Trip to Shrewsbury / Telford 04-03-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2522	Shrewsbury BS	Wellington BS	17	Arriva Midlands
2994	Wellington BS	Telford BS	4	Arriva Midlands
3792	Telford BS	Oakengates BS	6	Arriva Midlands
3753	Oakengates BS	Telford BS	5	Arriva Midlands
3338	Telford BS	Telford railway station	4	Arriva Midlands
3780	Telford railway station	Telford BS	5A	Arriva Midlands
3790	Telford BS	Shrewsbury BS	X5	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Shrewsbury. Matthew had initially asked to go to Oswestry, becasue Arriva are considering closing the depot. We ended up picking Shrewsbury instead. Research consisted of Looking up the ticket, looking at possibly places to eat and checking the weather which was for dry grey weather but quite cold. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum returned home from work and we set off just after 12:00. We set off and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Stoke and we turned right onto City Road. We turned right to join the Southbound A500 and we ran through Sideway and Hanford down to the A519. We headed Southwards for a few hundred yards before turning right onto the A5182. We headed Westwards for a few miles and at the end of the road we turned left onto the Southbound A53 We ran through Whitmore and Balwins gate and we crossed over the A51 by The Swan With Two Necks. We continued through Loggerheads and to the North of Market Drayton and on the other side of town we stopped in a layby. Matthew had a sausage sandwich from Jim's Butty Van and washed it down with a can of Cherry Coke from the boot. When we had finished eating we continued down the A53 to Tern Hill. We waited at the roundabout for the 4-way light in the roadworks, and whilst we waited we saw Mawley Oak KM16 KOB. We continued through Edge Bolton and Shawbury and at the North end of Shrewwsbury we joined the A5112. We ran into town and we turned right under by the railway station onto the A458. We ran past the bus station and we turned left onto Roushill. We turned left onto Raven Meadows and we parked up at the Raven Meadows car park (expensive!). We said goodbye to mum and we went down the lift to the street. We headed towards the bus station and we crossed over to look what was parked up in the layover area. On layover we saw Lakeside YJ61 CKD parked between duties.

Lakeside YJ61 CKD in Shrewsbury bus station

We crossed back over Raven Meadows and we had a look in the bus station. We saw Arriva Midlands 3790 departing on a X5 to Oswestry. Afterwards we saw saw Arriva Midlands 2959 on a #24 to Harlescott Tesco.

Arriva Midlands 2959 in Shrewsbury bus station

We walked into the bus station and we saw there was a bus to Wellington due to go shortly. It was Arriva Midlands 2522 on a #17 to Wellington.

Arriva Midlands 2522 in Shrewsbury bus station

We decided that we were going to do the bus to Wellington. Whilst we waited for the driver we saw Tanat Valley 281 arrive into the bus stations and afterwatfs go on layover.

Tanat Valley 281 in Shrewsbury bus station

We got on the bus and we brought a West Midlands Day Saver Duo ticket at £12.50 before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto the A458 and we went left onto Chester Street. We turned right onto Cross Street and right onto Castle Foregate and past the railway station. We headed up the hill past the castle and we turned left onto St Mary's Street. We continued down the hill and we veered left onto Wyle Cop. We crossed over the English Bridge and we went under the railway line onto Abbey Foregate. We continued Southwards onto the A458 and we turned right onto Sutton Way. We turned left onto Sutton Road and we crossed over a former railway line which is now a footpath. We turned left onto Tilsrock Crescent and we ran around the Sutton Farm housing estate. We rejoined Sutton Road and we turned left onto the B4380. We crossed over the A458 and we crossed over the A5 at the Salop Leisure roundabout. We ran out of town through Emstrye and Atcham and we ran forwards onto the B5061. We continued through Norton and Uckington and we crossed the A5 at Blue Bell. We ran through Overley and we veered left to stay on the B5061. We turned left at The Wickets Inn and we ran Northwards up Wrekin Road. We turned right onto Victoria Road and we ran up the East side of town before turning left into the bus station. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of Arriva Midlands 2522 before it returned to the depot.

Arriva Midlands 2522 in Wellington bus station

Once off the bus Matthew wanted to go to the toilet. We headed to the adjacent toilet block but it was closed. We crossed over The parade and we cut trough the passageway next to BBQ Station onto New Street. We went to the pub and Matthew used the toilet before having a small glass of Coke. When we had finished we went over to Sofia's Cafe. Matthew wanted a cake, but they had sold all of their stock. We returned back up the passageway and over The Parade and we saw a Telford bound bus on stand. AS we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 2994 on a #4 to Madeley.

Arriva Midlands 2994 in Wellington bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Arriva West Midlands Day Saver Duo under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out off the bus station onto Victoria Road and we turned right onto King Street and we ran through town and onto the B5061. We ran East for a couple of miles and we ran into Oakengate. We turned left onto Hartshill and we ran into town. By the railway station we turned left onto Uxacona Way and around the North end of town before entering the bus station. We ran down Uxacona Way and by the railway station we turned left onto station Road. We crossed over the A442 and we ran East along the B5061 until we got to the A5. We went South over the M54 and we headed to Telford railway station. There we nobody there to get on or off the bus so we came straight back out and onto the roundabout. We crossed over the A442 and onto Hollinsgate before going forwards onto Grange Central. We turned right onto Northfield street and we ran into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we had a walk around the bus station to take a few bus pictures. We saw Arriva Midlands 3793 on a #1 to Sutton Hill.

Arriva Midlands 3793 in Telford bus station

We continued around the bus station and we saw Arriva Midlands 2993 on a #12 to Hollinswood.

Arriva Midlands 2993 in Telford bus station

On the way back into the bus station we saw Arriva Midlands 2144 on a #19 Lightmoor service.

Arriva Midlands 2144 in Telford bus station

We visited the toilet and afterwards Matthew wanted to go get something from Costa Coffee. I said we would get some cake from somewhere else. I gave Matthew the choice of doing a few more buses in Telford or catching the next X5 back to Shrewsbury. Matthew chose to do a few more buses in Telford. I thought it would be a good idea to go to Oakengates and back and visit the Co-op there to get some cake. We had a look around for a bus heading towards Oakengates. We saw there was one on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3792 on a #6 to Donnington.

Arriva Midlands 3792 in Telford bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the Arriva West Midlands Day Saver Duo under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Northfield Street and we turned left onto Grange Central. We ran forwards onto Hollingsgate and we crossed the A442 and we turned into the railway station. After stopping outside the station we returned back to the roundabout and we joined the Northbound A5. We turned left onto the B5061 and we ran West past Wickes and back over the A442. We joined Station Road and we ran North to Oakengates. We turned right onto Uxacona Way and we ran along the Eastern side of town before turning left into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3792 as it continued towards Donnington.

Arriva Midlands 3792 in Oakengates bus station

We headed ober to the nearby Co-operative Food shop and Matthew had a can of Coke, Some choclate bars and a cake. The cake was a fudge cake so he would have to wait until he got home before he could eat it! We headed back towards the bus station and we saw a bus already on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3753 on a #5 to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 3753 in Oakengates bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the West Midlands Duo Day Saver tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We ran down Uxacona Way and by the railway station we turned left onto station Road. We crossed over the A442 and we ran East along the B5061 until we got to the A5. We went South over the M54 and we headed to Telford railway station. There we nobody there to get on or off the bus so we came straight back out and onto the roundabout. We crossed over the A442 and onto Hollinsgate before going forwards onto Grange Central. We turned right onto Northfield street and we ran into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. We had about 3/4 of an hour before the X5 to Shrewsbury was due. We walked around the bus station and we saw A Banga Travel bus. As we got closer we saw Banga Travel YD63 UZY on a #891 to Wolverhampton.

Banga Travel YD63 UZY in Telford bus station

We decided that we would have time to go up to the railway station and back. We could do any of the #4, #5 or #6 buses. We walked into the bus station and we saw a bus on stand. It was Arriva Midlands 3338 on a #4 to Leegomery.

Arriva Midlands 3338 in Telford bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the West Midlands Duo Day Saver tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Northfield Street and we turned left onto Grange Central. We ran forwards onto Hollingsgate and we crossed the A442 and we turned into the railway station. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3338 as it continued towards Leegomery.

Arriva Midlands 3338 in Telford

Once off the bus we walked up the path to the hotel car park to have a look at the 2 mini coaches we had seen earlier in the day. The 1st vehicle we saw was Nova Bussing RE71 AJX.

Nova Bussing RE71 AJX in Telford

Also seen was Nova Bussing RE71 AGU.

Nova Bussing RE71 AGU in Telford

We walked back to the station and Matthew used the toilet. We came out of the station and we just missed Arriva Midlands 3335 on a #4 to Madeley. We got to the stop and we noticed there was a gap in the service. The bus was due at 17:11 and the bus was due off Telford bus station at 17:20. It was going to be very close! A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3780 on a #5A to Telford.

Arriva Midlands 3780 in Telford

We got on the bus and we placed the West Midlands Duo Day Saver tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus so we came back out and onto the roundabout. We crossed over the A442 and onto Hollinsgate before going forwards onto Grange Central. We turned right onto Northfield street and we ran into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. WE had about 5 minutes to spare so we had a quick walk around the bus station. We saw National Express West Midlands 338 on a #409 service to Aberystwyth.

NX West Midlands 338 in Telford bus station

We saw the bus pull onto the stand at the opposite end of the bus station. We entered the bus station and we walked up to the appropriate stand. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3790 on the X5 to Oswestry.

Arriva Midlands 3790 in Telford bus station

We got on the bus and we placed the West Midlands Duo Day Saver tickets under the scanner for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Northfield Street. We turned right onto Hall Park Way and we ran down to the motorway. We joined Westbound M54 and forwards onto the A5. We ran fast for around 20 minutes to the edge of Shrewsbury on to the Southern by-pass. We turned right onto A5064 and we headed Northwards into town. We ran past Lord Hill's Column. We ran forwards onto Abbey Foregate. We went around the English Bridge Gyratory and we crossed over the bridge. We ran forwards onto Wyle Cop. We followed the one-way system around town and we turned right onto Barker Street. We turned right onto the A458 and we turned right into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we attempted to use the toilet in the bus station but it had been locked up. We crossed over Raven Meadows to have a look at the coaches on layover. We saw Swains Coaches M19 CJE parked up.

Swains Coaches M19 CJE in Shrewsbury bus station

Also seen were a pair of Lakside coaches. We saw Lakeside BV69 LPL parked up.

Lakeside BV69 LPL in Shrewsbury bus station

The other coach was Lakeside BV69 LPK.

Lakeside BV69 LPK in Shrewsbury bus station

We crossed back over Raven Meadows and we got in the lift and went back to the car. Matthew had a bottle of orange Fanta and we set off out of the car park. We turned left onto Raven Medows and we turned right onto the A458. We ran forwards onto the A528 and we went under the low arched bridge that had prevented the use of a double decker on the run. We turned left onto the A5191 and we headed North towards Harlescott. We ran forwards onto the A53 and we travelled through Upper Astley for around 5 miles and into Shawbury. We stopped nin Shawbury. Mum went to the chip show and Matthew went to the pub to use the toilet. Afterwards Matthew had a glass of Coke. We went back to the car and Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. We set off onto the A53 and we headed Northwards. We crossed over the A41 and Northwards towards Market Drayton. We ran along the Market Drayton by-pass and we continued Northwards towards Loggerheads. we crossed over the A51 and up through Whitmore. We ran Northwards towards Newcastle and we turned right onto Trentham Road. We turned left onto the A519. We joined the Northbound A500. As we headed Northwards we saw Elite Gold AG53 ???. We ran through Hanford up to Stoke and we came off the A500. We turned right onto City Road and right again to go Southwards onto the A500. We veered left onto Wheildon Road and we went to uncle Dave's. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. Uncle Rob wasn't there tonight. He aslo had some Irn Bru and updated the calendar. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road and past the former Regent pub which is now up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 20:00. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:00... Mark