Trip to Kidderminster / Stourport-on-Severn 11-03-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
20500	Kidderminster BS	Bewdley, Load Street(W Bound)	2	Rotala Diamond
YK05 CBY	Bewdley, Load Street(E Bound)	Kidderminster BS	291	R&B Travel
20607	Kidderminster BS	Stourport-on-Severn, York Street	3	Rotala Diamond
30922	Stourport-on-Severn, High Street	Kidderminster BS	3	Rotala Diamond
30932	Kidderminster BS	Kidderminster, Comberton Hill	192	Rotala Diamond
20716	Kidderminster, Lorne Street	Kidderminster BS	10	Rotala Diamond

Today we decided to re-visit Kidderminster. We checked the weather for today and it was for a mild day with some sunshine and showers moving in from the North around tea time. As we decide to go somewhere South and we had been to the West Midlands a couple of weeks ago, I suggest we start at Kidderminster where we have previously visited or ended up, but we had never started the afternoon there. Research consisted of checking parking on Parkopedia and finding somewhere to eat on Google Maps. We also downloaded the Rotala Diamond Kidderminster bus map onto the phone. Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast and cherries and berries juice. We set off around 11:45 and we went up Finstock Avenue to the post office so that mum could send a couple of parcels. After mum had finished we turned right onto Ripon Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we noticed we were low on diesel. We spotted that the local BP garage was unusually cheap so we stopped there to put some fuel in the car. Whilst there we saw First Potteries 53828 on a #22 to Longton. We carried on along the A5035 and by Trentham Gardens we went North up the A34. At the next junction we turned left onto Whitmore Road. At the end we turned right onto the A519 before joining the Southbound M6. As we travelled South down the M6 we saw Park's of Hamilton (National Express) LSK 808 on a #570, New Adventure Travel YN16 ???, an unidentified Lawmans Coaches coach, An unidentified Barnes coach, Epsom Coaches (National Express) BX65 WDG, Shaw Hadwin (National Express) BX65 WCM on a #333. Stagecoach Megabus 53277 & an unidentified white/yellow/blue Mercedes minibus. At junction 8 of the M6 we veered left to get onto the M5. We travelled down to Junction 3 where we got onto the Westbound A456. As we travelled towards Kiddermister we caught up with Anthony's Travel coach RB16 ANT. We carried on into Kidderminster and we got onto the ring road. We went South for one junction and we turned right into town onto Green Street. We had decided that we were going to park behind the college on New Road and we saw a sign that said new road parking at the lights. We turned right and ended up in Aldi car park! There was another road through to New Road, so after a bit of investigation we carried on to New Road and onto the car park where we had intended to park. As we pulled up I put the handbrake on, and the brake cable snapped! Mum cursed me for breaking her car and I left my foot off the break and we started to roll. I thought we were going to have to move on what seem like a nearly level car park, but it turned out with the car in gear it was enough to keep it stationary... Phew! We walked to the toilet the end of the car park and Matthew used the facilities. We walked along New Road to the cafe on the corner appropriately name The Corner Cafe. In the cafe Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked across Corporation Street and over the river Stour. We walked alongside Tesco car park and up to Kidderminster bus station. When we got there we saw dud Woosh (Worcester County Council) BX61 VLP on it's regular #9 service to Caunsall.

Woosh BX61 VLP in Kidderminster bus station

The basic plan was to go to Bewdley and then do a service to Stourport. We walked around to opposite of the bus station and we found a spot where we could watch and photograph buses out of the way. Whilst we waited for the next #2 we saw required Ex First Worcester now Rotala Diamond 30935 go on layover in the middle of the bus station.

Rotala Diamond 30935 in Kidderminster bus station

Earlier in the day I had checked buses from Bewdley to Stourport, and there appeared to be a bus hourly at 50 minutes past the hour. I reckoned we could do the 14:10 #2 bus to Bewdley and make the Stourport bus with a few minutes to spare. Required Rotala Diamond 20500 came into the bus station around 14:05 and then went out of service and off down Corporation Street. It must have been to the depot and back, as around 14:20 it re-appeared back into the bus station.

Rotala Diamond 20500 in Kidderminster bus station

We got on the bus bus which was quite full, and we purchased Kidderminster Connecta Day tickets at £3.50 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and left onto Exchange Street. We continued round past the the Town Hall and we continued onto Oxford Street where we picked up more passengers. At the roundabout we turned left onto the A456 and then left onto Coventry Street. We stopped outside the Swan Centre and then bus was now full and standing! We followed the road around onto Blackwell Street and then we got back onto the Westbound A456. When we got to the hospital we Veered left onto Blakebrook. We ran through an housing estate along St Johns Avenue and Cantebury Road where we saw required Rotala Diamond 30931 on a #2 to Kidderminster. We turned left onto the B4190 and we turned right onto Timperley Lane we saw Mawley Oak Travel S66 CRF. We went forwards onto Queen's way and we turned right and re-joined the B4190, running into the East end of Bewdley. We went under the railway line and we crossed over the river into the town centre. Once we had crossed the river we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 20500 as it carried on towards Hales Park.

Rotala Diamond 20500 in Bewdley

We headed down to the river and we went under the road and came up on the other side. It was now around 14:52, but we hadn't passed a bus going the other way. We walked to the bus stopped and we checked the bus times... It turned out that there wasn't a 14:50 departure as the 13:50 was the last one, at least for a while. There was a #2 that we should have passed, and then a #291 to Kidderminster. Matthew decided he wanted to visit the toilet so we walked a few yards up to the passage. After Matthew had used the toilet we met back with uncle Dave who hadbeen watching for buses on the main road. Nothing had been past in the last few minutes. Back at the bus stop we saw required Central Buses 256 on a #125 service to Bridgenorth.

Central Buses 256 in Bewdley

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was required R&B Travel Solo YK05 CBY.

R&B Travel YK05 CBY in Bewdley

We got on the bus and we flashed the Kidderminster Connecta Day tickets to the driver. We also wrestled with matthew to prevent him from honking the horn before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Load Street and we crossed over the river Severn. We followed the B4190 around to the right and we went under the railway line and Eastwards out of town. At Catchems End we joined the A456 and we ran past the Safari Park and down the hill into town. We passed G R Mole Mercedes minibus FD53 UNV again like we did last time we came along this way. We passed the hospital and we ran into town onto the A456 ring road. We turned right into Coventry Street and right into Bromsgrove Street. We passed Kidderminster & District Youth Trust where there was a minibus parked up. We continued onto Prospect Hill and forwards onto New Road. We turned right onto Corporation Street and we ran up the hill into the bus station. Matthew didn't get a picture inside this bus as he was too busy trying to honk the horn. Despite our best efforts the two of us couldn't stop him... Whilst we decided where to go next we saw Rotala Diamond 30938 on a #25 to Stourbridge.

Rotala Diamond 30938 in Kidderminster bus station

We checked the timetable for the #3 to Arley Kings via Stourport-on-Severn, and it turned out to be quite a frequent service running every 15 minutes. We decided to wait for the next one of these. A few minutes later a Dart appeared and it was dud Rotala Diamond 20607 on a the #3 to Arley Kings.

Rotala Diamond 20607 in Kidderminster bus station

we decided to do this bus anyway as it was the next bus to a new destination... We had been on this bus on a circle of Droitwich on the #19A service back in November 2016. We got on the bus and we flashed the Kidderminster Connecta Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. Weset off out of the bus station and onto Corporation Street and left onto Exchange Street. We continued round past the the Town Hall and we continued onto Oxford Street. At the roundabout we turned right onto the ring Road and we ran down to the Worcester Road Island. In the centre of the roundabout was the Rotala Diamond Kidderminster depot. With the numbers on the buses being small we weren't able to identify any of the bus as we passed the depot this time. There were quite a few withdrawn Darts with panels missing which relevant to the tale later on... We crossed over the roundabout and we continued South down the A451. We crossed over the Severn Valley Railway And we continued South to an industrial estate. We turned right into Walter nash Road East and we ran around a big loop through a housing estate. We continued on Walter Nash Road West and we re-appeared back on the A451 a few hundred yards down the road. We continued South past a Golf Course and a recycling centre and then we entered Stourport, passing Phillip's minibus VN54 KYX parked up at the side of the road. The town itself straddles the river Stour as it enters the Severn, and as the street are old and narrow most of the town is on a one way system. We turned left onto Gilgal and continued onto Mitton Street into a small square. We rejoined the A451 and we ran along the Stour before we turned right into York Street. We appeared to be in the centre so we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 20607 as it carried on towards Arley Kings.

Rotala Diamond 20607 in Stourport-on-Severn

When we got off the bus we had asked the driver where to catch the return service from. It was just around the corner on the High Street. We decided to walk along York Street to the High Street and we spotted a sign for the toilets, so we had to go there first. We walked down the hill towards the Severn and we turned right into Raven Street. At the end was a large car park and there was a toilet block in the distance. Matthew used the facilities and then we walked back to the High Street. It is quite a popular tourist destinations, and there is a funfair and lots of play facilities for young children. This was Matthew's first visit to Stourport, and it was only my second. I had been back in the 1980's when I stayed in a caravan nearby with a friend. Back on the High Street we went into a newsagents and Matthew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of cherry Coke as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We walked past York Street and to the rather posh ornate metal bus shelter just up the road. We had just missed Rotala Diamond 20607 returning on the #3. There was another bus due at 16:18 which was in less than 10 minutes time. Matthew sat in the bus stop and had a small bottle of Panda Pops Cola. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Rotala Diamond 30922 on the #3 to Kidderminster.

Rotala Diamond 30922 in Stourport-on-Severn

We got on the bus and we flashed the Kidderminster Connecta Day tickets to the driver. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 30922.

Inside Rotala Diamond 30922

We sat down towards the back of the bus and and the bus set off up the High Street. We turned right onto Mitton Street and then left onto the A451. We ran out of town past the recycling centre and golf course and then we turned left into Walter Nash Road West. We ran around the estate and we re-joined the A451 further North. After crossing over the railway line we got to the Worcester Road island and on this pass we were able to see withdrawn Rotala Diamond 30902 parked up in the depot. We turned left onto New Road and we ran past the old carpet mills and into the town centre. We turned left Into Corporation Street and into the bus station. Once we got off the bus we decided to catch something quite quickly. We spotted Rotala Diamond 30932 on a #192 to Halesowen.

Rotala Diamond 30932 in Kidderminster bus station

We decided to do this bus up the hill to the railway station as we wanted to do a quick out and back run. We walked around to the other side of the bus station and whilst we were there we saw required Arriva Midlands 2501 on the #297 service to Bridgenorth.

Arriva Midlands 2501 in Kidderminster bus station

The bus came onto stand and we got on it. After confirming the bus was going past the railway station we flashed the Kidderminster Connecta Day tickets to the driver before we sat down to the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and left onto Exchange Street. We continued round past the the Town Hall and we continued onto Oxford Street where we picked up more passengers. At the roundabout we went straight across onto the A448 and a few hundred yards up the hill we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 30932 as it carried on towards Halesowen.

Rotala Diamond 30932 in Kidderminster

Once of the bus we walked down to the crossing and we crossed over the road. We decoded to got to the railway station so that Matthew could use the toilet. Just as we got into the station we saw a train arrive. Mathew went to the toilet and then we walked onto the platform to take a few pictures of the heritage 5-car DMU set. When then went outside we met up with uncle Dave and we walked back onto the main road to wait for a bus back to the bus station. After around 5 minutes we saw a bus approaching... As it got closer we saw it was required Rotala Diamond 20716.

Rotala Diamond 20716 in Kidderminster

We got on the bus and we flashed the Kidderminster Connecta Day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down to the back of the bus. We set off down the A448 and we ran forwards onto Green Street. We turned right onto Dixon Street and right onto New Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto Corporation Street and we ran into the bus station for the final time today. When we got off the bus Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 20716 before it went onto layover.

Rotala Diamond 20716 in Kidderminster bus station

Mum had moved the car to Tesco, so we sat in the bus station for a few minutes whilst she finished in the shop. We then we saw Rotala Diamond 30534 arrive on the #303 to Worcester.

Rotala Diamond 30534 in Kidderminster bus station

We saw mum driving the car so we went over to her in the car park. After validating the parking ticket we set off out of the car park into Corporation Street. We ran down to New Road and we followed the one way system out of town onto Oxford Street. At the roundabout we turned left onto the ring road and then right at the next roundabout onto the A456. As we left town it started to rain a little. We ran through West Hagley and Hagley. As we passed close to Halesowen we saw National Express West Midlands 6117 on a #9 to Halesowen. We joined the Northbound M5 and we saw an unidentified silver & blue midi coach. We joined the North bound M6 and as we travelled North we saw an unidentified Horseman Coach, an unidentified white Iveco minibus, an unidentified white (with painted over roller blind window) Mercedes minibus and an unidentified Barnes coach. At junction 15 we came off the M6 and went onto the A500. At Sideway we went Eastwards along the A50 and we came off at Longton. We stopped at Tesco petrol station and we filled up with diesel. The forecourt was flat and didn't cause us any problems. Once we had filled up we crossed over the A50 to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. In the front row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus LV52 TZY.

Z Carz LV52 TZY in Longton

Also in the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Another vehicle in the first row was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also in the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus YS09 LWV.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

Closest bus in the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

Closest bus in the second row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound tonight. We saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

Parked on the road outside the depot was another Iveco minibus, Z Carz GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We turned around and we headed back onto the A50. We went Westwards. At Heron Cross we came off the A50 before going onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and right onto Church Road before we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until 00:00... Mark