Trip to Tamworth / Sutton Coldfield 19-12-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4412	Tamworth bus interchange	Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham), Gracechurch Shopping Centre (Stop SD)	110	Arriva Midlands
4411	Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham), Gracechurch Shopping Centre (Stop SH)	Tamworth bus interchange	110	Arriva Midlands
3510	Tamworth bus interchange	Lichfield BS	786	Arriva Midlands
3723	Lichfield BS	Tamworth bus interchange	X60	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to revisit Tamworth. We had checked the weather for the midlands and North West and the better weather seemed to be to the South, It was still going to be wet and mild, but not as wet as the North West. We gave Matthew a choice of Midlands destinations and from the list he chose Tamworth. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and we headed on to the A5035. We went West to the A34 and then we went South towards Stone. As we passed by Stone we saw D&G 170 on a #14 to Hanley and First Potteries 65027 on a #10 to Hanley. South of Stone we turned left onto the Eastbound A51. We passed through Weston & Colwich and we saw Arriva Midlands 3758 on a #825 to Stafford. Further South as we approached Lichfield we passed Arriva Midlands 3765 on another #825 to Stafford. We drove into the centre of Lichfield and as we followed the A51 around town we saw Arriva Midlands 2209 leaving Lichfield bus station on a #15 service. We carried on towards Tamworth and Hopwas and we followed Arriva Midlands 3509 out of Lichfield as it turned towards Whittington. Further down the road we passed Central buses YX63 ZYK on a X55 service. We got into town and we tried to park in the usual car park but it was full today. The council had made it a free car park for the day. We parked on Church Street and we walked up Corporation Street alongside the bus interchange as we headed to the cafe. On the corner we saw required Arriva Midlands 3017 on the #3A to Coton Green.

Arriva Midlands 3017 in Tamworth bus interchange

Matthew went to use the toilet in the tourist information office and then we headed over to the cafe where mum was ordering the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a small bottle of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked back over to the bus interchange on Corporation Street. We decided to do the first bus that we saw which happened to be dud Arriva Midlands 4412 which was on the #110 to Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 4412 in Tamworth bus interchange

We got on the bus and we booked an Arriva Midlands Day Saver at £6.20 before going upstairs. The back of the top deckk was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 4412.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4412

At 14:00 the bus set off out of the interchange and right into Church Street. The car had gone! Just then mum text to say she had found a space in the car park and moved it! We carried on Westwards along Lichfield Street before turning left onto Tamedrive. We crossed the rivers Anker and Tame and we turned left onto Riverdrive. In the distance you can see holiday Inn Express which looks a bit like a giant dustbin lorry. We turned right onto the A4091 and we went past the end of Ventura Park shopping complex. We continued South to Fazeley before turning right onto The B5404 and we headed up to Mile Oak. Just before we got to the crossroad we were passed by Arriva Midlands 4409 running out of service. We turned left onto A453 for a fast run down to the Bassetts Pole roundabout. The weather was awful.. It was dull and gloomy and there was lots of rain! We crossed the A38 and the M6 toll road and we turned left onto the B4148. As we approached Rectory Road we saw National Express West Midlands single decker 2247 emerge from the turning. We turned right onto Rectory Road and we passed the Good Hope hospital and the adjacent cemetery. We crossed under a railway bridge and we turned right onto Coleshill Road. We turned left onto the A5127 and we went straight across onto the Lower Parade were we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 4412 before it carried on towards Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 4412 in Sutton Coldfield

When we got in to Sutton Coldfield I decided to take Matthew to the pub we had been to last time to use the toilet. I don't usually wear my Stoke City coat outside of Staffordshire, so on the bus down I had swapped my coat over for a fleece that was in the bag. On the way to the pub we saw National Express West Midlands 2235 on a #71 to Solihull Station.

NX West Midlands 2235 in Sutton Coldfield

We went into the pub and Matthew headed straight to the toilet. After he had used the facilities we headed to the bar to get a glass of Coke for Matthew. I ordered Matthew a drink and my cover was blown immediately when the barmaid said 'Is that a Stoke Accent I hear?' Damn! We finished the drink and then we headed back onto the street. As we got back onto the Lower Parade we saw National Express West Midlands 4327 on a #6 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 4327 in Sutton Coldfield

We found a bus shelter near to where we needed to be for the return bus and Matthew sat down for a while. Whilst there Matthew ate a bag of Milky Stars. We then saw Arriva Midlands 4200 on a #110 to Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 4200 in Sutton Coldfield

This was followed by National Express West Midlands 6756 on a #77 to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 6756 in Sutton Coldfield

We also saw National Express West Midlands 4057 on a #5 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 4057 in Sutton Coldfield

A few minutes later we saw the #110 service approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva Midlands 4411.

Arriva Midlands 4411 in Sutton Coldfield

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver before going upstairs. We set off up the lower parade and we turned right onto the A5127. We turned left onto Coleshill Road and we turned left again onto Riland Road. At the end of Riland Road we turned right onto rectory Road and we passed iGo Enviro200 126 on the #168 service. We passed the cemetery and he hospital and at the end of Rectory Road we turned left onto the B4148. We traveled North for a few hundred yards and we then we turned right onto the A453. We crossed over the M6 toll and the A38 and we ran fast up to Mile Oak. We turned right onto Watling Street and we ran East to Fazeley. St Fazeley Square we turned left and we stop for a minute or so to wait time. Whilst we were were there we were passed by Arriva Midlands 3500 on a #115 service. We carried on North up the A4091 ans we passed Ventura Park before turning left onto the A51. We turned right and crossed over the rivers before going right again onto Lichfield Street. We turned left at Aldergate and we turned right into corporation Street and into the bus interchange. As we were getting off the bus Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 4411.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4411

When we came into the bus station we saw a bus on the stop behind us. It was dud Arriva Midlands 3504 on a #785 to Polesworth.

Arriva Midlands 3504 in Tamworth bus interchange

We turned it down because we have never been to Polesworth and we weren't sure of the frequency of the bus service. Matthew wanted the toilet so we visited the tourist information so that he could use the facilities. When we came out we saw required Arriva Midlands 3501 on a #65 to Nuneaton.

Arriva Midlands 3501 in Tamworth bus interchange

We considered doing Arriva Midlands 3017 which was on the #3A to coton Green but by the time we walked to the other end of the interchange it had already departed. We walked back to the other end of the interchange and we saw required Arriva Midlands 3510 arrive on a #786 to Lichfield.

Arriva Midlands 3510 in Tamworth bus interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver. Nobody else got on the bus and it seemed a little odd... I told the driver 'I always feel suspicious when I get on a bus and nobody else does'. It felt like I was pushing in... Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus before we sat down.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3510

We seemed to wait for ages and then we drew forwards a little. A bus pulled up behind us and it was an X60 service to Lichfield. That bus went in front of us and then we had a driver change! We waited for a further 10 minutes before we set off out of town. We turned right onto Church Street and forwards onto Lichfield street. we turned left and went over the rivers and we went into the Ventura Park. We whizzed around the shopping park and we returned back over the river before turning left onto the A51. We traveled west through Hopwas and past the pigs in space at the Packington free range pig farm, not that we could see them as it was now properly dark! We turned right at Whittington and we went through the barracks and into the village. We traveled back down country roads and we rejoined the A51. We ran into town and under the railway line before we turned right onto Birmingham Road. We got off the bus and we saw Arriva Midlands 3757 which was on a #825 to Stafford.

Arriva Midlands 3757 in Lichfield bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and then we had a walk around the bus station to take a few picture before we caught a bus back to Tamworth. Whilst Matthew was in the toilet Midland Classic 3 departed on a #21 town service. We saw required Central Buses AE06 ZBT On a Route66 service.

Central Buses AE06 ZBT in Lichfield bus station

A few seconds later required Arriva Midlands 3740 came in on a X60 to Cannock.

Arriva Midlands 3740 in Lichfield bus station

An Arriva Midlands Dart come in and leave out of service. It was required Arriva Midlands 2276. We then saw a Midland Classic bus come in stop on the opposite side of the bus station. We walked over to it and we saw that it was dud Midland Classic 81.

Midland Classic 81 in Lichfield bus station

We walked back over to the Tamworth stop and we saw Central Buses YX63 ZXL. The next Arriva bus to Tamworth was due in a few minutes. Eventually it turned up and it was required Arriva Midlands 3723.

Arriva Midlands 3723 in Lichfield bus station

We went to the rear of the bus to get a picture and the central buses left and the Arriva Bus moved up the stop making us think it was leaving for a minute! The bus stopped and we walked up to it and got on. We flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver for the last the time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus sat for a couple of minutes and then we left the bus station and turned right onto Birmingham Road. At the crossroads we turned left onto the A51 and we went under the railway line and out of town. At the Shell petrol station we turned left to follow the A51 and we ran up to the Staffordshire Regiment museum. As it was the X60 the journey back took half the time that the #786 journey did going the other way! We flew down the hill through Hopwas and we hit the west end of Tamworth in around 15 minutes! We ran into town along Lichfield street and Aldergate before entering the interchange on Corporation Street. Matthew waited for the bus to empty and he took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3723.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3723

We headed back to the car and mum was waiting for us with Greggs sausage rolls and Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru. We left town via Aldergate and Lichfield street and we got onto the Westbound A51. We traveled back via lLichfield, weskirted North of Rugeley and came into Stone via Colwich and Weston. As we passed west of Stone we saw City Cabs minibus BX07 KXB, as well as First Potteries 65042 on the #10. At Trentham we turned Right onto the a503 and we ran through Trentham, Blurton and Dresden up to Longton. At Longton we went past Z carz to see what was parked up there tonight. part way along the front row was Z Carz BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

next to that was Z Carz taxi minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

At the front of the second row was another vehicle out of the taxi fleet, Z Carz NA06 SUO.

Z Carz NA06 SUO in Longton

Behind that was Z carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned onto Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. There were a couple of minibus here... First we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

We also saw Z carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We got back on the A50 upper level following D&G 174 and we crossed over the A50 so that we could visit the petrol station at Tesco. We topped up with diesel and we saw Copelands tours Bova coach MIB 520 go past whilst we were there. We crossed the A50 to join onto it, and we passed Scraggs VT 9389 and First Potteries 32079 going the other way. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We carried on up to Church Road and we turned right onto Beaconsfied Drive. We got home around 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until 01:00... Mark

Trip to Bolton / Horwich 17-08-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1873	Bolton BS	Egerton, Blackburn Road/Egerton Post Office (NW-bound)	1	Transdev Lancashire United
1874	Egerton, Blackburn Road/The Globe (SE-bound)‎	Bolton BS	1	Transdev Lancashire United
15570	Bolton BS	Horwich, Church Street/Bridge Inn (W-bound)	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15573	Horwich, Church Street/Leisure Centre (E-bound)‎‎	Bolton BS	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15583	Bolton BS	Montserrat, o/s Hse 1126 Chorley Old Road/Montserrat Road‎	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15575	Montserrat, Chorley Old Rd/Montserrat Rd (SE-bound)‎‎	Bolton BS	125	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to revisit Bolton. I wasn't sure why he wanted to go to Bolton this week, but given a list of places Matthew chose Bolton. I checked the football fixtures and they weren't playing at home today, they were away at Nottingham Forest. Other research for today consisted of studying the Bolton bus map and checking the weather which was for heavy rain! Matthew got up around 10:00 today. He had a slice of toast and some orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 today, going via Heron Cross and Fenton to pick up uncle Dave. we saw First Potteries 42726 on the #23A service. We got onto the A500 and we passed Ambassador Coach Travel FN52 HRG going the other way. We got onto the M6 and headed North. There was quite a bit of traffic on the road but it was moving well. We went east on the M62 and then onto the clockwise M60. We did this the short distance to the M61 and then onto the A666. At the edge of town we turned left and headed around to find a car parking space. We parked in a small car park off Deansgate within sight of the bus station. Right by the car park was one of the new buses for First Manchester 67406. It was being used for publicity on Black Horse Street, to demonstrate the quality new buses at First's Bolton depot. Matthew went on board to investigate and he was given a balloon and some stickers. I explained that we weren't local and Matthew like buses. I asked him if we were doing First or Arriva buses today and he said Arriva. That didn't go down too well! In the end as it will be seen he chose neither. I went to take the balloon back to the car and while I was unlocking the car the balloon escaped! Matthew just watched in amusement and said 'bye bye'...Matthew took an arty picture of First Manchester 67406.

First Manchester 67406 in Bolton

We saw 67403 work past on a #501 service and then we headed towards the market to get something to eat. Matthew used the temporary toilets by the market and then we went to eat at the place called the cosy cafe on the outside of the market. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. it was at this point that I realised that I did not have my phone! i had left it on charge at home. This meant no accurate time (I don't wear a watch), no electronic memo to record bus sightings and haulage on, no communication to tell mum when we were done and no checking on which buses we had been on. Mum purchased a notebook and we had a pen and a watch off her. We agreed to meet in the bus station by the news stand at 17:00 unless I called her from a phonebox. We said goodbye and we set off through the bus station. The first ting we saw was Arriva NW&W 4058 was parked up in the bus station. As Matthew had recently done a Transdev bus or two in Blackburn I thought he may want to do one today. So I had looked up how far the bs could be done on a System One ticket, which was Egerton. We saw required Transdev Lancashire United 1873 on a #1 service and I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. He got a picture of it before we got on.

Transdev Lancashire United 1873 in Bolton

As I got on I thought that they might not sell System One tickets with them only visiting Greater Manchester on this service. Luckily they did, so we booked our tickets and sat down near the back. It was a very well used service with most seats being filled on the start of this journey. We set off up the very busy corridor towards Astley Bridge. Most of the other service are operated by Arriva NW&W in this direction. We saw JH Coaches minibus V949 HKW as we climbed the big hill out of Bolton. I looked at the map so we could see how we were progressing along. When we got into town as such we got off and then crossed the road. At the stop we saw there was another hourly service, which turns out is operated by First, but we had just missed that one. The next one back was due at 14:36 and was another #1 service. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching from down the hill. It got closer and we saw it was required Transdev Lancashire United 1874.

Transdev Lancashire United 1874 in Egerton

We got on and sat down near the back. The inbound service was almost empty, a big contrast to the one we caught up to Egerton. We soon got back into town and when we got back the bus emptied out and Matthew got a picture inside this bus.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 1874

When we got back we had a bit of a wander around taking bus pictures. We walked over to the Arriva side of the bus station and we took a picture of Arriva NW&W 4058.

Arriva NW&W 4058 in Bolton bus station

We then walked back into one of the middle stands. Arriva NW&W hybrid 4496 was out on the #534 service. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said no. We took pictures of this bus anyway.

Arriva NW&W 4496 in Bolton bus station

Behind 4496 arrived Stagecoach Lancashire 15570. At this point with no phone we didn't know if it was required. It turned out that it was required. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. He got a picture of the bus and we walked over to it.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15570 in Bolton bus station

We booked to Horwich and went upstairs. The rear of the top deck as empty and Matthew got a picture inside the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15570

The bus set off through town and it started to rain. As we left the bus station we passed First Manchester 33701 on a #501 service. We also passed First Manchester 12001 on a #471 service. We headed up through Brownlow Fold and up over Montserrat Brow. We passed an unusual bus on the #125 which was Stagecoach Lancashire 15839. We then headed down the hill into Horwich. We got off one stop later than we had done on our previous bus because I though that we would have a choice of service. As we got off Matthew took another picture of 15570.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15570 in Horwich

We walked back towards the crossing and the stop back to Bolton. We had got ff too soon again as the only extra service from this stop was the #517 to Leigh. As we were about to cross we spotted and photographed Stagecoach Lancashire 15573 on the Bolton bound service.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15573 in Horwich

We casually walked over the road and the bus was still waiting at the stop. We got on the bus and went upstairs. The back of the bus was empty so Matthew took his picture here.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15573

We sat down and the bus set off back towards Bolton. when we got down to Brownlow Fold we passed 33729 on the #519. we passed the Market Hall and Matthew was looking over at it. A bit further along we saw a distant Arriva DLA which was probably 4058, as it had gone by the time we got back to the bus station. When we got off the bus Matthew decided to walk back to the market hall through very heavy rain! We went up the escalators and down in the lift, and then back up the escalators when we realised where the toilets were! After using the toilet Matthew went into a few shops to say hello to people. He also took a picture of Moss. A new suit is required perhaps...?

Moss inside the Market Hall Bolton

We came out of the Market Hall and headed back towards the bus station. At this point we saw required Arriva NW&W 2565 go by towards Bolton. Matthew decided to say hello to someone and had me running about 200 yards after him as went to catch them up. We stopped at the car briefly on the way back to get a bottle of Irn Bru and to update mum on the current bus situation. By the time we reached the bus station we were all soaked through. Arriva NW&W 4057 arrived in the layover area, parking up where 4058 had been earlier. Required Arriva NW&W MPD 894 had also parked up. Arriva 4496 had returned again and I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and again he said no. I asked if he wanted to do the stagecoach bus behind and he said yes. It was Stagecoach Lancashire 15583 which I thought might be dud and it turned out to be true.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15583 in Bolton bus station

We got on and sat down upstairs. We had been on this bus before back in June.The bus was quite well filled and as such he didn't get a picture inside. It was now 16:30ish and we knew we couldn't do it very far. as we left the bus station we saw another bendy bus on the #471 service, first Manchester 12010. We decided to do it up to Montserrat so we had a choice of buses to go back to Bolton on. We passed First Manchester 33729 on the #519 so we knew we wouldn't get that bus today. We got off and crossed the road. The next bus back was in around 5 minutes. Both the #125 and the #519 we due at the same time. Stagecoach Lancashire 15575 came first and we decided to do it.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15575 on Montserrat Brow

This bus turned out to be dud too. We had been on 15575 on the same day in June that we had been on 15583. The bus was empty Matthew got his picture straight away.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15575

We headed back into Bolton in an almost empty bus. We got back in no time and we decided to take a few pictures and dodge in and out of the stands to try and avoid getting wet again. One of the picture we got was of First Manchester Bury's 69137 on the #524 service.

First Manchester 69137 in Bolton bus station

We also spotted South Lancs Travel 57 on a #574 service.

South Lancs Travel 57 in Bolton bus station

On the opposite side of the bus station stand was Stagecoach Manchester 36075. We walked back to the car which was now parked by the Job Centre as mum had moved it closer. The newsagents by stand A in the bus station was closed so we had to find somewhere to get lottery tickets. There was a newsagent around the corner so we drove back around the block and parked as close as we legal could It was still raining heavily. I went to get the tickets thinking Matthew wouldn't want to go out again in the heavy rain. I was followed shortly by mum and Matthew and we left uncle Dave in the car. As well as the lottery tickets we bought 2 cans of Coke, and a Galaxy Caramel. Back in the car we headed out of town and onto the A666. visibility was awful, but people were still driving like it was a dry clear day. we got onto the anticlockwise M60 and the matrix sign was flashing to say that the M6 had long delays from junction 21A to junction 19. Having seen this sign I decided to carry on around the M60 down to the M56. We crossed over Manchester ship canal and then passed through Northenden passed the Britannia Hotel, where we had stood waiting for Stagecoach Manchester 19405 to Altrincham back February 2012. We got onto the westbound M56 and then onto the A556 so we could join on the M6 at junction 19. The problem had caused the Northbound A556 to back up too. We sailed down the A556 and onto the M6. We carried on down to the A500 and then onto the A50. At Z carz today there were only 3 buses. First we saw new coach ALZ 8539.

Z Carz ALZ 8539 in Longton

Behind that was airport transfer minibus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

Parked behind DL03 HHU was OV05 WSW. There was nothing in the Willow Row side of the depot and we headed back down Longton Hall Road. We followed First Potteries 40010 on a #22 to Newcastle down through Blurton and we passed First Potteries 53830 on a #23. we got home a little before 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash followed by a choc ice. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark