Trip to Hinckley 31-05-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1913	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R2)	Burbage, adj Wolvey Road	5	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1913	Burbage, adj Wolvey Road	Hinckley, o/s Library	5	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
2105	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R3)	Burbage, adj Horsepool	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1915	Burbage, adj Horsepool	Hinckley, o/s Library	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1908	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R3)	Burbage, adj Horsepool	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
2201	Burbage, adj Horsepool	Hinckley, o/s Library	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
2557	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R2)	Hinckley, o/s Primary School	X55	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Hinckley. We had not really planned where to go this week and the weather was supposed to be dry everywhere so we gave Matthew a choice of some of the usual destinations and he chose Hinckley. No research was done as we already had the timetables loaded onto my phone. Matthew got up around 10:00 and he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a little after 11:30 and we headed onto the A5035. We went North along Stanley Matthews Way and we encountered a little bit of traffic. There was some kind of strongman event taking part at the Britannia Stadium. We joined the A50 and then the Northbound A500, passing a small traffic jam heading towards the Brit. We came off the A500 at Shelton New Road to fill up with LPG. Whilst there we saw First Potteries 66847 on a #34 service. We headed back onto the A500, and we avoided most of the traffic queuing to got to the Brit by going into the right hand lane. At the end of the A500 we joined the South bound M6 which we did through the Roadworks to Junction 12. We then went East on the A5 for a few miles and we stopped at the truck stop on the right just before the Cannock turning. At the truck stop Matthew used the toilet and then had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished we got back in the car and carried on east on the A5. South of Cannock we passed Arriva Midlands 2276 on a Cannock bound #2A service. We carried on East and near to Nuneaton we caught up with Arriva Midlands 3802 on a #765 service. We left the A5 near Hinckley and we did the last 3 miles or so into town along the A4666. When we got to town we said goodbye to mum who was driving to Nuneaton to meet us later in theory... We headed through the bus station were we came Across required Hinckley Bus Optare Solo 2568 on layover in between #86's and Grand UK Holidays coach YJ14 BYL.

Grand UK Holidays YJ14 BYL in Hinckley bus station

Further up the bus station was required Stagecoach Warwickshire 36162.

Stagecoach Warwickshire 36162 in Hinckley bus station

We walked up to the toilet block on Station Road and after we had finished there we walked onto Regent Street to see what buses were out today. We saw Hinkcley Bus 2202 on the #75/76 service and then we saw Hinckley Bus 2201 on he 14:15 #71 Burbage service.

Hinckley Bus 2201 in Hinckley

We thought we would stay to see what was on the 14:25 #58 to Lutterworth. When it turned up it was dud Hinckley Bus 1914.

Hinckley Bus 1914 in Hinckley

Hopefully we would be on that bus later when it worked the 17:10 #86 to Nuneaton... Whilst we waited to see what bus was working the #5 Three Pots circular service, we saw Roberts MX57 UPD on the #159 to Coalvile.

Roberts MX57 UPD in Hinckley

On an #81 Earl Shilton service was dud Hinkcley Bus Mercedes minibus 1915.

Hinckley Bus 1915 in Hinckley

On the other side of the road required Hinkcley Bus 1913 came in on the #5 three Pots circular. Matthew went to take a picture and his batteries were flat! We got on the bus and we booked our Hinckley Bus day tickets at £7.50 each. We sat down and the bus left town down Station Road and past Tesco. We crossed under the railway and we climbed up the hill before making a right turn near to the top. When we got to Three Pots I flashed the tickets so that we could straight back on this hourly service. We wound our way through the estates and we appeared back on the main road further down. We went back under the railway line and back into town up Station Road. When we got back into regent Street Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside Hinckley Bus 1913.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1913

He also got a picture of the outside of the bus too now his batteries had been changed...

Hinckley Bus 1913 in Hinckley

Almost immediately on the other side of the road we spied an unusual looking Dennis Dart on the other side of the road. New to this fleet and without decals was Hinkcley Bus MPD Dart 2105 working the #71 to Burbage.

Hinckley Bus 2105 in Hinckley

The bus was quite well filled and we sat down near to the back of the bus. We left town down Station Road again and under the railway line. As we started to climb we turned right on Brookside. At this point Matthew clapped and the driver stopped the bus briefly as he thought we had been bricked. After explaining to the driver what had happened we carried on around the estate and into Burbage. The bus emptied out at the back of the bus and Matthew took a picture of the back seat.

Inside Hinckley Bus 2105

A couple of stops later we were at the Horsepool and we got up and got off. As the bus carried on Matthew took another picture of this bus.

Hinckley Bus 2105 in Burbage

We had an approximate wait of twenty minutes before the next bus back. We walked around to the gates of the Horspool to see if it was open. It wasn't but the tree stump carving was a little closer to being finished. We walked up to the benches by the war memorial and Matthew had a small bottle of Vimto and a Rice Crispies Squares bar from the supplies in the trip bag. After he had finished we walked back to the stop and we had less than ten minutes to wait. The time passed quickly and the bus appeared.It was dud Hinkcley Bus 1915 that we had seen work up to Earl Shilton around an hour earlier.

Hinckley Bus 1915 in Burbage

We got on the bus and as it was empty Matthew got a picture as we got on.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1915

We sat down and the bus carried on around the estates of Burbage before appearing on the main road from Brookside. We came into town up Station Road and we got off the bus near to the Library. As we walked up towards the toilets on Station Road we saw required Stagecoach Warwickshire 36161 on the #48 to Coventry.

Stagecoach Warwickshire 36161 in Hinckley bus station

Across the road from the bus station we saw Hinckley Bus 2569 on the #58A to Lutterworth.

Hinckley Bus 2569 in Hinckley

After using the toilet we walked into town where we saw a display of steam traction engines and tractors. Matthew then got a picture of one of the traction engines, HO 5832.

Traction engine HO 5832 in Hinckley

We walked onto Regent Street and visited the newsagents where Matthew brought some pop and chocolate. We sat down and Matthew drank a small bottle of Vimto and a double Mikly Way. We then saw Hinckley Bus 2568 on a #86 to Nuneaton.

Hinckley Bus 2568 in Hinckley

At this point we had time to do one round trip to somewhere before doing the 17:10 #86 to Nuneaton. Across the road was dud Hinckley Bus 1908 on the #71 to Burbage. We decided to do this bus.

Hinckley Bus 1908 in Hinckley

We got on the bus and it was empty so Matthew took a picture inside.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1908

We sat down near to the back of the bus an the bus set off out of town. Part way down station Road we caught up with a steam traction engine slowly going down the road. At the bottom of the road the engine driver waived us past as it appeared that the steam engine had failed! We carried on past Tesco and under the railway line and onto Brookside. When we got to the Horsepool we got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Hinckley Bus 1908.

Hinckley Bus 1908 in Burbage

We checked the timetable and on this occasion we should have had a 30 minutes wait. The wait was a little short as the traction engine had delayed our progress on the bus down. We stood at the stop for around 20 minutes when we saw required Hinckley Bus 2568 on the #58A to Lutterworth.

Hinckley Bus 2568 in Burbage

A few minutes later the bus back to Hinckley turned up. It was dud Hinckley Bus 2201.

Hinckley Bus 2201 in Burbage

The bus was nearly empty so Matthew got a picture inside Hinckley Bus 2201.

Inside Hinckley Bus 2201

We sat down and the bus went through the estate and onto Brookside before going under the railway line and into town up Station Road. The traction engine was still failed outside the Steamin' Billy pub appropriately... We got off the bus outside the Library and Matthew got another picture of Hinckley Bus 2201.

Hinckley Bus 2201 in Hinckley

We walked out of the toilets and along Station Road and we stopped at another shop to pic up pop and chocolate. In town we sat down and Matthew had a Milky Way and a can of Irn Bru. A nearby gentleman joked "don't give him Irn Bru he will be hyper!" I told him he was hyper anyway... The planned had been to catch the 17:10 to Nuneaton to meet mum but Matthew had different ideas. Just before our bus was due required Hinckley Bus 2557 appeared on the X55 to Leicester.

Hinckley Bus 2557 in Hinckley

Matthew decided to make a break for it and he ran towards Hinckley Bus 2557. We got on to the bus, we sat down and refused to get off. We spent a couple of minutes trying to persuade him we had to get off to catch the 17:10. The 17:10 which was dud Hinckley Bus 1914 came and went so we were stuck in Hinckley. In the end we flashed our bus tickets and we went a few stops up the road. We got off the bus on the edge of town and Matthew beeped the horn as he got off. He then got another picture of Hinckley Bus 2557 as it went off towards Leicester.

Hinckley Bus 2557 in Hinckley

We then had to go to Plan B. we called mum to come and pick us up in Hinckley and we started to walk through town and onto the A4666 to meet her. We sat down just outside town on a wall near to a car wash. Uncle Dave pointed out the double yellow line so we walked about another 150 yards to the other side of a bus stop and sat on the wall to wait. Whilst we waited for mum we saw a Leicester bound #158 service. Mum turned up and we got in the car. Mum sat in the fron passenger seat and I drove back home. after turning the car around we headed back down the A4666 and hen onto the A5. We did the A5 all the way through to the M6 and then we turned North. On the M6 we saw A Line coaches 125 LUP. We came off the M6 and went north on the A500 up to the A50. We came off the A50 at Longton to check out what was at Z Carz tonight. First in the row tonight was coach M534 RSO.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

Next to this was light green Iveco minibus HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

At the back of the site was red LDV minibus DS51 ZJU. In the front row was Mercedes minibus W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Last on the spare ground tonight was another Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and in the yard was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX looking a little sorry for itself. We went back onto the A50 and we headed home through heron Cross and Blurton. We got home around 19:15. For a late tea we had bangers and Mash followed by cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to Hinckley / Nuneaton 19-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1914	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R2)	Burbage, adj Wolvey Road	5	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1914	Burbage, adj Wolvey Road	Hinckley, o/s Library	5	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
2201	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R3)	Burbage, adj Horsepool	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1906	Burbage, adj Horsepool	Hinckley, o/s Library	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1908	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R3)	Burbage, adj Horsepool	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
2200	Burbage, adj Horsepool	Hinckley, o/s Library	71	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands
1916	Hinckley, Regent Street (Stand R2)	Nuneaton BS	86	Hinckley Bus / Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Hinckley with the aim of try to ride on a few of the step entranced minibus operated by the Arriva Midland subsidiary Hinckley Bus. Once again we waited until Friday to pick where we were going so that we could check on the weather. Having given Matthew a list of places to go (mainly in the North West) , Matthew chose Hinckley. Research consisted of downloading all or the timetables onto my phone and to check the weather, which was for mainly fine and sunny with some cloud. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. after getting ready we set off at around 11:45. We got onto the A5035 and then we turned on Stanley Matthews Way. We then went onto the Northbound A500 which we did up to Shelton New Road so that we could fill up with LPG. Whilst we were waiting to fill up we heard on the radio that there had been an accident on the Northbound M6, so it was lucky that we weren't heading North today... After filling up we headed onto the Westbound A53, before heading south on the A500. We got onto the Southbound M6 which appeared to be quiet due to traffic struggling to get past the accident between junction 18 & 17. We travelled through the roadworks South of junction 13 and we came off the M6 and joined the Eastbound A5. Instead of stopping at the first truck stop on the left hand side of the road we decided to stop at the other one about 3/4 further East. After using the toilet Matthew sat down to have an English breakfast followed by a lemon meringue pie washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished we headed back onto the A5 and carried on East. When we got to Brownhills we saw WM travel 1752 on a #10A service and Arriva Midlands 2414 on a #23 service. We carried on East and somewhere near Atherstone we saw Arriva Midlands Scania 3812 on a #765 to Lichfield. We carried on further East along the A5 and we turned at the B4666 to do the last couple of miles into Hinckley. As we travelled in we passed required Hinckley Bus 2202 on a #76 service. We parked up in a car park off Rugby Road (B590). We said goodbye to mum and we headed up to the public toilet of Station Road. After Matthew had been we headed back towards Regent Street where most of the Hinckley bus service run from. When we got there there weren't any buses to view but that changed quickly. Firstly required Hinckley bus appeared to work the #58A to Lutterworth.

Hinckley Bus 1916 in Hinckley

Then required Hinckley Bus 1914 appeared on the #5 Three Pots circular service.

Hinckley Bus 1914 in Hinckley

We decided to ride on Hinckley Bus 1914 on the #5 circular. We got on the bus and we booked our Hinckley Bus day saver tickets at £7.50. We sat down near the back of the bus and we waited for time.At 14:25 the bus set off out of town down towards the railway station. We crossed under the railway line and we climbed up the hill On Rugby Road. We turned into a housing estate and weaved our way around it. We saw The Three Pots and we got up and flashed the ticket for the return journey. The bus went back dwn through the estate over a different route and we appeared on Rugby Road at the bottom of the hill. We crossed under the railway line and we saw Hinckley Bus Solo 2567 on the #71 to Burbage. We headed back to town and we got up to get off the bus outside the Library. As we got up to get off Matthew got a picture inside Hinckley Bus 1914.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1914

We walked up Regent Street and we looked at the timetables. There was a #71 to Burbage due at 14:54 so we had around 10 minutes. Across the road required Hinckley Bus 2557 was about to work the #81 to Earl Shilton.

Hinckley Bus 2557 in Hinckley

We decided to have a little picnic whilst we waited for the next bus. Matthew drank a small bottle Irn Bru and ate a millionaire shortbread that we had purchased from Morrisons in Ormskirk on our last big trip out. As he was finishing eating the shortbread we saw required Hinckley Bus Dart 2201 on the next #71 to Burbage. We decided to do this bus in the absence of something step entranced to do. We waled down the road from where we were sitting and Matthew got a picture of Hinckley Bus 2201.

Hinckley Bus 2201 in Hinckley

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. The bus set off and left town along the same route as the #5 service. We passed the railway station and went under the railway line. We started to Climb the hill up Rugby Road and then we turned into Brrokside. The bus then took a winding rout through a flowers named estate. We travelled along Azalea drive before heading into the centre of Burbage village. We saw what we though was the end of the route so we got up to get off. As we were getting off Matthew got a picture inside this unusual Dart.

Inside Hinckley Bus 2201

Matthew then got another picture of Hinckley Bus 2201 in the picturesque village of Burbage.

Hinckley Bus 2201 in Burbage

We had a 20 minute wait for the next bus, so we decided to have a little walk around. We sat on a bench by the war memorial and Matthew had another small bottle of Irn Bru and a Milky Way. Across the road we saw a house with a blue plaque outside so we went to investigate. It was house of Edward Crump, responsible for bring clean water to Burbage in 1915. We then walked back to the bus stop which was outside a small enclosed pond called the horsepool. We had less than 10 minutes to wait here for the next bus. we also noticed that the hourly Hinckley bound #58A stopped here, at 34 minutes past the hour. Just before our bus was due we saw a double decker approaching. It was Travel de Courcey 801 on the X6 service to Leicester. This an hourlt service of which some of the buses (approximately every 3 hours) call in the village of Burbage. Right behind that we saw a white Mercedes minibus. We then knew it was required Hinckley Bus 1906.

Hinckley Bus 1906 in Burbage

We got on this bus and sat down near the back. This is a bus that until recently was operating with Wardle Transport. We sat back and enjoyed the journey back into Hinckley enjoying the comfort of the high backed coach style seating in this bus. We headed back through the estates and onto Rugby Road before heading into town past the railway station. The bus stopped outside the library and we got up to get off. Matthew took a picture of the inside of this fine Mercedes minibus but we did.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1906

We headed to the public toilet on Station Road before walking into town to see what we could catch next. About to work a #81 to Earl Shilton was Hinckley Bus 2567.

Hinckley Bus 2567 in Hinckley

Seeing this made us realise that the buses worked in a circuit. First doing a #71 to Burbage and back before then work a #82 to Barwell. Finally buses then did a round trip on the #81 to Earl Shilton. This made us realise that the next #71 to Burbage would probably be something we hadn't previously been on, so we went to a shop to stock up on supplies. Matthew brought a can of Coke and some chocolate bars, as well as a bag of herbal tablets. Matthew came out of the shop and we saw required Hinckley Bus 1908. We got on the bus which was loading up and as we got on the bus Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of Hinckley Bus 1908.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1908

The bus set off out of town and we went towards the railway station and started to climb towards Burbage. We turned into Brookside and as we knew where we were going I decided to plan where we could meet up with mum. Mum had recently set off to do some shopping in Nuneaton, and I wondered if we could do the #86 Hinckley Bus service to meet her rather that pay to go on another operator. As we travelled out of town we were missing the 16:10 departure, but there was a 17:10 that we should be able to get on with no problems. The timetable stated that the service started from Hinckley, The Borough. We worked out that we should be able to get off and wait for the next #71 and still get back into town and have time to go to the toilet and have a quick bus stop picnic. We called mum to tell hr our plans and we we got up and got off at the Horsepool stop in Burbage again. Matthew got a good picture of Hinckley Bus 1908 before it headed off back into town.

Hinckley Bus 1908 in Burbage

This time we decided to have a bit of an explore around the Horsepool. We took a few pictures and sat in the garden whilst re-checking the bus times. The bus back was 10 minutes later than we thought it was. Whilst we waited we also saw Hinckley Bus 2568 going towards Lutterworth on a #58A service. A few minutes later we saw required Hinckley bus Dart 2200 approaching.

Hinckley Bus 2200 in Burbage

The bus was nearly empty so Matthew got a picture inside this bus as we got on it.

Inside Hinckley Bus 2200

We sat down to enjoy the journey back into town. We weaved through the housing estate and then onto Brookside before turning into rugby Road. We saw Hinckley Bus 2562 on the #5 Three Pots circular. We crossed back under the railway line and back into town. We got off at the library and Matthew got another of Hinckley Bus 2200 now showing the destination of it next journey on the #82 to Barwell.

Hinckley Bus 2200 in Hinckley

Right behind us was Hinckley Bus Solo 2562, which had followed us down Rugby Road into town.

Hinckley Bus 2562 in Hinckley

We used the toilet in Station Road before walking up Station Road until we got to Regents Road. As we looked for the stop for the #86 we saw Hinckley Bus 2202 arrive in town on the #75. It then became the next #76 service.

Hinckley Bus 2202 in Hinckley

We walked back up to The Borough stop to wait for the #86. Matthew had A Galaxy Caramel and small bottle of Barr Cherryade. Hinckley Bus 1908 had arrived back in town having been to Barwell and Back and was now about to work the #81 to Earl Shilton.

Hinckley Bus 1908 in Hinckley

Just behind that required Hinckley bus 1916 arrived on the #58A from Lutterworth. It then became the #86 to Nuneaton... Result!

Hinckley Bus 1916 in Hinckley

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back of the bus. At 17:10 the bus set off out of town heading West. Just outside of town we passed Hinckley Bus 1913 which must have been on the 16:45 #86 from Nuneaton, due into Hinckley at 17:20. We carried on out of town past morrisons and the bus turned around by the village green in Dadlington. The bus then headed through Stoke Golding and the Higham-on-the-Hill. We crossed the A5 and we did the last mile or so into Nuneaton. We crossed over the railway line and went into the bus station. When we got there we let the bus empty before getting a picture inside Hinckley Bus 1916.

Inside Hinckley Bus 1916

There were a couple of buses in the bus station so we took some pictures before we left. Stagecoach Midlands 47072 was on the #2 to Red Deeps.

Stagecoach Midland 47072 in Nuneaton bus station

Also at the bus station was Stagecoach Midlands 47074.

Stagecoach Midland 47074 in Nuneaton bus station

Matthew used the the toilet in the bus station before we walked over to the where mum was parked near B&M. Mum was waiting at the car with sausage baps which Matthew washed down with a 500ml bottle of Irn Bru. As I was slowly reversing out of the car park a car came speeding around the corner and just missed hitting us! We set off out of town along the A444 and onto the A5. We carried on west and we decided to try and get back a bit quicker driving along a longer but faster route. We went North on the M42 which we did though onto the A42 and onto the A50. We then drove west along the A50 into the evening sun. At Longton we came off the A50 so we could check out what was parked up at Z Carz. There were only 2 buses parked up tonight. The first was silver LDV minibus CN57 HWA

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

The other bus was classic LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

We turned around in Willow row and we went back onto the A50. We went through Blurton and saw first Potteries 40367 on the #23. We got home at around 17:15. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots. This was followed by chocolate fudge cake that mum had brought earlier. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark