Trip to Chorley / Leyland 07-05-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
47335	Chorley TI	Towngate, Tesco (Stand F)	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
34782	Towngate (Leyland), Tesco (Stop A)	Chorley TI	109A	Stagecoach Lancashire
15240	Chorley TI	Horwich, Lee Lane/The Crown (Stop A)	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15227	Horwich, Lee Lane/The Crown (Stop B)	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15226	Chorley TI	Clayton Brook, by Village Centre(lanapamp)	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15232	Clayton Brook, by Village Centre(lanatwta)	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to re-visit Chorley. It had been over a year since our last visit, and in that time Fishwicks had stopped trading and Stagecoach had introduced new 'Gold' buses on their flagship #125 Preston - Bolton route. We checked the weather for today and it was for fine sunny weather turning cloudy with showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the Midlands. We gave Matthew a list of places,ost of which were in the North West and from the list he chose Chorley. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had a giant crumpet and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 13:30 onto Beaconsfield Drive and through Blurton. We turned left onto Church Road and and left again onto Blurton Road. After running through Blurton at Heron Cross we got on the Westbound A50. We ran down to Sideway and we took the Northbound A500. As we traveled North up the A500 we saw preserved PMT 860 & Roseville BG07 XCN. As we approached the M6 we caught up with a Mercedes Minicoach. We followed the coach onto the North bound M6 any we saw that it was Goldstar PIB 2095. The traffic was moving well but as it is the start of the coach day trip season as well as the end of the football season we saw plenty of coaches coming the other way. Going North we saw 4 happy Als coaches, ABC Supreme NM08 WKT, an unidentified Gailsway Travel minibus, an unidentified A&C Coaches (Motherwell) coach, an unidentified Vision coach and Bestway Mercedes minibus BN52 GPF. We came off the M6 at Junction 27 and we ran into Standish along the A5209. In the town centre we turned left onto the A49 and we ran north towards Euxton. As we travel North we passed Grayway Mercedes minicoach YN60 BZW. As I had navigated to Chorley based on what I remembered from last time and instinct we ended up coming into Chroley from the North West. We drove past Euxton Balshaw Lane railway station along the A581 and past the Tesco superstore. before running Chorley. We went along Union Street past the Flat Iron car park that we would be on later and we turned right onto the A6 and past the transport interchange. We turned right onto George Street and forwards onto Pall Mall were we saw the Big lamp Chippy where we were going for dinner. We parked around the corner in Fleet street and we headed over the road to the cafe. We got there about 13:20 just before we though the cafe part closed. Having a conversation with the staff revealed that the cafe is now open until 6PM. Matthew used the toilets and then we ordered sausage chips & gravy with bread and butter washed down with a can of Coke. After we finished eating we returned to the car and we spotted Buckleys YN53 EXC in the Fleet Street car park. We headed back onto the A6 and past the Interchange and we turned into Union Street and the Flat Iron car park. We eventually found a parking spot and we said goodbye to mum before we headed over to the Interchange. Once in there we grabbed a #109 & #125 timetable from the information desk and we looked up the time of the next #109 to Leyland. It wasn't due for another 15 minutes so we had a short wait. In the bus station already was Holmeswood YJ08 PKV.

Holmeswood YJ08 PKV in Chorley interchange

As we had some time we decided to have a walk around the outside of the Interchange to get a few pictures. As we set off we saw Transdev Lancashire United 1096 arrive on a #24 to Blackburn.

Transdev Lancashire United 1096 in Chorley interchange

We walked clockwise around the outside of the Interchange onto the A6 outside. Whilst there we saw required Stagecoach Lancashire 47081 on a #7 to Croston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47081 in Chorley interchange

We decided to go back into the Interchange and on the way in we saw required Stagecoach Lancashire 15247 on a Preston bound #125 service.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15247 in Chorley interchange

We turned to see required Stagecoach Lancashire Solo 47335 on a #109 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47335 in Chorley interchange

We headed back into the interchange and we waited for the driver to returned to the bus. Matthew promised to behave and not honk the horn as he often does when riding on Optare Solos! Before the driver returned Matthew decided he wanted to go and use the toilet. The disabled toilet was out of order, so Matthew used the Gents. After he had finished we went outside to see that the bus was already loading. We got on the bus and we booked Chorley Dayrider Plus tickets at £4.50 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. Matthew did behave and sat down without trying to honk the horn. The bus set off out off the Interchange and onto the A6. we turned at the next roundabout into Union Street and we stopped again outside Booths. At the end we turned left and we followed the A581 around to the right and out of town. We passed Tesco Chorley Extra and we continued West and past Euxton Balshaw Lane railway station before we turned right onto the A49. At Euxton lane we turned right and we headed towards Buckshaw Village, a new build housing estate built on a the site of a former MOD munitions factory. We turned left onto Main Street and as the rear of the bus was now empty Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47335.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47335

We continued North up to Dawson lane and we passed the 'Wicker Man' style wooden statue. I don't think that they burn people inside the belly of the statue whilst dancing around naked here, or at least I hope that they don't... We traveled West along the B5248, over the M6 and the West coast main line. They was a family fun day being held at Balshaw High School, and the large crowds and the bouncy castle were a real head turned for Matthew. We entered Leyland from the East and near to Tesco we saw a Stagecoach Enviro200, something that we have seen in these parts before. We turned right onto St Andrews Way and we got u and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 47335 before it carried on it's way to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47335 in Leyland

Almost immediately we saw the the Enviro200 we saw around the corner... It was required Stagecoach Lancashire 36185 on a #111 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 36185 in Leyland

We set off around the outside of Tesco Church Road. At the church across the road there was a wedding going on a a wedding photographer was taken candid pictures from across the road. Matthew decided the he was going to have a go and he took a picture of his own. We turned the corner right into the pedestrianised area and we visited Matthews favourite shop. We went to Ice Dreams and Coffee Beans for our usual ice cream. Matthew visited the toilet before having a vanilla cornet. Once we had finished we headed out onto North View to wait for the bus back to Chorley. We considered doing a #111 service but for some reason we could not download a bus map from the mobile Stagecoach website. Apparently people who use there website on a mobile phone don't need maps and can't access them! Whilst we considered what to do we saw dud Stagecoach Lancashire 47333 on a #109B to Clayton-le-Woods.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47333 in Leyland

We then saw a Dart approaching down Towngate. As it got closer we saw that it was Stagecoach Lancashire 34744 on a #113 to Wigan.

Stagecoach Lancashire 34744 in Leyland

We did consider doing this bus, but as we couldn't download the route map from the mobile website, we decided to not to take a risk doing this. We saw another Dart approaching so we decided to have a look at that and where it was going. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 34782 on a #109A to Chorley.

Stagecoach Lancashire 34782 in Leyland

We got on the bus and we flashed the Chorley Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver. As the rear of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 34782.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 34782

Doing a #109A was a new experience for us, so we were curious to see what route it would take... We set off along North View and onto the B5248. We traveled Eastwards out of town past the family fum day at Balshaw High School and over the West coast main line and the M6. We went South down Central Avenue past the 'wicker man' statue, and then we turned left and went into the Buckshaw Village estate, After we whizzed around the estate we headed down to Buckshaw Parkway railway station and then back onto Main Street. At the end of the road we turned left instead of right as we would have done on the #109 service. We ran along Euxton lane to the Hospital, and then we returned towards Astley Village. We returned to the A581 and we went into the Chorley Tesco extra Store and to a bus stop outside the shop. Running a Dennis Dart around the car pask of Tesco is no mean feat! We returned onto the A581 and we traveled East into Chorley. We went onto Union Street and the A6 before circling around the Interchange and in from the East end. Once off the bus we decided to wait for a #125 to Horwich. Whilst we waited we saw Transdev Lancashire United 1100 on a #24 to Blackburn. We also saw the coach that we had seen earlier on Fleet Street car park, Buckleys YN53 EXC come into the interchnage to load up with daytrippers. We decided to go around the outside of the Interchange to get a picture of this Doncaster based coach as it isn't something we recall seeing before ever!

Buckleys YN53 EXC in Chorley interchange

We walked back into the Interchange and we saw required Stagecoach Lancashire 15240 on a #125 to Bolton.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15240 in Chorley interchange

To be fair they are all required in this batch as they were delivered new since our last visit! We got on the bus and we flashed the Chorley Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the Interchange and onto the Southbound A6. We went out of town and up the hill past Frederick's ice cream parlour and the we went down the hill towards the junction with Chorley Road. Last time we had done this service the junction had been closed and there was a diversion through Addlington and along Railway Road to Anderton. Today with the road open, we left onto Chorley Road and through Heath Charnock. We continued South into Anderton and we passed Stagecoach Lancashire 15236/15226 running Northwards together. We departed Anderton Southwards an we passed under the M61. The seats opposite to us were empty so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15240 as we passed Rivington Reservoir.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15240

We ran the last mile or so into Horwich and we crossed the roundabout onto the B6226 where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15240 before it carried on towards Bolton.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15240 in Horwich

As we had approached town, we had seen a coach on Chorley New Road. We crossed the road and cut through the car park of The Crown pub to see Howards double decker coach F19 HOW unloading on the opposite side of the road whilst doing some private hire work.

Howards F19 HOW in Horwich

As we walked around the outside of the crown pub to get back onto Lee Lane, Matthew decided he wanted to use the toilet. We went into the crown and used the facilities Matthew then had a drink of Coke before we went outside where uncle Dave was waiting. Whilst we were in the pub uncle Dave had been keeping an eye out on the buses and we hadn't missed a #125. We got to the stop and almost immediately we saw a bus approaching. It was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15227 on a #125 to Chorley.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15227 in Horwich

We got on the bus and we flashed the Chorley Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off over the roundabout and onto the A673. We passed Rivington Reservoir and under the M61 and we entered Anderton from the South. We continued North into the adjacent town of Heath Charnock before we joined the A6. At the top of the hill we passed Frederick's ice cream parlour and there was a queue outside of around 30-40 people outside. All I can say is it must be really good ice cream! We entered Chorley up the A6 and we turned into Clifford Street. We circled the interchange and we entered from the South. When the bus stop it emptied out and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15227.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15227

As we came into the Interchange we spotter another Gold bus at the far end on the stand for Preston. We got off Stagecoach Lancashire 15226 walked over to the other bus which was Stagecoach Lancashire 15227 on a #125 to Preston, which we had seen in Anderton earlier.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15226 in Chorley interchange

We decided to do this bus as it was another required one, so we got on and we flashed the Chorley Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the Interchange onto the Northbound A6 and we turned left at the next roundabout onto Union Street. After stopping outside Brooks we turned right onto the A581, rejoining the A6 further up the road. We past the out of town retail units and went towards the hospital. At the junction outside the hospital we were caught up by Alfa Mercedes coach 97 which turned left. We continued North in Whittle-le-Woods and further North Still into Clayton Green. Matthew then decided to take a picture of the empty seats opposite to us.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15226

We passed the point which was the furthest we had previously traveled on a #125 service, and we turned right onto Westwood Road. We turned left onto Clayton Brook Road passing quite close to the M61. We turned left onto Great Greens Lane and it looked like we were approaching some shops, so we decided would be a good place to get up and get off the bus. On off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15226 before it carried on towards Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15226 in Clayton Brook

We has spotted a McColls as the bus pulled up at the stop so we headed over there. Matthew brought a can and a bottle of Coke and a few chocolate bars. Once we had finished shopping we headed over to the stop on the opposite side of the road where Matthew ate a Cadbury's Flake. A few minutes later we saw another Stagecoach Gold bus approaching... As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15232.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15232 in Clayton Brook

We got on the bus and we flashed the Chorley Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver for the last time today before we went upstairs and sat down.The bus set off along Great Greens lane and we circled around to the South and joined the A6. As we traveled South Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15232.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15232

We continued South down through Clayton Green and Whittle-le-Woods. We passed the hospital and the retail Park and we turned right onto the A581. After running into Chorley Town Centre we turned left onto Union Street and we rejoined the A6 outside the Interchange. We turned right into Clifford Street and circled around the interchange before entering it from the South. When we got back into the Interchange we got up and got off the bus. We had a walk around the outside of the to take a few pictures before we returned to the car. On one of the top stands was Rotala Preston Bus 20811 about to work a #114 to Preston.

Rotala Preston Bus 20811 in Chorley interchange

Matthew wanted to go to the toilet, so as we walked back around the the Interchange we saw Holmeswood YJ56 AUF on a #347 to Southport.

Holmeswood YJ56 AUF in Chorley interchange

Aftwe Matthew had used the toilet we walked back to the Flat Iron car park to meet up with mum. At the car Matthew tucked into a Greggs sausage roll and washed it down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park and onto the Southbound A6. As we passed the B5252 we saw Howards double decker coach F19 HOW again. We turned right by Fredericks ice cream parlour and this time there wasn't a long queue! We went along the A5106 and then turned right onto B5239. We came out in Standish and we went straight across onto A5209. We followed the road to the right and we joined the M6 at Junction 27. As we headed South we passed a few coaches. We passed Croston minibus YK05 EWH, a couple of Tyrers coaches, and a London Transport Arriva Wright Gemini double decker! At Junction 15 we left the M6 and joined the Eastbound A500. As we went towards Stoke-on-Trent we passed Stanton's of Stoke CC04 MAL & Roseville DK06 UDH. We left the A500 at Sideway as we took the Eastbound A50 up towards Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz today. In the front row we saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

Next to that was Z Carz silver LDV minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

The closest bus in the row was Z Carz white LDV minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Ford minibus YS09 LWV.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

The closest bus to the road was Z Carz Ford minibus NA06 SUO.

Z Carz NA06 SUO in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row and there were a couple of buses towards the back pf the compound. Nearest bus to the gate was Z Carz Ford minibus PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we crossed over onto Baths Road and into Tesco Petrol station. We topped up with diesel and we got back onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross. At Heron Cross we turned left onto Blurton Road and we saw Lightning Travel T2 DLT. We carried onto into Blurton and up the hill, turned right onto Church Road. We turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we saw white Iveco minibus NX03 BFP. We got home around 18:30 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 01:00... Mark