Trip to Middleton / Moston 20-09-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
27625	Middleton BS	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	156	Stagecoach Manchester
22226	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Moston (Manchester), o/s Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	118	Stagecoach Manchester
17242	Moston (Manchester), opp Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	Charlestown (Manchester), opp Charlestown Road/Grange Park Road	80	Stagecoach Manchester
17242	Charlestown (Manchester), opp Charlestown Road/Grange Park Road	Moston (Manchester), o/s Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	80	Stagecoach Manchester
63103	Moston (Manchester), opp Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop A)	88	First Manchester
49893	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Moston (Manchester), o/s Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	118	Stagecoach Manchester
22217	Moston (Manchester), opp Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester
40335	Middleton BS	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)	415	First Manchester
17175	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. That had been some bad weather overnight and we weren't sure what the weather was going to like. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. We gave him a list of mainly Northern towns to visit and out of the list Matthew chose Middleton. We set off around 12:00 onto the A5035. We turned right into Stanley Matthew Way and we carried on down to the Westbound A50. WE turned Northwards onto the A500 and it started to rain a little. We had just changed the windscreen wiper and the wiper nearly fell off when we went to use it so we stopped briefly on a lay-by just North of Longport. Once it was secured back on we carried on North to the M6. Just as we got on the M6 the fuel light came on so we diverted into Sandbach services to get diesel. There was a tanker at the petrol station and it looked deserted to so got back onto the M6 and drove up to Knutsford services. Having put some diesel in, we carried on North. Near to Thelwall viaduct we passed preserved MTL 0238 and Halton transport 33 going the other way. We carried on up to the M62 and we headed East. At the M60 we went clockwise until we reached the junction for the A576. We drove the last couple of miles up the A576 into town and we parked up near to MacDonalds. We tried to go the chip shop cafe near to the bus station, but it was too busy, so we went to the usual pavement cafe by the bus station. Earlier in the day whilst we ate our dinner we saw Stagecoach Manchester deckers 17240 & 17244 going towards Manchester. Matthew had a burger and some fries washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked across to the bus station. Matthew went to use the toilet and we saw First Manchester 30960 depart on a #59 service. When he had finished we spotted a stagecoach double decker 19047 coming in to work the #112 Manchester service.

Stagecoach Manchester 19047 in Middleton bus station

We went to catch this but by the time we had walked over to it, it departed the bus station. We walked to the other side of the bus station to see if there anything else interesting to catch. We then saw required Stagecoach Manchester 27625 appear to work the #156 to Manchester. This bus used to be 455 in the JPT fleet before Stagecoach took over their routes and buses.

Stagecoach Manchester 27625 in Middleton bus station

We asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes. The bus disappeared and came back again a few minutes later. We got on the bus and booked System One bus only tickets at £5.20 each. As the bus was nearly empty Matthew took a picture inside of the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27625

We sat down near to the back and the bus set off out of the bus station and towards the M60 along the A576. We crossed the motorway and when we got to Victoria road we turned left. We carried on Through Blakeley and a few minutes later we arrived in North Manchester General Hospital. We got of Stagecoach Manchester 27625 and there was another bus there. It was required Stagecoach Manchester 22226 on a #118 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 22226 outside the NMGH

After taking a picture I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this down to Moston and he said yes. We got on the bus and as it was nearly empty Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 22226.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22226

We sat down and the bus set off towards Blackley. For part of the journey we followed behind Stagecoach Manchester 16798. We passed the turning circle at Boggart Hole Clough and we continued on through White Moss and into Moston. I was hoping that we might intercept one of these in Moston that we could catch back to Middleton. As we turned onto Moston Lane we passed Stagecoach Manchester 17240 followed by Stagecoach Manchester 17242 in quick succession! When we got to the cemetery we got up and got off the bus. We crossed the road to wait for another bus back towards Middleton. A minute or so later we saw another ALX400 decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Manchester 17242.

Stagecoach Manchester 17242 in Moston

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets. We went upstairs and sat down. There was somebody at the back of the bus so Matthew took his picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 17242 facing forwards.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 17242

Great I thought... A bus back to Middleton and a good one too! What I didn't know that since the last time we had visited Middleton the #80 was cut short and divert to end in White Moss outside Boggart Hole Clough! The bus went up Moston Lane and along Charlestown Road. The bus went into the turning point and I commented to uncle Dave that "I can't remember going here before". We headed back towards Manchester along Charlestown Road. It was at this point we thought there might be a problem. We decided to get off the bus in familiar territory, so we got off the bus on the opposite side of the road to which we had got on. Research done writing the blog suggests the the #80 has been terminating at Boggart Hole Clough since the end of April! We crossed the road and we consulted the bus stop timetable. We decided we do either a #88 or #118 to the hospital, or we could catch the #112 direct to Middleton. In the distance we saw a First Manchester Streetlite approaching. We knew it would be required as we have never had any of this type in Manchester before. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. We flagged the bus down and as we got closer we saw it was required First Manchester 63103.

First Manchester 63103 in Moston

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets before we sat down towards the back. The bus set off Northwards towards White Moss and we went passed Hole Boggart Clough. Headed up onto Victoria Road and then into estates around Higher Blackley and Heaton Park. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture facing forwards.

Inside First Manchester 63103

When we went down Middleton Road and into Crumpsall before turning left and heading towards the hospital. The bus stopped outside the hospital and we got off the bus. As we were getting off we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 22218 on a #118 to Manchester. As we got our bearings we saw the bus depart. Matthew took a picture as Stagecoach Manchester 22218 went sailing by.

Stagecoach Manchester 22218 outside the NMGH

We walked up to the hospital to see what we could catch. Going in the opposite direction on a #42 to East Didsbury was Rusholme allocated required First Manchester 63118.

First Manchester 63118 outside the NMGH

There was a #156 to Middleton at 53 past the hour, so we could catch that. In the meantime going towards Manchester on a #156 was required Stagecoach Manchester 33876.

Stagecoach Manchester 33876 outside the NMGH

A few minutes later we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 49893 arrive on a #118. This former JPT bus was required as we had never been on any of their Plaxton Primo vehicles. We decided to do this to Moston and then catch a #112 back to Middleton instead. It would take much longer and we would get at least one required bus.

Stagecoach Manchester 49893 outside the NMGH

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets and sat down near to the back of the bus. It was nearly empty so Matthew took a picture inside this Primo facing forwards.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 49893

We set off towards Moston for one final time today, through Blackley, past Boggart Hole Clough and White Moss. We turned onto Moston lane and we got opposite the cemetery again, as it would make writing the Blog easier! Matthew took another picture of former JPT 256 as it set off Southwards towards Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 49893 in Moston

We crossed the road and we decided that we would only catch a #112 back toward Middleton as we wanted to go and use the facilities there. The next bus was a #112, but this journey was being worked by one of the MAN single deckers. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Manchester 22217.

Stagecoach Manchester 22217 in Moston

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets. We sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off Northwards up Moston Lane and we turned right to head towards Greengate. we crossed the roundabout onto Greengate, Heading North past the Stagecoach Middleton depot. Further North on Greengate we turned right onto Grimshaw Lane. We waited for a short while at roadworks on the Middleton end of Grimshaw Lane before carrying on into town and into the bus station. We waited for the bus to empty and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 22217.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22217

We got off the bus and we went to the toilet. Stagecoach Manchester 19047 was on stand again on the #112 and once again we let it go. We visited the shop and Matthew brought a can of Coke and a flapjack. We sat down and Matthew ate the flapjack, washed down with a can on Fanta we had in the bag. After we had finished eating we walked around a bit whilst we decided what to catch. We saw required First Manchester 66848 on layover from working a #58 service.

First Manchester 66848 in Middleton bus station

Whilst there we saw First Manchester 40335 arrive on a #415 to Oldham. As we have never done a Solo in Manchester and it was on our favourite #415 service, we decided to do this bus.

First Manchester 40335 in Middleton bus station

This used to be the service that we picked up the older Darts,but most have the Darts have gone and this service is now in the hands of Solo, We flashed our tickets and got on the bus. Matthew tried to honk the horn but we didn't allow him to. The bus set off out of town and we went around Tesco and onto Townley Street. At the corner of Grimshaw Lane we carried on straight into the Alkrington estate. As we bounced over the many speed bumps in the estate, the bus slowly emptied out as we headed through to Greengate. The bus was empty in front of us so Matthew took a picture inside this former Metroshuttle bus. The route map can still be seen behind the drivers seat.

Inside First Manchester 40335

The bus turned onto Greengate and we got up and got off. As we off of Matthew did manage to honk the horn this time. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 40335 as it carried on towards Oldham.

First Manchester 40335 at Middleton Junction

The plan was now to go back to Middleton to finish off the day. Having done a #415, we didn't even have to cross the road to do the next #112 back to Middleton. We didn't have to wait for long too. We turned around and almost immediately we saw an ALX400 bodied decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Manchester 17175.

Stagecoach Manchester 17175 at Middleton Junction

We got on the bus and we flashed our tickets for the last time. We went upstairs and as it was empty Matthew took his picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 17175 immediately.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 17175

The bus set off and we turned the corner into Grimshaw Lane. I called mum to tell her we were going to be in Middleton shortly, but she didn't answer until the third call. She was in Tesco and wasn't able to get back to the bus station in time. So that when we got back we decided to do a lap of the bus station taking a few bus pictures. we saw First Manchester 37463 on a #64 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37463 in Middleton bus station

We set off out of the top bus station and started to walk around the outside. On the end stand was First Manchester 37288.

First Manchester 37288 in Middleton bus station

We then saw First Manchester 37550 on a #59 to Rushcroft.

First Manchester 37550 in Middleton bus station

Back on the other side of the bus station was First Manchester 69205 on layover.

First Manchester 69205 in Middleton bus station

We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station to watch buses leave. We saw First Manchester 40319 on a #125 circular service.

First Manchester 40319 in Middleton bus station

Finally we saw First Manchester 37551 on a #163 to Bury.

First Manchester 37551 in Middleton bus station

We met up with mum and we walked back through the bus station and past the shopping centre. When we got to the car park we saw Diamond cars FG09 SWN just leaving.

Diamond cars FG09 SWN in Middleton

We got into the car and waiting foe us was a sausage roll and Matthew washed this down with a 500ml bottle of Irn Bru. We set off back down the A576 and onto the anti-clockwise M60. When we got to the M62 we carried on West until we got to the M6. Traffic was running well and went onto the Southbound A500. We came of the A500 at Sideway and up to Longton, where went to check out what was at their depot. There were a few buses parked up tonight. First was Ford minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Next we saw silver LDV minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

Next to that was former Alton Towers Transport coach M534 RSO.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

Then we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

There was another Ford minbus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

Finally we saw Mercedes minibus S952 VMY sporting it's "new" bumper.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and in the compound we saw new vehicle to Z Carz,Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ Great shot Great Yarmouth.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and into Heron Cross. We saw Lightning Travel T2 DLT parked up and we headed into Blurton. We got back home at a very respectable 18:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew wash acing a little strange and it turned out he had a piece of tooth missing which was giving him toothache... He had some Calpol and he went to be around 00:30...Mark