Trip to Birkenhead 13-02-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1330	Birkenhead BS	Second Ave, Fender way	492	Arriva North West & Wales
2114	Second Ave, Fender way	Birkenhead, Borough Rd/The Pyramids (E-bound)	495	Arriva North West & Wales
2285	Birkenhead BS	Bidston, Hoylake Rd, opp Mercer Rd‎	495	Arriva North West & Wales
1330	Bidston, Hoylake Rd, opp Callis St‎	Birkenhead, Borough Rd/The Pyramids (E-bound)	492	Arriva North West & Wales

Matthew had been given a choices of destinations for the first Saturday of half term. Matthew had this time chosen Birkenhead. Having had a couple of days notice, I decide to do some research into which buses we should catch. Since the disappearance of First PMT's step entrance darts in this area, Matthew has been catching Arriva North West & Wales buses. I had previous seen this site by Mark Haldon, so I decided to take a look at which bus services would be best to catch, in order for Matthew to sample more step-entranced goodness. Services #409,#411,#418 & #419 could be step-entranced buses, as well as last time we noticed a step-entranced bus on the #492/495 services. So timetables downloaded from the Merseytravel website, we set off to Birkenhead.

We set off at around 11:30, and the weather was sunny but chilly (5' C). We gave Matthew a choice of having something to eat from the Grace Arms in Ellesmere Port or the burger van in Birkenhead Market. Matthew chose the burger van! We think this was down to Matthew associating eating at the Grace Arms with trips to Chester, and because the burger van and seats at Birkenhead Market overlook the West exit of the bus station.

We arrived at Birkenhead just before 13:00, and whilst Matthew dragged me off to the toilet, mum ordered food for all of us. Mum chose Matthew sausage, egg and chips with a bap (batch as they called it here) and a bottle of pop, a sausage batch for uncle Dave, and bacon and mushroom batches with a cup of tea for me and herself. As she handed the pop over to Matthew, he decided to drag it over the top of my cup of tea knocking it over my lap! I spent most of the afternoon with a dark wet patch on my right leg from knee to groin...

After dinner, mum went shopping whilst the rest of us stood at the eastern entrance of the bus station whilst we decide on what bus to catch. First step-entranced bus to come into the bus station was 1330 on the #492. A very quick consult of the timetable, and we decide to to the anticlockwise circular bus to Fender way. With the bus running about 5 late, we calculated we should have around a 5 minute wait at the southern end of fender way. We got off adjacent to Second Avenue and awaited the return service.



1330 on Fender way (Matthew)

After about a 5 minutes wait 2114 turned up on the #495, which we did to the stop outside the Glades shopping arcade. The bus tends to wait here for 5 minute until time for the next circuit, so we get off here to take the picture and walk up to the bus station.



2114 on Fender way (Matthew)



Inside 2114 (matthew)

At the bus station Matthew took a few photographs whilst we waited for the next step to turn up, the best of which was probably Eazibus Optare Solo MX56 AAJ




Eazibus MX56 AAJ 213 to Arrowe park (Matthew)

Whilst having dinner, I thought I had noticed a step on the #409. I work out that then next #409 was at 15:00, so about 14:55 we walked down to stand #10 to catch this bus. Whilst in the queue, I started to search for my North West day rover, and Matthews travel card. I searched everywhere in the bag and in my pockets and could not find neither pass nor ticket! After the bus had departed I found them mixed in with all the other old tickets in the wrong compartment. Note to self....EMPTY THE BAG!!!

Whilst we regrouped to work out the next move Matthew photographed a double decker through the window of the glass sausage...



3302 in the glass sausage bus station (Matthew)

We noticed that the next #495 was due off at 15:12 so we went back to stand #2 to catch this. Arriva North West and Wales 2285 promptly turned up on this service so we got on it. We worked we could do this to Holylake Road for the #495 back.



Inside 2285 (Matthew)

Whilst on this bus we passed 2439 on the other #492 bus (displaying 492 Beechwood), meaning that the bus back would be 1330. At least we got to ride on another step entranced bus albeit the same one we had earlier. We got off on Holylake Road near the American car wash and crossed the road. As predicted 1330 turned up on the #492



1330 in Hoylake Road (Matthew)

After we got off outside the Glades shopping centre, Matthew took a couple more pictures of this beast..



1330 Outside the Glades Shopping Centre (Matthew)



1330 Outside the Glades Shopping Centre (Matthew)

We walked back up to the bus station, met with mum and went back to the car for sausage rolls...

(Mark)

Trip the Shrewsbury 23-01-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2705	Harlescott Park & Ride	Castle St, Shrewsbury	Orange	Arriva Midlands
6008	Shrewsbury BS	Radbrook, Crowmeole Lane Jct (opp)	20	Arriva Midlands
6002	Radbrook, Radbrook College (opp)	Shrewsbury BS	12	Arriva Midlands
2723	Shrewsbury BS	Whitchurch Road, Rosedale Jct (opp)	24	Arriva Midlands

Matthew had indicated in the week that he wanted to go to Shrewsbury. Mum had been to college on the Thursday to see Matthew using an iPod Touch and software as a communication aid. When asked where Matthew would like to go, he typed "pub" into the iPod. Mum said he go go the a pub on saturday, and he typed "Sat town". Mum reeled off a list of some of the places he usually goes to and when mum said "Shrewsbury", Matthew repeated it back to her. Having made that decision on Thursday, I did some research on buses and times and also to see if Shrewsbury Town were playing at home. Shrewsbury were at home to Dagenham & Redridge, so I knew there would be few extra buses around on the Prostar Stadium park & ride services. Setting off a fraction before 12:00, first stop was to be a pub in order for us all to have lunch. We choose the Elephant and castle pub in Shawbury, just a few Miles north of Shrewsbury.



Elephant & castle (Matthew)

We all chose Breakfast, except Uncle Dave who had a sausage sandwich. The meals were around £5 and were OK. Unusually, Matthew did not photograph his meal or the sink in the toilets! After we had finished, we made the short trip to the Harlescott park and ride car park. Immediately as we got there, there were 2 buses on the Prostar park and ride service. They were Tanat Valley double decker 510, and coach E131 PLJ



Tanat valley 510 (Matthew)

Shortly after this, weed travelled on the park and ride for the first time. Arriva Midlands 2705 was the bus that we caught and, it was painted in the blue Park & ride livery. When we reached Shrewsbury, we discovered that this bus did not go into the bus station, so we alighted and castle street and walk through an alleyway and down some steps to the bus station. The alleyway passes behind the back of the bus parking area, and you can photograph buses quite well of this raised area. Eventually, when in the bus station we spent half an hour just looking at and photographing buses, the best of which was Tanat Valley 509, another double decker on a Prostar Stadium park & Ride.



Tanat valley 509 (Matthew)

Mum was getting bored and wanted to go to do some shopping so we decide to go on a quick out and back bus journey. Bus timetables consulted, we decided to do a #20 to Radbrook College for a #12 back. 6008 turned up on the #20 and we did this to the stop after Radbrook college.



Arriva Midlands 6008 pulls away from Radbrook, Crowmeole Lane Jct (opp) stop (Matthew)

Now, we were using the tiny little maps that are provided on Arriva timetables, which are really useful to see which services travel along which roads. What we did not anticipate is the scale of the map! We crossed the road, and waited at the bus stop, only to see the #12 appear from the next street closer to Shrewsbury...Drat! As we walked back up the hill towards the next stop, the #20 that we had caught out of Shrewsbury passed us on it's return...Double drat! There ensued a best part of 30 minutes wait for the next #12...Still, whilst we were waiting, we did see a coach and saw a Minsterley motors services which we may be able to catch next time we visit Shrewsbury...Eventually 6002 arrived on the #12.




Arriva Midlands 6002 arrives at Radbrook, Radbrook College (opp) stop (Matthew)

Eventually, we get back to Shrewsbury bus station and we passed the reason why that traffic around town has been so bad today. On 3rd January, there had been a gas explosion that I remember seeing on the local news. The demolition work being carried out because of this meant that all southbound traffic towards the Welsh Bridge had been diverted around town. When we got back in the bus station we told Matthew he could catch 1 more bus in the direction of Harlescott. he spent a further 20 minutes taking bus photos, the best of which were Tanat Valley 230 and Arriva Midlands 2359.



Tanat valley 230 in Shrewsbury bus station (Matthew)



Arriva Midlands 2359 Leaves Shrewsbury bus station on an #8 service (Matthew)


He chose to catch a #24 to Moston Road. Once again, I used the Arriva map to try and work out which stop to get off at, before the bus turned into a housing estate off the main road north out of Shrewsbury. Once again I got off at the wrong stop (one stop too short!). Mum said she was going to kick me every time we passed a bus stop between where we got off and the car, for making her walk too far. We passed 3, though strictly speaking, only the one stop was on the #24 route...
Mattthew photographed a plastic sheep, a few buses and then barged his way into the bus drivers crew hut at the park & ride. Thankfully they took it in good spirits! :-)



Plastic Sheep, corner of Harlescott Tesco (Matthew)



Arriva Midlands Park & ride 2707 at Harlescott (Matthew)

All that was left was the drive back home... (Mark)

Trip to Ellesmere Port & Chester 02-01-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2435	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
50025	Chester BS	Plas Newton Lane	51	First Potteries
50025	Plas Newton Lane	Chester BS	51	First Potteries

Matthew started the Christmas holidays with Flu, and was in bed for most of the first week. After the Christmas itself, I was working and the weather was awful, so we were only able to take Matthew to some nearby shop where he took a few bus pictures. In order to make sure Matthew got at least one good trip out, mum arrange to have the weekly shop delivered between 18:00 - 20:00, which should give us plenty of time to take Matthew to Ellesmere port & Chester.

Setting off at around 12, the sky was a little bit dark, although the forecast for the Chester area was suppose to sunshine and snow showers. By the time we got onto the M6 it was black skies, heavy snow and poor visibility due to spray! Having fought our way through the storm, it was sunny by the time we reached Ellesmere. Even though it was sunny, the wet floors and the only just above freezing temperatures made dining al fresco at the Grace Arms a non starter today. Instead we opted for the Cafe on the high street, which we have been once before. Matthew chose a brunch (Breakfast and chips) with extra hash browns...



Brunch... (Matthew)

Matthew also checked out the toilets at the cafe, as he often does and found a different sink that he had not seen before.



Fordham Sink... (Matthew)

After dinner we drove to Asda, so mum could go shopping, and Matthew could go to the bus station. We spent about 3/4 here in the cold awaiting a 401 to Chester, in which time Matthew took a few bus pictures. During this time we saw a doudle decker on a #401, but it was heading in the opposite direction...:-(



Arriva North West & Wales 3308 on a Liverpool bound #401. (Matthew)

Eventually 2435 turned up on #401 ,a little more crowded than usual, probably because it was late!



2435 at Chester on the #401 back to Liverpool (Mark)

Once we got to Chester at around 15:00 Matthew stood in his usual spot and took pictures. The highlights of this trip were GHA bus N9_GHA, and GHA bus Dennis dart M166 XMA



N9 GHA on the #82 at Chester bus station. (Mark)



M166 XMA on the #H4 at Chester bus station. (Mark)

Mum got to Chester at around 16:00, and the plan was to let Matthew choose a bus to catch and I was going to pick them up from a convenient point. Having just missed being able to catch M166 XMA, Matthew chose to catch First PMT bus 50025. the bus was displaying Kingsway on the roller blind and had a Plas Newton board in the front window. Assuming it was a #53 Kingsway, I had told mum to take him to Gorse Stacks where I would pick them up. Unfortunately after I had left them they found out that the bus was a #51 Plas Newton, which did not stop at gorse Stacks! Mum decide to do the full circuit, and I said I would get the lottery and met them back at the bus station...



50025 on the #51 Plas Newton at Chester bus station. (Mark)

Matthew and mum got back just before 17:00 and we set off home via a petrol station. Back on the M6 we encountered heavy traffic due to an accident! We eventually got back home at 18:50 to find out that Asda had tried to deliver the shopping at 18:35...Drat!

Trip to the shops in Hanford 31-12-2009

Matthew hadn't been out much due to one thing or another, so we took him to the shops. Whilst mum purchased his favourite Wrights Pie sausage rolls, plus a few other essentials in the nearby Co-op, Matthew took a few bus pictures. As soon as mum appeared from the shop, Matthew sprinted to the car as by this time he was frozen! Enjoy the pictures...


60012 on a #21 to Hanley. (Matthew)


Ex Chester 40137 0n the #22 to Longton. (Matthew)


Another ex Chester bus, 61245 on the #21 Hanley. (Matthew)


61245 on the #21 Hanley. (Matthew)

Trip to Leek 06-12-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 783	Hanley BS	Leek BS	16	Copelands
65040	Leek BS	Hanley BS	18	First PMT
66843	Hanley BS	Stoke Station	25	First PMT

Due to one thing or another, and the recent poor weather, we have been unable to take Matthew out as often as we would have liked to. The weather today was quite good, so we decide to take Matthew out for a few trips out on local buses. The plan was to let Matthew catch the Copelands #16 to Leek and then work something out from there...


We got to Hanley bus station at around 13:40, about 20 minutes before the #16 was due. Matthew photographed the copelands bus whilst it was sitting at the bottom of the bus station. Matthew sat relatively good whilst we waited for the bus to come onto stand.


He also photographed a few other buses the best of which was 40022 sitting in the late afternoon sunshine. MIB 783 rolled up and we promptly boarded this bus for a brisk run up to Leek. At Leek we had around 30 Minutes to kill, Matthew sat good as gold and ate sausage sandwiches!


At a little after 15:00 the bus for Hanley turned up 65040. We did this to Hanley and another quick run, the afternoon sun was in our faces most of the way there! As expect, when Matthew got off the bus he wanted to go on another. he could have either travelled on the #23A to Blurton or the #25 Keele bus.


Whilst he was deciding which bus to take, he also photograped the Green D&G bus 118 that does the service #118 between Hanley and Buxton.


Matthew chose to do the #25 Keele bus as far as Stoke Station. This was the first time Matthew had been on one of these new buses since they arrived in the Potteries during the summer of 2009. We got off by the station where mum was waiting for us to drive us home...

(Mark) photograph by Matthew

Trip to Ellesmere Port & Chester 31-10-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2446	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
50046	Chester BS	Plas Newton Lane	51	First Potteries
50044	Kingsway	Chester BS	53	First Potteries

As a treat for good behaviour, Matthew was asked where he wanted to go, and he chose Chester. We started off by heading to Ellesmere Port, where we went to the Grace Arms for dinner. This allowed Matthew to have something to eat before we got started, and he could photograph some buses too. We spent around an hour here eating, purchasing packs of pipers crisps to take home and taking photographs.


65740 on a Liverpool bound #1, outsaide the Grace Arms

After dinner, we drove into Ellesmere Port town centre and headed to the bus station. We made a decision on which bus to catch into Chester and after nearly catching the #4 GHA service, we chose to #401 Liverpool - Chester. Arriva NW&W 2446 promptly arrived and we did this to Chester, where Matthew had around an hour to take photo's in and around the bus station.


2446 at Ellesmere Port on the Arriva #401 to Chester.


30060 at Chester BS working a #2 Chester-Blacon via Saxon Way

After mum had arrived from Ellesmere Port by car, we decided to take Matthew on a quick out and back trip. Last time we had been to Chester, we had done the #53 to Kingsway. Whilst waiting for the next bus back, we had spotted a #51 disappear round by the shops. I had assumed that these routes were very close together at this point in the road, so you could catch a #51 up and a #53 back, or vice versa. It turns out that last time the bus had been diverted due to roadworks! having already got on a #51 we asked to go to the point where the bus passed the closest to Kingsway. Not really knowing where we were going, we asked the driver to let us know where we had to get off. We got off on Plas Newton Lane, and he told us to head down Queensway, and Kingsway was at the end. It took us a few minute, but we eventually ended up in familiar teritory...


50046 in Plas Newton Lane on a service #51 to Chester.

A short 10 minute wait and the #53 Chester service appeared, after we watched it go the other way


50044 in Kingsway on a #53 to Chester.

(Mark)

Trip to Ellesmere and Oswestry 26-10-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MX58 AAU	Ellesmere, Cross Street	Burlton	501	Bryn Melyn
PIL 9338	Burlton	Ellesmere, Cross Street	501	Bryn Melyn
2370	Oswestry BS	Whittington	70	Arriva Midlands

Matthew had seen the #501 in Shrewsbury on the previous trip out, and indicated he wanted to catch this service. So as promised, we took him to Ellesmere to ride on and photograph this service. The plan was to have a quick out and back journey on the #501 Ellesmere - Shrewsbury, and then to do the Tanat service #449 to Oswestry. We drove to Ellesmere, and we had dinner at a chip shop on the high street that has a few tables (a helpful map in the main car park helped us find this!). After dinner, we strolled up to the main bus stop, which is Ellesmere's equivalent of a bus station. I consulted the timetable as printed off from Traveline, and worked that we could do the 13:40 to Marton, for a 5 minute wait for the 13:50 off Shrewsbury. I made the assumption we could do the #449 after that. The bus down was the new low floor Optare. Having spoken to the driver he recommended that we got off at Burlton, (A small village on a crossroads where the bus turned) also the return ticket was 70p cheaper! We had about a 15 minute wait in a bus shelter that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere! The return bus was an older Optare single decker. We arrived back at Ellesmere to see the #449 pull off after about 45 Seconds (We should have run for it!). Consulting the #449 timetable, I realised that unless we stayed around for two hours, we couldn't catch this bus...

We decided to drive into Oswestry, and see if there was any other bus that he could catch. The plan was that mum would go with him on the bus and I would travel behind in the car (the Mrs tells me off for calling it the support vehicle) and then pick them up to go home. We saw another Tanat bus which we nearly did (D71), and he identified another service which he wants to catch in the future. It was at this point I realised that I did not have my mobile phone, so we had to make a firm decision as to what we were doing! In the end he had to settle for the #70 the Shrewsbury, which they caught as far as Whittington (a move that we had done previously). Having picked up Matty and mum, we went home...

A good little trip out in fine autumn weather, shame I didn't research the #449 service properly...

(Mark)


Optare bus MX58 AAU sits in Cross Street, Ellesmere awaiting time before working 13:40 #501 to Shrewsbury. (Matt)


Bryn Melyn Optare bus PIL 9338 at Ellesmere on the #501 from Shrewsbury shortly after arrival. (Matt)


One that got away... Tanat 249 on the 13:30 449 to Oswestry. (Matt)


Arriva Midlands 2370 on the #70 to Shrewsbury taken at Oswestry. (Mark)