Roundabout the Reservoir

Friday 16th October and a trip also known as the South Birmingham Review Part Two. Following on where Rog and I left off last Saturday, I ventured back across Brum way to add in a solo adventure investigating the soon-to-change bus network...

• First stop is Northfield Orthopaedic Hospital as I'm determined to get that pesky 49 terminus photo. Thankfully I have more luck this time, with the bus obligingly parking up so I could get a series of shots that were at least vaguely in focus.
• Next, one of those lengthy local walks I enjoy so much. This one took me from the Hospital to the Roundabout, a curious estate near Longbridge. My photo targets include Bell Holloway, Ley Hill estate redevelopment with the Highlander, and then a couple of follow-ups from Saturday; the site of the Beeches has now been levelled off with the rubble removed, whilst the Dingle is still an eyesore awaiting possible clearance.
• A dash down Farren Road brings me to the Roundabout, where I'm delighted to get a terminus photo of the 630 route - thanks driver! Central Connect operate the service linking the Roundabout with Worlds End via Northfield and Weoley Castle, a local gapfiller of a route that will be renumbered as the 39 under the Review. I hop on board for an interesting journey that included Josiah Road, Merritts Hill and Long Nuke Road before alighting at Weoley Castle.
• Always one of my favourite Birmingham locations, Weoley Castle did me proud with a spot of lunch and some tantalising photo opportunities. I make sure to get shots of the site of the Raven, pausing once again to lament the demise of a landmark pub. Bus wise, the 44 poses on its way to Turves Green whilst the 69 rewards my patience by belatedly putting in an appearance for an all-important terminus pic.
• With that in the bag, it's onto the 21 for a short ride towards Bangham Pit. Here I can track down the Woodcock pub on Hillwood Road before enjoying the views from Genners Lane looking out over Bartley Reservoir. The visit was only brief but was a real treat all the same, especially when I added in shots of Newman College and the return 21 towards Birmingham.
• My next move sees me catch the 18 so that I could try and solve one of Saturday's little mysteries. After a neat ride through Northfield and Cotteridge, I alight at Brandwood End to see which route was currently serving the Dawberry Fields estate. The answer turned out to be the 76, with the 69 set to take over in a couple of weeks time.
  
• It was useful to have a mooch around Brandwood, but there wasn't too much to interest me - a block of shops of Yarningale Road, a possible old pub site and St Bede's Church were about it. I also found the Territorial Army centre on Dawberry Fields Road, and waited here for the next 76 as I made a sharpish exit.
• Saying that, I was pleased to have a quick look at the 76 before the service changes kick in. The route as it currently stands links Brandwood End with Solihull, of which the Kings Heath to Solihull bit will be retained with the addition of an extension to serve the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Today's ride took me to Yardley Wood Station, running the gauntlet outside Kings Heath Boy's School at closing time in the process - now there's a hair-raising experience!
• Having reached the safety of Yardley Wood, its time to bring the curtain down on another outing. By way of an encore, I have time for the customary photos of Highfield Road shops and the station ticket office before catching my train home.

So there you have it, back-to-back trips that at least attempted to sample and record the soon to be 'old' South Birmingham Bus Network. I think I did the routes justice, and am looking forward to seeing how the new network takes shape - it'll certainly give me an excuse to return once more to one of my happiest exploration hunting grounds...