Trip to Middleton / Oldham 10-10-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
36076	Middleton BS‎‎	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	116	Stagecoach Manchester
27624	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	118	Stagecoach Manchester
26131	Moston, before Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	118	Stagecoach Manchester
36107	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Middleton BS	156	Stagecoach Manchester
37550	Middleton BS	Oldham BS	59	First Manchester
30962	Oldham BS	Oldham, before Ashton Road/Park Lane	409	First Manchester
36280	Oldham, opp Ashton Road/Park Lane	Oldham BS	409	First Manchester
42941	Oldham BS	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop D)	415	First Manchester
36100	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. We had checked the weather for today and it was for mild cloudy weather with sunny intervals. We gave Matthew a list of place we could got to, and from that list he chose Middleton. Matthew got up just after 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just before 12:00 and we drove through Blurton along Beaconsfield Drive, where we passed First Potteries Wright Streetlite 63099 on the #22 to Newcastle. We stopped briefly on Blurton Road to to drop something off where we saw Copeland Tours MIB 302 on the #40 service. We carried on to Heron Cross and we joined the Westbound A50. At Sideway we joined the Northbound A500 which we did up to the M6. The Northbound M6 was busy, but it was moving well. The roadworks near to junction 17 had now been completed. As we went North we saw a coach ahead of us. We eventually caught up with the coach which was Hilary's Kinglong coach BX10 DHD.

Hilary's BX10 DHD the on M6

At junction 21A we joined the Eastbound M62 and then we went forwards onto the clockwise M60. The roadworks continue at this point as they upgrade into a 'Smart' motorway. As we left the motorway at the M62 lunction to continue around the M60 we saw Skelmanthorpe Mercedes minibus NK54 LPJ going Eastwards.

Skelmanthorpe NK54 LPJ the on M60

We carried on around the M60 and we left the motorway onto the A576. We travelled the last couple of miles into Middleton and we attempted to park by MacDonalds. That car park was full so we went to the shopping centre car park instead. We parked up and we visited the toilet before we went down to the pavement cafe opposite the bus station. For dinner Matthew had sausage and egg on a barm with some fries, wash down with a can of Coke. As we ate we saw First Manchester 30955 on a #58 to Rochdale. After we finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked the short distance over to the bus station. By the time we got to the bus station the required ALX400 double decker had pulled off. We had a quick walk around the bus station to see what buses were about. In the layover bay we saw First Manchester 63117 and Stagecoach Manchester 36076.

Stagecoach Manchester 36076 in Middleton bus station

On stand N on a Manchester bound #17 service was First Manchester 37381.

First Manchester 37381 in Middleton bus station

We saw Stagecoach Manchester 36076 move off and we thought it was going to work a #112 to Manchester. It was working a #116 Middleton circular which runs via the North Manchester General Hospital. We decided to do this service so we went down to stand D and got on the bus. We booked System one bus only tickets at £5.20 each. The lady driver was nice and was talking to Matthew about his interest in buses... We thought this bus was dud, but a quick look at the buses I have travelled on page revealed that it was required. We sat down near to the back of the bus and we set off out of town Southwards down the A664. We turned right onto Victoria Avenue and we went almost to the other end before turning right into Glenbrook Road. We rejoined the Avenue only to loop off the road again to serve Munn Road. We rejoined Victoria Avenue before turning Southwards down Plant Hill Road. We travelled up to Blackley Cemetery before heading back South down to the hospital. When we got to the hospital we got up to get off the bus. Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 36076.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36076

Matthew said goodbye to the driver and we got off the bus and we considered our next move. Required First Manchester 63117 had followed us down from Middleton on the #42 to East Didsbury.

First Manchester 63117 outside the NMGH

Behind that was Stagecoach Manchester 27624 on a #118 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 27624 outside the NMGH

We then saw another #42 to East Didsbury pull up, this time it was being worked by First Manchester Enviro400 33838.

First Manchester 33838 outside the NMGH

We decided to do Stagecoach Manchester 27624 back down to Moston Lane on the #118 which we thought was required. We got on the bus and as it was empty Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27624

We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the hospital onto Delaunays Road onto old Markets Street, We looped onto Rochdale Road and then left onto Charlestown Road. We passed Boggart Hole Clough. At the end of Charlestown Road we turned right onto Moston Lane. As we went South we saw Stagecoach Manchester MAN 22231 on a #112 to Middleton. Near to the Cemetery we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 27624 as it carried on towards Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 27624 in Moston

We crossed the road and we sat at the stop opposite. There had been a few messages on the radio coming through the cab radio of the Stagecoach bus presumably due to a problem somewhere en route. The bus lagged down a First bus coming the other way and they a quick chat from cab to cab out of the window. Some thug in a car took exception to this even though cars could still pass in between and pulled up in front of the bus and started mouthing off at the drivers. The car pulled up in Finchley Grove and the driver got out. I thought he was going to come over to us and start something as we had given him a disapproving look as he drove past. Instead he just marched up to the pub and disappeared inside... Phew! We saw a bus approaching and it looked quite modern, and it was on an unfamiliar service. So we turned down required First Manchester 66923 which was on a #52 to Failsworth.

First Manchester 66923 in Moston

A few minutes later we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it a Plaxton Centro, a type that I can't remember seeing before in Manchester. It was required Stagecoach Manchester 26131 on a #118 to the North Manchester Genetal Hospital.

Stagecoach Manchester 26131 in Moston

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off up Moston Lane and then we turned left onto Charlestown Road. We passed Boggart Hole Clough and we turned right onto the A664. We turned left onto Old Market Street and we followed the road around onto Delaunays Road. Once around the corner we turned into the hospital. We got up and got off the bus. We decided the next bus that we did would be back to Middleton. There was a #42 and a #156 bus both due in less than 10 minutes. Whilst we waited we saw First Manchester 69196 on a #88 to Manchester.

First Manchester 69196 outside the NMGH

This was followed by required First Manchester 33847 on a #42 to East Didsbury.

First Manchester 33847 outside the NMGH

A few minutes later we saw required First Manchester 66913 on a #53 to Cheetham Hill.

First Manchester 66913 outside the NMGH

The #156 to Middleton rolled up and it was required Stagecoach Manchester 36107.

Stagecoach Manchester 36107 outside the NMGH

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the hospital and onto Delaunays Road. We went forwards onto Old Market Street before turning left onto Chapel Lane. We turned right onto Plant Hill Road and we headed North up to Victoria Avenue. We went West towards Heaton Park before we joined the Northbound A576. We crossed the M60 and we travelled the last couple of miles up the road into Middleton. As we entered the bus station we passed Nix's Coaches Mercedes minibus FE02 BVN going the other way. We pulled into the bus station and the bus emptied out and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 36107.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36107

Matthew went to the toilet, and whilst he was there we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 17244 on a #112 to Manchester. Matthew came out of the toilet and the bus pulled of and he took a picture of it as it disappeared out of the bus station.

Stagecoach Manchester 17244 in Middleton bus station

We also saw required First Manchester 30954 leave the bus station on a #58 to Rochdale, so we decided to off in a different direction. On stand B was required First Manchester 37550 on a #59 to Rushcroft.

First Manchester 37550 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37550.

Inside First Manchester 37550

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto the Eastbound A669. At Mill Hill station we passed another ALX400 double decker First Manchester 30955 on a #58 to Middleton. We passed through Chadderton and we entered Bolton from the West end. We passed under Oldham Way and we climbed the hill up into the bus station. When we got off the bus we visited the toilet before we went for a walk around the bottom half of the bus station. Heading out of the bus station was First Manchester 33678 on a #184 to Manchester.

First Manchester 33678 in Oldham bus station

Coming up the hill into the bus station was First Manchester 67423 on a #81 to Derker.

First Manchester 67423 in Oldham bus station

The plan now was to head up back to the other half of the bus station an visit the newsagent to stock up on supplies. We turned the corner in the top half of the bus station and we saw First Manchester 33831 on a #83 to Manchester.

First Manchester 33831 in Oldham bus station

As we were about to enter the bus station to go to the newsagents we saw required First Manchester 30962 on a #409 to Ashton.

First Manchester 30962 in Oldham bus station

We decided to abandon the plan to go to the newsagent and catch the required First double decker. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus ticket to the driver. We went upstairs and the top deck was nearly empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 30962.

Inside First Manchester 30962

We set off out of the bus station and down the hill before turning left. We crossed Oldham way and we went South Down the A627, passing First Manchester 60224 on a Oldham bound #425 service. We carried on going South and we decided not to go too far as we didn't want to be too late back at Middleton. After around a mile or so we passed another First Manchester Mercedes Citaro on a #425, this time a 'barbie' liveried example 60248. We decided to get up and get off the bus as we hadn't passed a #409 coming the other way for a while. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 30962 as it carried on South towards Ashton.

First Manchester 30962 in Oldham

We could see a couple of buses coming the other way in the distance so we crossed the road and jogged down to the bus stop. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 36280.

First Manchester 36280 in Oldham

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. We sat down and the bus set off up the road towards Oldham. The bus behind us was empty so Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of First Manchester 36280.

Inside First Manchester 36280

The bus carried on up the A627 and over Oldham Way and into the bus station before we got up and got off the bus. We visited the newsagents and we brought some pop and chocolate as well as a couple of wriggly worms. We sat down in the bus station and Matthew ate the worms whilst we found out when the bus was due. We turned down required First Manchester 37444 which was on #59 to Manchester. There was a #415 due at 17:04 which we figured would probably be a required Dart. Whilst we waited we saw First Manchester 47471 on a #350 to Ashton. Eventually the #415 turned up and it was required First Manchester 42941.

First Manchester 42941 in Oldham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus went Westwards out of Oldham and through the side streets of Chadderton. We headed into Butler Green and onto Thompson Lane. We crossed the A663 and we continued Westwards along Foxdenton Lane towards Middleton Junction. The emptied out but not completely, so Matthew took a picture of the seats opposite to us in First Manchester 42941.

Inside First Manchester 42941

We turned the corner into Greengate and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew than took another picture of First Manchester 42941 as it carried on towards Alkrington & Middleton.

First Manchester 42941 in Middleton Junction

We crossed the road at the island, and we nearly got run over as traffic came around the corner that we didn't see! Eventually we crossed safely and we checked the timetable. There was a #159 bus at 17:28 and a #112 at 17:35. As the #159 was approaching, we knew it would be a required bus as we have never been on a MCT bus before. We put our hand out to flag the bus down and then we spotted a Stagecoach double decker behind it in the distance, so we indicated that we no longer wanted to catch the bus to the MCT driver and the bus went sailing past. It was required MCT Travel MX62 AVV. The Stagecoach double decker turned into the Alkrington estate... Damn! it must have been on a #114 service... We now had another 7 minutes to wait. Matthew ate a Milky Way whilst we waited. We then saw a Stagecoach Enviro200 in the distance... As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 36100.

Stagecoach Manchester 36100 in Middleton Junction

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus ticket to the driver for the final time today. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus turned left into Grimshaw Lane. We travelled the 3/4's of a mile or so into town and when we called mum to say we were on our way into stand B. When we got back to the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 36100.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36100

In front of us on stand C was First Manchester 30956 on a #58 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 30956 in Middleton bus station

We met up with mum and Matthew used the toilet in the bus station before we walked through the empty shopping centre and up to the top floor in the glass elevator. Mum paid the parking whilst we went back to the car. Matthew tucked into his Greggs sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru and we set off out of the car park. We left town along the A576 and we joined the M60, carring on clockwise around Manchester. As we travelled around the East of Manchester we caught up with a coach. It was K Matt Coaches M8 YKM.

K Matt Coaches M8 YKM on the M60

We passed Stockport and the M60 and M56 split. The coach carried on around the M60 and we joined the Westbound M56. Usually when I travel this way I do the M56 up to Lymm services and then join the M6 South as to avoid doing the A556. Today I chose to do the A556. As we got on the link road we realised that there were roadworks, which continues around onto the A556 with a speed restriction of 40mph! Just my luck... We joined onto the M6 at Junction 19 and it was now starting to go dark. the motorway was clear and we got to junction 16 quite quickly. At junction 16 we went South onto the A500. At Sideway we went Eastwards on the A50 which we did up to Longton to see what was parked at Z Carz. This was the first time for a while that we had been to Z Carz in darkness... In the middle of the first row was Z Carz maroon coloured Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Next to this was Z Carz Ford minibus FP06 WTW.

Z Carz FP06 WTW in Longton

The nearest bus on the first row was Z Carz white Ford minibus NA06 SUO.

Z Carz NA06 SUO in Longton

We called at the Tesco petrol station to take on diesel, and then we got on the westbound A50. We travelled through Blurton and onto Church Road before turning onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark