Trip to Dudley / Merry Hill 20-07-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
823	Dudley BS	Merry Hill BS	18	NX West Midlands
6934	Merry Hill BS	Halesowen BS	X10	NX West Midlands
30409	Halesowen BS	Blackheath, Station Rd	4H	Rotala Diamond
1854	Blackheath, Barclays Bank	West Bromwich BS	4H	NX West Midlands
4679	West Bromwich BS	Great Barr, opp Scott Arms	5	NX West Midlands
4522	Great Barr, adj Scotts Arms	West Bromwich BS	5	NX West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Dudley. Matthew had independently chosen to go to Dudley in the week so did some research into where we could park and where we could eat. We also checked the weather which was for mainly dry, warm with some heavy showers. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. mum finished work and got back home around 11:00. About 12:00 we set off onto the A5035 and we headed Westwards. When we got to the A34 we went Northwards. We turned left onto Whitmore Road and we ran up to the A519. We turned right at the lights and at the roundabout we turned left onto the M6. We headed Southwards and we we travelled South we saw unidentified Country Lion coach, an unidentified Gee Vee Bova coach, an unidentified New Bharat Coaches coach, Travel de Courcey (NX) MD15, 2 unidentified P&J Ellis coaches, Ambulance coach 'Dedicated To Our Lady', unidentified silver minibus YG17 ???, Gibson executive SD14 YDL, Tyrer's TYR 3R, an unidentified Ridley coach and an unidentified Eclipse Executive Travel. We came off the M6 at junction 10 and we went Westwards along the A463. We passed near to Bilston and we joined the A4123. We headed Southwards through Roseville and we turned right onto the A4037. We should have continued Southwards on the A461, but I was in the wrong position on the roundabout and had to turned left onto the A461. We ran up to Burnt TRee and at the junction aI was able to do a u-turn. We ran back along the A461 and we followed it to the left. We turned right onto Flood Street and right onto the B4171. We turned left onto Porters Field and we parked in a small private car car. Mum sorted out the car parking charge and Matthew stood at the end of the bus station. We saw National Express West Midlands 6966 come off service and head over to a layover bay in between runs on the #87 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6966 in Dudley bus station

Also seen was National Express West Midlands 4981 on a #74 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 4981 in Dudley bus station

Another vehicle seen was Rotala Diamond 30816 on a #229 to Bilston.

Rotala Diamond 30816 in Dudley bus station

We walked through the bus station and we turned the corner onto Castle Street. We saw National Express West Midlands 4308 on a #2A to Merry Hill.

NX West Midlands 4308 in Dudley

We visited Sofie's Cafe and Matthew needed to toilet, so we visited the public toilet across the road. Mum ordered the food and we sat down in a table by the window. Matthew had sausage and chips with a couple of rounds of bread an butter washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we headed back to the bus station. Back in the bus station we saw National Express West Midlands 6103 on layover.

NX West Midlands 6103 in Dudley bus station

Across the road in the main layover bays we saw Rotala Diamond 30961 on layover in between runs on the #229 to Bilston.

Rotala Diamond 30961 in Dudley bus station

We walked across to the main part of the bus station and we spotted National Express West Midlands 823 on a #18 to Merry Hill.

NX West Midlands 823 in Dudley bus station

We got on the bus and we booked nBus day tickets at £4.20 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we travelled along Flood Street and forwards onto King Street. At the Western edge of town we veered left onto the B4177. At the roundabout we crossed over Duncan Edwards Way and we ran into Netherton. We veered left onto the A459 and we ran into Old Hill. At the roundabout we turned right onto the A4100. We ran towards Cradeley Heath and we veered left onto High Street. At the Five Way junction we turned sharp left onto Graingers Lane. We ran forwards onto Congreaves Road and we headed Southwards. At the mini roundabout we turned right onto Overend Road. We ran forwards onto Butchers Lane and we turned right onto Colley Lane. We ran forwards onto the B4174 and we re-joined the Westbound A4100. We turned right onto the A4036 and left onto the Boulevard and we enter Merry Hill bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we headed into the shopping centre. Matthew used the facilities and we headed back into the bus station. Matthew had taken a fancy to doing the X10 service. It was a little warm waiting inside the shelter, it acted like a greenhouse, so we stood in in an open section of the bus station and we saw National Express West Midlands 4327 on a #2 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4327 in Merry Hill bus station

When we saw the bus move off the layover stand Matthew took a picture of National Express West Midlands 6934 on the X10 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6934 in Merry Hill bus station

We walked into the covered part of the bus station and we got on the bus. We flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the bus station onto the Boulevard and we joined the Southbound A4036. We rurned left onto the Eastbound A4100 and we headed towards Cradeley Heath. We stopped at the Cradeley Heath Interchange and after a brief pasue we followed the A4100 to the left. We veered right and we joined Cradeley Heath High Street. We re-joined the Northbound A4100 and we ran up to Old Hill. We turned right onto Halesowen Road and we headed Southwards. We continued for a while and we saw Greenline 408 ABP pass in front of us at a roundabout. We continued Southwards and we crossed over the A458. We ran onto the High Street and we continued onto Queensway and we stopped in the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. We saw National Express West Midlands 6923 on a #9 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6923 in Halesowen bus station

We headed off to the paper shop on Queensway. Matthew had a bottle of Coke and a can of cherryade as well as a couple of chocolate bars, a flapjack and a jelly snake. We headed back towards the bus station and Matthew ate his jelly snake. At the bus station we saw National Express West Midlands 823 on a #19 to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

NX West Midlands 824 in Halesowen bus station

We sat in the bus station for a while and Matthew ate his flapjack and drank his can of Cherryade. When Matthew had finished eating we considered what we should catch next. There was a #4H to Walsall, which was heading in roughly the right direction. We waited on the corner for the bus to appear. A few minutes later we saw Rotala Diamond 30409 on a #4H to Walsall.

Rotala Diamond 30409 in Halesowen bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Queensway and forwards onto the A459. We circled the South end of the town center and we headed North over the A458. We turned right onto the A4099 through Combeswood and we continued into Blackheath. We ran forwards onto Halesowen Street and we turned left onto Bassano Road. Matthew spotted an old bank which he wanted to investigate. We ran forwards onto the High Street and we turned sharp left at the roundabout onto Birmingham Road. We turned right onto the A4100 and left onto the A4034. Matthew still wanted to get off so we rang the bell. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 30409 as it continued towards Walsall.

Rotala Diamond 30409 in Blackheath

Once we let the bus go we walked up the A4034 towards town. We saw National Express West Midlands 1856 on a #4 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1856 in Blackheath

We continued into town and we crossed over the A4100 and onto Oldbury Road. We saw Rotala Diamond 30811 on a #4H to Walsall.

Rotala Diamond 30811 in Blackheath

We walked onto High Street and we found the old bank. Research on Google maps revealed it to a former Britannia building society / Co-operative Bank branch. We spotted a pub next door so Matthew visited the toilet. Afterwards he had a small glass of Coke. After he had finished his drink we met up with uncle Dave and we headed back to the bus stop. We crossed over the High Street and we headed down Short Street. We cut through an alleyway and we spotted National Express West Midlands 1854 on a #4H to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1854 in Blackheath

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Birmingham Road and we turned right onto the A4100. At the next junction we veered left onto the A4034 and we headed Northwards. After a mile or so we crossed over the A4123 and we headed into Oldbury town centre. We ran forwards onto Halesowen Street and we stopped in the town centre. After a brief pause we continued North and we re-joined the A4034. We passed Sandwell & Dudley railway station and we crossed over the canal. We ran the last mile or so into West Bromwich town centre and we veered left onto Price Street. We headed onto West Bromwich Ringway and we entered the bus station from the South Western corner. We got up and got off the bus and we saw National Express West Midlands 4560 on a #79 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 4560 in West Bromwich bus station

Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we had a walk around the bus station to see what we could catch. At the top end of the bus station we saw National Express West Midlands 4679 on a #5 to Solihull.

NX West Midlands 4679 in West Bromwich bus station

We had planned on doing a #40 to Wednesbury. On seeing this double decker in heritage livery Matthew decided he wanted to do that bus. The bus went on layover for a short while and then pulled onto stand.We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. A few minutes later the bus set off out of the bus station. We turned right onto the West Bromwich Ringway and we turned right onto St Michaels Street. We ran forwards onto New Street. At the roundabout we crossed over the A41 an we ran forwards onto the A4031. We ran into Churchfields and the road turned right and over the M5. We continued Eastwards through Newton and we ran for another mile or so to the junction of the A34 in Great Barr where we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus we took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4679 as it continued towards Solihull.

NX West Midlands 4679 in Great Barr

We crossed over the road which was really busy and it took quite a while. As we crossed we saw National Express West Midlands 6724 on a X51 to Cannock. We waited at the bus stop for the next West Bromwich bound bus. We also contacted mum to arrange a pick-up in West Bromwich. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 4522 on a #5 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 4522 in Great Barr

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty we Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4522 before we sat down.

Inside NX West Midlands 4522

We set off along the A4041 and we travelled Westwards through Newton. We crossed over the M5 and the road veered left onto the A4034. We headed Southwards into West Bromwich and we crossed over the A41 onto New Street. We ran forwards onto St Michaels Street and we turned left onto the West Bromwich Ringway. We turned left and we entered the bus station. Once off the bus we took a few bus picture befpore we headed towards the car. We saw National Express West Midlands 4513 on layover in the bus station.

NX West Midlands 4513 in West Bromwich bus station

Another vehicle on layover was National Express West Midlands 4978.

NX West Midlands 4978 in West Bromwich bus station

We walked around the West side of the bus station and we headed onto St Micheals Street. We walked forwards onto New Street and we saw National West Midlands 4254 running out of service towards the bus station.

NX West Midlands 4254 in West Bromwich

We continued along New Street and we cut into the New Square shopping centre car park. A few seconds later we saw mum arrive in the car park. We got in the car and Matthew had a sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park onto New Street and we crossed over the A41 before we joined the Eastbound side. We ran for around 1/2 mile and we joined the Northbound M5. We joined the Northbound M6 and we ran Northwards through the West Midlands into Staffordshire. Travelling back up the M6 we saw Alfa 81, Party bus L900 ???,2 x unidentified white coaches swallow and graphics, Damory coach HF17 AZA, an unidentified The Travellers choice coach, Clarkes coach B19 CTG, Deckerdence HJA 952E, Ratho Coaches YN67 YKZ, Beeline HX17 GWM, Stagecoach Megabus 50290(M11), Stenaford FJ54 MOA, Jansen Travel coach SC15 ZNJ, 2 unidentified P & D York coaches and an unidentified Coach Tours & Travel. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Northbound A500. Seen on A500 was Park's of Hamilton (NX) LSK 814(#548). At Sideway we turned right onto the A50. We ran up to Longton and we came off the A50 to check out what was at Z Carz this evening. The spare ground was empty of buses, as it always is these days so we turned left onto Willow Row. In the compound we saw long term VOR Z Carz Renault minibus YE52 UZX.

Z Carz YE52 UZX in Longton

Also seen in the yard was an unidentified campervan, which we presume is being used as a spare parts donor for other vehicles.

F474 FEA 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 around 19:15. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash followed by a apple battenberg cake. We then chilled out at home and uploaded pictures and did some of the Blog. Matthew chilled out om the computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark.