Trip to Wigan 03-11-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34292	Wigan BS	Norley Hall, Norley Hall Avenue/Ambleside (N-bound)	621	First Manchester
31903	Norley Hall, Norley Hall Avenue/Ambleside (N-bound)	Wigan, Wallgate/North Western Stn (Stop B)	621	First Manchester
34296	Wigan, Wallgate/North Western Stn (Stop D)	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	628	First Manchester
4105	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	375	Arriva NW&W
30586	Wigan BS	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	628	First Manchester
30586	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	628	First Manchester

Following the announcement of the sale of the First Manchester depot, today we decided to visit Wigan. With a lot of the fleet clearly past there best, we thought it unlike many of the vehicles based at Wigan would be repainted or even last very long once the take over takes place. We checked the weather and the overall forecast for today was for rain. However between 14:00 and 17:00 it was down for cloudy so hopefully we wouldn't get wet. Matthew got up around 10:30. He didn't go to sleep until 04:00, probably due to the fact he was really looking forward to a return trip to Wigan. After toast and orange juice for breakfast we set off around 11:45. We set off to Heron Cross where we joined the Westbound A50. We then went North along the A500 to Shelton, where we diverted to Etruria to get LPG. There was a bit of wait to fill up and we set off from Etruria around 12:30. Onto the westbound A53 until we rejoined the A500. We then went North along the M6 and it was quiet for the first week for a while. We made good time on the motorway and we came off at the A49 junction to drive into Wigan. We decided to stop for petrol at Sainsbury's as we were virtually empty! After a quick stop we carried on into town. As we went into town we spotted 3 step entranced double deckers. 31903 was seem coming off Ormskirk Road on what we assumed was either a #621 or a #628 service. 34028 emerged from near the pier on a #632 service. We then saw 34292 emerge from under the Bridge by the railway station on a #621 service. Parking in the usual spot was busy so we parked near the Uncle Joe's mintball factory. We walked up Dorning Street and onto Hallgate where we went into the cafe where we usually eat. Matthew visited the toilet and then had a breakfast. The hash browns were an unusual shape, not dissimilar to a large fish finger! After dinner we walked up to the bus station and took a few pictures whilst we waited for mum to pay the bill and catch up. Matthew saw and photographed required Arriva NW&W 4106 on a #375 service.

Arriva NW&W 4106 in Wigan bus station

We then used the toilets in the bus station As we came out we spotted a NC bodied First double decker over by the #621 stop ans it was 34296. So that was at least 4 step entranced buses out today when we only usually see 1 or 2. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do required First Manchester 34292 and he said yes. We went over and booked our system one bus only tickets which have now gone up price to £5. We went upstairs and Matthew got his picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 34292

We sat on the bus and we saw 34296 arrive on a #628 service. As we set off we passed another double decker. It was dud First Manchester 31923. We now knew of 5 double deckers out, and there were 2 on which we had never been on before. beside 34292, 31903 and 34292 were required. we picked up 31923 in September this year and 34028 was a regular in Bury and we had been on it on 3 separate occasions between 2010 and 2012. We headed off towards Pemberton and as we were about to round the corner into Norley Hall Avenue we saw another double decker. It was required First Manchester 30586. We decided to get of by the shops in Norley Hall so that we could make an assessment of what order the buses were running in. We got off adjacent to Ambleside and got a picture of this fine beast.

First Manchester 34292 in Norley Hall

We decided to cross the road and wait by the Co-op to see what turned up on the next #628. It was required First Manchester 60159 but we decided to turn it down on this occasion. We then saw required 34296 on the other side of the road on a #621 service. We were now starting to build up a picture of which buses were running and in what order. Having at least 12 minutes to wait for another bus in any direction we visited to Co-op. Matthew chose a can and bottle of Coke and a chocolate cake. There was a small queue so it took a few minutes to get served and Matthew said hello to the lady on the adjacent till before we left. Having seen 30586 on a #628, we decided to cross back over to the Ambleside stop to wait for the next #621 which we though might be 30586. First Manchester 31923 appeared on the other side of the road on a #628 service. After a few minutes we saw a bus appear on the horizon whhich we though might be 30586 but as it got closer we saw it was required First Manchester 31903. Matthew got a picture of the bus as it approached.

First Manchester 31903 in Norley Hall

It was 2 down 2 to go at this point. We knew 30586 was behind us and we knew for definate that 34296 was 1 bus in front of us in the circuit. As we carried on a round we noted the buses as we passed them. somewhere near Wigan Pier we passed 34292 which we had been on earlier so knew 34296 should be on the next #628 service. To be sure of getting 34296 we decided to get off near Wigan North Western railway station. As we got off Matthew got another picture of 31903.

First Manchester 31903 outside Wigan NW station

We got off 31903 and crossed the road. We saw First Manchester 40386 on a #628 and we also saw Derek Ball Neoplan coach W889 MOT outside North Western station. After only a couple of minutes 34296 appeared from around the corner as expected.

First Manchester 34296 outside Wigan NW station

As we set of anticlockwise around the circuit, we passed Arriva NW&W 4103. Matthe got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 34296

We had booked to Ormskirk Road so we sat back and enjoyed the journey. Making further observations as we went around, we worked of that the last required double decker bus on the circuit was 2 buses behind us, 1 behind 31903. this equated to doing the full circuit and waiting 24 minutes for the bus to appear. We thought we could get off on the Ormskirk Road and catching something different in so we didn't have to wait as long in Wigan bus station. We rounded the corner from Norley Hall Avenue and then got off on Ormskirk Road. We didn't have to wait long for a bus to appear. It was an Arriva double decker with a 2 in 6 chance of being required. with 4103 and 4106 being out of the way, we had slightly reduced odd of it being required. As it approached we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 4105.

Arriva NW&W 4105 in Pemberton

So that was 4 buses and 4 scores! We sat down for the journey in and we passed the dud and noisy Arriva NW&W 4104 which we had back in August. Mum called as I was about to text her and we arranged to meet up at the bus station. When we reached the bus station, Matthew got a good picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4105

Back in Wigan we had 20 or so minutes to wait for 30586. We met up with mum as we had arranged and we had a quick toilet stop, followed by a drink of Barr Cherryade and a Greggs sausage roll. As 34028 was parked up in front of us on the #632 he managed to get a good picture of this.

First Manchester 34028 in Wigan bus station

We had 10 minutes or so to take pictures. Another required step entranced double decker appeared. 34296 whizzed up through the bus station and we didn't see what it was on. We decided to concentrate on 30586 anyway so we carried on taking pictures as we waited. 31903 was on stand for the #628 and we saw saw 30586 arrive. As is often the case when a bus cant get on its stand it does a lap or so of the bus stations and parks up somewhere until it can. Whilst e waited Matthew got a picture of Arriva NW&W 2676 on a #362 service.

Arriva NW&W 2676 in Wigan bus station

31903 set of around 16:18ish and immediately 30586 did another lap of the bus station to get onto stand P. As it came past the bottom of the bus station Matthew got a picture of this Palatine II Dennis Arrow.

First Manchester 30586 in Wigan bus station

It was 16:23 and we had to wait until 16:30 for departure. Before we left matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 30586

When it moved we had manage to get a ride on as far as I know both of Wigans serviceable Dennis Arrows with Palatine II bodies. We decided the best thing to do was to just do a complete lap of the circuit. The bus was due back in Wigan at 17:08 so there didn't seem any point in getting off to wait somewhere for 12 minutes when the complete journey time was 38. As we went around darkness fell over Wigan. We got back on time and it was pretty much dark, especially in the floodlit bus station. As we always do we decided to do a quick sweep of the bus station and surrounding areas as we walked back to the car so we could take pictures. First Manchester 40395 was stabled awaiting time on a #658 service to Leigh.

First Manchester 40395 in Wigan bus station

We walked down Hallgate and got a couple more pictures of 60142 and 60390. There was nothing parked on Dorning Street which was a tad disappointing, and so we went to the car and Matthew ate another sausage roll washed down with a bottle of Fanta. We set off down Frog lane before turning left and heading back towards Wigan Pier past the Wigan Coachways depot. We got back onto the A49 and then went around wigan Pier so that were heading South. We then headed down to the M6 at junction 25. We then headed South straight down to the A500 at junction 16. It was then southbound on the A500 until we reached the A50. We then drove along Stanley Matthew Way and past the Hem Heath pub to Blurton. We parked up and got into the house around 18:30. We had sausage carrots and potatoes for tea and then we took Uncle Dave home around 21:00. We then settled down 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)