Trip to Walsall / Aldridge 05-01-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4608	Walsall St Pauls BS	Bloxwich, High St (Stop BA)	89	National Express West Midlands
1841	Bloxwich, High St (Stop BC)	Walsall St Pauls BS	29	National Express West Midlands
SJ66 SYO	Walsall St Pauls BS	Pleck, Manor Hospital	637	Walsall Community Transport
5415	Pleck, Pargeter St	Walsall St Pauls BS	529	National Express West Midlands
4353	Walsall St Pauls BS	Aldridge, Shopping Centre	6	National Express West Midlands
4155	Aldridge, Shopping Centre	Walsall St Pauls BS	7A	National Express West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Walsall. As it is the depths of winter and light is poor, we wanted somewhere quite close by that we hadn't been often and offered us plenty of scope to go somewhere new. We had checked the weather for today and it was for cloudy cloudy and grey weather. We asked Matthew straight if he wanted to go to Walsall and he agreed to it. Other than checking the weather and local football teams we did no research. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. We had ordered dome things online at the Stoke City shop so we stopped at the BET365 stadium to pick the stuff up. As we approached the shop we saw some familiar faces... It was Grandma and Grandad who happen to be buying stuff from the shop too. After picking up our stuff we said goodbye and we continued our journey. We set off onto Stanley Matthews Way and we joined the Westbound A50. At Sideway we got onto the Southbound A500 and we ran through Hanford to Hanchurch. We got on the Southbound M6 and we headed through Staffordshire. As we travelled Southwards down the M6 we saw Traveling down the M6 we saw an unidentified NAT coach, an unidentified Berrys Coaches coach, Several unidentified National Express coaches (Including one with a Scottish Flag rear quarter), white coach PO16 HTK and a couple of unidentified Ridley coaches. We travelled down to Junction 12 and we came off on to the Eastbound A5. We stopped at the truckers Rest cafe as planned and we saw Rentruck minibus AV62 AHM outside the cafe. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards he had a breakfast washed odwn with a can of Coke. He also helped mum to drink her can of Cherry Coke. Once we had finished eating we set off onto the Eastbound A5. We turned right at the roundabout and we joined the Southbound A4601. We got onto the A460 and we ran down to the motorway. We joined the Southbound M6 at junction 11 and we ran down to junction 10. Once off the motorway we ran Eastwards along the A454. We ran forwards onto the A4148 and we turned right onto Stafford Street. At the roundabout we veered left on to St Pauls Street and we entered the Hatherton Street car park. Once we had parked up we walked out onto St Paul's Street and we said goodbye to mum before walking into the bus station. We saw Arriva Midlands 2373 on a #3 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 2373 in Walsall bus station

Also seen was National Express West Midlands 4607 on a #8 to Pelsall.

NX West Midlands 4607 in Walsall bus station

We headed into the bus station and we saw iGo 2106 on a #19 to Bloxwich.

iGo 2106 in Walsall bus station

We saw an interesting looking bus which turned out to be a required one. National Express West Midlands 4602 was about to work a #7A to Castlefort.

NX West Midlands 4602 in Walsall bus station

We waited for the bus to be readied for service. Come departure time the driver just left empty and went on layover onto Hatherton Street. We decided to another bus. National Express West Midlands 4608 came on stand about to work a #89 to Wolverhampton via Bloxwich.

NX West Midlands 4608 in Walsall bus station

We got on the bus and we booked nBus day tickets at £4.60 each before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck of the bus was empty we Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4608 before sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside NX West Midlands 4608

We set off out of the bus station onto Hatherton Street and we turned right onto the clockwise ring road. At the next junction we turned left onto Lichfield Road. We ran North for around a mile and we passed through Rushall. We continued to Shelfield and then we turned left into Mill Road. We followed the road into Pelsall Common and we turned right into the centre of Pelsall. We decided to continued onto to Bloxwich. We set off Northwards up to Wolverhampton Road and we turned left. We ran down around the estate and and then we continued South. We ran forwards onto Lichfield Road and we passed the Walsall Community Transport depot and National Express West Midlands 2112 which was on a #32 service to Lower Farm. We turned left onto the A34 and we got up and got off the bus. At the bus stop was iGo YJ18 CZX on a #326 to Bilston.

iGo YJ18 CZX in Bloxwich

On the other side of the park we saw required Rotala Diamond 21212 which was about to work a #23 to White Horse Road.

Rotala Diamond 21212 in Bloxwich

In front of the that was National Express West Midlands on a #89 to Walsall which pulled off as we went to catch it. We decided to visit the Newsagents to buy some stuff. We brought a couple of cans and a couple of chocolate bars. As we went to cross back over we saw Ring & Ride bus BX65 FTY parked up at the Southbound bus stop.

Ring & Ride BX65 FTY in Bloxwich

Also seen was Ring & Ride bus SJ67 SSU running Northwards up the High Street.

Ring & Ride SJ67 SSU in Bloxwich

We crossed over the road and Matthew spotted a dessert shop. We went in and Matthew went to the toilet. Once he had finished there we ordered a red velvet cheesecake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Matthew ate his dessert and afterwards we went outside to uncle Dave who was having a slightly less fun time as he had been pooped on by a pigeon! We cleaned up uncle Dave a little bit and we headed to the bus stop. We just missed the #19 to Walsall but there was a #29 to Walsall a few minutes later. We waited a few minutes for the bus and it appeared. It was National Express West Midlands 1841 on a #29 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 1841 in Bloxwich

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 Northwards along Park Road. We turned right onto Lichfield Road. We turned right on to Field Road and left onto Ingram Road. We ran to the end of the road to a turning circle and we picked up passengers. We continued onto Walker Road and we turned left onto Harden Road. We turned right onto Ross Road and we ran forwards onto Coalpool Lane. We turned left onto the B4210 and we crossed the A4148 onto Stafford Street. We veered slight left onto St Paul's Street and we entered the bus station from the North End. We got off the bus and Matthew headed to the toilet. Once Matthew had used the facilities we looked for another bus to catch. We spotted required Walsall Community Transport SJ66 SYO on a #637 to the Manor Hospital.

Walsall Community Transport SJ66 SYO in Walsall bus station

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 out of the bus station and we did a u-turn onto Hatherton Street. We continued onto Hatherton Road and we turned right onto Lichfield Street. We followed the road around onto Bridge Street and we ran forwards onto Ablewell Street. We ran forwards onto Springhill Road and we turned right into the Highgate housing estate. We ran through the estate and onto Delves Road. We passed Walsall Rugby club and we turned right onto Tame Street East. We crossed West Bromwich Road onto Tame Street and we turned left onto Weston Street passing Rotala Diamond 30412 on a #4 to Walsall. We turned right onto Broadway West and we crossed over Bescot Crescent and forwards onto Wallows Lane. We turned right onto Bescot Road and we turned left onto Slater Lane. We turned right onto Gower Street and right onto the A4038. We turned left onto Old Pleck Road and we ran for around 1/2 mile before we turned left into Manor Hospital. We got up to get off the bus and as the bus was now empty Matthew took a picture inside Walsall Community Transport SJ66 SYO.

Inside Walsall Community Transport SJ66 SYO

Once off the bus we watched it set off back towards the depot as it was the last run of the day. We walked across the car park onto Pleck Road and we crossed over the A454 and walked to the bus stop to wait for the next #529 to Walsall. We waited at the bus stop for a good 10 minutes and eventually we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required National Express West Midlands 5415 on a #529 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 5415 in Pleck

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along the A454 and we ran forwards onto the A4148. We turned right onto Wolverhampton Street and we ran past the Crown Wharf Shopping Park. We ran forwards onto Townend Street and we crossed the roundabout into St Paul's Street and into the bus station. Once off the bus we looked for a bus we could do quickly as we had just over an hour left on the parking. We spotted required National Express West Midlands 4353 on a #6 to Sutton Coldfield, so we thought we could do this up to Aldridge.

NX West Midlands 4353 in Walsall bus station

We waited for the bus to be readied for service and when the door were opened we got on. 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 4353 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside NX West Midlands 4353

When it was departure time the bus set off out of the bus station and on to Hatherton Street and forwards onto Hatherton Road.We turned left onto Lichfield Street and we crossed over the roundabout, passing Walsall Community Transport YX10 AXC for the second time in the same place today on the #22 Butts Paddock circular service. We continued up Lichfield Street and at the next roundabout we turned right onto Mellish Road. We ran forwards onto Aldridge Road and we ran out of town along a fast rural section of Road. We veered slight left onto Walsall Road and we ran North Eastwards through Pool Green. At the edge of the by-pass we turned right onto Portland Road and left onto Anchor Road. At the North end we got up and got off the bus. Also at the bus stop was National Express West Midlands 4870 on a #937 to Brownhills West.

NX West Midlands 4870 in Aldridge

Matthew spotted a pub across the road and insisted in going in. He used the toilet and afterwards we had a small glass of Pepsi Cola each and we sat near to the door so that we could watch buses on the main road. Whilst we drank we saw National Express West Midlands 4601 in a heritage Walsall Corporation blue livery heading Northwards. When we had finished our drink we went outside and met back up with uncle Dave. As we were approaching the stop we saw iGo Dennis Dart KU52 RXR on a #25 to Kingstanding.

iGo KU52 RXR in Aldridge

In front of the Dart was National Express West Midlands 4155 on a #7A to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 4155 in Aldridge

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4155 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside NX West Midlands 4155

We set off along Anchor Road and we ran forwards onto Portland Road. We turned left onto the A454 and we ran South-Westwards towards Walsall. It had now gone dark and was hard to see the passing buses. After a couple of miles we turned left onto the A461 and we headed Southwards. We crossed the A4148 and we ran forwards onto Lichfield Street. We continued onto Bridge Street and into the centre of town and we ran around the South side of the bus station and entered the bus station from the West side. When we got into the bus station we got up and got off the bus. We had a last walk around and we took a few bus pictures before we returned to the car. We saw National Express West Midlands 1756 which had arrived on stand and was going back to the depot not in service.

NX West Midlands 1756 in Walsall bus station

We walked along Hatherton Street to see what vehicles were parked up on layover. We saw Arriva Midlands 3743 on layover in between working services to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 3743 in Walsall

Further down Hatherton Street we saw Travel de Courcey coach MD30 which was on the #415 to London.

Travel de Courcey MD30 in Walsall

We returned back to wards the bus station and car park and we saw National Express West Midlands 4599 on a #6 to Sutton Coldfield.

NX West Midlands 4599 in Walsall bus station

We returned to the car and we met up with mum who had brought sausage rolls and a small bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We set off out of the car park onto Hatherton Street and and we ran up to the A4148. We turned left and we ran forwards onto the A454. When we got to the motorway we joined the Northbound M6 at junction 10. Travelling home up the M6 we saw an unidentified National Express liveried coach on a #590 to London, Street Cars MA14 AOU, black minibus EJ12 HHZ & Parks of Hamilton LSK 825 on a #540 to London. We came off the M6 at junction 15 and we ran Northwards up the A500 to Sideway. We turned right at the roundabout and we joined the Eastbound A50. We came off the A50 at Longton and we ran up to Z Carz to see what we could see. There was nothing on the spare ground as expected so we turned left onto Willow Row. Unusually there was also nothing viewable in the compound either. 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 just after 19:00. For a late tea bangers and mash with carrots followed by jam filled shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.