Trip to Leigh / Bolton 18-09-2021

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
143	Leigh BS	Tyldesley, The Gatehouse	594	Tyrer's
1033	Tyldesley, The Gatehouse	Farnworth BS	129	Vision Travel
40801	Farnworth, (Stop F)	Bolton Interchange	37	Rotala Diamond
40728	Bolton Interchange	Salford, Rossall Way (stop F)	8	Rotala Diamond
40815	Salford, Rossall Way (stop G)	Farnworth, (Stop F)	8	Rotala Diamond
40813	Farnworth, (Stop F)	Bolton Interchange	8	Rotala Diamond
2683	Bolton Interchange	Horwich, The Crown (Stop C)	575	Arriva NW&W

Today was the first day of a 2 day break away. We were stopping in a suite at a Best Western Hotel. Matthew got up around 08:00 and had toast and orange juice. He chilled out in his room until we came to collect him from the residential unit. Matthew got his face mask and bag and got ready to go. We came around 11:30 and Matthew came downstairs and got in the car. We set off onto Temple Street and we turned left onto Smithpool Road. We turned right onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. We checked the bag and Matthew realised that he had no batteries so we returned to the residential unit to pick them up. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we turned left onto Smithpool Road and we saw Travel Express BG61 KTK. We turned right onto Temple Street and we stopped at the residential unit. We collected his batteries and and we set off onto Temple Street. We turned right onto Smithpool Road and left onto City Road. We ran down the hiull into Stoke and we went under the railway line. We crossed over the the A500 and we turned right onto Northbound A500. Travelling up the A500 we saw black coach like reg M8 doh (murgatroid?), Daish's BU18 YND, Parks of Hamilton LSK 501 and preserved Primrose Motors RCJ 211M. We ran to the North end of the A500 and we turned right onto the Northbound M6. As we travelled NOrhwards on the M6 we saw Flixbus FX28, Selwyn's (NX) 250 (#121), white minibus NJ04 LRU, white coach reg like WA53 ???, red minibus WX64 YNL, Happy Al's MA14 ALS, Hollinshead DH13 HOL, preserved Routemaster RM887 and an unidentified silver minibus. 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. Matthew went to the toilet. We walked back to the food van for dinner. Matthew had a bacon and egg with a few fries washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we headed to the bus station. We had a walk around to see what we might catch. We saw Network Warrington 223 on a #28 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 223 in Leigh bus station

Matthew wanted to do the Warrington bus, but it was going in the wrong direction so we decided not to do it. We walked around the bus station and a few minutes later we saw Tyrers 143 on a #594 Tyldesley circular service.

Tyrer's 143 in Leigh bus station

The bus was not ready for service so we stood at the end of the bus station for 10 minutes watching other buses coming and going. We walked back to the stand and the driver got on the bus. Once the bus was ready we got on the bus and and we purchased System One bus only tickets at £6.00 each. The lower saloon ws empty so Matthew took a picture inside Tyrer's 143.

Inside Tyrer's 143

We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture inside the top deck of Tyrer's 143 before we sat down.

Inside Tyrer's 143

We set off out off the bus station onto the B5215 and we headed Northwards. We turned right into The Avenue and we ran East before turning right onto the B5215. 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 crossed the roundabout onto the A5082 and we turned left onto Stour Road. We ran past the Co-op and we turned right onto Bodmin Road. We turned left onto Hough Lane we crossed over the guided busway and turned left onto the A577. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Tyrer's 143 before it continued on it's journey.

Tyrer's 143 in Tyldesley

We had a look on the bustimes.org map to see what services were due. We saw that there was a #129 to Farnworth due in a few minutes across the road. Whilst we waited for the bus we spotted a few intereesting bricks in the wall by the bus stop. We also looked at the map to see what bus was approaching. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As expected it was Vision Travel 1033 on the #129 to Farnworth.

Vision Travel 1033 in Tyldesley

We got on the bus and we placed the System One bus tickets under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Eastwards along the A577 and we headed down to Mosley Common. We turned left onto Thornton Road and right onto Lindale Road. We turned right onto Kendall Road and we completed the square by turning right onto Garrett Hall Road. We re-joined the A577 and we crossed over the A580. We continued Southwards and we ran forwards onto the A577. We turned left onto Ellenbrook Road and we crossed back over the A580. We ran Northwards up the B5232 for a mile or so and into the centre of Walkden. We turned left onto the A6 and we ran North Westwards for a while. We turned right onto Eastham Way and we ran through a housing estate. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A5082. We turned right onto old Lane and right onto Newcome Drive. We turned left onto Anchor Lane and we crossed over the M61. We turned left onto Starling Drive and at the roundabout we went forwards onto Windermere Road. We turned right onto Highfield Road and left onto Wildman Lane. We turned right onto Plodder Land and we ran forwards onto Glynne Street. We turned right onto the Southbound A575 and left onto King Street. At the end of the road we turned right into the bus station. Where we got up and got off the bus. We decided to have a bit of a walk around before we caught the next bus. As we set off towards Market Street we saw Rotala Diamond 40746 on a #501 to Higher Folds.

Rotala Diamond 40746 in Farnworth

We walked past the former RBS bank which is currently to let. We walked past Home of Bargainz and to the main Northbound bus stop. A few minutes later we saw Rotala Diamond 40801 on a #37 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40801 in Farnworth

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 40801.

Inside Rotala Diamond 40801

The bus set off Northwards up the A6053 and we went past Moses Gate railway station before running alongside the A666. We continued onto B6536 and We ran Northwards into Bolton. We ran forwards onto the A575 and we turned left onto Great Moor Street. We turned left onto Newport Street and we turned left into Bolton Interchange. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew used the facilities and then we had a walk around to see what we could catch. We saw Rotala Diamond 30857 on layover.

Rotala Diamond 30857 in Bolton Interchange

We walked up to the exit of the bus station to take a few bus pictures. We saw Rotala Diamond 30977 on the Employee Staff Bus.

Rotala Diamond 30977 in Bolton Interchange

Also seen was Rotala Diamond 40744 on a #582 to Leigh.

Rotala Diamond 40744 in Bolton Interchange

Another vehicle seen was Rotala Diamond 40728 on a #8 to Manchester.

Rotala Diamond 40728 in Bolton Interchange

We decided to catch this bus so we walked into the bus station and waited for the bus to be readied for service. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Rotala Diamond 40728.

Inside Rotala Diamond 40728

We set off out of the bus station and onto Great Moor Street and we turned right onto the A575. We headed Southwards past the railway station and we ran fowards onto the B6536. We ran through Burnden then along side the A666 before going forwards onto the A6053. We ran through Farnworth and we crossed the Kearsley Spur of the M61 and forwards onto the A666. We ran through Kearsley and Clifton and we crossed over the M60. We ran through Newton and Pendlebury and we crossed over the A6. We ran alongside the A6 for a short while before turning right onto Langworthy Road. We turned left onto the A576 and we went under the A6 and onto the roundabout at Pendleton. We turned right by the police station and we ran towards Salford Shopping centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of Rotala Diamond 40728 before it continued on towards Manchester.

Rotala Diamond 40728 in Salford

Once off the bus we needed to head back Northwards to meet up with mum. We decided to do a bus back towards Bolton. Whilst we waited we took a few bus pictures. We saw Go North West 3254 on a #67 to Cadishead.

Go North West 3254 in Salford

A few minutes later we saw Go North West 6152 on a #53 to Cheetham Hill.

Go North West 6152 in Salford

A few minutes later we saw our bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Rotala Diamond 40815 on a #8 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40815 in Salford

We decided to do this bus as far as Farnworth then to get off and to catch a following bus. 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 out off the shopping centre area and onto the Westbound high level A6. We veered left onto the A576 and we turned right onto Langworthy Road. We ran along side the A6 towards Irlam O' Th' Heights. We crossed over the A6 onto the A666 and we ran Northwards through Pendlebury and Newton. We crossed the M60 and we ran through Clifton and Kearsley. We crossed the Kearsley Spur of the M61 and we ran forwards onto the A6053. We ran into Farnworth and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 40815 before it continued on towards Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40815 in Farnworth

Within in minute or so the following #8 appeared. As it got closer we saw it was Rotala Diamond 40813 on a #8 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40813 in Farnworth

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 Northwards up the A6053 and we went past Moses Gate railway station before running alongside the A666. We continued onto B6536 and We ran Northwards into Bolton. We ran forwards onto the A575 and we turned left onto Great Moor Street. We turned left onto Newport Street and we turned left into Bolton Interchange. We got up and got off the bus. We waited for a bus to Horwich. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Lancashire 15236 on a #125 to Preston. A short time later the bus arrived on stand. We saw it was Arriva NW&W 2683 on a #575 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2683 in Bolton Interchange

We flashed the System One Bus Only Day tickets 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 and onto the A575. We turned left onto Deansgate and right onto Bridge Street. We turned left onto the B6205 and we crossed the ring road onto the B6226. We veered left onto the A673 and we ran Westwards out of town. We ran through Heaton and Lostock and we continued Northwards for the last couple of miles. When we got to the North end of town in familiar territory, we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 2683 as it continued towards Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2683 in Horwich

We crossed over the road and we visited the pub whilst we waited for mum to come and pick us up. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. We went outside and mum arrived a few minutes later. We got in the car and we headed Southwards down Chorley New Road and we turned right onto De Havilland Way. We turned right and joined the Northbound M61 and we saw York Pullman BU14 EGY. We came off the M61 at junction 8 and we joined the Westbound A674. We joined the Southbound A6 before turning right onto Euxton Lane and running past Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. We ran into Euxton and we turned left onto Wigan Road. We ran Southwards through Charnock Green and we turned right onto Mill Lane. We continued onto Park Hall Road. We turned right into the hotel grounds and we parked up near reception. Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru and mum collected the key to the room. We couldn't park any closer so we dragged the suitcase through the hotel grounds to our allocated room. We settle in the room and we got the laptop out. Matthew used the computer whilst I drove down to Coppull to get chips for tea. I returned a short time later with sausage chips and gravy for Matthew. After a late tea will chilled out in the room. Matthew watched TV and we did some work on the Blog. Later Matthew had a shower and then got into his pyjamas before settling to bed around 11:30... Mark