Trip to Leigh / Salford 27-08-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
69164	Leigh BS	Tyldesley, Elliott Street/Tyldesley Square (Stop D)	35	First Manchester
39252	Tyldesley, Stanley Street/Meanley Street (Stop G)	Salford, Broad St/Pendleton Church (Stop U)	V2	First Manchester
10444	Broad St/Pendleton Church (Stop Q)	Leigh BS	34	Stagecoach Manchester
192	Leigh BS	Leigh, before Warrington Road/Central Avenue	28	Network Warrington
89	Leigh, opp Warrington Road/Central Avenue	Leigh BS	19	Network Warrington
30910	Leigh BS	Daisy Hill, nr Leigh Road/Hartford Road	517	Rotala Diamond
21245	Daisy Hill, Leigh Road/Daisy Hill Station (Stop B)	Hindley, Wigan Road/Bird i'th' Hand (Stop B)	540	Stagecoach Manchester
22354	Hindley, Wigan Road/Hindley Council Offices (Stop A)	Leigh BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Leigh. We checked the weather for today and it was for mainly cloudy weather with showers. The weather looked better in the North West than the Midlands and from the list Matthew chose Leigh. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for Breakfast. We set off around 12:00 onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the Westbound A50 and we turned right onto the Northbound A500. Traffic was slow up through Stoke and Longport but it eased up as we got North of Tunstall. When we got to the M6 it was at a near standstill. As we joined the M6 we saw white minibus YX54 FKA. We also saw 3 Solus coaches two of which we got close to. These were Solus Coaches YS16 LNC and YN14 PMO. Traffic eased up and we got in front of the two coaches. As we got to the roadworks section of the M6 we were passed by Solus Coaches YN14 PMO.

Solus Coaches YN14 PMO the on M6

Shortly afterwards we were passed by Solus Coaches YS16 LNC.

Solus Coaches YS16 LNC the on M6

Further up the M6 we saw ABC Supreme minibus SJ13 WYD & P&O Lloyd coach BG64 UZV. We left the M6 at junction 22 onto Winwick lane and we travelled North to Lowton. We turned right onto Newton Road and we crossed over the A580. Newton Road became St Helens Road and we continued North over the A579 and into Leigh town centre. We turned right onto Spinning Jenny Way and we ran around onto gas Street and onto the main car park. We parked up and Matthew sued the toilet in the block outside the shopping centre. We walked through the shopping centre and when we got to the bus station we saw First Manchester 33725 on a #582 to Bolton.

First Manchester 33725 in Leigh bus station

We ate at the burger van outside the bus station 'Scrumptious' where there are tables and chairs and a gazebo. The table under cover were all taken, probably because it was trying to rain. We did manage to stay dry whilst we ate. Matthew had a sausage barm washed down with a small bottle of Coke. Once we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked into the bus station. required We had just missed required First Manchester 39247 on a V1 service to Manchester, so we decided to have a walk around the bus station to see what we could catch. We saw required Stagecoach Manchester 19519 on a #600 to Wigan and required First Manchester 69530 on a #582 to Bolton.

First Manchester 69530 in Leigh bus station

At the bottom end of the bus station we saw First Manchester 69164 on a #35 to Swinton.

First Manchester 69164 in Leigh bus station

We looked up the bus in the Buses I Have Traveled On page and we saw it was a required one. It was also going through Tyldesley so we could do this to there for a V2 forwards to Salford. We got on the bus and we booked System One Bus Only tickets at £5.20 each. The bus was lightly filled at this point, so Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 69164

We sat down towards the back of the bus and when it was time to depart, we left the bus station onto King Street. We turned right into Lord Street and we ran East before turning right onto Princess Street. We turned left onto the A572 and we ran Eastwards out of town. We traveled around 1/2 a mile to the Canal Turn pub and we followed the road around the corner to the left onto Manchester Road. Another few hundred yards at the mini roundabout we followed Manchester Road to the right. We ran just over a mile to the edge of Astley and we turned left onto Princes Avenue. Princes Avenue became Astley Street and we turned into the busway to call at the stop adjacent to the carriageway. With a bit of Quick thinking we could have jumped off our bus and onto required First Manchester 39248, which was on an adjacent V1 service to Manchester. We turned around and onto the busway and we continued up Astley Street into Tyldesley town centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 69164 as it carried on towards Swinton.

First Manchester 69164 in Tyldesley

We crossed Elliot Street and we went down Stanley Street to the V2 stop. There was on due in a couple of minutes and we didn't have to wait long for required First Manchester 39252 to make an appearance...

First Manchester 39252 in Tyldesley

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. We set off across Elliot Street onto Astley Street and we ran a couple of hundred yards down the hill before turning left onto the guided busway. We ran fast along the guided busway stopping a couple of times to pick up more passenger before we reached the end and turned right onto Newearth Road. At the bottom of Newearth Road we turned left on to the A580 and we ran a couple of miles Eastwards and under the M60. The A580 became the A6 and we ran the last mile or so until we came off the A6 at Pendleton Church. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39252.

First Manchester 39252 in Salford

We went into the local shop and Matthew brought a can of Coke and a can of Bar Bubblegum flavoured pop and a Caramac bar. Once we had paid for the items we walked out of the shop towards the subway. On the way we saw First Manchester 33695 on a #36 to Manchester.

First Manchester 33695 in Salford

We crossed over the A6 and under Belvedere Road before we came out of the subway opposite to Salford City Shopping centre and adjacent to KFC. We went in KFC and Matthew used the toilet. I queued up for the food and Matthew sat in the window and watched the bus going down Hankinson Way of which there were many! Sighting included First Manchester 66856 on the #52, First Manchester 66853 on the #100 service, Stagecoach Manchester 19364 on a #38 and Arriva NW&W 4493 on a #10. Once we had got the food we walked over the car park onto Belvedere Road and we sat down to eat fries and watch buses. Whilst there we saw Rotala Diamond 20722 on a #73 to Clifton.

Rotala Diamond 20722 in Salford

This was followed by required Stagecoach Manchester 19507 which was on a #38 to Rusholme.

Stagecoach Manchester 19507 in Salford

A short while later we saw required Arriva NW&W 4502 on a #10 to Manchester Shudehall bus station.

Arriva NW&W 4502 in Salford

Once we had shared the fries and Matthew had drunk his cup of Coke we headed back towards the subway. On the way back we saw dud First Manchester 37304 on a Manchester bound service.

First Manchester 37304 in Salford

We walked back through the subway and whilst we were there we saw a couple of interesting buses... We saw Go Goodwins Cadet SR05 XMK on the #79 to Stretford an an unidentified Arriva DAF Myllenium on the #10 service. We walked back onto the Westbound A6 slip road where there are 2 bus stops. As we got there we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10444 on a #34 service to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 10444 in Salford

We also saw First Manchester 33739 whizz by on a #8 to Bolton.

First Manchester 33739 in Salford

Stagecoach Manchester 10444 seemed to stop for a while presumable to wait time so we decide to go over and get on it. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off onto the A6 and we ran forwards onto the A580 passing National Express liveried Bruce Coaches FN63 PWU. We traveled to the Swinton Park area about 3 miles West of Salford and then we turned left onto the A572. We ran down through a very laefy suburd into a very posh area. It was the village of Worsley wear most of the properties were large and detached and some even had thatched roofs. In the centre of the village was a small pond adjacent to a small sandstone cliff surrounded by trees. We crossed under the M60 onto Leigh Road and through a small place called Boothstown which we have visited before. We crossed the A580 and into Astley. We continued Westwards along Manchester Road and into town. As we passed the canal Turn pub we saw required Network Warrington double decker on a #28 to Leigh turn onto Chapel Street in front of us. We turned onto Spinning Jenny Way and we entered the bus station through the Southern entrance. We let the bus empty and then Matthew took another picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 10444.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 10444

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10444 before he went to use the facilities.

Stagecoach Manchester 10444 in Leigh bus station

When Matthew came out we saw that the Network Warrington double decker 192 was still in the bus station so we went over to have a look.

Network Warrington 192 in Leigh bus station

We decided to do this bus to the edge of town just after it turns right onto Warrington Road. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. There were a few people on the top deck so Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite to us.

Inside Network Warrington 192

We set off out of the est side of the bus station onto King Street. We turned right into Lord Street and we ran East before turning right onto Princess Street. We turned left onto the A572 and we ran Eastwards out of town. We traveled around 1/2 a mile to the Canal Turn pub. We turned right into Warrington Road and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Network Warrington 192 as it carried on towards Warrington.

Network Warrington 192 in Leigh

I had planned on walking back onto A572, and perhaps catching something away from Leigh, but Matthew had other ideas. He pointed to the stop opposite... We crossed the road and we went onto nextbuses.co.uk to see when the next bus was due. To our surprise the was a bus due in less than 5 minutes. A few minutes later we saw a single decker approaching... It was required Network Warrington 89 on the #19 to Leigh.

Network Warrington 89 in Leigh

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus only ticket to the driver. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Network Warrington 89.

Inside Network Warrington 89

We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off along Warrington Road. We turned left onto the A572 and we ran into town. We turned left into Spinning Jenny Way and we entered the bus station through the Southern entrance. When we got to the bus station we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station were a couple of buses that we though about doing. We saw required Rotala Diamond 30910 which was on the #517 to Blackrod.

Rotala Diamond 30910 in Leigh bus station

Also in the bus station was required First Manchester 66867 on a #35 to Swinton.

First Manchester 66867 in Leigh bus station

The #517 was due off first and a check of the service board said it called in Atherton in 9 minutes. We decided to do this bus so when the driver readied the bus for service we got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus only ticket to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 30910.

Inside Rotala Diamond 30910

We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus off out of the bus station onto King Street. We ran North up the road and past NJS & G Contracts where there were van conversion minibuses as well as Mercedes minibuses. I was expected the bus to go along Market Street or Mealhouse Lane, but the bu passed by the Western edge of town on Wigan Road. Having traveled over 10 minutes out of town I though we need to formulate another plan to get back towards Leigh and it wasn't going to be on the V1 or V2 that I thought it was before. We carried on North and we saw Shearings Holiday BK11 COU emerge from the A579. I brought up Google maps on my phone and I saw we were heading up to Westhoughton via Daisy Hill. We ent West on the A577 and then we turned North up the B5235. We past a familiar Road and as we approached Daisy Hill railway station we got up and got off the bus. We crossed the road and almost immediately we saw a bus approaching. It was required Stagecoach Manchester 21245 on a #540 to Wigan.

Stagecoach Manchester 21245 in Daisy Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus only ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The plan was now to travel West to Hindley and to get a #598 back to Leigh. We traveled West on Hindley Road and past the Industrial estate to the North of Hindley Green. We turned right onto Green Lane and we ran through the housing estate to the North of Hindley Green before we joined the Southbound A58. We ran down to the crossroads and we turned right onto the A577 where we got up and got off the bus. We crossed over the road and we looked at the bus stop timetable to see the #598 was due in less than 10 mimutes. In the meantime we saw Stagecoach Manchester 36787 on the #32 to Manchester and Stagecoach Manchester 21247 on the #540 to Bolton. A few minutes we saw a MAN single decker approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud Stagecoach Manchester 22354 on the #598 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 22354 in Hindley

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus only ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We traveled East to Hindley Green and we turned right onto the A578. We went South through WestLeigh and down to Firs lane. We followed the road to the left and under the A579 and we turned left onto Railway Road. We turned right into King Street and then left into the bus station. When we got off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 22354.

Stagecoach Manchester 22354 in Leigh bus station

In the bus station in front of us was First Manchester 39255 on a V1 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39255 in Leigh bus station

As the shopping centre was closed we walked down through the bus station to to walk around it. On the way down we saw First Manchester 69521 on a #582 to Bolton.

First Manchester 69521 in Leigh bus station

We walked around the outside of the shopping centre only to find that when mum said she would move closer it wasn't in the car park.... she had driven around to Lord Street. We walked over the car park to Gas Street and we went through the the open market onto Bradshawgate. We saw mum in the distance and she pointed to us to walk up Silk Street. We walked up the Street and we cut across a precinct to where the car was. We got in the car and met up with mum and Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll washed down with Irn Bru. We set off along Lord Street and onto Princess Street. We turned right onto Spinning Jenny way and then left onto the A572. We travekked home the same we as we arrived. Through Lowton and onto the M6. We got on at Junction 22 and we went South. Near to Junction 21 we passed a Ribble Bristol VR with a flat front, complete with a wedding ribbon on the front. Further down the M6 we passed a white East Lancs bodied double decker going the other way. We cam off the M6 at Junction 16 onto the Southbound A500. We caught up with First Potteries 65706 which was running out of service. At Sideway we saw Premier Travel minibus YF57 PLV. we Joined the Eastbound A50 and we came off it again at Longton. At Z Carz this evening we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz Renault minibus MV53 KKO.

Z Carz MV53 KKO in Longton

Closest in the first row was Z Carz Vauxhall minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Towards the back of the site we saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound this evening. At the back was Z Carz LDV minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

Also in the compound was Z Carz Renault minibus Y568 XFV.

Z Carz Y568 XFV in Longton

In the Street was Z Carz LDV minibus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we traveled West to Heron Cross. We went through Blurton on Blurton Road and at Critclow's corner we turned left onto Drubbery Lane. At the end we turned right onto the A5035 and we got home around 19:30. 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 00:00... Mark