Walsall Garage

[PB50]

It could display 'Via Reedswood Retail Park' if they wanted to, but they'd have to alter the 70's displays to match!

Back in the Pte days, it used to operate Stephenson Avenue both ways & turn at a turning circle where the Magic Lantern is. It was the 335 then & the 33 before then.

I never knew the 335 used to go round Beechdale. I've only ever remembered that going round Alumwell. I've learnt something new.

[Westy]

I never knew the 335 used to go round Beechdale. I've only ever remembered that going round Alumwell. I've learnt something new.

Right, quick lesson.

15 & 30 became 329 & 330 Bloxwich, Leamore & Blakenall Circulars. (Present day 29)

33 became 333 & 334 Bloxwich, Leamore, Dudleys Fields & Beechdale Circulars & additionally the 335 as far as the Magic Lantern(Destination showed 'Bloxwich Lane Cavendish Road'!). (Present day 70 / 70a)

31 & 32 became 331 & 332 (Present day 31 & 32)

At some point in early 80's, the evening & Sunday services on the above became 370 / 371, covering 331, 333, 334 & 335, while 372 & 373 covered 329, 330 & 332.

Deregulation made 370 to 373 full time services for a few years, until competition with Chase & Choice brought back the separate services & gradually became the current network.

It's probably a bit more complicated, as numbers were allocated to different areas of Walsall at some point, as you said the 335 served Alumwell, plus the 330 & 331 eventually served Bentley & Lodge Farm too.

(Wonder if it's worth scanning the various maps I have?)

[Wba_lad]

Right, quick lesson.

15 & 30 became 329 & 330 Bloxwich, Leamore & Blakenall Circulars. (Present day 29)

33 became 333 & 334 Bloxwich, Leamore, Dudleys Fields & Beechdale Circulars & additionally the 335 as far as the Magic Lantern(Destination showed 'Bloxwich Lane Cavendish Road'!). (Present day 70 / 70a)

31 & 32 became 331 & 332 (Present day 31 & 32)

At some point in early 80's, the evening & Sunday services on the above became 370 / 371, covering 331, 333, 334 & 335, while 372 & 373 covered 329, 330 & 332.

Deregulation made 370 to 373 full time services for a few years, until competition with Chase & Choice brought back the separate services & gradually became the current network.

It's probably a bit more complicated, as numbers were allocated to different areas of Walsall at some point, as you said the 335 served Alumwell, plus the 330 & 331 eventually served Bentley & Lodge Farm too.

(Wonder if it's worth scanning the various maps I have?)

I always thought the 31 and 32 before was always the 301 and 302, was 331 and 332 their numbers before 301 and 302? 

[Westy]

I always thought the 31 and 32 before was always the 301 and 302, was 331 and 332 their numbers before 301 and 302?

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!

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

Right, quick lesson.

15 & 30 became 329 & 330 Bloxwich, Leamore & Blakenall Circulars. (Present day 29)

33 became 333 & 334 Bloxwich, Leamore, Dudleys Fields & Beechdale Circulars & additionally the 335 as far as the Magic Lantern(Destination showed 'Bloxwich Lane Cavendish Road'!). (Present day 70 / 70a)

31 & 32 became 331 & 332 (Present day 31 & 32)

At some point in early 80's, the evening & Sunday services on the above became 370 / 371, covering 331, 333, 334 & 335, while 372 & 373 covered 329, 330 & 332.

Deregulation made 370 to 373 full time services for a few years, until competition with Chase & Choice brought back the separate services & gradually became the current network.

It's probably a bit more complicated, as numbers were allocated to different areas of Walsall at some point, as you said the 335 served Alumwell, plus the 330 & 331 eventually served Bentley & Lodge Farm too.

(Wonder if it's worth scanning the various maps I have?)

So what was the 334 now current 34 numbered back then. And On some of the old MK1 Metrobus photos the 334 (34) was shown as going to Wolverhampton I thought this was the 333 (37 in part) these days. I also don't understand why NX didn't renumber the 37 to the 33. It was listed that the 40 was withdrawn and replaced by the 333 which would have been what the old 333 would have been renumbered to

[Westy]

https://we.tl/t-mFYSwSp0gU

What you have in this WeTransfer link(It's legal before you ask, as we use it at work as well!), which is valid for 7 days, is a list of Walsall Corp routes in the late 60's & a selection of screenshots of maps covering 1973 to 1998 hopefully centered on Walsall.

(Taken on my phone, so apologies for the quality!)

I have later ones up to 2019, but haven't got them to hand at the moment.

[Rachvince53]

Surely the 333 was introduced as a part replacement for the 531 (Wolverhampton to Walsall via Bentley and Beechdale) which continued beyond Wolverhampton Road West to enter Walsall via Darlaston?  Or was this an earlier 333. 

With regards to the 335, I think at one point it just had "Circular" possibly when it was operated by Wright Crusaders. 

[Steve3229vp]

Surely the 333 was introduced as a part replacement for the 531 (Wolverhampton to Walsall via Bentley and Beechdale) which continued beyond Wolverhampton Road West to enter Walsall via Darlaston?  Or was this an earlier 333.

With regards to the 335, I think at one point it just had "Circular" possibly when it was operated by Wright Crusaders.

The 333 that replaced the 531 was introduced in 1987.
The 333/334 that operated before deregulation (October 1986) was a circular from Walsall serving Beechdale, Bloxwich and Leamore, the 335 was Walsall to Beechdale (Stephenson Avenue).

[Westy]

The 333 that replaced the 531 was introduced in 1987.
The 333/334 that operated before deregulation (October 1986) was a circular from Walsall serving Beechdale, Bloxwich and Leamore, the 335 was Walsall to Beechdale (Stephenson Avenue).

335's blind terminus was Bloxwich Lane Cavendish Road. (Turning circle by the Magic Lantern pub)

[Wumpty]

It would've done (I think?) if it had been a 333 operating the full circular via Beechdale & Dudleys Fields, in fact would've mentioned both on the blind!

What I'll do later, I'll repost the 1981 blind list I have, when 119L was being discussed ages ago, unless anyone who downloaded it ages ago still has it to hand.

Many of the Track routes that did short routes displayed Circular via xxxxx to save constant blind changes. Only the TRUE circulars displayed the Circular via, then Beechdale & Mossley or, further back, via Beechdale and Dudleys Fields.

In all fairness, the 70A is only a short route that happens to call via Reedswood Retail Park (though I'd display it as Sainsbury's Reedswood). It doesn't really warrant a full reprogramme.

I'd really love to see that blind list @Westy !!!!

[Westy]

Many of the Track routes that did short routes displayed Circular via xxxxx to save constant blind changes. Only the TRUE circulars displayed the Circular via, then Beechdale & Mossley or, further back, via Beechdale and Dudleys Fields.

In all fairness, the 70A is only a short route that happens to call via Reedswood Retail Park (though I'd display it as Sainsbury's Reedswood). It doesn't really warrant a full reprogramme.

I'd really love to see that blind list @Westy !!!!

Didn't you get it when I posted it before, when 119L destination displays were discussed last year, as it will be the same one?

[Wumpty]

Didn't you get it when I posted it before, when 119L destination displays were discussed last year, as it will be the same one?

Probably, but I've slept since then LOL!

[karl724223]

Probably, but I've slept since then LOL!

You fell asleep with boredom 😂

[Wba_lad]

A Walsall 67** just went passed stone cross not in service, I'm assuming it's going to West Bromwich garage, possibly for MOT.

[Westy]

https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/85844243/posts/23053

https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/85844243/posts/23606

A couple of Mark Fitchew blogs that might answer some questions.