HBM: Arriva Midlands North 3695 (FJ13 BJU) in Bridgnorth - 18 Apr 2023 (P1150160)

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1329) – Bridgnorth is a medium sized market town alongside the River Severn in Shropshire. The town has two levels. The part by the river is Low Town where in the past the buildings alongside the river supported the commercial river traffic.

Rising quite dramatically behind the Low Town buildings fronting the river and set on an escarpment, is High Town where the High Street, Town Hall, Parish Church and Market became established. A castle was built in the 12th century. During the English Civil War Bridgnorth was a Royalist stronghold but in 1646 the Castle was captured and damaged by Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians.

The funicular railway which links Low Town and High Town can just be seen below the yellow fencing (top right) where re-building of a retaining wall is taking place. This problem has resulted in the funicular being out of use since December 2022. The two tramcars are parked halfway up (or perhaps halfway down!) the incline.

Arriva Midlands North 3695 (FJ13 BJU), an Optare Versa V1170 new in March 2013 allocated to Shrewsbury garage travels along Underhill Street when working the 1245 service 9 from Wolverhampton. Upon arrival at High Town it will become the 1335 service 436 to Shrewsbury.

The normal working pattern for the buses working this service is Shrewsbury-Bridgnorth service 436/Bridgnorth-Wolverhampton and return on service 9/Bridgnorth-Shrewsbury service 436. Each segment is around one hour therefore a four hour round trip.