Trip to Wolverhampton / West Bromwich 27-04-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4333	Wolverhampton BS	Dudley BS	82	NX West Midlands
21224	Dudley BS	West Bromwich BS	74A	Rotala Diamond
4259	West Bromwich BS	Pheasey, Hillingford Avenue	5	NX West Midlands
6730	Pheasey, Hillingford Avenue	Aldridge, Opp Shopping Centre	997	NX West Midlands
6715	Aldridge, Adj Shopping Centre	Walsall St Pauls BS	7	NX West Midlands
6772	Walsall St Pauls BS	Wolverhampton BS	529	NX West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Wolverhampton. Mum was going to Wolverhampton an a night out with friends and as we hadn't been there for a while we decided to go to Wolverhampton for our bus trip too. We did no research for the trip other than to check the weather. The forecast was for rain showers as the back end of Hurricane Hannah passed over the UK. Matthew got up around 10:00 and toast and orange juice for breakfast. mum came home from work around 10:45. After getting ready we set off onto the A5035 just after 12:00. We crossed over the railway line into Trentham and we ran to the end before joining the Northbound A34. We turned left onto Whitmore Road and we ran up to the A519. We turned right onto the A519 before joining Southbound M6. As we travelled down the M6 we saw an unidentified grey coach, and unidentified white coach, 2 x unidentified The Travellers Choice coaches, an unidentified National Express liveried coach (#590), white minibus NA14 FSU, an unidentified Ellison's coach & blue minibus DE54 NSS. Just after junction 13 as we got to the 4 lane section, we were passed by Edwards coach BN63 NYW.

Edwards BN63 NYW on the M6

We continued down towards junction 12. We left the M6 and we turned left onto the A5. We ran towards Cannock and we stopped at the Truckers Rest truck stop. Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we continued towards Wolverhampton. We set off Westwards along the A5 and we re-joined the Southbound M6 and we passed an unidentified Eavesway coach going the other way. We came off at junction 13 and we ran Southwards down the A460. We ran down to the A460 and we joined the Westbound M54. We ran to the next junction before we joined the Southbound A449. We ran for approximately 3 mile to the edge of town and we turned left onto onto the ring road and we ran around to the A41 roundabout. We turned right onto Bilston Street and we turned right onto Market Street. We turned right onto Queen Street and at the end we turned right onto Pipers Row. We turned right into Tower Street and we stopped briefly to get out of the car. We said goodbye to mum and we walked across Pipers Row and into the bus station. We had a look around to see what we could catch. We saw Travel De Courcey's National express liveried coach MD28 on a #210 from Gatwick Airport.

Travel De Courcey MD28 in Wolverhampton bus station

We carried on around the bus station and we spotted National Express West Midlands 4333 on a #82 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4333 in Wolverhampton bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on it and brought nBus Star Day tickets at £4.20 each. We went upstairs and the rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside National Express West Midlands 4333.

Inside NX West Midlands 4333

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Pipers Row. We cross over the Bilston Island onto the A454 and we headed Eastwards out of town. We turned left onto Old Heath Road and we headed into Moseley We turned right onto Deansfield Road and right onto Deans Road. We re-joined the A454 for a short while before turning right into Moseley Road. We ran through Portobello before turning right onto Willenhall Road. We ran to the end and we turned left into the A41 in the centre of Bilston. We turned right into Hall Street and then we entered Bilton Interchange. Across the road we saw Bilston Radio Cars minibus RO08 KBJ near to their base. After a brief stop in Bilston Interchange, we went Southwards onto the A41. We turned right onto Loxdale Street and over the tram line, going forwards onto Salop Street. We trundled through undulating housing estates full of near identical semi-detached houses and we went over the railway into Coseley. We stopped in the village briefly and we crossed a dual carriageway and we went through a small village called Roseville and we travelled South again through yet another housing estate of semi-detached houses. Eventually we joined a main road and we went South-Westwards into Dudley town centre. We turned right into the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew visited the toilet. We had a quick walk around to we what we could catch. We saw Travel De Courcey National Express liveried coach MD38 on a #420 to London.

Travel De Courcey MD38 in Dudley bus station

As we considered what to do we spotted Rotala Diamond Mellor bodied minibus 21224 go on layover.

Rotala Diamond 21224 in Dudley bus station

We spotted that it was about to work a #74A to West Bromwich so we decided to do this bus. A few minutes later the bus pulled onto it's stand and we flashed the nBus Star day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and along Birmingham Street and we crossed over B4171 onto Hall Street. We ran through the Kate's hill estate and we ran up Watsons Green Road and left onto Highfield Road. We turned right onto Corporation Road and left onto Burn's Lane. We turned left onto the A4123 and right onto Burnt Tree. We ran through Dudley Port and under the railway line near to the station. We turned right into John's lane and we ran through the small estate to the South of the A461 before re-joining the main road. We continued Eastwards and we saw Philips minibus YK18 GXM. We turned right into Great Bridge Street and afterwards left into Asda. We ran around the Asda car park and to the bus stop before turning left onto Great Bridge Street. We turned right onto Charles Street and at the end we turned right onto Pheonix Street. We ran forwards onto the B4166 and we turned left onto Albion Road. We turned left onto Brandon Way and we crossed Greets Green Road onto Claypit Lane. We turned right onto Turner Street and left onto Harwood Street. We turned right onto Baker Street and left onto Dartmouth Street. We turned right onto High Street and right onto St Michael Street past the bus station. We turned left onto West Bromwich Ringway and we entered the bus station from the South side. Once off the bus we took a few pictures. We saw National Express West Midlands 4244 on layover in the bus station.

NX West Midlands 4244 in West Bromwich bus station

We went to the toilet and we looked for a bus that we could catch to go North or East. As we headed back to the stands to buses in that direct Matthew spotted required National Express West Midlands 4259 on a #5 to Sutton Coldfield.

NX West Midlands 4259 in West Bromwich bus station

We decided to do that bus so we waited for the driver to ready the bus for service. We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Star tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto the West Bromwich Ringway and right onto St Michaels Street. We ran past the college and we crossed over the A41 on All Saints Way. The road turned to the right and we ran out into a more open route before crossing over the M5 we continued Eastwards for around a mile and into Great Barr. After crossing the A34 we went under the M6 and up the hill into Pheasey. The bus turned left at the roundabout and we got up and got off the bus. once off the bus Matthew decided he wanted to visit a shop. We brought a can of Cherry Coke and a few chocolate bars and Matthew also had a raspberry flavoured slushie. Once we had paid for the stuff we walked back to the stop on Beacon Road. Whilst we waited for our bus we saw National Express West Midlands 4275 on a #5 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 4275 in Pheasey

Whilst we waited Matthew had his slushie as well as the can of Cherry Coke. He also ate a Milky Way. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. It was required National Express West Midlands 6730 on a #997 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 6730 in Pheasey

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Star Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture of the inside of National Express West Midlands 6730 before we sat down.

Inside NX West Midlands 6730

We set off up Beacon Road and at the roundabout we turned right onto Collingwood Drive. We turned left onto Hillingford Avenue and forwards onto Frampton Way. We turned right onto Doe Bank Lane and at the end we turned left onto the A4041. At the next roundabout we turned left onto Aldridge Road. We turned left onto the B4151 and at the next roundabout at at the next roundabout we turned right onto the B4154. We ran Northwards for around 1/4 of a mile and we turned left onto Barr Common Road. At the next junction we veered right onto Birmingham Road up to Pool Green. We turned right onto the A454 and we turned right into Portland Road. We veered left onto Anchor Road and we stopped in Aldridge town centre where we got up and got off the bus. once off the bus we crossed over an stood at the stop for a Walsall bound bus. Matthew turned down required National Express West Midlands 4603 on a #7A to Walsall and decided he wanted to go to the toilet. We headed off to the pub and Matthew sued the facilities. Afterwards he had a glass of Coke. Once he had finished his drink we headed outside and we met up with uncle Dave again. We saw required National Express West Midlands 4601 on a #7A to Castleford and a few minutes later we saw National Express West Midlands 6715 on a #7 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 6715 in Aldridge

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus Star Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture of the inside of National Express West Midlands 6715 before we sat down.

Inside NX West Midlands 6715

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 walk around and we took a few bus pictures before we caught the bus to Wolverhampton. We walked onto Hatherton Road and we saw Arriva Midlands 3740 on layover in between runs on the #3 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 3740 in Walsall

We stood at the entrance of the bus station and we saw National Express West Midlands 6772 on a #529 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 6772 in Walsall bus station

We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station and we waited for the bus to be readied for service. Once the bus was ready we got on the bus bus we flashed the nBus Star Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and we ran past the Crown Wharf shopping centre along Wolverhampton Street. We ran forwards on to the A454 and we ran the 1/2 mile or so to the motorway. We crossed the M6 and we ran forwards onto the B4464. We ran through Willenhall and we re-joined the A454 near to Portobello. We ran the last couple of miles into Wolverhampton and we joined the anti-clockwise ring road at Bilston Island and we entered the bus station off the ring road. Once off the bus we headed outside the bus station for mum to pick us up. Mum arrived and we got in the car where she had sausage rolls waiting for us and a can of Irn Bru. We headed around the one way system and we joined the anti-clockwise ring road. We ran around to the A41 and we ran out of town to the hotel where mum way staying for the night. Once we had dropped her off we set off onto Albert Road. We turned left onto Clifford Street and we ran forwards onto Hunter Street. We turned left onto Hordem Road and right onto Aldersley Road. We ran up to Oxley and we joined the Northbound A449. We stopped at a petrol station and whilst there we saw AT Brown coach P27 ATB. We continued Northwards up the A449 under the M54 and a few miles North we turned right onto the A5. At the roundabout we joined the Northbound M6 and we headed through Staffordshire. As we travelled Northwards we saw an unidentified Plymouth City Coaches coach, an unidentified P&D Coaches coach, an unidentified Eagle's of Bristol coach, Target Travel P4 FTC, an unidentified Dan's Luxury Travel coach, an unidentified white coach and an unidentified silver Tri axle coach. 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. In the corner of the yards was Z Carz Mercedes minibus LV52 TZY.

Z Carz LV52 TZY in Longton

Also in the yard was Z Carz minibus Peugeot YJ62 LSX.

Z Carz YJ62 LSX in Longton

Another vehicle seen in the yard was Z Carz SORN minibus YE52 UZX.

Z Carz YE52 UZX in Longton

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 19:45. 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.