| Bus | From | To | Service | Operator |
| 2409 | Ellesmere Port BS | Chester BS | 401 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2130 | Chester BS | Golftyn, Boathouse Inn (NW) (NW-bound) | 10 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2360 | Golftyn, Boathouse Inn (SE) (SE-bound) | Chester BS | 10 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2530 | Hoole Road / Newton Lane | Chester BS | X30 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2351 | Chester BS | Shotton, Ash Grove (NW) (NW-bound) | X11 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2570 | Shotton, Ash Grove (SE) (SE-bound) | Chester BS | 10 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2523 | Chester BS | Hoole Road / Dene Hotel | X30 | Arriva NW&W |
We planned this weekend a few weeks ago. We asked Matthew where he wanted to go for his birthday weekend and he chose Chester. Mum booked an hotel for the Saturday night and we set off at little early than usual at around 11:00. Heading North along the A500 there was a slight delay around Wolstanton due to broken down vehicles. We filled up with LPG in Longport, and we carried on North at around 11;40. The journey was relatively uneventful, although traffic was slow in several places. We passed First Manchester 41068 heading east along the M56. At the junction of the M56 and M53 there had been a serious motorbike accident and there seemed to be a large party of catholic priests in attendance. We arrived in Ellesmere port around 13:00 and we ate in the market food court as per usual. 2 breakfasts, a sausage sandwich, 2 teacakes and 3 drink cost us £11 from café Bellamy. After dinner we had about 15 minutes in Ellesmere Port bus station before dud 2409 appeared on 401 to Chester. This bus came in from the opposite direction presumably due to the road works on the end of Civic Way.
2409 in Ellesmere Port (Matt)
When we got to Chester Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.
Inside 2409 (Matt)
Today Matthew had quite a long stay in Chester bus station and took loads of pictures. First seemed to be short of running midi buses, with the only Marshals seen out being 41069/71/72. 41068 was seeing heading East earlier. 40014 is current in Birkenhead as can be seen here. This resulted in 3 double decker working in service plus another one making a passing appearance. First to appear was 34228 on 5's and 21's, then 34224 appeared and then went out empty. 30077 made an appearance on the 53's and 51's and then 30069 appeared on 5's and 21's aswell.
30077 on a 53 to Kingsway (matt)
30069 on a 21 Hunts Cross (Matt)
34228 on 5 to huntington (Matt)
After around an hour of observing buses in the bus station, I persuaded Matthew to do a 10 to Shotton. The next 10 was required 2130. It was a hot day and perhaps doing this service was a mistake. The bus was quite full and the heaters were on to stop the bus from overheating. It did cool slightly when we were travelling at speed through Sealands, but it was still quite uncomfortable. Matthew got a shot of the bus as it powered away into the distance.
2130 heads towards Connnah's Quay
After we bailed, we crossed the road and we didn't ave to wait long for a #10 returning to Chester. The first one to turn up was 2360. Unbeknown to us we has been on this bus last time we did the #10 buses.
2360 in Shotton (Matt)
As is often the case, Matthew photographed the inside of the bus on arrival at Chester.
Inside 2360 (Matt)
When we arrived back in Chester, it had gone 1600 and mum had driven down from Ellesmere Port. We decided to have a sausage roll break, and to drive to the hotel on Hoole Road and book in for the evening. We had a quick toilet stop and then decided to catch a bus back into chester to have a quick ride around aod a few more buses. The next bus south was at 17:22 and was a x30 from Runcorn. After a short wait 2530 turned up to take us to Chester bus station.
2530 heading South West along Hoole Road (Matt)
This bus has been refurbished inside but does not carry the interurban livery. The refurbished inside can be seen here.
Inside 2530 (Matt)
When we arrived in Chester I ran to get lottery tickets and Matthew sat and took bus pictures. We decided to do a 10 or an X11 to Shotton, so we looked what was out. The 17:55 10 was which was not required, the 18:00 X11 was 2351 which was required.
2351 in Chester bus station (Matt)
We did this to the stop just before Shotton railway station. as we waited the bus we let go came past 'not in service' running back empty to the depot. there was also a 12 due just before our bus that only went as far as the depot. this was one of the usual Solo's. Eventually our bus turned up and it was dud 2570! It was quite pleasant in this bus in the early evening belting along Sealands with a cooling breeze coming through the windows.
2570 in Chester bus station (Matt)
When we returned to chester we had about 30minutes ti kill before the 19:35 X30. We generally hung out and took more pictures. One interesting bus was the WCM minibus on the 21 to Runcorn.
WCM minibus T734 WPA leaves for Runcorn on the #21 service (Mark)
Eventually time passed and 2523 arrived to work the 19:35
2523 arrives in Chester bus station (Matt)
The bus took us back along the Hoole Road, and Matthew took a picture as it headed North.
2523 departs North towards Runcorn (Matt)
After we got back to the hotel, we had chips and sausage for supper from the chip shop in Kingsway, Afterwards Matthew used his net book to upload pictures to Flickr... Mark
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