Trip to Earlestown / St Helens 14-07-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2989	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
2214	St Helens BS	Clock Face, opp Green Dragon	33	Arriva NW&W
7570	Clock Face, opp Green Dragon	St Helens, Baldwin Street (Stand D5)	33A	Arriva NW&W
2328	St Helens BS	New Boston, opp Vista Road	20	Arriva NW&W
2493	New Boston, opp Haydock Ram's Head	Earlestown BS	20	Arriva NW&W
23	Earlestown BS	Newton le Willows, o/s Newton Station	22	Network Warrington
MW52 UCC	Newton le Willows, o/s Newton Station	Earlestown BS	141	Hatton's Travel

Today we should have been going to Skelmersdale but we decided to go back towards Earlestown and St Helens again as there are so many interesting buses here that we haven't been on. No research was done for the trip with the exception of finding the St Helens bus from when we came in January. The weather had been forecast as mainly dry with the odd shower with some sunshine. We set off around 12:15 today, getting LPG from Longport garage on the way. We carried on North along the A500 and then onto the M6. Traffic was quite light today and we made good time. We had a quick stop at Newton-le-Willows railway station to pick up Saveaway tickets and then off we went again. We got into Earlestown around 13:30. A we walked from the car park to the cafe Matthew took this picture of Network Warrington 40 on the #22 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 40 near Earlestown bus station

We then went to dinner at the same cafe as we ate at last week. Three small breakfast and a sausage sandwich came to around £13. Whilst we waited for the food to came I went and fetch the sausage rolls for later and then put them in the car. When I got back the food arrive and we ate up. After we had finished we had a quick visit to the toilets before walking back to the bus station. As before mum came with us to help out again. Back at the bus station we had a choice of 2 different services. There was a 34 at 14:00 and a #20 at 14:05. Surprisingly Matthew chose to to do the #34 which was required Arriva NW&W 2989.

Arriva NW&W 2989 in Earlestown bus station

This newish bus was quite a pleasant journey, and we made good time into St Helens. On arrival in town Matthew got a picture of the empty interior of this bus.

Inside 2989

Whilst here we decided to spend a little time seeing which buses were working and taking a few pictures to see what we buses might do. One such bus bus was Arriva NW&W 2314 which was on a #31 to Parr.

Arriva NW&W 2314 in St Helens bus station

Another bus we saw was Arriva NW&W 2349. We also saw Arriva NW&W Scania 1055 which was on a #34 to Leigh.

Arriva NW&W 1055 in St Helens bus station

We had a quick visit to the travel office for timetables and as we came out we saw Arriva NW&W 2101 on a #36A service to Chain Lane.

Arriva NW&W 2101 in St Helens bus station

We also saw required Arriva Dart 7560 but we did not get round to it in time. When required Arriva NW&W 2214 came in on a #33 service to Sutton Heath Matthew decided that we could do this one. Doing 2214 complete us getting the last one of the current X-ANC allocation of Darts a Jackson Street depot. We did the bus to near the end of the run. We got off at a stop that we knew the #33A also traveled down so that we could make sure we caught one of those if it was next in the sequence. As we got off Matthew got a picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2214 in Clockface

We now had just over a ten minute wait for the return bus. We saw 2214 go back into town and we also saw Halton 1 on a #17A to St Helens. In the opposite direction we saw ex Rhyl Arriva NW&W Dart 2350 going towards Widnes.

Arriva NW&W 2350 in Clockface

A couple of minute later we could see out bus approaching in the distance through a gap in the hedge. We could see that it wasn't in interurban colours so that it was probably going to be an older un-refurbished example. As it turn the corner we could see it was required Arriva NW&W 7570.

Arriva NW&W 7570 in Clockface

We got on the bus and we sat at the back with Matthew and me sitting on a rear facing seat by the emergency exit. as we traveled back we were caught up by a #35 which was required 7650. The bus did stop in the bus station as such and went straight along Bickerstaffe Street. We weren't able to get off for a few hundred yards and when we got off Matthew took a picture of the inside step of this bus.

Inside 7570

We then walked back to the bus station. It was a fair walk and mum was struggling stop we stopped on a bench outside the town hall. After mum had caught up and she had had a breather we carried on to the bus station. When we got back it was hard for Matthew to decided which bus he wanted to catch. We saw Arriva 7563 on a #34, but we had been on this last week.

Arriva NW&W 7563 in St Helens bu station

We also saw Comfybus MX09 MJK on a #152 Rainford service, but this was going completely in the wrong direction for us to get back to the car.

Comfybus MX09 MJK in St Helens bus station

We also turned down 1055 on a #34. We told Matthew he could do a couple more buses in Earlestown as long as he head back in the right direction. We considered the dud but interesting Arriva NW&W 2102 which was on the #329 Warrington, but we missed it by the time we had walked around. He also saw Arriva 1042 on the #89 to Liverpool Airport, but once again it was in the wrong direction. Another bus that we didn't do was Arriva NW&W 2316. The next #20 was an interesting Dart. It was Arriva NW&W 2328. It wasn't required as we had been on it when it was a Chester allocated bus, but at least it was in the right direction. We got on and Matthew got a picture of the unusual interior in this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2328

We got on the bus and we did it to the end of the run, Which incidentally we think was the exactly the same service we did 7634 on last weekend. Matthew got a picture of this bus as we got off.

Arriva NW&W 2328 in Haydock

As we needed to get drinks and lottery tickets we walked back a stop and to the off license on the corner. They didn't do the proper lottery and so we just got drinks and a single sweet for Matthew. We waited at the bus stop for the next #20 which was working through to Earlestown. Whilst we were waiting we saw dud Arriva NW&W 7559 coming the other way on a #20.

Arriva NW&W 7559 in Haydock

We also saw Strawberry 16 on a #602 service. Eventually our service turned up and was required Arriva NW&W 2493.

Arriva NW&W 2493 in Haydock

This is one of the Cadets out of the same batch as the Cadets that are allocated to Winsford. We did this bus back to Earlestown and got off. Mum then went to get some lollies and lottery tickets from in town and we let Matthew go on another couple of buses as promised. Just coming into the bus station after we got off was Network Warrington Dennis Dart 23 on a #22 service.

Network Warrington 23 in Earlestown bus station

We got on and Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.

Inside Network Warrington 23

The plan was to do it to near the edge of the ticket area and then to get a #34 or something back into town before we left. We did the bus to Newton-le-Willows station and Matthew reluctantly got off the bus. Matthew wanted o go the toilet at this point. I asked if he could wait until we got back to Earlestown and he said he could. As we waited for a bus back we saw Arriva NW&W 2454 on a #360 to Wigan. The first bus back was Hatton's Travel Dennis Dart MW52 UCC. As we have never been on one of there vehicles we decided to give it a go.The route back on the #141 is different from anything we had bee on. It takes in some of the route of the #34A and the #20 route too. I contacted mum to make sure the toilets were still open. Whilst traveling around we saw 2320 at the end of #20 route and also 1051 at the end of the #34A route. We soon got back into onto familiar territory and then we head back into the bus station. When we got off he then got a picture of this fine Dart.

Hatton's Travel MW52 UCC in Earlestown bus station

When we got back we headed to the car. Mum had found out the toilets had closed so we needed to find one somewhere else. We tried Earlestown railway station, but they don't have one. We ended up buy Matthew a drink in the pub opposite called the railway. Matthew said hello to a couple of girl in a hen party who were just starting there night in the that pub. After we had done we returned to the car for ice lollies and sausage rolls as we set off back towards home. We headed back to newton and then back onto the A49 and onto the M6. We then when back down to the A500 and then along the A50 to Longton. Matthew had already hinted that he wanted to go past the Z Carz depot as we had been told the day before that they may have a new coach. As we went past he got a picture of the relatively new to Z Carz coach V690 EBG.

Z Carz V690 EBG at their depot

We also saw BV51 BNO, T131 SGA, and W344 WNS at the depot. Inside the DS51 ZJU was in the workshop,M283 BLD was having a new seats,T408 JUX was having new decals applied.W187 RRE was foe scrap, S298 JOB was.having an engine change, T131 SGA was at the depot. We returned home via Heron Cross and saw Lightning Travel NX03 JYJ parked up. We also saw First Potteries 40015 on a #22 and 40003 on one of the evening #23 services. We then drove home, getting back around 19:00. We then settled down at home and had Sausage and mash for tea before bedtime..Mark

Trip to Earlestown / St Helens 07-07-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1051	Earlestown BS	Wargrave, o/s St Davids Church	34A	Arriva NW&W
1050	Wargrave, o/s Labour Club	Earlestown BS	34A	Arriva NW&W
2212	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	20	Arriva NW&W
2983	St Helens BS	New Boston, opp Vista Road	320	Arriva NW&W
2212	New Boston, adj Vista Road	Blackbrook, adj Ireland Road	20	Arriva NW&W
7634	Blackbrook, adj Stanton Close	New Boston, opp Vista Road	20	Arriva NW&W
2212	New Boston, opp Vista Road	Earlestown BS	20	Arriva NW&W
7563	Earlestown BS	Earlestown, opp Newton College	34	Arriva NW&W

Today we went to Earlestown. We hadn't made any plans for today but Matthew insisted on going out again. We gave him a list of places he had been before plus Earlestown. I had visited this place recently I thought it would be a good place to take Matthew. Matthew of course chose Earlestown! No planning had been done whatsoever for this trip, although I did have paper copies of the #34 and the #x20 Arriva timetables in my possession. The weather had been really bad the day before, and so we looked at the weather forecast with great interest. The forecast for today was for sunshine and showers. We set off around 12:15 and headed North. We went North along the M6 until we reached the A49. We then went through Winwick and then on to Newton-le-Willows railway station. We asked Matthew if he wanted to do just Arriva bubs or do anything and he chose anything, and so we purchased Saveaway tickets so we could potentially catch any bus in Merseyside and the Wirral (or even a train too!). We then drove on to Earlestown. We drove straight through town and out the other side missing the turning for the bus station. As we drove around we saw 3 scania's working on #34 or #34A's including required 1042. After we turned around we parked up in free car park adjacent to the bus station. First order of the day was to eat and so we visited a cafe called Crumpets just around the corner from the bus station. We sat inside and ordered 3 breakfasts and a sausage sandwich. After breakfast we used the facilities before walking back to the bus station. We got back to the bus station and there was a dud Dart on the #34 to St Helens, 2213. This is a bus we had been on earlier this year.

Arriva NW&W 2213 in Earlestown bus station

The plan at this point was to wait until 14:25 for a Leigh bound #34. As we waited we saw a #34A, and it was required 1051 so we decided to do it. Once again mum came with us. We got on and decided to do it part way around the end and then get off and wait 20 minutes for the following service. When we got to the turning point of the bus we got off. Matthew got a picture of this soon to be withdrawn step-entranced bus.

Arriva NW&W 1051 in Wargrave

We got off and although there was a shelter here there was no seat, so we decided to walk back into town one stop. It was now warm and sunny. The humidity made it feel very uncomfortable even though it was on a round 20'. We gave Matthew a drink to try and cool him down. After nearly 20 minutes we could see the reflection of the bus on the shops as it approached from around the corner. It was another Scania! As it got closer we could see it was required 1050.

Arriva NW&W 1050 in Wargrave

We got on the near empty bus and rode back into Earlestown. A few more people got on and off and by the time we got back into the bus station the bus had emptied again. Back at the bus station we were going o wait for a #34 towards Leigh. At this point mum was going to go fetch the sausage rolls whilst we did a quick out and back. The #34 to Leigh turned up and it was some kind of Pulsar so Matthew turned it down. At the same time a #20 to St Helens came in and it was required Arriva 2212. Matthew got the picture.

Arriva NW&W 2212 in Earlestown bus station

We decided to do this, with the plan being we could do this part way and then get another #20 back. Forgetting about the fact that the #20 goes past Earlestown., I thought that we could probably make it to Haydock for the next #20 back, but as we left Earlestown, we passed required Dennis Dart 7634 going the other way. We revised the plan, thinking that we could go most of the way to St Helens and then get off for the next Earlestown bus. Matthew had other ideas! He decided he wanted to go to St Helens and that we did. When we got there Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.

Inside 2212

St Helens bus station is quite a busy place,so the plan was to get on a bus as quickly as possible. As we walked around the bus station we saw Arriva Dart 2133. We also saw ex Arriva Winsford Dart 7644. we were walking towards where the #34 and #20's depart and we saw KX59 CYW on a #138 followed by Hatton's interesting Dennis Dart P655 HEG.

Hatton's P655 HEG in St Helens bus station

As Scania 1053 appeared on stand going back towards Leigh, Matthew spotted a #320 with Arriva 2983 in charge. We decided to do this to Haydock and then to wait for the next #20. As we left town we passed the Earlestown #20 which was Arriva 2695. We also passed Arriva 7634 heading back into St Helens. We got off and 2695 was right behind us.

Arriva NW&W 2695 in Haydock

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said no. Right behind this was Arriva 2212 on a #20 to Haydock. It waited for a few minutes and then went around the square bit to got back to St Helens. It was at this point that we realised that the #20 Haydock and the #20 Earlestown bus services interwork. We decided to do this bus again to try and get Arriva 7634 on its next service which was going to be a short to Haydock. We got off in an area called Blackbrook. Matthew spotted a shop and we went in to get some drinks of Coke and a Milky Way. We crossed the road and waited for the bus, it was due around 16:19 from here. Bang on time the bus appeared and we had worked out correctly that it was required Arriva 7634!

Arriva NW&W 7634 in Blackbrook

We did this service to the end of the run and then we had a 15 minute wait for the service to Earlestown. I now contacted mum to tell her we were on our way and she said she was going to get lollies for us to help cool down. The next #20 through to Earlestown was of course going to be 2212 which we got on for the third time that day after Matthew got his picture.

Arriva NW&W 2212 in Haydock

We did the bus back and the journey was quick. It is only booked to take 7 minutes. As we got into Earlestown bus station we could see a Dart on the #34 Leigh stop. It was required Dart 7563 and Matthew got a picture.

Arriva NW&W 7563 in Earlestown bus station

We should have gone back to the car at this point but Matthew was edging forwards. It is due for withdrawal soon being one of the older Darts in the Arriva fleet and Matthew wanted to do it. I told him he could only do the bus for a couple of stops and then I would have to call mum to tell her where to pick us up. I told her the plan by phone and I said I would call her back when I could direct her to pick us up. We did the bus out of the bus station,past Morrison's and the up Cross Lane. We got off the bus in Cross Lane towards the end. Matthew got a picture of this fine beast.

Arriva NW&W 7563 in Cross Lane

I called mum and gave her directions. It was nor starting to rain. Mum appeared a couple of minutes later an we got in the car. It then proceeded to bucket down. We ate our lollies and sausage rolls and then set off. We headed back onto the A572 and then followed directions for the M6 which took us onto the A580/M6 roundabout in Haydock. After joining the M6 we headed South through the heavy rain showers. The weather had cleared up again through Cheshire but as we reached junction 16 the rain started up again. Down the A500 and then the A34 to Newcastle it was raining heavily all the way. We went past the First garage and new liveried First Potteries 40018 was outside the depot. We went past the bus station and then along the A34 to Hanford. Matthew directed us back onto the Northbound A500 and then the Eastbound A50 to longton. Instead of directing us towards the Z Carz depot he took us back through fenton and then past Duke Street to Heron Cross. We then drove back home getting in the house a few minutes after 18:00 where we had Sausages and mash for tea...Mark

Trip to Southport 14-04-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7651	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
7637	Southport, Lord Street	Ainsdale	49A	Arriva NW&W
3090	Aindale	Carr Lane	49A	Arriva NW&W
2291	Carr Lane	Ainsdale	49A	Arriva NW&W
7637	Ainsdale	Carr Lane	49A	Arriva NW&W
7636	Carr Lane	Southport, Lord Street	46	Arriva NW&W
3044	Lord Street	Churchtown, adj Peel Lane	49A	Arriva NW&W
7655	High Park, adj Roe Lane	Southport, Lord Street	43	Arriva NW&W
7652	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	Kew P&R Southport	PR2	Arriva NW&W

Today we planned on going on a relatively simple trip, so we gave Matthew a few choices of places where he had been before. Of the places we gave him he settled for Southport. There wasn't much research done for this trip, but I did download all the Arriva Southport timetables to my phone, along with the Southport route map. Before the trip I also checked the Dennis Dart forum, and it seemed some of the new stock had been temporarily loaned out to do shuttle services at Aintree and so some of the older buses were working. It was a fine spring day, and as we were attempting to be back around 17:00 we set off earlier than usual today at around 10:30. We picked up mum's friend on the way and today we filled up with LPG in yard near festival park as it was cheaper than our usual garage. There was congestion on the A500 near Wolstanton due to an accident at the Asda turn off and there was further congestion at he end of the A500 due to roadworks. The M6 North was busy too but we kept moving all the way to the M58 where we cam off. Having seen Matthew looking at the Ormskirk Morrison's Menu on their website, I decided that we could call in here on the way to Southport as it was on the route. We arrived a little after 12:00 and we were sat down and eating around 12:30. For dinner Matthew had an All Day Breakfast and Coke and a lemon meringue for dessert. We left Ormskirk about 12:50 and we were at the Kew Park and Ride site just after 13:00. We parked up and waited for the bus. Matthew used the facilities and the bus rounded the corner. It was a Marshall Dart, and as it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 7651. A quick check of the page and I saw it was dud. Matthew rushed out of the toilet and then we got on the bus.

Arriva NW&W 7651 at Kew P&R

We rode the bus into town. It took a route on which we hadn't been on before and it we appeared in town next the railway station. We got off the bus on Lord Street and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this refurbished Dart.

Inside 7651

As we were staying local, we decided to go to Southport station and pick up Saveaway ticket for the bus today. After picking up tickets we returned to Lord street and waited on the Southbound side of the road for something interesting to turn up. We saw 7636 heading Northwards on a #43 and we also saw 2291 on a Northbound #49A. After a few minutes we could see a Marshall Dart heading South in the distance. As it got closer we could see it was on a #49A. As it got closer still we could see it was required 7637 and so we decided to do it.

Arriva NW&W 7637 in Lord Street

We booked to Ainsdale as we knew the move. On the way towards Ainsdale we passed at least one Marshall Dart going the other way. We got off outside the Co-op in Ainsdale and Matthew got another picture of this bus.

7637 in Ainsdale

After a quick visit to the Co-op for a drink and a chocolate bar, we crossed over the Road to wait for the return service. We could see it was a new bus approaching so we knew there was a very high chance it was required. As it got closer we could see it was required 3090.

Arriva NW&W 3090 in Ainsdale

As it was almost empty as we got on, Matthew got a picture as we boarded.

Inside 3090

As we were on something new, we decided to try something new. As we went North we passed 7563 on a #44 to Formby. We got off on Carr Lane so we could check out what was on the #43's and #46's too. We got off and almost immediately we saw a Wood Vale bound #49A with 3044. After a couple of minutes a #43 appeared and it was disappointingly 3089. We decided to wait for the next #49A as was only 12 minutes away and it might me something good. The time went quickly and eventually 2291 appeared.

Arriva NW&W 2291 on Carr Lane

We got on and I checked to see if we had been on this before. As we traveled south I checked the #44 timetable to see whether we might pass 7563 on the #44. As far as I Knew we hadn't passed it and it was due do we got off.

Arriva NW&W 2291 in Ainsdale

We crossed the road to wait for the #44. We must have missed it because the next bus to turn up was 7637 on the northbound #49A. As we didn't know if we had missed it we decided to do it. As we got back onto Carr Lane the next #46 was parked up and we could see it was required 7636 so we got off at the next stop. We got off and raced down the road the stop. I tried to get Matthew to slow down but he wouldn't! My phoned leapt out of my pocket and bounced a couple of times and Uncle Dave who was bringing up the rear picked it up for me. When we got there the driver wasn't even in the cab! After catching our breathe we got on and Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7636

We booked to Southport with the intention of catching something towards Crossens to get 7563 back South. As we started off we passed required 7655 on the following #43. The #46 come into town on the A570 and it goes back out turning left just before the railway station. What I didn't know is that it doesn't stop on Lord Street! We didn't get off at the first stop because we wanted Lord street. Whilst we were there 7654 pulled up behind us on a #44 Crosens. We didn't get off because we thought we would get it around the corner. We pulled into Lord street but we stayed on the right hand side of the lane. As we waited to turn right 7654 went passed us to our left so that wasn't going to happen. We stopped over a block away, and Matthew got another picture of her.

7636 in Southport

We walked back to Lord Street and we decided to go North still. The Next bus was a #49A Crossen with 3044 so we decided to do it. As I checked the map and then realised the #49A went a completely different route to the #44 so the move was never going to happen. So i thought about 7655 which was required and where we could meet that. According to the Arriva map, the #43 route ends at the junction of Roe Lane, which I figured out just before we turned. We rang the bell and got off at the next stop.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Churchtown

After Matthew got a picture we head back to High Park, stopping at the Spar shop on the way. We went to the stop towards Southport and he said it was "out of use, please use the stop in the other direction". Pretty much as soon as we ot to the right stop, 7655 rounded the corner and pulled up.

Arriva NW&W 7655 in High Park

We got a picture and waited for the driver to ready the bus for the return journey. We got on and Matthew photographed the empty inside too.

Inside 7655

We knew it would be our last bus before we returned so we contacted mum to tell us to meet us in Lord street next to the monument. We did the bus back into town and got off outside the Arriva office. We walked back to Lord Street and Matthew wanted to visit a bookies on the way and he didn't even place a bet! When we met up with mum we had just see a PR2 go along Lord Street without stopping which was 7651. Apparently the PR2 doesn't stop on Lord Street, only on the A570 and just up from the railway station. As we had missed a bus Matthew got a few more pictures including on of 2110 working a PR1 service.

Arriva NW&W 2110 on PR1

7673 was seen heading North and Arriva Enviro 200 2144 was also seen working PR1's. We had seen 7652 working the PR2 earlier so we knew this would now be our bus back to Kew. We waited just up from the railway station around 16:00 and eventually as predicted 7652 appeared.

Arriva NW&W 7652 on PR2

We di the bus back to Kew which takes a different parallel route back. When we got back to the facility, Matthew took a picture of the inside of this beast.

Inside 7652

Back in the car we set off. Matthew tucked into his sausage roll and we headed back through Ormskirk and then back onto the M58. The road was a little clearer than earlier and so we made good time. We went straight down the M6 to the A500 and we didn't have to stop for LPG. We dropped off mum friend around 17:40 and we got home around 17:50...Mark.