Trip to Crewe / Nantwich 08-11-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4030	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
4098	Nantwich BS	Crewe, opp Hope Street	84	Arriva NW&W
4215	Crewe, Camm Street (cnr)	Tarporley, opp Community Centre	84	Arriva NW&W
4030	Tarporley, o/s Community Centre	Crewe BS	84	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit Crewe and Nantwich. This decision was mainly based on the weather forecast. Saturday afternoon in most part was predicted to be a bit of a washout in most parts. Looking a the weather on Saturday morning, the appeared to be some dry weather in the afternoon from Crewe Westward and as far north as Warrington. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We gave Matthew a short list of destinations in the area of best weather and he chose Crewe & Nantwich. After Matthew had made the decision, research consisted of looking on the Dennis Dart Forum to see what buses are allocated to Winsford depot. It been a while been to the area and there had been a few changes to the buses. The S-JUA registered double deckers were on their way out and the double deckers which used to work the #375/385 in Southport (of which we have been on 7 of the 8) were just starting to work in the area. There had also been 2 other double deckers from London. There were still a few buses that we hadn't ridden on. We set off a little later than usual today at 12:15. We headed onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthews Way. We went West on the A50 and then North onto the A500. As we passed the A53 roundabout we saw an unidentified Tyrer coaching joining the Southbound carriageway. We carried on North through light drizzle and we crossed under the M6. A couple of miles further down the road we turned right onto the A5020. We had a clear run into Crewe all the way up to the roundabout on Nantwich Road where it was busy as usual. We passed the railway station and turned right into Edleston Road. We crossed over the Chester railway line before coming into town and turning into Delamere Street. We parked up in the car park there and set off to the chip shop restaurant on the other side of the bus station. On the way through the bus station we saw dud Arriva NW&W 4098 on the #84 to Nantwich.

Arriva NW&W 4098 in Crewe bus station

On layover in the bus station was required Arriva NW&W ALX400 double decker 4026.

Arriva NW&W 4026 in Crewe bus station

We carried on through the bus station and to the Chip restaurant. It appeared to changed hand from last time. It was no longer Les's Fish Bar. Matthew went to the toilet and then we ordered sausage chips and beans and had a glass of Coke. The food was very nice but it took around 40 minutes to order and eat the food. After we had finished eating we paid the bill and said goodbye to mum. We walked into the bus station and sitting on the #84 to Chester was required Arriva NW&W 4030.

Arriva NW&W 4030 in Crewe bus station

We got on the bus and we purchased Arriva Day Saver tickets at £5 each. We went upstairs and sat down just in front of the centre stairway. The bus set off out of the bus station on onto Delamere Street.The bus turned into Edleston Road and then right onto Nantwich Road. As we traveled West we past dud Arriva NW&W 4105. The bus carried on along the A534 until we reached the turn for the village of Willaston. We carried on into Willaston and then turned right passing GHA Solo SL17 on the #78 to Congleton. At the end of Coppice Road we turned left and onto the A534 again. We passed dud Arriva NW&W 4143 on the other short #84 turn. We crossed over the Nantwich by-pass and we headed into town. When we got to the bus station we got off and Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 4030.

Arriva NW&W 4030 in Nantwich bus station

We also saw required Arriva NW&W 4215 which was on a Crewe bound #84. We walked into town towards the market and Matthew used the toilets here. On the way back to bus station we stopped at the market stall that sells sweets and we bought a couple of once of spearmint chews. Back at the bus station there was a bit of activity. We saw D&G Dart 182 on a #6 to Leighton Hosptal.

D&G 182 in Nantwich bus station

Behind us was GHA Solo SL14 on the #51 town circular service.

GHA SL14 in Nantwich bus station

We turned around again and we saw D&G 124 on the #45 service to Crewe.

D&G 124 in Nantwich bus station

Parked up between duties at library end of the bus station we saw GHA Solo X319 XBT.

GHA X319 CBT in Nantwich bus station

A few minutes later as expected we saw dud Arriva NW&W 4098 on the #84 to Crewe. We got on the bus and flashed our Arriva Day Saver tickets before going upstairs. We had worked out that the next Chester bound required bus was Arriva NW&W 4215 which was on the 15:00 from Crewe. In theory we might just make it to the bus station but in reality it would probably pass us somewhere between the bus station and Nantwich Road. We headed back along the A534 and across the Nantwich by-pass. We passed dud Arriva NW&W 4105 before we turned towards Willaston. Arriva 4105 was a bus we first had from Pemberton to Wigan back in November 2012. Further along the A534 we passed dud Arriva NW&W 4143 on the #84 short journey to Nantwich. Arriva NW&W 4143 was a bus we first had from the Chester end of the #84 to Vicars Cross back in September 2013. At around 15:00 we were just turning into Edleston Road, so we decided to get off at the next stop to wait for required Arriva NW&W 4215. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew got a picture of Arriva NW&W 4098 as it carried on for the last 1/2 mile or so towards Crewe bus station.

Arriva NW&W 4098 in Crewe

We crossed the road and walk to the adjacent bus stop. Arriva NW&W 4098 was a bus we first had from Rhyl to Pensarn back in June 2012. As we waited for the bus we saw First Potteries 66310 on a #3 to Keele. A minute or so later we saw an Arriva double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was as expected required Arriva NW&W 4215.

Arriva NW&W 4215 in Crewe

We got on the bus and we flashed our Arriva Day Saver tickets before going upstairs on the bus. The bus carried on along Edleston Road before turning right into Nantwich Road. As we went Westwards we passed dud Arriva NW&W 4103 on the next Crewe bound #84 from Chester. Arriva NW&W 4103 was a bus we first had from Wigan to Pemberton back in May 2012. We turned into Willaston and we passed the #78 to Congleton on Coppice Road again. This time is was being worked by GHA Solo X319 CBT which was the one that we had seen on layover at Nantwich earlier. After we joined the A534 again we passed dud Arriva NW&W 4143 on the short #84 from Nantwich. We crossed the by-pass and went into town. This time in the bus station we saw a plain silver GHA Solo parked up n the bus station. We carried on through the town centre and as we turned towards the river we passed required Arriva NW&W 4216 on the next Chester - Crewe #84. We carried out of the town under the canal and past the Marina. We joined the A51 and we carried on through the sticks. We went past Snugbury's and we saw the hay bail Dalek (or Da'lick as they referred to it). WE carried on through the village of Wardle and then we crossed over the Crewe to Chester railway line. We carried on through Calveley and Alpraham. We then saw dud Arriva NW&W 4156. Arriva NW&W 4156 was a bus we first had back in March 2012 from Northwich to Middlewich. At a crossroad we carried on to the A49 Tarporley by-pass before turning right to go through the village. As we had done before we got off the bus opposite the community centre. Matthew got another picture of Arriva NW&W 4215 as it headed off towards Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4215 in Tarporley

We had around 20 minutes to wait for the bus back to Crewe in theory, so we went to the Spar shop attached to the local petrol station. Matthew brought 4 small bottles of pop for £1, a Milky Way and a Galaxy Caramel as well as a can of Coke for later. Everything came to a grand total of £2.70 which seem very good value for a convenience store. We walked to the bus stop and Matthew had one of the small bottles of pop and decided to have a Rice Crispies Squares from the trip bag for a snack. As we waited for the bus, we saw Coachstop YN53 OZO go by.

Coachstop YN53 OZO in Tarporley

The bus went up and down the High Street a couple of times before eventually reversing into the community centre car park. The time for the return bus came and went... It turned up around 10 minutes late. It was Arriva NW&W 4030 again!

Arriva NW&W 4030 in Tarporley

The bus was quite full. We got on the bus and we flashed the day Saver tickets for the last time. We went upstairs and we sat down towards the rear of the top deck as it was nearly full. As we stormed through the Cheshire countryside it started to go dark. We passed a few minutes down the road we passed Arriva NW&W 4103 heading towards Chester which also must have been a little late too. On the outskirts of Nantwich the bus started to empty a little. As we waited at the traffic light near to the river Matthew decided to take a picture of the now empty rear of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4030

We carried on into the bus station, where we saw GHA Solo YJ06 YRL. We carried on towards Crewe along the A534 with a quick diversion into Willaston Village. In town there was a little bit of traffic. It was now 17:00 and the Crewe - Sheffield United had just finished. the score was 0-0 which meant that they would have to replay their first round FA cup tie at Sheffield... We turned into Edleston Road and crossed over the Crewe to Chester railway line before turning into Delamere Street and into the bus station. We got off and we had a quick walk around taking bus pictures. We saw GHA Solo SL19 on layover outside the old Arriva bus garage.

GHA SL19 in Crewe bus station

WE then headed off towards the car, looking at the buses on stand as we went. We saw relatively new arrival, required Arriva NW&W Cadet 2425 on the #37 to Northwich.

Arriva NW&W 2425 in Crewe bus station

We also saw GHA solo YJ54 ZYC on the #39 to Nantwich.

GHA YJ54 ZYC in Crewe bus station

We carried on through the bus station and we took a few more bus picture before we crossed Delamere Street and went to the car. Mum was waiting fir us with Greggs sausage rolls and Matthew had a 5000ml bottle of Irn Bru. We drover onto Edleston Road before turning left on Nantwich Road. We then headed towards the along the A5020. Once we reached the A500 we carried on East and under the M6. We carried on going East and then South ad through Stoke-on-Trent to the A50. At the A50 we went East for a couple of mile until we got to Longton. We came of the A50 and headed to the Z Carz depot. Z Carz had started to parked buses back on the spare ground again... we saw 3 buses parked up there tonight. First we had Matthew's old college transport Z Carz LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH Longton

Next we saw Ford minibus NA06 SAO.

Z Carz NA06 SAO Longton

Finally we saw Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN Longton

We turned into Willow Row and there were still quite a few buses in the compound including W221 CDN & CE02 LYX. WE turned back onto the A50 and we came off the road at Heron Cross. Lightning Travel T2 DLT was parked up on the Blurton border and we carried on along Blurton Road through Blurton. We got back home at around 18:00.for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark

Trip to Crewe 09-06-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2500	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
SL17	Nantwich BS	Nantwich, Millfields Marsh Lane	53	GHA
SL17	Nantwich, Millfields Marsh Lane	Nantwich BS	53	GHA
138	Nantwich BS	Crewe, opp The Brunswick	44A	D&G
4489	Crewe, Crewe Arms Hotel (NE-bound)	Sandbach o/s Common	38	Arriva NW&W
3330	Sandbach o/s Common	Crewe BS	37	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to do a fairly local trip as we have been out a few days this week. Matthew chose to go to Crewe. Today was overcast but dry and fairly cool for the time of year. We set off around 12:00, going North along the A500. We had planned on stopping at the food trailer at the top of the A500 but it wasn't there! So we decided to carry on and see if there was a burger van in the B&Q car park in Crewe. We parked up by the road so Matthew could see if any useful buses went past on the #37 or #38 whilst we waited and ate. Whilst I was getting the food an unidentified Olympian went past towards Crewe. After we ate we drove into Crewe town centre. We passed the Olympian going out on the #37 and it was 3330. After parking up we walked into the bus station. The first bus we saw was GHA SB55 parked up between duties.

GHA SB55 in Crewe bus station

We now had to choose what we were going to do. Arriva NW&W 2499 was on the #31, 2500 was on the #84 to Chester and 4491 arrived in on the #38. Matthew chose to do the one bus he had already been on Arriva NW&W 2500 on the #84. We booked to Nantwich and got on the bus. As we were leaving Crewe bus station we saw First Potteries ALX200 40144 on a #20. These don't work to Crewe very often. The journey down was quite quick and pleasant and we passed several Plaxton Centros on other #84 services. When we arrived in Nantwich, Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus which was nearly empty.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2500

He also got a good shot of the outside of the bus.

2500 in Nantwich bus station

We decided to go use the facilities in Nantwich market. On the way back we called at the sweet store and picked up some Taveners mint chews. Back at the bus station we now had around 15 minutes to wait for a bus back to Crewe. Matthew was eying up GHA step entranced minibus MB29 which we presumed was being used as the crew mess bus. When the next #84 turned up it was a Centro and Matthew refused to do it! After it had left had dragged me over to MB29 and I told it again it wasn't working. I even asked the driver on the bus and he confirmed it to be the case. Whilst we were there GHA SL17 turned up on one of the town circular. Matthew wanted to do this respite having been on it before so we did a circle around the town on this.

GHA SL17 in Nantwich bus station

After doing the spin around time Matthew photographed the bus empty back at the bus station.

Inside SL17

There was a Crewe bus in the bus station, bus it pulled away before we got off SL17. Behind it was a D&G bus bound for Crewe so we decided to get on this as it wasn't a Centro. It was unrequired D&G 138

D&G 138 in Nantwich bus station

We did this bus back and as it was travelling along Gresty Road I though about getting off to intercept the #37 to Northwich. As we got up Matthew photographed on of the seats on this unusual Marshall bodied Dennis Dart

Inside 138

We got off at the end and Matthew got a picture of the bus.

138 in Crewe

We then crossed over Nantwich Road to wait for the #37. The bus stop looked like a normal bus stop and as we waited for the #37 we saw First Potteries 60194 go past on a #20 and D&G 21 on a #85. As the #37 approached we stuck out our hand to be picked up. The bus driver shook his head and waved and went past. We thought that the bus didn't look full so we guessed that the bus stop must be disused. Later research found that this stop is alight only despite there being no clue to this on the actual stop. We decided to walk to the stop by the railway station to wait for the #38. We had already seen it going towards Crewe and it was dud Arriva NW&W 4489. After around a 15 minute wait we saw 4489 approaching.

Arriva NW&W 4489 near Crewe railway station

We got on and climbed onto the top deck. The journey was swift and when we got off matthe got another picture of this bus.

4489 on Sandbach Common

We used the facilities at Sandbach Market and then went back to the Common. Required Arriva NW&W 2617 was on a Northwich short but Matthew turned it down again. As we had time to kill before the next bus we visited McColls for drinks and lottery tickets. When we got back we had around 15 minutes to wait for the #37 to Crewe, which was the Olympian we seen earlier 3330.

Arriva NW&W 3330 on Sandbach Common

We sat on the front seats. Matthew photographed the empty top deck.

Inside 3330

Matthew had wanted to sit on the seat behind but appeared to be broken. The journey back was swift, we had the top deck virtually to ourselves as we travelled back to Crewe bus station. Back at Crewe we saw 4040 on a #31A pull off as we arrived. We walked around the bus station where matthew said hello to a couple of people before we head back to the car. Not before getting a picture of First Potteries 60015 on a Hanley service.

First Potteries 60015 in Crewe bus station

Back at the car we had sausage rolls and drink before setting off back towards Stoke-on-Trent. We had a quick trip past Longton bus station where we saw First Potteries red and yellow 60171 on a #26 service. We also saw some vehicle parked up at the Z carz site before retuning home a little before 18:00...Mark.

Trip to Conkers / Nantwich 05-05-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
GN60 GZM	Packmoor	Conkers	Charter	Middlehurst
GN60 GZM	Conkers	Packmoor	Charter	Middlehurst
3348	Sandbach o/s Common	Crewe BS	37	Arriva NW&W
4040	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
SL17	Nantwich BS	Nantwich, o/s Sainsbury's	52	GHA
SL17	Nantwich, o/s Sainsbury's	Nantwich BS	52	GHA
26	Nantwich BS	Crewe BS	45	D&G
3331	Crewe BS	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

Todays was going to be a trip to Wigan. Also today was a trip for Matthew to Conkers with Aiming High. Research for the Wigan trip consisted of downloading timetables from the transport for greater Manchester site. Matthew was due to leave Packmoor at 09:30, so we set of a fraction after 09:00. After we dropped Matthew off we went home to mow the lawn and make final preparation for the Wigan trip. In the meantime Matthew found out he was going to be going on a different minibus than usual, Middlehurst minbus GN60 GZM. Matthew got a good picture of the bus before it loaded up.

Middlehurst GN60 GZM about to set off for Conkers

Conkers is an activity centre near Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Matthew reportedly had a great time and took a few pictures inside the visitor centre.

Beetle in the Indoor Activity Centre at Conkers

Whilst out he saw Arriva Midlands 2242 in Burton-on-Trent. They also stopped somewhere for chips and Coca Cola. The called into a garage near Uttoxeter and saw saw Arriva Midlands 2200. He also had cake. The plan was now to pick up Matthew after his outing and to get to Wigan around 14:30. We set off a little after 13:00 to pick Matthew up from Packmoor. As we approached the A527 turning on the A500 we noticed the traffic had started to build up. we go stuck in slow moving traffic and had to move over for emergency vehicle several times so we guessed there had been a serious crash up ahead. We passed the crash site just before we got to our turnoff, and it appeared a car a crossed the central reservation and landed on it's roof. We got to Packmoor around 13:40 and Matthew had not yet got back on the minibus. They eventually turned up just before 14:00. the road had been closed behind us and the bus had been diverted via Tunstall and had taken a extra. 20 minutes to get there. Matthew went to use the toilet and then we got into the car to North and saw Wigan Coachways N551 VDC. As we wanted Matthew to have a good long trip to Wigan we made the decision to go to Sandbach instead. We would put off going to Wigan for a short while. We got to Sandbach around 14:20 and Matthew was a little disappointed at not going further today. At the stop on the common, Matthew pointed at the 14:55 GHA 319 service to Goostrey and Homes Chapel. i downloaded the timetable and saw that this circular service didn't return back to Sandbach so doing this probably wasn't going to be an option today. There was a 14:40 to Crewe which might be something good, so we decided to wait and see what this was. just before 14:40, Arriva NW&W 3348 appeared and Matthew had a big smile on his face so we knew this was going to be the first bus that we did today. We brought NW day rovers and went upstairs. Matthew got a picture of the empty upstairs as we got on.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3348

As we left Sandbach, we passed the previous #37 to Crewe returning, which was Arriva NW&W 3331. The plan had been to go Haslington and come back on the #38 which would probably be required as we have only been on one of the three new Gemini's that usually work on the #38 service. Matthew had other ideas though, and he didn't want to get off. We ended up doing 3348 all the way to Crewe. As we went into Crewe station we could see another double decker along side us on the adjacent stand. It was required 4040. we got off 3348, and as we waited to see where 4040 was going Matthew got a picture of 3348.

3348 in Crewe bus station

4040 was going to Nantwich, which wasn't what I planned to do, but at least it was a required bus and so we waited for the driver to return. When the driver got on, we booked to Nantwich and we went upstairs. Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck on this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4040

the ride down to Nantwich via Willaston was very pleasant. On the way down we passed a few different Plaxton Centro's returning from Nantwich and chester. One of the Centro's we saw was our bogie machine 2619 ,so it was good to know this bus was out of the way! When we got to Nantwich Matthew was able to get a good shot of 4040 in the bus station.

4040 in Nantwich bus station

As Matthew didn't want to go back on 4040 we had an approximately 15 minute wait for the next service. We saw GHA Solo SL14 on a #73 service which Matthew wanted to do,but i wasn't sure how we could get back. When the next Solo came in on a Sainburys circular, he got a picture of it, Solo SL17.

GHA SL17 in Nantwich bus station

After taking the picture Matthew decided to get on the bus. I asked the driver how long it took to do the circle and he said 15 minutes. So we decided to do a quick trip down to Sainsbury's and back leaving uncle Dave behind. When we reached Sainsbury I got up to pay for the return journey. When we got back we just missed a Cadet heading to Crewe. Matthew must have seen something or someone when we were out on the circular, because then he took us on a walk around town. we stopped and sat on a bench on an island in the road where he had a bottle of Coke from the emergency rations. When we got back to the bus station 2619 was on stand to return to Crewe and Matthew walked straight passed to find a toilet. We found one next to the market, and on the way back we had to stop at a sweet stall he noticed on the way to the toilet. Needless to say 2619 had now departed. I made an executive decision that in order to get back to Sandbach we would catch the next bus back whoever operated it. the next bus back happened to be required D&G 26 and so after Matthew had got picture we got on.

D&G 26 in Nantwich bus station

We paid the fare £2.50 each for an adult single and sat down. It was now 16:20 and we worked out how to get back to Sandbach. Mum couldn't come to meet us anywhere as she wasn't feeling well enough to drive so we had to get back on our own. As we traveled back towards Crewe we passed D&G 42. There was a 16:35 #38 and the next bus was a 17:17 #37. We got into Crewe at 16:37 and must have just missed the #38. Before we got off Matthew to a picture of the inside of D&G 26.

Inside D&G 26

We now had a fair wait for our bus and we saw and photographed quite a few others whilst we waited. D&G 41 which we saw at Nantwich made an appearance at Crewe. Arriva 2619 arrived from Nantwich on the #84 we had missed half an hour previously. we saw 4040 again working another turn to Nantwich. Of the 2 Arriva buses that had been parked up, 2615 worked off empty presumably back to Winsford, and 2502 went on to work an #84

Arriva NW&W 2502 on a #84

We turned down returning to Sandbach via Winsford on 2612 which as on a the 17:01 #31A. At around 17:05 our bus arrived in the bus station and it was the dud but interesting Arriva 3331.

Arriva NW&W 3331 in Crewe bus station

After taking a few more pictures and waiting until time, we boarded the bus. the bus filled up due to the fact that the Crewe game had just let out. Crewe had just managed a 2-2 draw and this meant that had made the division 2 play-offs! at the railway station even more people got on and needless to say the journey was a lively one. considering the bus was quite full, 3331 moved really quickly. As we stopped in Haslington near to the Co-op, a car decide to overtake us and subsequently flattened a bollard on the central reservation. the bus did empty out a little. As we approached sandbach we passed 3330 again going towards Crewe. eventually we got to Sandbach where Matthew got another picture of this beast.

3331 on Sandbach Common

When we got to the car, Matthew had a sausage roll waiting for him. We headed back along the A534 to the M6 and we came off at junction 16 for the A500. Matthew decided he wanted a slight detour around the city as we traveled home. we came off at the A34 and went north to Talke. We then traveled home past Tesco and then via Kidsgrove, Whitehill, Newchapel, Packmoor, High Lane, Smallthorne, Hanley and Fenton. We got home around 18:20...Mark