Trip to Leigh / Wigan 27-09-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
37378	Leigh BS	Town Lane, o/s Manchester Road/St Mary's High School	X34	First Manchester
27822	Town Lane, opp Manchester Road/St Mary's High School	Leigh BS	X34	Stagecoach Manchester
22242	Leigh BS	Wigan BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester
21243	Wigan BS	Dangerous Corner (Hindley), nr Smallbrook Lane/Dangerous Corner	32	Stagecoach Manchester
19525	Dangerous Corner (Hindley), nr Corner Lane/Dangerous Corner	Higher Ince, opp Manchester Road/Makerfield Way	32	Stagecoach Manchester
36781	Higher Ince, nr Manchester Road/Makerfield Way	Hindley Green, opp Green Lane/Swan Lane	540	Stagecoach Manchester
36801	Hindley Green, nr Atherton Road/Swan Lane	Leigh BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Leigh. The weather was forecast was for cloudy but dry weather. We gave him a list of places around the Midlands and North West and he chose Leigh. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and went onto the A5035. As we waited to turn we saw Intercity minibus OU59 EFH. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and the onto the Westbound A50. We turned North onto the A500 and as we went up towards Audley we passed 2 First Streetlites, the rear one being 63167. We carried on until we reached the M6 and we saw Stevens Travel KS56 DSZ. went North. The M6 was slow up to junction 17 as there had been a broken down lorry. Once we cleared junction 17 the traffic sped up and then we made good time. We came off the M6 at junction 22 and then we headed East along the A579. We joined the A572 and headed for the last few miles into town. As we got to the edge of Leigh we passed Arriva NW&W 2730 on a St Helens bound #34 service. We got into the town centre and we turned right to head towards the car park. As we were stuck in traffic, we let Stagecoach Manchester 22238 out of the bus station which was on a #598 to Wigan. We parked up outside the shopping centre and Matthew used the toilet in the car park. We walked through the shopping centre so we could get to the bus station, but before we caught buses we had to eat something. We stopped at the van outside the bus station and we sat down by their gazebo to eat. Matthew had a sausage barm washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we went to the travel office for an up to date Wigan South map. As we got into the bus station we saw an interesting bus. It was Finches double decker R253 LGH on a #6 service to the Reebok Stadium.

Finches R253 LGH in Leigh bus station

We had a quick look around the bus station and we spotted a First double decker. It was required First Manchester 37378 on an X34.

First Manchester 37378 in Leigh bus station

We got on the bus and booked System One bus only tickets at £5.20 each. We went upstairs and as it was nearly empty Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37378 before we sat down.

Inside First Manchester 37378

This was our first time on this route, so we consulted the newly acquired map. A quick look at the map revealed that the bus went east along the A572 for a short distance and then went off the edge of the map! We decided to do the bus for a short while out of town and then get off. We went out of town for around 12 minutes into Astley. It was looking er overcast, despite what the forecast had said so we decided to get off the bus when we saw a bus shelter opposite. We had passed a Solo on the #684 service, and the stops had at least 6 different service on the flags, so we thought we would be able to get a bus back quickly. When we got off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 37378.

First Manchester 37378 in Astley

We crossed the road and consulted the bus stop timetable. There were only 5 buses an hour from here and we had just missed on. There should have been an X34 at 13:55 but I couldn't remember passing it. As the bus going the other way was late maybe the 13:55 X34 would be late too... Matthew had a twin Milky Bar and gave on to me and uncle Dave to share. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching, and it was a Stagecoach service. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Manchester 27822 on the late running X34.

Stagecoach Manchester 27822 in Astley

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets, before we sat down near to the back. The bus went west back along the A572 and we got into Leigh around 12 minutes later. Before we got off the bus we let it empty and then Matthew got a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 27822.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27822

We got off the bus and we had a look around to see what we could catch. Network Warrington 82 in it's poppy livery was just departing the bus station on a #28 to Warrington. We walked further up and we spotted a required Stagecoach Manchester MAN on a #598 service to Wigan.

Stagecoach Manchester 22242 in Leigh bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. We got on the bus and flashed our tickets before we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus left the bus station and then West along Twist Lane before the bus turned Northwards towards Tamar. When we reached Hindley Green we turned left onto the A577. We carried on West through Hindley before turning right onto Makerfield Way opposite Walmesley Park. We headed through Belle Green before getting back onto Manchester Road for the run into Wigan town centre. We went through town before turning left past Morrisons and coming into the bus station from the North Western corner. We let the bus empty and then Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 22242.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22242

We got off the bus and we decided to take a few pictures before we caught the next bus. We saw required Stagecoach Manchester 22303 on a #600 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 22303 in Wigan bus station

We walked up to the toilet and Matthew used the facilities. We then walked across the top of the bus station and we saw Arriva NW&W 2698 arrive on a #352 from St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2698 in Wigan bus station

We walked down through the bus station and we spotted Arriva NW&W DAF 2828 on a #715 to Bolton.

Arriva NW&W 2828 in Wigan bus station

On a #658 we saw Stagecoach Manchester 22305.

Stagecoach Manchester 22305 in Wigan bus station

We walked back up to the other side of the bus station and we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 22353 on a #658 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 22353 in Wigan bus station

We considered catching Stagecoach Manchester 21246 which was on a #540 to Bolton.

Stagecoach Manchester 21246 in Wigan bus station

In the end we decided to catch Stagecoach Manchester 21243, which was on a #32 service to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 21243 in Wigan bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed our tickets. We sat down and the bus left the bus station. As we had looked at so many different buses before decided on this one, for some reason I thought we were on a #540. The bus set off out of the bus station and towards Wigan Wallgate station before crossing the A49 and leaving town Eastwards. Both buses take similar routes through Hindley and then through the estates to the North, with the #540 turning towards Westhoughton and the #32 going into Hindley Green. As the bus stopped at the main stop in Hindley the bus cut out and it took several attempts to restart it! We turned left and Went North for a short while... The bus started to empty out in the estate and Matthew took a picture of the empty back seat behind us.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 21243

When I noticed we were heading through Hindley Green I realised that we were on a #32! As we started to head out towards Atherton we decided to get off the bus. We got up and got off the bus and we took a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 21243 as it carried on towards Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 21243 in Hindley

We crossed the road to wait for the bus opposite. There was no timetable so we text the code to nextbuses.mobi to see what was due. There was a bus to Hindley green due in a few minutes followed by a #32 5 minutes later. The #594 Hindley Green service turned up and it was Jim Stones BUS 1T.

Jim Stones BUS 1T in Hindley

Going the other way on the #132 to the Trafford Centre was South Lancs Travel 52.

South Lancs Travel 52 in Hindley

A few minutes later we saw the top of a double decker bus approaching over the hill. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 19525.

Stagecoach Manchester 19525 in Hindley

We got on the bus and we flashed our tickets. We went upstairs and sat down. As the bus was empty behind us Matthew took a picture of the empty bus behind us.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19525

We passed through Hindley green and then the bus turn righ and we went through the estate to the North. Heading West we rejoined the A577, and we decided to get off outside Walmesley Park, near to where the #598 turns right at it heads towards Wigan. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19525.

Stagecoach Manchester 19525 in Higher Ince

We got off the bus and we started to walk back towards the stop on the Hindley Green side of Makerfield Way. At the corner of Makerfield Way we saw and missed Stagecoach Manchester 22304 on a #598 to Leigh. We got to the stop and we had nearly 15 minutes for the next #598, there was however a #540 in five minutes time. We planned to catch this to the nearest point to Hindley Green and then hopefully a short walk later we would make the next #598. In the mean time there were other buses to photograph. On a Wigan bound #540 was Stagecoach Manchester 22236

Stagecoach Manchester 22236 in Higher Ince

This was followed immediately by another Finches vehicle, coach Y311 HUA.

Finches Y311 HUA in Higher Ince

A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Manchester Enviro 200 36781 approaching on the #540 to Bolton.

Stagecoach Manchester 36781 in Higher Ince

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets before sitting down near to the back of the bus. Like the #32, the #540 goes through the housing estate North of the A577 between Hindley and Hindley Green. Unlike the #32 the bus turns away from Hindley Green to go towards Westhoughton and Bolton. The bus went through the estate, but on a road slightly further South than the #32 takes, and it went the bus emptied out a little. Matthew saw an opportunity to take a picture facing forwards as the bus was nearly empty now.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36781

The bus turned South and we started to head towards Hindley Green, at the closest poing, we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 36781, before it turned left to go towards Westhoughton.

Stagecoach Manchester 36781 in Hindley Green

We got off the bus and started the 1/4 of a mile or so walk onto the A577. As we got close to the road we saw a Stagecoach Manchester MAN, which we assumed would probably be the #598 that we wanted to catch! We now had another 10 or so minute wait for the next bus back to Leigh. Just before our bus was due, there was a #132 service to the Trafford Centre. It was required South Lancs Travel Scania 67.

South Lancs Travel 67 in Hindley Green

There was a gorgeous smelling chippy opposite, and in the future we may visit it when we have more time... Soon we saw another Enviro 200 approaching, perhaps the only one on the #598. It was required Stagecoach Manchester 36801.

Stagecoach Manchester 36801 in Hindley Green

We got on the bus and flashed the tickets for the final time before sitting down near to the back of this bus. The bus set off East along the A577 before turning right into Leigh Road. We headed through Tamar before coming into Leigh via Railway Road. The bus pulled up at Stand M of the bus station on King Street and we waited for the bus to empty so he could take a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 36801.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36801

On the inbound journey, I had texted mum to tell her we were on our way... She had replied back to say the she was at stand A. As we walked through the bus station to meet up with her, we took a few picture along the way. we saw First Manchester 69170 on a #25 service to Manchester.

First Manchester 69170 in Leigh bus station

On a #598 to Wigan we saw Stagecoach Manchester 36791.

Stagecoach Manchester 36791 in Leigh bus station

We then saw South Lancs Travel 58 parked up on Stand B.

South Lancs Travel 58 in Leigh bus station

We walked up the end aisle and we met up with mum. We then walked through the Spinning gate shopping centre where Matthew said hello to a few of the shop worker who were closing up for the day. We got to the car and Matthew had a sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park and onto the A572 before going left, following the A572 Southwards. We carried on South for a mile or two until we hit the A580 and then we went West towards the M6. We joined the M6 and traffic was running well, we made good time down through Cheshire. When we got to the A54 we were joined on the M6 by Belfitts coach X782 JAU. We came off the M6 at the north end of the A500 and we headed South until we got onto the A50. We went East for around a mile before coming off the A50 at Longton so we could check out what was at Z Carz tonight. It was all minibuses this evening, as it has been for around a week or so. First in the row was Mercedes minibus W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Towards the back of the site was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY and Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Net to that was Silver LDV CN57 HWA

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

At the front of the site were a couple of Ford minibuses. First we saw Z Carz FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

Next to this was Z Carz BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. There was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX, Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ and airport tranfer bus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

We headed back onto The A50 and we came off the A50 at Heron Cross. We saw Lightning Travel T2 DLT near to the Lightning house, and we carried on along blurton Road an through the Blurton Farm estate. At the end of Beaconsfield drive we saw D&G 174. We got home around 19:00. for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark