Trip to Sandbach 17-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4156	Sandbach Common	Wharton, opp Wharton Gardens	37	Arriva NW&W
2611	Wharton, nr Wharton Gardens	Winsford, Town Bridge (W-bound)	31A	Arriva NW&W
2613	Winsford, Town Bridge (W-bound)	Sandbach, o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W
2613	Sandbach, o/s Common	Elworth nr railway station	37	Arriva NW&W
3334	Elworth adj railway station	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided it was a local-ish trip as mum had a busy weekend. As such when asked for a local destination Matthew chose Sandbach. No research was done or need for this trip apart from to look up on the Internet the location of a cafe in Sandbach. We set off a round 12:30 going up the A500 and onto the M6. we then came off at the next junction and we arrived on he common a few minutes before 13:00. We arrived in time to see the 13:00 #38 departure to Crewe which was 4491. We also saw 2613 arrive in the common on a #37 and then go out of service. We then walked to the cafe we had found on the Internet. Sally's cafe is situated on Green Street which is almost directly opposite the Market entrance. For breakfast/dinner we had 2 breakfasts, a sausage sandwich and a bacon sandwich. With drinks it came to around £15 for the 4 of us. Whilst we waited for the food I went to the cash machine and saw 2615 on a Crewe bound #37. The cafe was quite busy and we did not get out until just before 14:00. We saw the next #38 to Crewe which was 4490. The next bus was was the #319 Goostrey circular which was GHA S290 AOX

GHA S280 AOX on a #319

We also saw D&G 66 on a Scholar Green bound #78 service.

D&G 66 on Sandbach Common

Around 14:08 as booked Arriva NW&W 4156 appeared on the common. It was not required as we had been on this bus last week but Matthew seemed very pleased to see this bus on our service.

Arriva NW&W 4156 on Sandbach Common

As we got on Matthew took a picture of the empty top deck of 4156.

Inside 4156

Whilst we waited for time we saw 4491 return on the Macclesfield bound #38. We set of dead on time and headed North. Past the railway station and along the section of the road by the canal. As we turned into the housing estate we passed 2608 on a Crewe bound #37. We must have been going quite well as we sat by the Bullring in Middlewich for a couple of minutes before continuing on towards Winsford. as we approached the Brighton Belle we passed the next #37 to Sandbach which was 3330. It was now getting very overcast and it was starting to rain. As we went up Winsford High street we passed 3348 on a Northwich bound #31A service. As we went back down we saw D&G 41 on the #81 Chester service. We were now wondering where to get off to catch the bus back. last week we had got off as we turned into Wharton. As we turned this corner we passed the next #37 right on the corner and this meant that we would have to go further North. as we approached the Wharton Gardens area I thought that if there was a shelter for the Southbound service then we would get off there. As we turned the corner we spotted a shelter so we rang the bell and went down stairs. We got off in a torrential downpour and we got pictures of this fine bus in the rain.

4156 in a very wet Wharton Gardens

We crossed the road and waited in the shelter for the next Southbound service. A quick consult of the bus stop timetable told us that there was a #31A in about 5 minutes. The sun came out again and time passed quickly. Before we knew it, we saw an unidentified Centro approaching. It was almost certainly required as we had only been on one of these buses (three times!). As it got closer we could see it was required 2611.

Arriva NW&W 2611 in Wharton Gardens

We got on the bus and headed back towards Winsford. I consulted the electronic #37 timetable and we knew there was a sandbach bound #37 about 15 minutes behind us. We decided to get off at the bottom of Winsford High Street just in case the sandbach bus was better than what we were on. 2611 was making very strange noises as it went along. It kind of made an intermittent 'fzzzzt' noise as it accelerated away. on the Corner of Wharton Road we passed a Northbound #31 which was 2501. we also saw minibus P837 LVT. We got off at the bottom of the High Street as planned and Matthew got another picture of 2611.

2611 on High Street Winsford

We now had a 15 minute wait in which we would see another Northbound #37. This turned out to be 2615 which I saw earlier in Sandbach. The time past quickly and before we knew it we saw another Centro approaching. It was required 2613.

Arriva NW&W 2613 on High Street Winsford

As we headed back towards Sandbach the First bus we passed was 3330 on Station Road. We asked Matthew if he wanted to get off for required 2608 and to go back catch the unknown bus behind us, or to carry on to Sandbach with 2613 and then go back to Sandbach railway station to pick up the unknown bus behind us. Matthew chose to carry on to Sandbach ans so we did. We passed 2608 on the corner of the estate in almost the same position as we passed it going the other way. We then had the run in to Sandbach. As we got off, Matthew took a picture of the empty 2613.

Inside 2613

Whilst in town we paid a quick visit to the facilities by the Market. We also saw the other Macclesfield turn which was 4489.

Arriva NW&W 4489 on Sandbach Common

We then saw D&G 64 on a Nantwich bound 78.

D&G 64 on Sandbach Common

We got back on 2613 and sett off around 16:17 towards the railway station. We got off and crossed the road to wait for the return service. As it approached we could see it was a millennium fleet double decker. As it approached we saw it was required 3334

Arriva NW&W 3334 by Sandbach railway station

We got on and Matthew took a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside 3334

A quick journey, we then arrived in Sandbach. Matthew got a picture of the bus before it departed towards Crewe

3334 on Sandbach Common

We then went back to the car for sausage rolls and drinks. The route back was along the A534 towards Crewe. We then went through Haslngton and along the #20 route towards Alsger. We turned off past Radway Green before joining the A500 at the M6 Junction 16 roundabout. Stopping in Longport for LPG, we then went to Longton so Matthew could look at the King Street Total petrol station before retuning home.we saw Lightning Travel S298 JOB in Heron Cross and we got home around 17:40...Mark.