Trip to Middleton / Rochdale 07-03-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
37385	Middleton BS	Rochdale Interchange	17	First Manchester
37451	Rochdale Interchange	Oldham Road/High Barn Street (Stop F)	182	First Manchester
33738	Oldham Road/High Barn Street (Stop F)	Oldham BS	409	First Manchester
30959	Oldham BS	Middleton BS	64	First Manchester
40336	Middleton BS	Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)	415	First Manchester
22219	Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. We had checked the weather an it was for cloud and sunny interval throughout the Midlands and North West. We gave Matthew a list of places in the North West and Midlands and he chose Middleton. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast an orange juice for breakfast. We set off a few minutes after 12:00 and we headed onto the A5035. We turned into Stanley Matthews Way and we caught up with D&G 170 on the Blurton Plumline outside of the Hem Heath pub. We stopped at the traffic light at the junction of Stanley Matthews Way and Eastern Rise. This was to let out Z Carz S952 VMY which was loaded and South North towards the A50. We followed the bus towards the A50 and we joined the Westbound A50 before going onto the Northbound A500. We went North and we joined the Northbound M6 at junction 16. It was a nice day and almost spring like. This was reflected in the number of coaches we passed going South. We passed four Fourway Coaches... Does that make a sixteen way? We carrie on North over the Thelwall viaduct and as we approached the junction for the M62 we were passed by 2 coaches. Firstly we saw Greenline B13 BOW.

Greenline B13 BOW the on M6

This was immediately followed by National Express liveried Park's of Hamilton LSK 814 which was working a #570 service to Blackpool. We took the M62 East towards Manchester and we joined the Clockwise M60. As we were getting onto the M60 we caught up with a coach. We fell behind a little on the M60 and we didn't catch it back up until after we had passed the M61. It was Ashcroft Travel HIG 1254 which can be seen is working as the team coach for prescott cables FC who were playing at Mossley, just East of Manchester on the edge of the Pennines.

Ashcroft Travel HIG 1254 the on M62

We carried on around the M60 and we came of at the A576. We drove the last couple of miles into town and we parked in the small car park near to MacDonalds. We walked passed the shopping centre and Matthew stopped to say hello to someone before we carried on to the pavement cafe on the other side of the shopping centre. The cafe was full so the owner disappeared behind the van to get another table and some chairs. Whilst we waited Matthew got a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 17242 which was on the #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 17242 in Middleton bus station

Matthew had a bacon, sausage and egg barm and also had a bowl of fries which we all shared. He washed this down with a can of Coke. Mum's food was a little delayed, so when we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we set off towards the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 17241 on a #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 17241 in Middleton bus station

We also saw First Manchester 37387 on a #59 to Rushcroft.

First Manchester 37387 in Middleton bus station

Matthew needed the toilet so we went inside the bus station. The disabled toilet was occupied and the ordinary toilet has a turnstyle, so it wouldn't be practical for us to use. We went to the travel shop to see if there was an alternative, but the travel shop was un-staffed. We walked back to the toilet and it was still occupied. We decided to catch a bus to another local town with a bus station so that we find another toilet. As we thought about where we could go we saw First Manchester 37385 on a #17 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 37385 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only tickets at £5.20. We went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Middleton Way We turned onto the A664 and we stopped outside the shops. We noticed the bus was empty in front of us and Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37385.

Inside First Manchester 37385

I looked up First Manchester 37385 in the Buses I have travelled on page and it was a required one... The bus carried on North up Long Street and then Rochdale Road. I had thought it was a quick journey up to Rochdale... It turned out it took around 30 minutes! The road turned due North by the canal and we carried on under the M62 and into Castleton. We joined the A58 and we traveled Eastwards into town. We turned right onto Drake Street and we approached the interchange from the South. We got off the bus and we headed straight for the toilet! Uncle Dave had noticed that the path adjacent to the interchange had now opened, and and the sun was in a great position for taking picture off the path. So we headed out of the bus station and up the steps onto this elevated walkway. parked up next to the steps in between doing #6 Kirkholt circulars was dud First Manchester 66880.

First Manchester 66880 in Rochdale Interchange

We had been on First Manchester 66880 from Unsworth to Bury back in January 2011. We then saw First Manchester 33755 on a #409 to Ashton-under-Lyne.

First Manchester 33755 in Rochdale Interchange

We carried on down the walkway and we saw required First Manchester 37393.

First Manchester 37393 in Rochdale Interchange

We also saw required First Manchester 37282 on a #17 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37282 in Rochdale Interchange

This was followed by required First Manchester 37451 on a #182 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37451 in Rochdale Interchange

We decided to First Manchester 37451 as it was on the #182 service. We had been on the #182 a few time and we find it to be an enjoyable and scenic ride. We walked over to the other side of the bus station and we got on the bus. We flashed the System One tickets and as the bus was empty Matthew photographed the lower saloon.

Inside First Manchester 37451

We went upstairs and he also took a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside First Manchester 37451

Opposite us we saw Rossendale Easyride 167 which was on layover in between runs on the #446 Walbank circulars.

Rossendale 167 in Rochdale Interchange

The bus set off out of the bus station and we joined the Eastbound A640. We went under the railway line and into Newbold. We headed through Firgrove and into Milrow. We joined the A663 and we went crossed under the M62 and headed through Newhey and down through the scenic bit following the tram line and into Shaw. In the town centre we saw required Checkmate Solo which was on the #404 Shaw circular service. We carried on to Luzley Brook and we turned right onto High Barn Street. In Royton we turned right onto Oldham Road and we got up and got off the bus. In the stop ahead of us was required First Manchester 33708.

First Manchester 33708 in Royton

We had a short wait for the next bus so Matthew had a Bakewell flapjack. He washed this down with a can of Fanta. Whilst we waited for the bus we saw required First Manchester 30962 on a Manchester bound #64 service.

First Manchester 30962 in Royton

Before our bus turned up we saw required First Manchester 37561 on a #181 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37561 in Royton

This was immediately followed by required First Manchester 33738 which was on the #409 to Ashton and the bus we wanted to catch.

First Manchester 33738 in Royton

We got on the bus an we flashed our System One tickets to the driver. We went upstairs and the bus set off down the Oldham Road. We passed quite a few buses coming the other way but most of these were Branded E400's like the one we were on that were allocated to work on the #409 service. We crossed the A663 and continued into town before turning left onto Saint Marys Way before entering the bus station from the North. Before we got off bus Matthew took a picture of the now empty rear of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 33738

We got off the bus and we headed towards the toilet. After we had been we had a walk around the bus station taking a few pictures. We saw First Manchester 33754 on a #184 to Manchester.

First Manchester 33754 in Oldham bus station

We then saw another Enviro400 on the #409 service... It was required First Manchester 33706.

First Manchester 33706 in Oldham bus station

On the #159 to Middleton was required Manchester Community Transport MX09 MHV.

MCT MX09 MHV in Oldham bus station

On an X80 to Manchester was required First Manchester 33752.

First Manchester 33752 in Oldham bus station

We walked down towards the other half of the bus station. There is a council building on the corner that has an elevated walkway... An ideal place from which to take bus pictures. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10046 which was on a #76 service to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10046 in Oldham bus station

Heading back into the Northern end of the bus station we saw dud First Manchester 37463.

First Manchester 37463 in Oldham bus station

We last rode on First Manchester 37463 back in September 2014 from Rochdale to Wrens Nest where the terminated suddenly. At the West end of the bus station we saw required First Manchester 69328 on a #149 service to Manchester.

First Manchester 69328 in Oldham bus station

We then saw required First Manchester 67420 on a #58 to Middleton.

First Manchester 67420 in Oldham bus station

We also saw First Manchester 41788 on a #415 to Holt.

First Manchester 41788 in Oldham bus station

Since our last the visit the #415 service has changed. The frequency had been reduced to every 30 minutes and extended from Oldham to Holts. We then saw required First Manchester 67414 on a #408 service to Droylsden,

First Manchester 67414 in Oldham bus station

We headed back the the Northern end of the bus station to catch something towards Middleton. We had a choice of services... #58, #59, #64, #159 & #415. We though we were in luck when required First Manchester 30963 came in on a #64 service.

First Manchester 30963 in Oldham bus station

The bus then had a driver change and went out of service! We though we would have to do the next #59, but just as we were considering boarding a new double decker, First Manchester 30959 appeared on a #64 service.

First Manchester 30959 in Oldham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver. We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture inside the empty First Manchester 30959.

Inside First Manchester 30959

We set off out of Oldham and we took a route parallel to the Oldham Road before joining on to it half a mile or so up the road. In Royton we turned left at the crossroads and headed towards North Chadderton under the A627(M). In North Chadderton we went past Chadderton Hall Park which looked like a very well kept green space. We joined Middleton Road and we went past Mills Hill station. We turned North and went through the Boarshaw area before heading South into town. As we got to the edge of town we followed First Manchester 40336 into the bus station which was on the #415 service. When we got to the bus station we got off and we headed to the toilet. This time it was available... We needed to do another short out and back to get 2 more buses in for the day. I remember the #415 was due off at 16:41 and it was nearly that time. So we walked down West end of the bus station to catch First Manchester 40336.

First Manchester 40336 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One tickets to the driver. Matthew was very good and he didn't try and honk the horn... We sat down at the back of the bus and the bus set off out of town and around Tesco Extra before heading South down Townley Street. We went onto the Alkrington estate down Kirkway and over the many many speed bumps here, which is why I refer to the #415 as the 'Alkrington rollercoaster'... The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture of the back seat of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 40336

Partway around the estate we passed First Manchester 40335 on a Middleton bound #415. We left the estate along Mainway East and we joined Greengate. We got up and got off the bus. I had no idea that we were being followed by another bus on the #112 route, but Matthew knew and as soon as we got off the bus he turned and we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 26130.

Stagecoach Manchester 26130 at Middleton Junction

Had I know the bus was there I might have tried to flag it down... We looked at the time table and we saw the next #112 was in 20 minutes time. It doesn't seem that long ago when the bus ran every few minutes with Stagecoach and JPT competing with each other. Since JPT were taken over by Stagecoach the competition had gone so the service was drastically reduced. Whilst we were waiting we ate a Milky Way and drank a can of Cherry Coke. We saw a double decker approaching and we thought it might be the #112 running earlier, but it disappeared into Mainway East. A few minutes later we saw a Stagecoach MAN approaching. It was the first one we had seen today. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 22219.

Stagecoach Manchester 22219 at Middleton Junction

We got on the bus and we flashed our System One tickets to the driver for the final time today. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus Went North along Greengate before we turned left into Grimshaw Lane. The #112 is much quicker than the #415 as it is a more direct route and much more comfortable without all the speed bumps. We came into town and into the bus station and we waited for it to empty before Matthew got a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 22219.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22219

We met up with mum and Matthew went to the toilet again before we set off back to the car. On the way we took a few more bus pictures. First we saw required First Manchester 66857 on a 59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 66857 in Middleton bus station

We also saw required First Manchester 37283 on a #18 to the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

First Manchester 37283 in Middleton bus station

We walked to the car and waiting for us were some Greggs sausage rolls and a can of Irn Bru. We set off back home around 17:30 and we went down the A576 to the M60. For the return journey we decided to go clockwise down to the M56. We did the M56 Westward towards the Lymm services and then we headed onto the Southbound M6. Doing this avoid the need to travel down the A556 which I find tedious as it is a long straight road and dangerous as it is a duel carriage way with no central reservation! I was starting to feel a bit tired so when we were approaching Sandbach services we pulled over and mum drove the rest of the way back. We rejoined the M6 and then left at the next junction onto the Southbound A500. At Sideway we went East along the A50 to Heron Cross an we stopped at mum friends shop to pick up oatcakes. Matthew decided he was desperate to use the toilet and he jumped out and went into the shop. We regrouped and we got back in the car and we headed to Z Carz. We went via Blurton Road, Drubbery Lane and the A5035. At Z Carz there were 3 buses on the spare ground tonight. First in the row was Ford minibus Z Carz PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

Next in the row was Ford minibus Z Carz MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We noticed that at the back of the land in the shadows was Mercedes minibus M372 NWN. Last in the front row was Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and there was a single minibus in the compound, Z Carz LG09 JVX. We headed back onto the A50 and we went to Heron Cross. We traveled through Blurton along Blurton Road and we followed this onto Church Road at Chritchlow's Corner We turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we got home just after 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by the remainder of the cheesecake from the night before. Matthew the chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark