Bus |
From |
To |
Service |
Operator |
|
4408 |
Tamworth bus interchange |
Sutton Coldfield, Stop SH |
110 |
Arriva Midlands |
1900 |
Sutton Coldfield, Stop SH |
Erdington, Fire Station |
66 |
NX West Midlands |
752 |
Erdington, Fire Station |
Chelmsley Interchange |
96 |
NX West Midlands |
4888 |
Chelmsley Interchange |
Castle Bromwich, Manor Park Road |
94 |
NX West Midlands |
755 |
Castle Bromwich, Manor Park Road |
Erdington, Fire Station |
96 |
NX West Midlands |
E288 |
Eardington, Wilton Road |
Falcon Lodge, Churchill Parade |
X4 |
NX West Midlands |
Today we decided to re-visit Sutton Coldfield. No research was done other than to check the weather, which was for rain clearing up by mid afternoon. Matthew woke up around 08:00 and had his medication. He got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got ready to go out and we left arounbd 11:50. We set off thr Blurton onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We turned right onto City Road so that we could joined the Southbound A500. We joined the Southbound A500 and we ran Southwards through Hanford down to the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and we headed through Staffordshire. As we travelled down the M6 we saw an unidentified Alfa coach, an undentified Nash's coach and Walsall Wedding Lighting LJ57 ???. We came off the M6 at junction 12 and we joined the Eastbound A5. We went for a couple of miles before stopping at the Truckers Rest truck stop. We sat down and mum ordered dinner for us. For dinner Matthew had a full English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Afterwards Matthew went to the toilet. We order cake and custard for Matthew which he took to have later on. In the car park we saw white minibus FJ67 FPF parked up.
|
| FJ67 FPF in Four Crosses |
We set off out of the car park onto the A5 and we headed Eastwards. We ran to the South of Cannock and through Brownhills past the former Rising Sun pub. We Crossed the A38 we ran through the HS2 roadworks. We came off the A5 and we ran Northwards past the retail park onto the A51. We turned right onto Lichfield Street and we headed into the town centre. We turned left onto Aldergate and we turned right into the car park. After parking up we said goodbye to mum and we walked across the car to the bus station. We saw Arriva Midlands 3806 on a #65 to Nuneaton. Matthew had already indicated that he wanted to head into the West Midlands. We looked on stand and we saw it was Arriva Midlands 4408 on a #110 to Birmingham.
|
| Arriva Midlands 4408 in Tamworth bus interchange |
We got on the bus and we booked singles to Sutton Coldfield at £3 each before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the interchange before turning right to head towards Lichfield. Just after the fire station we turned left to go down towards ventura Park. We turned left following the Eastbound A51 before turning right onto the A4091. We crossed under the A5 and then we crossed the canal. At Fazeley we turned right for the run down to Mile Oak. At Mile Oak we turned left onto the A453. We carried on South over the A38 at the Bassetts Pole roundabout and we carried on into town. When we got to Sutton Coldfeld the bus pull into the main thoroughfare were all the buses stop on The Lower Parade. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 4408 before it carried on towards Birmingham.
|
| Arriva Midlands 4408 in Sutton Coldfield |
Matthew headed into town and we stopped at a cake shop. Matthew had a slice of Oreo Cheesecake and a small bottle of Coke. Afterwards Matthew went to the toilet. When we had finished we headed outside and back up the road to the bus stops. We saw a bus parked up between duties. As we got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 1900 on a #66 to Birmingham.
|
| NX West Midlands 1900 in Sutton Coldfield |
We got on the bus and we booked to nBus group ticket at £9.50. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 1900 before we sat down.
|
| Inside NX West Midlands 1900 |
We set off along Lower Parade and we turned left onto South Parade past fromer pub. We turned right onto the A5127 and we ran up to Boldmere. We turned right onto the A453 and we turned right the B4142. We crossed the Boldmere and we turned right onto the A452. We ran through Short Heath and we turned left onto Court Lane and we turned left onto Goosemoor Lane and we re-joined the B4142. We ran around to the B4531 and into Erdington and we continued down through Edwards Road. As we were travelling towards Erdington, I had worked out that we were going to be passing a bus towards Chelmsley Wood. Which has a small bus station and a shopping centre. I thought it would be a good place to take Matthew. We turned right onto Orphanage Road and we got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of National Experss West Midlands 1900 before it carried on towards Birmingham.
|
| NX West Midlands 1900 in Erdington |
We crossed the road and within a few seconds the bus to Chelmsley Wood appeared. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 752 on a #96 to Chelmsley Wood.
|
| NX West Midlands 752 in Erdington |
We got on the bus and we placed flashed the nBus group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off back down Orphanage Road and we turned right onto Holly Lane. We ran forwards onto the A38 and we turned right onto Wood Lane. We turned left onto Wingfoot Way and we crossed a roundabout and then we took the next left into Fort Shopping Centre. We left the bus station area and we crossed turned right onto A47 and through Bromford and we turned right onto the A452. We ran for quite a distance out of town and we crossed over the M6. We continued Eastwards along the B4147 and we ran through Buckland End and we turned right onto Heathland Avenue. We turned left onto Brook Meadow Road and we turned right onto Heath Way and we turned left onto Brownfield Road. We turned left onto Timberley Lane and we turned right onto the B4114. We turned left onto Hurst Lane North and Smith’s Wood. We turned right onto Green Lane and we turned left onto Lanchester Way. We turned right onto Auckland Drive and we turned left onto Kingfisher Way. We went forwards onto Burtons Way and we turned right onto Windward Way and we turned left onto Buckingham Road. We turned left onto the B4114 and we ran through Kingshurst, Bacon’s End and Chelmsley Wood. We re-joined the B5074. We turned right onto the chelmsley interchange and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Experss West Midlands 752 returned to Kingstanding.
|
| NX West Midlands 752 in Chelmsley Interchange |
Also on layover in the bus station was National Express West Midlands 4891.
|
| NX West Midlands 4891 in Chelmsley Interchange |
Once off the bus we headed into the shopping centre. We went into Home Bargains and we bought some drinks and chocolate. We came out and sat outside. Matthew had a can of Dr Pepper and a single Twirl. As we walkd back towards the bus station Matthew stopped at the ice cream van and had an ice cream. He also indicated that he needed the toilet so we went into Subway. I bought a bottle of Coke for later and Matthew used the toilet. We went to the bus stop and we saw National Express West Midlands 1828 on a #71 to Sutton Coldfield.
|
| NX West Midlands 1828 in Chelmsley Interchange |
Another bus came into the bus station which we worked out we could do part way back towards Sutton Coldfield. We saw it was all over Party Rings advertiser National Express West Midlands 4888 which was on layover in between runs on the #94 to Birmingham.
|
| NX West Midlands 4888 in Chelmsley Interchange |
A lady who had seen Matthew waiting for the bus decided to give Matthew a Cabdbury's Caramel Ice Cream. Whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw National Express West Midlands 4932.
|
| NX West Midlands 4932 in Chelmsley Interchange |
When the bus was ready for service we got on the bus and we flashed the nBus ticket to the driver. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4888.
|
| Inside NX West Midlands 4888 |
The top deck was also empty so Matthew took another picture inside National Express West Midlands 4888.
|
| Inside NX West Midlands 4888 |
After a few minutes we set off along Chelmsley Circle and we turned left onto Chelmsley Road. We did a u-turn at the roundabout and we headed Eastwards alonf Chelmsley Road. We turned left onto Moorend Avenue and we headed Northards. At the roundabout we veered left onto the the B4114. We turned right onto Birmingham Road and we turned left onto Auckland Drive. We continued onto Green Lane and we turned left onto Hurst Lane North. We turned right to re-join the B4114 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4888 as it continued towards Birmingham.
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| NX West Midlands 4888 in Castle Bromwich |
Once off the bus we only had a couple of minutes to wait for the bus to Erdington. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 755 on a #96 to Kingstanding.
|
| NX West Midlands 755 in Castle Bromwich |
We got on the bus and we placed flashed the nBus group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off the B4114 and we turned left onto Timberley Lane. We turned right onto Brownfield Road and right onto Heath Way. We turned left onto Brook Meadow Road and right onto Buckland End. We crossed over the roundabout Heathland Avenue and e re-joined the Westbound B4114. We ran forwards onto the B4147 and we joined the Northbound A452. We went under the M6 and over the railway line and we turned left onto the A47. We ran past the former Fort Dunlop which has been converted into a Travelodge. We crossed the roundabout onto the Fort retail park and we stopped at the bus stop after the bus driver persuaded the cars that were parked in the bus stop to leave! We left the reatila park and we turned left onto Wingfoot Way. We turned right onto Wood Lane and left onto Holly Lane. We turned right onto the A38 and left onto Kingsbury Road. We turned right onto Holly Lane and we headed Northwards. We ran to the roundabout and we turned left onto Orphanage Road. We ran into Erdington and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 755 before it continued to Kingstanding.
|
| NX West Midlands 755 in Erdington |
Once off the bus Matthew indicated that he wanted to go to the toilet and then get a drink. We hadn't been in a pub all day so it was bound to happen. We walked forwards onto High Street and we turned right onto Wilton Road. We headed into a pub and Matthew used the toilet. We went to the bat and Matthew had a glass of Coke. We sat down near to the pool table and we soaked in the atmosphere of the pub. When we had finished our drinks we went outside and we met up with uncle Dave. We crossed over Sutton New Road and we waited for a bus Northwards. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands E288 on a X4 to Falcon Lodge.
|
| NX West Midlands E288 in Erdington |
We got on the bus and we placed flashed the nBus group ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus off Northwards up Sutton New Road. We decided to do this to Falcon Lodge and get mum to come and meet us as we knew there was a chip shop near to the bus terminus as we had accidentally found it back in March 2025. We ran Northwards up the A5127 through Wylde Green and Driffold and we headed into Sutton Coldfield. We ran clockwise around the town on the one-way system and we turned right into South Parade. We followed the road onto Lower Parade and we had a brief stop in Surron Coldfield. We continued Northwards and we turned right onto the one-way system and we turned left onto Riland Road. We continued onto Rectory Road and we headed out of town. We turned right onto the B4148 and we turned left onto Reddicap Heath Road. We turned left onto Fairfax Road and we ran forwards onto Falcon Lodge Crescent. We ran aroud the housing estate and we turned right onto Churchill Road. We turned right onto Carhampton Road and we reached the terminus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands E288 before it returned on a X4 to Birmingham.
|
| NX West Midlands E288 in Falcon Lodge |
We walked away from the bus stop and we waited for mum to arrive. We waited for a few minutes and mum appeared in the car. Matthew had sausage and chips washed down with some Cherry Coke. When I had finished eating we set off along Churchill Road and we turned right onto Carhampton Road. We turned right onto Rectory Road and left onto Lindridge Road. We turned right onto the B4148 and right onto the A453. We crossed over the M6 toll and at Bassett's Pole roundabout we turned left onto the Northbound A38. We ran North for a few miles and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto London Road. On the edge of Lichfield we turned left onto the A461 and right onto the A5127. We ran forwards onto the A51 and we ran out of Lichfield. We ran through Longdon and Brereton Cross and we ran to the East of Rugeley. We ran through the roadworks where they are constructing a new link road. We continued out of town through Wolseley Bridge and Great Haywood. We continued through Weston and Sandon and we joind the A34 South of Stone. We ran to the West of Stone and past Darlaston Roundabout and the new petrol station. We continued through Titensor and Trentham and we turned left onto the A5035. We ran over the canal and railway line into Blurton and we got back just after 20:00. Matthew had his medication and bottle of Coke. I took uncle Dave home and Matthew uploaded his pictures to the computer. He also ate the chocolate cake and custard from the Truckers Rest. Later on we did the Blog and Matthew had a ice lolly. We did an e-mail and we went to bed just after 00:00... Mark.
