Trip to Macclesfield 18-02-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2746	Macclesfield BS	Monks Heath, opp Alderley Park Nursery	130	Arriva NW&W
2239	Monks Heath, adj Alderley Park Nursery	Macclesfield BS	130	Arriva NW&W
4042	Macclesfield BS	Macclesfield Coare Street	10	Arriva NW&W
858	Macclesfield opp Coare Street	Macclesfield BS	10	Arriva NW&W
2747	Macclesfield BS	Monks Heath, o/s Tiger Lily	130	Arriva NW&W
2745	Monks Heath, crossroads (E-bound)	Macclesfield BS	130	Arriva NW&W

Today we had decided to go to Macclesfield. He had already chosen to go to Macclesfield before we even went to Shrewsbury last weekend, writing it down on Uncle Dave's calender for him. He had also seen a photo of a Manchester allocated dart on the internet which he fancied a ride on. Planning consisted of looking at the Manchester service timetable which down loaded from the arriva site. Somewhat disappointingly there isn't an Arriva town map for Macclesfield and there isn't a town map on Cheshire East website either! We set of around 12:00 and we chose to travel to Macclesfield via Leek. We stopped at the roadside truck on the A520 just before Cheddleton and we purchased bacon oatcakes and a sausage bap. We arrived in Macclesfield around 13:20 and we parked up near the bus station. on of the first buses we saw was an ALX400 double decker.Which Matthew got a picture of.

Arriva NW&W 4042 leaves Macclesfield on a #10

Shortly followed by a Bowers Optare Solo 333 which was on a #60 to Disley.

Bowers 333 leaves Macclesfield on a #10

We then saw a precession of Arriva NW&W short Darts such as 858 and 886. Just before 14:00 we walked around to the other side of the bus station and saw 4489 on a #38 to Crewe. Then the 130 from Manchester came in and it was a required Envir300 2746. Slightly disappointingly it was not a Dart. Whilst we waited for the bus to depart at 14:15, we saw Clowes Coaches T459 JRH on the #108 to Ashbourne. We decided to do this to the stop by Astra Zenica as it was a dead time at Alderley Edge. The journey was quite quick, especial after we had passed Broken Cross and we were heading out along the A537. After turning right at the A34 Monks Heath crossroads, we went up the road around 1/2 a mile to Astra Zenica. Matthew got a picture after we got off the bus.

Arriva NW&W 2746 outside Astra Zenica

We crossed the road to wait for the Southbound #130. It was sunny, but as it was very wind it felt really cold! We had around a 10 minute wait and then we saw a Dennis Dart appear from around the corner. As it got closer we could see it was required 2239. Matthew got a picture as it approached.

Arriva NW&W 2239 outside Astra Zenica

When we got in the bus station, Matthew got a picture of the inside of this Manchester allocated Dart.

Inside 2239

After doing 2239 on the #130, we had around an hour to kill if we didn't want to go straight out on 2239. We went to the toilet at the bottom of mall Street and we took a few more pictures when we got back to the bus station. Of note local was Arriva NW&W 7628 which was on a #14 service. we also saw Arriva 4490 on the #38. eventually ALX400 double decker 4042 reappeared on the #10 to Bollington, so we decided to do this whilst we waited for the next #130. Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck as we boarded this bus.

Inside 4042

Bizarrely, it appeared to leave early, but it must have been just clearing the stand. We went out of the bus station and did a circle of the town, passing the railway station before going back on stand. we then left at 15:35 on time and we went around the town again albeit talking a different route. At the bottom of a steep hill we turn left onto Bell Lane. I decided to along here a couple of stops and we would hopefully be able to get a bus back into town in time for the 16:15. Matthew got a picture of this fine bus as we got off.

4042 on Bell Lane

We then crossed the road to a stop and there was a gentleman waiting here. I asked him if there was a bus due and he said one was due any minute, so I had made a good guess as to where to get off. After a couple of minutes, dinky Dart 858 appeared and we did this back into Macclesfield bus station. At this point I texted Matthew's mum to tell her that we would probably be back at the car around 17:10. I immediately had a call back and she asked me if I could get back any earlier. So I arranged to meet mum at the Monk's Heath crossroads, so we could head home South along the A34 afterwards. The bus appeared and it was another enviro 300, required 2747. We had a short wait and then we set off towards Monk's heath at 16:15. We got off at the first stop after we turned right and then Matthew took a picture.

Arriva NW&W 2247 at Monk's Heath Crossroads

I called Matthew's mum to see where she was and her friend answered to tell me they had made a mistake somewhere and they were heading towards Buxton! She asked if we could get back to Macclesfield and we would meet there, and so the move to cover the fourth bus on the #130 was on. The only problem was, there was not a stop opposite and we didn't know where there was a stop close by. We crossed the road and then headed back towards Macclesfield on the A537, hoping we would find a stop before the bus passed us. Luckily, we didn't have to go far. The stop was somewhat hidden by the hedgerows, but it was only about 100 yards from the crossroads. The stop is adjacent to a chicken shed, which has the weakest sounding chicken I have ever heard! Instead of the usual cock-a-doodle-do this chicken lets out a very high pitched wheeze which sounded like heh-h-heehee-hee. If you ever find yourself at the Monk's Heath crossroad's (E-bound) stop, listen out for this chicken... After around a 10 minute wait another Enviro 300 rounded the corner. As it came close we saw it was required 2745. As it approached Matthew didn't get the shot because his batteries went in his camera. When we got back to Macc, Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus, the flash went off as it was starting to go dark, especially under the canopy of the bus station.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2245

As we left the bus station, we could see that the view over to 2745 was clear and so he was able to get a picture afterall.

2245 in Macclesfield bus station

We got back t the car around 17:15 as we were a little late. We were greeted with the usual sausage rolls which we quickly disposed of. We set off home and we passed the Moss Rose as we left. The Aldershot coach was parked up outside the ground, and they had just beaten Macclesfield Town 0-1. As we headed towards leek darkness fell, and by the time we had dropped off Matthew's mum friend, we got home around 18:15...Mark