Trip to Middleton / Oldham 08-12-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
39210	Middleton BS‎‎	Collyhurst, Queens Rd (Stop F)	18	First Manchester
10863	Collyhurst, Queens Rd (Stop B)	Blackley, Victoria Ave (Stop D)	118	Stagecoach Manchester
37390	Blackley, Hilldale Ave	Middleton BS	17	First Manchester
66864	Middleton BS‎‎	Cheetham Hill, Shopping Ctr (Stop L)	59	First Manchester
37458	Cheetham Hill, Bury Old Rd/Shopping Centre (Stop J)	Oldham BS	59	First Manchester
37470	Oldham BS	Middleton BS	59	First Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. As one of the shortest days we didn't want to go anyway too far away and too difficult to get to. Mum also wanted to get her hair done at the shopping centre. As we knew where we were going and what we were doing we did no research for this trip, we didn't even check the weather. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. As I had done a night shift the night before mum drove up to Middleton. We set off just before 12:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We continued over the railway line into Trentham and we joined the Northbound A34. We turned left onto Whitmore Road and we crossed over the Trent and ran up towards Hanchurch. We turned right onto the A519 and we joined the Northbound M6. Travelling up the M6 we saw Park's of Hamilton (NX) LSK 838(#540), Robinson Executive Travel W6 RCT, Caledoniian Travel LSK 508, Jarvis Coaches YX07 AVJ, Global Travel BIG 9854 & Stanley Coaches Y2 STX. We ran up to Junction 19 and we got onto the Eastbound A556. We continued for a few miles and we ran forwards onto the M56. As we travelled Eastwards we saw an unidentified coach on National Express(#328). We took the junction to go onto the The anti-clockwise M60 and we circled around Manchester. We ran through Stockport and we passed an unidentified coach on National Express 540. When we got to the right junction we left the M60 and got onto the Eastbound A576. We ran the last couple of miles into middle and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto Limetrees Road. We entered the car park and we parked up. After visiting the toilet in the shopping centre we went outside to a newish cafe called Sub Station. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10844 on a #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10844 in Middleton bus station

We went into the bus station and we looked for bus to catch. On layover was dud First Manchester 37391.

First Manchester 37391 in Middleton bus station

We spotted required First Manchester 39210 on a #18 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39210 in Middleton bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on and brought System One bus only tickets at £5.60 each. We went upstairs and the rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 39210 before we sat down.

Inside First Manchester 39210

The bus set off out of the bus station. We joined the Eastbound A576 and then we went Southwards down the A664. We climbed up the hill out of town and then we ran down hill over the M60 and into Blackley. Further down the road we passed Blackley service station and then we saw a road that we recognised... We passed Old Market Street and the West end of Boggart Hole Clough. We continued Southwards into Harpurhey. We crossed the A6010 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39210 as it continued towards Manchester.

First Manchester 39210 in Harpurhey

Once off the bus we crossed over the A6010 and then over the A664. to the nearest Northbound bus stop. We didn't have to wait long before we saw a Stagecoach double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 10863 on a #118 to Dam Head.

Stagecoach Manchester 10863 in Harpurhey

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off up the A664 and we turned right onto Lathbury Road. We turned left onto Fernclough Road and we ran forwards onto Church Lane. We turned left onto Upper Conran Street and we stopped behind the shopping centre in Harphurey. We turned right onto Moston Lane and we ran up through Moston. We ran for around a mile and we turned left onto Charlestown Road. We turned right onto Grange Park Road and we ran up Hall Moss Road. WE continued onto Colmore Drive and we turned left onto Victoria Avenue East. We ran for around 1/2 mile and we turned left onto the A664 where we got up and got off the bus. At the bus stop there a number of youths sheltering for the rain so we decided to walk for to another bus stop. It had pretty much stopped raining so we went Southwards down the A664. As we walked towards the next bus stop we were passed by S Line Travel coach P24 WNL travelling towards Manchester.

S Line Travel P24 WNL in Blackley

We decided to go back Northwards towards Middleton so we could use the toilet. We crossed over the road and we waited at the Northbound stop. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required First Manchester 37390 on a #17 to Middleton.

First Manchester 37390 in Blackley

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off up the A664 and we travelled for around a mile to the edge of Middleton. We crossed the roundabout and we entered the bus station. The bus pulled onto the stand and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet and then we decided to go around the bus station and take a few pictures. We saw First Manchester 66912 on layover.

First Manchester 66912 in Middleton bus station

As we approached the bus station we saw a minibus parked up by the bingo hall. We decided to go over and investigate. When we got to the bingo hall we saw it was Rothwells Mercedes minibus FE02 BVN waiting to pick up passengers from the bingo.

Rothwells FE02 BVN in Middleton

Once we had seen the minibus, we walked back into the bus station to see what we could catch next. We spotted First Manchester 66864 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 66864 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we crossed the roundabout onto the A576. We ran the couple of miles down to the M60 and we crossed over and into Blackley we past the East side of Heaton Park. We carried on for another couple of miles and we turned left onto Bury Old Road. It seemed like the centre of Cheetham Hill as it was a busy shopping area so we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went to the world market shop and we brought a couple of cans and a few chocolate bars. We crossed the road and we sat at the stop to wait for a Northbound bus. Whilst we waited Matthew ate a toffee crisp and drank a can of Irn Bru. A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 37458 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 37458 in Cheetham Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. As this was our fifth bus of the day we decided to do this through Middleton to Oldham and we could do a bus back to Middleton for the last bus. The bus set off up Bury Old Road and we turned right the A576 where we stopped for a short while. he bus carried on along the A576 towards Blackley. We crossed the M60 and we ran the couple of miles into town. We entered the bus station. We left Middleton bus station and we went East out of town along the A669. The weather had now turned and it was starting to snow! A couple of miles out of town we crossed under the railway line by Mills Hill railway station. We carried on another 3 miles or so through Chadderton. We crossed under Oldham Way and we ran up the hill and into the bus station. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 37458 before it continued towards Rushcroft.

First Manchester 37458 in Oldham bus station

Once we ad got off the bus we walked around the bus station whilst we decided what bus to do next. We saw required Stotts PX55 EFM about to work a #343 to Hyde.

Stotts PX55 EFM in Oldham bus station

We used the toilet and then we went down to the other half of the bus station. At the bottom half of the bus station we saw MCT YJ13 HLG on a #402 to Royton.

MCT YJ13 HLG in Oldham bus station

Once we had finished taking picture we walked back up to the top half of the bus station to wait for either a #59 back to Middleton. We saw dud First Manchester 42944 on a #415 to Middleton and we turned it down. Behind it was dud First Manchester 37470 on a #59 to Manchester which we decided to do.

First Manchester 37470 in Oldham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs.The top deck was empty at the rear so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37470.

Inside First Manchester 37470

The bus set off out of the bus station and forwards onto Middleton Road. We went under Oldham Way and we ran forwards around a mile into Chadderton. We continued forwards into Mills Hill and we went under the railway line. We ran the last mile or so into Middleton and we entered the bus station. We got off the bus and we had a look around before we returned to mum. We saw First Manchester 37280 about to work a #17 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 37280 in Middleton bus station

We walked into the shopping centre and we met up with mum. We went to the toilet and then we returned to the car. Mum had brought some sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru. We left the car park and we turned left onto Limetrees Road and turned left on the roundabout onto the A576. We entered Tesco and we filled up with petrol. Once we had filled up we rejoined the A576 and we ran Westwards down to the M60. We joined the clockwise M60 and as we ran we saw Swans Travel YH17 YWB. We ran through Stockport and forwards onto the M56. Seen on the M56 were red minibus PJ16 KPZ & Swans Travel YT68 LCO. We jined the Westbound A556 and we ran up the the motorway. At junction 19 we got onto the Southbound M6. As we travelled down the M6 we saw an unidentified JH Coaches coach, Malbank Coaches YN58 CFP, Stanway's BIG 7013, white minibus HK56 UZO, ABC Supremen KX13 DZL and an unidentified white Jones coach. At junction 16 we left the M6 and joined the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 were a handful of unidentified Tyrer coaches, an unidentified Ellison's coach and an unidentified AVA Coaches coach. At Sideway we came off the A500 and we joined the Eastbound A50. At Longton we ran along the high level A50 and we did a u-turn at the East end of town to see what was parked up at Z Carz. We turned left into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW in the compound.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

We ran Westwards along the A50 and we cam of at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. For a late tea bangers and mash with carrots followed by jam filled shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.

Trip to Middleton / Miles Platting 14-10-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
30945	Middleton BS	Oldham BS	59	First Manchester
30960	Oldham BS	Miles Platting, adj Varley St	83	First Manchester
30936	Miles Platting, opp Varley St	Chadderton Precinct (Stop B)	181	First Manchester
37468	Chadderton Precinct (Stop A)	Middleton BS	59	First Manchester
30947	Middleton BS	Mills Hill Station (Stop B)	59	First Manchester
30946	Mills Hill Station (Stop A)	Cheetham Hill, Woodlands Rd	59	First Manchester
37470	Cheetham Hill, Waterloo Road	Middleton BS	59	First Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. We had checked the weather and it was for mainly dry cloudy weather with the chance of an odd shower, but warm for the time of the year around 18'. We gave Matthew a choice of destinations from the Midlands and North West and from the list Matthew chose Middleton. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the Westbound A50 and then turned right onto the A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton and we ran up to Etruria to fill up with LPG. After we had filled up we returned to the A500 along the A53. We continued Northwards for a few miles and we joined the Northbound M6. Seen on the M6 as we travelled Northwards were ABC Supreme FY52 NSV, National Holidays NH63 EYH & Galloway YJ14 CDX.

Galloway YJ14 CDX on the M6

We came off the M6 at junction 19 and we ran Eastwards along the A556 to the M56. This was the first time that I had used this road since it had been re-built and I have to say it was a big improvement over the old road. We continued onto the M56 and then forwardsonto the anti-clockwise M56 and we passed Stockport & Hyde before coming off the M60 at the A576. We ran the last couple of miles into Middleton along the A756 and we parked i the small car park by MacDonalds. Once we had parked went into the shopping centre stopping at the toilets. We went around to the bus station and we had dinner at the food van on to pavement opposite to the bus station. Matthew had a sausage and egg barm with some fries, washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw First Manchester 30957 and 30962 on #59's between Manchester and Oldham. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and as we walked up to the bus station we saw required First Manchester 30945 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 30945 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we book System One bus only tickets at £5.60 each before we went upstairs and sat down. We left Middleton bus station and we went East out of town along the A669. A couple of miles out of town we crossed under the railway line by Mills Hill railway station and we carried on another 3 miles or so through Chadderton. We crossed under Oldham Way and we ran forwards onto West Street and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus and we headed to the toilet. Once we had used the facilities we had a look around to see what buses we could catch. We saw dud Rosso 219 on a #408 to Shaw.

Rosso 219 in Oldham bus station

We also saw dud First Manchester 42941 on a #415 to Middleton.

First Manchester 42941 in Oldham bus station

We had a look around to see what we could do next and as we were about to go to the other half of the bus station we saw an unidentified First Manchester ALX400 double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 30964.

First Manchester 30964 in Oldham bus station

We walked over to the stop but this bus appeared to be going out of service. Almost immediately we saw another ALX400 double decker. It was required First Manchester 30960 on a #83 to Manchester.

First Manchester 30960 in Oldham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the bus driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off down West Street and at the bottom of the hill we turned left onto King Street. At the next junction we turned right onto Manchester Street and we ran South Eastwards towards Manchester city centre. We were on wide urban dual carriageway and we travelled through Failsworth and Newton Heath. We ran along the A62 for around 6 miles and just after we crossed lover the A6010 we got up and got off the bus. As we were getting up we saw a coach on the other side of the road by the bus stop. So we crossed over the A62 and walked up to the bus stop where we saw Rothwells coach RIB 4404.

Rothwells RIB 4404 in Miles Platting

We looked at the stop and we studied the timetable to see when the next bus was due. There was a #181 to Shaw due in a few minutes and it was going North via Chadderton. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 30936 on a #181 to Shaw.

First Manchester 30936 in Miles Platting

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the bus driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off up the A62 and we ran for just under a mile before we turned left onto Dean Street. We continued onto St Mary's Road and we went past the old Newton Heath railway shed as we travelled North. We continued onto Nuthurst Road and at the next big junction we joined the Northbound A663. We travelled North for around 2 1/2 mile and then we turned right onto A669 and we got up and got of the bus outside the shopping centre in Chadderton. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 30936 before it carried on towards Shaw.

First Manchester 30936 in Chadderton

Once we saw the bus set off we walked into the shopping centre and visited the newsagent by the entrance. Matthew ad a bottle of Coke and a chocolate bar and we also brought a pack of tissues. As we headed back onto the A669 we saw a Middleton bound bus approaching. It was required First Manchester 37468.

First Manchester 37468 in Chadderton

We crossed the road at the pelican crossing and as there were quite a few people boarding the bus we were able to get across quickly enough... We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the bus driver before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off along the A669 and travelled the straight Road via Mills Hill railway station into Middleton. At the roundabout we entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet and whilst in there we saw First Manchester 30947 go past on a #59 to Oldham. Once Matthew came out of the toilet we walked around to the Oldhem stand and First Manchester 30947 was still there.

First Manchester 30947 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the bus driver before we went upstairs. As the rear of the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 30947 before we sat down.

Inside First Manchester 30947

It wasn't until we set off we realised that this was a bus that we had been on before! We made a quick decision to make a shortish journey on the bus and we would catch something back through Middleton to Cheetham Hill. We came off the roundabout and onto the A669 we ran the mile out of town to Mills Hill station and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 30947 as it carried on towards Oldham.

First Manchester 30947 in Mills Hill

We crossed over the road and we stood at the stop to wait for a Westbound #59. We had around a 10 minutes wait for the bus and we saw another First Manchester ALX400 double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 30946 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 30946 in Mills Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The upper saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 30946 before we sat down.

Inside First Manchester 30946

The bus set off along the A669 and we ran Westwards for about a mile until we got to Middleton. We joined the bus station off the roundabout and we stopped for a short while before we continued out of town along the A576. We crossed over the M60 and we ran past Heaton Park and down through Crumpsall to Cheetham Hill. We turned left onto Cheetham Hill Road and we ran down through the centre of town. We decided to go one stop further than we had been before so we continued down to the point just before the bus turned right into Waterloo Road where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 30946 before it continued towards Manchester.

First Manchester 30946 in Cheetham Hill

We got off the bus and we crossed over the road. There were road works going on and we saw that the bus stop was possibly out of use due to resurfacing. As we looked around the corner we saw a #59 to Oldham approaching, so we took a chance and stood at the stop and flagged the bus down as it came around the corner. The bus did stop and it was required First Manchester 37470 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 37470 in Cheetham Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off up Cheetham Hill Road and after around a 1/3 of a mile we turned right onto the A576. As we passed Bowker Vale tram stop we saw C&S Coaches minibus PO62 AGX. We continued up the hill past Heaton Park and we crossed over the M60. WE ran the last 2 or so miles into Middleton and we entered the bus station off the roundabout. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37470 before we got off the bus.

Inside First Manchester 37470

Once we got off the bus we met up with mum and we decided to have a last walk around the bus station and take a few more bus pictures. We saw required First Manchester 30955 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 30955 in Middleton bus station

We walked out of the bus station and stood outside the shopping centre and Matthew got another picture of First Manchester 37470 before it carried on towards Oldham.

First Manchester 37470 in Middleton bus station

We walked around to the other side of the bus station and we saw required First Manchester 37290 on layover between working on the #19 to Langley.

First Manchester 37290 in Middleton bus station

We also saw required First Manchester 39208 on the #17 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39208 in Middleton bus station

We walked over to where the car was parked near to McDonalds and we saw new minibus Diamond cars SD17 OAH parked up between duties.

Diamond cars SD17 OAH in Middleton

We got back in the car and mum had brought Greggs sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We set off onto Limetrees Road and we ran Westwards towards the A576. We ran the 2 or so miles down to the M60 and we joined the clockwise carriageway. We ran South around Manchester and through Stockport. As we travelled around we saw an unidentified Maynards Travel coach and Mercedes minibus & Andy's PO53 WVX. We came off the M60 onto the M56 and we ran near to Manchester Airport before joining the Westbound A556. We joined the M6 at junction 19 and we ran Southwards through Cheshire. As we travelled South we saw white minibus BG55 XAM. We got onto the Southbound A500 and we saw Leon's Coaches 214, an unidentified Afford Rent-a-car minibus in the MAN garage at Shelton, & Alfa 88. We came off at Sideway onto the A50 and we ran up to Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground. We turned left into Willow Row and we couldn't see anything in the compound either! We ran back along the A50 to Heron Cross and we came off the A50 onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. We chiiled out on the sofa and we wrote a couple of e-mails and watched television. Matthew chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark