Trip to Wigan / Westhoughton 28-03-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
22354	Wigan BS	Westhoughton, Market St/Westhoughton Town Hall (Stop F)	540	Stagecoach Manchester
27824	Westhoughton, Market St/Westhoughton Church (Stop E)	Wigan BS	540	Stagecoach Manchester
4583	Wigan BS	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	375	Arriva NW&W
36789	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	628	Stagecoach Manchester
19088	Wigan BS	Atherton Road/Hindley Green (Stop B)	32	Stagecoach Manchester
19520	Atherton Road/Hindley Green (Stop A)	Wigan BS	32	Stagecoach Manchester

Todays we decided to revisit Wigan and Westhoughton. The weather was forecast for grey and showery weather in most direction. We gave Matthew a list of places to go and from the list he chose Wigan. Since our last visit to Wigan, South Lancs Travel have been taken over by Rotala. Some vehicle have been scrapped and other have been brought in to replace them from around the Rotala group. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just before 12:00 and we headed onto the A5035. As we turned onto the A5035 we saw D&G 157. The Burnley & Pendle 'Starship' liveried Versa was working the final day of the Blurton Plumline. We carried on Westward on the A5035 before turning North onto Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the Westbound A50 and then went North on the A500. We passed Express Motors coach 8297 ME going South. We joined the Northbound M6 and apart from a short queue forming around the roadworks at junction 17 the traffic was moving well. We were passed by 2 coaches. The first coach to pass us was Reptons Coaches REP 377.

Reptons Coaches REP 377 on the M6

Not far behind this was Greenline Holidays B13 GLC.

Greenline B13 GLC on the M6

We reached the junction for the M56 and we saw the Reptons Coaches vehicle leave the M6 here. Later we saw that a fellow Flickrite had posted a picture of the coach at Prenton Park. It had been taking Wimbledon fans to an away game against Tranmere Rovers. We carried on North up the M6 and we left the motorway at the A49 for the run into Wigan town centre. Traffic was slow moving as it often is going into town. We went under the railway line and past the two railway station before turning left towards the bus station, parking on the street just around the corner. We went for something to eat at the Courtyard Cafe. We had just arrived too late to have a breakfast. Matthew had a sausage and bacon sandwich and some fries washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we waited for the for Matthew watched the people on the opposite table as they ate their breakfasts. All things considered Matthew was very calm about the situation... After we had finished eating we headed into the bus station to go and see what we could catch. First we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2680 on a #362 to Chorley.

Arriva NW&W 2680 in Wigan bus station

We had this bus into Bolton on the #534 on a very wet day in June 2012. Then we saw Rotala South Lancs 20825 on the stand opposite us.

Rotala South Lancs 20825 in Wigan bus station

We decided to walk down to the bottom of the bus station to see what was parked up between duties. Rotala South Lancs 20714 was about to work a #634 to Ince Bar.

Rotala South Lancs 20714 in Wigan bus station

Required Arriva NW&W 2980 was about to work a #352 to Orrell.

Arriva NW&W 2980 in Wigan bus station

We decided to do required Stagecoach Manchester 22354 which was about to work a #540 to Bolton via Westhoughton.

Stagecoach Manchester 22354 in Wigan bus station

We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only tickets at £5.20 each. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of town to the East. We travelled along Darlington Street East and we joined onto Manchester Road for the run into Hindley. We climbed up towards Castle Hill and we headed into the housing estate. We headed towards Hindley Green before turning and going past Greenbank industrial estate. We went North Eastwards towards Daisy Hill. As the back seat was now empty Matthew decided to take a picture.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22354

We went through another housing estate before coming out on Market Street in Westhougton. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 22354 before it carried on towards Bolton.

Stagecoach Manchester 22354 in Westhoughton

We went into the Co-operative food store and Matthew had 2 cans of pop and two chocolate bars. It had now started to rain... We headed down Market Street to use the toilet. On the way we saw dud Stagecoach Manchester 21243 on the following #540 to Bolton.

Stagecoach Manchester 21243 in Westhoughton

After Matthew had used the toilet we crossed the road to wait for the bus back to Wigan. The next bus was at 15:07... there was a 15:07 #540 service and a #15:07 #715 service. Whilst we waited Matthew ate a fudge that we had purchased from the Co-op. Bang on time, Stagecoach Manchester 27824 appeared on the #540.

Stagecoach Manchester 27824 in Westhoughton

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. It turned out it was dud... We had been on Stagecoach Manchester 27824 up to Pemberton on a #628 back in January 2013. We got on the bus and we flashed our System One tickets to the driver. We sat down towards the back of the bus. The rain had made the windows all steamy so we didn't see a lot on the return journey. We went back through Daisy Hill, Castle Hill, Hindley and Ince-in-Makerfield before coming into town from the East. It turned out that back n January 2013 Matthew was unable to get a picture inside this bus. When we go back into Wigan bus station Matthew was able to get a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 27824 on this occasion.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27824

We got off the bus and we saw Rotala South Lancs 20726 on a #635 to Appley Bridge.

Rotala South Lancs 20726 in Wigan bus station

We also saw Arriva NW&W 4583 come into the bus station.

Arriva NW&W 4583 in Wigan bus station

As we had never been on one of the new buses on the #375/385 service, we decided to do one up to Pemberton for a guaranteed quick score... We got on the bus and we flashed our System One tickets to the driver. We went upstairs and the bus was not full, but people were sitting scattered around the top deck. Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite to us.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4583

We set off out of the bus station and onto Dorning Street before turning into King Street West. We turned righ by Wigan Wallgate station and we passed wigan North Western station before going under the railway line. We went South down the A49 and past Wigan Pier before joining the A577 just after the large roundabout. As we joined the A577 we passed Warrington Coachways Alexander bodied minibus P180 UFM going into town. We carried on out of town and past the Halfway House. We got up and got off at the next stop just before the traffic lights. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4583 as it carried on towards Southport.

Arriva NW&W 4583 in Pemberton

We crossed the road and we stood at the stop awiating the next return service. There was a gap in the service, and the next bus due was a #352 from Orrell just after 16:00. Whilst we waited we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 22305 on a #621 Kitt Green circular.

Stagecoach Manchester 22305 in Pemberton

This was followed immediately by South Gloucester coach M339 EEC.

South Gloucester M339 EEC in Pemberton

To our surprise a late running #628 came around the corner from Norley Hall Avenue. It was required Stagecoach Manchester 36789...

Stagecoach Manchester 36789 in Pemberton

We got onto the bus and we flashed our System One tickets before sitting down towards the rear of the bus. The bus set off down the A577 and we joined onto the Northbound A49. We passed the West side of Wigan Pier and we turned under the railway line to go past the railway stations. We turned right onto King Street West and we headed up Dorning Street and into the bus station. When we got into the bus station we let Stagecoach Manchester 36789 empty and matthew got a picture inside the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36789

We decided to take Matthew up to the toilets. On the way we saw Rotala South Lancs 30536 on a #715 service to Bolton.

Rotala South Lancs 30536 in Wigan bus station

We also saw required Stagecoach Manchester 27827 on a #598 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 27827 in Wigan bus station

Whilst Matthew was in the toilet we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 19088 arrive on the #32 from Manchester. When matthew came out of the toilet was asked him if he wanted to do the E400 double decker and he said yes. As we headed towards the bus we stopped so Matthew could photograph a Ring & Ride minibus... It was Ring & Ride BV57 VGY.

Ring & Ride BV57 VGY in Wigan bus station

Required Stagecoach Manchester 19088 was starting to load up, so Matthew got a quick picture of this bus.

Stagecoach Manchester 19088 in Wigan bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed our System One bus only tickets. We went upstairs and the bus started to move off immediately. The bus took a similar route to the #540 as far as Hindley, along Darlington East Road and Manchester Road. We turned right towards castle Hill and we took a higher route across the housing estate. We crossed over the #540 route before coming out on Atherton road at the West end of Hindley Green. We went passed the T junction with the road to Leigh and we got up to get off the bus. As we stopped at the light Matthew noticed the lower saloon was empty and he took another picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 19088.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19088

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19088 as it carried on towards Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 19088 in Hindley Green

We crossed the road to wait for the next bus towards Wigan. The was a #598 due just before the hour around 17:00. The was also a #32 due a few minutes before we got to the stop. We couldn't remember passing one going the other way. As the time for the #598 got closer we saw a #32 approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 19520.

Stagecoach Manchester 19520 in Hindley Green

We got on the bus and we flashed the driver the System One tickets for the final time today. We went upstairs, and as it was nearly empty Matthew took his empty bus picture immediately.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19520

The bus set off Westwards along Atherton Road and we turned into the Castle Hill housing estate We headed North up to Slough Lane before heading back south into Hindley. We turned right onto wigan Road and we passed the park in Higher Ince before entering Ince-in-Makerfield. We went West along Darlington Road east and we entered the East end of Wigan before running through King Street West. We got off the bus and we were supposed to meet up with mum, but we had gotten back a few minutes earlier than I anticipated that we would. We walked down to the bottom end to take a few more bus pictures. We then saw required Stagecoach Manchester 27825 on a #631 Highfield Grange circular service.

Stagecoach Manchester 27825 in Wigan bus station

This was followed by required Arriva NW&W 2690 on a #352 to Orrell.

Arriva NW&W 2690 in Wigan bus station

We set off back to the car the long way around... On layover in hallgate in between #600's was Stagecoach Manchester 19103.

Stagecoach Manchester 19103 in Wigan

We carried onto Dorning Street and we saw required Arriva NW&W 4177, which was on layover from working the #715 to Bolton.

Arriva NW&W 4177 in Wigan

Having briefly seen mum at the bus station before we wqlked the long way around, mum had walked back to the car the short way around and had driven up behind Arriva NW&W 4177. We got in the car were mum had Greggs sausage rolls and a can of Irn Bru waiting Matthew. We drove along Frog Lane and under the West Coast main line before under the Southport railway line and the line to Kirkby. We joined the Northbound A49 and we went around Wigan Pier to head South. We carried on South down the A49 and we stopped at the last petrol station before the motorway, the Shell station opposite Taybarns. On the forecourt at the same time was Ava Coach minibus SN03 SCZ. We joined the Southbound M6 and we made good time down to the A500. We did the A500 down to the A50 and we went East to Normacott. We came off the A50 at Normacott and we stopped to drop off some videos to someone Chaplin Road. We carried on down to Lightwood Road and we turned right to head towards Longton. We joined the high level A50 and we turned towards Z Carz to see what was on the spare ground. First in the row was Z Carz M372 NWN which appeared to be having some repair work done on it.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Next to that were 3 ford minbuses, the first of which was Z Carz PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

This was followed by Z Carz FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

Finally we had Airport Transfers minibus Z Carz MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. In the compound tonight was Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we came off the A50 at Heron Cross. We headed into Blurton on Blurton Road and we passed First Potteries 60068 on a Longton bound #22 service. We got home just before 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by an egg custard. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark