Trip to Dudley / Stourbridge 06-07-2024

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4836	Dudley, Evolve Campus (Stop DY3)	Stourbridge Interchange	6	NX West Midlands
2103	Stourbridge Interchange	Wollaston Junction	7	NX West Midlands
6794	Wollaston Junction	Stourbridge Interchange	8	NX West Midlands
37	Stourbridge Interchange	Wollaston Junction	242	Select Bus
2091	Wollaston Junction	Stourbridge Interchange	7	NX West Midlands
4831	Stourbridge Interchange	Dudley, Evolve Campus (Stop DY3)	6	NX West Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Dudley. Research for the trip consisted of looking at weather which was for grey weather with some rain getting sunnier later on. We also looked at where we could park and where we could eat. Matthew woke up at 08:00 to have his medication. Matthew got up around 10:20 and had toast for breakfast. After getting dressed we set off around 11:50 to pick up uncle Dave. We got in the car and we set off through Blurton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned right onto Finstock Avenue and right onto Emsworth Road. We returned to the house to check the door was locked and afterwards we ran through Blurton and onto Finstock Avenue. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road past the former Coral shop which is new going to be flats. 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 ran forwards onto the A500. We needed some petrol so we headed to Stoke. We turned left onto Church Street and we joined the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we turned into Sainsbury's to fill up with petrol. After we had filled up we re-joined London Road and we headed through the West End and Oakhill into Trent Vale. We joined the Southbound A34 and we ran down to Hanford interchange. We turned right onto the A500 and we ran down to Hnchurch where we got on the Southbound M6. As we got on the M6 we were passed by Atlantic Travel SK22. It was going at alomost the road speed and due to the other vehicles on the road and not want to speed it took us about 10 miles to catch it up! We got past the bus and we slowed down a little so that Matthew could take a picture of Atlantic Travel SK22 BWC as it headed Southwards.

Atlantic Travel SK22 BWC on the M6

As we continued down the M6 we saw 3 x unidentified Daish coaches and Selwyns (NX) BV23 ZXE(#550) / BX16 CKA(#121). We came off the M6 at junction 11 and we headed Southwards down the A462. We ran through New Invention and Shortheath and we turned right onto Charles Street. We ran forwards onto Stringes Lane and we passed the placed where we were meant to eat but it was closed. We spotted somewhere else so we turned around and we parked in a car park on the corner of Stringes Lane and Albion Road. Matthew went into the cafe and had sausages and egg on a brioche bun, washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had eaten we said goodbye and we headed back to the car. We set off along Stringes Lane and we turned left onto Middle Piece Way. We turned right onto the B4464 and we headed through the cebtre of Willenhall. We turned left onto the B4484 and we headed Southwards. We ran along Gough Road and past Coseley railway station. We past the town centre and we joined the Southbound A4123. We turned right onto the A4168 and we headed into Dudley town centre. We crossed the A459 and we ran forwards onto New Street. We turned left onto Tower Street and we parked up in the car park at the end of the road. We said goodby to mum and we had a walk around to see where we could go. We walked along Tower Street and we saw a few buses on stand. We saw National Express West Midlands 4837 on a #6 to Stourbridge.

NX West Midlands 4837 in Dudley

Further along Tower Street we saw National Express West Midlands 828 on a #19 to the Q E hospital.

NX West Midlands 828 in Dudley

We continued along Tower Street and at the end we saw Rotala Diamond 32326 on a #226 to Merry Hill.

Rotala Diamond 32326 in Dudley

We walked around the corner onto New Street and we saw Rotala Diamond Solo 40741 on a #74A to West Bromwich. We turned left onto Castle Street. We went past the entrance to the bus station which is currently closed for re-development. We visited the toilet and afterwards we carried on along Castle Street. We turned left onto the A459 and left onto Tower Street. We crossed over the road and we waited for the next a #6 to Stourbridge. Matthew decided that he wanted to do this service so we waited at the appropriate stop. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 4836 on a #6 to Stourbridge.

NX West Midlands 4836 in Dudley

We got on the bus and we booked nBus day tickets at £4.80 each before we went upstairs and sat down. We ran to the end of Tower Street and we turned left onto the A459. We turned left onto the B4177 and we turned left onto Priory Road. We tyrned right onto Priory Street and we turned right onto Wolverhampton Street. We turned left onto The Inhedge and right onto Stafford Street. We turned right onto Hogh Street and we ran forwards onto the A4101. We ran down to the Russell Hall Hospital nd we ran into the grounds. After a loop in front of the hospital we headed out across the roundabout onto Pensnett Road. We turned right onto the A461 and we headed through Brierley Hill. We veered right onto High Street and at the other end of town we re-joined the A461. We turned onto the A491 and we ranm towards Stourbridge. We joined the clockwise ring road and we turned left onto Foster Street SE. We entered the bus station at the bottom and we climbed the ramp up to the main area where the bus stopped and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went down the stops and onto Foster Street East. Outside the bus station on layover was former First Street 63022, now Rotala Diamond 32290.

Rotala Diamond 32290 in Stourbridge Interchange

We walked up the stairs to the outside edge of the Interchange and we saw National Express West Midlands 2101 on a #7 to Dudley

NX West Midlands 2101 in Stourbridge Interchange

We continued around to the other side of the Interchange and we saw National Express West Midlands 6941 on a #9 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6941 in Stourbridge Interchange

Matthew went to the toilet and washed his hands. Afterwards he went to the shop in the Interchange and bought a bottle of Coke and a bar of Galaxy Caramel. We sat down and Matthew drank his Coke and te the Galaxy Caramel. When he had finished we had a look around to see what we might catch. We considered doing a double decker on either the #8 or #9, but we saw a single decker approaching and Matthew decided to this. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 2103 on a #7 to Wollaston.

NX West Midlands 2103 in Stourbridge Interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the Interchange and onto the clockwise ring road. We turned left onto the A451 and we headed Southwards. We turned right onto Whittington Road and we turned left onto The Broadway. We turned right onto Shenstone Avenue and we turned left to re-join The Broadway. We turned left onto South Road and right onto Highpark Avenue. We turned right onto Bridgnorth Road and as we got to the roundabout we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 2103 as it prepared to return on a #7 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 2103 in Wollaston

On the way into town we passed a coach that was parked up about 200yds back. We had a around 10 minutes for the next bus, so we decided to go back and take a picture. As we got closer we saw it was Royal Motorways K444 RMW.

Royal Motorways K444 RMW in Wollaston

Matthew decided that he needed the toilet, and there just happen to be a pub opposite. We crossed over the road and we went into the pub and found the toilets. When he had finished we made our way to the bar and ordered a small glass of Coke. We walked to the back of the pub and we found a table. After drinking the drinks we made our way back out front and we met up with uncle Dave. We walked along the road back towards the stop and we crossed over by the crossing. We had about 10 minutes before the next bus was due. a #8 tol Wolverhampton. We saw the bus approaching the roundabout and it turned onto Wood Street. It would be back in a few minutes after it had served the Wollaston Farm estate. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 6794 on a #8 to Wolverhamton as expected.

NX West Midlands 6794 in Wollaston

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver. The lower saloon was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside of National Express West Midlands 6794.

Inside NX West Midlands 6794

The rear of the top deck was also empty, so Matthew took another picture inside of National Express West Midlands 6794 before we sat down.

Inside NX West Midlands 6794

The bus set off across the roundabout and we continued along the A458. We ran Eastwards for about 1/2 mile and we reached the edge of Stourbridge. We turned left and we headed clockwise around the ring road. We turned left onto Foster Street East. We entered the bus station at the bottom and we climbed the ramp up to the main area where the bus stopped and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we had a look around to see what we could catch. We saw another former First bus 63038 now Rotala Diamond 32276 departing on a #25 to Dudley.

Rotala Diamond 32276 in Stourbridge Interchange

We saw a Select Bus come on stand and Matthew decided he wanted to catch this. As we got closer we saw it was Select Bus Servies 37 on a #242 to Kinver.

Select Bus 37 in Stourbridge Interchange

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 Interchange onto Foster Street East and we joined the A458. We turned left onto the clockwise ring road and we ran around the South and West side of town. We turned left onto the A458 and we headed West along the A458. We ran out of town for about a mile and at the roundabout veered slight left to continued along the A458. We got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus we walked back along the road and we crossed over the road. We waited for a bus back towards Stourbridge. There were 2 buses both due at 17:00. The first bus came around the corner. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 2091 on a #7 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 2091 in Wollaston

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver. The bus was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside of National Express West Midlands 2091.

Inside NX West Midlands 2091

After a short wait. We set off towards the roundabout and we did a u-turn and back Westwards along the A458. We turned left onto Highpark Avenue and left onto South Road. We turned right onto The Broadway and right onto Shenstone Avenue. We ran around the estste and we turned left to re-join The Broadway. We turned right onto Whittington Road and left onto the Northbound A451. We ran to the edge of town and we joined the clockwise ring road. We did almost a full circle of town and we turned left into Foster Street East. We entered the bus station at the bottom and we climbed the ramp up to the main area where the bus stopped and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew decided that he needed the toilet again. The bus station toilet was closed so we had to go across the road to a micro pub. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards had a bottle of Coke. When we had finished we headed back across the road to the Interchange. We saw National Express West Midlands 6929 on a #9 to Birmingham.

NX West Midlands 6929 in Stourbridge Interchange

We headed into the main part of the interchange and we spotted a bus on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Nationasl Express West Midlands 4831 on a #6 to Dudley.

NX West Midlands 4831 in Stourbridge Interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the Interchange and we ran down onto Foster Street East. We joined the A458 and we turned left onto the clockwise ring road. We ran about 3/4 of the way around the town and we headed North up the A491. We turned right onto the A461 and we headed towards Brierly hill. We veered left onto High Street and we ran through the town centre. We rejoined the A461 and continued Northwards. We turned left onto Pensnett Road and we headed into Russells Hall Hospital. After looping around in front of the hospital we turned left onto the A4101. At the edge of town we ran forwards onto the B4587 and we turned left onto Stafford Street. We turned right onto The Inhedge and we ran fowards onto the B4177. We turned right onto Priory Road and left onto Tower Street where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of National Express West Midlands 2015 on a #82 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 2015 in Dudley

Matthew decided he needed the toilet again so we headed to the pub on the corner of Tower Street and New Street. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. England were on the television and at this point the score was still 0-0. After we had w had finished our drinks we walked back along Tower Street and we spotted National Express West Midlands 6795 on a #8 to Wolverhampton.

NX West Midlands 6795 in Dudley

We continued along Tower Street and we got in the car. Matthew had a can of. We set off out of the car park and we turned right onto Tower Street. We turned right onto the A459 and we headed Eastwards. We turned right onto the A461 and we turned right onto the A4123. We veered left onto the A4033 and after a while we stopped at a chip shop. Matthew had sausage and chips. When I had finished eating we continued on our journey. We continued towards Olbury and we joined the A457. We turned right onto the A4034 and we headed towards the motorway. We got on the M5 at junction 5 and headed Northwards. We ran forwards onto the Northbound M6 and just after junction 10A we stopped at Hilton Park Services. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we went to look at a 1950's Scammel tractor unit. We got back in the car and we continued driving Morthwards up the M6. We came off the M6 at junction 15 and we joined the Northbound A500. We came off at Stoke and we turned right onto Wheildon Road. We stopped at uncle Dave's house and Matthew used the toilet. WE uodated the calendar and Matthew took a can of Irn Bru into the house to drink in front of uncle Rob. We got back in the car and we set off for Blurton. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. 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 20:10. Matthew chilled out on his computer. Matthew had his medication and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. He had a slice of red velvet cake and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark