS	825	Arriva Midlands
6753	Lichfield BS	Burntwood, High Street	10A	National Express West Midlands
2375	Burntwood, Victory Avenue	Lichfield BS	61	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Lichfield. With it still being the depths of winter, we decided not to go too far. There were shops mum wanted to visit in Lichfield so we informed Matthew we would be going to Lichfield and he accepted our choice. We did not research for the trip other than to check the weather. According to the BBC site on Friday when checked it would be pouring down with rain all day. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 onto the A5035 and on the adjacent Crowcrofts Road we saw white minibus Y553 XFV. The minibus was adorned with Anthrax and Motorhead imagery. We passed First Potteries 67603 on a #22 to Longton. We continued over the railway line into Trentham and to the end of the road. At Trentham Gardens we turned left onto the Southbound A34 and we ran through Tittensor. We passed First Potteries 65038 on a #101 to Hanley. We passed the former Darlaston Inn and at the next roundabout we saw D&G Bus 173 on a #14 to Hanley. We ran to the West of Stone town centre and at the Southern end we turned left onto the Eastbound A51. Once we left the A34 we didn't see any other buses until we reached Lichfield. We ran through Colwich and we passed to the North of Rugeley before running the last few miles into Lichfield town centre. We ran forwards onto The Friary and we turned left onto Birmingham Road. We stopped at the chip shop and parked at the rear of the shop. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy and whilst we waited for the food to be ready we saw Rotala Diamond 30975 on a #35 to Walsall and National Express West Midlands on the #10A to Walsall. When the food was ready we sat in the car in the car park eating the chips. We did see anything come past on that part of Birmingham Road. When we had finished we Drove onto Birmingham Road and across the traffic lights. We turned into the car park behind the bus station and and that was full. We continued to the multi storey car park and parked in there. We said goodbye to mum and we walked back to the bus station. With the exception of the toilets, all the shops in the bus station area had been shut down. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we had a look around to see what buses we could catch. As Matthew came out of the toilet we saw Midland Classic 35 leaving the bus station on a #822 town service.

Midland Classic 35 in Lichfield bus station

Also seen was Arriva Midlands 3002 on a #765 to Tamworth.

Arriva Midlands 3002 in Lichfield bus station

We had seen a couple of coaches parked up as we drove into the car park, so we went over to investigate. The first coach was Cab Travel tri-axle Mercedes coach BX64 JZU.

Cab Travel BX64 JZU in Lichfield bus station

Behind that was another tri-axle coach. It was Cab Travel Setra bodied coach ME60 CAB.

Cab Travel ME60 CAB in Lichfield bus station

Another bus seen was Midland Classic 61 on a X12 to Sutton coldfield.

Midland Classic 61 in Lichfield bus station

At the West end of the bus station we saw required Arriva Midlands 2731 on layover in between runs to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 2731 in Lichfield bus station

Matthew seemed to show and interest in doing Rotala Diamond 30823 which was on a #35 to Walsall. Just when I though we we're going to be heading South, required Arriva Midlands 3911 appeared on a #825 to Stafford Hospital.

Arriva Midlands 3911 in Lichfield bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to do this bus, so we got on the bus and we brought a Arriva Midland Day Ticket at £6.30. The rear of the bus was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3911 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3911

we set off out of town and onto Beacon Street. We continued onto Stafford Road before joining the Northbound A51. We continued Northward for around a mile before turning right onto the A515. We continued for around 3/4 mile up the A515 before turning left on to the B5014. We went through the village of Handsacre and then into Armitage and nearby the sanitaryware factory. We carried on down the A513 and we joined onto the A51 for a short run before turning right into Brereton. As we descended the hill into Rugeley. We pulled into the bus station and we could see there was another bus on stand. We got off the bus and we headed into to the market. Matthew brought a few taviners mint chews and a jelly snake. We went outside to what buses were around. We saw Arriva Midlands 2404 on a #22 Springfields circular.

Arriva Midlands 2404 in Rugeley bus station

Also seen We saw required Arriva Midlands 2373 on a #24 Brereton circular.

Arriva Midlands 2373 in Rugeley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. At departure time we set off out of the bus station onto Elmore Lane. We turned left on to Horsefair and we ran under the railway line and out of the town centre. A few hundred yards up the road we turned right into Coulthwaite Way. We turned into Setterfield way and continued forwards onto Talbot Road. We turned right onto Birch Lane and ran up the hill. We turned left onto Coalpit Lane and as the bus turned left onto Brereton Road we got up and got off the bus. We decided to wait for the next #825 into Rugeley we we had worked out would be Arriva Midlands 3913. We had a around a 10 minute wait, but it was a really nice shelter, made by a local firm GE Collis of Burntwood. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As expected it was required Arriva Midlands 3913 on a #825 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3913 in Brereton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Brereton Road and we ran the mile or so into the town centre. We went under the railway bridge along Horsefair and we turned right into Elmore Land and into the bus station. Once off the bus went stood at the corner bus stop to wait for the next #825 to Lichfield. As we waited we saw Arriva Midlands 2404 pull onto stand to work the next #24 to Brereton. We worked out we could do this to the top of Brereton and road and catch the following #825. We got on Arriva Midlands 2404 and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. At departure time we set off out of the bus station onto Elmore Lane. We turned left on to Horsefair and we ran under the railway line and out of the town centre. A few hundred yards up the road we turned right into Coulthwaite Way. We turned left onto Setterfield way and continued forwards onto Talbot Road. We turned right onto Birch Lane and ran up the hill. We turned left onto Coalpit Lane and left onto Brereton Road. We turned right onto Lea Hall Lane and the bus turned left on to Lodge Road where we got up and got off the bus. We had around 5 minutes to get back to the main road to catch the next #825, so we quickly walked along lodge Road and right onto Lea Hall Lane. We turned right onto Brereton Road and we walked past the petrol station to the bus stop. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 3909 on a #825 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 3909 in Brereton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up Brereton Road and we turned left onto the A51. We turned right onto the A513 and we ran into Handsacre. We continued into Armitage and we turned right onto the B5014. At the end of the B road we turned right onto the A515. We ran fast to the edge of Lichfield and we joined the Eastbound A51. When we got to the Hedgehog pub we joined Stafford Road / Beacon Street for the run into town. we passed near to the Cathedral and then we headed to the bus station from Saint John Street. When we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. We had a look around on what we could do next as we had time for a quick out and back run. On on of the opposite stands we saw National Express West Midlands 6753 on a #10A to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 6753 in Lichfield bus station

Also seen was Arriva Midlands 3723 which was about to work a #60 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 3723 in Lichfield bus station

Another bus seen in the bus station was Rotala Diamond 30823 which was on layover in between runs on the #35 to Walsall.

Rotala Diamond 30823 in Lichfield bus station

Also on layover was Midland Classic double decker 68.

Midland Classic 68 in Lichfield bus station

Matthew decided we wanted to do the required National Express West Midlands Double decker 6753. We got on the bus and we booked to Burntwood before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 6753 before we sat down.

Inside NX West Midlands 6753

At departure time the bus set off of the bus station onto Birmingham Road and we turned right into St Johns Street. We turned left into The Friary and we crossed the roundabout onto Walsall Road. We ran through Leamonsley and up the bank to Pipe Hill. At the roundabout we veered right onto the A5190. We came into the East of Burntwood and we turned left onto Chase Road. We turned right onto Springhill Road and we re-joined the Westbound A5190. As we approached Sankey's Corner we veered left to follow the A5190 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 6753 as it continued towards Walsall.

NX West Midlands 6753 in Burntwood

We watched the bus depart and then we crossed over the busy A5190. We walked up High Street to the centre of the Sankey's Corner district of Burntwood to find the bus stop we needed to wait at for the return bus to Lichfield. Matthew spotted a cake shop on the way so we so once we had checked the location and time of the bus we headed back to the cake shop. We went into Simple Desserts and Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we sat down and Matthew had a slice of red velvet cake washed down with a glass of summer fruits pop. Once we had finished we went outside and met up with uncle Dave again. We stood at the stop and a few minutes later we saw a dart approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 2375 on a #61 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 2375 in Burntwood

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands day saver ticket to the driver for the last time today. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2375 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2375

The bus waited time for a short while and we set off along Rugeley Road and we turned left onto the A5190. We crossed the roundabout and we continued Eastwards through the centre of Burntwood and out into open country. We ran through Pipe Hill and we crossed the roundabout onto Walsall Road. We continued to the edge of Lichfield and we crossed the roundabout onto Friar Road. We ran into the centre of the town and we followed the road to the right onto St Johns Street. We turned left onto Birmingham Road and we entered the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. The bus station was deserted except for the bus that we had just been on. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2375 before it returned to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 2375 in Lichfield bus station

We walked through the bus station to the multi-storey car park and we met up with mum at the car. She was waiting with Greggs sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We set off out of the bus station onto Birmingham Road and we went through the traffic lights and turned right onto The Friary ant the next roundabout. We crossed the next roundabout and we ran out town along the A51. We ran out of Lichfield and through Longdon. We ran down the hill towards Rugeley and we skirted the town on the by pass near to the power station and Amazon distribution centre. We continued North through Colwich and Great Haywood. At Weston we turned right onto the A518. We ran North Eastwards for around 9 miles and as we cam into Uttoxeter we ran ran alongside the railway. On the opposite side of the road we saw former PSV minibus L546 JFS. We continued Northwards over the A50 up towards Spath and we turned left onto the B5030. At the roundabout we turned right onto the Westbound A50. Travelling on the A50 we passed a numbers of unidentified Hunters coaches, an unidentified Browns Coaches coach and an unidentified Fourway coaches coach, presumably returning towards Leeds after their game against Stoke City. We ran through Meir and Normacot and we came off the A50 at Longton. We went to Z Carz to see was parked up there tonight. The spare ground was empty as it has been for a few months. We saw Lucky Seven SK64 PSU. We turned into Willow Row to see if there was anything in the compound tonight. We saw Z Carz Renault minibus PE10 MJK parked up there.

Z Carz PE10 MJK in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we went Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home just after 19:00. For a late tea bangers and mash with carrots followed by jam filled shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.