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 17-07-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2404	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
N2 GHA	Chester BS	Countess of Chester Hospital	H4	GHA
2409	Bache, Egerton Arms PH (nr)	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
50046	Chester BS	Gorse Stacks	53	First Potteries

We started off at around 12:15 and did our usual move of dinner in Ellesmere Port. As it was dry (just about) we had dinner alfresco at the Grace Arms again. JP & chilli, cheese and onion sandwich with chips, all day breakfast and Home-made lasagne. With drinks this was £24.95.


GHA VX51 PZM outside the Grace Arms on service 111 (Matt)


After dinner we drove into town, so mum could go shopping and we could catch a bus to Chester. Parked up in the bus station were GHA bus N2 GHA and Arrowebrook Dart S760 RNE


Arrowebrook S760 RNE on servuce #138 (Matt)


Today Matthew chose Arriva and almost immediately Arriva NW&W 2404 turned up on the #401 to Chester. We did this short hop to Chester and then stood in our usual spot so Matthew could take picture for an hour or so.


Arriva NW&W 2404 in Chester bus station on service #401 (Matt)

Of note today were First double deckers 30060/77 & 34224. Also Arriva NW&W 2452 turned up on a #401.


First PMT 30077 in Chester bus station (Matt)


First PMT 34224 on service #5 (Matt)


'Goldfish Bowl' 2452 on service #401 to Liverpool (Matt)

After about an hour we decide to do the H4 which Matthew has eyed up catching before. This service take about 5-10 minutes to do the short hop to the countess of Chester hospital.


Inside N2 GHA, Chester bus station (Matt)


As is often the case with the independent operators, the driver was really good and was happy to see Matthew take interest in the bus.


GHA bus N2 GHA outside the Countess of Chester Hospital (Matt)


GHA bus N2 GHA heading South towards Chester bus station on service H4 (Matt)

After we got off this bus at the hospital, we walked across the main road and waited for a bus at the stop adjacent to the Egerton Arms pub. A #1 First service flashed around the corner that we did not have tine to flag it down! a few minutes later we had another Alexander bodied Arriva bus on the #401 in the form of 2409. Another short hop and we were in Chester bus station again.


Arriva NW&W in Chester bus station on service #401 to Liverpool (Matt)

Matthew had already expressed a wish to do a First minibus, so when we got back to Chester, we met up with mum who had driven down from Ellesmere Port.


First PMT 50046 in Chester bus station on service #53 Kingsway (Mark)

So moved arranged, I drove to Gorse Stacks to meet the #53 Kingsway service, whilst Matt and his mum caught the bus 50046. It was then all back to the car for snacks and to drive home...

Photos to follow...