Trip to Birkenhead / New Brighton 06-02-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3009	Birkenhead BS	King's Parade, New Brighton	411	Arriva North West & Wales
3135	King's Parade, New Brighton	Woodside BS	410	Arriva North West & Wales
2906	Woodside BS	King's Parade, New Brighton	410	Arriva North West & Wales
2456	King's Parade, New Brighton	Liscard, Liscard Crescent	414	Arriva North West & Wales
4519	Liscard, Wallasey Road (Stop B)	King's Parade, New Brighton	432	Arriva North West & Wales
822	King's Parade, New Brighton	Liscard, Liscard Crescent	10A	Avon Buses
2465	Liscard, Liscard Crescent	Birkenhead, nr Claughton Road	410	Arriva North West & Wales

Today we decided to re-visit Birkenhead. A check of the weather the night before revealed that Birkenhead was the only place in the North West and Midlands where it wasn't going to be raining much during the afternoon. We gave Matthew a choice of destinations, but thankfully he did choose Birkenhead! Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast for breakfast. We set off a little after 11:30 and we drove onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we passed D&G 170 o a #14 to Stone. Outside the Britannia Stadium we saw Ashcroft Travel mini coach HIG 5675. We joined the Westbound A50 and a Sideway we took the Northbound A500. Going North up the A500 we passed SS Travel M942 JBO. The A500 was struggling a little and we heard on the radio that the M6 was blocked between junction 17 & 18. The M6 looked almost stationary, so we decided to take the more direct but slower A road rout towards Chester. We crossed under the M6 and we carried on along the A500. It seemed like everyone else had had the same idea as it was sluggish along the single carriageway section. When we got to the dual carriageway we sped up a little bit until we got to the edge of Nantwich. Going around Nantwich we slowed a little. Near to Reeceheath College we saw Routemaster Buses H116 SAO running out of service towards Crewe. Presumably it was going to have a hand in the C84 service or at very least the driver changes. We queued up to junction of the A51 and Cuckoo Lane and once we passed the traffic lights we we got up to speed again. Passing through Calveley we saw required Arriva NW&W 4478 on a #84 to Crewe. Running up to Tarporley we caught up with Routemaster Buses YJ53 VDT on a C84 to Chester. We got to the roundabout were the A54 joins the A51 and the road was busy again. It was busy but moving quite well. On the way up to Littleton we passed GHA Y188 NLK on a #82 to Northwich. At the big roundabout we turned right to join the Northbound M53. We went passed Cheshire Oaks and Ellesmere Port and we came off at junction 5 to join the Northbound A41. We now had a straight-ish run of around 5 miles up into Birkenhead. Goin into town we saw a number of buses. Stagecoach Merseyside 27261/27271 were on #2 services, Stagecoach Merseyside 36806 was on a #38 service, Stagecoach Merseyside 27776 was on a X8 service and Arriva NW&W Streetlite 6002 was on a #487 service. When we got into town we turned off Conway Street into Hemingford Street ans we parked up in the surface car park adjacent to Wilko and the bus station. We headed to the toilet in the market when we got out of the car, but the disabled toilet was in use as was the one working toilet in the gents. when we came our of the market we saw A2B Travel Solo YJ60 KDZ on a #154 to Prenton.

A2B Travel YJ60 KDZ in Birkenhead bus station

It was dinner time so we set off into town. We usual eat at Platters, but it appeared to be shut today. We carried on through the shopping centre and Matthew said hello to someone one in Cash Converters. At the other end of the shopping centre we found a little coffee shop that does food too, called The Coffee Mill. Matthew used the toilet upstairs and when he came back down we ordered him a breakfast and a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked back through the shopping centre back to the bus station. First thing we had to do was to go tot the travel shop and purchase a multi-operator bus ticket for the Wirral. We usually get issued with a scratch card which you have to validate yourself back scratching off today's date and covering the ticket with the security seal. Today we were issued wit a Walrus card. Whilst we were getting the card we saw Arriva NW&W 2453 in the bus station on a #414 to New Brighton. We card the cards charged up and we headed towards the East Lancs bodied DAF. By the time we came out of the travel shop area the bus had set off. Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 2453 as it left the bus station.

Arriva NW&W 2453 in Birkenhead bus station

This was followed by Stagecoach Merseyside 28544 which was on the #42 to Woodchurch.

Stagecoach Merseyside 28544 in Birkenhead bus station

There was a required double decker, Stagecoach Merseyside 19040 on the #472 to Heswall. By the time Matthew had taken the picture, that too decided to leave the bus station.

Stagecoach Merseyside 19040 in Birkenhead bus station

We stood at the end of the bus station for a whilst we decided what to do next. Two buses entered the bus station in quick succession, they were dud Arriva NW&W 3008 on the #495 Beechwood circular and Arriva NW&W 3009 on the #411 to New Brighton.

Arriva NW&W 3009 in Birkenhead bus station

We decided to do the New Brighton bus, we walked to the other end of the bus station up to Stand 10 and the bus was still loading. We got on the bus and we presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine, before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Claughton Road and right onto Hemingford Street. We turned left onto Conway Street and we carried on forwards onto Park Road North. In Claughton we turned right into Duke Street and past Birkenhead Park railway station. We headed past happy Al's bus garage with its 10ft high boundary wall where only the tops of double deckers are visible. We crossed the bridge over the West Float docks where there was a large ship Navy berthed there called Black Rover. We turned right into Dock Road and then left into Birkenhead Road. A few hundred yard north we turned right into Victoria Place, which is an interchange between the Seacombe Ferry and bus services. Required Arriva NW&W 2459 was on layover at the terminal between working #413 services. We left Victoria Place and we headed up Brighton Street. It was pretty much a straight road up to New Brighton of a round 2 miles up the A554. We passed Rowson Street were the #410 service forks of towards Liscard and we headed down the hill to the coast. We turned left into King's parade and the bus pulled over into the alighting only bus stop on the South side of the road. Matthew let the bus empty before taking a picture inside Arriva NW&W 3009.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3009

We got off the bus and the bus set off towards the turning circle to work a return service back to Woodside bus station.

Arriva NW&W 3009 in New Brighton

Also on layover was dud Arriva NW&W 2457.

Arriva NW&W 2457 in New Brighton

The last time we had this bus was back in December 2011 from Birkenhead to New Brighton on the #410. We headed back to the crossing and on the way we saw Arriva NW&W 4507 on a #432 from Liverpool to New Brighton.

Arriva NW&W 4507 in New Brighton

We crossed the road an we went into the Morrisons Supermarket. Matthew used the toilet and then we went around the shop. We picket up Milky Way double bar and two bottle of Coke. As we headed into the self services tills we saw Carvers coach FN52 HRW going past on King's Parade. Once we had paid for the shopping Matthew said hello to a lady at the kiosk and we went outside to see what we could catch. We didn't have to wait long before required before required Arriva NW&W 3135 made an appearance on the #410 to Clatterbridge.

Arriva NW&W 3135 in New Brighton

We got on the bus and we presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine, before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along King's parade and we turned right into the A554. We went to the top of the hill before turning right into Rowson Street. We went forwards onto Rake Lane and we ran into the Northern end of Liscard. The bus went around the one way system and we pulled into Liscard Crescent, a small bus interchange with 3 stops. we carried on around the on way system before we re-joined the A551. We turned left onto Torrington Road and we went forwards onto Gorsy Lane and down towards the Wallasey Tunnel. We crossed over the A59 and we ran towards the dock, going forwards onto Duke Street. We passed happy Als garage, this time we noticed another yard on the opposite side of the road where we saw Solo's (white and yellow ones), red ALX400 double deckers and an Enviro single decker. We passed Birkenhead Park railway station and then we turned left into Park Road North. The back seat of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture of the empty rear seats.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3135

We turned right into Park Road East and we turned left into Claughton Road. The bus didn't go into the bus station, it turned left into Hemingford Street where many people got off. We decided to carry on to Woodside bus station. The bus turned right onto Conway Street and then left onto Atgyle Street. At Hamilton Square we turned right at the far end and then left onto Hamilton Street. We passed Hamilton Square railway station and we went around a large roundbout and into the Woodside bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3135 before it carried on towards Clatterbridge.

Arriva NW&W 3135 in Woodside bus station

We had a look at the timetables. The #410 to New Brighton was due every 10 minutes so we would have to wait long. Whilst we were there we saw a tram arrive from the Wirral Transport museum. It was a green and cream tram that used to be ve part of the Liverpool Corporation fleet. We watch the conductor switch the overhead current collector pole to the opposite end for the return journey back to the museum. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 2906 enter the bus station on the #410 to New Brighton.

Arriva NW&W 2906 in Woodside bus station

We got on the bus and we presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine, before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of Woodside bus station and we headed back to the main bus station via Argyle Street and Conway Street. After loading up at stand 10 of the bus station we carried on onto Claughton Road. We turned right onto Park Road East and left onto Park Road North. At Duke Street we turned right and we went past Birkenhead Park railway station. We went past the bus co pound bur we weren't able to identify any of the buses in the yard. We crossed over the bridge over the west Float and we went up the hill crossing over the A59. At the top of the hill we turned right into Wallasey Road and into Liscard. We stopped at the main stop outside Wetherspoons before carrying on Northwards up Rake Lane and then Rowson Street. We joined the A554 and we ran down into New Brighton, turning right onto King's Parade. When the bus stopped we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2906.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2906

When we got off the bus we saw required Arriva NW&W 2456 on layover on a #414 to Birkenhead via Leasowe. We crossed the road at the crossing and the bus went around the turning circle. We managed to get a good shot of Arriva NW&W 2456 as it came onto the main stop.

Arriva NW&W 2456 in New Brighton

We got on the bus and we presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine, before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus was already partially loaded when we got on it, and the passengers were spread out. A quick look at the online timetable revealed that the bus went into Liscard, so we decided to go there. The bus set off out of town and we went up the A554. Instead of turning into Rowson Street we carried on down the main road further southwards. We went Westwards on Mount pleasant Road and we came into Liscard for the North Western side along Seaview Road. The bus stop in Liscard Crescent and we gt up and got of the bus. Before we walked over to Wallasey Road Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 2456.

Arriva NW&W 2456 in Liscard

We walked around the corner and we saw required Arriva NW&W 4519 across the way on a #432 to New Brighton. We had to cross over a busy T-junction. Luckily we were able to get across the road and get a picture before we got on Arriva NW&W 4519.

Arriva NW&W 4519 in Liscard

We presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine, and then we went upstairs. It was now starting to turn dark. Like the #414 service, the bus left town up Seaview Road and then Eastwards along Mount Pleasant Road and magazine lane and onto the A554. We turned left onto the main road and we went up and over the hill into New Brighton and Left onto King's Parade. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture of the inside of the top deck of Arriva NW&W 4519.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4519

There were a couple of other buses parked up in the layover spaces in New Brighton. We saw required Arriva NW&W 2988 on a #414 to Woodside bus station.

Arriva NW&W 2988 in New Brighton

We also saw required Arriva NW&W 3127 on a #410 to Clatterbridge.

Arriva NW&W 3127 in New Brighton

We deciedd to head off to Morrisons for a quick toilet stop. On the way to the crossing we saw required Avon Buses pull in after working a #10A service.

Avon Buses 822 in New Brighton

We crossed the road and we went into Morrisons. this time it was a quick toilet stop before we returned outside. There was a #410 to Clatterbridge at 17:25, which we knew operated via Liscard. We also noticed that the #10A went via Liscard, albeit along a different route and it was due at 17:15! We decided we could get a quick ride on the Avon Buses bus before continuing our journey with the #410. The #10A bus as expected was Avon Buses 822 that we had seen on layover earlier. We got on the bus and we presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine, before sitting down towards the back of the bus. There were some seats opposite to us that were empty, and so Matthew took a picture inside Avon Buses 822.

Inside Avon Buses 822

The bus set off along King's Parade and we turned right into Rowson Street, passing required Arriva NW&W 2465 on the #410 to New Brighton. We turned left into Victoria Road and we ran to the turning circle at the ens before running back the way we came and across Rowson Street. We passed nearby to New Brighton Railway station and we turned left onto Atherton Street. We turned right onto Albion Street and at the end we went South down Mount Road. We crossed over Mount Pleasant Road and forwards onto Kirkway. We turned right onto Earlston Road and left onto Seaview Road and we cam into Liscard from the North West. When we got to Liscard Crescent we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Avon Buses 822 before it carried on to Arrowe Park hospital.

Avon Buses 822 in Liscard

This time we didn't have walk through town to catch our next bus. A couple of minutes later as expected, required Arriva NW&W 2465 made an appearance on the #410 to Clatterbridge.

Arriva NW&W 2465 in Liscard

We got on the bus and we presented our Walrus smartcards to the ticket machine for the final time today, before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off around town on the one-way system and back onto Wallasey Road. We left Liscard along Wallasey Road and we turned right into Torington Road. We continued down the road forwards onto the variously name sectioned until we got to Gorsey Lane at the bottom of the hill. We crossed the A59 and we went forwards onto Duke Street. We crossed the West Float and we passed the bus yard. It was now too dark to try and identify the residents in the yards this evening. We passed Birkenhead Park railway station and we turned left into Park Road North and then onto Park Road East. We went towards the bus station along Claughton Road before turning left into Hemingford Street. The bus was emptying so Matthew took a picture of the empty back seat in Arriva NW&W 2465.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2465

We got up and got off the bus, and Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2465 as it carried on towards Clatterbridge.

Arriva NW&W 2465 in Birkenhead

We walked back to the car and the car was empty... We assumed mum had gone to the bus station to meet us. We walked around the bus station and we did not see her. We did see required Stagecoach Merseyside 19060 on a #472 to Heswall.

Stagecoach Merseyside 19060 in Birkenhead bus station

By the time we walked back to the car park the car had moved closer to the bus station and mum was in the car ( obvs :) ). We got in the car and Matthew had Greggs sausage roll with a bottle of Irn Bru to wash it down. We set off out of town along Hemingford Street and Conway Street. We went down Argyle Street and we joined the A41. A few miles South we stopped at a BP garage to top up with diesel. The pumps were modern, with an LCD screen and they even speak to you and tell you which type of fuel you have selected, ideal for the blind driver! We got back onto the A41 and we joined the M53 at Junction 5. We traveled South past Ellesmere Port and Cheshire Oaks and we got onto the Eastbound M56. It was now raining hard and we traveled through Cheshire in the dark up the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and as we traveled South we saw Bliss YX05 AVJ. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we ran South down the A500 to Sideway. We went Eastwards up the A50 to Longton and we came off to go and check out what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. On the front row we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

At the near end of the front row we saw Z Carz silver minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz green Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. Most of the minibuses were packed into the yard and at the front was Z Carz Ford minibus MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we went to Heron Cross. We came off the A50 onto Blurton Road and we went through Blurton. We went forwards onto Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:30. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cornflake cake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark