Wolverhampton – Smethwick Galton Bridge – Acton Bridge

I’d not booked a hotel breakfast today. I know exactly what to expect in a Premier Inn, and whilst they are very good at what they do, I wasn’t in need of a heavy start to the day. Instead I checked out, walked to the station, and got a bottle of orange juice and a pastry from the Co-op next door. I had some fruit in my bag from the previous day and that was plenty to see me home.

I’d taken the long way around from the station the night before as this underpass was closed. It’s rather a nice thing but I’m not sure I’d use it at night, even if it was open. I presume it is a legacy of the old low level Wolverhampton station, on which my hotel is sited.

Whilst I can catch a direct train home from Acton Bridge, it is half the price to go one stop in the wrong direction and get the train from Galton Bridge, as that station allows cheap advance tickets. I’m not even allowed to book from there and get on at Wolverhampton. Who comes up with such crazy ideas?!

I can’t say I’ve ever got on or off a train here before, but I’ve passed through many times. It has lines running north-south, parallel to the canal and also a line that crosses east-west, so is a busy little place.

I took the opportunity for a look at the eponymous bridge, built in 1829 by Thomas Telford, at which time it was the highest single span bridge in the world. It carried traffic until the 1970s but is now only used by pedestrians and cyclists. A narrow boat was passing beneath as I arrived.

I’ve seen the bridge from my own boat many times but this is the first time I’d walked over it. It’s rather a lovely thing, and feels rather lost in this quite hidden space. I wasn’t the only person who was photographing it at this moment though, so maybe it is valued by the locals.

Back at the station, I boarded the train back to Wolverhampton and onward to my end point. The hour-long journey passed without any incident of note and I headed home.

I’ve still got 10 days left on this Interrail pass, which I’ll be using at the start of May, all being well. That trip will take me to several places I’ve never visited before and might possibly include one of the world’s great rail journeys, but we will see…