Trip to Burnley / Todmorden 11-10-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
69584	Burnley BS	Todmorden BS	589	First West Yorkshire
32527	Todmorden BS	Lydgate (Todmorden), adj The Railway PH	592	First West Yorkshire
69582	Lydgate (Todmorden), opp The Railway PH	Todmorden BS	592	First West Yorkshire
69582	Todmorden BS	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (stop HB15)	592	First West Yorkshire
32539	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB14)	Todmorden BS	590	First West Yorkshire
69584	Todmorden BS	Pike Hill, by Cheviot Avenue	589	First West Yorkshire
69584	Pike Hill, opp Cheviot Avenue	Cliviger, opp Hillcrest Avenue	589	First West Yorkshire
69587	Cliviger, adj Hill Crest Avenue	Burnley BS	592	First West Yorkshire

Today we decided to re-visit Burnley. We had checked the weather for today on Friday and it predicted a mainly dry day with showers. With this forecast we gave Matthew a list of destinations from the North West and he picked Burnley. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. Around 12:00 we jumped into the car to set off. We were delayed around 15 because we had a flat battery! We set off onto the A5035 and then we turned North up Stanley Matthews Way. Part way along we passed D&G 173 on the Trentham Plumline. We went West on the A50 and then Northwards up the A500. We joined the Northbound M6 and traffic was flowing well, probably due to the international football break. Just as we got to the M56 we caught up with Chiltern Travel YJ08 NTC also heading Northwards.

Chiltern Travel YJ08 NTC on the M6

We carried on up the M6 until we reached the M62 and then we went Eastwards.We followed the Road Eastwards as the M60 clockwise and then we went North when we reached the M66. There was a line of traffic trying to come off the M66 at the A58 for Bury and we continued Northwards until the M66 became the A56. When we got to the M65 we went East for a couple of junction before heading into Burnley town centre via Westway and Trafalgar Street. We parked up near to the bus station and we set off on foot to the Atlantis Cafe. On the way to the cafe as we walked past the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 708 on a #8 service into the bus station.

'Starship' 708 in Burnley

We got to the cafe and Matthew headed up the stairs to the toilet. For dinner Matthew had a breakfast with toast was down with a glass of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and set off an our walk around the outside of the bus station taking pictures. The flat battery meant that we had missed doing the #517 service towards Hebden Bridge, so we would probably be on Transdev Buses. The bus station contained usual mix of Transdev buses plus a Rosso bus, A First West Yorkshire bus and a couple of Holmeswood Solos. As we were taking picture of buses in the bus station we saw Union Coaches P612 UGE going past on the A682.

Union Coaches P612 UGE in Burnley

We walked back around the bus station and in through the side entrance. Required Transdev Lancashire United 1876 was an unusual site on the #152 to Preston, and required First West Yorkshire 69584 was on a #589 to Rochdale. I asked Matthew if he wanted to any of the buses in the bus station, or wait for something up towards Nelson. Just as it looked like Matthew want to stay put and wait for something better, he decided he would like to do First West Yorkshire 69584 up towards Todmorden.

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus and booked a First West Yorkshire day ticket. The driver very nicely recommended that brought the FirstDay Family & Friends ticket at £8 which would cover all three of us. We sat down near to the back of the bus and after a few minutes we set off out of the bus station. We went under the railway and past turf Moor and we climbed up the hill towards Brunshaw. we carried on through Cliviger and Mereclough and we joined onto the A646 to travel south Eastwards into Yorkshire. As we traveled along we passed First West Yorkshire 69582 on a Burnley bound #592 service. We traveled down the narrow valley through Cornholme and Lydgate and we entered the town of Todmorden from the North Western corner. We pulled into the bus station and we got off First Potteries West Yorkshire 69584. Also in the bus station was West Yorkshire 66780 on a #590 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 66780 in Todmorden bus station

On the road side of the bus station as TLC Solo SR 90814 on a T1 service to Cross Lee.

TLC 90814 in Todmorden bus station

As we contemplated our next move, required West Yorkshire 32527 came into the bus station on a #592 to Burnley.

First West Yorkshire 32527 in Todmorden bus station

As it was required we decided to do this bus. It was heading towards Burnley, so we decided to do this bus only part way. if we didn't go too far we should meet required First West Yorkshire 69582 coming the other way. We got on the bus and flashed our ticket before going upstairs. The bus was quite busy upstairs, and Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite us.

Inside First West Yorkshire 32527

The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto the A646. We decided to travel no more than 10 minutes up the valley as there was around 10 minutes waiting in the bus station at Todmorden for all arrivals from Burnley. We saw a place with two bus stops opposite and we decided to get off the bus. As the bus carried on towards Burnley Matthew got another picture of First West Yorkshire 32527. We crossed the road to wait for the bus back. It was due in a couple of minutes at 15:18. As we waited for the bus we noticed there appeared to be a school bus depot behind the back of the adjacent mill. A minutes or two later we saw the Volvo come around the corner and it was as expected First West Yorkshire required 69582.

First West Yorkshire 69582 in Lydgate

We got on the bus and flashed the ticket. The bus was quite busy and Matthew sat down on a single seat with uncle Dave standing next to him. I sat a little further back in the bus. A few stops down the road somebody got off the bus and we were able to sit down together. The bus pulled into Todmorden bus station and we considered stopping on the bus to Hebden Bridge. Matthew decided he wanted to get off here. We got off and we walked into town around the market building. Here Matthew used the toilet before we returned back to the bus station. It was 15:35 and First West Yorkshire 69582 was still in the bus station and not due to depart towards Hebden Bridge until 15:40. Matthew shared his two pack of Milky Way with me and uncle Dave (one for him, half each for me and uncle Dave) and then washed this down with a can of Barr limeade. We decided to get back onto First West Yorkshire 69582 so we could try and catch the #517 service back towards Burnley. At 15:40 the bus set off out of the bus station and we saw First West Yorkshire 53301 running empty towards Hebden Bridge. We turned onto the eastbound A646 for a fast 12 minute or so run into Hebden Bridge. When we got to the Western edge of town we decided to get off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 69582 as carried on towards Halifax on the #592 service.

First West Yorkshire 69582 in Hebden Bridge

We had around 15 minutes in town so we decided to visit the Co-operative food store opposite. Mathew had a 5 pack of Milky Ways, a can of coke for later and small bottle of Irn Bru. Once we had finished shopping we headed for the till and paid for the stuff. We got to the bus stop with around 2 minutes to spare. We waited a while and the #517 had turned up. We saw a doubled decker so we decided to catch that instead. As it got closer we saw it was First West Yorkshire 32539.

First West Yorkshire 32539 in Hebden Bridge

We got on the bus and flashed the ticket. We went upstairs and sat down. A quick check of the page 'Buses I have travelled on' revealed that the double decker was dud! We had been on this double decker from Halifax to Elland back in August 2013. We had another fast run along the A646 into Todmorden and we pulled into the bus station. The service was a short #592 and was terminating here, so we waited for the bus to empty before Matthew got a picture inside First West Yorkshire 32539.

Inside First West Yorkshire 32539

We got off the bus and we decided to hatch a plan to try and get the #517 in again! If we caught the 16:40 departure to Burnley we could head off the return service to Halifax on the outskirts of Burnley. A quick run on the #517 until it turned onto the Long Causeway and then we could walk back onto the main and the following service into Burnley... We had a few minutes to wait. We had spotted a chip shop near to the bus station so we went to check that out... It was only open until 14:00 on Saturdays. As we were heading back we spotted a bus garage. with two Mercedes in. First we took a picture of Central Garage M40 DPG.

Central Garage M40 DPG in Todmorden

The we got a picture of the other Mercedes minibus parked up there, Central Garage M871 ATC.

Central Garage M871 ATC in Todmorden

We started to head back to the bus station to wait for the #589 towards Burnley. We didn't have to wait long for it to appear. It was dud First West Yorkshire 69584 which had scored earlier in the day!

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Todmorden Bus staton

A little bit unfortunate to get the same bus twice in a day. We flashed the ticket and sat down. The bus had it's customary 10 minute wait here, but we didn't mind waiting on the bus has it had now started to rain! Just before 16:40 the driver let the last few people onto the bus and the bus left the bus station and turned right onto the A646. We checked the #589 timetable and the timetable details of the #517. We wouldn't make the bus on the inbound trip, but we should pass the Halifax bound #517 on the edge of town and we just had to get off at the right place. AS he bus went towards Burnley I kept a close eye on the time and the timetable to check our progress. We were due to pass Mereclough at 17:03 and the #517 was due off the bus station at 17:05 so we should be able to travel down a little bit closer to town. We came to a long straight section of road so we decided to get off. Matthew had wanted to go forward, but I explained we were getting off to catch the #517. We got up and got off the bus, and Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 69584 as it carried on towards Burnley.

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Pike Hill

We crossed the road and stood at the bus stop opposite. It was 17:09 and the bus was due at 17:09... We looked down the road expecting to see something appear any minute now. We looked the other way to see a First West Yorkshire Solo approaching. The inbound #517 must have been late so we quickly crossed over the road and tried to flag it down. As it got closer we saw that it was running out of service and it was required First West Yorkshire 53301.

First West Yorkshire 53301 in Pike Hill

Damn! Still if we were luck we would be able to catch it still. In he mean time we crossed over to wait for the next bus. We then saw taxi minibus Millennium PO55 CXP go past.

Millennium PO55 CXP in Pike Hill

The #589 was due at 17:28. Hopefully the #517 would be in front of this service and we could do it a few stops up the road and then do the next #592 back into town to finish. At around 17:29 we saw the #589 approaching... we decided to give up on the #517 for today. We got back on dud First West Yorkshire 69584 for the third time today much to the amusement of the driver! We sat down and the bus set off along Red Lees Road. WE saw that the housing was coming to an end and there were opposite bus stops so we decided to get off. As First West Yorkshire 69584carried on toward Yorkshire, Matthew got another picture of it.

First West Yorkshire 69584 in Cliviger

We crossed the road and we didn't have to wait for long before we saw the #592 approaching. As the bus got closer we saw required First West Yorkshire 53301 on the #517 whizz past going the other way... Our bus got closer and we saw it was required First West Yorkshire 69587.

First West Yorkshire 69587 in Cliviger

We flashed the ticket for the final time today, and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus took very little time to go back down Red Lees Road and past Turf Moor and back into town. On this occasion we went into the bus station before the bus emptied out. We waited behind and Matthew got a picture inside the now empty First West Yorkshire 69587.

Inside First West Yorkshire 69587

When Matthew got off the bus, we said hello to someone, we visited the shop for some more sweets and a can of Vimto, and he used the disabled toilet. We set offback to the car, taking a few bus pictures on the way. On the end stand of the bus station was Transdev Burnley & Pendle 254 on a #4 service.

'Starship' 254 in Burnley bus station

We got in the car and it started first time luckily... We then drove across to the Tesco petrol station across the road to get some diesel. We headed back onto the M65 via Trafalgar Street and Westway. By now it was starting to go dark. The sun was very low and red as we climbed up the A56 towards the M66. We joined the anti-clockwise M60 and then forwards onto the Westbound M62. By the time we were on the M6 it was properly dark and we came off the M6 at the A500 junction. We went South to the A50 and then East to Longton were we came off the A50 to check out what was parked up at Z Carz. It was the first time we had visited Z carz in darkness this Autumn. First in the row was Mercedes minibus W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Next to that was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Next was Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

That was the first time we have seen the Iveco bus outside the compound. Finally was Z carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to view what was in the compound. The was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX and silver LDV minibus CN57 HWA. We headed back onto the A50 and we came off the road at Heron Cross. We passed Lightning Travel T2 DLT at the Lightning House and we carried on through Blurton, getting home around 19:40. 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