Bus |
From |
To |
Service |
Operator |
|
4611 |
St Helens BS |
Prescot, adj Church Street, |
10 |
Arriva NW&W |
2700 |
Prescot BS |
St Helens BS |
89 |
Arriva NW&W |
2237 |
St Helens BS |
Ashtons Green, opp Mount Pleasant Ave |
31 |
Arriva NW&W |
2706 |
Ashtons Green, adj Havannah Lane |
Earlestown BS |
34A |
Arriva NW&W |
2713 |
Earlestown BS |
Newton-le-Willows, adj The Parchments |
34 |
Arriva NW&W |
84 |
Newton-le-Willows, adj Cobden Street |
Earlestown BS |
22 |
Network Warrington |
2713 |
Earlestown BS |
St Helens BS |
34 |
Arriva NW&W |
Today we decided to revisit St Helens. The weather report for today had been for widespread heavy rain, so we checked the weather in the morning. There was and area in the North that appeared to be rain free, so we gave Matthew a choice of destinations from the East Merseyside, Western Greater Manchester area to pick from, and from the list Matthew chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 12:00 and it was still wet in Staffordshire at that time. We set off onto the A5035 and we turned right. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and headed North up to the A50. We headed West to the A500 and then we headed North. On the A500 we saw Selwyns Coaches National Express liveried coach FN62 CCZ on a #323 service and and MT Travel minibus HK58 ECV. When we got to the M6 we carried on Northwards and we saw Posh Limos P20 SSH. We came off the M6 at Junction 22 and we went West on the A49 link road to Winwick. We then carried on North up the A49 up to Newton and we turned left to headed towards St Helens. As is usually the case we decided to stop for dinner at Earleston on the way we in. We left the A572 and went into town along market Street. We parked up in the free shoppers car park opposite to the bus station and we set off on foot to Crumpets Cafe which is locate just along the road from the bus station. On the way in we paused to see required Arriva NW&W 2259 on a #20 to St Helens.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2259 in Earlestown bus station |
At the cafe Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw quite a few buses go past the cafe window including Arriva North West Volvo's 2706/2709 on the #34 service and Darts 2236 on the #20 and 2272 on the #34. When we had finished we visited the toilets by the market and then we walked back to the car. We headed back onto the A572 and into St Helen's, passing required Arriva NW&W Dart 2237 on the #31 Parr service. We went into the town centre to the bus station and we went past the bus museum before parking up in front of the town hall. Today we decided to stick to Arriva buses, so instead of buying the Merseytravel Saveaway ticket from the travel office we were going to have an Arriva North West Day Saver which would allow us to travel further should the chance arise. We said goodbye to mum and we walked down the row of buses on layover on Corporation Street. One such bus was required Arriva NW&W 4615 which was between working #10A Liverpool services.
|
| Arriva NW&W 4615 in St Helens bus station |
Passing through Corporation Street on it's way into the bus station to work the next #89 to John Lennon airport was required Arriva NW&W 2718.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2718 in St Helens bus station |
At the end of the row of buses on layover was Hatton's Travel MX55 YBA.
|
| Hatton's Travel MX55 YBA in St Helens bus station |
We walked around the bus station and we took a few more pictures. Departing from the bus station on a #352 to Wigan via Orrell was dud Arriva NW&W 2694.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2694 in St Helens bus station |
We had been on Arriva NW&W 2694 on
our last trip to St Helens from Ashton Green to St Helens back in May. We had seen required Arriva NW&W 4611 arrive and go on layover, so we decided to have a spin up to Prescot on this double decker. We waited at the relevant stand and a few minutes later the bus came around and Matthew took a picture.
|
| Arriva NW&W 4611 in St Helens bus station |
We got on the bus and we purchased Arriva North West Day Saver tickets at £5.20 each. We went upstairs and the rear of top deck was empty and so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4611.
|
| Inside Arriva NW&W 4611 |
Last time we travelled to the Prescot area, we rode on the #10A service via Thatto Heath. We also completely missed the town and ended up on the other side of the M57! This time we took the more direct #10 service. We set off into the town centre and we cam out of the other side and we joined the A58. It was now pretty much a straight run along a twisty A road, just to the North of Prescot we took the link road from the A58 to the A57. We turned left onto the A57 and then we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4611 as it carried on towards Liverpool.
|
| Arriva NW&W 4611 in Prescot |
This time we didn't miss the town. We walked to Chruch Street and we spotted the bus station around the corner. When we got there it was deserted. There were 4 stops on an area of block paved road. There were two stops in each direction. The first stop we checked out was for the airport bound #89. We had to cross over for the #89 to St Helens. Before we had chance we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2982 come and go on the other side of the road on the St Helens bound #89.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2982 in Prescot bus station |
The Arriva bus was followed by required Halton Transport 32 on a #61A from Huyton to Murdishaw.
|
| Halton 32 in Prescot bus station |
We decided to have a quick picnic for Matthew. He had a can of Irn Bru and are a Milky Way. We crossed the bus station to see when the next #89 to St Helens was due. The daytime service on a Saturday was every 20 minutes, so we didn't have too long to wait for the next one. We had seen required Arriva NW&W 2718 head up to the airport earlier. The next bus to show up in the bus station was Halton Transport 52 on a #61 to Widnes.
|
| Halton 52 in Prescot bus station |
Across the way, required Halton Transport 15 appeared on a #61A to Huyton.
|
| Halton 15 in Prescot bus station |
We then saw Cumfybus MX53 FDF on a #139 from Liverpool to Prescot
|
| Cumfybus MX53 FDF in Prescot bus station |
On the opposite side of the bus station we saw required Arriva NW&W 2985 on a #89 service to John Lennon airport.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2985 in Prescot bus station |
A few minutes later we saw required HTL Buses Solo YJ12 PNN on a #138 from Billinge to St Helens.
|
| HTL Buses YJ12 PNN in Prescot bus station |
The 20 minutes past quickly and we saw a variety of buses with different operators. It was time for the bus we were going to catch. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 2700 on the #89 to St Helens.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2700 in Prescot bus station |
We go on the bus and flashed the Day Saver tickets at the driver and then we sat down towards the back of the bus. It was the first time that we had been on a #89. The route is different again to the #10 or #10A... The bus set off out of town towards the hospital like a #10A does and then it turns left into Delph Lane. We Zigged and zagged through the street to the South of the A58 and then we joined the A58 at the same junction where the #10A deviates from the A58, albeit from a different road. We continues into town along the A58 and we passed through the town before circle around the bus station on Corporation Street so that we cold enter the bus station from the East end. The bus emptied out on the stand and we got off. Coming through Bickerstaffe Street was Halton Transport 13 on the #17 to Widnes.
|
| Halton 13 in St Helens bus station |
Had we got back a few minutes earlier we could have done that bus, as Halton Transport accept Arriva tickets and vice versa on the #17 service as part of the quality bus partnership on that service. I asked Matthew if he wanted the toilet and he said yes, so we went up to the 'tardis' style toilet on Corporation Street, viewing Arriva NW&W Dart 2251 on a #320 to Wigan was.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2251 in St Helens bus station |
After Matthew had been to the toilet we spotted Arriva NW&W 2237 was about to depart on the #31 to Parr.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2237 in St Helens bus station |
As we walked up to get on Arriva NW&W 2237 we spotted Arriva NW&W 2259 arrive on a #20 from Earlestown. Great! Maybe we could do 2237 and then go forwards to Earlestown to try and head off 2259. We got on Arriva NW&W 2237 and we flashed the Day Saver ticket to the driver. The bus set off out of town and over the railway line and we joined the A58. On the Eastern edge of town we joined the A572 before heading deeper into Parr along Fleet Lane. On Concourse Way we saw Arriva NW&W 2551 on a St Helens bound #31 service. We carried on to Derbyshire Hill Road and then we went around Mount Pleasant Avenue. We saw HTL buses minibus BF62 JZT on a #111 Lea Green to Parr service. The bus turned left into Waring Avenue and we got up to get off the bus. As the bus was empty at this point Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2237.
|
| Inside Arriva NW&W 2237 |
After we got off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2237 as it carried on back towards St Helens.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2237 in Ashtons Green |
As we had decided to go after Arriva NW&W Dart 2259 we set off walking towards the A572. As we walked up to the road we saw what looked like a Pulsar heading towards Earlestown... Not to worry there should be another one in 10 minutes. We crossed the road and we headed over to the bus stop. As we had a short wait Matthew had a Milky Way. Across the road heading into St Helens on a #34 service was required Arriva NW&W 2706.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2706 in Ashtons Green |
It was around 16:00 and there must have been a bus due any minutes but there was a gap in the service for some unexplained reason. It was a quiet road with only a few car a minute going by, never the less there seemed to be plenty of activity going on in the area. A bloke appeared to catch the bus but like us he was getting a little impatient with the lack of buses. There seemed to be a police car past every few minutes but no buses going Eastwards. Going into town we saw We saw required Arriva NW&W 2713, followed by required Arriva NW&W 2676 and required Arriva NW&W 2495. Other interesting activities observed whilst at the bus stop included the transportation of a flat pack shed across the main road on a wheelbarrow! The problem was there were very high kerbs and the shed ending up sliding onto the main road holding up traffic for around a minute! Eventually over 30 minutes later a bus appeared and it was required Arriva NW&W 2706 that went past towards St Helens earlier. We got on the bus and the driver must have noticed us when Matthew took the picture going the other way as he said 'have been waiting for all this time!' We sat down near to the back of the bus that was nearly full and we carried on into Earlestown. As this was a #34A we turned to go through the estate. When we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2706 before it carried on towards Acorn Street.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2706 in Earlestown bus station |
As it was getting late we were desperate to get moving. the first bus that came into the bus station that we could catch was required Arriva NW&W 2713 on a #34 to Leigh.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2713 in Earlestown bus station |
We decided to do this bus, but in hindsight it was perhaps not a good idea. We got on the bus and we flashed the Day Save ticket to the bus driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station and past the market. As the seats behind us were empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2713.
|
| Inside Arriva NW&W 2713 |
We headed out of town up Cross Lane and we went over the A572 into a housing estate. having navigated Belvedere Road and Queens Drive we rejoined the A572 before turning right into the A49. We got up and got off the bus here. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2713 before it carried on towards Leigh.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2713 in Newton-le-Willows |
We decided to head off to a shop and stock up the trip bag. There was a Spar shop across the road we brought a few small bottles of pop and some chocolate. as we come out of the shop we saw a bus disappear around the corner on a St Helens bound #34 service. There was a bus due in 20 minutes so Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru and some Milky Stars. 17:20 came and went and then it occurred to me, if they had been a gap in the service towards Leigh, there would probably be a gap in the service going back the other way! Unfortunately it was true... There was a #22 Network Warrington bus due at 17:35. If nothing turned up by then we would catch it and hopefully get back to St Helens quicker on another bus from Earlestown. 18:35 came around and we saw the Network Warrington bus approaching... As it got closer we saw that it was required Network Warrington 84.
|
| Network Warrington 84 in Newton-le-Willows |
We got on the bus and we booked to Earlestown at £2.10 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. As the bus went along the A572 the emptying out a little at each stop. The seats opposite to us emptied and Matthew took a picture inside Network Warrington 84.
|
| Inside Network Warrington 84 |
The bus kept going almost as if it was going towards St Helens! It eventually turned in to the estate where the #34A goes when it come in from The St Helens end. Part way down Marian Avenue we passed required Arriva NW&W 2709 on the #34A to St Helens. When we got to the bus station we got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Network Warrington 84.
|
| Network Warrington 84 in Earlestown bus station |
We were now going to get the next Arriva bus back to St Helens. On a #141 to Earlestown was Hatton's Travel Dart Y538 XAG.
|
| Hatton's Travel Y538 XAG in Earlestown bus station |
Across the way on layover was required Arriva NW&W 2550 on a #20 to St Helens but it wasn't due off for a few minutes. The next and most direct Arriva bus back to St Helens turned out to be dud Arriva NW&W 2713 which we had done up to Newton around an hour ago!
|
| Arriva NW&W 2713 in Earlestown bus station |
We got on the bus and we flashed the Day Saver tickets to the driver for the final time today. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off back onto the A572 by the more direct Market Street route. We joined the a572 and we went westwards through Ashton Green and Parr. In Parr we passed required Arriva NW&W 2272 which must have swapped off the #34 and onto the #31 service. We joined the A58 and we came into the town centre along Corporation Street. The bus emptied out on Bickerstaffs Street and we headed over to the 'tardis' toilet for Matthew. When he came out we went onto Corporation street to take the last pictures of the day of the buses on layover. One of the buses on layover was dud Arriva NW&W 2715.
|
| Arriva NW&W 2715 in St Helens bus station |
We walked back to the car and mum was waiting for us with Greggs sausage rolls. Matthew washed his sausage roll down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off back onto the A58 and then forward onto the A572. Of the Western edge of Earlestown we stopped at the Texaco petrol station on the end of Market Street to take on some diesel before continuing back on the road to Newton. We turned South on the A49 and then we joined the A49 link road at Winwick. After going East along the link road we joined the M6 at junction at 22. It was quite on the M6 and we made good time down to the A556. As we carried on South it started to rain. We joined the A500 and we saw Intercity OV58 YJE going North. At Sideway we joined the A50 and we went up to Longton to see what was at Z Carz tonight. There were a few buses parked on the spare ground tonight. The rear Mercedes minibus was CE02 LYX. In front of that was Volkswagen minibus Z Carz OV05 WSW.
|
| Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton |
At the very rear of the site was accident damaged YJ61 GYZ.
|
| Z Carz YJ61 GYZ in Longton |
Front of the row was Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.
|
| Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton |
Another Iveco minibus is Z carz HX51 HRU.
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| Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton |
The final bus on the spare ground was Mercedes minibus Z Carz M372 NWN.
|
| Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton |
We turned left into Willow Row and there were a few minibuses from the taxi fleet in the compound. One of the buses was Ford minibus Z Carz LG09 JVX.
|
| Z Carz LG09 JVX in Longton |
We got back onto the A50 and we passed Copeland's Tours MIB 986 going towards Meir. We left the A50 at Heron Cross and we travelled through Blurton along Blurton Road. We carried on forwards onto Church Road before we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home just after 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilld out on his computer until bedtime around 00:45... Mark
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