Trip to Birkenhead 26-11-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7547	Birkenhead BS	Seacombe Ferry	409	Arriva NW&W
2283	Seacombe Ferry	Leasowe level crossing	413	Arriva NW&W
60449	Moreton, Reeds Lane (NE-bound)	Birkenhead BS	38	First Manchester

You may have noticed a bit of a gap in posting lately. This has been due to Matthew being ill! When we got back from Birkenhead last time by midnight of that night he was quite ill. By the Friday he was in Hospital and on the Saturday he was having an operation which included having his appendix out! He has been slowly recovering since hen and has been desperate to get back out traveling on the buses. We had agreed with him that this date was to be his first date we could take him out and he decided he wanted to go to Birkenhead again. No research was done for this trip, we just grabbed the timetables we had picked up last time to take with us again.

We set off around 12:00, but unfortunately I had forgotten about the early kick-off between Stoke and Blackburn. As such we got caught in traffic for around 30 minutes! We had a quick stop at Uncle Dave's house to pick something up and then we continued on our journey. Listening to the match on the way up we arrived in Birkenhead just after half time around 13:45. After taking a while to get a parking space. We set off to get something to eat and as we passed the bus station we saw a required Dart 7547 on a service #409.


On arrival at Birkenhead we spied Arriva NW&W 7547 working a #409 service (Matt)

As the burger stall in the market was quite busy, we went to Platters for dinner. Matthew had a small breakfast with extra stuff of mums full breakfast. I had a bacon toastie and Uncle Dave had a sausage sandwich. Whilst we waited for the order, I went to get our saveaway tickets and to pick up a couple more timetables and a Wirral bus map. From the timetable, we worked out that 7547 would be back in the bus station around 15:00.

After dinner we walked up to the bus station and Matthew took a few pictures whilst we waited for the bus we wanted to return. Of interest was First Manchester double decker 34236 on a #38 New Ferry service.


First Manchester 34236 on a #38 service (Matt)

As 15:00 approached we decided to walk down to the stand and the bus pulled in. The bus was reasonably well filled but it wasn't full and standing. We decided to do this bus just to Seacombe Ferry for a couple of reasons. The main reason was to cover the other bus that was out on #409's hoping it would be a similar Dart. The other reason was that it is a bit like a miniature bus station and we might sea a couple of buses come and go whilst we were there. As we alighted Matthew got a picture of the bus we traveled down on.


On arrival at Seacombe Ferry, 7547 on the #409 (Matt)

Arriva 3011 was standing and was about to work a #403 service. After a couple of minutes a required and interesting Dart appeared displaying #403 in the form of Arriva 2283. So we decided to skip the other 409 and to do this whatever it did. After a few minutes the bus was displaying #413 Birkenhead and it pulled onto the stand. It became apparent that the buses on #403 and #413 must interwork.


2283 about to work the #413 to Birkenhead via Liscard and Leasowe (Matt)

We got onto this fine but ageing Dart, and Matthew took a picture of the interestingly coloured interior of this bus.


Inside 2283 with brown 'Smartie' pattern seats (Matt)

We set off on this service and it was virtually empty. The bus wound its way to Liscard picking up passengers as we went. By the time we left the 'bus station' at Liscard the bus was full and standing! We then headed to a placed called Leasowe and as we passed through an estate the bus virtually emptied out again. We then reached a level crossing and there was a bus in front of us and about 10 or so cars. After around 10 minutes we started to suspect something was wrong regarding the crossing. The cars in front being smaller were able to turn in the road and to to go back. We eventually got to second in the queue behind 3011 on the #403 service. People started to leave the bus one by one but we decided to stay for a while. after around 30 minutes I looked at the Wirral bus map to look for an alternative way of getting back to Birkenhead. new had come through that there had been an incident at Bidston and the barriers had to stay down until an ambulance had been sent there. We then decided to abandon this bus in order to get back as quickly as we could. So we got off the bus and crossed the line via the footbridge on Leasowe station. As we crossed I got a picture of the buses lined up at the crossing,


A row of waiting #403 and #413 services (Mark)

We walked a couple of hundred yard along Reeds Lane until we reached Holylake Road. On the corner was a shop from which we brought lottery tickets and some pop. We rounded the corner and walked to the nearest bus stop. After inquiring with a local, we found out the next us would be either an Arriva #407 or a First #38. Having seen a Scania single decker and the double decker 34236 on this service, we were hoping for double decker to turn up. What actually turned up was even better! Just after we saw the procession of buses from the crossing go past in the opposite direction, First Manchester Optare Prisma 60449 appeared in the distance! I recognised it the type immediately even though we had only ever seen these buses in photographs. Because it was in slow moving traffic we were able to get a picture even though it was nearly dark.


First Manchester 60449 seen in Holylake Rd, Moreton on a service #38 to New Ferry (Matt)

We got on this bus and did it back to birkenhead in darkness. As the bus emptied Matthew got a picture of the interior.


Inside 60449 (Matt)

In Birkenhead after getting a couple more picture we returned to the car for sausage rolls and pop. As we traveled back we heard that Stoke had one 3-1. My lucky T-shirt had worked again... We stopped ant Longport for LPG and we got back home for around 18:30...Mark

Trip to Newcastle-under-Lyme 13/04/2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40153	Wolstanton	Newcastle BS	99B	First Potteries
40153	Newcastle BS	Tunstall	99B	First Potteries
40151	Tunstall	Newcastle BS	99	First Potteries
40153	Newcastle BS	Wolstanton	98	First Potteries
F39 ENF	Crewe BS	Burford	X19	Stanways
F39 ENF	Burford	Crewe BS	X19	Stanways

Matthew Whilst in respite, they took Matthew out on a bus. First bus of the day was 40153 on a Newcastle bound service. When he got to the bus station he took a picture.


40153 again, in newcastle bus station (Matt)

Matthew decided D&G 137 Dennis Dart with Marshall body to go straight out again on this bus. when he got on he took a picture of the inside of this bus.


Inside 40153 (Matt)

He decided to do this up to Tunstall. At Tunstall he caught the next Newcastle bound bus which happened to be 40151. Back in Newcastle he photographed the inside of this bus too.


Inside 40151 (Matt)

At this point Matthew took a bit of a break from the buses. When he returned to the bus station he waited for the next Wolstanton bus. Also observed today was 40145. The next bus just happened to be 40153 again! Matthew was then able to take Arriva 7647 in Crewe.A few more picture before we departed for respite. Later Matthew was taken out to on service X19 Crewe - Burford - Malpas - Tarvin - Chester Stanways F39 ENF returning later he photographed the inside of this 53 seat Leyland Tiger Ex Heartlands bus. D&G 157 to Crewe. In Crewe he saw D&G 25 waiting to do it's next service and First PMT 40147 on a #20. Hanley - Tunstall. Afterwards back to Wolstanton and then had a walk to respite...Mark

Trip to Crewe & Nantwich 05-03-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3354	Crewe BS	Wheelock Heath, Foresters Arms PH	38	Arriva NW&W
2619	Wheelock Heath, Foresters Arms PH (nr)	Crewe BS	38	Arriva NW&W
2500	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
2501	Nantwich BS	Crewe BS	84	Arriva NW&W
3353	Crewe BS	Wheelock Heath, Foresters Arms PH	38	Arriva NW&W
3354	Wheelock Heath, Foresters Arms PH (nr)	Crewe BS	38	Arriva NW&W

I was intending to take Matthew out on some local buses today, as he hadn't been on a local bus with me since last Summer. When we put this to Matthew he decided he wanted to go to Crewe. I think Matthew fancied adding a few more buses to his Arriva NW&W collection, and also he presented to me a picture of a double decker at Crewe on a service #38. A couple of years ago we had done a #38 from Congleton to Macclesfield and I think he quite enjoyed it. So a small amount of research was done, finding a Crewe & Nantwich bus map from the Cheshire East council website, a timetable for 37 & 38 and a Crewe town centre parking map. Setting off after 13:00 today, after a short journey along the A500 / A5020 we arrived in Crewe around 45 minutes later after being caught in traffic around the railway station and after a diversions on Edleston Road. On the way in we passed an unidentified Arriva double decker on a service 38 to Macclesfield. Parking in the car park in Delamere Street, we walked across the road to the bus station. The disabled toilet were working today so Matthew stopped for a quick toilet stop. We tried to go in the cafe in the bus station and as we sat down we were told that they had stopped cooking... Drat! Plan B was to go to the fish & chip restaurant on the other side of the bus station. On the way Matthew saw Arriva double decker 3350 parked up between duties...


Teasing but not producing... 3350 stabled at Crewe between duties. (Matt)

In the the fish & chip restaurant Les's fish bar, Matthew choose Sausage chips and beans.


Dinner... Sausage, chips and beans (Matt)

The four of us ate and drank for a little over £21.. A little more than we usually pay, put the food was good, there were Wrights pie's and there were real chips. I realised if we took less than 45 minutes we would be in line to catch the next #38 Macclesfield by the time we got back in the bus station. Sure enough, around 5 minutes after returning the bus station Arriva double decker 3354 appeared and Matthew was keen to board!


3354 on the first turn of the day (Matt)

After a quick driver change / break, the bus boarded which was quite well filled. We booked to Sandbach as this was a location we were familiar with from his time travelling on the X81 service. Matthew as usual chose to go upstairs, but he had no chance of getting the front seat on this run. As we left Crewe I thought that I'd better check the timetable to see how long we would have at Sandbach. As we were travelling through Haslington I realised that we would miss the #38 at Sandbach by a couple of minutes (that was if buses were running exactly to time), so I decided we'd better get off soon if were to get the next bus on this route. Not really knowing were I was travelling in this direction, I decided to get of at the next place where it was slightly more built-up. We passed a pond on the right and there were a few more houses at the time, so I rung the bell to get off. We got off outside a pub called the Foresters arms in Wheelock Heath, and it turned out to be quite a good spot as the bus stop for the opposite direction was less than a hundred yards away. We quickly crossed the road and waited. A Cheshire Connect livery bus came past which we let go, and a few minutes later an Arriva bus approached. It was single decker 2619, which was slight disappointing as we were hoping for another double decker or at least something a bit older.


Ultra new 2619 opposite the foresters Arms in Wheelock Heath (Matt)

So a swift journey back to Crewe was had, even it was in less comfort on the thin plastic seats! When we got back to Crewe mum was waiting for us. She had left her phone in her other bag. It is usually me who forgets their phone. I gave my phone to her as UD has his phone with him. After a short wait Matthew indicated he wanted to catch a 84 Chester, so I said he could do it to Nantwich on this occasion. The Nantwich bus was 2500, one that we had seen regularly in Chester. As we chose to do this bus last minute, we didn't get a photograph at Crewe. On the way down we stopped on Nantwich Road and Matthew saw we were opposite a co-op. Matthew took a picture, as shops and shop signage are another one of Matthews interests. As we got off in Nantwich Matthew took the picture of this beast.


2500 on arrival at Nantwich, with 2501 in the background (Matt)

As we got off the bus the return service to Crewe pulled up behind. So after taking the picture, we legged it backwards to Catch the bus, another VDL SB120 2501. As we made the journey back I realised that if we could get back to Crewe for 15:35 we could catch the next 38, which would probably be the double decker we saw as we came into town. we got back around 15:20, which gave us time to take a few pictures.


2501 about to leave Crewe for Chester. (Matt)

Also in Crewe, we saw 7647 on a service #31 to Northwich. Last time we had this bus it was in the old livery, on a service 84A to Nantwich.


Nearly 2 years on from our last visit, 7647 has received a repaint (Matt)

Within a few minutes, double decker 3353 appeared on stand. After we waited for the driver change / break as before, we boarded the bus. This time we booked to the Foresters arms as we knew it was the place to go to. as we passed the duck pond we got up. We got up to early and had to ask the driver to go on to the next stop! Matthew took his picture as we left.


3353 outside the Foresters Arms pub in Wheelock Heath (Matt)

A shortish wait the followed, and as we predicted 3354 appeared for the second run of the day. Matthew took a picture, but in the failing light it didn't take quick enough. The driver asked Matthew if he had 'got hid good side', but it turned out that he didn't get any side this time...
When we got back to Crewe, Matthew was able to take another picture.


3354 on return from Wheelock Heath (Matt)

At this point Matthew was getting a bit excitable, and we let him take a few pictures before we left for the car.


First PMT 60202 on a #20 to Hanley (Matt)

As we persuaded Matthew to leave, he saw a GHA bus so we let him take a picture first.


GHA march Eastward. GHA Solo YJ59 GHA in Crewe bus station (Matt)

We then left for home. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and also a bottle of 7up when we stopped for LPG in Longport. Not a bad afternoon today, the weather was no more than drizzle, clearing as the afternoon went on. Most of the day was on a bus or under shelter anyway. Good little trip and much better than last time we did Crewe. Definitely a candidate for a quick revisit, but we need to get there early to eat in the bus station cafe. (Mark)

Trip to Southport 26-02-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2144	Esplanade Park & Ride	Southport, Lord Street (Market St) Stop BE	PR1	Arriva NW&W
2801	Southport, Lord St, Duke St (adj)	Ainsdale, Ainsdale Village	49A	Arriva NW&W
7652	Ainsdale, Fairfield Road	Southport, Monument	49A	Arriva NW&W
2291	Southport, Monument	Birkdale, Birkdale Station	49A	Arriva NW&W
7651	Birkdale, Birkdale Station	Southport, Monument	49A	Arriva NW&W
2143	Southport, Monument	Esplanade Park & Ride	PR1	Arriva NW&W

Slightly longer trip out than usual today, so we left just after 11:30. Stopping at Longport for LPG, we made good time except for a few minutes delay passing through "Historical market town", Ormskirk. Note to self...as you take the first left to go past the supermarket in town, you can use the right hand lane to go straight on. As we had been to Southport before, we decided to eat in Southport today as opposed to taking a pack lunch. We arrived at the Esplanade Park & ride site around 13:30. After a quick toilet break we did the next P&R which was mileage machine 2144.

2144 on arrival in Southport town centre (Matt)

Anyway, as we drove through town mum spotted a suitable cafe for us to have dinner in. Cleveland's Cafe in Lord street as mentioned here. Cleveland's boast home cooked foods so we decide to eat here. Matthew had a breakfast and a portion of chips, and the rest of us had home-made meat & potato pie and gravy. The pie was a quarter of a 9" pie and at £1.95 was excellent value. The gravy was nice and dark, but was not too thick or salty, and the pie was delicious! The only two minor criticisms of the place were the chips were frozen and not real, and the beans weren't the best quality. All the other items on the breakfast were cooked to perfection. we all ate and drank for under £15. Unusually Matthew didn't take pictures of the dinners but in this case we wished that he had! whilst we ate Matthew watched the buses on Lord Street so we could see what we were going to catch. The 375 Wigan was mainly Alexander bodied double deckers, Stagecoach's services were Enviro 400's and Optare Solo's and Comfybus ran Solo's and 'Goldfish bowl' C13 MFY was out on service #40. As we had seen a couple of Marshall bodied Dennis Darts out on the #49A Crossens to Wood Vale, we decided to ride up and down on this service. After we left the cafe, we crossed the road and waited for the first Wood Vale bound #49A. After a short wait, Arriva NW&W 2801 turned up.


Arriva NW&W 2801 about to work a #49A to Wood Vale (Matt)

We decided to do a very similar move to last time so we caught this bus to Ainsdale. Unlike last time, there was a bus opposite and we did not have time to get pictures and catch it. So Matthew took a picture of Marshall 7655 before we slowly walked across to the opposite side of the road.


One that got away...7655 in Ainsdale on a #49A to Crossens (Matt)

After effectively letting 7655 go, we had a 12 minute wait for the next bus. We weren't sure if we were going to get 2801 again back into Southport. Eventually another bus appeared, another Marshall and definitely not 2801. The bus pulled up and was Marshall 7652. We got onto a completely empty 7652 and Matthew took a photo of the inside of this bus. The seat covers appeared to be virtually new possibly having been completely replaced.


Inside 7652... (Matt)

So we did the first Marshall of the day back to the monument in Southport, We crossed the road and and had about a 5 minute wait before Plaxton bodied Dennis Dart 2291 made an appearance. Like last time we did this to Birkdale, and once again like last time there was a bus already at the stop across the road. It was a modern VDL so we decided not to rush and we let this go in favour of Matthew getting a good photo of 2291.


2291 on a #49A to Wood Vale (Matt)

After about 12 minutes and having seen Stagecoach double decker 15468 on a Liverpool - Preston X2, another Marshall rounded the corner 7651.


7651 in Birkdale on a 49A to Crossens (Matt)

So back towards Southport, and we called mum to see if she could get sausage rolls for the journey home. it turned out that the shop that sold sausage rolls was at the other end of Lord Street and that was never going to happen! never mind... When we got back we decide to sit and wait for the other bus on PR1 so that Matthew could get another new bus in for the day and in the meantime Matthew took some more photographs.


19038 on a Preston bound X2 service (Matt)

After letting 2144 go, eventually 2143 turned up on the esplanade park & ride. When we got to the terminal we ran around to the end to take a picture, and then went back into the building for a toilet stop before we went home.


2143 outside the environmentally friendly Esplanade park and ride terminal (Matt)

Matthew was a little disappointed not to have a sausage roll waiting for him in the car but was appeased with a bottle of Ben Shaws shandy. Another reasonably event free free return to Staffordshire with a couple of exceptions. Passing through Ormskirk a suicidal lady cyclist decided to do a right turn from the left hand side of the road. Both of us being first at the lights with the junction of the A570 and the A59. As the lights change she pedalled furiously to get ahead and then without signalling swooped across the front of me. Luckily I did not hit her and mum had a few choice words for her. Then just before we reached Keele services on the M6 we passed ex First Eastern Counties Dennis Dart 40256. A photo of the bus can be seen here. After a bit of research I found that this had been donated to the SELNEC preservation society from FEC. One of the reasons we travelled to East Anglia last year was in the hope of seeing one of these buses in Ipswich. By the time we went, they had been withdrawn from service. It seems ironic that in a one in a million chance that we would see one so close to home... (Mark)

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 22-01-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3002	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
30077	Chester BS	Dickson Drive (Via Plas Newton)	51	First Potteries
40013	Dickson Drive	Chester BS	51	First Potteries

Set off just before 12:00 today. The roads were fairly clear, and we arrived in Ellesmere Port around 13:00. Had our dinner in the market as usual and then had around 10 minutes in the bus station. The #401's were mainly Cadets today, but our bus turned up the ultra-modern VDL 3002. A swift and fairly uneventful journey to Chester followed. With Northgate closed for gas works, the bus was divert via the ring road.


3002 in Chester bus station. (Mark)

Apart form some services not serving the bus station, there were no unusual sightings. There has been a new traffic island built in the bus station and presumably when the works are completed, there will be extra bus shelters built. The usual spot where we stand was a bit stinky today, so after a while we moved to a staircase a bit further towards the ring road. This provided quite a good vantage point for taking photographs of buses travelling in either direction.


Avon 307 approaches Chester bus station. (Matt)

A few pictures later, the first and only double decker of the day turned up 30077...


30077 approaches Chester bus station prior to working the #51 Plas Newton. (Matt)


40013 on Dickson Drive on the #51 to Chester. (Matt)


40013 after returning from Plas Newton. (Matt)

We to the bus station, met with mum and went back to the car for sausage rolls...

Trip to Southport 04-12-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2144	Esplanade Park & Ride	Southport, Monument	PR1	Arriva NW&W
2287	Southport, Monument	Ainsdale, Ainsdale Village	49A	Arriva NW&W
2288	Ainsdale, Fairfield Road	Lord Street, Stop B	49A	Arriva NW&W
3044	Lord Street, Stop B	Birkdale, Birkdale Station	49A	Arriva NW&W
7656	Birkdale, Birkdale Station	Southport, Monument	49A	Arriva NW&W
2144	Southport, Monument	Esplanade Park & Ride	PR1	Arriva NW&W

Despite the bad weather, Matthew had not been out on a trip for 3 weeks and we knew it would be at least another 2 weeks before he could go out again if we did not go out today! Snow and ice lay all around in these parts, but we hoped that the coastal towns would be milder and hopefully free from ice and snow. Matthew had indicated to us before that he wanted to go to Southport, but previous plans to travel here were always changed and he ended up somewhere different. Research for this trip consisted of printing out the Arriva network map for Southport, plus the Southport area map from the Mersey Travel site. From the Sefton local government site, we also learnt that Southport had no bus station as such and was all on street bus stops. The weather was checked the night before, and it said there would be heavy rain all afternoon! We discussed on whether we should divert to Chester because of the predicted weather. On the day of the trip, we checked the weather. The situation had now improved to fog and drizzle! we asked Matthew again if he want to go to Chester or Southport and he was adamant we were going to Southport. We departed at around midday. As we left Staffordshire most of the ground was covered in ice and snow. Travelling North along the M6 and then onto M58, by the time we reached the A570 there was virtually no snow anywhere, just fog and light drizzle. Our route took us through Ormskirk, where we saw a taste of thing to come passing a Comfybus Optare Solo and an Arriva double decker. On entering the town centre, it looked fairly busy and I could not spot anywhere obvious to park, so I decided to drive through town and follow the signs for the park and ride. Just the other side of town was the Esplanade park and ride site. on arrival we ate some of our packed lunch and toiled before getting on a bus. First arrival was Arriva Enviro 200 2144, which we promptly did back into town.


Arriva North West & Wales 2144 on P&R service PR1 by the Monument in Lord Street (Matt)

The usual thing for us to do on arrival in any new town is to stand and watch the buses for a short while whilst we try and learn what kind of services run and what type of buses work on them.
The first bus that we saw was a wrinkly dart 2287 on service #49A to Woodvale, which pulled up right behind us and had a driver change. Whilst this was going on I looked at the map and decided that this would be a good bus to start riding on, and also it was freezing cold and damp outside! I checked with the driver what the service frequency was to which he replied "15 minutes". Tickets purchased, We decided to go to Ainsdale which was just before the loop end of this service.


2287 on a service #49A to Wood Vale (Matt)

On arrival at Ainsdale, we crossed the road and waited for the return journey into Southport. At this point we weren't sure if we would get the same bus back, or a different one. A few minutes later, a wrinkly Dart appeared from around the corner. Expecting it to be the same bus, we were most surprised when it turned out to be 2288!


Arriva North West & Wales 2288 on service 49A to Crossens seen here at Ainsdale (Matt)

So on we went back to Southport. When we in town, we had previously neglected to check out the local landmarks so we could tell if we were back at the same stop. When we got off in Lord Street this time we were a stop further down, and we were opposite a bandstand instead of the monument. On the previous journey we had passed a couple of different Marshall bodied darts, which we knew Matthew would welcome travelling on, so plan the was to go back in the same direction, but this time we were only going to travel as far as Birkdale. The next #49a to turn up was 3044. A bit on the new side, but we decided to it anyway because there was a good chance of something interesting coming back. As wet got off, Matthew photographed the bus as it disappeared around the corner...


Arriva North West & Wales 3044 on the service 49A to Woodvale departs from Birkdale (Matt)

Crossing the road, we had about a 10 minute wait for the bus back. Matthew was kept amused by the scrolling advertising in both of the town bus stops. As expected Marshall bodied Dennis Dart rounded the corner,


Inside a busy 7656 (Matt)

We did the short journey back to town. During the journey we contacted mum so that she could get some food and we could meet up. She explained she would be about 5 minutes and then she would get some hot food to take back to the car. This time we went to the monument bus stop in Lord Street. Matthew photographed the bus as we left.


7656 in Lord Street on a service #49A to Crossens (Matt)

So whilst we waited, Matthew and I were able to take a few more photographs in the fading light of an early December evening. By this time, the rain had all but stopped so we had barely gotten a drop of rain on ourselves during this dismal afternoon. Most photographs at this time were taken of still buses, leaning against street furniture to steady the camera
.

Arriva North West & Wales 2287 seen on a 49A to Woodvale (Mark)

After letting 2 very full P&R service go waiting for mum, she turned up with chips which we sealed up in our rucksack. after a short wait, 2144 turned up and was once again or transport back to the park and ride site. On arrival, we went around the outside of the building and took a distant photograph of the bus and terminal, steadied on a metal fence post.


Arriva North West & Wales 2144 at the Esplanade Park & Ride site (Mark)

Back to the car, we ate chips before an uneventful journey home. Despite only minimal planning and bad weather, this turned out to be a good trip and we will definitely return here again in the future... (Mark)

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 02-10-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2428	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
41072	Chester BS	Gorse Stacks	53	First Potteries

Set off just before 12:00 today. The roads were fairly clear, and we arrived in Ellesmere Port around 13:00. Had our dinner in the market as usual and then had around 10 minutes in the bus station. The #401's were mainly Cadets today, but our bus turned up the ultra-modern. A swift and fairly uneventful journey to Chester followed. With Northgate closed for gas works, the bus was divert via the ring road.



40135 Chester Bus Station (Mark)


2429 Chester Bus Station (Mark)


30077 in Chester Bus Station (Mark)

As is often the case with the independent operators, the driver was really good and was happy to see Matthew take interest in the bus


40013 in Chester Bus Station (Mark)


41072 in Chester Gorse Stacks (Matt)

So moved arranged, I drove to Gorse Stacks to meet the #53 Kingsway service, whilst Matt and his mum caught the bus. It was then all back to the car for snacks and to drive home...

Trip to North Wales - 31-08-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 268	Longton Hall Road	Seaquarium, Rhyl	Charter	Copelands Tours
3999	Seaquarium, Rhyl	Prestatyn BS	120	Arriva NW&W
3987	Prestatyn BS	Pensarn	120	Arriva NW&W
2642	Pensarn	Llandudno	12	Arriva NW&W
2644	Llandudno	Rhyl BS	12	Arriva NW&W
MIB 268	Seaquarium, Rhyl	Longton Hall Road	Charter	Copelands Tours

Copelands Tours MIB 268 in Chester services (Matt)

From Chester services we took the coastal route as opposed to the A55. we reached Rhyl at around 11:00.


Arriva NW&W 7539 in Prestatyn bus station (Matt)


Arriva NW&W shortly after arrival in Rhyl bus station (Matt)


Arriva NW&W 2296 in Rhyl bus station (Matt)

After we got back into Rhyl bus station, we all walked up to the Seaquarium to where the coach was parked. We had time to have something to eat and to use the facilities before we got back on the coach home. On the return journey, as we reached the outskirts of Chester we hit traffic, the driver put it to the vote as to whether we stayed on course or tried to go around the jam. The passengers voted to go around the jam, and so we took the A51 back to the edge of Nantwich, taking this route meant we were able to see Snugbury's hay bale meerkat! at the edge of Nantwich we got onto the A500. When we reached the M6, we saw that the A500 was blocked and so we had to go south along the M6 to the next junction...2 diversions in 1 day! We eventually got to Longton Hall Road just as it was going dark.

Details to follow...