Showing posts with label 2683. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2683. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 September 2021

Trip to Leigh / Bolton 18-09-2021









BusFromToServiceOperator



143Leigh BSTyldesley, The Gatehouse594Tyrer's
1033Tyldesley, The GatehouseFarnworth BS129Vision Travel
40801Farnworth, (Stop F)Bolton Interchange37Rotala Diamond
40728Bolton InterchangeSalford, Rossall Way (stop F)8Rotala Diamond
40815Salford, Rossall Way (stop G)Farnworth, (Stop F)8Rotala Diamond
40813Farnworth, (Stop F)Bolton Interchange8Rotala Diamond
2683Bolton InterchangeHorwich, The Crown (Stop C)575Arriva 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

Sunday, 19 August 2012

Trip to Wigan / Standish 18-08-2012


























































BusFromToServiceOperator



31928Wigan BSLockett Road, Bryn610First Manchester
31928Lockett Road, BrynWigan BS610First Manchester
4107Wigan BSOrrell Post, Orrell Road/Orrell Council Offices (Stop D)385Arriva NW&W
2990Orrell Post, Orrell Road/Orrell Post (Stop C)Wigan BS352Arriva NW&W
2997Wigan BSStandish, o/s House 104 Wigan Road/Almond Crescent362Arriva NW&W
2683Standish, Wigan Road/Prospect Lodge (SE-bound)Wigan BS362Arriva NW&W


Today we decided to return to Wigan. Three Saturdays ago when we visited Leigh, we made a brief visit to Wigan. We told Matthew we would return again soon and so we decided that today would be the day. The weather was supposed to be mainly dry and cloudy with sunny intervals, but very warm and humid. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had his breakfast. we set off a little after 11:30 heading off towards Hanford. We stopped at Hanford Wrights Pie shop in order to get some sausage rolls but they had sol out. We set off North again on the A500 and as it was before 12:00 we stopped at the cheaper LPG garage to fuel up. We still had to stop at Longport to put a little air in the tyres before going North up the A500 around 12:15. We got on the M6 and headed North. The traffic was quite busy and so it took a while to get up to Wigan. We came off at the A49 junction and we parked up in a small car park opposite Wigan Wallgate railway station. last time we had ridden up to Wigan mum had noticed a cafe on the corner of the road by the railway station and so we had a ticket for an hour so we could go have dinner here. As we were about to cross over to the cafe Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 4100 on a Southport service.


Arriva NW&W 4100 outside Wigan Wallgate
We crossed the road and went into the cafe. Todays we had 3 pie and peas, A sausage and chips meal for Matthew with a drink included and another tea and a Cola. It came to little over £10. Matthew was able to see most of the buses entering the bus station from this end including the Southports and the Kitt Green circulars which have always produced at least one First Manchester Dennis Arrow on our previous visits. From what we could see the circulars were mainly Excels and there was at least one Dennis Dart out. We did see First Manchester Dennis Arrow 31941 running towards the bus station out of service. After we had finished eating, we headed back to the car park. We drove the car a little closer to the bus station and parked up. We walked into the bus station and Matthew went to use the facilities. It was a few minutes before 14:00. As we came out we spotted a Dennis Arrow on a #610 service. It was First Manchester 31928. We had never been on this service before but we were reasonably certain that we had not been on this bus before.


First 31928 about to work the #610
We got on and booked 3 system one bus only tickets plus we used Matthew's pass. Mum was still coming with us to help out. As we booked the tickets and explained to the lady driver that we just wanted to ride on this bus, she informed us that this service went through through the bus garage. We sat upstairs and mum got chatting to another woman on the bus who was also on the double decker because her young son liked travelling on the buses. Apparently she had been forced to turn down the previous service as it wasn't a double decker! We checked the 'Buses I have Travelled on' page and we saw that 31928 was required. Mum and the other woman chatted about various things as we headed South. We passed Arriva NW&W 4103 on an inbound #375 service. The lady eventually got off near Sainsbury's as we got back on the A49 South off Wigan. We headed South past the junction for the M6 and then into Bryn. We turned onto the industrial estate and then waited at the gates on the bus garage to be let in. There is a one way system in operation around the depot, and so you have to do a complete lap of the main shed before pulling up outside the drivers mess. As you circle the depot you get quite close to the scrap line at the back of the depot. Buses include 30586,34262 and 40338. Matthew took a few pictures as we went around including a school bus and a trainer. Here is a picture of the head of the scrap line.


First 34262 leads the scrap line at Bryn
We had a short wait in the depot before heading off back to Wigan. as we returned back Northwards we passed 60145 on a #610. The bus was very warm upstairs with it very few opening windows, and by the time we got off we desperately needed to! We got back into Wigan around 15:00 and we saw Arriva NW&W 4107 arrive from Southport. We decided to do this bus on it's 15:13 departure, as unbeknown to us it was one of the few of these buses we had already been on our last trip to Southport. We decided to do this to Orrell as this is about as far as you can go on a System One ticket. The bus filled up reasonably well and we passed Arriva NW&W 4105 on a inbound service. When we got off Matthew got a picture of these fine bus.


Arriva NW&W 4107 in Orrell
A few seconds behind us was St Helens allocated Arriva NW&W Volvo B10 2705.


Arriva NW&W 2705 in Orrell
We then walked down to the local co-op so Matthew could do a little shopping. After buying out most of the store we crossed the road. A quick consult of the timetable told us that there was a #352 due followed by a bus from Southport. We saw a Pulsar approaching on the #352. We didn't flag it down but it stopped anyway as here was someone getting off. It was required Arriva NW&W 2990. He got a picture of this bus as it pulled up.


Arriva NW&W 2990 in Orrell
Matthew decided to do this so we got on a trooped towards the back of the bus. The bus was nearly empty and the bus didn't stop often as we headed into town. When we got in Matthew waited for the bus to empty and took his customary empty bus shot.


Inside Arriva NW&W 2990
We then had another visit to the facilities and Matthew did some more shopping in the bus station news agents. We saw required Arriva NW&W 4104 arrive on what we would have been on had we had waited for the service. I thought we would be doing this out to Orrell again as it was a required bus and he really likes double deckers. We also saw First Manchester 31934 on a #598 service that we had been on previously. First Manchester 31941 which we had seen running out of service early was on a #631 Beech Hill circular. He chose to do unrequired Arriva NW&W 2997 which we had been on on our first visit to Wigan returning from Platt Bridge on a #360 service. I asked the driver how far we could go on a System One ticket and he told us we could do the bus to Standish. Matthew then got a picture of the bus.


Arriva NW&W 2997 in Wigan bus station
We got on this nearly full bus and rode up Standish. The bus emptied out a little as we headed North and it was reasonable cool when it was running at speed. We got off the bus and Matthew got a picture as it sped away.


Arriva NW&W 2997 in Standish
Had we know what we were doing we could have ridden on Stagecoach 47226 on a #113 service. This was followed shortly by a #362 service which we flagged down. It turned out to be Required Bolton Allocated Arriva NW&W 2683.


Arriva NW&W 2683 in Standish
The bus was nearly empty as tea time inbound service usually are. It was really nice and cool with the windows open running virtually non stop into Wigan. When we arrived Matthew waited patiently for the bus to empty as the bus emptied out before taking the interior bus photograph.


Inside Arriva NW&W 2683
Matthew took a few picture as we walked around the bus station towards the facilities. One such picture was Arriva NW&W 2732 on a #360 service.


Arriva NW&W 2732 in Wigan bus station
After visiting the toilets we walked around the road near the bus station where the buses park between duties. On of the buses parked up was First Manchester 60144.


First Manchester 60144 near Wigan bus station
We carried on around taking a few more pictures and then headed back to the car. As we were unable to get sausage rolls anywhere, we decided to stop at the MacDonalds so that Matthew could have a quick snack. Afterwards we headed down the A49 and then joined onto the Southbound M6. We put the radio on the find out Stoke had drawn after giving away a penalty in the 90th minute. We reached the M6 and then for most of the journey home we ran just in front or just behind Bakerbus coach 16 (4085 RU). We turned onto the A500 and then headed onto the A50 so we could do a pass of the Z Carz depot. There were only two vehicle parked up tonight.


Z Carz W344 WNS & V690 EBC at their Longton depo
We then headed down Longton Hall Road following 40140 on the #22 Newcastle service. As we got to the end of the road we saw a new liveried First vehicle. As we knew it has to be an Adderley Green vehicle, it was almost certainly going to be one of the new second hand Caetano Darts from London. We caught up and passed First 41501! We decided to stop by the church to wait and take a picture of the bus. Unfortunately it must have been empty and on it's last turn as it headed off to the depot and we didn't get a picture this time. We then got home around 18:20. We then settled down for the evening and a late tea of Bangers and mash before bedtime...Mark