Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 10-12-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2438	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
2342	Chester BS	Sealand, Western Avenue (NW-bound)	10	Arriva NW&W
2277	Blacon, Western Avenue (cnr)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
2298	Chester BS	Higher Shotton, Shotton B&Q (NW-bound)	X11	Arriva NW&W
689	Higher Shotton, Shotton B&Q (SE-bound)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

After a weekend away, Matthew was ready to go out again and for this trip he chose Chester. No research required for this trip we only have to pack our Chester timetables. We set off just before 12:00 stopping at Longport to top up with LPG. Despite heavy traffic on the M6, we got to Ellesmere port by 13:15. We went to eat in the market as usual put we could get a table. After waiting or over 5 minutes with no table looking like it was going to open up, we decided to eat elsewhere. We walked onto the main street and found a chip shop that had a couple of tables, called the Port chip shop or something similar. We ordered the food and as I was rushing backwards and forwards with trays of chip to the table the bag that was on my shoulder fell and swung onto my chips sausage peas and gravy! I cleaned the bag and then we ate our meals. As we ate we could see buses on the main road turn into towards the bus station. Heading into Chester in front of our bus was Arriva NW&W 2404 (dud). After we had finished eating and we had split up from mum, we headed to the bus station to take a few picture before going to Chester. GHA double decker DD05 was parked up and acting as the drivers mess today. After around 10 minutes our bus , which was the 14:17 to Chester approached. It was the same bus we had last time...2438!



Starting to become a mileage machine...Arriva NW&W 2438 o the #401 to Chester (Matt)

The bus was only half full and we had a unremarkable journey down to Chester. The bus was warm compared to the 5'C outside and was very welcome. When we got to the bus station Matthew photographed the inside of the empty bus.


Inside 2438 (Matt)

The first thing we noticed on arrival at Chester was a great big wheel that had been erected adjacent to the bus station. With light fading fast at this time of year, the plan was to catch a bus quite quickly. This also prevented us from freezing in the cold. 2258 was on a #10 which Matthew required, but it was a relatively new Dart. Rhyl allocated 2350 also made an appearance on an X11 which Matthew also turned down.


Rhyl's 2350 in front of Chester's wheel (Matt)

When the next #10 appeared it was 2342 which Matthew decided he wanted to catch. This was a refurbished V reg Dart which was also required. We did this bus which filled up quickly and was pretty much full as it left town. We decided to do this to the Welsh border so we could get back and possibly catch something else before it went dark. It was the first time we had bailed here and as we got off Matthew was able to get a picture of our bus just inside Wales.


2342 just inside Wales (Matt)

It was quite difficult to cross the road here as it was really busy with Xmas shopper leaving Chester. We eventually crossed and Walk all the way back into England...All of 75 yards! We had around a 10 minute wait for a return bus, and the pavement was narrow. Matthew was bouncing with excitement as he waited for the return bus. In the distance we could see the bus on this very long straight stretch of road. We could see it had Alexander ALX style bodywork, something that we have not seen on a Chester allocated Arriva bus. As it closer we saw it was dud Dart 2277, a vehicle which we had traveled on earlier this year into Llandudno!


After the long walk back into England, Ex Welsh Dart 2277 approaches (Matt)

The bus was nearly empty as most inbound services are at this time of day. Once again Matthew photographed the empty bus at Chester.


Inside 2277 (Matt)

When we got back we saw Optare Solo 689 on a #10. It was unusual to see a smaller vehicle on this service and Matthew didn't fancy it. We also saw 2358 which Matthew required and he didn't fancy this either! As we waited for our next ride we saw that First Manchester's 61527 had been painted into Park & Ride colours presumably for extra cover.


Now in Park & Ride colours... First Manchester 61527 (Matt)

whilst we waited for 2358 to depart, I rushed of to Somerfield to get some lottery tickets. The next bus of interest to appear was Dart 2298 on the X11, which we decided to do. We crossed the bus station and got a picture before we boarded.


2298 about to do the X11 to Holywell (Matt)

The bus filled up and was full and standing as we left town. as we boarded GHA's Aleander bodied bus SB27 was seen on the X20 to Winsford. We decided to do this bus just past Queensferry and just before Shotton, so as to give us a choice of service back to Chester. We got off at the stop know as Higher 'Shotton, B&Q' even though the B&Q is no longer there. by now it was properly dark and so we weren't able to get good pictures of moving buses. We decided to do the next bus regardless as it was getting quite cold now. The Next bus turned out to be the Solo we'd seen earlier 689. It was nearly empty. Matthew got on and honked the horn....Beep. I don't know why but he likes to do this on Solo's, and sometimes it get him into trouble! Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus as we arrived in Chester.


Inside 689 (Matt)

As we got off the bus, with the aid of street furniture and his camera timer, he was able to get a picture of the outside of 689 too...


Arriva 689 in Chester bus station...unusual on a #10... (Matt)

As we were about to leave we saw 7553. It was then back to the car for sausage rolls before setting off home around 17:20. The journey home was non-stop and we pulled up outside the house around 18:20. Not a bad day considering the cold weather and the time of year. 3 out of 5 buses were new for Matthew...Mark

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 04-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2445	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
30069	Chester BS	Kingsway	53	First Manchester
30069	Kingsway	Chester BS	53	First Manchester
7562	Chester BS	Queensferry, Station Road Q3 (SW-bound)	10	Arriva NW&W
2257	Queensferry, Station Road Q4 (NE-bound)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

We were originally going to take Matthew to Chester on Tuesday, but due to a misunderstanding between mum and I, we had to rearrange until today. After doing the weekly shop we set off at around 13:40 today. We went to Ellesmere Port as usual but we abandoned the eating in the market as we had eaten earlier, and went straight to the bus station. We just missed one cadet in the bus station that was Chester bound, so we had to wait around 15 minutes for the next. GHA DD09 was parked up and acting as the drivers mess today.


DD09 in Ellemere Port bus station with #36 on the front (Matt)

There were quite a few buses in and out of the bus station including Alexander bodied SB46 working the #36 service


T510 APS (SB46) on a #36 service in Ellesmere Port (matt)

After a few minutes we saw an interurban liveried Cadet on the #401 Chester approach and it was required 2445.


2445 approaches Ellesmere Port bus station on the #401 to Chester (Matt)

The journey was quick as always, and when we reached the bus station and the bus emptied Matthew got an interior shot.


Inside 2445 (Matt)

Virtually as soon as we got off we spotted First Manchester 30069. The bus has an official farewell planned on the 20th August as can be seen here lower in the comments amongst other place. as we cannot guarantee being here for the 20th, and the bus is required, we made a decision that we had to do it today! When we boarded we had the top deck to ourselves so we sat at the front and Matthew took a picture of the empty bus.


Inside the top deck of First Manchester 30069 (Matt)

When on the bus I asked Matthew if he wanted to get off or to do the round trip and he chose to have the round trip. We got to the shops in Kingsway and then turned left. This is the first time we have done a #53 this far since the timetable changed on May 29th and then end of the route was reversed! I went downstairs at this point to re-book Matthews ticket (me and uncle Dave had local rovers). We then returned to Chester and Matthew once again got another shot of the re-emptied top deck.


Inside the top deck of First Manchester 30069 (Matt)

We then had a 20 minute period where we regrouped to see what we could do next. As 30069 set off to do it's next turn, Matthew got a good shot of it.


30069 now on the #51 Plas newton service (Matt)

shortly afterwards, the other bus retiring on the 20th came out on a #53 service.


First Manchester 30077 working a #53 Kingsway service (Matt)

having acquired some timetables from the booth, we decide to do a 10 or X11. the next 10 that came in was required 7562, the first one of this batch that we have been in a position to catch! So we decided to do this to Queensferry for another Arriva bus back.


Arriva NW&W 7562 about to work a #10 Connah's Quay service (Matt)

having got a picture, we boarded the bus. As it was approaching 17:00 the buses were starting to get busy and Matthew was getting a bit wound up. We did the bus to Queens ferry as planned where got a better shot.


7562 in Queensferry (Matt)

Matthew visited the local post Office for a drink of Tizer. We then had around a 10 minute wait for the return bus at 17:28. This serviceworked by 2257, came up virtually silently and took us by surprise hence Matthew didn't get a shot here. This bus was much quieter as I hoped inbound services would be. When we reached Chester Matthew got a shot of the inside of this bus too.


Inside 2257 (Matt)

And then we got a shot of the outside...


2257 in Chester bus station (Matt)

We then saw Arriva NW&W 2641 on a #401 service and Matthew got a picture.


2641 on a #401 to Liverpool in Chester bus station (Matt)

We then met up with mum and I drove us down to Gorse Stacks car park. I fetched some chips from on of the chip shops on Frodsham Street. and we sat in the car eating them. After we had eaten we set off home along the A56 and up to the motorway. We passed a Palitine bodied single decker on the X30 service. I put Radio Stoke around 18:50 expecting to here the pre-match talk for Stokes away tie to Hadjuk Split only to find it was half time! I had forgotten about the time difference in Croatia...We filled up with LPG in Longport and then we got home around 19:40. Short after that stoke added to there first leg lead and sealed a place in the next round of the Europa League trophy. It was a good trip and we scored all the buses today. Matthew didn't seem to like doing things differently though and was quite difficult at times...Mark