Trip to Middleton / Ashton 11-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
59016	Middleton BS	Ashton BS	419	First Manchester
31929	Ashton BS	Hey Farm Terminus	350	First Manchester
37412	Hey Farm Terminus	Oldham BS	350	First Manchester
40431	Oldham BS	Middleton BS	415	First Manchester

Today we decided to re visit this area after last weeks trip. We asked Matthew where he wanted to go and he chose Middleton. He also showed me a picture of a hybrid on a #419 to Ashton so I knew he wanted to visit this location too. Research consisted of looking at which service go between Middleton and Ashton (as far as I could find only 1), so at looked at service on the map that had a common connection between the 2 locations such as Oldham and the nearby Littlemoss (168,169) and Woodhouses (159) just in case the other option wasn't convenient. We also checked the weather which didn't look to good for this trip. The forecast was for rain which was breaking up as it headed East during the afternoon. Matthew got up around 08:30 as he had got a cookery class at Heathfield. He had some toast for breakfast washed down by orange juice. We set off around 09:30 going onto the A5035 and then passed the Hem Heath pub. We Headed down Stanley Matthews Way and onto the Westbound A50. We then did the Northbound A500 up to the A527 Tunstall by-pass. We went across the by-pass to High Lane and then we headed down to Heathfield School. Matthew cooked a tuna pasta bake which he ate. We picked him up at 12:30 and he went to the toilet before we went out. We headed back onto high Lane and then did the A527 back down to the A500. We then headed North up to the M6. We did this up the The M62 and then we went Eastwards. We went onto the M60 and then we drove around to the junction with the A576 for Middleton. We drove the last few miles into Town and then parked up next to the Middleton Archer pub. As we walked down through the bus station e took a few pictures 40431 was seen on the #415 service and we saw First Manchester 40322 on the #12 Middleton circular.

First Manchester 40322 in Middleton bus station

We had decided we were going to eat at the trailer opposite the bus station, Roberto's. We had Burgers and mum had cheese on toast. The food was very nice and mum's cheese on toast had been seasoned with pepper and herbs. Whilst we ate we listened to Italian music. Apart from the awful weather we could have been eating in a pavement cafe in Rome! Whilst we at in our sheltered location a rain shower came and went. After eating mum and Matthew visited the toilet and then a #419 service appeared. We walked down to it and Matthew took a picture.

First Manchester 59016 in Middleton bus station

We jumped on and booked our system one tickets and then sat near the back. We got on so we quickly that we had to check the ticket to see which bus we were on. As we have not done any hybrd Solo SR's before we new it would be required. It turned out to be First Manchester 59016. The #419 service heads almost into Oldham before heading down the same route into Aston as the #409 service. When we arrived into Ashton around 40 minutes later Matthew waited for the bus to empty out before getting a picture.

Inside First Manchester 59016

We stepped into this bus station for this first time. It is a bus station similar to Bolton and Wigan, with a small bus layover area next to the main road. First thing we did was try and use the toilets. There were 2 silver tardis style toilets and both of them seemed not to be working. So we asked a bus driver where we could find toilets. We were directed to the local Betfred bookies! After using the toilet we visited the travel office to pick up a coupe of maps and timetables, and then walked up towards the bus layover area and we immediately saw First Manchester 31929 arriving on a #350 service.

First Manchester 31929 in Ashton bus station

We got on and then went upstairs. There were a few people on the top deck but they were at the front. So Matthew took a picture of the inside of this bus from the mid point of the bus next to the stairs.

Inside First Manchester 31929

We sat down on the bus and I got the map out to see where we were going. From the map I could see the #350 was a Ashton - Oldham service via Mossley and Saddleworth. We started to leave and we noticed that First Manchester 40380 had arrived in the layover off a #346 service. As we headed towards the hospital we passed First Manchester 40406 on an inbound service. We headed into and passed the Hospital and over the hill and down into Mossley. We then climbed up the hill towards Saddleworth. We had worked out by this point we were traveling on a short service to Hey Farm and not a full #350 to Oldham. When we got to the Hey Farm terminus we got off and got another picture of this fine beast, one of only 3 left in the First Manchester fleet.

First Manchester 31929 at the Hey Farm terminus

We decided to go forward to Oldham, we could then do another Dart from Oldham to Middleton on the #415 service (I'm thinking this service should be branded the Alkrington Rollercoaster). The next bus on the #350 was also a Hey Farm Short, which was worked by First Manchester 37433. Whilst we waited he had a bottle of limeade and a Kit Kat. We then had approximately 9 minutes to wait for the #350 to Oldham. When it turned up it was required First Manchester 37412. Matthews camera didn't fire when the us arrived so he didn't get a picture before we got on. We went upstairs and the top deck was empty, so he got a picture of the top deck of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 37412

One thing I hadn't done was to check the journey time. It takes nearly an hour to travel from Hey Farm to Oldham. We headed up through Saddleworth where there was a co-op and also up and back through Delph which also has a co-op store. We then had a climb up to an old closed down pub at a summit called the Star Inn. We then had the run down into Oldham we went past the depot and then headed into the bus station. We got off the bus and headed to the toilets. Whilst there we saw First Manchester 62217 on a #64 service.

First Manchester 62217 in Oldham bus station

We stopped on a bench and had a bottle of Limeade and a Millionaires Shortbread. We also saw First Manchester 33747 on a #409 service.

First Manchester 33747 in Oldham bus station

We then walked around to the other side to take a few picture whilst we waited for the next #415. First Manchester 37412 made an appearance again, we thought it had gone when it must have been on layover.

First Manchester 37412 in Oldham bus station

We then saw 40431 parked up before working the next #415.

First Manchester 40431 in Oldham bus station

Also seen was this Ex PMT and Chester Solo First Manchester 40181.

First Manchester 40181 in Oldham bus station

We then vsited the shop to get a can of coke and a Galaxy caramel bar and a pack of rice crispy squares. We walked to stand B to wait for 40431. It pulled on to stand a couple of minutes. We boarded the bus and sat down near the back over the back axle. Thee suspension on 40431 was a little loose making it quite bouncy over any potholes. Going into Alkrington it was very bouncy along Kingsway and Kirkway. When we got to Middleton Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus which still has quite a few of the 'diced carrot' seating.

Inside First Manchester 40431

We got off and walked around the outside and got a picture of 40431.

First Manchester 40431 in Middleton bus station

We stopped and took a couple of pictures. We saw JPT Volvo B6 182 and then JPT Enviro 300 number 455. 300

JPT 455 in Middleton bus station

We then walked back to the car so we could have our Greggs sausage rolls and matthew had a chocolate cake. We left the car park around 18:00 and we went down the A576 passing JPT 184 heading into Middleton. We then got onto the M60. We did this Anti clockwise to the M62 and onto the Southbound M6. We did this down to the A500 and onto the A50 to Longton. When we got to Longton we saw that the ground was virtually empty. In the distance was Z Carz Mercedes T131 SGA.

Z Carz T131 SGA in Longton

Also here was DAF minicoach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

We turned to go passed the Willow Row compound and there was only one bus there too. It was his old college bus LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Willow Row

We headed down Longton all Road and into Blurton. We were home for 19:15. After looking at our pictures, for a late tea we had bangers and mash followed by Chocolate cake for afters. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark