Trip to the MTT Easter running day 31-03-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1788	Seacombe Ferry	King's Parade, New Brighton	14	MPTE
1365	King's Parade, New Brighton	Seacombe Ferry	1A	MPTE
1	Seacombe Ferry	Grove Road station (opp)	2A	Wallasey Corporation
1	Grove Road station (opp)	Seacombe Ferry	2A	Wallasey Corporation
1236	Seacombe Ferry	New Brighton, adj Warren Drive	16	MPTE
1032	Wallasey, opp Lyndhurst Road	Seacombe Ferry	2	MPTE

Today we decided to do a spontaneous trip up the Seacombe to attend the Merseyside Transport trust's Easter running day in Seacombe. We had seen information on the Internet about this event, stating it was taking place between 10:00 and 15:00. It looked like it was going to be nice day if a little cool, so we woke up Matthew around 09:30 to ask him if he wanted to go out and he said yes. He got up and had a crumpet (which he didn't particularly like) followed by toast and some orange juice. We set off around 10:30 and as we loaded the car for the trip we saw Wardle Transport 2534 whizz by on the #22 to Newcastle. We set off towards heron Cross passing FD53 UNX at the LIghting house, and then we stopped to pick uncle Dave up. We carried on and joined onto the Nothbound A500 and then up to the M6. The motorway seemed busy but it was fast moving due to there being very few lorries on the road. It took 20 minutes to get up to the M56 and another 18 minutes to reach the M53. We did the M53 up to junction 3 and then we headed into town. As we passed through Prenton we spotted a cafe open and so we decided stop here for dinner. Te cafe was called Changez. Te food was very nice but it was a little more expensive than the establishment we usually stop at (£3.50 for a sausage sandwich). As we ate we checked out the #423 service to see how long it would take. it was around 12:00 and there was a bus due then. Journey time from Prenton was just under an hour. After we had eaten we decided te best course of action was for me to drive up to Seacombe and then mum would drive back to Birkenhead to go shopping and then come back for us later. We carried on along the A552 and then cut across the the A553 via Woodchurch Road Oxton road and Exmouth Street. We then went along Conway Street before turn right past Birkenhead Park station and Happy Als bus garage the same route as the #411 bus. We then turned right by the railway wagons and on to the Seacombe ferry terminal. As we turned the corner we saw Birkenhead single decker 93. Mum dropped us off and then said goodbye. We went over to the buses parked up and then got a few pictures. Single decker Merseyside PTE 1054 and seemed to be the 'control bus'. There were 2 other double deckers that were in service. Wallasey Corporation 1788 was the first vehicle.

Wallasey Corporation 1788 in Seacombe

This was followed by Merseyside PTE 1365 in a nice blue and cream livery.

Merseyside PTE 1365 in Seacombe

At this point the only information we had we courtesy of a temporary bus stop with departure times. There was a 12:45 departure for New Brighton. As we required all of the buses present we decided to do the first service to depart! At a little after 12:45 Wallasey Corporation 1788 move onto stand and we got on it. I asked about a programme and the driver said we could get one from the trade stand inside the ferry terminal. That could wait until we got back, as there were only just over 2 hours before the end of the event or so I thought at the time. We went upstairs an sat down near the front of the bus. The seat we a dark red vinyl. I had forgotten as to how slippy these seat were until we sat down on them. We set of toward Liscard and then along the route of the New Brighton service bus we have done previously. We stopped outside a cemetery for a photo opportunity where te driver got out and then we continued on to King's Parade in New Brighton. We were considering whether to get off and take a picture until we saw another bus in front of us. We got a picture and then decided that we were transferring onto the other bus.

Wallasey Corporation 1788 in New Brighton

We got a picture of that too and then we got on it.

Merseyside PTE 1365 in New Brigton

We sat down upstairs opposite Morissons. We considered going back there later for a cake bu then we realised it was shut for Easter Sunday! Whilst there we saw one of the new hybrid buses on a Liverpool service. Mum called to say Birkenhead was shut ans she had returned to Seacombe ferry. We then set of back to New Brighton along past the funfair then back west past the railway station. We wound our way through back street before stopping on Steele Avenue for a booked connection onto the #27 circular service (something we would have known about if we had got the programme). We got back into Seacombe a little after 13:30 and Matthew went to the toilet. We met up with mum and we brought the programme along with a few other books from the 2 stalls. We worked out the next required bus was Wallasey corporation 1 on the 1405 to Grove Road. Whilst we waited Matthew got a picture of A2B Travel MX12 JXA on a #125 Wallsaey circular.

A2B Travel MX12 JXA in Seacombe

We also saw Wirral Peninsula 1070, bus we have seen before in the Potteries.

Wirral Pennsula 1070 in Seacombe

Then we saw Eazibus Dart X602 AHE arrive in the terminial.

Eazibus X602 AHE in Seacombe

Around 14:05 Wallsaey Corporation #1 pulled up on stand and we got on it and sat upstairs near the front. The bus went through Liscard and then on a windy tour of Wallasey, going past a strange walled cutting around Hilary Brow and then before circling Grove Road station and pulling up outside. We stopped for a photo stop and we also worked out there was a connection onto the #27 which was Merseyside PTE 2160. We got off and got a picture of Wallasey Corporation 1.

Wallasey Corporation 1 opposite Grove Road station

We asked the driver of #1 about the #27 service but it was a fair walk away from where we were so we decided to stay on the bus and go back to Seacombe. When we got got back to Seacombe Matthew waited for the bus to empty before get a photograph inside.

Inside Wallasey Corporation 1

We then had a choice of buses. We could do Birkenhead 93 to Conway Park or we could do one double decker for another to Grove Road. We got a better picture of Mersayside PTE 1054 which had moved forward from it's earlier position.

Merseyside PTE 1054 in Seacombe

We called mum who had walked half way to New Brighton and told her we were going to be back around 16:15. The move was going to be Merseyside PTE 1236 to Grove Road on a #16 for Merseyside PTE 1032 on a #2 back from Grove Road. 1032 was going first and so we let that bus go. We then got a picture of 1236 before boarding the bus to Grove Road.

Merseyside PTE 1236 in Seacombe

The bus was nearly empty an so he got a picture of upstairs too.

Inside Merseyside PTE 1236

We set off and the journey to Grove Road was swift. I spoke to another enthusiast about our plans and he let me know when we had reached the destination. I need not have worried as our bus did a 180' around a roundabout and then stopped. we got off and got another picture of 1236.

Merseyside PTE 1236 on Grove Road

We walked down the road to get on 1032 and Merseyside 2160 made a slightly unexpected appearance (I had forgotten about this other service.)

Merseyside PTE 2160 on Grove Road

A couple of minutes later 1032 made an appearance and we got a picture before getting on it.

Merseyside PTE 1032 on Grove Road

We got on and sat upstairs near the back. The journey was over all too soon and when we got back around 16:10 Matthew photographed the inside of 1032.

Inside Merseyside PTE 1032

We thought we would take a few pictures before we returned to car. We saw Arriva NW&W 3128 0n a #423 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 3128 in Seacombe

We also took another picture of Merseyside PTE 1032.

Merseyside PTE 1032 in Seacombe

We got back to the car and Matthew had a flapjack and a small sausage roll. We drove back to Birkenhead along a more direct route that mum had discovered a more direct route back to Birkenhead along Tower Road. We then carried straight on to Prenton and back on the M53 at junction 3. We headed south and then onto the M56. part way along the M56 we ran out of LPG and so we decided to stop at the moto2000 services on the M56. We the toillet and then visited Greegs for sausage roll and a cake. We visited WH Smiths for the latest Buses magazine. We got back to the car and he photographed his cake.

Greggs split doughnut...Mmmm

The Total garage was a total waste of time as the LPG pump wasn't working. so we had to stop at Knutsford services on the M6. this did have LPG, so we carried on down to the A500. We went to Stoke before dropping uncle Dave at home. We then went through heron Cross and were back home by 18:15. He had a bath and For supper Matthew had chicken popcorn and oven chips followed by chocolate gateau. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark

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