Trip to Burnley / Todmorden 12-11-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
66748	Burnley BS	Todmorden BS	589	First West Yorkshire
37053	Todmorden BS	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB15)	592	First West Yorkshire
66711	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB14)	Todmorden BS	590	First West Yorkshire
30856	Todmorden BS	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB15)	592	First West Yorkshire
37052	Hebden Bridge, Market Street (Stop HB14)	Todmorden BS	592	First West Yorkshire
66748	Todmorden BS	Burnley BS	589	First West Yorkshire

Today we decided to re-visit Burnley. A check of the weather revealed that after a wet start the weather should dry up be quite warm for the time of year. We give Matthew a list of place from the North West and Midlands, and from the list he chose Burnley. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set of around 11:45 and we ran down to the A5035. We turned right into Stanley Matthew Way and by the Holiday Inn Express we saw Roxby Coaches YD66 AXV. We joined the Westbound A50 and then we turned right onto the Northbound A500. As I had gassed up earlier in the week, we went straight up the A500 to the M6. On the M6 traffic was moving well and passed a procession of buses coming the other way as we ran North up to the M65. We saw an unidentified Vision Travel coach, an unidentified Alba Travel coach, an unidentified Ashcroft's coach, an unidentified Hollinshead coach, Hollinshead DH13 HOL, an unidentified Grayway coach, an unidentified Carvers coach, Playbus K888 BWU, an unidentified Doig's of Glasgow coach and an unidentified King's Ferry coach. When we got to Junction 29 we came off the M6 and joined the Eastbound M65. Going Eastwards we saw B & N Coaches A12 BXN, an unidentified Red & Cream coach, an unidentified Cream coach with a red and black stripe and Robin Hood YJ13 HTZ. We came off the M65 a junction early accidentally onto the A679, and we ran into town along Accrington Road past Rose Grove railway station. We joined the A671 and we followed the road to the right onto Trafalgar Street. At the roundabout we turned left onto Manchester Road and we turned right onto Finsley Gate. We parted on the car park by Red Lion Street and we walk across the road. Mum went to the toilet in the bus station and we took a few bus pictures. Whilst we waited we saw dud Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2751 in Burnley on a X43 to Manchester.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2751 in Burnley bus station

When mum and finished we walked over to the cafe. Since our last visit the cafe has been refurbished and the layout has also changed. The cafe also changed it's name to Zara Cafe. We went to go the toilet but the toilet up the stairs is currently out of order. I took Matthew to the toilet in the bus station and mum ordered the food. When we got back Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we walked over to the bus station and walked around the outside. In the layover stands we saw Cranberry Coaches coach PJZ 2182.

Cranberry Coaches PJZ 2182 in Burnley bus station

In the adjacent layover stand we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle single decker 1067.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1067 in Burnley bus station

There weren't many buses in the bus station so we walked up Red Lion Street to enter the bus station on the other side. Before we entered the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle single decker 1860 on a M1 service Barnoldswick.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1860 in Burnley bus station

We then saw a First West Yorkshire single decker on Croft Street. We got closer and we saw it was First West Yorkshire 66748 on a #589 to Rochdale.

First West Yorkshire 66748 in Burnley bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do First buses today and he said yes. We went inside the bus station and we sat down for a short while whilst we waited for the bus to come into the bus station. A few minutes later the bus came into the bus station and started loading up. Matthew decided to go for a quick walkabout and we went to the top end of the bus station and took another bus picture. We then got in the queue before getting on the bus. We asked for 2 day tickets, but the bus driver asked if we were sticking together. We were able to get a First West Yorkshire group ticket for £5 between us.... bargain! We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station. We ran over the roundabout onto Yorkshire Street and we ran up the hill past Turf Moor. I didn't notice if the large picture of Martin Patterson was still on the side of the stand. We ran out of town through Mereclough & Cliviger where we joined the A646. After crossing over the railway line we ran East through Portsmouth, Cornholme & Lydgate before we entered Todmorden from the West end. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of First West Yorkshire 66748.

Inside First West Yorkshire 66748

We crossed under the railway line before we entered the bus station from the South end. As we entered the bus station we saw required First West Yorkshire 37053 about to work a #592 to Halifax. We got up and got off the the bus and took a picture of First West Yorkshire 37053 before we got on it.

First West Yorkshire 37053 in Todmorden bus station

We flashed the First West Yorkshire Group ticket to the driver and we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Stansfield Road before joining the Southbound A646. We followed the road to the left and as we left town we saw TJ Walsh FJ58 FRL outside the Todmorden Social Club. We then passed Pioneer minibus P100 NER. A few hundred yards up the road we passed the Todmorden bus depot where we saw First West Yorkshire Solo 50407, single decker 66790 and school buses 68643 & 68663. The road up to Hebden Bridge is a meandering tight valley. Sometimes there is barley enough room for the road, the River Calder and the Rochdale Canal, other times there is a wider area with houses and even a cricket ground. The railway line run above them all on a viaduct the length of the valley. We ran through the little vilages of Eastwood, Charlestown and Mytholm before entering Hebden Bridge from the West. We got to the main street and we got up and got off the bus. We crossed the busy road at the Zebra Crossing and we went into the Co-op store opposite. In the shop Matthew picked a can of coke and a couple of chocolate bars. When we cam out of the Co-op we saw TLC Solo 2261 on a #598 Eaves circular service.

TLC 2261 in Hebden Bridge

We got to the bus stop and we about to have a bus stop picnic when we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was First West Yorkshire 66711 on a #590 to Rochdale.

First West Yorkshire 66711 in Hebden Bridge

We got on the bus and we flashed the First West Yorkshire Group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Westwards along the A646 up Mytholm and we saw that the seats opposite to us, so Matthew took a picture inside First West Yorkshire 66711.

Inside First West Yorkshire 66711

We continued West through Charlestown and Eastwood and we ran the last couple of miles into Todmorden. We past the bus depot and the social club and we turned right, following the A646 before we entered the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 66711.

First West Yorkshire 66711 in Todmorden Bus staton

We decided to go for a comfort break and we set off along the path opposite to the bus station towards the market. On the way down we stopped to get a picture of First West Yorkshire 69581 on a #592 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 69581 in Todmorden Bus staton

We went through the market and across the car park to the toilet block where Matthew used the toilet. We walked back past the front side of the market and as we turned the corner we saw a double decker in the bus station. As we got closer we saw it was required First West Yorkshire 30856!

First West Yorkshire 30856 in Todmorden Bus staton

We walked around to the front of the bus. We spotted on the bus departure display that there was a bus to Burnley in around 50 minutes. We should have plenty of time to go up to Hebden Bridge and back so we got on and we flashed the First West Yorkshire Group ticket to the driver. We went upstairs and the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First West Yorkshire 30856 before we sat down.

Inside First West Yorkshire 30856

The bus set off out of the bus station onto Stansfield Street and we turned left onto the A646. We followed the road around to the left at the roundabout and we ran out of town past the bus depot. As we travelled east we noticed the 'Kindness' in big letters on the side of a wall as can be seen in google maps here. We continued East through Eastwood, Charlestown & Mytholm and we entered Hebden Bridge from the West. On the end of Market Street we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First West Yorkshire 30856 as it continued towards Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 30856 in Hebden Bridge

We crossed over the road at the Zebra crossing and we sat down at the stop. This time Matthew had time to share a bounty with me and uncle Dave as well as drink a can of Vimto. the bus was due at 17:10 and a few minutes later as expected we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saws that it was required First West Yorkshire 37052 on a #592 to Todmorden.

First West Yorkshire 37052 in Hebden Bridge

We got on the bus and we flashed the First West Yorkshire Group ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. It was now starting to go dark, made more evident by the lights inside the bus. We travelled back West through Mytholm, Charlestown and Eastwood and my attempt at getting a picture of the word kindness on the wall as mentioned above failed miserably! We travelled back past the depot and into town and at the roundabout we turned right following the A646 North. We turned into the bus station where the bus terminated. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First West Yorkshire 37052 before we got off it.

Inside First West Yorkshire 37052

We had around 15 minutes to wait for the Burnley bus. Outside the bus station on the stop on the A646 we saw TLC SoloSR 90819 on a T1 Cross Lee service.

TLC 90819 in Todmorden bus station

A few minuted later and the following bus from Halifax arrived. It was required First West Yorkshire 30561.

First West Yorkshire 30561 in Todmorden bus station

A few minutes later and the #589 Rochdale to Burnley made and appearance. It was First West Yorkshire 66748 that we had down to Todmorden earlier in the day!

First West Yorkshire 66748 in Todmorden bus station

We legged it across the exit to the bus station and we got on First West Yorkshire 66748. We flashed the First West Yorkshire Group ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Stansfield Street and we turned right onto the Northbound A646. It was now quite dark and we couldn't really see where we were going. We ran out of town via Lydgate, Cornholme and Portsmouth. We ran over the summit and we crossed the railway line and we continued West to Cliviger where we turned right onto Red Lees Road. We passed through Mereclough and we ran the last few miles into town down the hill and past Turf Moor. We went under the Rochdale Canal and we at the roundabout we went straight across continuing along Yorkshire Street. We turned left onto Croft Street and we ran to the end where buses sometimes stop to let out passenger if buses are going onto layover. We got up and got off the bus and then we went inside the bus station. We visited the shop first, in case it was about to close, and Matthew brought a can of Coke and a chocolate bar. Afterwards we went to the facilities and Matthew used the toilet. On the way out of the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 267 on a #1 Stoops Estate service.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 267 in Burnley bus station

We walked across Red Lion Street to the car park where mum was waiting with Greggs sausage Rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We set off put of the car park onto Red Lion Street and we turned left onto Parker Lane. At the end we turned right onto Finsley Gate and then left onto Manchester Road. At the roundabout we went right onto the A671 and we ran out of town up to the M65. We ran West for a couple of junctions and then we went south down the A56. It was properly dark and we ran up to the summit and down the other side towards Haslingden, passing an unidentified white Bova. We continued onto the M66 and we ran down the the M60. As we joined the M60 we saw Parry's NU03 BUZ and an unidentified white double decker with black roof and window surrounds. We left the ring road to go West along the M62 and then we joined the Southbound M6. Traffic was going well until we got to a mile North junction 18 where we came to a stop. A fire engine and police cars went racing by and we eventually started to move. Two lanes were closed as there had been an accident involving a car and a lorry. We also saw Scraggs VT 9389. We let the M6 at junction 16 and we went South down the A500 passing Carvers coach FN52 HRW. At Sideway went east up the A50 and we came off at Longton. The fuel warning light was on so we stopped at Tesco petrol station to fill up with petrol. Once we had filled up we ran around to Z Carz to see what was parked up at their depot this evening. In the front row was Z Carz minibus OV05 WSW

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

Also in the first row we saw Z Carz Ford minibus PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

Closest to the road on the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Renault minibus MV53 KKO.

Z Carz MV53 KKO in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see if there was anything visible in the compound. Parked up in the compound we saw Z Carz Ford minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

We returned onto the A50 and we ran west to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton up to church Road. We turned right into Beaconsfield drive and we got home around 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers & mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. We then chilled out on the computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark