Trip to Accrington 21-09-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
707	Accrington BS	Accrington, opp Victoria Hospital	231	Transdev Lancashire United
X374 NNO	Accrington, opp Victoria Hospital	Great Harwood, by Towngate	20A	Pilkington Bus
G306 UYK	Great Harwood, by Holgate Street‎	Accrington BS	21	Pilkington Bus
N652 VSS	Accrington, Bridge Street	Accrington, opp Victoria Hospital	9	M&M Coaches
N230 TPK	Accrington, o/s Victoria Hospital	Accrington BS	20	Pilkington Bus
L339 FWO	Accington BS	Forts Arms, adj Sparth Road	1	M&M Coaches
L339 FWO	Forts Arms, adj Sparth Road	Accrington BS	1	M&M Coaches
G306 UYK	Accrington BS	Oswaldtwistle, by Town Hall‎	21	Pilkington Bus
VU52 UEJ	Oswaldtwistle, opp Rhyddings Street‎	Accrington BS	20A	Pilkington Bus

Today we decided to re-visit Accrington. No research was done, we didn't even check the weather! Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Today we set off around 11:20 as wanted to get home a little earlier. We went ont the A5035 and then along Stanley Matthews Way. We went onto the westbound A50 and onto the Northbound A500. We came off at Shelton to get LPG and we saw 65730 on a #34 service. We got onto the Westbound A53 and back onto the Northbound A500. On the M6 we saw a couple of coaches. First we were passed by National Express 138 (NFZ 9138) on a #921 to Belfast, and then we were passed by Motts MT11 MTT on the Oxford City team coach on it's way to Vauxhall on the Wirral. We carried onto the the M62 and then onto the clockwise M60. Around the A56 junction we passed First West Yorkshire 66762 running out of service. We then headed North on the M66 and onto the A56. We drove the last few miles into town along the A680 and then we parked up just off the Blackburn Road just after 13:15. We set off walking to the bus stop cafe on Peel Street. On the way we saw Pilkington Bus R846 VEC on the #20 Hyndburn circular service.

Pilkington Bus R846 VEC in Accrington

We carried on to the cafe, On Peel Street we saw M&M Coaches N652 VSS on a local service.

M&M Coaches N652 VSS in Accrington bus station

We stopped at the toilet on the way to the cafe. Whilst we were on the wrong side of the road we saw M&M Coaches L339 FWO on the #1 to Clayton-le-Moors.

M&M Coaches L339 FWO in Accrington bus station

We crossed back over to get something to eat. In the cafe Matthew had a small breakfast followed by a slice of jam roll in custard. When we had finished eating we came out of the cafe to see required Pilkington Bus G306 UYK going towards Oswaldtwistle. It must have been running a little late because it carried straight on at the end of Peel Street instead of waiting. We decided to have a walk up to Bridge Street to see what other M&M coaches buses were out. On Bridge Street we saw 2 buses. Dud N202 LPN was on the #46 to Blackburn.

M&M Coaches N202 LPN in Peel Street Accrington

Required M&M Coaches N652 VSS was just departing on the #9 Laneside circular.

M&M Coaches N652 VSS in Peel Street Accrington

We decided to go back towards the stop by the toilet to see if we could catch up with M&M coaches L339 FWO. At the stop was required Transdev Lancashire United 707 on the #231 to Clitheroe.

Transdev Lancashire United 707 in Accrington bus station

We crossed over and Matthew decided he wanted to catch this bus. We got on and sat down. After making inquires with the driver we realised we could do this out to the Victoria Hospital and still be able to cover the Hyndburn circulars and get back for the required M&M Coaches buses. As we waited to depart we saw dud X374 NNO on the following Hyndburn circular. We sat down with Matthew and the bus set off. The bus didn't take long to get to the hospital. We got off and Matthew got a picture of this fine example of a MPD Dart.

Transdev Lancashire United 707 in Whalley Road Accrington

We waited at the stop for the next Hyndburn circular. Going the other way we saw Pilkington Bus N230 TPK. We Also saw Required M&M Coaches N652 VSS returning from the #9 Laneside circular. The plan was to do X374 NNO to Great Harwood and hopefully get G306 UYK back. There were a few people around. We guessed that Accrington Stanley were at home and we must be fairly near to the ground. What we didn't realised until now is that it was a local derby against Rochdale! Just after 14:07 we saw the bus coming up Whalley Road and as expected it was dud Pilkington Bus N374 NNO.

Pilkington Bus X374 NNO in Whalley Road Accrington

We booked a Pilkington Bus day ticket and went upstairs. We carried on towards Clayton-le-Moors and we passed Accrington Stanley where crowds were starting to amass. We also passed required R846 VEC which Matthew had photographed earlier. We didn't have the timetable n us today so we were winging it as such. We got to Great Harwood and thankfully we hadn't passed anything. We got off and we both took pictures of Pilkington Bus X374 NNO.

Pilkington Bus X374 NNO in Great Harwood

We looked to the timetable on the stop to see when the bus was due. It should have been there 2 or 3 minutes ago! We didn't have to wait long before G306 UYK made an appearance. It came around the square and Matthew got a picture of this required Olympian.

Pilkington Bus G306 UYK in Great Harwood

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The top deck was empty and so he got a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside Pilkington Bus G306 UYK

The bus returned back through Clayton-le-Moors, the roads were full of parked car of people attending the match. We passed the Pilkington Bus VU52 UEJ which was on the Hyndburn circulars and we also saw the final turn which was required R845 VEC. We got back to Accrington around 14:45. We decided to get off and get a pictuure of g306 UYK from the opposite side of the road.

Pilkington Bus G306 UYK in Accrington bus station

We then decided to see if there was a bus abut to depart from bridge Street. Required N652 was at the stop and it was abut to do the #9 Laneside circular which was perfect timing! We got a picture and we crossed over to get on the bus.

M&M Coaches N652 VSS in Peel Street Accrington

We got on and booked to the Victoria hospital. As the rear of the bus was empty Matthew got a picture inside M&M Coaches N652 VSS.

Inside M&M Coaches N652 VSS

We sat down and the bus set off. The bus went through town and we climbed up the hill towards the Victoria Hospital. That was one required M&M Coaches out of the way, one left to go. We got off at the hospital and Matthew got another picture of the fine Mercedes beast.

M&M Coaches N652 VSS in Whalley Road Accrington

We crossed the road to wait for inbound service. We had about 10 minutes to wait. We guessed that the bus would be dud Pilkington Bus Dart N230 TPK. A few minutes late the bus turned up and it was as expected dud Pilkington Bus N230 TPK.

Pilkington Bus N230 TPK in Whalley Road Accrington

We got on and sat down near the back. I was only a short journey and we were back in town in no time. The bus emptied out and Matthew got a picture inside this bus.

Inside Pilkington Bus N230 TPK

We also got another picture of the outside of this bus too.

Pilkington Bus N230 TPK in Accrington bus station

We had just over 15 minutes to wait before required L339 FWO returned on the #1 to Clayton-le-Moors. Matthew went to the toilet an whilst he was in there the bus turned up. We had a few minutes and so we crossed over the road to get a picture of L339 FWO.

M&M Coaches L339 FWO in Accrington bus station

We got on and sat down. The driver informed us that this was probably going to be the last few days of service for L339 FWO and that it was due to go some time next week. When it was time the bus set off out of town and up to Whalley Road. The bus travelled int clayton-le-Moors and then turned left into Pickup Street. After going through the terrace street the bus returned onto the main road off Sparth Road. The bus then headed back into Accrington. When we got into town the bus emptied out and matthew got a picture inside the empty L339 FWO.

Inside M&M Coaches L339 FWO

He also got another picture of the outside of L339 FWO too.

M&M Coaches L339 FWO in Accrington bus station

We decided to have one more short out and back on Pilkington Bus before we went home. We had around 20 minutes before there were any buses due we decided to visit the newsagents. Matthew had a can of Coke and an orange carton, as well as a Milky Way and a slice of cake. Matthew ate the cake and drank the orange carton, putting the Coke and Milky Way away for later. It was at this point Matthew noticed his camera battery door was open slightly. I returned to the newsagent to see if they had any sellotape for sale but they didn't have any. After we had left the newsagent guy came out to ask how much we needed and he very kindly gave us a piece to hold his camera shut until we got back home. The next Oswaldtwistle bound #21 was G306 UYK so we decided to have another run on this bus. We got on and we down upstairs. Just after 16:00 the bus set off towards Oswalldtwistle. on the Blackburn Road we finally passed the 4th M&M Coaches turn and it was dud N213 UHH on the 2nd #46. At Church we turned int Oswaldtwistle and we got off by the town hall. We crossed over the road and we checked the stop. The bus wasn't due for nearly 20 minutes. We could see another stop nearby so we decided to walk to it. When we gt to that stop we saw the war memorial so we decided to sit there for a while and Matthew had his milky Way and a bottle of Irn Bru. Whilst there we saw and photographed Transdev Lancashire United 1824 on a #6A service.

Transdev Lancashire United 1824 in Oswaldtwistle

A few minutes before the bus back to Accrington was due we crossed over the road to the stop. We also saw Transdev Lancashire United 272 on a #7A to Blackburn. The bus turned up and predicted it was required Pilkington Bus VU52 UEJ. We got on the bus and sat down. The bus returned down onto the Blackburn Road and then back into Accrington. When we got into town Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside this bus.

Inside Pilkington Bus VU52 UEJ

He also got a got a good picture of the outside of VU52 UEJ too.

Pilkington Bus VU52 UEJ in Accrington bus station

On the way back to the car we then saw Rossendale Easyride 105 in the new 'Rosso' livery on the #464 service and we got a picture.

'Rosso' 105 in Accrington bus station

We carried on past the market and onto the Blackburn Road where we met up with mum. We walked back to the car where there were sausage rolls waiting. Matthew washed this down with a drink of Irn Bru. he also had a cake which he decided to save for later. We set off through town following the directions for the M66. This took us a different way out of town along the A679 towards the A56. Until we got to the A56 we had considered turning back! Once on the A56 we headed South and continued onto the M66. We went past bury and then We did the M60 anti-clockwise and then onto the Westbound M62. We then turned onto the Southbound M6. When we reached junction 16 we turned onto the Southbound A500 where we passed a silver Arrowebrook minibus. We carried on south to the A50 and then into Longton to view the Z Carz Depot. First in the row was Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

Behind this was coach Scania D104 XAN with ALZ 8539 n the background.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Next in the row was another Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

The we saw Volkswagon minibus OV05 WSW..

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Last in the row was newcomer S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned left into Willow Row where the only bus was T408 JUX hiding behind some taxis. We returned home down Longton Hall Road and onto Blurton Road where we passed First Potteries 42726 on the #23. On Beaconsfield Drive we also passed First Potteries 53155. We got back home for 18:30. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots, for afters he had the cake he had earlier. He then chilled out on his computer until around 01:00 in the morning...Mark

Trip to Accrington / Blackburn 13-07-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
P350 NKH	Accrington BS	Church, o/s Market Street	1	M&M Coaches
M356 JBO	Church, opp Bridge Street	Blackburn TI‎	46	M&M Coaches
N213 UHH	Blackburn TI	Accrington BS	46	M&M Coaches
N723 RDD	Accrington BS	Peel Bank, by Buckingham Grove	2	M&M Coaches
N723 RDD	Peel Bank, by Buckingham Grove	Accrington BS	2	M&M Coaches
101	Accrington BS	Haslingden, opp Vale Street	464	Rossendale Easyride
224	Haslingden, by Vale Street‎	Accrington BS	464	Rossendale Easyride

Today we decided to returning to Accrington again. We were returning to ride on a few more of the M&M coaches minibuses that we saw last weekend. research was done with the help of a fellow Flickr contact and we also checked the weather which was for fine and sunny weather and very hot again! Due to a problem with my lads cable box he was awake at 06:00 and he got up around 08:00 which is almost unheard of Matthew on a Saturday! He had toast and juice for breakfast and had to have another slice of toast before we set off. We left around 11:45 and we went onto the A5035 and then along Stanley Matthews Way. The roads were quite busy due to a serious accident on the Southbound M6. We went along the A50 and then onto the Northbound A500 where we saw City Buses & Coaches LV02 ODL. As we headed North up the M6 the taffic eased up and we started to make good time. We went onto the Eastbound M62, the M60 and then the M66 where we passed First Manchester 12003 running empty towards Manchester. We carried on North onto the M56 and then onto the A680 where we saw a Shell garage being refurbished. We carried on into town and then we parked on the Blackburn Road shoppers car park. Today we chose to have dinner at the the Bus Stop Cafe in Peel Street. As we walked up to the cafe we saw Transdev's Starship branded Versa 258 broken down on one of the stands.

Broken Starship! Transdev 258 in Accrington

We also saw M&M Coaches P350 NKH on the #1 and N213 UHH on a #46. We went in the cafe and Matthew needed the toilet. They didn't have one in the cafe so we went to the public toilet across the road and used that. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with Cherry Coke. He also had a chocolate caramel bar that went into his bag for later. After we had eaten we said goodbye to mum and Matthew dragged us up to Bridge Street. Matthew must have know that this is where some of the M&M Coaches buses lay over and there were 2 of them there. M&M Coaches M356 JBO was between workings on the #46.

M&M Coaches M356 JBO in Bridge Street

M&M Coaches N723 RDD was also there about to work a #9 Laneside circular.

M&M Coaches N723 RDD in Bridge Street

We got on and asked the driver for a day ticket. He couldn't find one on his machine. When we explained that we just wanted to ride on the bus he suggested we did one of the other buses first and then came back later. we asked him when his last tun was and he told us it was the #1650 #9 departure. So we got off and walked around to Peel Street. We immediately saw required M&M Coaches P350 NKH on a #1 service.

M&M Coaches P350 NKH in Accrington bus station

The driver had seen Matthew taking his picture and he said that they were getting ride of the old buses at a rate of around 1 a month. They send them down to Stoke (Stafford Bus Centre). We told him we had come up from Stoke to ride on tese buses! We asked about a day ticket but the driver said they didn't do one. We asked where we could do this bus to and then catch a #46 to blackburn. We booked to market Street and then we sat down. There was a daft dog on the bus that was lying on the floor and kept sitting by us. It was one of those dogs that looked menacing but as as soft as a brush. As the bus was fairly well matthew was only able to take a picture of the back seat of the bus.

Inside M&M Coaches P350 NKH

As we went to get up the owner called his dog and it moved out of our way! We got off and went to cross the road. Whist there we saw David Urquart Travel ABZ 857 come past. We crossed market Street and waited at he stop on Blackburn Road. We only had to wait a couple of minutes which was very lucky considering it was a 30 frequency on this service. The bus soon turned up and it was as predicted required M&M Coaches M356 JBO.

M&M Coaches M356 JBO on Blackburn Road

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was quite well filled and we picked up a few more passenger as we went along the road. Most people got off at Ainsworth Street and Matthew wanted to get off too. I told him we would stay on until we got to the interchange as there were more buses there. I didn't realise that it was the next stop and it was only a few hundred yards up the road! When we got to the Interchange Matthew photographed the inside of M356 JBO too.

Inside M&M Coaches M356 JBO

We walked towards the railway station and we saw Stagecoach 33029 on a Preston service.

Stagecoach 33029 in Blackburn interchange

We walked into the railway station and Matthew used the disabled toilet on the platform. When we came out of the station we visited the shop by the entrance. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a toffee flavoured flapjack. We sat on a wall near the entrance of the interchange and Matthew ate his Flapjack and we shared a can of orange Tango. Whist we were there we also saw Transdev Lancashire United 569.

Transdev Lancashire United 569 in Blackburn interchange

We also saw Darwen Coach Service PLZ 5592 on a D10 service.

Darwen Coach Services PLZ 5592 in Blackburn interchange

When we had finished eating we decided to walk around the interchange. The sun wasn't in a very good position for pictures, plus I wanted to take a picture of the bronze statue of the boy dropping his teddy bear I heard about. We walked around the bus station and we took picture of the buses that were on layover. One of the buses was Transdev Lancashire United 440.

Transdev Lancashire United 440 in Blackburn interchange

Also on layover was Transdev Lancashire United 207.

Transdev Lancashire United 207 in Blackburn interchange

Matthew and uncle Dave sat down on a bench near the statue of Queen Victoria and I went to find the bronze. Just as I spotted the bronze I saw required M&M Coaches N213 UHH coming into the interchange. I considered going for the bus for a second and then I went to the statue and got a quick picture! We went int the interchange to go to see which stand it went onto and then it went straight out and stopped on a stand on Railway Road. We quickly got a picture of the bus and then went to get on it.

M&M Coaches N213 UHH in Blackburn interchange

As the bus was empty as we got on Matthew got a picture of the inside of the bus too.

Inside M&M Coaches N213 UHH

We booked back to Accrington and then sat down. The bus was quite well filled again and as we went out of town the bus emptied a little. We got back onto Blackburn Road and most people got off. When we got back to the bus station we saw required N723 RDD on the #2 behind us. We got off the bus and walked towards the bus. The driver recognised us from earlier and indicated to us to ask if we were getting on. Matthew took pictures and then we got on.

M&M Coaches N723 RDD in Accrington bus station

We sorted out tickets with the driver and then sat down. The bus set off in the general direction of Clayton-le-Moors which explains why we saw 4 busees last weekend but didn't know which services they were all on. As we went through the Dill Hill area we went passed an Alexnader bodied Renault Dodge in the estate. It was E103 JNH which had been hand painted in various colours with 'save the bees' sign written on the front. We then headed back into and the bus terminated in bridge Street. As we got off Matthew took a picture of the inside of N723 RDD.

Inside M&M Coaches N723 RDD

We also took a picture of the outside of the bus here too as it was in a good position.

M&M Coaches N723 RDD in Bridge Street

The driver asked if Matthew wanted is picture taken on the bus and so I did that and then we said thanks before we left. We met up with mum as we were going to have a drink before we did another bus, but Matthew had other ideas. When Rossendale Easyride 101 made an appearance for the second week running Matthew decided he wanted to do this.

Rossendale Easyride 101 in Accrington bus station

We got on the bus and brought a Tango ticket and then went upstairs. He took a picture of the empty top deck at this point.

Inside Rossendale Easyride 101

We sat down at the front of the bus. It was another 'no opening window at the front' bus and it was a very warm journey. Matthew had his chocolate bar he brought from the cafe earlier as we traveled down through Baxenden. We crossed over the A56 and we headed into Haslingden. When we got to the edge of town where we saw bus stops opposite we decided to get off. Matthew got another picture of this fine bus as we got off.

Rossendale Easyride 101 in Haslingden

We crossed the road and looked at the stop. We had just missed a #464 so we had a look at the timetable. The #464 runs every 15 minutes at this point and the #484 is every 30 minutes. There was a #484 due immediately and a #464 in 10 minutes. We decided that if the #484 was a newish bus we would wait until the next one in case we got something more interesting. We let Volvo 215 go and waited for the next one. when it turned up it was required Scania Rossendale Easyride 224.

Rossendale Easyride 224 in Haslingden

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was nearly empty and it made good time heading north. We stopped in Baxenden for a minute or 2 to wait for for time. We carried on and when we got back to Accrington Matthew took a picture inside this bus.

Inside Rossendale Easyride 224

Across the road we saw Boomerang S451 WAT on a #11 service.

Boomerang S451 WAT in Accrington bus station

As we walked back towards the car we also saw Pilkington Bus Optare Solo T311 UOX on a local service.

Pilkington Bus T311 UOX in Accrington bus station

We went into the market and Matthew used the disabled toilet. Matthew photographed the Leico sink in there. He also had an ice cream from one of the stalls. We walked back to the car where there were sausage rolls and a can of Cherry Coke waiting for him. We set off a little before 17:00 and we headed down the A680 down to the A56. here did the road down onto the m66 and then it was M60 anti-clockwise M62 West and then M6 South. The accident had been cleared and the road was now quiet. We followed a coach down which was FN02 VBV. We didn't realise at the time but the coach belongs to local operator Global Travel. We followed the coach onto the A500 and we saw it leave the a500 at the Northern A34 junction. We then headed onto the A50 and off at longton to go past the Z Carz depot. there was only one bus there today. From the taxi fleet was Renault minibus X848 JFR.

Z Carz X848 JFR in Longton

There was nothing in the Willow Row Compound so we headed home down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We got back at around 18:30. Matthew had a toffee yoghurt and then later he had bangers and mash for tea followed by cheesecake. he then chilled out on his computer. He didn't got to bed as usual. At first he stopped downstairs and curled up asleep on the sofa because of his faulty cable box. When I realised around 01:30 I came down and fetched him and he went to bed. Today was a great day on the buses and the only downside to today was the lack of a day ticket from M&M coaches which made it a little bit more expensive...Mark