Trip to St Helens / Huyton 25-06-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2491	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
4595	St Helens BS	Prescot, adj Church Street	10	Arriva NW&W
2970	Prescot BS	Huyton BS	89	Arriva NW&W
1	Huyton BS	Prescot BS	61A	Halton Transport
4595	Prescot, Adj Stanley Crescent	St Helens BS	10	Arriva NW&W
2575	St Helens BS	New Boston, adj Vista Road	20	Arriva NW&W
2940	New Boston, opp Vista Road	St Helens BS	320	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit St Helens. We had checked the weather for today and the weather appeared to be better in Merseyside and the Wirral. We gave Matthew a list of destinations and from the list he surprisingly chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 09:00 this morning and had a giant crumpet and orange juice. We set off just after 11:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we went past the new housing estate. We went past the BET365 stadium and we joined the Westbound A50 where we saw Anytime Aiports PE11 RXA. At Sideway we turned right onto the Northbound A500. As we went North of Etruria we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 615 going southwards. Further up the A500 we saw taxi minibus PO16 WCP. We joined the Northbound M6 and we saw saw a white tri-axle Neoplan MV12 ??? and we caught up with Coliseum Coaches 435 SFC.

Coliseum Coaches 435 SFC on the M6

We carried on Northwards up the M6 and we passed an unidentified Mayne's coach going the other way. We cross ed the Manchester Ship Canal and we went West along the M62 for one junction. At the roundabout for the A49 we saw the Royal National College for the Blind minibus VO51 NYW. We ran up the A49 past Newton-le-Willows railway station and we turned left onto the Westbound A572. We ran for around a mile and by the petrol station we turned sharp left onto Market Street. It soon became apparent why Matthew wanted to come in this direction. Matthew had remembered that there was a new Wetherspoon's opening up in Earlestown in June, but unfortunately it doesn't open until next week! We went to the cafe and Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. Whilst we were eating we saw Hatton's MV54 AOD on a #141 service and HTL Buses YJ16 DYM on a #603 service. I also nipped down to the railway station to buy saveaway tickets at £5.20 each. After we had finished Matthew went to the toilet and then we walked back to the bus station. In the bus station we saw Arriva NW&W Cadet 2491 on a #34A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2491 in Earlestown bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got got on and flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we saw HTL Buses YJ16 DYH on a #603 service. We went through the housing estate to the West of the bus station before coming out on the A572. We ran West and i to St helens through Parr and past the community fire station. Just outside of town we joined the A58 and we ran over the railway line by St Helens Central before entering the bus station along Bickerstaffe Street. We got up and got off the bus and we saw Arriva NW&W Solo SR 710 on a #33 to Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 710 in St Helens bus station

We decided to have a look at the buses on layover before we decided what bus to catch next. At the end of the row was Arriva NW&W 4595 on layover from working on a #10 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4595 in St Helens bus station

We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27719 on layover from a #10A to Liverpool. In front of that we saw HTL Buses Solo SR YD63 VCF on layover from a A10 town circular service.

HTL Buses YD63 VCF in St Helens bus station

In front of the HTL Solo was Arriva NW&W Enviro400 4603 which was about to work a #10A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4603 in St Helens bus station

We walked over to the stands where the #10/10A depart from, and we we walked up we saw Halton Transport 3 on a #17 to Widnes.

Halton Transport 3 in St Helens bus station

We sat down for a short while and we saw dud Arriva NW&W 4603 pull up on a #10A to Liverpool, As we were about to get on it we saw required Arriva NW&W 4595 on a #10 service to Liverpool so we decided to do this bus to Prescot instead. We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. As the rear of the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4595.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4595

The bus set off out of town past Nando's and onto the A58. We followed the road left on the roundabout and we ran out of town. The road split into separate carriageways and ran around a short one-way section of road like a giant elongated roundabout. When the two carriageways joined together we carried on past Thatto Heath into Whiston where Matthew notice they were building a new Spar shop. At the big roundabout we went along St Helens Road and we saw Hatton's Travel Scania YN54 AHL on a #97 service to St Helens. right onto High Street where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4595 before it carried on towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4595 in Prescot

We walked off the High Street and into the bus station and we saw Hatton's Travel Scania YN54 NXL on layover as a spare bus displaying #297 service, which doesn't run on Saturdays.

Hatton's Travel YN54 NXL in Prescot bus station

A few minutes alter we saw required Halton Transport 26 on a #61A to Huyton.

Halton Transport 26 in Prescot bus station

We had already decided that we were going to Huyton, but I hadn't realised the #61A was a Huyton Service until after it had departed! We were waiting for the #89 to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and a few minutes later required Arriva NW&W Pulsar II 2970 made an appearance.

Arriva NW&W 2970 in Prescot bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off through town past the Tesco extra and through the Huyton Business Park. We turned right onto Carr Lane and at the next roundabout we turned left onto Huyton Lane. We carried on West past the King George V playing Field and then we turned left onto Lathom Road past a shopping centre and Huyton police station. At the bend we turned right and we went into the bus station. After circling around by the railway line we went onto stand where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2970 before it carried on towards John Lennon Airport.

Arriva NW&W 2970 in Huyton bus station

Once we got off the bus we headed into MacDonalds where Matthew used the toilet. After he had used the facilities We waited in the queue and we waited in line to get a couple of portions of fries and a small cup of Coke. We headed over to the car park to eat the food and take a few bus pictures. We saw dud Halton Transport 9 on a #61 to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 9 in Huyton bus station

We then saw Arriva NW&W 3057 running out of service.

Arriva NW&W 3057 in Huyton bus station

A few minutes later we saw required Halton Transport 47 on a #61 to Murdishaw.

Halton Transport 47 in Huyton bus station

Entering the bus station from the East end we saw HTL Buses YJ61 MOU on a #247 Huyton circular service.

HTL Buses YJ61 MOU in Huyton bus station

After we had finished eating we went up to Stand 1 to see when the next bus was. Matthew decided he wanted to do a #61 service to Prescot, so we had a few minutes to wait we sat at the end of the Western approach to the bus station and we saw HTL Buses V980 XUB on a #258 Stockbridge circular service.

HTL Buses V980 XUB in Huyton bus station

We turned down Cumfybus MX54 KYH on the #139 service. A few minutes later we saw required Halton Transport 1 on a #61 to Runcorn.

Halton Transport 1 in Huyton bus station

Matthew wanted to do the bus to Runcorn, bu the Saveaway ticket is only valid as far as Cronton. We got on the bus and we flashed the Saverway to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Huyton Hey Road and we turned right onto St John's Roads. We turned left onto Meadow farm Road and then right onto meadow Drive. At the end of Meadow Drive we went East onto Tarbock Road. Matthew then decided to take a picture of the moquette on this bus.

Inside Halton Transport 1

We carried on along Tarbock Road and at the big roundabout we crossed the M57 and we turned left onto Windy Arbor road. We turned right onto Dragon Lane and we went past Whiston railway station. We turned left onto Cross Lane and we ran up to Manchester Road. We crossed over the roundabout by Tesco Extra and we ran up Sewell Street and into the bus station from the South. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Halton Transport 1.

Halton Transport 1 in Prescot bus station

We walked around the corner onto High Street and we went into The Sun Inn pub so Matthew could use the toilet. We had a Coke and then we went outside to meet uncle Dave again. We crossed the road by the amusingly named Tickle Hall Cross solicitors and we walked down to the bus stop. Almost immediatley we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. Behind it was an Arriva Double decker. We flagged down the double decker and we let required Stagecoach Merseyside 27720 on the #10A to St Helens, and we got on dud Arriva NW&W 4595 that we had been on earlier in the day!

Arriva NW&W 4595 in Prescot

We flashed the Saveaway ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. No need to take a picture inside this bus as matthew had taken one earlier! We traveled up the high Street before we turned left onto St Helen's Road. We joined the Eastbound A58 and we ran through Whiston and Thatto Heath and around the opposite side of the one-way system that we had been on earlier. We came into the town centre past the college up Westfield Street and forwards onto Cotham Street. We passed the town hall along Bickerstaffe Street and we followed the one-way system onto Corporation Street where the bus terminated. We got off the bus and we walked along the buses on layover where we saw Hatton's Travel Y557 XAG which had been parked in the same spot for most of the day.

Hatton's Travel Y557 XAG in St Helens bus station

We saw required Arriva NW&W 2730 on a #31 to Parr Stocks but matthew turned it down to go and visit the shop where he had a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. After we had paid for the stuff we went outside. On the destination finder voard outside Matthew pointed to Haydock... He wanted to go out of town on a #20. A few minutes later we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2575 on a #20 to Earlestown.

Arriva NW&W 2575 in St Helens bus station

Once the #320 had left the stand the bus pulled forwards and we got on the bus. We flashed the Saveaway ticket to the driver and we set of Eastwards onto Corporation Street and after we crossed over the railway we joined the A58. The bus and the road turned sharp left at the junction with the A572 and we went North. The road turned right and we went along the road until we veered right onto West Ens Road by the self service Texaco petrol station. In Blackbrook we turned right onto the A599 and we went Eastwards through haydock and past the Aldi and Tesco stores. At the new Boston End of town we got up and got off the bus just before it turned right onto Vista Road. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2575 before it carried on towards Earlestown.

Arriva NW&W 2575 in Haydock

We crossed the road and we waited at the bus stop. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching from Wigan. It was required Arriva NW&W 2940 on a #320.

Arriva NW&W 2940 in Haydock

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway ticket to the driver for the final time today. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus went West along the A599. We ran through Haydock and we turned left onto West End Road. We joined the A58 and we ran the last couple of miles into town. We turned right onto Corporation Street and we crossed over the railway line before following the one-way system onto Bickerstaffe Street where we let the bus empty, before Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2940.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2940

Behind us was required Halton Transport 15 on a #17 to Widnes.

Halton Transport 15 in St Helens bus station

We walked up Bickerstaffe Street and we saw required Arriva NW&W 2495 on a #37 to Eccleston.

Arriva NW&W 2495 in St Helens bus station

We turned to see mum emerging from the adjacent shopping centre. We walked back to the car which mum had driven up from Earlestown and Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off along Corporation Street and we crossed the railway and we joined the eastbound A58. At the turned in the toad we went East along the A572. We passed the fire station and we went forwards onto Broad Oak Road. At the large roundabout we veered left onto Newton Road. We ran around the northern edge of Earlestown and newton-le-Willows and when we got to the A49 we went South down Newton High Street and past Newton-le-Willows railway station. Out of town we ran fast down to Winwick and we joined the Eastbound A49 link road which we did over to Junction 22 of the M6. Once we got onto the M6 and as we traveled South we past a few coaches. We saw Courtesy cars VN63 FFL & Hiltons Travel RED 448. At junction 16 we went onto the Southbound A500. On the A50 we saw Together Travel coach RUI 5290 going Northwards. We headed into Longton, past the site of the new TK Maxx building which is under construction. At Z Carz tonight in the first row was Z Carz minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

Next to this was Z Carz white Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

Nearest minibus on the front row was Z Carz MV53 KKO.

Z Carz MV53 KKO in Longton

On the second row was Z Carz white Ford minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound tonight. In the compound we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

also in the compound was Z Carz minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

We rejoined the high level A50 and we crossed over the A50 in Baths Road and into Tesco Petrol station where we filled up with diesel. We returned onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton and onto Church Road where we saw First Potteries 67638 on a #22 to Longton. We turned into Beaconsfield Drive and we saw white minibus NX03 BFP. We got home around 18:30. For a late tea we 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