Trip to Southport 27-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2142	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
7652	Southport, London Street (Stop HB)	Hillside, o/s Alma Court	46	Arriva NW&W
7652	Hillside, opp Leybourne Avenue	Southport, London Street (Stop HE)	43	Arriva NW&W
2343	Southport, London Street (Stop HA)	Ainsdale, adj Woodvale Road	44	Arriva NW&W
7655	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	Southport, Bold Street (Stop FA)	44	Arriva NW&W
3088	Southport, Bold Street (Stop FA)	Crossens, on Preston New Road	49	Arriva NW&W
MX04 VME	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	40	Cumfybus
2142	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	Kew P&R Southport	PR2	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Southport on the off chance that we dropped on another Palatine II, or to pick up a new Dart or two. We didn't do any research other than to check the weather (sunny intervals and 10'). Matthew got up around 09:45, and had breakfast of toast and orange juice. we set off around 11:45 onto the A5035 and past the hem Heath pub. We turned into Stanley Matthews Way passing Z Carz T408 JUX and went onto the A50. As we traveled down we passed City Buses and coaches minibus LV02 ODL. We got on the A500 and traveled North to the M6. The motorway was reasonably clear and we made quite good time up to the M58. We did the M58 west to the A570 and then we headed North West towards Ormskirk. There was heavy traffic in Ormskirk and we saw Arriva NW&W 4100 and 4104 on the Southport Wigan service. We stopped in Morrison's and after going to the toilet Matthew had a breakfast followed by a lemon meringue pie for afters. Afterwards we set off along the a570 and parked up at the Kew park and ride site around 14:00. Matthew went to the toilet and mum got the parking and park and ride tickets. The was already there and waiting an it was required Arriva NW&W 2142.

Arriva NW&W 2142 in Kew

We got on the bus and sat down. There were a few people on the bus today, probably the most we have seen on a PR2 service. The bus wound up through the streets and then we appeared in town on London Street. We got up and Matthew took a picture of the inside of this bus, which is the last of the 4 Enviro 200 buses we required.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2142

We got off the bus and headed down London Street to the railway station. On the way we saw Arriva NW&W 2728 on a #300 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 2728 in Southport

We went into the station and bought our Saveaway tickets and then walked back to the bus stops on Hoghton Street. As we didn't have any gen as to what was out today, we decided to start on the #43/46's service to try and pick up a required Dart or two. We saw that there was a Carr Lane bound #46 due so we waited at the stop. We could see a Marshall Dart in the distance. As it got closer we could see it was dud Arriva NW&W 7652.

Arriva NW&W 7652 in Southport

We got on the bus and it was empty, so Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7652

We sat down near the back of the bus. The last time we did this Dart was back in April 2012 on a PR2 service back to Kew. After turning in Eastbank Street, Te bus then turned onto Cemetery Road and onto Eastbourne Road. We passed Arriva NW&W 7673 on the PR2 service. The bus then turned onto Kew Road and Guildford Road. As we went along we passed 7639 on a #46. We also passed required Arriva NW&W 2343 on a #42 to crossens. We the went right into Carr Lane where the bus terminated. The bus went to the nearby roundabout and then came back to Carr Lane to work the next #43. As we got off we had just missed 7654 going back on a #46. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do a #49 or to do 7652 back to Southport on 7652. Matthew chose to do 7652 again. We set off back to Southport and we passed 7651 on a #43. We decided to get of on Hoghton Street so we could cross the road and go to the #42/44 stop. This worked out very well as almost as soon as we got off 7652 we could see Arriva 2343 (the only Plaxton Dart at Southport) approaching in the distance. the bus got closer and Matthew got a picture of this beast.

Arriva NW&W 2343 in Southport

Unlike 7652, this bus was quite full and it filled up even more as we passed through town. The bus has quite an odd route as it heads towards Kew running parallel to Scarisbrick New Road, It then heads west past the hospital and Dobbies garden Centre. Around here we passed 7637 heading North. we then joined up with the #43/6 route at guildford Road. We went through Ansdale and the Roads look familiar around Woodvale so we decided to get off there. We crossed the road and we looked at the timetable. The next service scheduled to stop was a northbound #44, Although a #49 paused there on it way up. We then saw a Marshall Dart on a #44 and a Pulsar II on the following #47. We flagged down the Dart and it was dud 7655.

Arriva NW&W 7655 in Woodvale

As we headed North we made arrangements to meet mum in Southport for an ice cream. This was a bus we had also last traveled on in July 2012. We passed Arriva NW&W 7648 on a South bound #44 on Town Lane. We went back up Scarisbrick New road and then parallel before rejoining the road at the roundabout of Eastbank Street. At the end of eastbank Street as we waited at the traffic lights we spotted a Godson coach parked up and he got a picture through the bus window.

Godson FN04 FSV in Southport

We turned right into Lord Street and I realised that we were in the wrong lane to go onto London Street. Surprisingly (to us) the bus stopped on lord Street right by where mum was waiting. We walked up a block to where the ice cram place was and Matthew used the toilet. We had vanilla ices and Matthew ate most of mine too. When we had finished we walked over to the stop to wait for a bus. We let required Cumfybus MX04 VME go on the #40 as we thought we could pick up a new Arriva Pulsar II on a #47 or #49. When the bus arrived on the #49 it was dud 3088.

Arriva NW&W 3088 in Southport

We sat down near the back on this busy service. The seat I sat in was wet which is already worrying on a warm sunny day. I moved over and we carried on North through Churchtown. A few minutes later we arrived at the roundabout and Matthew photographed the inside of 3088 before we got off it.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3088

We went to the toilet and in the process missed Stagecoach 15469 on the southbound #2. We also saw Rigby's coach VOI 2331 heading North.

Rigby's VOI 2331 in Crossens

We let the next #42 go as it was Arriva NW&W 2343. The next bus due was going to be a Cumfybus on the #40 service. We saw the bus approaching and as we have never been on one of these and we had a Saveaway we decided to do this. It was of course required MX04 VME that we saw go North earlier in the day.

Cumfybus MX04 VME in Crossens

We got on the bus and Matthew was trying to beep the horn. The driver ended up doing it for him! He told us tat the bus was going the long way around and we told him that we didn't mind. He then got a picture inside the empty MX04 VME.

Inside Cumfybus MX04 VME

We sat down to enjoy the journey which was very windey. We kept heading out towards the coast and then back inland to the main road taking in every estate down the coast. We crossed over the #2 route seeing stagecoach 18358 on a Preston bound service. We went passed the golf course and we skipped along the promenade before turning onto Lord Street. We got off the bus by the monument and then walked to meet mum on London Street. It was now 17:30 and the next PR2 was due at 17:42. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 7652 go by and then Alfa BU13 ZTT too.

Alfa BU13 ZTT in Southport

This was followed by Arriva 7654 on a Northbound #43 service. A few minutes later the PR2 turned up and it was Arriva NW&W 2142 again. We did the bus back down to the Kew park and ride site and when we git there Matthew photographed the inside of this bus again.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2142

After a quick toilet stop we set off towards home. Mum hadn't been able to get any sausage rolls so we stopped at Macdonalds on the roundabout of the A570. Matthew had a chicken nugget meal and whilst we ate we saw Arriva NW&W 4100 and 4104 again. 4100 sounded like a lawnmower! After eating we set off along the A570. Just before we got to the M58 we passed Mercedes minibus SN05 FXF. We got onto the motorway and made good progress. There were a few rain showers as we traveled down the Southbound M6 and we got the the A500 around 19:30. As we headed south we passed Z Carz UK04 BUS going North. We carried onto to the A50 and the to Longton to see what was on the depot. at the depot were mercedes minibus BV51 BNO and we also saw the Scania coach D104 XAN

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

The depot was crowded but the bus weren't in very good position to get good photographs. On the end of the row was green Iveco HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

We headed down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We saw first potteries 41512 on a #23A to Newstead. We got home at 1950. We had chicken and potatoes for tea followed by millionaire shortbread. He then chilled out on his computer before going to be around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Soutport 06-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7639	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
3312	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	Ainsdale, adj Vale Crescent	49	Arriva NW&W
15468	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	Crossens, on Preston New Road	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
3312	Crossens, on Rufford Road	Highpark, High Park Place (W-bound)	49	Arriva NW&W
3088	Highpark, High Park Place (W-bound)	Southport, Hill Street (Stop FB)	49	Arriva NW&W
3044	Southport, Bold Street (Stop FA)	Crossens, on Preston New Road	44	Arriva NW&W
15468	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
7639	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	Kew P&R Southport	PR2	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Southport. Last year we had gone to Southport on the Grand National weekend, as we had found out on the Dennis Dart Forum that some of Southport's newer buses had gone to the races to help out with racing shuttle buses. This year we found out the the buses had been sourced from other depots, but there had been some interesting working during the week so we decided to go there anyway. Other than checking the forum, we checked the weather out for today. It was forecast for sunny cool weather, 7'. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. We had found out before we had even set off that Arriva NW&W Olympian 3312 was working on the #49 service and 7639 was on the PR2 service. We set off around 11:40 and drove down Stanley Matthews Way. We then joined the A50 and then went onto the Northbound A500 passing City Buses & Coaches LV02 ODL North of Etruria. On the M6 traffic was slow due to an accident. After we passed the accident north of the A54 the traffic eased up and we carried on North. We came of the M6 at the M58 and then we headed North West along the A570. We decided to stop at the Omskirk Morrisons for dinner as we have before. We went to the toilet and then Matthew had a breakfast followed by lemon meringue all washed down with a Coke. After dinner we we carried on along the A570 to the edge of Southport before we turned into the Kew Park and ride site where 7639 was waiting to work. We quickly got a ticket and then Matthew took a picture of this required Marshall Dart.

Arriva NW&W 7639 in Kew

It was empty at this point so Matthew got a picture inside of the bus too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7639

We set off North through the quieter streets of southhort following 7656 on a #43 service. it didn't take long to get into town. We decided to get off at the London Street stop and walked to the railway station to buy Saveaway tickets. We walked onto lord Street and looked up and down to see if we could see a double decker on the #49. At that point we couldn't so we crossed over with the intention of heading the Crossens to see if we passed 3312. As we waited we spotted it in the distance heading South, so we quickly crossed over to catch it. We got to the stop with a few seconds to spare and Matthew got a picture of this fine beast!

Arriva NW&W 3312 in Southport

When we got on it was empty upstairs so Matthew got his empty us picture.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3312

As it was heading South we decided to do it to Woodvale. We had never been passed the Co-op in Ainsdale before so we were going to head into uncharted territory. We crossed over the railway at Ainsdale and then headed back inland along Kenilworth Road. We crossed the Liverpool Road and headed into the estate before turning back towards Liverpool Road on Woodvale Road. We decided to get off here and take a few pictures.

Arriva NW&W 3312 in Woodvale

We then crossed over Liverpool Road to wait for a bus North. After watching 3312 head north, We check the timetable and we saw that an X2 service sound have been past. As we hadn't seen one we assumed it was running a few minutes late. Sure enough, a coupe of minutes later we saw a Stagecoach double decker approaching from the South. It was required Stagecoach Ribble 15468.

Stagecoach Ribble 15468 in Woodvale

We got on and sat upstairs. We decided to do this to Crossens so we could use the toilet and check out buses on the #42/44 services too. As we headed north we passed required Arriva NW&W 7643 on a #44 service. As we went through Southport the bus emptied a little and he took a picture inside 15468.

Inside Stagecoach Ribble 15468

It was now just after 16:00. On Lord Street the bus started to fill up again and by the time we had reached the top of Lord Street there were quite a few people on the top deck. We carried on North and ten got off at the roundabout in Crossens. We crossed the road and then we saw Arriva Marshall Dart 7637 about to work a #42.

Arriva NW&W 7637 in Crossens

As it wasn't required Matthew went to the toilet and let this bus go. We also saw Cumfybus MX04 VME whizz by heading South.

Cumfybus MX04 VME in Crossens

We decided to look out for the next #49 and it was 3312 again, having caught up with us. We decided to do it again as it was such a great bus and took a picture and then got on.

Arriva NW&W 3312 in Crossens

As it was the start of the service it was empty and we sat further back and he took a picture facing forward this time.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3312

We decided to do this just to High Park. We did 3312 the mile or so down to High Park and then got off and took another picture.

Arriva NW&W 3312 in High Park

We should have checked a timetable as there wasn't a bus due for another 20 minutes so we decided to go to the shop and catch required 3088 which we knew was on the following #49. In the shop Matthew brought some coke and a galaxy caramel bar. We walked back to the same stop and had a bus stop picnic. We also saw Arriva NW&W 3084 heading north on the next #49. After a few minutes required Arriva NW&W Pulsar2 3088 turned up.

Arriva NW&W 3088 in High Park

The bus was already reasonably loaded and we got off at the top of Lord Street. Matthew was feeling a little grumpy and didn't want to get straight onto a bus. First he visited and Italian restaurant to say hello to one of their customers and use their toilet, next he wanted to stop at an ice cream palour and sit outside and have a cone. When he had finished we walked 10 yards to the stop to wait for a bus. It was 17:00 and we knew we would only get one ore round trip in. First there was 3041 on a #47 which we turned down as it was quite full and wasn't required having been done last June. We decided to do the following #44 and we didn't require that one either which is quite unlucky considering how few of the Pulsar2's we have been on. We got a picture of 3044 and got on it.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Southport

We had previously been on 3044 on the Grand national weekend last year. We did the bus North which was also reasonably well filled and we got off at the end of the run in Crossens, Matthew photographed the bus empty before he got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3044

We crossed over the road and as the sun was in a good position he got a better picture of the outside of 3044.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Crossens

We went to the toilet and when he came out we spotted a Wrigt Renown on the #49 so we went up to investigate. It was required Arriva 2723. We went to the front to get a picture and then it pulled off.

Arriva NW&W 2723 in Crossens

We did try and catch the bus after it had rounded the roundabout but the stop is no longer in use. We went back onto the main road wait for a bus back and we saw there was a X2 due. Unluckily for us it was Stagecoach Ribble 15468 again! We got back into Southport and we met up with mum again. We walked back to the London Street stop and we waited for the PR2 service which was due at 18:12. Whist we waited we saw 7654 on a Carr Lane bound #43 service which we had back in July 2011.

Arriva NW&W 7654 in Southport

We also saw 7651 on a #44 to Formby a bus which we ad also prevously been on back in February 2011.

Arriva NW&W 7651 in Southport

Around 18:12 7639 appears on the PR2 service. We get on and Matthew takes a picture inside.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7639

As we leave town we pass required Arriva 2343 on a #43 High Park service. We carry on down to the park and ride and Matthew uses the toilet before we get back in the car. We set off down the A570, through Ormskirk and onto the M58, We soon reached the M6 and traffic was light at this tie of the evening. As we headed south we passed a couple of coaches. bakerbus 202 was one coach and the other was Paul Watson Travel BXZ 8360 which he managed to get a good picture of out of the car window.

Paul Watson Travel BXZ 8360 on the M6

We joined the Southbound A500 and then we did the A50 to Longton to go view the Z Carz depot. Tonight it was all minibuses such as YE52 UZX from the taxi fleet.

Z Carz YE52 UZX in Longton

Also from the taxi fleet was Y568 XFV.

Z Carz Y568 XFV in Longton

A bus that he once had to college for a few days was there, Volkswagon minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

His main school transport for a few years was also there too, LDV minibus W591 YBN.

Z Carz W591 YBN in Longton

We then drove down Longton Hall Road and home getting back around 20:00. For a late tea Matthew had sausage and mash followed by cheesecake. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime, going to bed just after 00:00...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.