Trip to Southport 12-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7656	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
2243	Southport, Chapel Street (Stop EA)	Hillside, o/s Alma Court	43	Arriva NW&W
3090	Hillside, opp Nixons Lane	Birkdale, York Road (NW-bound)	49	Arriva NW&W
19035	Birkdale, York Road (SE-bound)	Little Altcar, opp Royal Hotel	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
3045	Little Altcar, o/s Royal Hotel	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	47	Arriva NW&W
3044	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CB)	44	Arriva NW&W
2252	Southport, opp The Wellington	Highpark, adj Roe Lane	43	Arriva NW&W
3086	Highpark, High Park Place (E-bound)	Crossens, on Rufford Road	49	Arriva NW&W
15473	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	2X	Stagecoach M & SL

Today we decided to re-visit Southport. We checked the weather the night before and it seemed that the better weather would be either to the South or the West. We gave Matthew a short list of place to go and from the list he chose to go to Southport. Other than to check the weather research consisted of looking at a relatively new fleet list of Arriva NW&W buses allocated to Southport. The main changes were the reduction of Marshall Bodied Darts which had been replaced with newer Plaxton bodied Darts from elsewhere. There had also been some newer double decker delivered ex Arriva London. Matthew got up around 10:15 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 11:30 and we drove onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthews Way. We carried on North on the A500 and then onto the Northbound M6. We carried on North up to the M58 and then we turned West. Off the M58 we did the northbound A570 up to Ormskirk where we stopped for dinner at Morrisons. We visited the toilet and then for dinner Matthew had an English breakfast washed down with a cup of Coca Cola. After we had finished eating we headed back to the car and carried on towards Southport along the A570. Just before we hit town we turned into the Kew park and ride site and parked up to wait for the bus into town. We didn't have to wait for long before we saw a Marshall Dart approaching. When it got closer we saw it was dud Arriva NW&W 7656.

Arriva NW&W 7656 at Kew park and ride

We flashed our park and ride ticket and sat down near the back. The bus set off through the back streets of Southport following required Arriva NW&W 2241 into town on a #43 service. We approached the railway station from Derby Road. We turned onto London Street and the bus set down near to Lord Street. As we got up to get off Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7656

7656 was the first ever Southport Marshall Dart Matthew rode on back in December 2010. The plan was now to go and get a Saveaway ticket and to start riding on buses. As we were going to get the ticket from the railway station Matthew mis-behaved massively and we had to wait for a short while before we continued. We got the tickets and walked around into Lord Street where we saw required Arriva NW&W 2246 on a #46 service. We carried on walking to Eastbank Street to catch a bus. There was a choice of 2 buses required Arriva NW&W 2624 on the #42 and dud 2243 on the #43 to Carr Lane. We chose to do Arriva NW&W 2243 but we did not know it was dud at the time.

Arriva NW&W 2243 in Southport

We got on and flashed our tickets and sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus pulled off and and went out of town towards Carr Lane. The #43 takes a route through the back streets via Duke Street and Guilford Road and we eventually turned right onto Carr Lane where the bus terminates. We got up to get off the bus and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2243.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2243

From where we were the were a choice of service to catch. On Carr Lane on the opposite side of the Road we could catch either the #43 or #46 into Southport. From Guilford Road we could do either #49 towards Southport or either the #49 to Woodvale or Formby. From the main road we could catch either the X2 or #47 towards Southport or the same service toward Formby. We went onto the Liverpool Avenue to see if there was a Southbound bus due. There wasn't anything for at least 15 minutes so we decided to walk back to the original stop to see if there was a Southport bound #49 service. As we got back to the stop we could see a bus approaching in the distance.As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3090.

Arriva NW&W 3090 in Carr Lane

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. A quick check of the list revealed that this bus was dud. We had previously been on this bus back in April 2012. Three buses traveled on and all of them dud so far... How unlucky was that! We decided to get off at Birkdale and catch a Southbound X2 as we hadn't passed it. We got held up at the level crossing and whilst we were waiting Matthew got a picture of the empty back seat behind us.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3090

Eventually the train passedand we carried on North. We got off and we could see the X2 double decker in the distance so we crossed over the road and quickly made our way to the stop opposite. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 19035.

Stagecoach Lancashire 19035 in Birkdale

At last a new bus for the day! We got on and sat down upstairs, the bus was quite well filled so there didn't seem like an opportunity to take a good picture inside this bus. The bus headed South down the A565 through Ainsdale and onto the Formby by-pass. There was a quick run along the by-pass through open countryside before we turned right to head into Formby. We headed into what looked like the edge of a small town and I was expecting there to be more to it. Rather than being built up it looked spacious with all the businesses and restaurants looking quite high end. We seemed to be heading out of town again so when I saw a large petrol station I decided to get off here so we had somewhere to visit. We got off the bus and we watched it go off into the distance. Directly behind 19035 was required Arriva NW&W 3033 on a Liverpool bound #47 service. We visited the Texaco petrol station and Matthew used the toilet before we brought some Coca Cola and chocolate. When we had done we left the petrol station and crossed the road to see when the next Northbound bus was due. The next bus was going to be a #47 and it was due in a couple of minutes. We could see it approaching and it was Arriva NW&W 3045.

Arriva NW&W 3045 in Formby

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. A quick check of list revealed it was a required bus. We decided to do this bus up to Woodvale and get off to see what was working up behind us on either a #44 or X2. In the meantime Matthew photographed the empty back seat

Inside Arriva NW&W 3045

The bus carried onto the Formby bypass and up into Woodvale where we got off the bus. We considered having a picnic at this bus stop as it had a shelter and seat, but Uncle Dave had spotted a #44 service coming out of one of the side street as we came North. Sure enough less than a minute later we saw a bus approaching. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do the bus as it was a Pulsar and he said yes. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3044.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Woodvale

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. A quick check of the list revealed that this bus was dud too. Coincidentally this was the first Southport Pulsar we rode on back in December 2010. We decided to do this into Southport so that we could go and check buses out in a different direction. The bus carried on North up to Ainsdale before turning onto Station Road. The bus carried on North Eastwards across the roundabout onto Segars Lane. The bus carried on for a few mile in more or less a straight line, out of the built up areas of Southport and past Dobbies garden centre here we were overtaken by Arriva NW&W 2728 on a #300 before passing Arriva NW&W 2247 going the other way on a #300. We appeared by the hospital and then joined onto the A570 to head into town. We ran parallel to the A570 for a short while before heading back onto Eastbank Street. Matthew then took a picture of the empty back seat of the bus

Inside Arriva NW&W 3044

There was a quick river change and then the bus carried on. We turned into Lord Street then got off the bus. matthew indicated that he wanted to head back towards Eastbank Street so we set off in that direction. As we walked along Lord Street we saw required Arriva NW&W 2256 on a #49 to Woodvale. On the end of Eastbank Street was parked National Holidays coach NH09 DRH, and Matthew got a picture of it.

National Holidays NH09 DRH in Southport

We carried on down Eastbank Street and Matthew wanted to visit Poundland. We had a quick walk around Poundland where we brought some more chocolate and pop, and Matthew said hello to a member of staff. We then headed across the road to possibly catch a #43 or #46 to Carr Lane. We had just missed one bus and the seemed to be a gap in the service. On the other side of the road we saw Arriva NW&W Marshall Dart 7654 on a #42 to Crossens.

Arriva NW&W 7654 in Southport

We were considering having a picnic when we saw a Paxton Dart coming up the road. We decided to cross over and see if it was a required on. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 2252 on a #43 to High Park.

Arriva NW&W 2252 in Southport

We got on the bus and as we sat down mum called to say she was going to go back to Kew and move the car into town. That helped to decided how we were going to finish off the day. The plan was now going to be do this bus up to High Park for #49 to Crossens. We would then have a quick visit to the toilet and then back down to Southport on the next interesting bus. The bus went onto Lord Street and we passed required Arriva NW&W 2248 on a #44 service. We also passed required Arriva NW&W 2722 about to set off on a #300 service to Liverpool. The bus set off out of town though the back streets and crossing over the railway at Meols Cop. we then carried onto to the end of High Park Road where the bus terminated. We got up and Matthew got a picture of the empty bus as we got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2252

We also took another picture of the outside of the bus too before we crossed over roe Lane to catch the next #49 to Crossens.

Arriva NW&W 2252 in High Park

We considered another bus stop picnic bu the bus was due in 2 minutes. it wasn't long before we saw the bus approaching in the distance. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 3086.

Arriva NW&W 3086 in High Park

We got on the bus and sat down. The bus waited for short while, it must have been a little early before continuing into Churchtown. The bus turned into Botanic Road and we passed the site of an old factory and crossed over where the old Southport to Preston railway would have run. The road became Rufford Road and then bus continued on to the end where the service terminates. As we got up to get off Matthew took a picture inside the now empty Arriva NW&W 3086.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3086

We walked down to the toilet which have now become pay toilets. Matthew used the toilet whilst I checked out the bus times at the adjacent bus stop. There was a 2X due any minute now. Matthew came out of the toilet and almost immediately we saw the 2X double decker approaching. It got closer and we saw it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15473.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15473 in Crossens

We got on the bus and we sat down upstairs. We saw an unidentified Cumfybus Solo on a #40 to Southport and we also saw dud 2239 on a #44 service which was terminating. The bus carried on South down the main road into town from the North. The bus was quite well filled so Matthew took a picture of some seat just in front of him on the opposite side of the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15473

We gave mum a call to tell her that we were on our way so that she could move the car to somewhere nearby to the bus stop. The bus carried on South and we arrived in Lord Street and we got of the bus near to the monument. Mum had just arrived in a nearby street and we walked over to the car to get in. Mum decided to drive home so I sat in the front passenger seat. Waiting for us were sausage rolls and Matthew had a small bottle of Irn Bru. We turned into Eastbank Street and we went out of town along the A570. We drove around Ormskirk and though onto the M58. After traveling a short distance East we joined the Southbound M6. We traveled South through the roadworks at Thelwall Viaduct it was Carvers YN06 NYT started to rain. After nearly missing the turning we passed Z carz M372 NWN. joined the Southbound A500. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we passed ABC Supreme minibus YU02 GZG going the other way. We came off the A50 at Longton where we stopped to check out what was present at Z Carz. it appeared to be a minibus day today with the following buses sighted. Towards the back of the site was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to that was airport transfer bus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

At the very back of the site was LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

At the front was Volkswaggon minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Last but not least was another VW minibus, S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and the only bus there was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We headed back onto the A50 which we did back to Heron Cross before heading though Blurton On Beaconsfield Avenue we saw 40003 on a #23 and unusually Newcastle based double decker 37157 on the last #22 to Longton of the day. We got home at 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:15...Mark

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