Messages

[(90/91)]

I think an easy solution would be to use the 90-99 numbering.

Longbridge to Hampstead (90/91) replacing 16/45/47
Frankley to Castle Vale (92/93) replacing 61/63/67 (plus 65?)
Quinton Rd West/Bartley Green to Chelmsley Wood (94/95) replacing 23/24/94/95
West Bromwich to Chelmsley Wood (97) replacing 74/97
Bearwood/Dudley to Druids Heath (98/99) replacing 50/82/87

Route 74 I would assume would continue West Bromwich to Dudley only with the same route number
I would also renumber the 96 out of this numbering to free up for a future cross city service (maybe the 6/33 for instance?)

The route from Frankley to Castle Vale seems to frequent at the Castle Vale end if incorporating both the 61/63 as they are both every 12 minutes and the 67 also is every 12 minutes so it may only incorporate one of the services (even though looks like both are highlighted in green). But I would personally bring in the 65 having the 61/65 and 63/67 as cross city 92/93. It share most of the infrastructure along the A5127 but only bottleneck would be Slade Road. The 65 would be strange on its own without the 67 as would either the 61 or 63.

Sprint should continue with the X1/X2 numbering in my opinion but just extending Cross City. I was under the belief that Sprint is replacing the X51 (between Birmingham & Walsall) not the normal stopping 51 service? As many people have mentioned the 51 not the X51?

[1984/2]

The Coventry map shows all the changes made after April 21st 1985, but I think includes some services that still ran pre-deregulation (service 1 to Stoke Heath etc). So its certainly from the 1985/86 period!

The front of the map states 1984/2 but as you say does look to include April 1985 changes like the 13 extended to replace the 15 to Whitmore Park and buses serving the new estates in Tanyard Farm & Victoria Farm. It is before May 1985 though as the 900 does not exist on the map yet and for instance the 301 still runs through Walsall to Dudley where in May 1985 the Walsall to Dudley section became the 311. I assume the map is around April 1985 even though it states 1984 (the 1984/2 could refer to financial year 1984 which would run to April 1985)

Thanks for those maps. Really really interesting, especially the 1984 one. The (unobserved) bus stop on West Bromwich Road near the Fullbrook had the 404 on it well into the 2000's and even into the 2010s even though it has served Weston Street ever since I remember.  I moved onto Weston St in 1990 (in the 1990s, initially the 404 was a 12 minute service and I caught the 401/402 to school in the Yew Tree from the top of Weston St). I had no idea why until now.

Is it too much to ask for you to share the reverse of the 1984 map as well?  Apparently it shows the Cannock and Lichfield routes on it.  Thanks in advance Syran188 if you will.

I have attached the Cannock/Lichfield map from the back as well as the Coventry Map and route list.

I can try to do a better picture in better light as some of the numbers are barely readable.

Woodgate Valley South to Rubery Great Park operated by Diamond Buses.
Looks like it was succeeded by the 39A Woodgate Valley South to Longbridge. Operated by Kevs today. As part of the 2010 South Birmingham service revisions it seems.

The 86 survived the 2009 South Birmingham changes as per the 'Change for the better' leaflet when the 630 was changed to the 39. It looks like as you suggested it happened in 2010 as the 86 disappeared from the 2010 map with the 39A introduced.

thats fine thank you ive just been looking for the oldest ones i could with an aim for 2000-2005 but finding anything online from then that still works is near impossible lmao especially since a lot of names from then no longer use the same sites and names

I have a 1984 WMPTE Map and a 2002 Birmingham Map in physical. I have done a photo as high res as possible for upload to here and it is just about readable when zooming in. They make interesting reading comparing now to 20 and 40 years ago. Didn't realise till I just worked out the age how old these maps actually are.

I have found one on my PC from 2009. Probably a bit too new for you.
You cannot view this attachment.

[Services 1 and 1A will operate to a reduced timetable between 20th June and 1st July, and will then be withdrawn.]

Its states on their website
https://www.chaserider.co.uk/

Services 1 and 1A will operate to a reduced timetable between 20th June and 1st July, and will then be withdrawn.

 

National Express West Midlands will continue to run a regular service between Cannock, Bloxwich and Walsall on route X51.

I would imagine the shortage of HGV drivers will start to impact the bus industry more with drivers potentially retraining to drive HGVs as the pay rates are much higher and the golden handshakes of £1000-£5000 some companies are offering as well to attract people. Plus soon you only have to take one test to drive an articulated HGV not having to pass in a rigid first is going to make access to the industry quicker and cheaper.

Thanks. Tried tech support but not very helpful other than wanting £800 for a replacement. But thanks everyone for your comments and advice

There is a company based up near Sheffield called OmniTech that i believe do repairs and they supply spare parts for blinds as well as everything else. Worth a try.
https://www.buselectronics.co.uk/

Thanks for all the info! Very interesting seeing that map and all those old routes! I did wonder if it followed the current 47. So how did it go to Darlaston? Straight down Trouse Lane and Darlaston Road?

I've got a 1990 Wolverhampton Map and you can just see the 78 uses Darlaston Road & the 79 uses Holyhead Road/Dangerfield Road (see attachment)

79 changed when Holyhead Road was converted in to the Black Country Route (circa '97) i think then it went to the current Trouse Lane, Darlaston Road, Woden Road West & Dangerfield Lane that it operates now. That is probably when the 78 was curtailed to Wednesbury with the 639 picking up the rest of Darlaston Road.

Has anyone got any information on what route the 78 used to take? I'm aware it was operated by West Bromwich garage and stopped c.2000 after being shortened to Birmingham - West Bromwich - Wednesbury

I know that it followed the 79 route, B'ham - Handsworth - West Brom - Wednesbury - Darlaston - Moxley - Bilston - Wolverhampton. But unsure where it went between West Bromwich & Wednesbury, other than Hateley Heath. Did it follow what is now the 47 route? Or were there any other parts of the route that deviated from the 79 route? Cheers  :)

Here is part of the Sandwell & Dudley Map from May 1998
It follows the current 47 route apart from a slight difference in Hateley Heath but there is both the 78 & 78A operating in 1998.
78 operates Birmingham to Wednesbury every 12 minutes and the 78A operates West Bromwich to Wednesbury every 20 minutes.

Its listed as a service in the Nov 2002 Birmingham Map but then the 78 only operates every 30 minutes - can't see if the 78A still operates from that map unfortunately. Think it became the 428/429?

When the 78 operated through to Wolverhampton it operated a different route between Wednesbury & Darlaston but from Darlaston to Wolverhampton they both operated the same route.

Is this just Mike De Courcey Travel Limited that has entered administration or does this include Mike De Courcey Travel Events Limited as well?

I know recently they separated the company in to two entities

Does anyone know what is included in what company? I think all coach work including NX comes under the events company as well as the NEC work but could be wrong.

How does that work with the Arriva 1/2 services are they part of the partnership as they follow for the majority of the 31/32 route and also the X51 that does. Should Arriva services 1/2 not accept NXWM/Diamond passes between Walsall & Bloxwich or do they?

Going off subject slightly in that old map picture there is a mention of a 402E, not been from Walsall I've never heard of this route, does anyone know where it went

The 402E was operated by Petes Travel every 30 minutes on Saturday evenings only (according to the Sept 1998 map/guide) - don't remember the service myself
It was a variant of their 401E service running Walsall to Yew Tree that ran as per the 404 (now 4) bypassing Bescot Stadium and Woodruff Way

Am I right in saying that the 335 near enough follows the old TWM 999 route from Manor Hospital to Walsall?

No the 335 follows the anti-clockwise loop of the 335/336
The 999 ran Wolverhampton St, Pleck Rd, Ida Rd, Alumwell Rd, Moat Rd, Manor Hospital and then returned reverse of that route (see attached)