Trip to Bilston / Wolverhampton 13-10-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
20745	Bilston Interchange	Dudley BS	223	Rotala Diamond
6761	Dudley BS	Wolverhampton BS	X7	NX West Midlands
YJ67 FYN	Wolverhampton BS	Wednesfield, Church Street	57	iGo
2107	Wednesfield, Church Street	Wolverhampton BS	50	iGo
4335	Wolverhampton BS	The Scotlands, Leason Lane	11	NX West Midlands
4358	The Scotlands, Leason Lane	Wolverhapmton BS	11	NX West Midlands
4366	Wolverhampton BS	Bilston, War Memorial (Stop BB)	79	NX West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Bilston. The weather had been awful for the last couple of days and although it was set to improve the weather was moving in from the South. We gave Matthew a choice of destination in the Midlands and from the list Matthew chose Bilston. Other than checking the weather and AA Roadwatch, we did no research. Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 onto the A5035 and we saw former party Bus L102 GBO parked up by the industrial estate. We ran over the railway line to Trentham and at the roundabout we went Northwards onto the A34. We turned left onto Whitmore Road and we followed Bulgarian minibus Y 3097 HA. We got onto the Northbound A519 and we turned left onto the Southbound M6. As we travelled Southwards we saw an unidentified Ashcroft's Travel coach, preserved Crosville 103. Bennetts VX63 YHB, an unidentified Don's of ??? coach, Silverline (Landflight) YT12 RKZ, grey minibus DG60 FZO, an unidentified maroon double decker Van Hool coach with trailer & white minibus DY68 AOA. After Stafford services and just before we got to junction 14 traffic came to a standstill. The road had been closed temporarily to recover an overturned vehicle. This added around 15 minutes to our journey. We got going again and we made good time to junction 10. We came off the M6 at junction 10 and we went Westwards on the Black Country route. We ran West for a few miles and as we approached the Bilston turning we passed RH Travel VU13 EES. We turned right onto the A41 and left onto Church Street. We turned right onto Walsall Street and we crossed back over the tramline before we parked up in Walsall Street car park. We walked back down Walsall Street and we walked through Stafford Street to the interchange. As we got to the interchange we saw National Express West Midlands 1846 on a #34 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1846 in Bilston interchange

Behind the National Express single decker was Thandi ex Stagecoach Dart NK56 EPL on a #334 to Walsall.

Thandi NK56 EPL in Bilston interchange

We also saw National Express West Midlands 4363 on a #82 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4363 in Bilston interchange

We went to use the toilet in the interchange but it was engaged, so we crossed over to the outdoor market site and Matthew used a toilet there. We crossed back over the the interchange and met up with mum again. For dinner Mathew had an all day breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we went back to the counter and brought a small bottle of Cola. We said goodbye to mum and we walked around the bus station to find something we could catch. On layover was required Rotala Diamond Solo 20745 in between runs on the #223 to Dudley.

Rotala Diamond 20745 in Bilston interchange

We decided to do the required Rotala Solo, so we walked down to the bottom stand to catch the bus. We got on the bus and we brought nBus day tickets at £4.30 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the interchange and we ran forwards onto Hall Street. We turned right onto the A41 and right onto the Black Country Route. We ran fast for around a mile and we turned right onto Overfield Drive. We did a u-turn at the roundabout and we stopped outside the pub. We re-joined the Black Country Route and at the end we turned right onto the A4123. We turned left onto Rookery Road and at the end we turned right onto Woodcross Lane We turned right onto Pugh Road and left onto Mount Road. We turned left onto Dovedale Road and onto Woodcross Street. We joined walthan Avenue and right onto Robert Wynd. We turned left onto Hall Lane and right onto Gorge Road. We ran forwards onto Bilston Road and we turned left onto Sedgley High Street. We ran Southwards onto Dudley Road and we turned right onto Modern Hill. We turned left onto Vale Street and we ran down the hill into Lower Gornall. We ran forwards onto Ruiton Street and forwards again onto Temple Street. We continued onto Zoar street and left onto Bull Street. We turned left onto Himley Road and and we turned left into Central Drive. At the end we turned left onto Grosvenor Road. We turned right onto Corncrake Road and right onto Milking Bank. At the roundabout we turned left onto Himley Road. At the roundabout we turned left onto the B4176. When we got to the edge of Dudley we turned left onto Priory Street and left onto Prior Road. We turned left onto Ednam Road and right onto the Broadway. We turned right into Castle Street and left into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet and then we had a wander around to take a few bus pictures. We saw National Express West Midlands 5419 on layover in between runs on the #1 to Tattershall.

NX West Midlands 5419 in Dudley bus station

We carried on around the bus station to the main layover area. We saw Rotala Diamond 30888 on layover before working a #226 to Merry Hill.

Rotala Diamond 30888 in Dudley bus station

Aslo we saw National Express West Midlands 4431 on a #126 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 4431 in Dudley bus station

We walked to the other half of the bus station and we decided to catch something vaguely back towards Bilston after such a long run. We saw required National Express West Midlands 6761 on a X7 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 6761 in Dudley bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 6761.

Inside NX West Midlands 6761

The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto Castle Street. We turned left onto The Broadway and left onto Ednam Road. We turned right onto Priory Road and we ran Northwards out of Dudley until we reached the A4123. As we travlled Northwards up the A4123 we saw Merry Hill Private Hire SN10 ANU and an ex Westbus coach YJ12 CKK. We ran to the edge of Wolverhampton and we went around a one way system past the Travel Express bus garage. We ran forwards onto Snow Hill and we turned right onto St Georges tram stop and the police station. We ran onto the roundabout and we turned left and joined the bus lane and into the bus station. We saw National Express West Midlands 4160 on the #11 to Underhill. Once we got off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. When Matthew had finished we looked for a bus we could catch. We spotted required iGo YJ67 FYN on a #57 to Bilston.

iGo YJ67 FYN in Wolverhampton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the the nBus day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out bus station on to the ring road and we turned right onto Wednesfield Road. We ran out of town and we past the church. We turned left onto Tudor Road and left onto Longford Road. We turned right onto Valley Road and we ran to the end before turning right onto Shawbury Road. We turned left onto Bushbury Road and right onto Thorneycroft Lane. We continued onto Prestwood Road and right onto Victoria Road. We turned left onto Graiseley Lane and we ran forwards onto Wednesfield High Street. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of iGo YJ67 FYN before it continued to Bilston.

iGo YJ67 FYN in Wednesfield

We crossed over the road and we visited the newsagents. Matthew brought a bottle of coke and e chocolate bar as well as a few jelly sweets. We went outside and Matthew ate the sweets. We saw National Express West Midlands 4155 on a #89 to Wolverhampton. When Matthew had finished eating we spotted required iGo 2107 on a #50 to Wolverhampton.

iGo 2107 in Wednesfield

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto High Street. We continued onto Lichfield Street and at the roundabout we followed Lichfield Street to the right. We turned lef onto Hyde Road and we turned right onto Moat House Lane East. We turned left onto Olinthus Avenue and left onto Linthouse Lane. We continued onto Lower Presthouse Road. We turned right onto D'eyncourt Road. We turned left onto Cannock Road and we ran in towards the town centre. We turned left onto Hilton Street and we ran forwards onto Culwell Street. We joined Wednesfield Road and we crossed over the ring road and we ran into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we had a look around to see what we could catch. We saw Arriva Midlands 2972 on a #9 to Bridgenorth.

Arriva Midlands 2972 in Wolverhampton bus station

We decided to do required National Express West Midlands 4335 on a #11 to Underhill.

NX West Midlands 4335 in Wolverhampton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4335.

Inside NX West Midlands 4335

We went upstairs and the rear of the top deck was empty too. Matthew took another picture inside National Express West Midlands 4335.

Inside NX West Midlands 4335

The bus went out of town North, passing nearby to the railway station. We turned left onto Broad Street right onto Stafford Street. As we joined Cannock Road we saw an unidentified Alfa coach, an unidentified Marshall's of Sutton tri-axle coach parked up in a car park near to the ring road. We crossed under the railway line and headed up Cannock Road. We ran Northwards for around a mile and a 1/2 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4335 before it continued Northwards to Underhill.

NX West Midlands 4335 in The Scotlands

As we headed towards the crossing we saw Arriva Midlands 3741 on a #70 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 3741 in The Scotlands

We crossed over the road and we waited for a bus towards Wolverhampton. A few minutes later we saw a National Express West Midlands 4358 on a #11 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 4358 in The Scotlands

The bus set off down Cannock Road and we crossed under both railway lines. We passed nearby to the railway line and we ran forwards onto Stafford Street. We turned left onto Broad Street and we turned left onto a special bus lane that runs alongside the inside of the ring road contraflow to the traffic. We then emerged from the cutting at the entrance of the bus station. We got up and Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4358.

Inside NX West Midlands 4358

Once we got off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. We came out of the toilet and we saw Travel De Courcey MD25 on a #210 service to Gatwick Airport.

Travel De Courcey MD25 in Wolverhampton bus station

A short while later we saw Arriva Midlands 3691 running out of service.

Arriva Midlands 3691 in Wolverhampton bus station

Across the way we saw required National Express West Midlands 4366 on a #79 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 4366 in Wolverhampton bus station

We got on and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. We set off out of the bus station and onto Pipers Row. We ran onto the A41 and we ran South Eastwards for a mile or so. Before the road and the tram line separated we saw an old petrol station on the left into Bilston town centre. When we got to the stop by the war memorial we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 4366 before it continued south to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 4366 in Bilston

We walked back along Hall Street to the interchange where we saw Banga Travel YF02 SKO.

Banga Travel YF02 SKO in Bilston

We walked around the other side of the interchange and we saw National Express West Midlands 1881 on a #34 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1881 in Bilston interchange

A few minutes later we saw National Express West Midlands 855 on a #39 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 855 in Bilston interchange

A short time later we saw Rotala Diamond 21018 on a #23 to Wednesbury.

Rotala Diamond 21018 in Bilston interchange

We came out of the interchange and we walked onto Walsall Street and we met up with mum at the car. She had brought Greggs sausage rolls and a can of Irn Bru. We set off onto Walsall Street and we turned right onto the A41 and headed Southwards. We turned left onto the A463 and we ran fast to the A454. When we reached the A454 we carried on over the flyover and a couple of mile later we were on the Northbound M6. Seen on the M6 coming home were an unidentified Stagecoach Megabus (M11) and an unidentified Harris Coaches coach. We went North up to junction 15 and we came off onto A500. Seen on the A500 was blue minibus NL07 KFU. We ran North to the Sideway and then we went Eastwards along the A50. Seen on the A50 was Alfa 61. We came off the A50 at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. The spare ground was empty tonight. We turned left onto Willow Row to see what was in the compound this evening. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LFY parked up in the yard.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

We re-joined the A50 and we ran Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran down the hill into Blurton. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread bicuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.