Trip to Southport 12-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7656	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
2243	Southport, Chapel Street (Stop EA)	Hillside, o/s Alma Court	43	Arriva NW&W
3090	Hillside, opp Nixons Lane	Birkdale, York Road (NW-bound)	49	Arriva NW&W
19035	Birkdale, York Road (SE-bound)	Little Altcar, opp Royal Hotel	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
3045	Little Altcar, o/s Royal Hotel	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	47	Arriva NW&W
3044	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CB)	44	Arriva NW&W
2252	Southport, opp The Wellington	Highpark, adj Roe Lane	43	Arriva NW&W
3086	Highpark, High Park Place (E-bound)	Crossens, on Rufford Road	49	Arriva NW&W
15473	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	2X	Stagecoach M & SL

Today we decided to re-visit Southport. We checked the weather the night before and it seemed that the better weather would be either to the South or the West. We gave Matthew a short list of place to go and from the list he chose to go to Southport. Other than to check the weather research consisted of looking at a relatively new fleet list of Arriva NW&W buses allocated to Southport. The main changes were the reduction of Marshall Bodied Darts which had been replaced with newer Plaxton bodied Darts from elsewhere. There had also been some newer double decker delivered ex Arriva London. Matthew got up around 10:15 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 11:30 and we drove onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthews Way. We carried on North on the A500 and then onto the Northbound M6. We carried on North up to the M58 and then we turned West. Off the M58 we did the northbound A570 up to Ormskirk where we stopped for dinner at Morrisons. We visited the toilet and then for dinner Matthew had an English breakfast washed down with a cup of Coca Cola. After we had finished eating we headed back to the car and carried on towards Southport along the A570. Just before we hit town we turned into the Kew park and ride site and parked up to wait for the bus into town. We didn't have to wait for long before we saw a Marshall Dart approaching. When it got closer we saw it was dud Arriva NW&W 7656.

Arriva NW&W 7656 at Kew park and ride

We flashed our park and ride ticket and sat down near the back. The bus set off through the back streets of Southport following required Arriva NW&W 2241 into town on a #43 service. We approached the railway station from Derby Road. We turned onto London Street and the bus set down near to Lord Street. As we got up to get off Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7656

7656 was the first ever Southport Marshall Dart Matthew rode on back in December 2010. The plan was now to go and get a Saveaway ticket and to start riding on buses. As we were going to get the ticket from the railway station Matthew mis-behaved massively and we had to wait for a short while before we continued. We got the tickets and walked around into Lord Street where we saw required Arriva NW&W 2246 on a #46 service. We carried on walking to Eastbank Street to catch a bus. There was a choice of 2 buses required Arriva NW&W 2624 on the #42 and dud 2243 on the #43 to Carr Lane. We chose to do Arriva NW&W 2243 but we did not know it was dud at the time.

Arriva NW&W 2243 in Southport

We got on and flashed our tickets and sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus pulled off and and went out of town towards Carr Lane. The #43 takes a route through the back streets via Duke Street and Guilford Road and we eventually turned right onto Carr Lane where the bus terminates. We got up to get off the bus and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2243.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2243

From where we were the were a choice of service to catch. On Carr Lane on the opposite side of the Road we could catch either the #43 or #46 into Southport. From Guilford Road we could do either #49 towards Southport or either the #49 to Woodvale or Formby. From the main road we could catch either the X2 or #47 towards Southport or the same service toward Formby. We went onto the Liverpool Avenue to see if there was a Southbound bus due. There wasn't anything for at least 15 minutes so we decided to walk back to the original stop to see if there was a Southport bound #49 service. As we got back to the stop we could see a bus approaching in the distance.As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3090.

Arriva NW&W 3090 in Carr Lane

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. A quick check of the list revealed that this bus was dud. We had previously been on this bus back in April 2012. Three buses traveled on and all of them dud so far... How unlucky was that! We decided to get off at Birkdale and catch a Southbound X2 as we hadn't passed it. We got held up at the level crossing and whilst we were waiting Matthew got a picture of the empty back seat behind us.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3090

Eventually the train passedand we carried on North. We got off and we could see the X2 double decker in the distance so we crossed over the road and quickly made our way to the stop opposite. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 19035.

Stagecoach Lancashire 19035 in Birkdale

At last a new bus for the day! We got on and sat down upstairs, the bus was quite well filled so there didn't seem like an opportunity to take a good picture inside this bus. The bus headed South down the A565 through Ainsdale and onto the Formby by-pass. There was a quick run along the by-pass through open countryside before we turned right to head into Formby. We headed into what looked like the edge of a small town and I was expecting there to be more to it. Rather than being built up it looked spacious with all the businesses and restaurants looking quite high end. We seemed to be heading out of town again so when I saw a large petrol station I decided to get off here so we had somewhere to visit. We got off the bus and we watched it go off into the distance. Directly behind 19035 was required Arriva NW&W 3033 on a Liverpool bound #47 service. We visited the Texaco petrol station and Matthew used the toilet before we brought some Coca Cola and chocolate. When we had done we left the petrol station and crossed the road to see when the next Northbound bus was due. The next bus was going to be a #47 and it was due in a couple of minutes. We could see it approaching and it was Arriva NW&W 3045.

Arriva NW&W 3045 in Formby

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. A quick check of list revealed it was a required bus. We decided to do this bus up to Woodvale and get off to see what was working up behind us on either a #44 or X2. In the meantime Matthew photographed the empty back seat

Inside Arriva NW&W 3045

The bus carried onto the Formby bypass and up into Woodvale where we got off the bus. We considered having a picnic at this bus stop as it had a shelter and seat, but Uncle Dave had spotted a #44 service coming out of one of the side street as we came North. Sure enough less than a minute later we saw a bus approaching. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do the bus as it was a Pulsar and he said yes. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3044.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Woodvale

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. A quick check of the list revealed that this bus was dud too. Coincidentally this was the first Southport Pulsar we rode on back in December 2010. We decided to do this into Southport so that we could go and check buses out in a different direction. The bus carried on North up to Ainsdale before turning onto Station Road. The bus carried on North Eastwards across the roundabout onto Segars Lane. The bus carried on for a few mile in more or less a straight line, out of the built up areas of Southport and past Dobbies garden centre here we were overtaken by Arriva NW&W 2728 on a #300 before passing Arriva NW&W 2247 going the other way on a #300. We appeared by the hospital and then joined onto the A570 to head into town. We ran parallel to the A570 for a short while before heading back onto Eastbank Street. Matthew then took a picture of the empty back seat of the bus

Inside Arriva NW&W 3044

There was a quick river change and then the bus carried on. We turned into Lord Street then got off the bus. matthew indicated that he wanted to head back towards Eastbank Street so we set off in that direction. As we walked along Lord Street we saw required Arriva NW&W 2256 on a #49 to Woodvale. On the end of Eastbank Street was parked National Holidays coach NH09 DRH, and Matthew got a picture of it.

National Holidays NH09 DRH in Southport

We carried on down Eastbank Street and Matthew wanted to visit Poundland. We had a quick walk around Poundland where we brought some more chocolate and pop, and Matthew said hello to a member of staff. We then headed across the road to possibly catch a #43 or #46 to Carr Lane. We had just missed one bus and the seemed to be a gap in the service. On the other side of the road we saw Arriva NW&W Marshall Dart 7654 on a #42 to Crossens.

Arriva NW&W 7654 in Southport

We were considering having a picnic when we saw a Paxton Dart coming up the road. We decided to cross over and see if it was a required on. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 2252 on a #43 to High Park.

Arriva NW&W 2252 in Southport

We got on the bus and as we sat down mum called to say she was going to go back to Kew and move the car into town. That helped to decided how we were going to finish off the day. The plan was now going to be do this bus up to High Park for #49 to Crossens. We would then have a quick visit to the toilet and then back down to Southport on the next interesting bus. The bus went onto Lord Street and we passed required Arriva NW&W 2248 on a #44 service. We also passed required Arriva NW&W 2722 about to set off on a #300 service to Liverpool. The bus set off out of town though the back streets and crossing over the railway at Meols Cop. we then carried onto to the end of High Park Road where the bus terminated. We got up and Matthew got a picture of the empty bus as we got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2252

We also took another picture of the outside of the bus too before we crossed over roe Lane to catch the next #49 to Crossens.

Arriva NW&W 2252 in High Park

We considered another bus stop picnic bu the bus was due in 2 minutes. it wasn't long before we saw the bus approaching in the distance. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 3086.

Arriva NW&W 3086 in High Park

We got on the bus and sat down. The bus waited for short while, it must have been a little early before continuing into Churchtown. The bus turned into Botanic Road and we passed the site of an old factory and crossed over where the old Southport to Preston railway would have run. The road became Rufford Road and then bus continued on to the end where the service terminates. As we got up to get off Matthew took a picture inside the now empty Arriva NW&W 3086.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3086

We walked down to the toilet which have now become pay toilets. Matthew used the toilet whilst I checked out the bus times at the adjacent bus stop. There was a 2X due any minute now. Matthew came out of the toilet and almost immediately we saw the 2X double decker approaching. It got closer and we saw it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15473.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15473 in Crossens

We got on the bus and we sat down upstairs. We saw an unidentified Cumfybus Solo on a #40 to Southport and we also saw dud 2239 on a #44 service which was terminating. The bus carried on South down the main road into town from the North. The bus was quite well filled so Matthew took a picture of some seat just in front of him on the opposite side of the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15473

We gave mum a call to tell her that we were on our way so that she could move the car to somewhere nearby to the bus stop. The bus carried on South and we arrived in Lord Street and we got of the bus near to the monument. Mum had just arrived in a nearby street and we walked over to the car to get in. Mum decided to drive home so I sat in the front passenger seat. Waiting for us were sausage rolls and Matthew had a small bottle of Irn Bru. We turned into Eastbank Street and we went out of town along the A570. We drove around Ormskirk and though onto the M58. After traveling a short distance East we joined the Southbound M6. We traveled South through the roadworks at Thelwall Viaduct it was Carvers YN06 NYT started to rain. After nearly missing the turning we passed Z carz M372 NWN. joined the Southbound A500. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we passed ABC Supreme minibus YU02 GZG going the other way. We came off the A50 at Longton where we stopped to check out what was present at Z Carz. it appeared to be a minibus day today with the following buses sighted. Towards the back of the site was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to that was airport transfer bus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

At the very back of the site was LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

At the front was Volkswaggon minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Last but not least was another VW minibus, S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and the only bus there was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We headed back onto the A50 which we did back to Heron Cross before heading though Blurton On Beaconsfield Avenue we saw 40003 on a #23 and unusually Newcastle based double decker 37157 on the last #22 to Longton of the day. We got home at 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:15...Mark

Trip to Accrington 05-04-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
F638 YRP	Accrington BS	Blackburn, by Tesco	20A	Pilkington Bus
G301 UYK	Blackburn, o/s Tesco	Accrington BS	20	Pilkington Bus
P729 RYL	Accrington BS	Church Kirk, o/s Church Street	5	Pilkington Bus
P729 RYL	Church Kirk, o/s Church Street	Accrington BS	5	Pilkington Bus
1088	Accrington BS	Oswaldtwistle, by Rhyddings Street	6	Transdev Lancashire United
1827	Oswaldtwistle, opp Rhyddings Street	Accrington BS	7A	Transdev Lancashire United
252	Accrington BS	Great Harwood, by Towngate	7	Transdev Lancashire United
1831	Great Harwood, by Holgate Street	Accrington BS	6	Transdev Lancashire United

Today we decided to re-visit Accrington. We once again left choosing the destination until the night before because of the unsettled weather conditions. Out of a short list of destinations Matthew chose Accrington. The weather forecast had been for cloudy conditions with light rain. Matthew got up at around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off a little after 11:30 on the A5035 and onto Stanley Matthew Way. We headed onto the Northbound A500 and we came off at Shelton New Road to fill up with LPG. Just after 12:00 we re-joined the Northbound A500 and onto the Northbound M6. At around junction 17 we passed Z Carz S952 VMY heading South. We also passed City buses & Coaches minibus LT02 XLJ. We carried on North through the roadworks at Thelwall viaduct and onto the Eastbound M62. At the M60 we went clockwise and on the M66 towards Rawtenstall. We carried on North and onto the A56 and we then did the last few miles into town along the A680. We parked near the railway just off Blackburn Road and we walked into town. We decided to stop at the market today for toilets and food. Matthew used the disabled toilets on the ground floor before we sat down and ordered our food. Matthew had an English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked up to Peel Street to see what buses were out. The first thing we saw was the splendid but somewhat dud Pilkington Bus Ex London Olympian G301 UYK on the #20 Hyndburn circular.

Pilkington Bus G301 UYK in Accrington bus station

This was a bus we first did back in July 2013 on out first visit to Accrington. We walked further along the road and we spotted dud M&M Coaches L310 YDU.

M&M Coaches L310 YDU in Accrington bus station

This was a bus that we had done back in December 2013. As we walked along we spotted there was another Pilkington Bus double decker heading in the opposite direction to G301 UYK. As we got closer we saw it was required Pilkington Bus F638 YRP.

Pilkington Bus F638 YRP in Accrington bus station

We walked over to the bus and got on it. We brought our Pilkington Bus day tickets at £3.50 each and then we went upstairs. As the top deck was empty behind the stairs, Matthew got a picture inside F638 YRP before we sat down.

inside Pilkington Bus F638 YRP

A minute or so later the bus set off out of town and up towards the hospital. We passed a couple of coaches as we passed Accrington Stanley and we carried on up the hill. We then went towards Clayton-le-Moors where we passed required Pilkington Bus S278 AOX going the other way. I looked up on the timetable where the buses should pass and it was due to pass near Blackburn. So we carried on through Great Harwood and through Rishton. We crossed over the M65 and we headed into Blackburn. We saw a familiar bit of road where we had been on the #20 before and we decided to get off near Tesco. As we got off we got another picture of Pilkington Bus F638 YRP.

Pilkington Bus F638 YRP in Blackburn

We crossed the road which took a while because the road was really busy. We crossed over and we had around 5 minutes to wait for the bus going the other way. When it appeared we realised it was going to be G301 UYK which we had seen in Accrington earlier!

Pilkington Bus G301 UYK in Blackburn

We climbed up the stairs and the bus set off down the road towards Rishton. As the bus was empty behind us, Matthew took a picture of the upper saloon nearly straight away.

Inside Pilkington Bus G301 UYK

We headed back through Rishton and into Great Harwood before heading back into Accrington via Clayton-le-Moors. When we got back to Accrington we caught up with the Starship liveried bus that we had seen doing the #6 Hyndburn circular service. It was Transdev Lancashire United 263.

Transdev Lancashire United 263 in Accrington bus station

As there was nothing Pilkington Bus around when we got of the bus. Matthew decided to visited the disabled toilet on Peel Street. We crossed over and got a picture of dud Trasndev Lancashire united 402 which was on the X41 to Manchester.

Transdev Lancashire United 402 in Accrington bus station

As we walked back up Peel Street we saw required Pilkington Bus Dart P729 RYL on the #5 Dill Hall circular service.

Pilkington Bus P729 RYL in Accrington bus station

As we had never been on this bus or service before, we decided to do it. We crossed the road and got on the bus booking to Dill Hall. As the bus was empty Matthew got a picture inside the bus as soon as we got on it.

Inside Pilkington Bus P729 RYL

When it was time to go the bus set off out of town as if it was heading towards clayton-le-Moors. It then turned down a side street and headed West towards Church. We crossed over the main road near KFC and we came close to the junction of the road where the Blackburn and Oswaldtwistle roads split. We carried on behind Blackburn Road for a short while before coming to a turning circle. We then headed back towards KFC and into town from this direction before crossing the A680 and coming into town. When we got back we decided to have a snack break and buy some pop and chocolate from the shop at the end of peel street. We also brought a pack of Millionaires Shortbread which he ate at the tables and chairs outside the shop. As we were eating required Transdev Lancashire United 1088 made an appearance on the #6 service.

Transdev Lancashire United 1088 in Accrington bus station

We decided to do the bus up to Oswaldtwistle. We got on and booked Spot On day tickets at £4.20 each. As the bus was empty as we got on Matthew took a picture inside Transdev Lancashire United 1088 immediately.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 1088

We sat down near the back and the bus left town along Blackburn Road. We got to the junction and we turned left to head into Oswaldtwistle. We climbed up the hill and we passed dud Transdev Lancashire United 205. As we went downhill toward the war monument we decided to get up and get off. When we got off Matthew got another picture of Transdev Lancashire United 1088 as it went off towards Intack.

Transdev Lancashire United 1088 in Oswaldtwistle

We crossed the road and we had about five minutes to wait for the return service into Accrington which was a #7A. A few minutes later the bus rounded the corner and it was required Transdev Lancashire United 1827.

Transdev Lancashire United 1827 in Oswaldtwistle

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The bus went back down onto Blackburn road and in towards Accrington. The bus was finishing for the day and heading back towards the depot. As such it went to drop off passengers at the Great Harwood stop instead of the stop adjacent to the Oswaldtwistle Stop. As we turned the corner we saw required Transdev Lancashire United 202 on a #6 towards Blackburn. When we got back Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside Transdev Lancashire United 1827.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 1827

We walked back towards Transdev Lancashire United 202 but it pulled away. We thought that maybe we could head back to Great Harwood and meet the bus on the other side of the circle if we were lucky. In the meantime we saw 'Rosso' 102 on the #484 to Bury and 223 on the #464 to Rochdale.

'Rosso' 223 in Accrington bus station

We walked back to the Great Harwood stop and after using the toilet required Transdev Lancashire United 252 made an appearance on the #7.

Transdev Lancashire United 252 in Accrington bus station

We got on and Matthew beeped the horn. We then sat down near the back. The bus was quite full when we pulled off out of town up towards Accrington Stanley and Clayton-le-Moors. It was around 16:40 and we narrowly beat the crowd coming out o the football ground. In the Abbey Coaches yard we saw Mercedes minibus N252 PGD parked up outside. When somebody got off at the back of the bus Matthew took a picture there.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 252

We carried on into Great Harwood and we got off at Towngate. We then got another picture of Transdev Lancashire United 252 before it disappeared towards Rishton.

Transdev Lancashire United 252 in Great Harwood

A quick check of the timetable board and we had around 7 minutes to wait for the #6 back towards Accrington. Whilst we waited we saw required Holmeswood Coaches Plaxton Primo YN56 NHC on a #14 service to Clitheroe.

Holmeswood Coaches YN56 NHC in Great Harwood

Immediately behind this appeared dud Transdev Lancashire United 1831 which was our bus back to Accrington.

Transdev Lancashire United 1831 in Great Harwood

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. We called mum to let her know that we would be around 20 minutes and the bus set off back towards Clayton-le-Moors. As we passed Accrington Stanley we saw the coaches heading back towards Northampton after the game. These coaches were SMS coaches Y80 SMS, Country Lion A8 CLN, Hunters YN10 ENW & an unidentified orange coach 577 HDC. We carried on down the hill past the hospital and into town. The bus didn't empty as it was carrying on toward Blackburn. As such Matthew took a picture of the empty seats behind him as we went to get off.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 1831

We walked back to the car and we got there at the same time as mum did. She was waiting for us with sausage rolls and a can of Irn Bru for Matthew. We headed out of town along the A680 and onto the A56. The A56 became the M66 and we carried on down to the M60. We turned anti-clockwise and we did this to the Westbound M62. After a few miles on this road we headed South on the M6. When we got to the M6 we saw Redwood Neoplan Starliner T3 RED. We got in front of it and let it go passed us and Matthew got a picture.

Redwoods T3 RED on the M6

Across the other side of the M6 we saw Z carz S952 VMY going North. in almost exactly the same point as we saw it was Wigan Coachways N871 MSU going Southbound earlier in the day. We carried on down to the A500 and then onto the A50 which we did to Longton. At Z Carz today were only 2 vehicles. Firstly, red LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

Next to this was former Ausden Clark coach CNZ 3828.

Z Carz CNZ 3828 in Longton

We turned around in Willow Row and we headed back onto the A50. We did the A50 to Heron Cross where we saw Lightning Travel T2 DLT parked up. We then passed First Potteries 40378 on a #23 and 61143 the last Longton bound #22 of the day. We got home a fraction after 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00...Mark