Saturday 8 October 2011

Trip to Blackpool 08-10-2011
































































BusFromToServiceOperator

D104 XANThe Strand, LongtonPleasure beach CP, BlackpoolCharterZ Carz
335Pleasure Beach, o/s Sandcastle and Pleasure BeachCleveleys, by Rossall Road1Blackpool Transport
525Cleverleys BSSquires Gate, by Starr Gate7Blackpool Transport
212Squires Gate, o/s Squires Gate StationCentral, by Buchanan Street7Blackpool Transport
301Central, by Buchanan StreetPromenade, Bank Hey Street (Stop 2)14Blackpool Transport
522Promenade, Promenade (Stop 3)Temporary stop, Watson Road11Blackpool Transport
D104 XANBond Street, BlackpoolThe Strand, LongtonCharterZ carz




This was the trip that should have gone on the 4th September but was canceled at short notice. Having rescheduled the date, eventually it came around. We went back to the Strand just over a month later and within a couple of minutes the coach appeared.


Z carz D104 XAN in the Strand, Longton (Matt)

The journey was non stop after a solitary stop outside Hanley bus station. On the way we got to watch half of Ratatouille on the tiny little screen at the front of the coach. We arrived at the Pleasure beach coach park at just after 11:00 and it was full!


Z carz D104 XAN in Blackpool Pleasure Beach coach park (Matt)

On arrival, we went off to get something to eat. We went to a cafe around the corner from the coach park and we all had breakfast with the exception of uncle Dave who had a sausage barm. After eating we decided to the coast to catch a #1 to Cleverleys. We reached to coast and within a few seconds required 335 appeared on a #1.


Blackpool Transport 335 by the Sandcastle (Matt)

We boarded and bought day rover tickets. We sat at the front of the top deck. Matthew was able to get a shot of the empty top deck.


Inside 335 (Matt)

Traffic was horrendous and it took until after 13:00 to get to cleverleys. The #1 doesn't go into the bus station and we realised this as we continued North past the town. We got off and walked back to the bus station. Mum went into a shoe shop and we watched the goings on in Cleverleys bus station for 20 minutes. After mum emerged from the shoe shop we decided to do the next Lytham service that came in. It was required Blackpool Transport 525 (Matt)


Blackpool Transport 525 in Cleverleys bus station (Matt)

We booked to Lytham, but traffic seemed to be going very slowly! Mum got off the bus in town to go shopping and we carried on South. as it was gone 14:30 by the time we left Blackpool we decided to get off the bus around Squires Gate. We got off around the corner from Squires gate near the Starr Gate tram depot.


525 at Squires Gate (Matt)

After we got off we walked back to Squires gate, passed a row of parked up coaches. Have photographed the coaches we waited for the next town bound bus. Whithin a few minutes, required pink and yellow Optare 212 appeared on a #7. This bus was far less crowded than most we had been on today bu at we hit town the bus filled up. We had booked to the Devonshire Road Junction, but we decided to get off just after Blackpool North station as the bus was full with people at the stop. As we got of Matthew got a good picture.


212 near Blackpool North station (Matt)

We crossed the road and decided to catch something back that went through town so that we could meet up with mum near coral Island. We saw Blackpool Transport 373 on a Northbound service. we let 2 #5 go because we weren't sure where the bus went through town. The next bus we knew was going through town was #301 on a #14 and this this was also required!


301 near Blackpool North station (Matt)

We got on the bus and we sat downstairs. and did the short run through town. As we got of Matthew got another picture.


301 behind Coral Island (Matt)

We met up with mum and walked onto the front to catch a #1. As we approached the stop we saw 522 on a #11 and I knew this went behind the pleasure beach, and it was also required!


522 at Temporary stop, Watson Road (Matt)

When we went to get off, the bus sailed past the stop and went over a quarter of a mile past and finally stopped on Watson Street. We walked back to the front and took a few more bus coach and tram picture before we were due to return. The driver arranged to meet up at the gate of the coach park at 17:00 and he met us and told us there had been a change of plan. Because the lights weren't being switched on until 19:00 we had to wait around before setting off. the other new was the coach was parked about 1/2 mile away behind the pleasure beach. We walked back to the coach taking picture of the other coaches on the way.


Z carz D104 XAN in Bond Street Blackpool (Matt)

Whilst we waited snacks and hot drinks were served on the coach. Fed and watered the driver attempted to start the coach just after 18:00 and it wouldn't start. The battery had flattened providing the hot drinks, despite the engine running whilst serving. The driver went off to find a coach driver with a battery boost pack or something similar. Around 30 minutes later a Jones coach appeared and within a few minutes the coach had been started again. We set off a little before 19:00 and then headed North through the illuminations. We left the Promenade at Bispham and headed inland. We hit the M55/M6 junction a fraction after 20:00 and we got to Longton a little after 21:30. After dropping uncle Dave home, we got in around 22:00...Mark

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