Trip to Wigan / Westhoughton 13-02-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
19523	Wigan BS	Golborne, before Church Street/Manor Street	600	Stagecoach Manchester
2978	Golborne, before Church Street/Manor Street	Wigan BS‎	360	Arriva NW&W
30918	Wigan BS	Westhoughton, Market St/Westhoughton Town Hall (Stop F)	715	Rotala Diamond
27233	Westhoughton, Market St/Westhoughton Church (Stop E)	Wigan BS	540	Stagecoach Manchester
SN56 AXB	Wigan BS	nr Downall Green Road/Bryn Cross, Ashton-in-Makerfield	375	Wigan Buses
19339	after Wigan Road/Bryn Cross, Ashton-in-Makerfield‎	Wigan BS	600	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Wigan. A check of the weather revealed the weather was slightly better to the North. We gave Matthew a list of destination from the North and from the list he chose Wigan. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and strawberry juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 and we drove onto the Westbound A5035 passing First Potteries 41522 on a #22 to Longton. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and then West on the A50. We went North on the A500 and we passed preserved Midland Red 227 & Redline coach 16 RED coming the other way. We joined the M6 at Junction 16 and we went North. As we traveled North we saw Keith's coaches minicoach YN11 AYF and Ian Jarvis Setra coach IIL 4595.

Ian Jarvis IIL 4595 the on M6

We continued North up the M6 and we came off at Junction 25 on the A49. We ran the last few miles into town and there was traffic as there often is. Going up the A49 into town we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19525 on the #600, Stagecoach Manchester 36785 on the #631 and Stagecoach Manchester 27208 on the #621 Kitt Green circular. We also saw Arriva NW&W 4578 on the #375 to Southport. We parked up on Crawford Street. It was dinner time so we walked up to Hallgate and to the Mr Chip chip shop cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and when he had used the facilities he had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a bottle of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked down to the bus station. One of the first things we saw was dud Stagecoach Manchester 22361 on a #598 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 22361 in Wigan bus station

As we walked into the bus station we saw required Arriva NW&W 2692 on a #360 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 2692 in Wigan bus station

On one of the centre stands we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 10031 which looked like it was about to work a #32 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10031 in Wigan bus station

Whilst we were considering what bus to do next we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 19523 on a #600 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 19523 in Wigan bus station

I asked Matthew which of the buses he wanted to do and he chose to do Stagecoach Manchester 19523. We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only day tickets at £5.20 each. We went upstairs and sat down. As the bus in front of us was empty Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 19523.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19523

The bus set off out of the bus station and down Dorning Street and onto King Street West. We turned right past the rail stations and South down the A49 past Wigan Pier. We ran through the Marus Bridge area. After Taybarn's we continued South down the A49 into Bryn. We turned right into Old Road and then we ran into Ashton-in-Makerfield. We turned left onto Bolton Road and after around 1/2 a mile we turned right onto Golborne Road. We turned right into Edge Green Lane and we zigged down to the Southern end of Golborne along Bank Street and Heath Street. In Golborne we turned left onto the High Street and we stopped in town before going over the railway line. Before the bus turned into Lowton Road we got up and got off the bus. The bus conti ued North to the junction and we check the bus stop mantdmat on nextbuses.mobi to see when the next bus was due. We decided to catch the more direct bus, the #360 which was due at 14:46. Whilst we waited for the bus we saw a coupe of buses going the other way. We saw Arriva NW&W 2985 on a #360 to Warrington and Stagecoach Manchester 27281 on a #600 to Wigan.

Stagecoach Manchester 27821 in Golborne

A few minutes later we saw required required Arriva NW&W 2978 on the #360 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2978 in Golborne

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards up the A573 and we went fast through rural Greater Manchester along side the west coast main line and up into Abram. Further North we came into Platt Bridge and we ran the last two miles or so into Wigan up Warrington Road. We joined Darlington Street and went into the town centre up King Street. We crossed Wallgate and we continued onto King Street West. We turned right into Dorning Street and we entered the bus station. After the bus had emptied out Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2978 before we got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2978

Once off the bus bus we had a think about what to do next. We didn't have to think for too long as we saw required Rotala 30918 on a #715 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 30918 in Wigan bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus behind us was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 30918.

Inside Rotala Diamond 30918

We set off out of the bus station onto New Market Street where we saw Rotala Diamond 20000 on an inbound #638 service. We headed out of town along Mesnes Street and Compton Street and we crossed the A49 on to the A573. As we turned left onto Scholes we saw Wish Travel minibus W15 HTL. At the end of Scholes we continues onto Whelley (what is it with the single names for roads?), and we climbed the hill out of town through New Springs. When we got to the village of Aspull we turned left into Holly Road. We went into town from the North traveling down St David's Crescent and Haigh Road. After passing through the centre of the village we went Eastwards along Bolton Road and onto Diconson Lane. At the end of the lane we turned right onto Chorley Road. We turned right onto Church Street and we went past Westhoughton railway station. We turned left into Market Street and as we approached the Co-operative Food store we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 30918 as it carried on towards Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 30918 in Westhoughton

We went into the Co-operative Food store and Matthew had a can of Coke and a small bottle of orange as well as pack of Curly Wurlies. We paid for the stuff and we walked down the street towards the toilet. On the way we saw required Arriva NW&W Solo 667 on the #715 to Bolton.

Arriva NW&W 667 in Westhoughton

We tried to us the toilet but there was an old lady in there who had not locked the door. I'm not sure if the woman was living in there or she was just removing the security tags of her 'shopping'. We decided to abandon the toilet and cross over and catch a bus back to Wigan. On the way we spied Star 401 minibus Y591 ANV in the car park behind The Wheatsheaf.

Star 401 Y591 ANV in Westhoughton

Once we crossed the road we checked out the bus stop timetable and there was a #715 to Wigan due. As we waited for the bus we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this of wait for the #715. He wanted to do the Stagecoach bus. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 27233.

Stagecoach Manchester 27233 in Westhoughton

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Market Street and we turned left and forwards onto the A58. We headed down to Daisy Hill railway station via Southfield Drive and Washacre. We went towards the Northern End of Hindley Green via Hindley Road and Swan Lane and then we headed through the housing estate and int Hindley via Lancaster Road and Market Street. Once on the A577 we ran the 3 or so miles from Hindley to the edge of Wigan. We crossed the A49 and we entered Wigan town centre along King Street, King Street West and Dorning Street. Once in the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 27233.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27233

Once off the bus we headed up to the top corner of the bus station so that Matthew could use the toilet. After using the facilities we had a look around the bus station to see what we could catch. At the South Eastern end of the bus station we saw required Stagecoach Lancashire 47337 about to work a #113 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47337 in Wigan bus station

We also saw Wigan Buses Solo YN04 XYY on a #613 New spring circular.

Wigan Buses YN04 XYY in Wigan bus station

After a walk around the bus station we saw Wigan Buses SN56 AXB on a #607 to Ashton Heath.

Wigan Buses SN56 AXB in Wigan bus station

We decided to do this bus so we legged it up to stand B. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Dorning Street. We turned left into King Street West and then tight onto the A49. We went past the railway station and we went down to Wigan Pier and we turned off the A49 onto Swan Meadow Road. We continued down to Poolstock and we turned right at St Judes Church onto St Pauls Avenue. We then rejoined the A49 at Marus Bridge. We continued South down the A49 into Bryn and we went around the housing estate at Land gate to the East of the main road. After rejoining the A49 We turned right onto Soughers Lane. The bus emptied and Matthew took a picture inside Wigan Buses Dart SN56 AXB.

Inside Wigan Buses SN56 AXB

The bus headed back towards the A49 and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Wigan Buses SN56 AXB as it carried on towards Ashton Heath.

Wigan Buses SN56 AXB in Bryn

We walked around the corner to the stop on the A49 and we checked the bus stop timetable to see when the next bus was due. There was a #600 due in 10 minutes time at 17:25. Whilst we waited Matthew had a curly Wirly from out of the trip bag. A few minutes later the bus made an appearance and it was dud Stagecoach Manchester 19339.

Stagecoach Manchester 19339 in Bryn

We got on the bus and we flashed the system One bus only day ticket to the driver for the last time today before we went upstairs. We sat down and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 19339 as the bus behind us was empty.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19339

The bus set off up the A49 and we traveled though Marus Bridge and up into town. The journey up was around 4/5 miles and we went past Wigan Pier, the two railway stations where the police were waiting for the Oldham fans to return home on the train after their match against Wigan. We turned left onto King Street West and then right onto Dorning Street before entering the bus station. As we went around onto the stand we saw Rotala 30916 about to work a #132 to Tyldesley. We got of the bus and we had a walk around to take a few more picture before we went back to the car. We saw Rotala 20729 on the #715 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 20729 in Wigan bus station

As we left the bus station down the steps onto hallgate, we saw Wigan Coachways 402 on layover outside the bus station.

Wigan Coachways 402 in Wigan

We walked over to the car, which mum had now moved onto Hallgate. When Matthew got in the car he had a Greggs sausage roll and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of town onto Dorning Street and left onto Frog Lane. To get back to the A49 is quite tricky... We crossed under the West coast main line and we turned left into Prescot Street. We went under the Southport line and we turned left into Miry Lane and under the Kirby Line. To get back onto the Southbound A49 you enter the northbound road off herbert Street / Haig Street and then go around Wigan Pier. Once on the Southbound A49 we went South a few miles to Marus Bridge where we stopped at a Shell petrol station to take on some Diesel. At the roundabout we turned right and we took the link road down to the M6. We traveled South down the M6, and we saw LMT Travel minibus R14 LMT. At junction 16 we joined the Southbound A500 which we did down to Sideway. We took the Eastbound A50 up to Longton and we came off to check out what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. In the middle of the front row was Z Carz minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

At the front of the first row was Z Carz MV53 KKD.

Z Carz MV53 KKD in Longton

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

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

Visible at the back was another Ford minibus, Z Carz LG09 JVX.

Z Carz LG09 JVX in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. Outside the compound on Willow Row itself was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Inside the compound was Z Carz silver minibus HK57 LFV.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we drove up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton onto Church Road. After turning right into Beaconsfield Drive we passed required First Potteries 67633 on the last Longton bound #22 of the day. We got home a little after 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had roast beef with Yorkshire puddings, potatoes and carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark