Trip to Leigh / Golborne 26-05-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1057	Leigh BS	Newton Road, Hesketh Meadow Lane‎	34	Arriva NW&W
66932	Newton Road, Hesketh Meadow Lane‎	Golborne, o/s House 11 Church Street/Manor Street	600	First Manchester
2565	Golborne, o/s House 11 Church Street/Manor Street	Newton le Willows, nr Lowton Old Station	360	Arriva NW&W
1054	Newton le Willows, nr Lowton Old Station	Leigh BS	34	Arriva NW&W
31941	Leigh BS	Platt Bridge, Warrington Road/Millers Lane (N-bound)	658	First Manchester
40387	Platt Bridge, Warrington Road/Millers Lane (S-bound)	Leigh BS	658	First Manchester
2274	Leigh BS	Lane Head, Newton Road/Travellers Rest (SW-bound)	34	Arriva NW&W
2211	Lane Head, Newton Road/Travellers Rest (NE-bound)	Leigh BS	34	Arriva NW&W

Today Matthew decided we were going to Leigh. He point to the destination of one of the buses he had photographed last week. Research for this trip was fairly sparse. Other than look for the direction to get there, checking where we could find toilets and it there was a travel shop in the bus station vary little was done. We packed the Wigan South bus map and a few bottle of pop for emergency rations. Afterall, it was a very hot and sunny day. We set off a little early than lately at around 11:15, but we had to make a few stops before we left town. We stopped at a garage to put some air in the tyres, we picked up uncle Dave, and then we got some LPG from near the Festival Park. We then traveled along the A53 and then Northwards on the A500 until the last lay-by before the M6. We stopped for bacon and sausage sandwiches which we ate in the car. As we ate the sandwich we could see that the Northbound M6 was looking very busy, in fact almost at a stand. I was considering what to do for the best. Radio Stoke had said there were no problems which was a little worrying. We left the lay-by around 12:30, and i was still wondering what to do for the best. As we went around the roundabout I remembered the road to Alsager just before the M6 North slip road and so we went in that direction. After going into Alsager I followed direction for Sandbach, traveling along the A533 and the the A534 to get back on the M6 at the next junction. After that slight detour we were back on track. We came off the motorway and onto the A579. We did a short stretch of the Eastbound A580 and then into Leigh along the A572, passing an Arriva NW&W ALX200 Dart heading out of town. There was a bit of traffic in the town centre and we had to queue for a few minutes on Spinning Jenny way. We parked adjacent to the shopping centre before saying goodbye to mum and walking down to the bus station. As we entered the bus station Matthew got a picture of 31926 on an unidentified service.

First Manchester 31926

After a quick toilet stop and a visit to the travel shop for time tables, the first thing of interest we saw was required Arriva NW&W Scania 1057 on a 34 service.

Arriva NW&W 1057 about to work to St Helens

We waited by stop M for the bus to come around. whilst we waited i worked out that the ALX200 dart would be back at 16:20. Eventually just before 14:00 it did. Matthew then took a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 1057...

We tried to book a System One bus only ticket but as this is a St Helens bus and driver he wasn't sure how to do one. He let us all on for free as we were going to be buying one anyway. We were hoping to go on this bus beyond the A580, but as this was the first time on this bus I got up to early. As we went south we passed a Wright bodied bus and then another Dart. We got off and Matthew got another picture.

1057 in Lowton

We then waited for another bus. I decided the best move would be to catch a First Manchester bus as we would definitely be able to get system one tickets on this bus. We had already seen a modern decker go out on a #600 so with a bit of luck perhaps we would get another one. When the bus appeared it was a Volvo single decker. As it got closer we could see it was First Manchester 66932 would almost certainly be required.

First Manchester 66932 in Lowton

Whilst on the bus, I consulted the map and realised we could do this onto the #360 route, and then get the #360 to meet the #34 at the edge of Newton-le-Willows. When the #600 we were on turned towards Golborne onto the route of the #360 we got off. almost immediately behind 66932 was an Arriva bus. It was required 2688.

Arriva NW&W 2688 in Golborne

We got on and asked if we could go to the junction to meet the #34 ans he said yes, but not on this bus as it was only going to Golborne. In the excitement we forgot to check if it was going to Warrington! He said there would be another on in approximately 10 minutes ans so we let it go. We decided to use the time to visit a shop to get some pop and lottery tickets. We returned to the stop and eventually we could see a bus in the distance. it looked like an Icarus bodied bus and as it got closer we could see that it was. It was almost certainly going to be required as we had only been on one if this type before. Closer inspection revealed required Arriva NW&W 2565.

Arriva NW&W 2565 in Golborne

Off we went, through Golborne and across the A580. We passed Arriva NW&W 2560 which had it's hazards on, presumable broken down. at the junction with newton road we got off the bus and Matthew got another picture.

2565 on the edge of Newton-le-Willows

When we got off we had around 5 minutes to wait. Required Arriva NW&W Scania 1050 went passed going towards St Helens. Pretty much on time, we saw another Scania approaching from the distance. I was almost certainly going to be required with 1057 being out of the way for a while, and the only other one of this type we had been on before being 1053. As it approached we could see it was required 1054.

Arriva NW&W 1054 on the edge of Newton-le-Willows

We headed back to Leigh further familiarising ourselves with the route. When we got back into the bus station Matthew photographed the inside of the bus empty.

Inside 1054

As we got back we just missed First Manchester 31926 again, this time we saw it was on a #658 service. I went to get a timetable for this and whilst I was in the office 31941 appeared, the one we went on last week. Matthew decided he wanted to do this anyway and so we went to wait on stand G for the bus to come around. A few minutes later 31941 appeared on stand and we got on.

Inside First Manchester 31941

We went onto the top deck sitting near the front, and almost immediately regretted it! There are no opening windows near the front of the top deck and it was roasting hot. We set off to the north and we started drinking pop from emergency supplies to try and keep cool. We decided to go to Platt Bridge, somewhere we had been on last weeks trip. The journey to Platt Bridge was quite nice apart from the heat. The journey between Tamar and Platt Bridge is mainly through countryside and you can see for miles from the top deck. We eventually touched down in Paltt Bridge and crossed the Road for a return service. We gave matthew the choice of doing the #360 or the #658 service. When the next bus on the #360 was big and Wright bodied, Matthew turned it down. The following bus was required First Manchester 40387 on the #658.

First Manchester 40387 in Platt Bridge

We got on and sat near the back. There were numerous open windows and this journey was much cooler than the one before on 31941. The journey back was swift, but we didn't pass 31926 at any poit so it must have been wigan side of us. When we got it was nearly 16:10 and we had forgotten about the ALX200 Dart. It appeared and it was required 2274 and so when asked Matthew said yes to doing this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2274 in Leigh bus station

We got on first and Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.

Inside 2274

This time we planned on going to near the A580 junction. As we got to that area Matthew seemed reluctant to get off, ducking down in his seat. We got off a few stops later outside a pub, which had a beer garden at the front.

2274 by the Travellers Rest

Matthew seemed to want to use the toilet and so we decided to stop at the pub for a quick drink. We must have passed a bus which we didn't see, and then we saw 1057 heading towards Leigh. We guessed the next one towards Leigh would be the unidentified Plaxton Dart we saw earlier. After a quick toilet stop we ordered 2 drinks as uncle Dave didn't want one. We quickly had our drinks and waited to take a picture of the St Helens bound bus. It was required Arriva NW&W 2492. Matthew wasn't quick enough to react to get a picture of this bus. Uncle Dave was that hot and bothered he had my ice cubes, and then we crossed the road to catch the bus back. As predicted it was a Plaxton bodied Dart. As it got closer we could see it was required 2211. The picture was hard to take here as we were looking into the sun. When we got to Leigh, Matthew took a picture inside this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2211

It was now time to go albeit taking a few pictures. 31926 made another reappearance on the #658 but we didn't have time to do it now.

First Manchester 31926 in Leigh bus station

Matthew also got a picture of 2211 after it had emptied out and ran around the bus station. We also saw First Manchester 60154 too.

Arriva NW&W 2211 in Leigh bus station

We also spotted Network Warrington 17 on a #19 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 17 in Leigh bus station

We then head back to the car. Mum had moved the car to a shady part of the car park which was a really welcome sight. We tucked into sausage rolls and had a drink before we set off with mum driving. We set off towards the M6 via The A572 and the A580. I told her to go the wrong way after seeing a really confusing sign at the edge of the A580 which appeared to point left. After doing a very small triangle we were back on the A580 propper and heading towards the M6. Matthew was getting a bit fidgity in the back so we decided to Stop at Sandbach service for a quick toilet and shop stop. We had some lollies and Matthew had a couple of truck magazines. We came off the M6 at junction 15 and when on the A500 Matthew directed us down the A34 past the First Newcastle depot. We then did a circle of Newcastle on way system before heading toward festival park on the A53. I decided to take us between Etruria and Shelton on Etruscan Street, but it was blocked by a fire engine with Matthew found amusing. We headed back Along the A53 and then south on the A500. We went to the A50 then back home along Stanley Matthews Way. We got home a little after 19:00...Mark