| Bus | From | To | Service | Operator |
| 2143 | Esplanade Park & Ride | Southport, Union Street (Stop Gb) | PR1 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2821 | Southport, Union Street (Stop Gb) | Ainsdale, Ainsdale Village | 49A | Arriva NW&W |
| 7654 | Ainsdale, Fairfield Road | Southport, Monument | 49A | Arriva NW&W |
| 4074 | Southport, Lord St, Duke St (opp) | Meols Cop, Haig Avenue (adj) | 375 | Arriva NW&W |
| 4060 | Southport, Everard Road (adj) | Southport, Lord St, Duke St (adj) | 375 | Arriva NW&W |
| 2144 | Southport, Monument | Esplanade Park & Ride | PR1 | Arriva NW&W |
Matthew had been away in As he hadn't been out on a bus since then, we arranged to take Matthew out on a more distant trip. Originally it was going to be Shrewsbury, until mum realised that it was Southport she was thinking of! We set off a fraction after 12:00 and we stopped for LPG at Longport on the way. It was a mainly sunny day but there was plenty of cloud about too. Traffic was relatively light, we passed through Ormskirk quite quickly and we got into the Esplanade P&R just before 14:00. As we drove in we noticed that the Cleveland cafe was closed so we needed to look for another eatery. We also noticed a big music festival in the park opposite the P&R called Southport rocks! On the P&R bus, which was 2143 this time, we spotted the thistle tea room and grill at the first stop on Lord Street so we jumped off the bus. We had 3 breakfasts and a sausage sandwich, 2 cokes and a tea which came to around £19. The food was nice, but the sausage sandwich was a bit on the expensive side! As we ate matthew was able to see some of the buses out today. First 49A that we spotted was Marshall 7637. we also saw 7636, 7656, 7652 and a B6 which I can't remember.
Arriva NW&W Marshall 7637 on a 49A service to Woodvale(Matt)
7656 on a #49A service (Matt)
having just missed one 49A Woodvale service, we crossed the road and waited for the next one. After about a 10 minute wait required but slightly disappointing Volvo B6 2821 rounded the corner...
B6 2821 0n a #49A to Woodvale (Matt)
The journey was quite quick and we passed 2291 on Carr lane about to start it's journey on a #43 High Park service. When we got off Matthew got another picture of this bus.
2821 in Ainsdale (Matt)
After he took the picture we crossed the road and within about a minute we could we a Marshall approaching. The bus was required 7654.
7654 in Ainsdale (Matt)
Another relatively uneventful journey back to Southport passed on this fine beast. We saw 2294 on carr lane on a terminating #46 service. we alighted somewhere in the middle of lord Street and Matthew took another picture of 7654.
7654 in Lord Street, Southport heading towards Crossens (Matt)
When we got off we crossed the road and it had been my intention to catch another #49A to try and get some of the required Marshalls working on this service. The next 49A Woodvale was another Volvo B6 we matthew didn't want to do. I asked Matthew what bus he did want to do and I gave him the Southport bus map and a pen. He wrote '375' on the map. We started walking along Lord Street looking at stops to see if they were for the 375. We got to one stop and it said 375 Southport so we knew we had to cross the road at this point. as we were walking along we could see a double decker in the distance. The bus then turned at the roundabout and stopped on the 'Duke Street (opp)' which is the starting point of the service. We walked briskly to the stop and managed to get on it before it left. We sat downstairs... originally we sat under to stairs in the bay with 3 seat, but when someone got on with a pushchair we moved to the back. The back of these refurbished buses can be likened to a plush troop carrier with windows as all seats but the back seat itself face each other across the bus. As we didn't really now where we were going we booked to Scarisbrick New Road and it was mt intention to get off towards the end near Meols Cop. We couldn't really see where we were going at the back and we got off one stop short just before the King George V College. Matthew took a picture here...
DAF ALX 400 4074 heading towards Wigan along Scarisbrick New Road (Matt)
we crossed the 2 main roads and stood at the stop. we checked the timetable and saw there was a 375 Southport due in 5 minutes. First there was a 42 and this was B6 2804. About a minute behind this was another DAF ALX400 4060.
4060 on Scarisbrick New Road (Matt)
Matthew insisted in going upstairs, and when we got off Matthew took a picture of the upper deck.
Inside 4060 (Matt)
As it was getting on towards 17:00 as we got off the bus, we decide we were going to meet up with mum and do the P&R bus back. we walked up the the bandstand and met her there. as we walked up matthew took a few more pictures.
Arriva NW&W 3033 in Lord Street, Southport (Matt)
We waited for the P&R1 service and this was 2144. when we got to the Eco Centre, matthew photographed the inside of the bus.
Inside 2144 (Matt)
After a quick toilet stop Matthew went to look at the coaches across the way. Some of the coaches he looked at a bit too closely, but eventually we managed to get him back to the car for a quick sausage roll snack before we hit the road. As we left Southport we passed 7648 on a 375 Southport. The journey back was pleasant and quick, and we got in a little before 19:00... Mark
No comments:
Post a Comment