Trip to Uttoxeter 11-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
PAG 512A	Uttoxeter BS	Catchems Corner	184	Phil Smiths Travel
61239	Blythe Bridge, adj Greenacres Avenue	Meir Broadway	6	First Potteries
4895	Meir Broasdway	Uttoxeter BS	X50	Wardle Transport
2217	Uttoxeter BS	Pennycroft Road	4	Arriva Midlands
2217	Pennycroft Road	Uttoxeter BS	4	Arriva Midlands
2288	Uttoxeter BS	Uttoxeter railway station	402	Arriva Midlands
2242	Uttoxeter railway station	Uttoxeter BS	402	Arriva Midlands
4777	Uttoxeter BS	Fenton, adj Travers Court	X50	Wardle Transport

Today I had another day off so we planned to go back to Uttoxeter and this week to cover the #184. We set off around 12:30 and today we direct to Uttoxeter. We saw 40147 on a #22 service and then we got to Uttoxtere arriving at 12:55 just before the 13:00 to Weston Coyney. On Arrival we saw East Staffs Mobility Link minibus MX04 KND in the car park by the shopping arcade. We then walked around to the bus station to wait for the bus. The bus arrived around 13:02 and loaded up promptly. It was a plain white Mercedes minibus, required PAG 512A.

Phil Smiths Travel PAG 512A in Uttoxeter

We got on the bus with the other eight passengers and the bus driver recognised us from last time we did the service which was probably close on 3 years ago! As we left Uttoxeter we passed Wardle Transport 4895 which we knew should be our bus back to Uttoxeter. We sat near the back ans then enjoyed the hour or so ride from Uttoxeter through the east Staffordshire countryside to the Blythe Bridge area, When all the regular passengers got off we moved to the front and chatted to the driver. We did the bus to Catchems Corner and then Matthew got another picture of this bus.

PAG 512A at Catchems Corner

We then crossed over the road and waited for the #6 to Meir. The bus was due around 14:20 and due in Meir at 14:26. The bus turned up slightly late, probably due to the roadworks in Blythe Bridge at the moment. It was dud First Potteries 61239.

First Potteries 61239 at Blythe Bridge

As he bus pulled away I thought we could always get off by Tesco, but the bus takes a different route in the week than it does on Sundays, so it went around the roundabout and onto the A50! I was a little bit panicked at this point thinking we might miss the bus in Meir, When we arrived we hadn't seen it turn across us, so it probably hadn't got there yet. We jumped straight off 61239 and trooted across the road to the stop on the opposite side of Broadway. 60073 was parked up at the stop awaiting time before returning back to Hanley. We asked a lady if she had seen the X50 and she hadn't. We only had to wait a minute or so and the bus appeared up the ramp as expected required Wardle Transport 4895.

Wardle Transport 4895 at Meir

We then had a 30 minute journey back to Uttoxeter on the top deck of this express service. The slower bit of the journey goes through Meir Heath. We passed 4776 on the run back down the hill, meaning we should have required 4777 later on. The bus then goes back across the A50 to Blythe Bridge and then back onto the A50 from the other side. The bus then storms the 8 or so miles Eastwards to the edge of Uttoxeter, before doing the last mile or so from the JCB the lower saloon of the bus.

Inside 4895

factory on the side road. The plan now was to do a circuit of the #4 town bus service and then catch the #1 to Sudbury to meet the 15:15 from Derby. When we got into Uttoxeter bus station the #4 was already I the bus station, and so we got off the Wardle double decker and filed off into the queue for the town service, which was required Arriva Midlands 2217 which we saw last week. We booked to the midpoint an when we reached there I got up to book the return tickets back to town. As the bus returned into town Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2217

When we got back the plan was to do the #1 to Sudbury which was required 2136. Matthew had seen another bus which I thought was either spare or on Layover, which was Arriva Midland 2288.

Arriva Midlands 2288 in Uttoxeter

2288 left the bus station and despite telling Matthew it was 2136 or wait 30 minutes for the bus home, Matthew decided to wait. The Trent Barton Swift service came in, which was 737. He also wanted to do that and I told him he couldn't because we couldn't get back Home. A few minutes later 2288 reappeared and went on stand to work the #402 to Burton. When I was researching this trip i had considered possibly doing this bus to the railway station but the return service didn't seem to stop at the station. Matthew wanted to do 2288 but we didn't have any way of getting back so I called mum to see if she could give us a lift. As we got off Matthew got a good picture of the bus.

2288 by Uttoxeter railway station

As we waited for a lift back We looked at the timetable and it also appeared that the return service didn't stop at the station. I decided it would be a good idea for us to walk up the ramp to the main road to make it easier for mum to find us. As we walked up we saw a bus heading our way so we ran back to the bus stop. The bus was required Arriva Midlands 2242.

Arriva Midlands 2242 by the railway station

As we traveled back into town I called mum to tell her we had got a bus afterall. She wasn't best pleased with me! So we got back to the bus station around 15:50 and we had around 15 minutes to wait for the X50 back homewards. Mathew had gotten a picure of he inside of 2242 as we got off.

Inside 2242

The first bus in was the Derby bound bus which we had ridden on last week 4776.

Wardle Transport 4776 in Uttoxeter

then our bus appeared and it was as predicted Wardle 4777. Matthew got a picture before we boarded. 2242 then got ready to do the #428 Lichfield service.

Wardle Transport 4777 in Uttoxeter

We texted mum to let her know we were on our way homewards, so she could drive to the other end to meet us. The journey back was fast.We saw Wardle 2407 on a #7 in Meir. We got into Fenton,passing 61555 on a Hanley bound #26. Around 16:50, we got off Matthew got another picture of 4777.

4777 in Fenton

It was then back to the car for sausage rolls and then driving home. We got into the house around 17:00...Mark.

Trip to Altrincham / South Manchester 25-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
17624	Altrincham TI	Northenden, Britannia Hotel/Stop E	370	Stagecoach Manchester
19405	Northenden, Palatine Rd/Northenden Health Ctr (Stop F)	Altrincham TI	41	Stagecoach Manchester
P420 MEH	Altrincham TI	Lymm, opp Lymm Cross	38	Warrington Coachways
46	Lymm, o/s Lymm Cross	Altrincham TI	5	Network Warrington
2242	Altrincham TI	Sale, Cross Street/Dane Road (N-bound)	263	Arriva NW&W

Last week whilst we had been covering the #130 Macclesfield - Manchester service, Matthew had expressed a wish to go on to Manchester. With the centre of Manchester being very busy we decided to go to Altrincham so we could cover the buses Matthew is interested in. Research consisted of downloading all the Manchester area Arriva Timetables, and asking on the Dennis Dart Forum which service were most likely to be Dennis Darts. We set off just after 12:00 and it was a fine sunny day and quite mild for the time of year. We pulled up in Victoria Street in Atrincham and stopped for a snack. After we had eaten mum headed off to the Trafford Centre where we were going to meet up with mum later. We walked down to the transport interchange and Matthew used the facilities before we stood next to the interchange to decide what bus to do next. A Stagecoach Manchester AlX400 pulled in on a service #370 and surprisingly Matthew decided he wanted to do this. Matthew had never done a Stagecoach bus before and therefore it was required. Before we boarded, Matthew got a picture.

Stagecoach Manchester 17624 in Altrincham

On the bus Matthew went onto the top deck and took a picture of the empty upstairs.

Inside 17624

As we didn't know what route the #370 took I had to download the timetable and have a look where we were going. As we Headed Eastwards we passed through Timperley village, There is a stenciled picture of Frank Sidebottom on a shop as you enter the village on your right hand side. We worked out the buses past just East of Northenden so we decided to get off at the Britannia Hotel stop. We got off and Matthew was able to get another picture of this bus.

17624 outside the Britannia Hotel, Northenden

We crossed the road and waited for the return service. We crossed the road and waited for the return bus. An empty bus pulled up just before another bus appeared and there was a driver change. It was on a #41 to Altrincham via Sale. We decided to do this service and as it was only our second stagecoach bus this was also required. We got on and sat at the front of the upper saloon. As we arrived in the bus station Matthew got a picture of the top deck of this bus too.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19405

As we were getting off Matthew spotted a Plaxton bodied Mercedes minibus in the distance. I think Matthew realised what it was straight away as he was pointing to it as we got off the Stagecoach double decker As we got closer it became apparent to me it was an Ex First PMT/Potteries minibus (50077) now running for another operator and it was required. I knew Matthew would want to ride on this so I asked the driver where the bus was going and how far could we do it on our system one tickets. We sorted out the tickets and we got on. The bus still had First Purple and green seating and pink doors. With the aid of a gentleman on the bus we got off at Lymm to wait for a return bus and Matthew got a picture.

Warrington Coachways P420 MEH in Lymm

I checked the timetable on the stop and as we had about 20 minutes to wait we visited the Sainbury's local shop for snacks and lottery tickets. We then waited for the bus sitting on a big rock in the town centre. The return Network Warrington bus was a few minutes late and when it turned up it was required 46. Matthew got a picture before we boarded.

Network Warrington 46 in Lymm

Whilst we traveled back, worked out that if we were going to meet mum that we had to be on either the 16:15 #247 or te 16:25 #18 service. I wasn't sure if we would make the 16:15 with us being a bit late so i was relieved when we arrived in Atrincham around 16:12. Matthew got a picture of network Warrington 46 as we got off the bus.

Network Warrington 46 in Altrincham

Matthew used the facilities as we proceeded to wait for the 16:15. The bus appeared to be a little late so we were able to take a few pictures whilst we waited. one such picture was 19479 returning from when we had it earlier in the day.

Stagecoach Manchester 19479 between duties

A little concerned I asked a passenger at stand A if he was waiting for the #247, to which he replied 'yes'. Then an announcement came over the tannoy say that the 15:45 departure 247 for Eccles hadn't arrived and neither had the 16:15. The announcement said that there had been 'an incident a Davyhulme and a bus was being dispatched from the depot to work the next service in 5-10 minutes time'. With the information at hand and the fact that Arriva Dennis Dart 2242 had just come in on a #263 we decided to abandon our original plan and do the #263 just of sale to meet a different service to the Trafford Centre. The was no driver in 2242 so whilst we waited Matthew got a picture.

Arriva NW&W 2242 in Altrincham

The driver appeared and we jumped on the bus. After a swift journey up the A56 and North through Sale, we got of the bus on Cross Street. Matthew got a picture as we got off this bus.

2242 just North of Sale

We then met up with mum as arranged. We head anticlockwise around he M60and then got on to the westbound M56. Traveling Via the A556,M6 and A500 we arrived home at a little after 18:20...Mark