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

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 04-06-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2409	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
2130	Chester BS	Golftyn, Boathouse Inn (NW) (NW-bound)	10	Arriva NW&W
2360	Golftyn, Boathouse Inn (SE) (SE-bound)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
2530	Hoole Road / Newton Lane	Chester BS	X30	Arriva NW&W
2351	Chester BS	Shotton, Ash Grove (NW) (NW-bound)	X11	Arriva NW&W
2570	Shotton, Ash Grove (SE) (SE-bound)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
2523	Chester BS	Hoole Road / Dene Hotel	X30	Arriva NW&W

We planned this weekend a few weeks ago. We asked Matthew where he wanted to go for his birthday weekend and he chose Chester. Mum booked an hotel for the Saturday night and we set off at little early than usual at around 11:00. Heading North along the A500 there was a slight delay around Wolstanton due to broken down vehicles. We filled up with LPG in Longport, and we carried on North at around 11;40. The journey was relatively uneventful, although traffic was slow in several places. We passed First Manchester 41068 heading east along the M56. At the junction of the M56 and M53 there had been a serious motorbike accident and there seemed to be a large party of catholic priests in attendance. We arrived in Ellesmere port around 13:00 and we ate in the market food court as per usual. 2 breakfasts, a sausage sandwich, 2 teacakes and 3 drink cost us £11 from café Bellamy. After dinner we had about 15 minutes in Ellesmere Port bus station before dud 2409 appeared on 401 to Chester. This bus came in from the opposite direction presumably due to the road works on the end of Civic Way.

2409 in Ellesmere Port (Matt)

When we got to Chester Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.


Inside 2409 (Matt)

Today Matthew had quite a long stay in Chester bus station and took loads of pictures. First seemed to be short of running midi buses, with the only Marshals seen out being 41069/71/72. 41068 was seeing heading East earlier. 40014 is current in Birkenhead as can be seen here. This resulted in 3 double decker working in service plus another one making a passing appearance. First to appear was 34228 on 5's and 21's, then 34224 appeared and then went out empty. 30077 made an appearance on the 53's and 51's and then 30069 appeared on 5's and 21's aswell.


30077 on a 53 to Kingsway (matt)


30069 on a 21 Hunts Cross (Matt)


34228 on 5 to huntington (Matt)

After around an hour of observing buses in the bus station, I persuaded Matthew to do a 10 to Shotton. The next 10 was required 2130. It was a hot day and perhaps doing this service was a mistake. The bus was quite full and the heaters were on to stop the bus from overheating. It did cool slightly when we were travelling at speed through Sealands, but it was still quite uncomfortable. Matthew got a shot of the bus as it powered away into the distance.


2130 heads towards Connnah's Quay

After we bailed, we crossed the road and we didn't ave to wait long for a #10 returning to Chester. The first one to turn up was 2360. Unbeknown to us we has been on this bus last time we did the #10 buses.


2360 in Shotton (Matt)

As is often the case, Matthew photographed the inside of the bus on arrival at Chester.


Inside 2360 (Matt)

When we arrived back in Chester, it had gone 1600 and mum had driven down from Ellesmere Port. We decided to have a sausage roll break, and to drive to the hotel on Hoole Road and book in for the evening. We had a quick toilet stop and then decided to catch a bus back into chester to have a quick ride around aod a few more buses. The next bus south was at 17:22 and was a x30 from Runcorn. After a short wait 2530 turned up to take us to Chester bus station.


2530 heading South West along Hoole Road (Matt)

This bus has been refurbished inside but does not carry the interurban livery. The refurbished inside can be seen here.


Inside 2530 (Matt)

When we arrived in Chester I ran to get lottery tickets and Matthew sat and took bus pictures. We decided to do a 10 or an X11 to Shotton, so we looked what was out. The 17:55 10 was which was not required, the 18:00 X11 was 2351 which was required.


2351 in Chester bus station (Matt)

We did this to the stop just before Shotton railway station. as we waited the bus we let go came past 'not in service' running back empty to the depot. there was also a 12 due just before our bus that only went as far as the depot. this was one of the usual Solo's. Eventually our bus turned up and it was dud 2570! It was quite pleasant in this bus in the early evening belting along Sealands with a cooling breeze coming through the windows.


2570 in Chester bus station (Matt)

When we returned to chester we had about 30minutes ti kill before the 19:35 X30. We generally hung out and took more pictures. One interesting bus was the WCM minibus on the 21 to Runcorn.


WCM minibus T734 WPA leaves for Runcorn on the #21 service (Mark)

Eventually time passed and 2523 arrived to work the 19:35


2523 arrives in Chester bus station (Matt)

The bus took us back along the Hoole Road, and Matthew took a picture as it headed North.


2523 departs North towards Runcorn (Matt)

After we got back to the hotel, we had chips and sausage for supper from the chip shop in Kingsway, Afterwards Matthew used his net book to upload pictures to Flickr... Mark

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 30-04-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2448	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
2122	Chester BS	Queensferry, Station Road Q3	10	Arriva NW&W
2328	Queensferry, Station Road Q4	Chester BS	10A	Arriva NW&W
2360	Chester BS	Queensferry, Station Road Q3	10A	Arriva NW&W
2570	Queensferry, Station Road Q4	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

Given a few place to go to today Matthew chose to do the Ellesmere Port / Chester trip. When doing some research for the Llandudno trip, I notice the Deeside network day ticket and noticed that it went into wales as far as Flint. So today when we booked our ticket it was decide that we were going to get the Day tickets at £3.70. we set of just after 12:00 on this fine sunny day, leaving Staffordshire we passed the Morecambe team coach again and after hearing the radio later we discovered that this time they were playing at Port Vale! We arrived in Ellesmere Port shortly after 13:00 and ate in the market food court. We had 3 sandwiches, a full breakfast for Matthew and 3 drinks for £11 pound from Tommy Tuckers! After dinner we went straight to the bus station to ensure we managed to get a picture of the double decker parked up on driver mess duties.


GHA double decker DD09 parked up in Ellesmere Port bus station (Matt)

We didn't have to wait for long for the #401 Chester, but a car was parked up at the end of the bus station so Matthew couldn't get a very good picture. We jumped on Cadet 2448 and booked our Deeside rover tickets and off we went. On the way down we saw a Robin Hood coach of Leek parked up next to the sports centre, not sure which team this was for and who they were playing. On arrival at Chester we got a better picture of 2448
.

2448 on arrival from Liverpool on service #401 (Matt)

As we took this picture NC bodied First Manchester double decker 30069 went past displaying 'Private' and we didn't manage to get a very good picture.


30069 in Chester bus station (Mark)

As we took pictures of 30069, we noticed Arriva NW&W bus 2122 on a number 10. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes so we did. As Matthew was leaving England and his pas wasn't valid in Wales I asked the driver what ticket he needed. We were able to purchase aa concessionary day rover for £2.20. So off we went. I had intended to go to Shotton, but as this was new territory and we didn't know where we were going, we ended up getting off in Queensferry. because we passed an entrance to Shotton steel work we thought we were in Shotton! Matthew took a photo of 2122.


2122 departs from Station Road Queensferry (matt)

We crossed the road as there was a bus stop almost immediately opposite. The bus had an electronic display telling us that there was a 10A due 14:49. Sure enough after a few minutes wait 2328 appeared on this service.


2328 in Queensferry on the #10 to Caer / Chester (matt)

Another 20 or so minutes and we were back in Chester bus station. As we left the bus Matthew photographed the inside of this bus.


Inside 2328 (Matt)

At this point we decided to re-group and think about what to do next. We went to our usual spot to take pictures and photograph a few buses whilst we thought. First Manchester open top bus 39939 made an appearance.


Open tops are back again...The open top service has resumed again with 39939 out today (Matt)

Short after that 30077 appeared on a #53 Kingsway. Had we not had an Arrive day ticket we would have done this. There seemed to be a lot of bus photographers out today and this old beast was getting plenty of attention.


30077 is still going strong seen here on the #53. There was a few people here to see this bus as can be seen to the right of the photo (Matt)

After what seemd like quite a while 2328 departed on it's next #10 duty.


2328 departs Chester (matt)

We decided to have a quick toilet break and to do the next 10/10A to turn up. We didn't have to wait long before Chester allocated 2360 appeared to work a 10A


2360 in Chester bus station about to work the #10A (Matt)

As before we decide to do this to Queensferry as we knew we would have bus information. The next 10 was at 16:04 and we guessed that it might be 2570 which we had going in on 2328. Supprisingly we had guessed correctly and it was 2570!


2570 in Station Road, Queensferry (Matt)

So back to Chester, the only notable thing about this journey was a near riot when a wasp flew into the bus and a few kids started shrieking and waving shoes about, eventually killing the poor thing.


2570 in Chester bus station (Matt)

When we got back to Chester, we decided to call it a day. we took a couple more pictures and then went to the car park. After a customary sausage roll break we set off home, Put the radio on to Listen to the Blackpool - Stoke match and heard them nearly score a late winner with the eventual score 0-0 crewe had beaten Stockport 2-0 and vale had stuffed Morecambe 7-2! Morecambe have not had a good week in the North Staffs / South Cheshire area (Mark)