Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 02-11-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
SB09	Ellesmere Port BS	Frodsham, nr Bears Paw	36	GHA
5008	Frodsham, o/s Lloyds TSB Bank	Chester BS	X30	Arriva NW&W
SB23	Chester BS	Littleton, opp Littleton Lane	82	GHA
4078	Littleton, Littleton Lane (cnr)‎	Chester BS	84	Arriva NW&W
4141	Chester BS	Littleton, opp Littleton Lane	84	Arriva NW&W
4061	Littleton, Littleton Lane (cnr)‎	Chester BS	84	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Ellesmere Port. We didn't make a decision on where we were going until Friday so we didn't do much research. He had however expressed an interest in doing some GHA buses today. There weather was forecast for rain showers. Matthew got up just after 10:00 today and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 today and we went onto the A5035 and then along Stanley Matthews Way. We went West on the A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton to go pick up some LPG. We got onto the A53 and then back onto the Northbound A500. The weather was poor and we made slow progress in the driving rain up to The M56. When we got on the Westbound M56 the weather cleared up and we had sunshine again. We then made good progress to Ellesmere Port and we parked up near the market around 13:15. As there was a table free in the market food court we went and sat down straight away. mum went to order the food and I took Matthew to the toilet whilst uncle Dave looked after the table. For dinner Matthew had a breakfast which was follow by a large piece of Victoria Sponge. When we had finished eating we walked to the bus station via the car so we could pick up the trip bag out of the car. At the bus station was GHA Solo YM52 TPX parked up on mess duty and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 28542 on a #1 to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 28542 in Ellesmere Port bus station

The next #36 to Runcorn was due, but it looked like it hadn't yet arrived as there were people waiting at the stand. We decided to go to the end of the bus station and take some pictures of buses as the buses arrived into the bus station. The first bus that we saw was GHA T789 KNW on a #6 to Stanney Grange.

GHA T789 KNW in Ellesmere Port

This was immediately followed by required GHA SB09 on the #36 to Runcorn.

GHA SB09 in Ellesmere Port

The bus arrived on stand and after a driver change we boarded the bus and booked our Cheshire Day tickets for £5. The bus was empty at the back so Matthew got a picture as we got on.

Inside GHA SB09

We sat down and the bus set off out of town. The bus went down the A5032 and then we did a quick run down to the railway station before continuing down to the M53. We got on the motorway and went down one junction before we came of and did a circuit of Cheshire Oaks. We then headed east along the A5117. We went past Stanlow oil refinery and did a quick spin around the village of Thornton-le-Moors before carrying on Eastwards down the A5117. We turned North onto Pool Lane and then headed into Elton. Here we passed GHA T510 APS on a Ellesmere port bound #36. We headed past Ince & Elton railway station. before doing a turn in the centre of Ince village. We headed back South through Elton and back onto A5117. We crossed the M56 by Chester services and the we joined onto the eastbound A56. We then had the straight run through Helsby and into Frodsham, passing Arriva NW&W 5006 on a #21 and SB15 on a #36. We decided to get off in Frodsham and do the next #21 or X30 into Chester. We looked at the timetable and we had around 10 minutes to wait for the X30 to Chester. Whilst we waited we shared a galaxy caramel. We saw an Arriva gas bus in the distance coming down the hill so we stood and waited to get a picture. Just in front of this however was Timewells Mercedes minibus SF55 GYA.

Timewells SF55 GYA in Frodsham

We then got a picture of required Arriva NW&W 5008 on the X30.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Frodsham

We booked out Arriva Daysaver and sat down near the back. This was our first run on one of these gas powered buses. It seemed to be quiet and had lightning fast acceleration. The bus headed South West down the A56 and we passed GHA R504 JFE on the final #36 turn. We headed across the M53 and into Chester down the Hoole Road. When we got into Chester bus station the bus emptied out and Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 5008.

Inside Arriva NW&W 5008

He also decided to get another picture of the outside of 5008 too.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Chester bus station

At the stop behind 5008 was Arriva NW&W pulsar II 3143 on the next #15 service to Saughill.

Arriva NW&W 3143 in Chester bus station

We walked down to our usual perch in the bus station so we could take a few pictures and work out what we were going to catch next. Required Arriva NW&W 4481 was on the next #11 to Holywell and there was a Cadet on the #10 and a Solo on the #12. Surprisingly the open top tour was still running and Stagecoach Merseyside 17455 was in charge.

Stagecoach Merseyside 17455 in Chester bus station

We then saw a GHA bus appear on the #82 so we decided to do this. Closer inspection revealed it was GHA SB23.

GHA SB23 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The seats behind us were empty so Matthew got a picture there.

Inside GHA SB23

After we set off we realised that this was the 3rd run on this bus, the first being back in October 2011 on our first trip to Northwich. The bus went around the ring road and then we came back into the city and down Gorse Stacks and into the city centre. The bus filled up in Foregate Street and then we headed out of town along the A51. It was raining so we decided to go a bit further out than we had done before along this road. We passed the bridge in and then crossed over the A41 & A55. just the other side of the A55 we spotted bus shelters on both sides of the road so we decided to get off the bus here. We got off in Littleton and we crossed the very busy A51 eventually. However the bus stop at which we waited for the return bus was a little bit on the rickety and every time the wind blew or a large vehicle passed the stop it moved in the ground! As it was raining we took our chances. We would 100% get wet if we stood outside the bus shelter...There was only a small chance of the shelter falling down on us whilst we waited for the bus! There was a #84 due in around 10 minutes and sure enough the bus appeared. It was required Arriva NW&W DAF decker 4078.

Arriva NW&W 4078 in Littleton

We got on the bus and went upstairs. The bus headed back into Chester along the A51 passing GHA SB38 on the X20 and then we went onto the ring road. As we passed the bottom end of Foregate Street we saw Arriva NW&W 2357 on a #3 service to Mold. The bus turned into Frodsham Street and then onto Gorse Stacks. The top deck had emptied out at this point so Matthew got a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4078 here.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4078

The bus pulled straight onto stand and we got off the bus. Next to us was Stagecoach Merseyside 21254 on the #2 to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21254 in Chester bus station

We went back to the perch and took a few more pictures. A couple of Darts made appearances on the #10 to Connah's Quay. First Arriva NW&W 2356 appeared and this was followed by Arriva NW&W 2355 on the following turn. We also saw Stagecoach Merseyside 34603 on a #53 to Kingsway.

Stagecoach Merseyside 34603 in Chester bus station

We had seen Arriva NW&W 4078 leave on the 16:30 to Crewe We had also seen dud Arriva NW&W on the #11 to Holywell. Just after 16:45 another double dcker made an appearance on the #84 and it was required Arriva NW&W 4141.

Arriva NW&W 4141 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. As we knew it would fill up as we left town Matthew got a picture inside the bus whilst he could before we set off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4141

We had to wait around 10 minutes for the bus to depart 17:00, and in the meanwhile we contact mum to say that this would be out last out and back trip. The bus set off and once again it loop around the Northern Eastern corner of the city before heading in along Gorse Stacks and Frodsham Street. The bus filled up a little in Foregate Street and we left town along the A51. We had hoped to get off the bus before we reached Littleton, but the rain was now coming down. So we decided to risk injury again at "the bus stop of doom"... We got off the bus and watched Arriva NW&W 4141 disappear into the night towards Crewe. We hoped that it would be easier to cross the A51 now it was nearly 17:30, but the road was still very busy. We eventually crossed the road and I used my pocket torch to read the stop timetable. There was an #84 to Chester due at 17:33. The time 17:33 came and went and the bus eventually turned up around 17:46. It was required Arriva NW&W 4061 and it was a sight for sore eyes after being under that shelter in the wind!

Arriva NW&W 4061 in Littleton

This was the first time in a while that a bus has turned up this late and most of the buses we catch generally run on time. We got on the bus and went upstairs. the bus went back into town along the A51 and onto the ring road. When we reached the bollards at Frodsham Street the bollards failed to go. The transponder either didn't work or the buses wasn't fitted with one. We couldn't go the normal route and so we diverted around the ring road and entered the bus station through Northgate. The bus stopped and emptied out and Matthew got a picture upstairs.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4061

The poor quality was probably down to us trying to rush him off the bus! We got off and he got another picture of 4061 at rest in a more well lit location than Littelton.

Arriva NW&W 4061 in Chester bus station

After a quick toilet stop in the market car park toilets We headed back to the car. Matthew spotted that mum had had cone of chips earlier because she had left the cone in the car, so he insisted we got him some chips too. The only chip shop we could think of that was on or near our route out Chester was the one on Kingsway we had used when we stopped at the Dene Hotel back in June 2011. We went onto the ring road and around to the A56. We headed North to newton Lane and then we turned onto Kingsway just after the bridge. After picking up some chips we headed back onto the A56 and then turned left. We went north up to the M53 which we did up to the junction of the M56. We then headed eastwards up to The M6. Back on the M6 we headed South onto the A500 and then onto the A50 which we did to Longton. At Z Carz today there were quite a few vehicles, but most of then were at the back of the site and not visible in the dark. Front of the row was Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Next to this was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

That was followed by another Mercedes with a different body style, W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Last in the row was VW minibus OV05 WSW which wasn't very well lit. We checked out the Willow row compound and then headed down Longton Hall Road back to Blurton. First Potteries 40025 was seen on a #23 and First Potteries 43876 was seen on a Longton bound #22. We got back in the house around 19:45. Matthew had a late tea of bangers and mash with carrots followed by cheesecake. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 28-09-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3123	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	2	Arriva NW&W
4488	Chester BS	Broughton, Glynne Arms (SW-bound)	X11	Arriva NW&W
2352	Broughton, Glynne Arms (NE-bound)‎	Chester railway station	4	Arriva NW&W
4143	Chester BS	Boughton, o/s Bridge Inn	84	Arriva NW&W
SB23	Boughton, opp Bridge Inn	Chester BS	82	GHA

Today we decided to Chester. We had not visited since back in March, when there was deep snow all around! I didn't do any research except to check the weather, as we only decided on Chester on Thursday night. Matthew got up a little before 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just before 12:00 and we went along Stanley Matthews way onto the A50. We headed up the A500 stopping in Etruria for LPG. Whilst there we saw 60193 & 41493. We went onto the A53 and back onto the northbound A500. As we joined the M6 we were followed on by Stagecoach Megabus 55004. The motorway was busy and we were passed by a few different buses Leon's Coaches 206 & Happy Days Coaches 226 were going to Manchester United from West Brom. We headed west when we reached the M56 and then north on the M53. We drove into Ellesmere port along the A5032 and we saw GHA MX56 AAZ on the 7 to Rivacre. We also passed GHA SB15 on the #36 to Runcorn. We parked up near the market and we ate in the market food hall. We had to wait for a few minutes, so we went to the toilet.It was a while before we could get a table but eventually we did, (we shared a table with an old couple) and Matthew had a breakfast followed by a Victoria sponge cake. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and walked to the bus station via the shopping centre. We walked out of the shopping centre and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 28547 parked up in the bus station.

Stagecoach Merseyside 28547 in Ellesmere Port bus station

There was a solitary 'Into the port' GHA bus parked up (YM52 TPO) which we photographed and then we walked up to the top end to wait for a bus. I checked the time of the next 2 and it was due in about a minutes at 14:08. It turned and we saw it was dud Arriva NW&W 3123.

Arriva NW&W 3123 in Ellesmere Port

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. This was a bus that we had done when it was first delivered to Birkenhead back in September 2012. The bus was around 1/2 full and it dropped off a few passengers as we went through the estate before we joined onto the A5117. We carried on down the A41 dual carriageway and then we turned right onto the A5116 and went passed the Hospital ad Morrisons. We carried on passed the stagecoach depot and into the bus station via Northgate. When the bus emptied out Matthew took a picture inside the Arriva NW&W 3123 too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3123

When we got off the bus Matthew decided to walk to the bus station the long way around passed the library before turning into Princess Street. On the way to settling on our usual perch, We spotted and photographed Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 on the 1A to Blacon.

Stagecoach Merseyside 21258 in Chester bus station

We carried onto the perch and we sat down. We were followed down by MacPhails Van Hool coach LCZ 6332.

MacPhails LCZ 6332 in Chester bus station

We sat around for a few more minutes then we decided to do a bus. Required Arriva 2636 was on the #10 to Connahs Quay and dud Arriva NW&W 4488 was on the #11 to Holywell. We decided to do 4488 on the #11.

Arriva NW&W 4488 in Chester bus station

We waited for a few minutes for the driver to return to the bus and then it started to board. We got on the bus and went upstairs which was empty at the rear. Matthew got a picture of the bus whilst it was empty.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4488

We set of out of the bus station and off towards Hawarden. This was a bus that we had done twice before...First in June 2012 and then again in December 2012! When we crossed over the Dee we noticed there were large amounts of coaches parked up and that the races were on today. We carried on the A5104 and we passed a couple of darts on the #3 and #4 service. We passed required Arriva NW&W 2359 & 2348. We decided to get off at the end of the A5104 and see if we could get a required Dart on one the other service. When we got to the end of the road we got off the bus. Matthew got a picture of Arriva NW&W 4488 before it set off towards Holywell.

Arriva NW&W 4488 in Broughton

We crossed the road (eventually), and waited at the stop on the other side of the road. Whilst we waited we spotted Arriva NW&W 675 on the #12 service.

Arriva NW&W 675 in Broughton

A few minutes late we saw a Dart head into the shopping centre. A few minutes later it reappeared and headed towards us. As it got closer we could see it was required Arriva NW&W 2352. We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was nearly empty, but it did pick up a few extra passengers going into town. As we headed into Chester we passed another required Dart 2358! Further into town we also passed 2348 on the #3 towards Mold. The bus went around Chester and then headed towards the railway station. When we got to City Road the bus terminated. Matthew got a picture inside 2352 as we got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2352

The area was packed with buses and coaches and we could only get a picture between other buses.

Arriva NW&W 2352 near Chester railway station

We walked back along City Road and we saw former Procters van Hool coach HIL7614 which is now with Atlantic Travel of Bolton.

Atlantic Travel HIL 7614 near Chester railway station

We carried on towards gorse stack and we saw Arriva NW&W 4405 on the #1 to Wrexham. we also saw GHA SB30 on the X20 to Winsford. On Gorse Stacks we saw 'Into the Port' liveried Solo X9 GHA on a Mold service. On Delamere Street we saw Walter Martin coach WAL 895.

Walter Martin WAL 895 on Delamere Street

We carried on up Delamere Street and we saw Arriva NW&W gas powered bus 5004 and Arrowebrook MX07 NTT. Matthew decided we were going to walk back to the bus station around the ring road. whilst walking down we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 17502 on the City Sightseeing Tour open top service. We entered the bus station via Hunter Street and we saw required Arriva NW&W 2341 on the #10 to Connah's Quay. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he turned it down. asked if he wanted to go to the toilet and he said yes. Instead of going to the market car park toilets that we usually use he decided he wanted to use the Portaloo's in Northgate! We walked back to the bus station and we sat on our perch whilst we decided which bus to do. We let go required Arriva NW&W 2636 on the #10, required 674 on the #12, required 4485 on the 11, and also required 4061 on the #84. This was followed by required gas bus 5005 on the X30.

Arriva NW&W 5005 in Chester bus station

Matthew decided he wanted another wander around, so we walked out of the bus station through princess Street and onto Northgate. We photographed some buses and coaches by the cinema before walking back to the bus station. by this time mum had arrived in the car from Ellesmere Port. We walked back down to the bus station and we saw Avon Buses 356 on the #22 to West Kirby.

Avon Buses 356 in Chester bus station

Shortly afterwards required Arriva NW&W 4143 arrived on the #84 and actually decided he wanted to catch a bus! The problem was that I hadn't done any research on the Deeside Daysaver Zone so I didn't know how fr east you could travel on the #84! We had to wait for a few minutes for the driver to ready the bus and whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 5003 on the #21 to Runcorn. When the bus was ready the bus loaded up and we got on.

Arriva NW&W 4143 in Chester bus station

We went upstairs and it was already quite full. The bus set off through Chester and picked up even more passengers in Foregate Street. We decided to go a few stops out of Chester. on the way we saw Burland Group minibus X863 BVN. We also passed Arriva NW&W 4489 on an inbound #84! We got off the bus in by The Bridge Inn and Matthew got another picture of it.

Arriva NW&W 4143 in Vicars Cross

Looking at the bus stop timetable we had nearly half an hour to wait for the next #84 which was no surprise, but I didn't want to go too far on the tickets in case weren't valid. The problem was the next bus was a GHA one on the #82, and the alternative was a long wait. Around 17:25 the bus rounded the corner and it was GHA SB23.

GHA SB23 in Vicars Cross

We got on and asked for Chester and it cost us £1.70 each! I nearly died (well I didn't feel too chuffed with paying out those fares...)! Even worse when looked up SB23 in the list it was dud, having previously done it back in October 2011 on our first visit to Northwich, the one and only time we had previously covered the #82. We travel back into Chester along the A51. As we entered Chester we passed Copeland's Tours MIB 346. We then headed up Gorse Stacks and when we got back Matthew took a picture inside this bus.

Inside GHA SB23

He also got another picture of the bus at Chester too.

GHA SB23 in Chester bus station

To make things worse as we walked back to the car we saw required Arriva NW&W 2258 on the #10 to Connah's Quay.

Arriva NW&W 2258 in Chester bus station

We went to the car where mum was waiting with sausage rolls and pop. We set off out of the bus station and clockwise round the ring road to the A56. We did the A56 north up to the M53 and then onto the eastbound M56. We did this to the m6 and then headed South. The coaches that we had seen going North Leon's 206 and Happy Days 226 went south with jubilant West Brom fans after there win against Manchester United... We got onto the southbound A500 which we did down to the A50 and into Longton. At the Z Carz depot we saw 5 buses on the spare ground. Newest Mercedes minibus S952 VMY was at the front.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next the this were 2 coaches. The first was Scania D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Next to this was M534 RSO, which has had the purple decals added to the front and sides.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

At the rear of the land was the coach ALZ 8539, and the last bus on the land was LDV minibus R920 WNT.

Z Carz R920 WNT in Longton

We had a look in the Willow Row compound we saw LDV minibus T408 JUX. We turned around and Matthew got another picture of R920 WNT from the other side.

Z Carz R920 WNT in Longton

We headed back along Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We passed First Potteries 40017 on the #22 and 53828 on the #23. We got back just after 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash followed by Cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 12:30...Mark