Trip to Shrewsbury 11-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2722	Harlescott, opp Tesco	Shrewsbury BS	25	Arriva Midlands
2706	Shrewsbury BS	Bayston Hill, opp Cedar Close Jct	25	Arriva Midlands
2309	Bayston Hill, opp Cedar Close Jct	Shrewsbury BS	25	Arriva Midlands
2310	Shrewsbury BS	Bayston Hill, opp Cedar Close Jct	25	Arriva Midlands
2310	Bayston Hill, opp Cedar Close Jct	Harlescott, opp Tesco	25	Arriva Midlands

After last weeks trip to Stafford, Matthew had indicated to us that he wanted to ride on more buses from the same batch as Arriva Midlands 2307. Matthew found a picture of the inside of 2309 and told us he wanted to go to Shrewsbury! Research consisted of asking on the Staffordshire and Merseyside Yahoo bus group about the likely working of 2309 and the other bus from that batch which Matthew hasn't been on 2310. Somebody answered and told me it would most likely be seen on either services #1,#24 or #25. So as preparation for the trip I printed out the Arriva Shrewsbury map and all the relevant timetables for the trip. We set off around 12:20 today. It was a cold day and the sun was trying to come out, but the temperature was around freezing. We stopped at Jim's butty bar on the A53 just South of the Muller roundabout. We all tucked into Bacon or sausage sandwiches which were very nice. I realised at this point I had come out in my Stoke City coat! I don't usually travel outside of Stoke with my coat just in case someone takes offence. After one last push on, we had no tractors on the road in front of us so we parked up at Harlescott around 13:40. We used the facilities at the park and ride stop, before walking down to the other stop which is the Northern terminus of the #24 & #25 routes. A Required Arriva Midlands 2722 was already parked up nearby, and by the time we walked down to the stop it pulled up and Matthew got a picture.

Arriva Midlands 2722 at Harlescott

As the bus headed South, we picked up more passengers on the way. We passed 2706 near the Arriva garage, and then we caught a bit of a break. As we approached the town centre, we passed target 2309 heading North on a #25. This means that if we got off at Shrewsbury, the bus would be approximately 30 minutes behind us. We also saw a route branded Dart turning right which could be 2310 turning right into Castle Street , but we did not know if this was 2310 or what service it was working. As we got off in Shrewsbury the bus had emptied out so Matthew could get a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 2722

At this point we knew that all we had to do was wait, and we should get 2309 with a bit of luck. Whilst we were waiting we could take a few bus pictures. Arriva Midlands 2367 came in, a dart on which Matthew has ridden on before out of Oswestry, albeit in a different Livery.

Arriva Midlands 2367 in Shrewsbury bus station

We also saw Tanat 290 for the first time. Last time we were here that majority of the services were being worked by Leyland Lynx's.

Tanat Valley 290 in Shrewsbury bus station

It was getting very cold so we decided to break up the wait by taking a #25 South. The next one that came in was of course required Arriva Midlands 2706. We got on the bus and we headed South. The bus picked up more passengers before we headed down Wyle Cop and over the English Bridge. just passed the pumphouse we passed a branded Dart, but we didn't get a good look at it. Further South near Meole Brace we passed another ex Park and Ride bus 2703. As we headed towards Bayston Hill, Matthew was able to get a picture of the back of the bus as it emptied out.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2706

We got off and Matthew was able to get a picture of 2706.

2706 in Bayston Hill

A few minutes after we got off we heard a bus coming. It was 2706 again. Apparently the bus does a circle of the estate and passes the same stop twice! Within a few minutes, as we predicted and hoped required 2309 appeared and Matthew got a picture.

Arriva Midlands 2309 in Bayston Hill

We got on and booked back into town. In jest the driver said he wasn't sure if he should let us on the bus with me being a Stoke City fan. So target acquired, we headed North on the bus to Shrewsbury. I had wondered if the bus we had seen just after 14:00 in Shrewsbury had been 2310 and it was on a #1, when would it return to the bus station. I calculated that if this was true that it would probably arrive in the bus station about 20 minutes after we arrived on 2309. We arrived in the bus station and the bus had emptied out, so Matthew was able to get a picture of it empty.

Inside 2309

After getting off we walked around the outside of the bus station and then prepared to wait for 2310. As we got to where we were going to wait, 2310 appeared in the bus station and it was on a #25 to Bayston Hill!

Arriva Midlands 2310 in Shrewsbury bus station

After getting a picture, we raced around to Stand E to board the bus. This was a resulting getting both of these buses on he same trip! We then headed south as we had done on 2706. It all made sense at this point. The bus we passed as we arrived in Shrewsbury was 2310 and it was on a Southbound #25. We had also passed it at the Pumphouse when we were on 2706. As we headed South we thought about what to do for the rest of the afternoon. If we did this to Bayston Hill and back to Harlescott it would be near 17:00 by the time we got back into the car. I decided to take a risk and get off at the stop we did before. If 2310 did the same as 2706 did, we could get off, get a picture and get back on the bus to head home. we got off at that stop as planned and Matthew got his picture of 2310.

2310 in Bayston Hill

Sure enough as before, a couple of minutes later 2310 reappeared and much to amusement of the driver we got back on. The bus filled up and then emptied in the town centre. It filled up again at the bus station and mum got on after I arranged with her where to be and at what time to be there. At the Harlescott terminus the bus was empty again and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this fine bus.

Inside 2310

We then got off and matthew got one last picture of "Boy Barrett" 3210.

2310 in Harlescott

We then had a quick toilet stop before we st off North. I caught the last couple of minute of the disappointing 2-1 loss to Fulham. We stopped in Shawbury to have fish and peas (not pickled eggs as it said on the receipt). filling up with LPG at Longport, we arrived home around 18:20. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who gave me information about these buses which made the trip go so smoothly :-) ...Mark