Round Trips

[Metrorider]

Spot on my friend! I've been told by 2 people that the driver who questioned me is ex-Diamond so THAT pretty much says it all!!

What's that supposed to mean?? I'm ex Diamond and am very spotter friendly as I would imagine are most diamond drivers.

[Tara4352]

Anyway Back on topic
My round trip
1304 LM service to Birmingham new street
1322 VT service to Coventry
4892 8A to Pool Meadow Bus Station
4886 8 to Coventry Rail Station
1445 VT service to Wolverhapmpton
1557 39 to Walsall
836 35 to Yew tree
1879 4h to Oldbury

[iamwilljh92]

What's that supposed to mean?? I'm ex Diamond and am very spotter friendly as I would imagine are most diamond drivers.

No there were a few in Kidderminster (who have now left) who had issues with spotters

[Metrorider]

Side 1 = drivers are humans too. perhaps they don't want their face plastered over the internet and feel their privacy is being violated.

Side 2 = with cameras everywhere these days you cannot expect privacy in a public place, and what harm does a photo do.

Neither side is going to convince the other that they are right.

Very true and a good way to draw a line under things :-)

[Westy]

Certainly if the photo is taken in such a way that the driver's face is not visible, then there shouldn't be a problem!

By the way, while I was up in Scouseland last week, I spotted one of the Red Bull promotional vehicles in a side street.

I spotted a couple of blondes in said vehicle & asked their permission before taking the photo.

Bearing in mind the vehicle had tinted windows, their faces weren't visible as far as I remember.

[Metrorider]

The one thought that does come to mind Will if you don't mind me saying is you were standing there with a rotala coat and tie on taking pictures of a driver that left rotala 2 weeks ago. Under those circumstances if I was that driver I may have been inclined to ask why someone in rotala uniform was taking pictures of me.

As far as I'm aware (after speaking to the driver) you told the driver you were a bus spotter and that was the end of the matter. I'm not being critical of you or trying to start an argument but you need to remember you were in Rotala uniform and that driver genuinely hadn't got a clue who you were.

[Tony]

Half an hour by a fare dodger, couldn't you have transferred to another bus?

The strange thing is 4871 was never more than 10 minutes late at any point during the afternoon!

[Kevin]

Currently in Sheffield for a music festival at The Corporation, naturally during the day today I had a play on the trams and a bit beyond that

Tram 103 - 10:13 Fitzalan Square - Meadowhall
NT 142089 - 10:30 Meadowhall to Rotherham (couldn't resist the lure of a Pacer)
NT 144008 - 10:45 Rotherham to Meadowhall (and one back again!)
First 37261 - X78 - 10:57 Meadowhall to city centre
First 37263 - X78 - 11:14 city centre back to Meadowhall
Tram 106 - 11:43 Meadowhall to Cathedral
Tram 120 (in heritage livery) - 12:05 Cathedral to Herdings Park
First 37473 - 48 - 12:29 Herdings Park to Gleadless Road (half hour between trams thought I'd do a loop round Gleadless valley)
First 37106 - 47 - 12:52 Gleadless Road to Herdings Park (was 15 late, as two turned up together, and so missed the tram...)
Tram 119 - 13:27 Herdings Park to Gleadless Townend
Tram 107 - 13:38 Gleadless Townend to Halfway (could have got a hybrid from there on the 120 round to another tram stop, but the conductor on the tram was fit and was chatting with her about the festival so...)
Tram 107 - 13:57 Halfway to Shalesmoor (end of the line because of engineering works)
Stop off for pint at The Wellington, fantastic real ale pub and perfect for the tram stop
Tram 105 - 15:21 Shalesmoor - Fitzalan Square
Back to hotel and on to Corp for day two...

[Stu]

Was at work today, but after finishing early, I didn't fancy going straight home so took a very roundabout way instead, a mini-round trip if you like.

31 from Acocks Green to Sparkbrook.
Few hours at work.
Walked from work to Moseley Road.
Got the 50 all the way to Druids Heath (terminus on Bells Lane)
After checking the NX app, with a bit of time to kill, walked round to Harbinger Lane.
49 to Haslucks Green Road.
Walked to Sandy Lane stop on Stratford Road, then got the 1 back to Acocks Green.

[Cheese]

Currently in Sheffield for a music festival at The Corporation, naturally during the day today I had a play on the trams and a bit beyond that

Tram 103 - 10:13 Fitzalan Square - Meadowhall
NT 142089 - 10:30 Meadowhall to Rotherham (couldn't resist the lure of a Pacer)
NT 144008 - 10:45 Rotherham to Meadowhall (and one back again!)
First 37261 - X78 - 10:57 Meadowhall to city centre
First 37263 - X78 - 11:14 city centre back to Meadowhall
Tram 106 - 11:43 Meadowhall to Cathedral
Tram 120 (in heritage livery) - 12:05 Cathedral to Herdings Park
First 37473 - 48 - 12:29 Herdings Park to Gleadless Road (half hour between trams thought I'd do a loop round Gleadless valley)
First 37106 - 47 - 12:52 Gleadless Road to Herdings Park (was 15 late, as two turned up together, and so missed the tram...)
Tram 119 - 13:27 Herdings Park to Gleadless Townend
Tram 107 - 13:38 Gleadless Townend to Halfway (could have got a hybrid from there on the 120 round to another tram stop, but the conductor on the tram was fit and was chatting with her about the festival so...)
Tram 107 - 13:57 Halfway to Shalesmoor (end of the line because of engineering works)
Stop off for pint at The Wellington, fantastic real ale pub and perfect for the tram stop
Tram 105 - 15:21 Shalesmoor - Fitzalan Square
Back to hotel and on to Corp for day two...

There are many more fantastic real ale pubs in the general vicinity of the Wellington, Kelham Island Tavern, Fat Cat, Harlequin, Gardeners Rest to name but a few.  Not sure a trip round Gleadless Valley is the best of things to do, scenic in its own way I suppose!  Oh, and I wouldn't recommend Herdings Park after dark, think the 47/48 may still be diverted away from there after around 7PM...

[Tara4352]

1404 LM Service to Birmingham New Street Class 323
Stop at MC DONALDS
1439 LM Service to Birmingham International Class 323
1506 LM service to Birmingham New Street Class 350
1527 LM service to Tame Bridge PKway Class 323
Rail Replacement Bus was A Midland Classic B7RLE
1703 529 FROM Walsall Bus Station to Wolverhampton Bus Station
1750 LM SERVICE TO Sandwell and Dudley

[Kiewii]

1404 LM Service to Birmingham New Street Class 323
Stop at MC DONALDS
1439 LM Service to Birmingham International Class 323
1506 LM service to Birmingham New Street Class 350
1527 LM service to Tame Bridge PKway Class 323
Rail Replacement Bus was A Midland Classic B7RLE
1703 529 FROM Walsall Bus Station to Wolverhampton Bus Station
1750 LM SERVICE TO Sandwell and Dudley

Midland Classic don't have any B7RLEs

[Kevin]

There are many more fantastic real ale pubs in the general vicinity of the Wellington, Kelham Island Tavern, Fat Cat, Harlequin, Gardeners Rest to name but a few.  Not sure a trip round Gleadless Valley is the best of things to do, scenic in its own way I suppose!  Oh, and I wouldn't recommend Herdings Park after dark, think the 47/48 may still be diverted away from there after around 7PM...

Yeah I'm doing more pubs round there tomorrow, I can walk round Kelham Island quite easy between hotel breakfast and first band in the afternoon, today was mainly for the travelling. Also the trams are severely cut back tomorrow, they aren't even going into the city, going direct between Hyde Park and the station on the third side of the Triangle

[the trainbasher]

02.04.2015

226   20869      Diamond Bus   Hawbush Road   Brierley Hill, Five Ways
297   1629      NXWM   Brierley Hill, Five Ways   Merry Hill, Bus Station
81   861      NXWM   Merry Hill, Bus Station   Netherton, Town Centre
243   823      NXWM   Netherton, Town Centre   Dudley, Bus Station
27A   863      NXWM   Dudley, Bus Station   Eve Hill, Wolverhampton Street/Grange Road
1   5412      NXWM   Eve Hill, Wolverhampton Street/Grange Road   Sedgley, Market Place
224   2159      Arriva Midlands North   Sedgley, Market Place   Priestfield, Millfields Road/Tarmac Road
530      V258DRB   Banga Travel   Priestfield, Millfields Road/Tarmac Road   Bilston, Bus Station
545      S232EWU   Banga Travel   Bilston, Bus Station   Monmore Green, Willenhall Road/Hickman Avenue
529   4604      NXWM   Monmore Green, Willenhall Road/Hickman Avenue   Wolverhampton, Bus Station
33      Y181KNB   Travel Express   Wolverhampton, Bus Station   Wolverhampton, Stafford Street/University
4A   3735      Arriva Midlands North   Wolverhampton, Stafford Street/University   Wolverhampton, Waterloo Road/Molineux Stadium
4A   4800      Arriva Midlands North   Wolverhampton, Waterloo Road/Molineux Stadium   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Gorsebrook Road
54   854      NXWM   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Gorsebrook Road   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Polish Church
877   4   V509NOF   Select Bus Services   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Polish Church   Oxley, Stafford Road/Lodge Road
4   2014      NXWM   Oxley, Stafford Road/Lodge Road   Oxley, Probert Road/Oxley Moor Road
4   2028      NXWM   Oxley, Probert Road/Oxley Moor Road   Oxley, Stafford Road/Lodge Road
76   3720      Arriva Midlands North   Oxley, Stafford Road/Lodge Road   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Polish Church
3   2012      NXWM   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Polish Church   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Gorsebrook Road
33   4009      NXWM   Dunstall, Stafford Road/Gorsebrook Road   Wolverhampton, Stafford Street/University
11   620      NXWM   Wolverhampton, Stafford Street/University   Wolverhampton, Bus Station
529   4594      NXWM   Wolverhampton, Bus Station   Monmore Green, Willenhall Road/Hickman Avenue
82   4017      NXWM   Monmore Green, Willenhall Road/Hickman Avenue   St Chads, Moseley Road/Bilston Road
545      S238EWU   Banga Travel   St Chads, Moseley Road/Bilston Road   Bilston, Bus Station
334      S519TCF   Thandi Transport   Bilston, Bus Station   Rough Hay, Blockall/St Josephs School
34   1436      NXWM   Rough Hay, Blockall/St Josephs School   Darlaston, Bus Station
333X      W773URP   Sandwell Travel   Darlaston, Bus Station   Fallings Heath, Walsall Road/Salisbury Street
334      TBZ5873   Thandi Transport   Fallings Heath, Walsall Road/Salisbury Street   New Mills, Wednesbury Road/Pleck Road
9   2111      Arriva Midlands North   New Mills, Wednesbury Road/Pleck Road   New Mills, Wednesbury Road/Bescot Crescent
313   1883      NXWM   New Mills, Wednesbury Road/Bescot Crescent   Caldmore, Walsall Almshouses
401E   20868      Diamond Bus   Caldmore, Walsall Almshouses   Walsall, Bradford Place
4   1891      NXWM   Walsall, Bradford Place   Caldmore, Caldmore Road/Hart Street
4H   1885      NXWM   Caldmore, Caldmore Road/Hart Street   Caldmore, West Bromwich Street/Little London
4   1892      NXWM   Caldmore, West Bromwich Street/Little London   Palfrey, Weston Street/Weston Close
4   30408      Diamond Bus   Palfrey, Weston Street/Weston Close   Tame Bridge Parkway, Railway Station
4   30455      Diamond Bus   Tame Bridge Parkway, Railway Station   Stone Cross, The Stone Cross
4   1880      NXWM   Stone Cross, The Stone Cross   Charlemont Farm, Walsall Road/Thursfield Road
4   30512      Diamond Bus   Charlemont Farm, Walsall Road/Thursfield Road   Hall End, All Saints Way/Church Vale
4M   1858      NXWM   Hall End, All Saints Way/Church Vale   West Bromwich, Bus Station
289   1642      NXWM   West Bromwich, Bus Station   Lamberts End, Bromford Lane/Cambridge Street
4H   1850      NXWM   Lamberts End, Bromford Lane/Cambridge Street   Lamberts End, Bromford Lane/Caroline Street
4E   1851      NXWM   Lamberts End, Bromford Lane/Caroline Street   Sandwell and Dudley, Railway Station
4H   30827      Diamond Bus   Sandwell and Dudley, Railway Station   Oldbury, Interchange
4   1882      NXWM   Oldbury, Interchange   Langley, Churchbridge/Birchley Crossing
4H   1854      NXWM   Langley, Churchbridge/Birchley Crossing   Whiteheath, Gate
4H   30411      Diamond Bus   Whiteheath, Gate   Blackheath, Sainsburys
12   2257      Arriva Midlands North   Blackheath, Sainsburys   Coombeswood, Coombes Road/Station Road
4H   30816      Diamond Bus   Coombeswood, Coombes Road/Station Road   Halesowen, Bus Station
244   867      NXWM   Halesowen, Bus Station   Hayley Green, Portsdown Road/Mendip Road
244E   867      NXWM   Hayley Green, Portsdown Road/Mendip Road   Halesowen, Bus Station
141   4356      NXWM   Halesowen, Bus Station   Cradley Heath, High Street
241E   4349      NXWM   Cradley Heath, High Street   Halesowen, Bus Station
141   4352      NXWM   Halesowen, Bus Station   Cradley Heath, High Street
241   4192      NXWM   Cradley Heath, High Street   Cradley Heath, Railway Station
4M   1762      NXWM   Cradley Heath, Railway Station   Quarry Bank, High Street
208   2159      NXWM   Quarry Bank, High Street   Merry Hill, Bus Station
226   2104      NXWM   Merry Hill, Bus Station   Hawbush Road

A Very Busy Day indeed!!!

[Reece]

04/04/15 Today I decided to get a nbus day ticket...

( Met up with @Will )

London Midland > Kidderminster Railway Station - Stourbridge Junction (172211+172219)
Diamond | 142 > Brook Road, Stourbridge Junction - Halesowen Bus Station (20519) KP51UFC
NXWM | 141 > Halesowen Bus Station - Birmingham, Colmore Row (4202) Y808TOH
NXWM | 957 > Birmingham, Moor Street - Solihull Interchange (4913) BX13JWO
Diamond | S11 > Solihull Interchange - Solihull Interchange (20014) YJ10MFY
Diamond | 82 > Solihull Interchange - Solihull, Station Road (30019) BV10ZJU
(We spent an hour in Solihull and got some lunch)
NXWM | 957 > Solihull Interchange - Birmingham, Moor Street (4911) BX13JWM
Diamond | 50 > Birmingham, Moor Street - Maypole, Maypole Lane (30405) YJ61CHK
igo/wmsnt | 19 > Maypole, Maypole Lane - Frankly, Holly Hill Shops (2103) YD63UZX
Diamond | 202 > Frankly, Holly Hill Shops -  Halesowen Bus Station (30943) BK13NZU
Diamond | 142 > Halesowen Bus Station - Brook Road, Stourbridge Junction (20519) KP51UFC
London Midland > Stourbridge Junction - Kidderminster Railway Station (172218)

( Left @Will at Kidderminster Railway Station and I ran into town to catch the last 2L )

Diamond | 2L > Kidderminster, Oxford Street - Home (30932) VX54MUP

I Had a Great Day 8)