Being a Friday, it was my chance to spend some time getting ht most from my bus pass.
Earlier in the week, following my successful outing to Leamington and Kenilworth, I planned a route out to Northampton which Travelling assured me could be accomplished in a day. Checking Thursday night and, strangely, Travelling now said I wouldn’t get to my destination until about three in the afternoon. Even if I turned around and came straight back it could be nine by the time I finally got home.
I needed another plan.
With my left knee being particularly painful, so not wanting to walk too far, I scoured the Adventure Labs app for a cluster of AdLabs within a short walk of public transport. After a short search, I found a likely candidate in Wolverhampton.
But which way should I got to Wolvo ?
I started, well should have started, with the 09:33, 94 service to Birmingham, but that particular bus was missing so I actually started with the 09:55.
Arriving in the city centre, the bus now stops at the tram stop for Milennium Point and this was where I alighted.
To save my knee, I caught the tram for a few stops to Grand Central for New Street Railway Station.
The next train to Wolverhampton was in a couple of minutes followed by another in about ten.
I went for the latter train and made my way down to platform 2B where the West Midlands Railways train was waiting.
I climbed on board and made myself comfortable for the twenty minute journey stopping at Smethwick Galton Bridge and Wolverhampton.
The train left on time and as we approached Smethwick, a screen displayed the connecting services from that station. Top of the list was Dorridge.
Birmingham city centre is basically served by two (technically three) stations – New Street and Snow Hill / Moor Street which are next to each other on the Kidderminster to Stratford Upon Avon line.
Smethwick Galton Bridge is built on two levels and this is where the two lines cross with the New Street to Wolverhampton on the lower level with the Kiddy to Stratford above. I hatched a quick, on the fly, plan. Returning from Wolverhampton, I could get of at Galton Bridge, swap lines then go out, not to Dorridge but, to Earlswood. Why Earlswood ? there are some AdLabs located at stations on that stretch at Wythall and Earlswood. There are three others further on but my travel pass only allows travel to the edge of the travel West Midlands area – which in this direction is Earlswood.
Back to the current trip.
Arriving in Wolverhampton, I slowly made my way to St. Peters Church. This is the oldest part of Wolverhampton but more importantly, home of five AdLabs dotted around the grounds.
Within half an hour of arriving, I had answered all the questions and was heading back to the railway station.
My train pulled into Platform 4 a couple of minutes late but I was in no hurry.
I managed to bag a seat facing the wrong way but I’d only be on this train for a little over fifteen minutes.
I was slightly confused that the train that was travelling from Wolverhampton to Galton Bridge then terminating at New Street was telling passengers that the next stop was Stratford.
Stratford is in the opposite direction !
Luckily for me, the next station was in fact Galton Bridge where I alighted before making my way to the upper level where I had a ten minute wait for my next train.
Galton bridge (the actual bridge) spans the Birmingham Navigation Old Main Line canal which I had walked along many times. It looked a bit different from this height.
This handy porthole was a photo op. too good to pass by.
The train to Stratford arrived and I managed to bag a seat facing the right way.
We proceeded through The Hawthorns and Jewellery Quarter stations (both shared with the Midland Metro) and into Snow Hill.
Snow Hill used to serve the tram before it was extended into the city centre and its platform can still be seen, overgrown, behind a fence. Rumour has it that this platform may be resurrected for the trains.
From Snow Hill, the train now goes subterranean, passing under the city to emerge at the lovely station at Moor Street.
The train continued through Bordesley Station (only open for one train a week and that’s on a Saturday), Small Heath and Tyseley. From here the line splits going two ways to Stratford – one via Solihull (and Dorridge) and the one I was travelling, to Earlswood.
Passing through Wythall, I answered the AdLab question before arriving at Earlswood where I goto off and crossed over to the opposite platform. I answered the AdLab for here whilst I awaited the return service.
About ten minutes later than advertised, the train back towards Brum arrived.
I travelled three stops as far as Shirley from where I would catch a bus to Solihull.
As a fan of the Airplane franchise, I find the name Shirley somewhat amusing which may go some way to explaining why I picked this station as my final one of the day.
From just outside of the station building, I caught a 49 double decker which made it’s way along Shirley High Street before turning off to head into Solihull.
As I was alighting the 49, I noticed my next bus, the 72, was getting ready to go from an adjacent stop. I waved to the driver and put my hands together as in prayer. He must have taken pity as he waited for me to board.
The 72, as do a lot of buses, takes a rather circuitous route to Chelmsley Wood where I got off.
Having around fifteen minutes before my final bus of the day, I took a stroll around the shopping centre and was pleasantly surprised. It use to be a bit of a dump but look quite clean and tidy with a good mix of shops. One shop in particular caught my eye, Sweets and Treats – a cut price purveyor of sweets, cakes and the like. I did make a small purchase or two. Rude not to.
I made it back to the bus stop in plenty of time for the last bus, the 96 which dropped me about two hundred metres from home.