Trip to Altrincham / South Manchester 25-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
17624	Altrincham TI	Northenden, Britannia Hotel/Stop E	370	Stagecoach Manchester
19405	Northenden, Palatine Rd/Northenden Health Ctr (Stop F)	Altrincham TI	41	Stagecoach Manchester
P420 MEH	Altrincham TI	Lymm, opp Lymm Cross	38	Warrington Coachways
46	Lymm, o/s Lymm Cross	Altrincham TI	5	Network Warrington
2242	Altrincham TI	Sale, Cross Street/Dane Road (N-bound)	263	Arriva NW&W

Last week whilst we had been covering the #130 Macclesfield - Manchester service, Matthew had expressed a wish to go on to Manchester. With the centre of Manchester being very busy we decided to go to Altrincham so we could cover the buses Matthew is interested in. Research consisted of downloading all the Manchester area Arriva Timetables, and asking on the Dennis Dart Forum which service were most likely to be Dennis Darts. We set off just after 12:00 and it was a fine sunny day and quite mild for the time of year. We pulled up in Victoria Street in Atrincham and stopped for a snack. After we had eaten mum headed off to the Trafford Centre where we were going to meet up with mum later. We walked down to the transport interchange and Matthew used the facilities before we stood next to the interchange to decide what bus to do next. A Stagecoach Manchester AlX400 pulled in on a service #370 and surprisingly Matthew decided he wanted to do this. Matthew had never done a Stagecoach bus before and therefore it was required. Before we boarded, Matthew got a picture.

Stagecoach Manchester 17624 in Altrincham

On the bus Matthew went onto the top deck and took a picture of the empty upstairs.

Inside 17624

As we didn't know what route the #370 took I had to download the timetable and have a look where we were going. As we Headed Eastwards we passed through Timperley village, There is a stenciled picture of Frank Sidebottom on a shop as you enter the village on your right hand side. We worked out the buses past just East of Northenden so we decided to get off at the Britannia Hotel stop. We got off and Matthew was able to get another picture of this bus.

17624 outside the Britannia Hotel, Northenden

We crossed the road and waited for the return service. We crossed the road and waited for the return bus. An empty bus pulled up just before another bus appeared and there was a driver change. It was on a #41 to Altrincham via Sale. We decided to do this service and as it was only our second stagecoach bus this was also required. We got on and sat at the front of the upper saloon. As we arrived in the bus station Matthew got a picture of the top deck of this bus too.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19405

As we were getting off Matthew spotted a Plaxton bodied Mercedes minibus in the distance. I think Matthew realised what it was straight away as he was pointing to it as we got off the Stagecoach double decker As we got closer it became apparent to me it was an Ex First PMT/Potteries minibus (50077) now running for another operator and it was required. I knew Matthew would want to ride on this so I asked the driver where the bus was going and how far could we do it on our system one tickets. We sorted out the tickets and we got on. The bus still had First Purple and green seating and pink doors. With the aid of a gentleman on the bus we got off at Lymm to wait for a return bus and Matthew got a picture.

Warrington Coachways P420 MEH in Lymm

I checked the timetable on the stop and as we had about 20 minutes to wait we visited the Sainbury's local shop for snacks and lottery tickets. We then waited for the bus sitting on a big rock in the town centre. The return Network Warrington bus was a few minutes late and when it turned up it was required 46. Matthew got a picture before we boarded.

Network Warrington 46 in Lymm

Whilst we traveled back, worked out that if we were going to meet mum that we had to be on either the 16:15 #247 or te 16:25 #18 service. I wasn't sure if we would make the 16:15 with us being a bit late so i was relieved when we arrived in Atrincham around 16:12. Matthew got a picture of network Warrington 46 as we got off the bus.

Network Warrington 46 in Altrincham

Matthew used the facilities as we proceeded to wait for the 16:15. The bus appeared to be a little late so we were able to take a few pictures whilst we waited. one such picture was 19479 returning from when we had it earlier in the day.

Stagecoach Manchester 19479 between duties

A little concerned I asked a passenger at stand A if he was waiting for the #247, to which he replied 'yes'. Then an announcement came over the tannoy say that the 15:45 departure 247 for Eccles hadn't arrived and neither had the 16:15. The announcement said that there had been 'an incident a Davyhulme and a bus was being dispatched from the depot to work the next service in 5-10 minutes time'. With the information at hand and the fact that Arriva Dennis Dart 2242 had just come in on a #263 we decided to abandon our original plan and do the #263 just of sale to meet a different service to the Trafford Centre. The was no driver in 2242 so whilst we waited Matthew got a picture.

Arriva NW&W 2242 in Altrincham

The driver appeared and we jumped on the bus. After a swift journey up the A56 and North through Sale, we got of the bus on Cross Street. Matthew got a picture as we got off this bus.

2242 just North of Sale

We then met up with mum as arranged. We head anticlockwise around he M60and then got on to the westbound M56. Traveling Via the A556,M6 and A500 we arrived home at a little after 18:20...Mark