As I was saying...

What was that I said, I couldn't be bothered to do a bigger update? Well I must have got a second wind from somewhere, as yesterday evening I squeaked through a couple more updates, leaving me feeling a wee bit sheepish after all that moaning.

The updates have been provided for WME Birmingham and WME Staffordshire: the Birmingham developments focus on the Lea Hall Station collection, with yet another photo of that infernal arch artwork, plus a couple of platform views - all useful stuff but I would like a bit more variety as the five current photos are all a bit samey. Talking of samey, a few bridges on the Shropshire Union canal look very similar, especially Bridges 16 and 17. Along with a couple of views of Bridge 15, these comprise the new additions to WME Staffordshire and mean that the canal content here is expanding quite impressively.

So there you are, an update you probably weren't expecting. To avoid making the same mistake twice, I'm going to resist the temptation to make any more sweeping statements about a lack of motivation - the next update will arrive as and when it suits, and I'll leave it at that!

A little WME Wolverhampton update

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY! No, I haven't taken up darts (although I might be tempted!) - the 180 refers instead to the number of photos on the ever expanding WME Wolverhampton gallery. The latest little update sees the arrival of more useful new additions...

• On Wolverhampton Station, I've added a photo of the Wednesfield Road entrance to the station. I quite like the picture, although it is a little complicated trying to describe the station site with all its passages and subways and the High and Low Levels, still I tried my best. The collection is coming along nicely, with a total of 12 photos including shots of the station entrance, some general station views and a handful of trains. Whilst being far from exhaustive, the collection is now doing what I intended by providing a useful impression of the station scene.
• The rest of the new photos are on Wolverhampton by Bus, and they're all pictures of the 534 at Wolverhampton - a bit monotonous I know, but I went a bit mad on Choice Travel back in 2005, ending up with a whole host of photos of their vehicles on layover at the bus station. Five of these pictures have been added today, although goodness knows how many more might be lurking in the vaults waiting to be unearthed! I must admit I quite like the idea of focusing on a route and building up a series of pictures of it, so we'll probably see more and more of this kind of thing as WME continues to grow. The net result is that Wolverhampton by Bus now contains a healthy 38 photos and the other operators (ie - not TWM) quota is boosted a little too.

I had planned to do a big update today, but for some reason (trauma from another England cricket humiliation perhaps?) I just don't feel like it. This lack of motivation seems a bit strange considering that I've got some exciting new May & June 2005 photos on WME1 waiting to be included, so there are plenty of potential updates in store. Yet somehow, I can't quite be bothered, so you'll have to make do with a few 534s for the time being!

A bit of a breakthrough

It's been a good last few days at WME, as I've finally made some real progress both in terms of updates and trawling the archive. I seem to have spent ages and ages going over the same old photos, so it was great to finally get stuck into some newer stuff by editing up my photos from April and May 2005. The results can now be found on WME1, including some very useful looking photos of routes 92 and 99 on Solitest, whilst a few have even been homed already as part of the latest round of updates.

Looking at those updates, and the big beneficiaries once again were WME Wolverhampton and WME Birmingham as the battle for the 'Biggest WME Gallery' title really started hotting up. Birmingham took the lead with 171 photos, only for Wolverhampton to reclaim its crown with a swift overtaking manoeuvre to move on to 174.

Focusing on the WME Birmingham updates next, and these were quite significant due to the inclusion of the afore-mentioned newer material. Birmingham by Bus receives 5 new photos, all from the Rog Roughley trip in April 2005, representing great memories from visiting Roughley (along with not-so-great memories from Turves Green) and taking the collection's running total to 30 photos. There are also a couple more train photos on Longbridge Station from the same trip, whilst there's a useful addition to Erdington Station as well, meaning both collections now contain a more healthy tally of 5 photos each.

Nothing too exciting as regards the other galleries; the WME Wolverhampton update concentrates mainly on canals as a clearout on Wolvtest results in all four canal collections receiving additions. WME Coventry gets a nice Coventry by Bus addition in the shape of the 21 at Broadgate, whilst WME Sandwell gets a couple more Midland Metro photos at The Hawthorns plus a new train photo for Smethwick Galton Bridge. The Dudley, Walsall and Staffordshire galleries also had the odd extra thrown in should you wish to investigate.

A quick summary then, and for once I actually feel like I'm getting on top of things with WME, though I don't expect that to last for very long! The archive trawls have served their purpose well, as WME has filled out nicely to give a better foundation into which I can now introduce the more recent layers of exploration. Enjoy the updates and keep an eye on WME1 - you never know what routes, stations or locations might be appearing next!

Small Heath & Kingshurst

I said the other day that I needed a good adventure to really put 2007 on the map - well today's trip turned out to be just the job. I headed across to Small Heath and Kingshurst as there are some significant changes to bus routes in the east of Birmingham that are coming into force at the end of the month, and I wanted to investigate the routes prior to the amendments, along with a few other bits and pieces as well...

Small Heath Station: my first proper look around the station, not that impressed. Got a train photo and some platform views (mainly of a graffiti covered shelter) but a photo of the main frontage proved difficult, especially with the busy traffic on Golden Hillock Road.

Small Heath Park: A few local photos with a walk around Small Heath Park, accompanied by either pigeons or geese plus the occasional squirrel. I came across what I thought was a lake only to realise it was actually just a flooded field, so I quickly turned my attentions to the bandstand and the real lake before heading to the 28 terminus

The 28: The route was the main inspiration for this trip, and had intrigued me for years yet I'd never been on it. The 28 has been a staple service in the Birmingham network for years, linking Small Heath and Great Barr via Fox & Goose and Erdington, although this is about to change as the Small Heath section is due to be withdrawn and replaced with a new service (the 24 I think). The Small Heath terminus is on Waverley Road, overlooking the park, and buses seem to layover here for a good twenty minutes or so, giving me time to try and get a decent photo. I then had the joy of a traditional Metrobus ride past the terraces of Oldknow Road and the local Asda, up Heybarnes Road and Hob Moor Road to alight on Belchers Lane. Classic bus exploration

Bordesley Green: A rather frustrating time trying unsuccessfully to track down a photo of the 28A round by Heartlands Hospital. I never seem to have much luck in this part of Birmingham as I couldn't get a 69 photo last time I was in this neck of the woods

The 28A: I didn't get the photo, but at least I caught the bus. More Metrobus action, up through Alum Rock, past the Ward End pub and the Fox & Goose to alight at Hodge Hill (Hunters Moon)

Walk to Kingshurst: Starting in Hodge Hill with a look at the Common and the Hunters Moon, then heading down Heath Way into Buckland End (The Heathway pub and local shops including the Hart Centre). Further along Heath Way is Shard End, with more local shops including a post office and the Shards Fryer, whilst photos were provided by the library on Shustoke Road. A walk through the estate (Pithall Road, Silver Birch Road) leads into Kingshurst. I feel that I know the area much better now having passed through on routes such as the 89 and 92 previously.

Kingshurst: A good local centre with photo opportunities to investigate. The local shopping precinct includes the post office and the library, whilst The Mountfort pub is across the road. Kingshurst Way emerges by the bus terminus, overlooking Babbs Mill Nature Reserve, and I wait for the 26 to arrive.

The 26: another route that's soon to be changed, reverting back to running between Birmingham and Bromford Bridge only - it only seems 5 minutes since the route was extended to cover the 92 and now its changing back! The changes will bring about 2 new routes, the 54 and the 56, to form a series of routes alongside the existing 55 service. Today's 26 experience meant another Metrobus, and a great ride back into Birmingham via Castle Bromwich, Shard End, Bromford and Saltley.

Smethwick Galton Bridge: After the 26 it was a quick dash to Moor Street and a train to Galton Bridge for my Wolverhampton connection - I usually try and avoid New Street if possible. It was only half three when I got to Smethwick but the remaining daylight was already going, and I enjoyed a quiet wait for the Wolverhampton train, soaking up the station's relaxed atmosphere on a Friday afternoon

I have to say I really enjoyed the outing - I may not have got all of the photos I wanted, but it was just good to be back out there on the buses and trains, doing what I've done for years. Trip done, thats probably enough adventure for the time being, but I'm already looking forward to what February might bring...