Trip to Oswestry 01-10-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2369	Oswestry BS	College Road, Oswestry	70	Arriva Midlands
2370	College Road, Oswestry	Oswestry BS	70	Arriva Midlands
510	Oswestry BS	Llynclys	71	Tanat Valley
510	Llynclys	Oswestry BS	71	Tanat Valley

Today we decided to re-visit Oswestry. Since our last visit there has been a major timetable change in he area with the #445 and D71 being re-designated #71 & #72. Planning consisted of download the new timetable as well as the #449 for good measure just in case we got a chance to do this service. We set off after 12:00 and we had the head north up the A500 to Longport to get LPG. Afterwards we went straight down the A500 to the A519. Then it was the A5182 A53, A51, A525, A495. we arrived in Oswestry just after 14:00. First thing first we decided to get something to eat! Last time we came mum saw a cafe that was just about to close for the day called Jeanies. This time we decided to give this place a go rather than spending a lot of money in a pub on the way. matthew had a breakfast bap and a portion chips, mum had a sausage egg and mushroom bap and uncle Dave and I had the turkey bap as it was a red hot day. Along with 3 cans this came to around £11.50. This was much cheaper than a pub and just as enjoyable. Whilst we were eating we saw Tanat Valley 251 departing on the 14:22 towards Llynclys. The next departure along this route would be 15:17 so we had some time to kill. With the #70 service to Shrewsbury being every 30 minutes, we decided to do this service on a short out and back in order to fill time before 15:17. The 14:42 Shrewsbury appeared and it was required 2369. We got on this bus and booked to College Road. On the way we passed the Arriva bus garage. We saw a double decker and also preserved dart L116 YVK. we alighted on College Road and Matthew got a picture of our transport.


Arriva Midland 2369 in College Road, Oswestry (Matt)

We crossed the road and we nloy had around 5 minutes to wait for the return service. It was dud (for Matthew) 2370.


Arriva Midland 2370 in College Road, Oswestry (Matt)

I required this bus as Matthew had previously been on this one with his mum. We returned back passed the garage and Matthew got a shot of the parked up double decker. By the time we got into town, the bus had emptied out.We had the bus to ourselves as we entered the bus station again in Oswestery. Matthew got his customary empty bus shot here.


Inside 2370 (Matt)

When we got off there were busy scenes at the bus station. As well as 2370, Tanat Valley 259 which I think was doing #449's had come into the station on lay over. Also, Arriva Midlands 2348 was in a on a #2A Wrexham service.


Tanat Valley 259 and Arriva Midlands 2348 in Oswestry bus station (Matt)

On the other side of the bus station. Tanat Valley 510 was waiting time to work the 15:17 #71 service.


Tanat Valley 510 in Oswestry bus station (Matt)

After a very short while, 510 moved onto stand to work the #71. We booked to Llynclys and we went upstairs. Matthew then got a shot of the inside of the bus.


Inside 510 (Matt)

We eventually left the bus station, picking passenger along the way as we left town. We appsed another Tanat bus with #79 on the front at the edge of town. A few minutes later we were in Llynclys and we alighted from the bus. Matthew had time to take a picture before it departed.


510 at the White lion, Llynclys (Matt)

We had a bit of time to kill before the return journey so we decided to walk down to Llynclys station to have a look at the preserved railway. We heard a horn in the distance but we couldn't see anything working. We had a quick look around and Matthew had a Bakewell tart and I had a cCornetto from buffet car 1850. We then walked back to the road and waited for the bus. The bus turned up and it was 510 again.


510 returns (Matt)

When we looked at the timetable, I was hoping 251 would run light from Welshpool to pick up this service, But if I had studied it hard it can be seen that the 14:22 runs to Welshpool and lays over except on a shoolday. Otherwise it returns from Welshpool at 15:41. Also the 15:17 departure from Oswestry stops at Four Cross 9 minutes before the return bus departs! anyway we laerned something about the afternoon bus turns in the area. when we arrived back Matthew photographed the downstairs.


Downstairs in 510 (Matt)

When we got back we decided to call it a day. Matthew had time to get a couple more picture on the way back to the car including Tanat Valley 217 in the bus station


Tanat Valley 217 in Oswestry bus station (Matt)

On the way back we made a slight accidental diversion into Whitchurch. We saw Dennis Dart SN05 HDC on the #205 Chemistry circular, a service that we caught back in 2009. We got back home around 17:50... Mark

Trip to Oswestry 20-08-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
R794 WOY	Blurton	Oswestry	Charter	Lightning Travel
510	Oswestry BS	Llynclys	445	Tanat Valley
509	Llynclys	Oswestry BS	445	Tanat Valley
2737	Oswestry BS	Chirk	2A	Arriva Midlands
2740	Chirk	Oswestry BS	2	Arriva Midlands
R794 WOY	Oswestry	Blurton	Charter	Lightning Travel

Today we decided not to follow he crowds to Chester for the official farewell of 30069/30077 as we have already been on these and there was also a busy race meeting in town to contend with. So we gave Matthew a few choices of places he could go today and he chose Oswestry. Reseach consisted of printing an Arriva Oswestry route map out, and also the Tanat Valley timetables for D71 445 and 449. We set off on R794 WOY at around 12:00 picking some sausage rolls up from Hanford Wrights Pies on the way. The route was via the A53, A51 and then A525 and A495. In Ellesmere we passed a Challinor coach and also Tanat Valley 258 on the #449 service. We stopped for dinner on the way this time in a pub called 'Ye olde boote' in Whittington. We had baguettes and chips which from £5 to £6 depending on the filling. we all ate for just over £22 pound. The food was nice and plentiful, but it wasn't the type of food we would normally order when out with Matthew and we had to change things around to find a meal he would eat. After the meal we continues on to Oswestry and we parked up around 14:30. We saw Tanat Valley 214 depart on the d71 service, and we also saw Arriva Midlands 2295 on a #402 town circular service.


2295 on a #402 Oswestry town circular (Matt)

Remembering how thing work I realised that we only had a few minutes before the #445 service was due to depart. We saw the required double decker 510 about to go onto stand so we raced up to the stop. I don't think Matthew was quite on plan, but he eventually got on the bus and we sat upstairs. Last time we did this service it was a lynx! Matthew got a picture of the inside the top deck of the bus as we rode out to Llynclys


Inside Tanat Valley 510, top deck (Matt)

Last time we had done this and the D71 buses, both left Oswestry packed. Today the #445 was lightly loaded with a double decker.


Tanat Valley 510 in Llynclys (Matt)

We alighted outside the white Lyon and then crossed the road. It took a couple of minutes to get across because of traffic. as we had made good time we had around 5 minutes to wait for the return to Oswestry. It was a great surprise to see another double decker, 509 on the inbound service.


Tanat Valley 509 on a Oswestry bound #445 service (Matt)

The return was also lightly loaded but this comes as no surprise on a service which is basically a shoppers bus heading towards the shops in the late afternoon. before we got off matthew of course photographed the inside of this bus too...


Inside 509 (Matt)

When we got back after such a fast-paced move I hoped to have a few minutes to re-group and work out what we were going to catch. Matthew spotted 258 now parked up between duties.


Tanat Valley 258 between duties (Matt)

Matthew made a quick decision that he wanted to do the bus that was in the bus station. It was Arriva Midlands 2737 which was on a #2A to Wrexham. I decided that with an approx 30 minute frequency on the 2/2A to Wrexham, we could do this to Chirk and could get back easily. I think Matthew want to go to Wrexham in the future, but today that wasn't going to be able to do that. we got on the bus and it was quite well filled by the time it left town. and when we got off the bus was still quite full.


Arriva Midlands 2737 in Chirk (Matt)

In Chirk we the Spar shop. Matthew helped me take some money out of the cash machine and the we got lottery tickets and he chose some Coke from the shop fridge. we crossed the road and then had an approx 10 minute wait for a return bus, this time a #2. The bus appeared and it was 2740.


Arriva Midlands 2740 on a Oswestry bound #2 service (Matt)

We did this bus back into time and like the other inbound service it was nearly empty. The return service was via Gobowen and a hospital. I did briefly consider getting off at Gobowen for a #53 bus. At Oswestry, Matthew photographed the empty inside of the bus.


Inside 2740 (Matt)

We then got off and he got another picture of the outside for good measure...


2740 in Oswestry bus station (Matt)

Matthew wanted to go to Morrison's to do some shopping with mum and he brought a sizable amount of pop! We walked back via the bus station and we saw Shrewsbury's 2347 on a service 576.


2347 on a service #576 to Shrewsbury (Matt)

We then returned to the car to eat sausages rolls before driving back around 16:30. as we got in the car a #576 appeared so we could have gotten off at Gobowen and we wouldn't have had to wait too long. The return journey on R794 WOY was quite uneventful, and we got back home around 17:50...Mark