Walsall Garage

[Wumpty]

You fell asleep with boredom 😂

I normally do that waiting for your lot queueing up at Greggs LOL!

[Bob]

It went 31 / 32 to 331 / 332 in the mid 70's, then evening & Sunday services 370 - 373 started early 80's, becoming the full time services at deregulation, then in the mid 90's, they brought in the 301 initially as a peaks & daytime service, before the 370/371 were cut back to Walsall, Beechdale to Bloxwich omitting Mossley, increasing the 301 as a result.

The separate Lower Farm service as 302 wasn't reintroduced again until the late 90's, again following a similar pattern to change the 372 & 373 as well.

Then the 31 & 32 came in 2018 (?).

(Doing all this from memory, so there might be errors somewhere!)

Perry Barr driver Mark Fitchew writes a series of excellent web blogs on local bus services over the years, if you can track those down, that goes into more detail than me!

I remember the 301 and 302,as Cannock to walsall routes too. Not sure of the difference between them though. There was also a 303 304 305 306 and 307 in the Cannock area but no idea where/which way thry went.

Tjere was also a 907 just before the 951 started, it was a limited stop

[Mike K]

I remember the 301 and 302,as Cannock to walsall routes too. Not sure of the difference between them though. There was also a 303 304 305 306 and 307 in the Cannock area but no idea where/which way thry went.

Tjere was also a 907 just before the 951 started, it was a limited stop

The 301-306 covered the many permutations of the various routes taken between Walsall and Cannock, and Cannock and Hednesford. For a time at least I think it was something along the lines of 301 direct to Cannock then via Pye Green to Hednesford, 302 via Cheslyn Hay to Cannock then via Chadsmoor to Hednesford, 303/304 via Great Wyrley (Hilton Lane or Quinton Avenue) to Cannock, then via Chadsmoor to Hednesford, and 305/306 as 303/304 to Cannock, then via Pye Green to Hednesford. Not sure about the 307. 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Got to say 1840 is a cracking Omnilink rode it on the 37 from Darlaston to Walsall on Friday I think it was the 14:07 off Willenhall no idea if it was late but I didn't an Omnilink could feel so quick. We were within the Speedlimit but the Engine/Gearbox had a slight howl/whistle/whine to it as well as the normal Omnilink sound. We certainly shifted down Walsall Road and the suspension was smooth I felt it lift up over a pothole on the junction of Darlaston Road and Old Pleck Road and there was barely any rattles. It was the first time an Omnilink has impressed me. I don't hate them as much as some people do I think they are good workhorses but they do lack character of the B10's and B6's they replaced on the Darlaston routes but 1840 was certainly no slouch and felt really smooth. The Omnilinks have done well in my opinion. I feel the B7's that I feel will replace them will do equally well.

And unrelated to above but is a B7 longer than an Omnilink I say this as even though they have the same amount of Seats a B7 seems like it can have more passengers on board than an Omnilink though that might be due to the Omnilinks low celing in the middle, an Omnilink also feels tighter as you get twoards the back. I'm average size for a bloke 5'10, quite leggy but skinny I can stretch at the back of an Omnilink but I have to sit twoards the side in a normal seat as I have no knee room. On a B7 there seems to be more space to put your knees maybe it is just me. 

[Tony]

Got to say 1840 is a cracking Omnilink rode it on the 37 from Darlaston to Walsall on Friday I think it was the 14:07 off Willenhall no idea if it was late but I didn't an Omnilink could feel so quick. We were within the Speedlimit but the Engine/Gearbox had a slight howl/whistle/whine to it as well as the normal Omnilink sound. We certainly shifted down Walsall Road and the suspension was smooth I felt it lift up over a pothole on the junction of Darlaston Road and Old Pleck Road and there was barely any rattles. It was the first time an Omnilink has impressed me. I don't hate them as much as some people do I think they are good workhorses but they do lack character of the B10's and B6's they replaced on the Darlaston routes but 1840 was certainly no slouch and felt really smooth. The Omnilinks have done well in my opinion. I feel the B7's that I feel will replace them will do equally well.

And unrelated to above but is a B7 longer than an Omnilink I say this as even though they have the same amount of Seats a B7 seems like it can have more passengers on board than an Omnilink though that might be due to the Omnilinks low celing in the middle, an Omnilink also feels tighter as you get twoards the back. I'm average size for a bloke 5'10, quite leggy but skinny I can stretch at the back of an Omnilink but I have to sit twoards the side in a normal seat as I have no knee room. On a B7 there seems to be more space to put your knees maybe it is just me.

They are virtually the same length, just a few centimetres in it

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

They are virtually the same length, just a few centimetres in it

Must just be I always thought the B7 was longer maybe it is the seat layout or something that makes me think the Omnilink is shorter and cramped twoards the back

[Tony]

Must just be I always thought the B7 was longer maybe it is the seat layout or something that makes me think the Omnilink is shorter and cramped twoards the back

Both classed as 12 metres, although the Scania is a few cm short and the B7RLE is a few cm over

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Both classed as 12 metres, although the Scania is a few cm short and the B7RLE is a few cm over

Fair enough Must just be me 

[Stu]

Must just be I always thought the B7 was longer maybe it is the seat layout or something that makes me think the Omnilink is shorter and cramped twoards the back

The B7RLE chassis design allows for more of the bus to be 'low floor', and there's less of a 'step up' at the rear, which makes it 'feel' like there is more room.

Both buses have the same seated capacity, 43.

[Bus_user_jay]

Out of interest, why are B7s never on the 39? Around a year ago though I did see one, even did a double take to make sure it wasn't a 34/37!

[Westy]

Out of interest, why are B7s never on the 39? Around a year ago though I did see one, even did a double take to make sure it wasn't a 34/37!

I would've thought there was some sort of issue with Bridgeman Street, but if the 39 has had one, then it must be something else?

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

The B7RLE chassis design allows for more of the bus to be 'low floor', and there's less of a 'step up' at the rear, which makes it 'feel' like there is more room.

Both buses have the same seated capacity, 43.

Ah right get you I guess the Omnilinks Low Celing at the back doesn't help either 

[Jack]

Out of interest, why are B7s never on the 39? Around a year ago though I did see one, even did a double take to make sure it wasn't a 34/37!

They aren't allowed because of Bridgeman Street, the curved roofs are too much of a tight call. Hence why I've only see Solo's, B6 and B10's and Omnilinks and E200's go under.

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

They aren't allowed because of Bridgeman Street, the curved roofs are too much of a tight call. Hence why I've only see Solo's, B6 and B10's and Omnilinks and E200's go under.

One has appeared on the 39 but it was maybe to tight for regular use on that route

[Bob]

Is there some sort of issue in Leamore? Coming from Walsall direction on X51 , been sat here ages and barely moved!!