Old bus routes

[monkeyjoe]

Random:-

I think my first ever job I used to use the 994A from Castle Bromwich - Birmingham Business Park. I think continued to the airport. Was a useful service whilst it lasted.

Can't remember what the difference was between that and the 993.

In a previous life before that was the 962. (Only as far as old 97 terminus though).

I do remember they wanted to introduce the 994 to go via Parkfield estate at on time to give fast link to city, but that never happened. I think with that service with RTA on the motorway and the whole issue of traffic on the Aston Expressway, the service became less attractive as an alternative to the 94 bla bla bla.

[37351ml]

The 2p child fares were on Mondays in March/April in 1981. I used to have a ride out after school.

[driver]

old 297 Stourbridge - merryhill - brierley hill - russells hall hosp - pensnett trading estate - gornal - dudley

293/4/5

311 to stourbridge

247/248

[vinh1000]

Routes I seem to have off my notes and things I remember

I really miss the 68A/C and 590A/C :)
12 Shirley
15 Lea Hall
19 ?? not the current day 19 by WMSNT
21 Bartley Green
26/26A went to Bromford..??
34 and 39 went to Pheasey (current day 33?)

921 (current X64??)
951, 952 and 953 i think went to somewhere in Cannock
964 Gannow
994A Birmingham Business Park
995 Birmingham - Brownhills West ?
996 Birmingham - Sutton Coldfield

Other numbers in my head from when I was a kid - 41,44, 52 (now 952), all the 90s (91,92,93,95,96)

[Sh4318]

The 88 (Blackheath - City), & 129 (Blackheath - City), 444 (West Bromwich - Bearwood) :'(

[settlerman]

The very old number 4. South Birmingham thing when Cotteridge Garage was open. Roughly the business end of the 35 is now, except it served the Green and Pershore Road South .. there must've been an agreement back then when the relief point was within spitting distance of the garage. Pre-86 I think, but I'm sure someone without a mind complaint can remember more clearly then my haze.

Yes, the 4 started around 1963 and first ran between Cotteridge and Pool Farm.  It was Birmingham Corporation's first postwar one person operated route, and was operated by Yardley Wood Garage - presumably there was no room for it at Cotteridge at the time.  The service was extended to Hawkesley in 1976, and then to Northfield via West Heath and Woodlands Road in 1978 when the cross city railway service started (Cotteridge and Yardley Wood shared the service from this time on).  I think it finished in 1986 and was replaced by an extended 27.

The 4 route was very hilly and used narrow roads - just like the 18 - so you may (or may not!) be surprised to learn that Yardley Wood's Jumbo Fleetlines (3881-3904) were mainly used on both routes in the WMPTE era.

I remember 3451 operating the 4. Did 2261 operate on that route prior to the arrival of 3451?

[John]

A lot of people miss the old 68a/c. They are not going to bring it back just because people miss it, the route was so bad at keeping on time due to the places it served been congested. I can not see any reason to bring it back.

The only one I really remember is the 996, with the DP Metrobuses used on there.

951/2/3 went to Hednesford I think

The 39 did go to Pheasey, would it have been the same route as the 33 though? The 34 went straight down Kingstanding Road rather then Warren Farm Road like the 33

Didn't the 19 go to Hasbury?

[wilmotm (Matt Wilmot)]

old 297 Stourbridge - merryhill - brierley hill - russells hall hosp - pensnett trading estate - gornal - dudley

Agree, for me anyway the 297 operating that full route was far far more useful and the link upto Dudley was well used can only think it was cut for cost reasons and the thinking that the 257 would do

[Stu]

Didn't the 19 go to Hasbury?

I remember it as a peak-time service only, couple of morning and evening journeys only.

[monkeyjoe]

Didn't the 19 go to Hasbury?

I remember it as a peak-time service only, couple of morning and evening journeys only.

It used to run all day Mon -sats using the Quinton by pass. Was reduced to a peak only service. Think for a short time was the 919??

[settlerman]

Didn't the 19 go to Hasbury?

I remember it as a peak-time service only, couple of morning and evening journeys only.

19 used to also be "The City Circle" in BCT days.

[Liverpool Street]

The very old number 4. South Birmingham thing when Cotteridge Garage was open. Roughly the business end of the 35 is now, except it served the Green and Pershore Road South .. there must've been an agreement back then when the relief point was within spitting distance of the garage. Pre-86 I think, but I'm sure someone without a mind complaint can remember more clearly then my haze.

Yes, the 4 started around 1963 and first ran between Cotteridge and Pool Farm.  It was Birmingham Corporation's first postwar one person operated route, and was operated by Yardley Wood Garage - presumably there was no room for it at Cotteridge at the time.  The service was extended to Hawkesley in 1976, and then to Northfield via West Heath and Woodlands Road in 1978 when the cross city railway service started (Cotteridge and Yardley Wood shared the service from this time on).  I think it finished in 1986 and was replaced by an extended 27.

The 4 route was very hilly and used narrow roads - just like the 18 - so you may (or may not!) be surprised to learn that Yardley Wood's Jumbo Fleetlines (3881-3904) were mainly used on both routes in the WMPTE era.

Thank you Justin, you've rekindled some memories for this old fool. :)

So now-a-days its the 35 & 18 which cover the 4? Interesting!

[Justin Tyme]

I remember 3451 operating the 4. Did 2261 operate on that route prior to the arrival of 3451?

A bit before my time, but various books have photos that show Oympics 2261 and others were indeed used at first.  They were replaced by single deck Fleetlines 3451 etc and they in turn were replaced by 80-seat two-door 'jumbo' Fleetlines in 1969.

My first trip on the 4 was on a 'jumbo' Fleetline.  It stands out in my mind because going up Parsons Hill (always slow on a jumbo) the driver accidentally changed down from second to 'doors' instead of first, and we rolled backwards a foot or two with the centre doors open.  The takeoff with a good load on the steepest part of the hill was a bit of an effort but we got there!

The 4 was a well used service because the 35 did not reach Pool Farm until the mid seventies.

[monkeyjoe]

I remember 3451 operating the 4. Did 2261 operate on that route prior to the arrival of 3451?

A bit before my time, but various books have photos that show Oympics 2261 and others were indeed used at first.  They were replaced by single deck Fleetlines 3451 etc and they in turn were replaced by 80-seat two-door 'jumbo' Fleetlines in 1969.

My first trip on the 4 was on a 'jumbo' Fleetline.  It stands out in my mind because going up Parsons Hill (always slow on a jumbo) the driver accidentally changed down from second to 'doors' instead of first, and we rolled backwards a foot or two with the centre doors open.  The takeoff with a good load on the steepest part of the hill was a bit of an effort but we got there!

The 4 was a well used service because the 35 did not reach Pool Farm until the mid seventies.

Where did the 35 used to terminate then? Parsons H.

[fleetline6477]

Didn't the 19 go to Hasbury?

I remember it as a peak-time service only, couple of morning and evening journeys only.

It used to run all day Mon -sats using the Quinton by pass. Was reduced to a peak only service. Think for a short time was the 919??

The 19 Birmingham - Quinton Expressway - Halesowen - Hasbury began to replace the Birminghm - Hasbury section of the 900
when it was curtailed to run Birmingham - Coventry and was run from Quinton using some of their new Lyxes. It eventually became the 19S / 919 and became peak times only. This possibly coincided with the closure of Quinton.

I miss the
20 Smethwick - Worlds End - Harborne
445 Smethwick - Brandhall - Halesowen - Hayley Green
258 Birmingham - Brandhall - Blackheath - Merry Hill - Wombourne - Wolverhampton