Trip to Earlestown / St Helens 24-11-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2316	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
2492	St Helens BS	Derbyshire Hill, adj Provident Street	329	Arriva NW&W
7641	Broad Oak, adj Provident Street	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
2349	St Helens BS	Laffak, Chain Lane (NE-bound)	36	Arriva NW&W
2349	Laffak, Chain Lane (NE-bound)	St Helens BS	36	Arriva NW&W
27770	St Helens BS	Holt, adj Old Lane	10A	Stagecoach M & SL
27775	Holt, adj Ivy Farm Road	St Helens BS	10A	Stagecoach M & SL
2350	St Helens BS	Earlestown BS	34A	Arriva NW&W

Today we revisited St Helens. We didn't decided where we were going until Thursday night. We gave Matthew a few choices and he chose St Helens by showing me a picture of a Wright Renown Volvo B10 at Wigan bound for St Helens. We checked the weather the night before and it was due to be cloudy with rain in the late afternoon. Research was mainly just digging out the collection on timetables and maps we had amasses from our previous visits in July. We also decided to go to Earlestown as there is free parking and we know were we can eat and where the toilets are. Matthew got up a little after 10:00 and ate some toast for breakfast washed down with orange juice. We set off around 11:30 and we called in at Etruria to pick up LPG on the way. We rejoined the A500 and headed North to the M6. We then drove up to the M62 where we headed west for on junction to Winwick. From there we drove North to Newton-le-Willow and called in at the railway station to buy Saveaway tickets. We then drove into Earlestown and parked in the alomost empty car park. as we parked up we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2214 on a 34A service.

Arriva NW&W 2214 in Earlestown bus station

We walked down to the cafe and went in for something to eat. Matthew had a breakfast and we had sandwiches. As we came out Matthew went to the toilet. We he came out we saw South Lancs Travel K16 SLT (46) on a #603 service and required Arriva NW&W Dart 2316 on a #34 to St Helens. We walked to the bus station and we saw that 2316 was still there so we decided to catch it! Matthew got a picture before we crossed over to the bus station.

Arriva NW&W 2316 in Earlestown bus station

On the bus we flashed out tickets and mum bought a single to St Helens (£2.30). We sat down near the back and settled down to enjoy the journey. As we travelled in we saw a number of buses going the other way. 2346 was seen on a #34 and we saw 2492 on a #329 as we passed it going into town. When we go to the end of he run Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2316

We got off and then we had to decide on what to do next. We saw Arriva 2318 on either a #34 or #20 and I thought that this bus was what we were going to do. Matthew decided he wanted to visit the shop first to pick up some pop and a twin pack of Milky Ways. Back outside 2492 had come onto stand to work the #329 service. It was required so I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. He got a picture before we jumped on the bus and flashed the Saveaways.

Arriva NW&W 2492 in St Helens bus station

I decided it would be a good plan to do this to the roundabout where the #329 and the #34 split, and then we could chose what to get back. Behind us as we went down the hill was required Pulsar 2991 on the work service #920. We got up a stop to late, so we had to walk through a residential street to get over to the route of the #34. As we walked across we saw a Pulsar on a St Helens bound #34. When we got to the stop we knew we would have 6-7 minutes to wait for the one. going the other way was required Arriva Dart 2350 on a #34 Leigh service. 2350 is a bus that we turned down when it visited Chester from Rhyl when it used to be based there. It was just under 12 months ago, and it did seem that we would not get a chance to get this bus again when it was out of service just before the time the double deckers arrived in Rhyl to replace these Darts. After a few minutes we could see a Marshall Dart in the distance. Matthew still need a few of these so we hoped it would be one of the required ones. As it approached we saw it was indeed required Arriva NW&W 7641.

Arriva NW&W 7641 in Broadoaks

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. As we came into town we passed 7647 on an outward bound #34. We arrived back at St Helens and Matthew got a picture of the inside of refurbished Dart 7641.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7641

At this point Matthew decided he wanted to go to he toilet. As far as we knew the tardis toilet was still broke and so we went into the nearby shopping centre. We saw the sign for the disabled toilet and it was on the other side of the centre. As we walked through Matthew said hello to a few people and we walked passed mum who was having her nails done. after using the toilet e walked around the outside of the shopping centre and bcak into the bus station. As it was cold and rain was imminent w decided we needed to catch something quickly. We had let something go on the #34 and then 2349 came in on the #36 service so we decided to do this. matthew got a picture before we got on the bus.

Arriva NW&W 2349 in St Helens bus station

We sat down near the back and enjoyed the ride, when we got to the mid point of the circular I got up to show the tickets for the return journey. As we headed back into town the rain started to fall as promised. As we got back Matthew got his empty bus picture.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2349

It was now around 15:30. I spoke to mum on the phone and we decided we would have time for a quick out and back before it went properly dark. Matthew visited the tardis toilet as it had been replaced! On the #89 was required Arriva NW&W B10 2709.

Arriva NW&W 2709 in St Helens bus station

I promised Matthew we could go further West in the New Year when the nights are a little shorter. We also spotted Stagecoach 27770 on a #10A service. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do a quick out and back on this as it is a frequent service and he said yes. The bus was required as we have never done any stagecoach buses in this area. He got a picture and walked around to the correct stand to get on the bus.

Stagecoach 27770 in St Helens bus station

I had a #10A timetable and I saw the journey time to Prescott was 20 minutes. I wanted a straight out and back where i only had o cross the road to get a bus back. I wasn't sure of the layout of Prescott I decided that a good place to go would be Rainhill on the A57. After we made the right turn onto the A57 I got up so we could get off the bus. As we got off Matthew got another picture of this fine bus.

Stagecoach 27770 in Holt

We crossed the road and waited at the stop opposite. It was now raining hevily and it wasn't very pleasant waiting for the bus. Luckily we didn't have to wait for more than a coupe of minutes and then required Stagecoach 27775 appeared.

Stagecoach 27775 in Holt

We got on and sat near the back to enjoy the journey into town. As we travelled in we went near a Morrisons store. When we got there Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside Stagecoach 27775

Matthew went back to the tardis toilet and then we met up with mum. We crossed over into the bus station to wait for a Earlestown bound bus and immediately required Arriva NW&W 2350 reappeared on a #34A. We waited to get on the bus and then sat near the back. Matthew befriended a lady on the bus and then when we reached Earlestown bus station he said goodbye to her and we got off. He then got a picture of the bus before we returned to the car .

Arriva NW&W 2350 in Earlestown bus station

Back in the car he tucked into a sausage roll and washd it down with a bottle of Ben Shaw's dandelion & Burdock. We set off back onto the A572 and stopped at the Murco Petrol station for some petrol (LPG cars need a small amount of petrol too). We then headed back to Winwick. I accidentally turned onto the A49 instead of going down to the M62, but his leads onto the M6 anyway so it didn't make any difference. Back on the M6 we headed South to the A500. The rain was awful, but at lest we got to hear then end of the Stoke match, which was a win for Stoke (1-0 against Fulham). We did the A500 to the A50 and then we did a pass of the Z Carz depot. W344 WNS was at the depot along with T131 SGA. As we went passed BV51 BNO was arriving back and YN03 HJC was by the taxi depot. We then went past the bus station which was empty and past the end of Duke Street. We then went through heron cross before heading home. We got in around 18:10. Matthew then settled down in front of the computer whilst waiting for his tea of sausage and mash. He went to bed around midnight...Mark