Solihull Food Festival heritage buses out from The Transport Museum Wythall

Over the weekend of 29th September to 1st October 2023, The Transport Museum Wythall had a couple of their heritage buses out in Solihull Town Centre for the Solihull Food Festival. I had a look on the 30th September 2023. West Bromwich Corporation 248 was at Station Approach, while WM Travel 6835 was going around the Town Centre with two stops on the way.

West Bromwich Corporation 248

248 NEA

I got to Station Approach near Solihull Station (closed due to ASLEF industrial action on Saturday 30th September 2023), to find West Bromwich Corporation 248 broken down, there was an engineer with the heritage bus at Station Approach bus stop A. I was thinking of riding it, until I realised it wouldn't go into service, so ended up walking into Solihull Town Centre instead.

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I'd previous seen West Bromwich Corporation 248 at The Transport Museum Wythall back on the August Bank Holiday Monday of 2022, and had a look inside of it (both decks).

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WM Travel 6835

WDA 835T

Metrobus

I first saw WM bus 6835 on the walk up Station Road towards Touchwood in Solihull Town Centre, as a fire engine went past.

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The 6835 bus was waiting outside of Touchwood, normally where the no 6 buses end their service from Birmingham, close to the entrance of Touchwood.

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I then went up to Starbucks in Touchwood, and from the first floor, saw 6835 come back around 20 minutes after I'd last seen it. Then a 6 arrived behind it.

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Later after a walk around New Road and Warwick Road, I got this view of it one more time from Poplar Road, before walking to the Solihull Town Centre bus stop near John Lewis to catch the 6 home. This was around half an hour after I got it from Starbucks above.

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After leaving Starbucks, I walked through Touchwood, and was able to see 6835 arriving at New Road close to The Masons Arms public house. Was a lot of traffic around here.

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I walked up New Road, then onto Warwick Road, when eventually 6835 passed me, before it would turn onto Poplar Road to the next stop.

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I previously saw 6835 back at the Birmingham Bus Bash at Cannon Hill Park, during September 2017. It was the second bus from the left. The one that said route 52, Beeches Estate via Walsall Road.

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And last saw 6835 at The Transport Museum Wythall during the August Bank Holiday Monday 2022 visit. It was the third bus on the left.

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Photos by Elliott Brown

WM 6600 bus in Walsall

On Saturday 19th June 2021, National Express West Midlands had a vintage bus rally around the Black Country. From Walsall to Wolverhampton. I travelled up to Walsall by train and went to Walsall Arboretum. After leaving, I only saw the WM 6600 bus on Broadway North, before it went up Littleton Street East. I did not spot any other heritage buses around.

WM Travel bus 6600

I was aware of National Express West Midlands having a vintage bus rally in the Black Country. This included their modern buses in the heritage liveries. This was on Saturday 19th June 2021.

Got the train up to Walsall Station, and walked to Walsall Arboretum. After a walk around the park, I exited from the Arboretum Lodge that I entered earier, I saw a vintage bus on Broadway North.

I quickly got some photos of it while it was at the traffic lights, but was a car in the way.

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There was no time to wait for the car to move out of the way.

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Was able to get one more shot of the bus with licence plate no: NOC 600R as it passed the lights. With route 39 on the rear. It was heading onto Littleton Street East. These roads are part of the Walsall ring road.

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I'd previously seen the same bus (WM Travel 6600, NOC 600R) at the Yardley Wood Bus Garage open day, back in November 2018. When it was displaying as route 74 to Wednesbury via Wednesbury (The modern 74 bus route goes from Birmingham to Dudley via West Bromwich).

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Look out for a Walsall Arboretum post coming soon!

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown