Trip to Crewe / Chester 27-02-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1202	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	39	GHA
H119 SAO	Nantwich BS	Tarvin, o/s Londis Store	C84	Routemaster Buses
S644 KJU	Tarvin, o/s Londis Store	Chester BS	82	GHA
34810	Chester BS	Chester, opp Northgate Avenue	51	Stagecoach Merseyside
5000	Chester BS	Chester, after Newton Lane	X30	Arriva NW&W
5001	Chester, by Hamilton Street	Chester BS	21	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Crewe. With GHA starting a #84 service on Monday, we decided to go to Crewe to check it out. Research consisted of checking the weather (which was for cool cloudy weather with sunny intervals) and going on the GHA website to download the timetable and check bus times. We gave Matthew a choice of destination from the North West to visit, but Matthew picked Crewe from the list. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we passed the Britannia stadium where there was already activity ahead of todays clash against Aston Villa. We went West onto the A50 and then North onto the A500. As we joined the A500 we saw Stanton's of Stoke minibus YX53 CYZ. As we continued North we saw Tyrers YN65 AXR, City Centre Central SA08 ONW, SS Travel PN57 CUY & SO Coaches T431 KLE. The A500 was blocked West of the M6 so we had to divert around. We went North up the A5078 and we turned left to go towards Barthomley. We went West along a road designated R70 and we went through the villages of Englesea Brook & Weston. We turned right onto Main Road and we joined the old route to Crewe opposite to Crewe Hall. We turned left and we ran up to the A534 where we turned right towards the railway station. Outside Crewe station was Eavesway YJ14 BYG & silver taxi minibus EK60 KMG. We ran along the A534 before turning right onto Edleston Road. As we travelled up into Crewe town centre, we saw a number of buses. Coming the other way we Routemaster Buses H116 SAO on a C84 to Chester, Arriva NW&W 4104 on a #37 to Winsford, D&G 130 on a #85 to Newcastle, Arriva NW&W 2623 on a #84 and First Potteries 66305 on a #3 to Hanley. We went past and around the bus station and we parked up in Asda. For dinner we visited Vernon's Fish Bar. After visiting the toilet, Matthew had sausage chips and beans with a round of bread and butter and a glass of Coke. After we had finished eating, we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. On the way in we saw D&G 154 which had developed a fault whilst working a #12 service.

D&G 154 in Crewe bus station

When we got in the bus station we had around 5 minutes before the 13:03 GHA #84 to Chester was due. The plan was to do this as far as Tarvin before doing a #82 forwards to Chester. Whilst there we had a look around to see what was in service in Crewe today. Parked up in the bus station, presumably for driver comfort breaks was GHA Mercedes minibus OEZ 2159.

GHA OEZ 2159 in Crewe bus station

Formerly 1421 in the Wardle Transport welfare fleet, this is one of the few buses in the fleet that Matthew hadn't been on around the time of the sale to Stanton's of Stoke. Also parked up on layover was Routemaster Buses East Lancs bodied Dart PL05 PLO.

Routemaster Buses PL05 PLO in Crewe bus station

We also saw Routemaster Buses YJ07 JWD, which was about to work their 13:00 C84 service.

Routemaster Buses YJ07 JWD in Crewe bus station

There was a bit of activity around the hour... Required Arriva NW&W 894 was on a #6 service, required Arriva NW&W 2615 was on a #31A and required Routemaster Buses PL05 PLN was about to work a #9 service.

Routemaster Buses PL05 PLN in Crewe bus station

13:03 came and went and the GHA #84 bus come in. We had noticed the Routemaster Buses 12:00 C84 was running a little late, so we thought it might have been caught in traffic. Across the other end of the bus station we saw required GHA 1202 come in, which was going to work the 13:25 #39 departure to Nantwich.

GHA 1202 in Crewe bus station

The driver had a quick comfort break and then returned to the bus. When the driver got the bus ready for service we boarded the bus and we booked GHA day tickets at £5 each. Matthew honked the horn before he sat down... :( At 13:25 the bu set off out of the bus station and we headed up to the A534 via Delamere Street, Chester Bridge, High Street and Mill Street. After turning left we turned right onto Gresty Road and we were followed by a maroon Gordon's coach. We past the Alexandria Stadium and we went through the housing estate to the North of the Crewe Shrewsbury railway line. We crossed over the railway line on Rope Lane and we turned left onto Gresty Lane. After going eastwards for a while we crossed the A500 and we travelled through Basford before crossing over the West Coast main line. We passed through the villages of Weston, Hough and Shavington before coming into Wybunbury from the North. We traveled down to Walgherton and we joined the A51. We then headed North up the A51. we came into town along the B5074 and we crossed over the Crewe Shrewsbury line for a third time before going around the town centre to the East and into the bus station along Beam Street. When we got to the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside GHA 1202 before we got off.

Inside GHA 1202

Having taken a very circuitous route from Crewe to Nantwich, the next bus towards Chester was due soon. The Routemaster Buses bus was due at 14:24 and the GHA bus was due at 14:27. Mum had now committed to pick us up from Chester, so we decided to catch the next bus going towards Chester whichever one turned up first. In the meanwhile we had a few minutes to take bus pictures. On layover in the bus station was GHA Solo YJ59 GHB.

GHA YJ59 GHB in Nantwich bus station

We walked over to stand E to wait for the bus and as we got there Routemaster Buses Olympian H119 SAO came into the bus station into the wrong stand!

Routemaster Buses H119 SAO in Nantwich bus station

We walked over to the bus and a few passengers came off the bus. We got on the bus and we found out why the bus came into the wrong side. It was because there was a diversion around town and we had to turn right out of the bus station which isn't possible from stand E. We booked to Tarvin and whilst we were sorting the tickets Matthew took a picture of the empty lower saloon.

Inside Routemaster Buses H119 SAO

After we got the tickets we went upstairs and Matthew took a picture of the inside of the upper saloon too.

Inside Routemaster Buses H119 SAO

We set off out of the bus station onto Beam Street and then we turned left onto Barony Road. We passed silver minibus FN13 EWF. We joined the A51 and we passed Routemaster Buses X616 JCS on the #56A service. We continued West along the A51 and we passed Snugbury's Ice cream and through Wardle. Further West we passed required Routemaster Buses G706 TCD on a Crewe bound C84 service. We joined the A49 and we then we went through Tarporley where we saw Arriva NW&W 4216 on a Crewe bound #84 service. we left Tarporley and we got back onto the A51. We ran around another 5 miles along the A51 before turning off to go into Tarvin village. We went up Tarporley Road and we turned into High Street. When the bus got to Londis we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Routemaster Buses H119 SAO before it carried on towards Chester.

Routemaster Buses H119 SAO in Tarvin

Once off the bus we headed to the Co-operative Food store just off the High Street. In the shop Matthew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru as well as a couple of Milky Way twin bars and a pack of Curly Wurlies. Once we finished shopping we paid for the goods and we headed back to the stop where we got off. Going the other way we saw GHA Centro CN57 EFD going towards Northwich on a #82 service. Whilst we waited for the bus Matthew share one of his Milky Way twin bars with me and uncle Dave. A few minutes later we saw the Chester bound #82 round the corner on the High Street. As it got closer we saw that it was dud GHA Northern Counties bodied Volvo S644 KJU.

GHA S644 KJU in Tarvin

We got on the bus and we flashed the GHA day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. The bus set of down the High Street and we joined onto the Westbound A54. A few hundred yards down the road we joined the A51. We climbed the hill through Littleton and to the M53 where we passed another GHA 57 reg Centro on the #82 to Northwich. We crossed the A41 and we ran into the East end of Chester through Vicars Cross. At thr bottom of foregate Street as we joined the ring road we saw Gold coloured Stagecoach Merseyside 47515 on a #7 service. We went around the northern end of town and we came into the bus station down Northgate and under the City Wall. We turned by the theatre which is in the middle of a major refurbishment and into the bus station. When we got off the bus we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 on a #1 to Blacon.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 in Chester bus station

As we walked down to our usual perch we saw required Arriva NW&W 2649, which has been refurbished up to Sapphire Bus standard on a #11 to Holywell.

Arriva NW&W 2649 in Chester bus station

Matthew went to the toilet under the market by the car park, which has now been fixed albeit the sink is still not working. We then perched in our usual spot to watch the buses go by. Whilst there we saw a couple of lorries coming and going in relation to the theatre refurbishment. The first one we saw was leaving with a large section of We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 21273 on a #31 Sealand Road park and ride service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21273 in Chester bus station

We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27258 which was on a #1 to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27258 in Chester bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 5002 on a #21 to Runcorn Hospital.

Arriva NW&W 5002 in Chester bus station

The gold coloured 'Investors in People' bus also made an appearance. Required Arriva NW&W 3047 was on the #2 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3047 in Chester bus station

When then next #82 was due we went over to the stops. Whilst we were waiting we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside 34810 on a #51 to Plas Newton.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34810 in Chester bus station

We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 again, this time on a #1A to Blacon.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 in Chester bus station

Matthew decided he wanted to go and say hello to someone on the Plas Newton bus. When we got on after saying hello he decided he going to do the bus. Required GHA double decker W469 BCW came into the bus station and Matthew still refused to get off the bus! We let uncle Dave know we were going and we booked to the back of the bus depot. The bus set off out of the bus station and we went down to the ring road and we turned right. We crossed the Liverpool Road and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Merseyside 34810.

Inside Stagecoach Merseyside 34810

We turned left onto Victoria Road and we got up and got off the bus. We set off back to the bus station on foot. We walked back onto the ring road and we went under the roundabout onto Northgate Street. On the way back to the bus station we saw required Arriva NW&W 5000 on the X30 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 5000 in Chester

After we went under the City Wall Matthew went to say hello to someone in a cafe before we carried on past the theatre and into the bus station. We got within about 20 yards of uncle Dave and Matthew decided to jump on another bus! We booked to Hoole Road and we sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station and Matthew waved at uncle Dave as we went past him. We went down to the ring road and we went around to the A56. As we passed the railway station we were along side JAK Travel YN05 VTE. We went over the railway line and we continued North for a short while and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 5000 before it carried on towards Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 5000 in Chester

We saw a coach up the road and we went up to see it. It was a French coach Maury AP 784 TS. We crossed the road and we looked at the timetable on the bus stop. There was a bus to Chester due in a couple of minutes. I thought it would be better to catch a bus back even though it would coast more money, as we might stand a better chance of getting back to uncle Dave without Matthew jumping on another bus. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva NW&W 5001.

Arriva NW&W 5001 in Chester

We got on the bus and we booked to Chester before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off down the A56 and we crossed the railway line and went past the railway station. After going around the ring road anti-clockwise we entered the city down Northgate and we entered the bus station. We let the bus empty out and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 5001.

Inside Arriva NW&W 5001

Once off the bus we met up with uncle Dave again and went over to the toilet. After using the facilities Matthew went to the gent to wash his hands. We then went back to our usual spot to take a few pictures. We saw a white coach enter the bus station. It was Arrowebrook P209 RWR.

Arrowebrook P209 RWR in Chester bus station

We considered doing the 17:20 #82 towards Tarvin. We went over to check it out and it was required GHA Solo YM52 TPX. Matthew didn't fancy doing it for some reason. We went back to the spot and we watched it depart.

GHA YM52 TPX in Chester bus station

A few minutes later Matthew jumped up and dragged us over to the other side of the bus station. Required Routemaster Buses Leyland Olympian G706 TCD had returned from Crewe on the C84 service.

Routemaster Buses G706 TCD in Chester bus station

We did consider doing this bus, and if we had done W469 over to Tarvin, we would have almost certainly come back on this bus. Mum arrived from Ellesmere Port and we decided to call it a day. We went back to the via the shopping centre. Mum hadn't been able to get Greggs from Ellesmere Port as it had closed early. The Greggs in Chester appeared to have shut too. We decided to go back to the car and get some chips on the way home instead. Matthew had a small bottle of Irn Bru. We left the car park and we went around the ring road to the A56. We went North for a round 1/2 mile and we cut through the housing estate to the Kingsway Shopping Centre where we knew there was a chip shop. Mum brought a couple of portions of chips between us to keep us going until we got home and cooked tea. We went back to the A56 and then we joined the Northbound M53. We went up one junction and then we joined the Eastbound M56. It was now dark as we went through Cheshire. We continued over to Lymm and we joined the Southbound M6. We rolled through the roadworks on the M6 and then we came off at junction 16. The westbound A500 was shut and I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the accident earlier. As we went Southdown the A500 we caught up with First Potteries 66838 running out of service. At sideway we went east up the A50 to Longton. We came off the A50 and we went to Z carz to see what was parked up there tonight. There wasn't much on the spare ground this evening. At the front was Z Carz green Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

Towards the back of the site was Z Carz maroon Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. has it been often recently the compound was packed with minibuses, the closest to the gate being Z Carz minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross. We left the A50 and went through Blurton along Blurton Road. We carried on forwards to Church Road and then we turned right onto Beaconsfield Road. As we travelled along we passed First Potteries 67601 on the final Longton bound #22 of the day. We got home shortly after 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a Caramac Breakaway. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark