Bridgnorth - Apr 2023

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1746) – Arriva Midlands North 2142 (MX12 CEY) seen passing through The North Gate in Bridgnorth when working the 1705 service 113 from Telford. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. Services 113-116 run between Bridgnorth and Telford via varying routes on varying days. Generally, there six trips Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturday. The North Gate is now the only remaining of the five town gates of Bridgnorth. The original structure dates from the 1740s although the outer facing dates from circa 1910. There is a rather delightful photograph on the Omnibus Society website taken in the 1950s of a Whittle’s Leyland Royal Tiger bus taken close to the same spot as this photo: theomnibussociety.zenfolio.com/p998617896

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1747) – Arriva Midlands North 2142 (MX12 CEY) seen in the High Street in Bridgnorth when working the 1745 service 114 to Shifnal. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. Services 113-116 run between Bridgnorth and Telford via varying routes on varying days. Generally, there six trips Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturday. Bridgnorth Town Hall occupies a central position in the High Street. Completed in 1652 it is an oak framed hall mounted on stone pillars. The area beneath the hall still provides covered accommodation for market traders almost 500 years later.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1300) – Arriva Midlands North 2141 (MX12 CEV) seen crossing the Bridgnorth Bridge over the River Severn when working Bridgnorth town service 101. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. High Town dominates the background. The funicular railway which links Low Town and High Town can just be seen below the yellow fencing (top left) where re-building of a retaining wall is taking place. This problem has resulted in the funicular being out of use since December 2022.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1300) – Arriva Midlands North 2141 (MX12 CEV) seen crossing the Bridgnorth Bridge over the River Severn when working Bridgnorth town service 101. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. There was some disruption to traffic flows around Low Town at the time of my visit as new pipework was being laid in Bridge Street and St. John’s Street. The clock tower carries a plaque to mark the location of the foundry of John Hazeldine who, in the early 1800s, built some of the locomotives and engines to the design of and ordered by Richard Trevethick.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1807) – Arriva Midlands North 3321 (FJ64 ETX) seen in the passing through The North Gate in Bridgnorth when arriving from Telford on the 1710 service 8. It is a Wright StreetLite DF new in January 2015 and allocated to Telford garage. The North Gate is now the only remaining of the five town gates of Bridgnorth. The original structure dates from the 1740s although the outer facing dates from circa 1910. Note the lettering in the stonework above the shop on the left which reads ‘Fire Engine Station’. There is a rather delightful photograph on the Omnibus Society website taken in the 1950s of a Whittle’s Leyland Royal Tiger bus taken close to the same spot as this photo: theomnibussociety.zenfolio.com/p998617896

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1807) – Arriva Midlands North 3321 (FJ64 ETX) seen in the High Street, Bridgnorth just after passing through The North Gate arriving from Telford on the 1710 service 8. It is a Wright StreetLite DF new in January 2015 and allocated to Telford garage. The North Gate is now the only remaining of the five town gates of Bridgnorth. The original structure dates from the 1740s although the outer facing dates from circa 1910. Note the lettering in the stonework above the shop on the left which reads ‘Fire Engine Station’. There is a rather delightful photograph on the Omnibus Society website taken in the 1950s of a Whittle’s Leyland Royal Tiger bus taken close to the same spot as this photo: theomnibussociety.zenfolio.com/p998617896

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1809) – Arriva Midlands North 3321 (FJ64 ETX) seen in the High Street, Bridgnorth having arrived from Telford on the 1710 service 8. It would continue to Low Town and then work back to Telford on the 1815 service 8. It is a Wright StreetLite DF new in January 2015 and allocated to Telford garage.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1809) – Arriva Midlands North 3321 (FJ64 ETX) seen in the High Street, Bridgnorth having arrived from Telford on the 1710 service 8. It was continuing to Low Town and then work back to Telford on the 1815 service 8. It is a Wright StreetLite DF new in January 2015 and allocated to Telford garage. Bridgnorth Town Hall occupies a central position in the High Street. Completed in 1652 it is an oak framed hall mounted on stone pillars. The area beneath the hall still provides covered accommodation for market traders almost 500 years later.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1329) – Arriva Midlands North 3695 (FJ13 BJU), an Optare Versa V1170 new in March 2013 allocated to Shrewsbury garage, seen in Low Town, Bridgnorth about to cross the Bridgnorth Bridge over the River Severn when working the 1245 service 9 from Wolverhampton. 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. There was some disruption to traffic flows around Low Town at the time of my visit as new pipework was being laid in Bridge Street and St. John’s Street. The clock tower carries a plaque to mark the location of the foundry of John Hazeldine who, in the early 1800s, built some of the locomotives and engines to the design of and ordered by Richard Trevethick.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1329) – Arriva Midlands North 3695 (FJ13 BJU), an Optare Versa V1170 new in March 2013 allocated to Shrewsbury garage, seen in Low Town, Bridgnorth crossing the Bridgnorth Bridge over the River Severn when working the 1245 service 9 from Wolverhampton. 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. High Town dominates the background. The funicular railway which links Low Town and High Town can just be seen below the yellow fencing (above the white building at the end of the footpath) where re-building of a retaining wall is taking place. This problem has resulted in the funicular being out of use since December 2022.

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.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1353) – Arriva Midlands North 2142 (MX12 CEY) seen in the High Street, Bridgnorth when working the 1350 service 113 to Telford. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. Services 113-116 run between Bridgnorth and Telford via varying routes on varying days. Generally, there six trips Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturday. Bridgnorth Town Hall occupies a central position in the High Street. Completed in 1652 it is an oak framed hall mounted on stone pillars. The area beneath the hall still provides covered accommodation for market traders almost 500 years later.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1353) – Arriva Midlands North 2142 (MX12 CEY) seen in the High Street, Bridgnorth when working the 1350 service 113 to Telford. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. Services 113-116 run between Bridgnorth and Telford via varying routes on varying days. Generally, there six trips Monday to Friday and 4 on Saturday. Bridgnorth features some fine old buildings. The Italianate style tower in the background is the New Market Buildings opened in 1855. Built to provide accommodation for the street market traders but it is said the traders were reluctant to such change.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1456) – A seat outside the Old Swan in the High Street, Bridgnorth gave opportunity to people watch and bus watch. Obscured by the delivery van, Bridgnorth Town Hall occupies a central position in the High Street. Completed in 1652 it is an oak framed hall mounted on stone pillars. The area beneath the hall still provides covered accommodation for market traders almost 500 years later. Arriva Midlands North 2985 (YJ09 LBK), an Optare Versa V1170 new in April 2009, was passing by having worked the 1345 service 436 from Shrewsbury which now appeared to be out of service in preparation for a school contract run.

Tuesday 18 April 2023 (1754) – Arriva Midlands North 2141 (MX12 CEV) passing through The North Gate in Bridgnorth when working town service 101. It is an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in April 2012 allocated to Telford garage. The North Gate is now the only remaining of the five town gates of Bridgnorth. The original structure dates from the 1740s although the outer facing dates from circa 1910.

Wednesday 19 April 2023 (1054) – Arriva Midlands North 2512 (YJ58 CCU), an Optare Solo SR new in October 2008 allocated to Telford garage, seen in the High Street in Bridgnorth just prior to working the town service 101. This was the only trip on service 101 (which runs hourly all day) for this particular bus today. From the Bus Times website (www.bustimes.org) it ran the following journeys over the day: 0724 Telford local service 13 Ketley Bank-Town Centre 0745 0805 Oakengates-Telford service 13 0835 0840 Telford-Lawley-Telford service 11 0858 0930 Telford-Bridgnorth (Low Town) service 8 1035 1050 Bridgnorth town service 101 1134 1215 Bridgnorth (Low Town)-Telford service 8 1320 1330 Telford-Bridgnorth (Low Town) service 8 1435 1550 Bridgnorth (Oldbury Wells School)-Kidderminster service 297 1638 1700 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth (High Town) service 297 1740 1745 Bridgnorth (High Town)-Kidderminster service 297 1832 1832 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth (High Town) service 297 1912 1915 Bridgnorth (Low Town)-Telford service 8 2020

Wednesday 19 April 2023 (1054) – Arriva Midlands North 2512 (YJ58 CCU), an Optare Solo SR new in October 2008 allocated to Telford garage, seen in the High Street in Bridgnorth. In the background is The North Gate, now the only remaining of the five town gates of Bridgnorth. The original structure dates from the 1740s although the outer facing dates from circa 1910. The bus was seen just prior to working the town service 101 which was the only trip it would work on this service (which runs hourly all day) today. From the Bus Times website (www.bustimes.org) it ran the following journeys over the day: 0724 Telford local service 13 Ketley Bank-Town Centre 0745 0805 Oakengates-Telford service 13 0835 0840 Telford-Lawley-Telford service 11 0858 0930 Telford-Bridgnorth (Low Town) service 8 1035 1050 Bridgnorth town service 101 1134 1215 Bridgnorth (Low Town)-Telford service 8 1320 1330 Telford-Bridgnorth (Low Town) service 8 1435 1550 Bridgnorth (Oldbury Wells School)-Kidderminster service 297 1638 1700 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth (High Town) service 297 1740 1745 Bridgnorth (High Town)-Kidderminster service 297 1832 1832 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth (High Town) service 297 1912 1915 Bridgnorth (Low Town)-Telford service 8 2020

Wednesday 19 April 2023 (1055) – Arriva Midlands North 2512 (YJ58 CCU), an Optare Solo SR new in October 2008 allocated to Telford garage, seen in the High Street in Bridgnorth leaving on the town service 101. This was the only trip on service 101 (which runs hourly all day) for this particular bus today. Bridgnorth Town Hall occupies a central position in the High Street. Completed in 1652 it is an oak framed hall mounted on stone pillars. The area beneath the hall still provides covered accommodation for market traders almost 500 years later. From the Bus Times website (www.bustimes.org) it ran the following journeys over the day: 0724 Telford local service 13 Ketley Bank-Town Centre 0745 0805 Oakengates-Telford service 13 0835 0840 Telford-Lawley-Telford service 11 0858 0930 Telford-Bridgnorth (Low Town) service 8 1035 1050 Bridgnorth town service 101 1134 1215 Bridgnorth (Low Town)-Telford service 8 1320 1330 Telford-Bridgnorth (Low Town) service 8 1435 1550 Bridgnorth (Oldbury Wells School)-Kidderminster service 297 1638 1700 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth (High Town) service 297 1740 1745 Bridgnorth (High Town)-Kidderminster service 297 1832 1832 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth (High Town) service 297 1912 1915 Bridgnorth (Low Town)-Telford service 8 2020