Trip to Wigan / Bryn (Last day of First) 01-12-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34028	Wigan BS	Pemberton, Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street (W-bound)	621	First Manchester
3024	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	352	Arriva NW&W
34262	Wigan BS	Lockett Road, Bryn	610	First Manchester
34262	Lockett Road, Bryn	Wigan BS	610	First Manchester
4101	Wigan BS	Pemberton, Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street (W-bound)	385	Arriva NW&W
40065	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	628	First Manchester
60149	Wigan BS	Pemberton, Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street (W-bound)	621	First Manchester
60403	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	628	First Manchester

Today was a trip to Wigan. It was decided last Sunday it was going to be Wigan with it being the last day of Frst operation from their Bryn depot. From the 2nd of December all services run from this depot will be run by Stagecoach Manchester. I had been ill for a couple of days but I knew we had to take him out today. We checked the weather and it was for cold and clear weather barely reaching 4' C. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Despite trying to set of early we didn't actually leave the house until gone 12:00. Luckily progress today was quite fast and we got to Wigan just after 13:15. We got a good parking space near Hallgate. Today mum suggested a different cafe so trouped past the bus station to a little cafe in a courtyard called not unsurprisingly 'Courtyard cafe'. We sat down and Matthew had a breakfast and me and Uncle Dave had Bacon and sausage barms respectively. As we ate Matthew spotted a dessert menu and insisted we stopped for after. Matthew had a Chocolate fudge cake with custard. Eventually he finished it and we paid and left the cafe. The plan was to keep going as much as possible and when we spotted a double decker on the #621 it was a no brainer! We trotted down to the stop and jumped on a got our system one tickets. It was dud 34028, a bus that we haven't been on since March 2012 when it was allocated to Bury. We sat upstairs and Matthew got his customary empty bus shot.

Inside First Manchester 34028

After a minute or so off we went. We headed out past the railway station and down past Wigan Pier. We then took the new Saddle relief Road down to the big roundabout near B&Q. We headed up the Ormskirk Road and when we reached the top of the hill near Aldi we decided to get off. When we got off Matthew got a picture of this fine beast.

First Manchester 34028 in Pemberton

Directly behind us was dud Arriva NW&W 4103 on #385 to Southport.

Arriva NW&W 4103 in Pemberton

We crossed the road and waited at the stop opposite. The First bus to turn up was required Arriva NW&W 3024 on a #352 service.

Arriva NW&W 3024 in Pemberton

We got on and sat down. Directly behind us was an Optare Excel #628. It overtook us on the run down Ormskirk Road and it was dud First Manchester 60160. When we got to Wigan bus station the bus emptied out and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3024

As we had seen a double decker on the #610 we decided to do one of these doan to Bryn so we could have a look in the depot to look at some of the Stagecoach buses that have been reported as being in the depot. We had planned on catching the 15:00 service but we missed this bus as we walked up and it was First Manchester Dart. So we had 20 minutes to wait for the next bus. as we walked down to the bottom to take some picture we saw Arriva NW&W 2454 on a #360 service.

Arriva NW&W 2454 in Wigan bus station

As we took a few picture one of the drivers noticed Matthew and asked if he wanted a First tie as they wouldn't needed anymore. I said no as Matthew already has one given to him by another driver about a month earlier! First Manchester 34291 made an appearance on a #631 circular.

First Manchester 34291 in Wigan bus station

We then walked up to stand B because I though 34291 was going to work the next #610. It turned out that I had my turns mixed up and the next #610 was worked by First Manchester 34262.

First Manchester 34262 in Wigan bus station

After taking a picture we ran around to get on the bus. We hadn't travelled on this double decker since February 2011. We sat upstairs and then Matthew got a picture of the inside of top deck.

Inside First Manchester 34262

We settled down for the journey down to Bryn. It took around 25 minutes through the estate, and when we got there we saw a row of Brand new Eniro 200's and some older ALX300's ready for service from Sunday. We turned around and headed back North through Bryn village and up to Wigan. By the time we got back it was just gone 16:10. Required Arriva NW&W 4101 was in and Matthew wanted to do so we crossed over the stand and jumped on it. We sat upstairs and did the bus up the hill to Pemberton again. When we got off the bus stopped at the lights and Matthew got a picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 4101 in Pemberton

We crossed over the road and waited fo a bus back again. By now it had just about gone dark. We turned down a Arriva Pulsar on the #395 and eventually a bus rounded the corner on a #628. It was required First Manchester 40065 and the first of this type we had been on.

First Manchester 40065 in Pemberton

We got on and sat down at the back. The seats over the rear axle are sideways on these buses. The ride was a little shaky and any sudden movements from the bus had us sliding down the seats a little! The were very few passengers on this turn and when we got back and the bus emptied out Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 40065

We decided we could have time for on quick out and back if we caught something straight away. Matthew wanted to get on one of the Wigan Buses hybrids, but this was on a #638 and was heading out towards Standish so we had to turn it down for today. There was a #621 in so we decided to do it. It was an excel but unfortunately it was dud First Manchester 60149. We did it to the top of the road at Pemberton again and he got a picture of this beast.

First Manchester 60149 in Pemberton

We then crossed the road again for one last time. It was 17:13 and there was 1 #628 due at 17:19. It didn't show up. We let 3 different Arriva Pulsars go on #385, #352 and #395 receptively before a #628. It was required First Manchester 60403.

First Manchester 60403 in Pemberton

We got on a sat down near the back. I had hoped it was going to be a required Excel or Dart, but you can't have everything. This was the First of these b10's we had been on and they are quite nice buses for their age. It made a funny whining noises as it went through the gears which was different to anything we had been on. When it emptied out Matthew got a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 60403

When we got off Matthew got a picture of the bus standing still and in better light than in Pemberton.

First Manchester 60403 in Wigan bus station

It was now around 17:50 so we visited the toilets and then headed back to the car. We would usually walk around Hallgate and past Uncle Joe to see if there were any parked buses but we were all so cold we headed straight back to the car. we drove around the circuit and there were only 3 buses. There was a Strawberry Dart, First Manchester 60390 and 40394. Matthew opted to stay in the car and eay his sausage roll rather than get pictures! We then drove home via frog Lane and across under the railway line to Wigan Pier. We then went around the Pier before trying out the new Saddle relief road for ourselves. The road does seem to make a big difference. We then headed South down the A49 to the M6. Traffic was flowing well and we got to the A500 just before 19:00. We then headed down the A500 to sideway before heading east on the A50. we were all cold and hungry so we went along Stanley Matthew Way before reaching home around 19:15. We sorted out out pictures and then had sausages and mash for a late tea. Matthew didn't each much as I think he is coming down with a cold after today's chilly trip. He then had some computer time before bed...Mark

Trip to Wigan 29-09-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34291	Wigan BS	Beech Hill, nr Off License Shaftesbury Street/Beech Hill Avenue	625	First Manchester
34291	Beech Hill, nr Off License Shaftesbury Street/Beech Hill Avenue	Wigan BS	625	First Manchester
31923	Wigan BS	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	628	First Manchester
60160	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	628	First Manchester
40394	Wigan BS	Lockett Road, Bryn	610	First Manchester
40394	Lockett Road, Bryn	Rose Hill, Wigan Road/Eddleston Street (N-bound)	610	First Manchester
60147	Rose Hill, Wigan Road/Eddleston Street (N-bound)	Wigan BS	610	First Manchester

Today we had planned on going on a fairly local trip, but Matthew had some unexpected news and we thought we would cheer him up with a longer trip on Friday we decided to go to Leigh. We checked the weather for Saturday the night before and the weather for the North West was for cloudy and sunny intervals. Mathew got up around 10:30 and had some breakfast. As we got ready to go out we asked Matthew if he was sure he wanted to go to Leigh or did he want to go to Wigan. Mum had thought that if we went to Leigh we would probably end up in Wigan anyhow as we often do! So Matthew now chose Wigan. We made sure that we had the Wigan South map in the bag as well as all th other stuff we tend to take with us. We set off around 12:00 and we called into the LPG place in Etruria to pick up some LPG. We headed North up the A500 and then onto the Northbound M6. Traffic was quite heavy going, and we averaged around 50 mph until we reached the A556 junction and then we able to go a little faster. As we came up the A49 into town we passed 34291 on a #610 Bryn circular service. We got into Wigan around 13:30 and we parked up on street close to the bus station. We went to the cafe on Hallgate that we went into on our first visit to Wigan. Matthew had a breakfast, mum had soup and some chips to share with everybody, I had a bacon barm and Uncle Dave had a sausage barm. With 3 drinks the food came to just over £13. After diner we walked across to the bus station and Matthew used the facilities. As we came out we spotted an old double decker on stand and so we went over to investigate. It was 34291 again but it wasn't on the correct stand for Bryn. Matthew got a picture of this beast before we walked over to see where it was going.

First 34291 about to work the #625

We asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. We had already looked up to see if we had been on this bus before and we had. closer inspection of the Blog revealed that we had done it to Prestwich from Bury back in March. It was doing a 625 to Beech Hill. We got on and got our system one tickets before going upstairs on this bus. The top deck was empty and so Matthew was able to get a picture of this bus straight away.

Inside the top deck of First 34291

We had never been on this service before so we looked at the timetable to see how long it took and how frequent the service was. It was a service that took only 20 minutes to do a complete circle and ran a t a 20 minute frequency. We set off in a North Westerly direction. It didn't take long to get to the Beech Hill area, nd before we knew it we were on our way back into town. I asked Matthew if the bus was doing the #610 next did he want to do it again and he said yes. When we pulled into the bus station it looked like 34291 was going to do something different from the #610. We also noticed a Dennis Arrow on the Kitts Hill stand. We got off 34291 and pretty puch walked straight onto the other double decker. It was 31923. I looked it up on his buses I have travelled on page and we saw it was required. When we got on the top deck it was empty again and Matthew got a picture of this bus.

Inside the top deck of First 31923

We settled down to enjoy the journey. It was now quite sunny and at the front of a poorly ventilated Arrow it was warm! As we have been on this service before we asked Matthew if he wanted to do it to Pemberton where we could get off and then catch one of a number of services back into Wigan. after a journey of about 25 minutes we rounded the corner onto the main road and then we got off. Matthew didn't get his camera out quickly enough to take a picture of this bus. The was a #385 due i a few minutes which is what we thought we would be on. However, the First Manchester Excel 60160was on the following #628 and when it turned up Matthew decided he would like to do this bus.

First Manchester 60160 in Pemberton

We got on the bus and looked it up. It was required! This is no big surprise as we had only been on 2 before. After around 15 minutes on the bus we arrived back in the bus station. The bus emptied, there wasn't many people on the bus anyway, and then Matthew got his empty bus picture.

Inside First Manchester 60160

At this point we didn't have a plan, and so we had a bit of a photographic break at the west end of the bus station. One such bus was Bolton allocated 2623 on a #362 to Chorley.

Arriva NW&W 2623 in Wigan bus station

This was followed by St Helen allocated 2712 on a #320 St Helens service.

Arriva NW&W 2712 in Wigan bus station

We saw a Dart arrive on a '#610 service. as we had only previously been on one of the Wigan Darts we knew there was a good chance that it would be required. It was First Manchester 40394 and it was required. We decided to do this down to the depot and then back out so that we could do a different bus back. It is quite a long journey, and we set off through the South end of Wigan heading towards Bryn. The journey was fairly uneventful, and by the time we got to the A49/M6 junction there was only ourselves and bus drivers left on the bus. In the depot we were surprised to see large number of new Enviro 400 bus waiting to start in service with First Manchester. One such bus that I can remember was 33743. There was also a few withdrawn buses to be seen such as 30586,40338,40339,34028 and 34262. We then headed off Northwards and we decided to get of just north of Bryn so that we could have a choice of buses back to Wigan. As we headed north we were the only people on the buses with the exception of a driver at the front. Matthew got a picture of the empty bus behind us as we went to get off.

Inside First Manchester 40394

We got off and it was now just after 16:10. There was a 600 due and then a #610 at 16:30. We saw required 60147 heading Southwards on a #610 so we decided to wait for this bus instead of catching the busy #600. When the #600 turned up it was 66925 so it was nothing exciting! After around another 10 minutes which were quite busy with southbound #600's and empty First and Strawberry buses, 60147 reappeared as expected.

First Manchester 60147 on Rose Hill, Bryn

We did the bus back and we had another uneventful journey. The bus was quite loud and was a little diesely, but that's what makes these Excels good buses for enthusiasts if not the travelling public. When we got Wigan, Matthew got his empty bus picture. We really like this orange and red squared Moquette!

Inside First Manchester 60147

We then headed back to the car whilst taking a few pictures. I managed to get a picture of 31923 which we had been on earlier.

First Manchester 31923 in Wigan bus station (Mark)

We then walked down the steps to Hallgate and then Richmond Street and onto Dorning street. Between duties was Arriva NW&W 2998 which was going to work a #362 Chorley service.

Arriva NW&W 2998 on Dorning Street

We carried on around the corner on Dorning Street and we saw a few more buses go past. One such bus was Wigan Buses SF55 GXL.

Wigan Buses SF55 GXL on Dorning Street

We got back into the car and then set off home. As we were about to go we saw Arriva 7621 on a #360 service. Which must be new to Bolton as we had not seen this before. We then headed out of wigan and under the railway bridge. We rejoined the Northbound A49 near Wigan Pier and then went around it to head back South. We then headed out of town and then onto the M6 South. Back in Staffordshire we headed down the A500 and onto the A50. We went passed Z Carz where we saw the usual coaches and T408 JUX which we hadn't seen for a while. It has a '408' service sticker in the front window. We decided to go past Longton bus station and we were surprised to see East Yorkshire Coaches DC54 EYC in there. We then headed home and we got home around 18:30. After having sausage potatoes and carrots for we tea we settled down for the evening before bedtime...Mark

Trip to Bury 21-05-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34029	Bury BS	Unsworth, Parr Lane/Unsworth Pole (SW-bound)‎	93	First Manchester
60273	Unsworth, Kennedy Drive/Parr Lane (nr House 2)	Bury BS	137	First Manchester
40343	Bury BS	Walshaw War Memorial	510	First Manchester
40347	Walshaw War Memorial	Bury BS	510	First Manchester
34069	Bury BS	Manchester Road, Dumers lane (Stop B)	524	First Manchester
34263	Manchester Road, Dumers lane (Stop A)	Bury BS	524	First Manchester

We asked Matthew last weekend where he would like to go this weekend and he chose Bury. Planning for this trip consisted of packing the Map and timetables we had picked up on previous trip and to take some sausage rolls with us! we set off just after 12:00 and arrived in Bury around 13:20 and we parked near to the Library. Walking towards or dinner destination we saw 40343 which we knew was required on a 510 Bolton. We ate in the Haymarket chip restaurant as per usual, and Matthew had Chips jumbo sausage and gravy with 2 rounds of bread and butter, the rest of us had pies peas and gravy. After dinner we walked to the bus station an immediately had a bit of selection problem. There were 3 First Manchester NC double deckers in and I couldn't remember which ones we had been on before! 34019 was on a 137, 34069 arrived on a 524 and 34029 was on a 93. I was convinced that we need 34019 & and 069. Matthew steered us towards 34069 but then the driver went for a break.


34069 between duties on service #524 (Matt)

I was thinking that we should do 34019 on a 137 before we could go for it, it was already leaving.


34019 departs Bury bus station (Matt)

That left 34029 on a service we had never done before. the destination blind was saying the bus was via Unsworth, so I was sure we could do something on this bus and possibly come back on a 137 which seem to produce quite a few NC double deckers. We got on the bus and booked to Unsworth.


Inside 34029 (Matt)

As we left bury bus station, 34262 came in on a 137. I got out my Bury area bus map and saw that the 137 and 93 share a route along Parr Lane. We got off at the point where the 2 route meet going South towards Manchester,


34029 departs Parr Lane, Unworth for Manchester on a service #93(Matt)

There was a co-operative food shop which Matthew visited and photographed. As we walked south looking for a stop to return to Bury, we realised there was no stop on the part of the road the two routes share going towards Bury. As we got to the junction Mercedes bus 60258 went towards Bury on a 93. At this point we decided to go onto Kennedy Drive to catch a 137. After a few minutes 34262 came around the corner from Bury going towards Manchester.


34262 on a 137 to Manchester in Kennedy Drive (Matt)

Another few minutes past and disappointingly 60273 turned up on the 137 to Bury.


60273 in Bury bus station (Matt)

Not only was this a Mercedes, but it was one of the 2 of this type that he had already travelled on! Never mind... As we were travelling back to Bury, I worked out that if we could get back to bury for 14:55, we could do the next #510 to Walshaw. We arrived back with a couple of minutes to spare and 40343 which we had already seen earlier was on stand. After a bit of kerfuffle with Matthew trying to say hello to someone, we got on the bus. It was quite full for a 510, and as he didn't get time to take a picture at Bury, I made sure he got a good picture in Walshaw.


40343 in Walshaw (Matt)

As always we didn't have to wait long for the return which was another P--- LND bus 40347. He didn't get a good shot at Walshaw, but he did photograph the empty bus when we returned to Bury.


Inside 40347 (Matt)

On getting back we were not sure what to do. We could head towards Unsworth and try to pick up one of the double deckers we saw earlier or we could maybe go to Radcliffe or to Walshaw on a Easyride bus. First bus in was 34260 on a 137, we decided not to do this,


34260 in Bury bus station on a #137 to Manchester (Matt)

There was also Ex Rock Ferry bus 61141 on a 98, and then 34069 returned from working a 524 to Bolton. On arrival the driver went on break. We decided to wait and eventually a new driver turned up. As we didn't have loads of time, we decide to do this onto the Manchester Road and then wait up to 15 minutes to catch something back. We did the bus down the A56 and just as it turned towards Radcliffe we got off.


34069 disappears towards Radcliffe on a #524 to Bolton (Matt)

On the way down we passed a Mercedes single decker going the other way so we thought the 524 would be out of the way. We walked around the corner to the bus stop on the A56. With services 93,135,137 and 524 all going past towards Bury we didn't think we would have to wait long for a bus. We saw several buses heading South including Ex Rock ferry bus 61141. Eventually the next bus that turned up was a 524. A double decker appeared to the side of the road about to turn into the A56. The bus turned out to be dud 34263.


34263 on a service #524 to Bury (Matt)

We did this short run back to Bury and then Matthew photographed the empty lower deck as we left the bus.


Inside 34263 (Matt)

We then had a few minutes in the bus station taking picture before we met uo with mum. Matthew took a picture of the departing 34263. Also seen in this period were 60184 and 60338 on Ramsbottom circulars, and 34291 and 34294 on 98 Manchester buses.



60184 in Bury bus station (Matt)

After we met up with mum, we retired to the car for the sausage rolls that we had brought with us. The drive home was fairly uneventful and we filled up with LPG in Longport... (Mark)

Trip to Bury 19-03-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
164	Bury BS	Walshaw, Church Street/Moyse Avenue (N-bound)	481	Easyride
40371	Bury BS	Walshaw War Memorial	510	First Manchester
34019	Bury BS	Unsworth, Parr Lane/Castlebrook High School	137	First Manchester
34263	Unsworth, Hollins Lane/Parr Lane	Bury BS	137	First Manchester
40356	Bury BS	Walshaw War Memorial	510	First Manchester
40371	Walshaw War Memorial	Bury BS	510	First Manchester

Matthew had decided we were going to Bury on this day a few weeks ago... He likes to keep a full social calender. He was a bit lethargic today so we did not set off until nearly 12:30. It appeared to be a fine sunny spring day. An uneventful journey followed although it did seem a bit cloudier the further north we went. We parked as usual by the library. Arriving around 13:30 we had dinner in the Corn Market fish and chip restaurant today. The adults had pie peas and gravy, and Matthew had jumbo sausage chips and gravy. With drinks it came to around £18, although they did try and charge us £22 for the food! As we left I realised I could not find my phone, so I went back to the car whilst Matthew and UD stood at he end of the bus station taking bus pictures and mum called my phone...


Maytree Travel MX08 MYR enters Bury bus station (Matt)

The phone turned up in the footwell and must have fallen out of my pockets. When I returned to Matthew it seemed as if we had to wait around 20 minutes before we saw anything worth doing. Whilst I was away a NC's double decker had left on a 98, but we knew that it would not return for at least a couple of hours.


Easyride 164 Bury bus station on a 481 Ramsbottom (Matt)

We decided to try and catch a 510 to start, but there was a different bus on stand. luckily, GMPTE provide diagrams with services and the towns they visit, we saw that the 481 Ramsbottom goes via Walshaw. We decided to do this bus and, it was going to be our first journey on Easyride. We boarded 164 and purchased a system one day ticket. Whilst on the bus, we decided to go a stop further than usual and then walk back as we had a bit of extra time before the returning #510. I thought this would mean we would get a better picture of the bus and if photographed from the rear it would not be taken into the sun. As we left Bury we passed 2 NC's double decker coming into Bury and 60338 which I assumed was on the next 510. As the bus went through Walshaw it turned right, right again and the left. When we got off the rear picture was taken as the bus went off into the distance.


Easyride 164 Walshaw, Church Street on a 481 Ramsbottom (Matt)

There was a short walk back to the stop for the 510 and around a 15 minute wait. Whilst waiting a 510 towards Bolton came past with 40356, meaning 60338 must have been on something else! Eventually our bus turned up, 40371. This bus is right in the middle of the batch that were transferred to Adderley Green, with this bus and a couple of the others being exceptions. When we arrived at Bury, Matthew photographed the inside of the empty bus.


Inside 40371 on it's First arrival at Bury (Matt)

This time at Bury we didn't have to wait long for a NC's double decker. Required 34019 turned up on a 137 Manchester. There was a short layover whilst there was a driver change, and then we got on it.


34019 awaits time before working a #137 to Manchester (Matt)

As per usual, we did this to Parr Lane, Unsworth. On the way down Market Street we saw Copelands MIB 236 which we could have done this morning had we booked on it. Hopefully we'll get this one soon...
As we got off I could see another NC's double decker on the return. We did not have time to get a picture, as we had to quickly cross the road to get it. 34263 turned up.. Dud, but a NC's decker is always welcome.


On arrival at Bury, insude the top deck of 34263 (Matt)

When we got back it was gone 16:00, so there only time to go Walshaw and back. We knew we missed a 510, so the next bus was the 16:15 480... The time was closing in on 16:15 and the bus still hadn't turned up. the was a 98 on stand J and the next 510 arrived and Went straight past it went around again and by the time it did stand J was clear, the bus was 40356, oldest Dart on the #510 today. This bus is not as smart as the others we have seen in the P... LND batch, as some of the seats have been replaced with First purple and green ones. We did this up to Walshaw as usual and we were wondering what would be the return. I was hoping for 40404 which I'd seen early, but if I'd thought about it, I would have realised that it could only be 40371, which had passed 40356 in the Walshaw area earlier! So we did this back into Bury. After we returned Matthew photo graphed a couple more NC's Volvo Olympians...


34260 departs Bury bu station on a 98 Manchester (Matt)


34023 arriving in Bury on a 137 from Manchester (Matt)

Back to the car at around 15:45, just in time to here that Stoke had won 4-0 against Newcastle! One the way back we past quite a few coaches on the M6 and A500 from the North East. Back in Staffordshire we stopped for lottery tickets and Filled up with LPG in Longport. We were back home before it went dark (Mark)