Trip to Keele / Biddulph 20-07-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40143	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Newcastle BS	22	First Potteries
30033	Newcastle BS	Keele village	25	First Potteries
37	Keele village, nr Sneyd Arms	Hanley BS	85	D&G
227	Hanley BS	Smallthorne, opp Preston Street	9	Bakerbus
53208	Smallthorne, adj Nettlebank	Hanley BS	8	First Potteries
266	Hanley BS	Biddulph, adj South View	9	Bakerbus
61235	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries

Today we decided to have a local trip out. We had asked Matthew if he wanted to ride on the #350 service as this is coming to an end soon and he said no to this. Instead we planned to go to Newcastle and see what was about. We did no research for this trip other than to check the weather, which was for another fine sunny hot day. We did find out that you can now use the smart day tickets on Bennetts buses now. Matthew got up around 09:00 today, and h had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I went to fetch uncle Dave and we got back just after 11:00. We quickly finished off getting ready and then we waled all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road to wait for the 11:30 #22 bus to Newcastle. We didn't have to wait long before we saw an ALX200 dart come around the corner. It was dud First Potteries 40143.

First Potteries 40143 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket. We then sat down near the back of the bus. It was reasonably cool for a Dart on a hot summers day. The bus went onto Trentham Road and then along New Inn Lane. On the run in we passed 60057 & 60059 on #21's, 40145 on a #22 and Wardle Transport 2204 on a #41. When we got to the roundabout at the bottom of Newcastle we could see a Leyland Olympian entering the bus station. We got into Newcastle bus station and pulled on stand just before 30033 pulled on stand on a #25 service. Matthew waited for the bus to empty and then he got a picture inside the empty 40143.

Inside First Potteries 40143

We ran over to 30033 and Matthew got a picture of that too.

First Potteries 30033 in Newcastle bus station

We asked the driver which direction the bus was going and t was going to Keele, so we booked to there. We went upstairs and sat down near the back. A minute or so later we set off towards Keele via Orme Road. The bus sounded pretty good for a vehicle approaching it's 24th birthday and it didn't seem to struggle up keele bank at all. We ran through the University campus dropping off most of the passengers and then we headed for the village terminus. When we got there Matthew took a picture of one of the original high backed seats with the grey and maroon zig-zag pattern.

Original Feature...Grey and Maroon seat in First Potteries 30033

He also took a picture of the empty top deck with the many different coloured seat patterns.

Inside First Potteries 30033

When we got off he took another picture of this fine beast before it set off back to Hanley.

First Potteries 30033 in Keele

Matthew wanted to do a #85 back to Hanley, like we had done on our last trip in this direction back in June. We checked the the and there wasn't one due for 20 minutes. So we decided to walk back to the original stop and have a picnic. We shared a galaxy caramel bar and Matthew drank a small bottle of Irn Bru. Before the 85 was due there was another #25. This was required First Potteries 32632.

First Potteries 32632 in Keele

The bus was now due so we crossed back over to wait for the bus. When it turned up it was required D&G Solo 37.

D&G Bus 37 in Keele

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The journey back to Newcastle was swift. After going through the University the bus went straight down the A525 into Newcastle. We had a few minutes wait in Newcastle and then a couple of minutes wait in Stoke. As we headed up to Hanley from Stoke we passed an arriva Liveried double decker on the X50. This was Arriva Midlands 4802. When we got to Hanley we let the bus empty and Matthew photographed the inside of D&G 37 too.

Inside D&G Bus 37

When we got to Hanley we decided to go have something to eat. The burger place that we went to at the begining of June was closed so we decided to walk down to the Seafarer on cheapside. On the way down we saw a new Bakerbus vehicle, Ex Metroline double decker LR52 KWT with the Bakerbus fleet number of 266.

Bakerbus 266 enters Hanley bus station

We brought 2 portions of chips and 2 cans of pop and we sat down on the benches near to the Museum and the at the back of the Bethesda Methodist church at the bottom of Adventure Place. We ate the chips and Matthew even drank the can of Coke there and then it was that hot. We walked back via Bethesda Street and Lidice Way we spotted 40003 on a #21A service. W decided to go and stand in John Street car park so we could watch and photograph the buses coming into and leaving Hanley bus station. Bakerbus 185 was in the layover area and this was soon joined by Bakerbus 227. Then we saw Arriva Midlands 3733 on the #164 service to market Drayton.

Arriva Midlands 3733 in Hanley bus station

bakerbus 185 departed to work a #9 service and Bakerbus Dart 250 replaced it.

Bakerbus 250 in Hanley bus station

We also saw Bakerbus Alexander bodied Volvo B6 227 arrive into the bus station.

Bakerbus 227 in Hanley bus station

After around 30 minutes in the car park we decided to go to the bus station to see what we could catch. 40018 was going to Leek on a #18 but we decided not to do this as it was going to be full. We then saw Bakerbus 227 return onto stand to work a #9 short to Smallthorne. Matthew got a picture before we got on.

Bakerbus 227 in Hanley bus station

We have seen this bus work quite a few time before, but this is only our second run on this beast. The first time being on a journey from Macclesfield to Biddulph back in April. Smallthorne is only a short run so we arrived at the end in only 10 or so minutes. matthew got a picture of the bus before it set off towards the famous Smallthorne roundabouts.

Bakerbus 227 in Smallthorne

We crossed over the road and we were able to get another better picture of Bakerbus 227 as it set off back towards Hanley.

Bakerbus 227 in Smallthorne

We decided to go to the shop and get a chocolate bar and a drink. Matthew also decided to get a flapjack and as it was something relatively healthy I thought it would be OK. We sat down at the stop in the triangle at the top of Smallthorne so we could check when the next #98 was due and also so he could eat his flapjack. After eating the flapjack and seeing the next #98 wasn't for quite a few minutes we decided to go wait for a Hanley bus. I think Matthew fancied a run on on Bakerbus 250 but when we saw it heading North we knew that wasn't going to happen today! I thought he wanted to wait for the next #9, but when First Potteries 53208 turned up on the next #8 he decided he wanted to do that. He got on and decided he was going to honk the horn. We sat down and enjoyed the jouney into hanley. This bus appears to have been fitted with old seats from one of the withdrawn buses to replace the new non standard ones. When we got to Hanley Matthew took a picture inside the bus and the first coloured seats can be clearly seen,

Inside First Potteries 53208

He also got a picture of the outside of this bus too as his earlier attempt didn't go too well.

First Potteries 53208 in Hanley bus station

It was now just after 15:45 so we ad to decided what we were going to do. I thought he might like to do an X50 up to Meir for Arriva Midlands 4802 back. Matthew didn't really fancy it though. We got lottery tickets from the spar shop in the bus station along with some pop and chocolate. We had a quick trip along the side of the bus station to look at the buses on layover Of note were Bakerbus 199 and 215. Around 16:15 Wardle Transport 3611 arrived on the #118.

Wardle Transport 3611 in Hanley bus station

Matthew pointed to this but it wasn't due to leave until 16:45. We also saw Bakerbus Volvo B6 215 come and go on the X75 to Keele. When we saw Bakerbus's new decker arrive we decided to do this. It was required Bakerbus 266 couldn't get on stand due to the fact it was being blocked by a First bus on the #101 to Stafford. When it did gt on stand a few minutes late it could get off as other buses were being let out first. We had got on and sat upstairs and eventually the bus did depart. We set off through Smallthorne and passed his old school in Chell Heath. We carried on through Fegg Hayes, Brindley Ford, Brown Lees and Knypersley before dropping down into Biddulph around 17:00. Just before we arrived n town he took a picture of the empty top deck of Bakerbus 266.

Inside Bakerbus 266

We got off the bus on the high street and then walked down to Wharf Road, where he got another picture of this fine bus.

Bakerbus 266 in Biddulph bus station

There was some kind of event winding down. there was a giant sand pit and lots of children's rides in the bottom half of the High Street. I think Matthew wanted to have a go on some of the thing but he was too big! He did however have an ice cream with a flake. We walked back onto Wharf Road and Matthew used the toilet there. We let a Bakebus vehicle go on the #94A and then we decided to catch required First 61235 when he realised that mum wasn't available to pick him up from Biddulph.

First Potteries 61235 in Biddulph bus station

We got on and sat down near the back. The #7A takes the same route as the #9 as far as Fegg Hayes where it goes straight up onto high Lane and then straight along High Lane from Turnhurst into Hanley. We got back to Hanley in around 30 minutes where matthew took a picture inside 61235.

Inside First Potteries 61235

We asked Matthew if he wanted to catch a #23 or go in a taxi and Matthew chose to ride in a taxi. We did this home via Victoria Road, The A50 link road and then trough Heron Cross. Matthew wasn't very happy so we decided to drive him up to The Z Carz depot. When we got there there were only 2 buses present. The first was W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

The other vehicle was DAF mini coach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

We headed down Longton Hall Road and we got home around 18:20. Matthew had a toffee yoghurt to keeping going until he had is late tea of bangers and mash. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime which today was around 23:45...Mark

Trip to Accrington / Blackburn 13-07-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
P350 NKH	Accrington BS	Church, o/s Market Street	1	M&M Coaches
M356 JBO	Church, opp Bridge Street	Blackburn TI‎	46	M&M Coaches
N213 UHH	Blackburn TI	Accrington BS	46	M&M Coaches
N723 RDD	Accrington BS	Peel Bank, by Buckingham Grove	2	M&M Coaches
N723 RDD	Peel Bank, by Buckingham Grove	Accrington BS	2	M&M Coaches
101	Accrington BS	Haslingden, opp Vale Street	464	Rossendale Easyride
224	Haslingden, by Vale Street‎	Accrington BS	464	Rossendale Easyride

Today we decided to returning to Accrington again. We were returning to ride on a few more of the M&M coaches minibuses that we saw last weekend. research was done with the help of a fellow Flickr contact and we also checked the weather which was for fine and sunny weather and very hot again! Due to a problem with my lads cable box he was awake at 06:00 and he got up around 08:00 which is almost unheard of Matthew on a Saturday! He had toast and juice for breakfast and had to have another slice of toast before we set off. We left around 11:45 and we went onto the A5035 and then along Stanley Matthews Way. The roads were quite busy due to a serious accident on the Southbound M6. We went along the A50 and then onto the Northbound A500 where we saw City Buses & Coaches LV02 ODL. As we headed North up the M6 the taffic eased up and we started to make good time. We went onto the Eastbound M62, the M60 and then the M66 where we passed First Manchester 12003 running empty towards Manchester. We carried on North onto the M56 and then onto the A680 where we saw a Shell garage being refurbished. We carried on into town and then we parked on the Blackburn Road shoppers car park. Today we chose to have dinner at the the Bus Stop Cafe in Peel Street. As we walked up to the cafe we saw Transdev's Starship branded Versa 258 broken down on one of the stands.

Broken Starship! Transdev 258 in Accrington

We also saw M&M Coaches P350 NKH on the #1 and N213 UHH on a #46. We went in the cafe and Matthew needed the toilet. They didn't have one in the cafe so we went to the public toilet across the road and used that. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with Cherry Coke. He also had a chocolate caramel bar that went into his bag for later. After we had eaten we said goodbye to mum and Matthew dragged us up to Bridge Street. Matthew must have know that this is where some of the M&M Coaches buses lay over and there were 2 of them there. M&M Coaches M356 JBO was between workings on the #46.

M&M Coaches M356 JBO in Bridge Street

M&M Coaches N723 RDD was also there about to work a #9 Laneside circular.

M&M Coaches N723 RDD in Bridge Street

We got on and asked the driver for a day ticket. He couldn't find one on his machine. When we explained that we just wanted to ride on the bus he suggested we did one of the other buses first and then came back later. we asked him when his last tun was and he told us it was the #1650 #9 departure. So we got off and walked around to Peel Street. We immediately saw required M&M Coaches P350 NKH on a #1 service.

M&M Coaches P350 NKH in Accrington bus station

The driver had seen Matthew taking his picture and he said that they were getting ride of the old buses at a rate of around 1 a month. They send them down to Stoke (Stafford Bus Centre). We told him we had come up from Stoke to ride on tese buses! We asked about a day ticket but the driver said they didn't do one. We asked where we could do this bus to and then catch a #46 to blackburn. We booked to market Street and then we sat down. There was a daft dog on the bus that was lying on the floor and kept sitting by us. It was one of those dogs that looked menacing but as as soft as a brush. As the bus was fairly well matthew was only able to take a picture of the back seat of the bus.

Inside M&M Coaches P350 NKH

As we went to get up the owner called his dog and it moved out of our way! We got off and went to cross the road. Whist there we saw David Urquart Travel ABZ 857 come past. We crossed market Street and waited at he stop on Blackburn Road. We only had to wait a couple of minutes which was very lucky considering it was a 30 frequency on this service. The bus soon turned up and it was as predicted required M&M Coaches M356 JBO.

M&M Coaches M356 JBO on Blackburn Road

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was quite well filled and we picked up a few more passenger as we went along the road. Most people got off at Ainsworth Street and Matthew wanted to get off too. I told him we would stay on until we got to the interchange as there were more buses there. I didn't realise that it was the next stop and it was only a few hundred yards up the road! When we got to the Interchange Matthew photographed the inside of M356 JBO too.

Inside M&M Coaches M356 JBO

We walked towards the railway station and we saw Stagecoach 33029 on a Preston service.

Stagecoach 33029 in Blackburn interchange

We walked into the railway station and Matthew used the disabled toilet on the platform. When we came out of the station we visited the shop by the entrance. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a toffee flavoured flapjack. We sat on a wall near the entrance of the interchange and Matthew ate his Flapjack and we shared a can of orange Tango. Whist we were there we also saw Transdev Lancashire United 569.

Transdev Lancashire United 569 in Blackburn interchange

We also saw Darwen Coach Service PLZ 5592 on a D10 service.

Darwen Coach Services PLZ 5592 in Blackburn interchange

When we had finished eating we decided to walk around the interchange. The sun wasn't in a very good position for pictures, plus I wanted to take a picture of the bronze statue of the boy dropping his teddy bear I heard about. We walked around the bus station and we took picture of the buses that were on layover. One of the buses was Transdev Lancashire United 440.

Transdev Lancashire United 440 in Blackburn interchange

Also on layover was Transdev Lancashire United 207.

Transdev Lancashire United 207 in Blackburn interchange

Matthew and uncle Dave sat down on a bench near the statue of Queen Victoria and I went to find the bronze. Just as I spotted the bronze I saw required M&M Coaches N213 UHH coming into the interchange. I considered going for the bus for a second and then I went to the statue and got a quick picture! We went int the interchange to go to see which stand it went onto and then it went straight out and stopped on a stand on Railway Road. We quickly got a picture of the bus and then went to get on it.

M&M Coaches N213 UHH in Blackburn interchange

As the bus was empty as we got on Matthew got a picture of the inside of the bus too.

Inside M&M Coaches N213 UHH

We booked back to Accrington and then sat down. The bus was quite well filled again and as we went out of town the bus emptied a little. We got back onto Blackburn Road and most people got off. When we got back to the bus station we saw required N723 RDD on the #2 behind us. We got off the bus and walked towards the bus. The driver recognised us from earlier and indicated to us to ask if we were getting on. Matthew took pictures and then we got on.

M&M Coaches N723 RDD in Accrington bus station

We sorted out tickets with the driver and then sat down. The bus set off in the general direction of Clayton-le-Moors which explains why we saw 4 busees last weekend but didn't know which services they were all on. As we went through the Dill Hill area we went passed an Alexnader bodied Renault Dodge in the estate. It was E103 JNH which had been hand painted in various colours with 'save the bees' sign written on the front. We then headed back into and the bus terminated in bridge Street. As we got off Matthew took a picture of the inside of N723 RDD.

Inside M&M Coaches N723 RDD

We also took a picture of the outside of the bus here too as it was in a good position.

M&M Coaches N723 RDD in Bridge Street

The driver asked if Matthew wanted is picture taken on the bus and so I did that and then we said thanks before we left. We met up with mum as we were going to have a drink before we did another bus, but Matthew had other ideas. When Rossendale Easyride 101 made an appearance for the second week running Matthew decided he wanted to do this.

Rossendale Easyride 101 in Accrington bus station

We got on the bus and brought a Tango ticket and then went upstairs. He took a picture of the empty top deck at this point.

Inside Rossendale Easyride 101

We sat down at the front of the bus. It was another 'no opening window at the front' bus and it was a very warm journey. Matthew had his chocolate bar he brought from the cafe earlier as we traveled down through Baxenden. We crossed over the A56 and we headed into Haslingden. When we got to the edge of town where we saw bus stops opposite we decided to get off. Matthew got another picture of this fine bus as we got off.

Rossendale Easyride 101 in Haslingden

We crossed the road and looked at the stop. We had just missed a #464 so we had a look at the timetable. The #464 runs every 15 minutes at this point and the #484 is every 30 minutes. There was a #484 due immediately and a #464 in 10 minutes. We decided that if the #484 was a newish bus we would wait until the next one in case we got something more interesting. We let Volvo 215 go and waited for the next one. when it turned up it was required Scania Rossendale Easyride 224.

Rossendale Easyride 224 in Haslingden

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus was nearly empty and it made good time heading north. We stopped in Baxenden for a minute or 2 to wait for for time. We carried on and when we got back to Accrington Matthew took a picture inside this bus.

Inside Rossendale Easyride 224

Across the road we saw Boomerang S451 WAT on a #11 service.

Boomerang S451 WAT in Accrington bus station

As we walked back towards the car we also saw Pilkington Bus Optare Solo T311 UOX on a local service.

Pilkington Bus T311 UOX in Accrington bus station

We went into the market and Matthew used the disabled toilet. Matthew photographed the Leico sink in there. He also had an ice cream from one of the stalls. We walked back to the car where there were sausage rolls and a can of Cherry Coke waiting for him. We set off a little before 17:00 and we headed down the A680 down to the A56. here did the road down onto the m66 and then it was M60 anti-clockwise M62 West and then M6 South. The accident had been cleared and the road was now quiet. We followed a coach down which was FN02 VBV. We didn't realise at the time but the coach belongs to local operator Global Travel. We followed the coach onto the A500 and we saw it leave the a500 at the Northern A34 junction. We then headed onto the A50 and off at longton to go past the Z Carz depot. there was only one bus there today. From the taxi fleet was Renault minibus X848 JFR.

Z Carz X848 JFR in Longton

There was nothing in the Willow Row Compound so we headed home down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We got back at around 18:30. Matthew had a toffee yoghurt and then later he had bangers and mash for tea followed by cheesecake. he then chilled out on his computer. He didn't got to bed as usual. At first he stopped downstairs and curled up asleep on the sofa because of his faulty cable box. When I realised around 01:30 I came down and fetched him and he went to bed. Today was a great day on the buses and the only downside to today was the lack of a day ticket from M&M coaches which made it a little bit more expensive...Mark

Trip to Accrington 06-07-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
N230 TPK	Accrington BS	Great Harwood, by Towngate	20A	Pilkington Bus
G301 UYK	Great Harwood, by Holgate Street‎	Oswaldtwistle, by Town Hall‎	21	Pilkington Bus
N202 LPN	Oswaldtwistle, opp Town Hall	Accrington BS	1	M&M Coaches
X374 NNO	Accrington BS	Great Harwood, by Holgate Street‎	20	Pilkington Bus
G301 UYK	Great Harwood, by Holgate Street‎	Accrington BS	21	Pilkington Bus

today we went to Accrington. This had been planed since the trip to Chorley, but we couldn't go last week due to going Mansfield instead. Research consisted of looking at the Lancashire County Council website and checking the weather. The weather was forecast for fine sunny weather. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off arund 11;0 today. We went onto the A5035 and and along Stanley Matthews Way onto the A50. We got on the northbound a500 and we came off at Shelton to get some LPG. We returned back onto the A500 off the A53 and then we headed up to the M6. The route up to Accrington was M6, M62, M60, M66 and then onto the A56. A few miles up the A56 we turned onto the A680 for the last few miles into town. Mum put in instruction for a particular car park in her phone. The phone took us though town and past the M&M coaches depot and into a housing estate! So we headed back into town to a different car park just off thee Blackburn Road. We parked up and walked into town as we walked into town we saw M&M coaches N213 UHH leaving town.

M&M Coaches N213 UHH in Accrington

We walked into town and we decided to have our diner alfresco outside the market. Matthew had burger and chips which was washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we were eating we we saw Pilkington Bus Olympian G301 UYK depart around 1340 to Blackburn. We went into the market and Matthew used the disabled toilet and then we headed round the corner to the bus station. The first thing we did was to have a look around for a travel office, and Matthew took pictures as we walked around. First thing we saw was M&M coaches N202 LPN on a #1 service.

M&M Coaches N202 LPN in Accrington bus station

We crossed over and carried on along the stands. We then saw Rossendale 169 on a #484.

Rossendale 169 in Accrington bus station

We crossed over the road again and we asked a local about a travel office. Apparently the office is closed on a Saturday so we had a quick think about what we were going to do. As we contemplated what we were going to do we saw required Pilkington Bus N230 TPK on a #20A service. We decided to do this and maybe go after the Olympian we saw earlier too.

Pilkington Bus N230 TPK in Accrington bus station

We got on and booked day rover ticket at £3.50 each. As we got on we saw a timetable so we grabbed it. There were a few people on the bus so it wasn't easy to get a picture inside with it mainly brown with beige and green. He had to get one of the back seat area. The back seat had been replaced with standard Arriva fare during it days in Kent.

Inside Pilkington Bus N230 TPK

From the timetable leaflet we realised that the 20A is a near identical anti-clockwise run of the #21, so we could possibly head the Olympian off somewhere along the journey. As we traveled through Clayton-le-Moors we passed M&M coaches N195 LFV. We also passed another different double decker on the #20/21. We worked out we could go to Great Harwood and we could meet the Olympian there. As we approached the town the driver asked us where we wanted. I told him wherever is best to catch the bus going back the other way! He directed us to the stop just around the square to catch the bus back and we got off. Matthew got another picture of this well presented Dart.

Pilkington Bus N230 TPK in Great Harwood

We didn't have to wait long for G301 UYK to turn up. In fact we should have missed it as I had miscalculated the timings. Luckily it was running a couple of minutes down. It arrived from the South along the B6535 and went around the square to our stop.

Pilkington Bus G301 UYK in Great Harwood

We got on the bus and the plan was to go around the circle through Accrington and Blackburn, so we could check out Blackburn from the comfort of the top deck of this fine bus too. As I did tried to work out where we needed to booked to on the fly, I booked to Oswaldtwistle when I should have booked to Rishton. In the end this worked out quite well as can be seen. As we got on the bus Matthew photographed the empty lower saloon before we went upstairs.

Inside Pilkington Bus G301 UYK

We went upstairs and we sat near the front. The only problem with this design of bus is that there is no opening window in the front half of the top decker and windows on all side so it gets very warm on a sunny day! On the run into Accrington we passed the other 2 anti-clockwise turns which were Consecutively registered Dennis Darts R845 VEC and R846 VEC. With it being so warm I think Matthew was a little disappointed not to be getting off in Accrington. We carried on though town and we passed N230 TPK again near the railway station. We realised that we had made a mistake with the booking and we had just passed a bus going the other way. We decided to get off anyway, and Matthew got a picture of this 24 year old beast as he did.

Pilkington Bus G301 UYK in Oswaldtwistle

We crossed over and went to the local shop. It was an old fashion looking shop with wooden displays. Prices were great in here. Two cans of pop and a milky way for £1.15...Unbelievable! We had a picnic at the bus stop and we checked the bus stop timetables. The next 21A was at 15:23 but there was a #1 in front of it. we decided to do this if it was a step entranced minibus as we thought it would be, as it was run by M&M coaches. It was due in a few minutes. It appeared and it was required M&M Coaches N202 LPN.

M&M Coaches N202 LPN in Oswaldtwistle

We booked into town. The adult fare was £1.50 on this bus. There were a few people on this bus but they all emptied out at the stop before the bus station. We got off at the bus station and Matthew photographed the inside of this ex Stagecoach Mercedes.

Inside M&M Coaches N202 LPN

We got off and he also got a picture of the outside to.

M&M Coaches N202 LPN in Accrington bus station

we decided to have a shot break fro the buses. We visited the toilet and took pictures and made notes on the buses that we saw. M&M Coaches P350 NKH was seen as was N195 LFV. We also saw R845 VEC close up after passing this bus earlier in the day.

Pilkington Bus R845 VEC in Accrington bus station

The other clockwise circular was seen and that was optare excel S289 RAG. We decided to stay put and to take a few pictures and to wait for the other double decker on the clockwise Hyndburn circulars. Whilst we waited we saw rossendale Transport 101 on a #464 service and Lancashire United 212 on a #6. Eventually the double decker turned up it was required ex stagecoach trident X374 NNO. We booked to Great Harwood and the driver told us we would be quicker going the other way around. We told him that we were only on the bus for a ride he didn't seem very enthusiast friendly! We got on and sat upstairs. Matthew got a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside Pilkington Bus X374 NNO

There were 2 options for us after this bus. We made a bus around 16:25 at and came back the opposite way around, or we waited for around 20 minutes and did G301 UYK again. We did the bus out through Oswaldtwistle and into Blackburn. There was traffic around Blackburn and this made us a little late. We were able to view Ainsworth Street which appears to be the shoppers centre of town but the service didn't call at the interchange. We headed back out of Blackburn and then turned towards Rishton. As we approached Great Harwood we passed the last anticlockwise service Which was R846 VEC on a #21A so that ruled out that! We came into the sqaure and we got off. Matthew then got a picture of the outside of X374 NNO.

Pilkington Bus X374 NNO in Great Harwood

We had about 20 minutes left before the bus was due. We crossed the square and we brought 2 cans of pop and a Galaxy Caramel bar. It was unsurprising more expensive than the shop in Oswaldtwistle at around £2. We went back to the stop and we had a little picnic at the bus stop whilst we waited. We didn't have to wait too long before we heard the roar of the approaching Olympian G301 UYK. We got on and after a quick chat the driver who was definitely more enthusiast friendly than the last driver, we went upstairs. The bus had cooled a little from earlier but it was still quit warm upstairs. The journey back was swift and when we got back to Accrington we got off and got another picture of this fine old beast.

Pilkington Bus G301 UYK in Accrington bus station

We walked up Peel Street and met up with mum. As we started back we saw Dart P729 RYL which was on a local service.

Pilkington Bus P729 RYL in Accrington bus station

We walked back to the car that was now parked by the town hall in shade. We sat for a few minutes eating our sausage rolls and drinking Coke. We set off around 17:20 and it was far easier leaving town than when we came in. we got back onto the A680 that we did down to the A56. We carried on onto the M66 and then at the end of the that road we went onto the M60 clockwise by accident. We carried on regardless as it was traffic free and we went around past Stockport and onto the M56. Here we saw an Hollinshead coach so I slowed so Matthew could get a picture.

Hollinshead J10 BUS on the M56

We went down the M56 and onto the A556 down to the M6. Here we saw 2 other local coaches. First we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 246 returning from a trip to Liverpool.

Copeland's Tours MIB 246 on the M6

Then we saw a Paul's of Stoke tri-axle coach TIL 8196.

Pauls of Stoke TIL 8196 on the M6

We carried on down to the A500 following the coaches. MIB 246 left at the Northern A34 junction, presumably to drop of passengers in Newcastle. We turned at the A50 and we heading into Longton to the Z Carz depot. tonight there were only two vehicles here Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

The other was relative newcomer Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We checked out the Willow Row compound and it was empty. We headed down Longton Hall Road and into blurton. 42726 was on the #23 and 40016 was on the #22 to Longton. We got hoe at 19:00. Matthew had a toffee yogurt whilst he waited for his late tea of bangers and mash followed by cheesecake. Afterwards he chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 23:45...Mark