Trip to Burnley / Padiham 04-04-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2755	Burnley BS	Altham, by Simon Jersey	152	Transdev Lancashire United
404	Altham, by Simon Jersey	Burnley BS	152	Transdev Lancashire United
1869	Burnley BS	Padiham, by St James Place	23	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
2759	Padiham, by Post Office	Burnley BS	152	Transdev Lancashire United
715	Burnley BS	Burnley, by Harold Avenue	1	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
286	Burnley, by Harold Avenue	Burnley BS	1	Transdev Burnley & Pendle

Today we decided to re-visit Burnley. We had checked the weather and the weather was forecast for fare weather in all directions. We gave Matthew a list of destinations from the North West and Midlands and from these he chose Burnley. Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a fraction before 12:00 and we headed onto the A5035. We turned Northwards onto Stanley Matthews Way and we joined the Westbound A50. We went North on the A500 which we did up to the M6. Traffic was a little slow when we joined the M6. We passed through the roadworks and the and the traffic improved a little. As we got close to Knutsford Service we were caught up by Greenline coach 4076 branded for service 758 Brent Cross to Victoria on a Northbound excursion.

Green Line 4076 on the M6

At junction 21A we joined the Eastbound M62. Just before we got to the M60, we were caught up by Plymouth based Target Travel YIL 9895 on a day trip.

Target Travel YIL 9895 on the M62

This Northern Irish registration had been carried by one of their Darts until very recently. We joined the clockwise M60 through the 50mph roadworks and we did this around to the M66. On the M66 we were able to get back up to speed again and we did the M66 / A56 Northwards until we reached the M65. We went eastwards 2 junctions along the M65 before coming into Burnley town centre along the A671. We parked adjacent to the bus station and we set off on foot to the Atlantis cafe for dinner. On the way we took a few bus pictures. The first bus to pass us was Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1861 on a #22 to Padiham.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1861 in Burnley

We also saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1066 on a #27 to Clitheroe.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1066 in Burnley

Outside the exit to the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1071 on a #25 to Keighley.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1071 in Burnley bus station

This was followed by Wrightbus demonstrator ERZ 2028.

Wrightbus ERZ 2028 in Burnley bus station

This bus on loan to Transdev Burnley & Pendle was operating a #1 to the Stoops Estate. Finally we saw another new Wrightbus Streetlite, 601/602/603/605/606/609 which was on a #4 to Harle Syke.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 605 in Burnley bus station

We headed into the Atlantis Cafe and Matthew as usual headed straight for the toilet at the top of two very long flights of stairs! After he had finished we headed down to the dinner which was quite full... Probably as busy as we have ever seen this place. Matthew had a breakfast Washed down with a cup of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we headed around the outside of the bus station to take a few bus pictures. We saw required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2776 on a X43 to Nelson.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2776 in Burnley bus station

We then saw required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1866 on a #22 to Padiham.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1866 in Burnley bus station

We also saw dud Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1868 on a #28 to Skipton.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1868 in Burnley bus station

We first had this bus back in February 2014 from Whitegate to Burnley on a #22 service. We then saw dud Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2777 on a X43 to Manchester.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2777 in Burnley bus station

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2777 was the first 'Witch Way' double decker we rode on when they were brand new back in November 2013. In the time it took us to eat our dinner, Transdev Burnley & Pendle 605 was back in the bus station on the next working.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 605 in Burnley bus station

We walked into the bus station and we considered what we could catch. As we though about our next bus we saw dud Transdev Lancashire United 2755 coming into the bus station on a #152 to Preston.

Transdev Lancashire United 2755 in Burnley bus station

We decided to catch this bus despite it being one we had been on before... We last rode on this bus from Blackburn to Accrington back in January 2015. We got on the bus and we booked Burnley area day tickets at £4.20 each. We went upstairs and the bus was nearly empty but people were randomly distributed along the top deck. As we sat and waited departure we saw dud Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1069 on one of the adjacent stands.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1069 in Burnley bus station

The bus set off through town and out along St James's Street. We joined Westgate followed by Westway. We crossed the M65 and we headed A671 towards Padiham. The bus wasn't emptying out so Matthew took a picture of the seats opposite as we passed through Whitegate.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 2755

From previous trips we knew we could go to Altham Business Park to catch the bus back. We carried on into Padiham and across the river. We headed up the hill and then we turned to head towards Altham. We headed West and we crossed the A6068 though the set of lights. We carried on a short distance West and we turned into the Business Park. When we got to the appropriate stop we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Transdev Lancashire United 2755 as it headed off towards Preston.

Transdev Lancashire United 2755 in Altham

We had around 5 minutes to wait for the return bus. Matthew had time to eat a Galaxy Caramel which he shared with uncle Dave and I. A few minutes later dud Transdev Lancashire United 404 made an appearance.

Transdev Lancashire United 404 in Altham

We got on the bus and we flashed our Burnley day tickets to the driver. We went upstairs and and we sat down. We had first been on Transdev Lancashire United 404 back in November 2013 from Accrington to Haslingden. The bus set off out of the Business park and we headed East towards Padiham. We crossed over the crossroads with the A6068 and we headed into the East end of town. We we down the hill and over the river before leaving Padiham to headed towards Whitegate. We headed down the A671 and we crossed over the M65 and ran into town. When we got to the bus station we let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture inside Transdev Lancashire United 404.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 404

We got off the bus and Matthew went to the toilet. Once he had done we had a look to see what we could catch next. There was a required 'Witch Way' double decker on the X43 to Manchester and required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1869 on a #23 to Accrington.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1869 in Burnley bus station

We decided to do Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1869, so we got on the bus and flashed the Burnley day ticket to the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus. Whilst we waited for departure time, Matthew photographed the required bus on the X43 Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2774.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2774 in Burnley bus station

The bus set off through town and out of town along St James's Street the same as the #152. We headed over the M65 and along the A671 Westward out of Burnley. The bus was quite full and Matthew photographed the empty rear seat as we passed through Whitegate.

Inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1869

When we got to Padiham we turned left towards the railway just before the river. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1869 before it carried on towards Accrington.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1869 in Padiham

We walked back onto the main road and we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1859 on a #23 to Burnley.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1859 in Padiham

We decided to cross the river and walk up the hill to find a shop. As we started to climb the hill we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1839 returning to Burnley on a #22 service.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 1839 in Padiham

Near the top of the hill on the right hand side of the road was a bargain booze. Matthew had a couple of chocolate bars and a can of Coke and we set off down the hill to have a picnic at the bus stop before we head back to town. On the way down we saw required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2759 on the #152 to Burnley. It stopped at the bottom of the hill and we walked down towards it. As it the bus was there we decided to forgo the bus stop picnic and catch the required bus, but not before he had taken a picture of it!

Transdev Lancashire United 2759 in Padiham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Burnley day ticket at the driver before we headed upstairs. The bus headed through Whitehead and we paused for a while outside the Tom Bobbin pub. We crossed the M65 and we headed through town before going into the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2759.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 2759

It had now gone 16:00 so we had time to do one quick out and back before we went home. There were a couple of Darts in the bus station, so we decided to do one of those. Required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 715 was on a #1 to the Stoops estate.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 715 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Burnely day tickets to the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station around 16:20. The bus set off through town and out of St james's Street. We then doubled back along towards the bus station on Hammerton Street. We crossed the canal and we joined Trafalgar Street. we turned left by MacDonald onto Burnham gate and we ran parallel to the railway for a short while. We turned left onto Coal Clough Lane and we crossed the railway line. We left the lane to run a round a block of houses and we returned to Coal Clough Lane before we turned left onto the A646. We headed into the Stoops estate and the driver change the blind for the return journey. The bus hadn't emptied so Matthew took a picture of the empty rear seat behind us.

Inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 715

We got to the edge of the Stoops estate on Harold Avenue so we decided to get off to wait for the next bus. Matthew took another picture of Transdev Burnley & Pendle 715 before it returned towards Burnley.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 715 in Stoops Estate

Whilst we waited Matthew had a flake and a bottle of coke from out of the trip bag. We went around the corner onto the A646 to see if there were any other buses that we could catch but there wasn't, so we returned to the stop that we got off the bus. The 15 minutes went by quickly and then we saw required Versa Transdev Burnley & Pendle 286 approaching.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 286 in Stoops Estate

We got on the bus and it was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 286.

Inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 286

We flashed the Burnley day tickets to the driver for the final time today and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off onto the A646 and we headed South Eastwards towards Coal Clough Lane. We turned into the lane the then we headed into the houses on the right hand side before joining back onto Coal Clough Lane closer to town. We crossed the railway line and we joined Burnham Gate. At the end we turned left onto trafalgar Street and we turned left at the roundabout to head into town. So that we run through town via St James's Street we went North Eastwards onto Hammerton Street. We ran into town and we got to the bus station. The bus paused before we went on stand. This gave Matthew the opportunity to take a picture of Holmeswood Dart S9 BOS which was on a #65 service.

Holmeswood S9 BOS in Burnley bus station

We went onto the stand and we got off the bus. We met with mum and we went to the newsagents. Matthew had a can of Coke and a chocolate bar. Matthew used the toilet and we went out of the bus station. Before we went to the car on Croft Street we saw dud First West Yorkshire 66746 on a #589 service.

First West Yorkshire 66746 in Burnley bus station

We got in the car and Matthew ate a sausage roll. We set off out of town via Trafalgar Street and the A671 and we joined the M65. We went two junction up to the A56 and we headed South to the junction with the A680. We filled up with diesel and we got Matthew a bottle of Irn Bru out of the car boot. We re-joined the A56 and we carried on Southwards. The A56 became the M66 and we did the down to the M60. We went anti-clockwise until we got onto the M62. We then saw a coach ahead of us. We caught it up and we saw it was Maynes of Buckie KM12 GSM carrying the david Urquhart livery.

Maynes of Buckie KM12 GSM on the M62

We joined the Southbound M6 and the coach went North. On the M6 we saw another couple of coaches running together. We overtook them and we sat behind a slower car in front of us so the the coaches would go past us. The first coach to pass us was Clynnog & Trefor KBC 1V.

Clynnog & Trefor KBC 1V on the M6

Behind this was another Clynnog & Trefor coach, JSU 986.

Clynnog & Trefor JSU 986 on the M6

The coached headed off onto the M56 and we continued South on the M6. It was a little busy around junction 19 but we picked up speed again until we got to the roadworks at junction 17. We left the M6 at junction 16 and we went Southwards along the A500. As we passed the Wolstanton area we saw Bakerbus 194 going the way. It had been doing rail replacement work earlier in the day. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we did this up to Longton so that we could check out what was on Z Carz tonight. Still under repair was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Next to this was Ford airport transfers minibus Z Carz MJ03 DPU.

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

Finally we saw Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We turned into Willow Row to see if there was anything in the compound. We saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we came off it again in Heron Cross. We went through Blurton along Blurton Road and Church road before turning into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 19:10. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a Manchester tart. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark

Trip to Burnley / Nelson 03-05-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2762	Burnley BS	Altham, by Simon Jersey	152	Transdev Lancashire United
2758	Altham, by Simon Jersey	Burnley BS	152	Transdev Lancashire United
D8	Burnley BS	Nelson Interchange	215	Pennine
D1	Nelson Interchange	Burnley BS	215	Pennine
2767	Burnley BS	Nelson Interchnage	X43	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
D6	Nelson Interchange	Burnley BS	215	Pennine

Today we decided to re-visit Burnley. We had read in Buses magazine about the demise of Pennine and their impending closure in mid May. We checked the weather for the Burnley area and it was for cloudy with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 09:30 today, and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off at a little after 11:30 and we headed onto the A5035. We turned into Stanley Matthews Way and past the Britannia Stadium where Stoke were preparing for their final home match of the season. We joined the Westbound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton New Road where we went to fill up with LPG. Just after 12:00 we re-joined the A500 off the A53. On the A500 we passed ABC Supreme SB56 SKV. We joined the Northbound M6 and the traffic was quite heavy as you would expect on bank holiday weekend. At the M62 we went East and then onto the clockwise M60. We turned North onto the M66 passed Bury and North along the A56 towards The M65. A couple of junction along the M65 we left the motorway to travel for the last couple of miles into Burnley. After parking up on Red Lion Street. We walked over to the Atlantis cafe and Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a large cup of Coke and after 3 visits to this cafe the lady serving know exactly how to do mums tea! We finished eating just before 14:00 which gave us an opportunity to possbly catch the Saturdays only 14:00 #517 to Halifax if we so desired. This service is often worked by Marshall Darts. Today, disappointingly it was being worked by First West Yorkshire Solo 53301.

First West Yorkshire 53301 in Burnley bus station

Have decided it wasn't worth doing the #516 today, we carried on around the outside of the bus station taking pictures. There was nothing outstanding or unusual today, so we carried on around to the other side of the bus station. On the way back into the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 'Mainline' liveried 1046 on an incoming #26 to Clitheroe.

'Mainline' 1046 in Burnley bus station

There was a #152 Preston service due at 14:20, so we decided to wait for that. Just before 14:20 the bus rolled up and it was required Transdev Lancashire United 2762.

Transdev Lancashire United 2762 in Burnley bus station

We waited for the bus to be readied for service and then we got on the bus. We brought Silver Day tickets at £6, and then we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and we saw Pennine D6 which was about to work the 14:25 #215 to Skipton. The bus carried on through town picking up a few more passengers before we crossed over the M65 and set off towards Padiham. There were people font and back of the bus, so Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite us.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 2762

We passed though Whitegate and into Padiham. We crossed the A6068 and carried on into Altham. We decided to get off in the industrial estate, where there was a stop with a shelter, and then bus usually passed before Clayton-le-Moors. We turned into the industrial estate and we rang the bell to get off. When we got off Matthew got another picture of Transdev Lancashire United 2762.

Transdev Lancashire United 2762 in Altham

We only had to wait for around 2 minutes and the other bus turned up. It was dud Transdev Lancashire United 2758.

Transdev Lancashire United 2758 in Altham

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. Matthew decided to get a picture of the top deck as we got on as it was almost empty.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 2758

The bus left the industrial estate and went towards Padiham. We crossed over the Calder and went through Whitegate before crossing over the M65 and going into town. First West Yorkshire 66747 was parked outside the bus station ready to work the 15:25 #589 to Rochdale. We got into the bus station and the Pennine bus was already in the bus station. It was required Pennine Dart D8. We just had time for Matthew to visit the toilet before we walked up to the bus to catch it.

Pennine D8 in Burnley bus station

The bus was quite well filled and we got on and booked to Nelson We sat down near the back the the bus set off out of town and onto the A682. The bus headed up into Brierfield and it emptied out a little. Matthew then took a picture of some of the empty seats beside us.

Inside Pennine D8

A few more people got on and we we carried onto into Nelson. When we got to the interchange we got off and Matthew got another picture of Pennine D8.

Pennine D8 in Nelson Interchange

We had a quick walk around the outside of the bus station but there was only one bus to photograph! Because there was a quiet spell in the bus station, we went to the shop and Matthew brought some Coca Cola, a couple of chocolate bars, a large cola bottle sweet and a flapjack. After using the toilet we sat down in the bus station an Matthew had a little picnic consisting of the flapjack wash down with a small bottle of Barr cherryade. Noted whilst Matthew ate his snack was a new arrival with Transdev Burnley & Pendle fleet. Wright Streetlite 805 was operating the #2 service. The bus back to Burnley was due at 16:00. Pretty much bang on time the bus made an appearance and it was required Pennine D1.

Pennine D1 in Nelson Interchange

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The bus seem quite well filled. It seemed the the impending end to the Pennine buses had spurred people on to use the service in a bid to save it. We headed back through Brierfield and back into Burnley. When we got back into the bus station Matthew waited for the bus to empty and then took a picture inside Pennine D1.

Inside Pennine D1

As we weren't going to travel out on Pennine D1 again, we decided to walk around the bus station and take a few pictures. Transdev Burnley & Pendle Streetlite 805 had caught us up and was now in Burnley bus station. Also in the bus station was terminating X43 from Manchester, worked by Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2778.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2778 in Burnley bus station

About to work the next #589 to Rochdale was First West Yorkshire 69578.

First West Yorkshire 69578 in Burnley bus station

Working on the #8 local service to Bacup was Transdev burnley & Pendle MPD Dart 720.

'Starship' 720 in Burnley bus station

We walked back into the bus station and Matthew went to say hello to someone in the cafe. We decided to go back to Nelson to caver the third bus on the #215 service. To get there we decided to catch required Transdev Burnley & Pendle double decker 2767.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. It was empty, so Matthew took his picture immediately.

Inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767

The bus left Burnley bus station an we headed out onto the Northbound A682. We went through Brierfield and into Nelson. We got to the interchange station around 16:53. We got off the bus and walked around to the side of the interchange and we took another picture of Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767 in Nelson interchange

As we only had a short time here and the shop had shut at 16:00. We got a Milky Way out of the bag and a bottle of Barr Cherryade. We then saw Holmeswood YJ56 WTX arrive on the #7 Clitheroe bus.

Holmeswood YJ56 WTX in Nelson interchange

At the other end of the interchange, Holmeswood YJ56 AUM was on the #95 to Colne.

Holmeswood YJ56 AUM in Nelson interchange

A minute or so later, required Pennine D6 came in on the 17:00 service #215 to Burnley.

Pennine D6 in Nelson interchange

We got on the bus, and there weren't many seats left on this service. Me and Matthew had to sit away from uncle Dave as the bus was so busy. The bus headed back through Brierfield and towards Burnley. Near to the Transdev bus garage, we saw an unusually liveried Holmeswood Optare Solo YJ55 BGX parked up. We got back to the bus station and Matthew turned down the chance to photograph the inside of Pennine D1 as he had seen someone he wanted to say hello to. He dragged us onto the #152 to Preston to say hello before we walked back to the car via the bus station shop. At the car mum had sausage roll and Matthew washed his down with a large can of Irn Bru. Also there was a medium sized Manchester tart. We set off out of Burnley and onto the M65. We went a couple of junctions along the motorway unit we joined the A56 South. On the A56/M66 we saw B&J Travel minicoach YN10 ENX also going South. as we left the M66 to joined the clockwise M60 another driver alerted us to the fact that our back nearside tyre was nearly flat. As we didn't want to travel all the way home with this, I had a though and remembered there was probably a petrol station in Prestwich at the next junction for the A56. We had previously been here when we went to Bury back in march 2012. We came off the M60 and we spotted a shell petrol station right by the roundabout. We found somewhere to turn and went back to the petrol station. First Manchester 60276 passed us going South. As it was a 50p/timed compressor I took of all the dust caps off the tyres before I started to pump up. By the time I had finished there was someone else waiting so I jumped in the car and drove off, forgetting all the dust caps! We rejoined the the M60 and then we carried on West onto the M62. When we got to the M6 we went South through the the roadworks at Thelwall viaduct, which should hopefully be completed soon. further south we passed Z Carz W221 CDN going North. We got onto the Southbound A500 and then onto the A50. We came off the A50 at Longton to see what was at Z Carz. Tonight it was all minibuses. First in the row was Z carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to this was one of his old school buses. LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Another bus that did a few days on his school bus run was Z Carz LDV mininbus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

At the back of the spare ground was Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and there was another bus parked up. It was modern LDV miminbus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

At the back of the compound was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We turned around in Willow Row and headed back onto the A50.we did this up to Heron Cross. Lightning Travel minibus T2 DLT was parked up at the Lightning house as we passed it going into Blurton. At the end of Beaconsfield on the #23 to Hanley was first Potteries 40029. We got home around 19:15 and for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by the remains of a chocolate fudge cake that he had the other day. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00...Mark