Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 02-06-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3010	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
2354	Chester BS	Sealand, Western Avenue (NW-bound)	10	Arriva NW&W
7533	Blacon, Western Avenue (cnr)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
2572	Chester BS	Chester, opp Sealand Road P&R	10	Arriva NW&W
2354	Chester, opp Sealand Road P&R	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
4488	Chester BS	Queensferry, Solar Services (N-bound)	11	Arriva NW&W
4484	Queensferry, Solar Services (S-bound)	Chester BS	11	Arriva NW&W
2948	Chester BS	Hoole, opp Pipers Lane‎	X30	Arriva NW&W
VN52 KXM	Hoole, Pipers Lane (cnr)‎	Chester BS	21	Widnes Commercial Motors

Todays was the first day of a 3 day holiday to Chester! The weather today was overcast but dry. We set off around 12:00 today and as usual we headed towards Ellesmere Port. After stopping for LPG in Longport, we set off northwards up the A500. As we approached the M6, we could see that the Northbound traffic was running slow. The motorway all the way up junction 19 was very slow, but we stuck with it and eventually we reached the M56. We hit traffic again just before the Daresbury junction and this time I decided to come off. We came off at junction 11 and went round in what seemed like a big circle and then got back on the M56 at junction 12. We then carried on on our usual route of M56, M53 and then the A5032 into Ellesmere Port. We are in town just before 14:00. We ate in the market as we almost always do. There seemed to be a few less tables than usual and so we had to wait for a few minutes. When we did order to food came very quickly. After dinner we went to the bus station. we got there around 14;20 which was just too late for the chester service. as such we had a bit of time to take a few pictures. The GHA crew bus was Dennis Dart N725 KGF as can be seen here.

GHA N725 KGF in Ellesmere Port bus station

Also between turn was Helms B6 P710 BTA in all over white livery.

Helms P710 BTA in Ellesmere Port bus station

After we had taken these pictures we went to the top corner of the bus station the view all the buses coming in and out. Arriva NW&W 2436 was on a Liverpool bound #401 and First Manchester 60054 was also out on #1's too. After a short wait we could see a Pulsar 2 in the distance. As we have only been on 3 of the Birkenhead example there was always going to be a good chance of it being a required one. When it got closer Matthew got a picture of what turned out to be required Arriva NW&W 3010.

Arriva NW&W 3010 approaching Ellesmere Port bus station

The journey down was swift but uneventful. We reached chester just before 15:00. Matthew waited for the bus to empty so he could get a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 3010

We sat down in our usual spot for a few minutes to see what was out. We saw dud First Manchester 34260, now sporting a all over advert. There was one of the new Arriva double decker on the 11, and then Arriva 2354 was seen on a #10 to connah's Quay. We looked up to see if this bus was required and it was. we asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he did.

Arriva NW&W 2354 in Chester bus station

We decided to do this to the border of Wales so we didn't have to buy Matthew a Deeside rover at this point. The journey was quick and it had now gone slightly overcast again. When we got off we crossed over the busy Sealand Road to wait for the bus back. We had just missed Arriva NW&W 2359 which was required but as it was a V reg it's a fairly safe bet we would come across this again. We waited around 15 minutes by the side of the busy road and eventually we culd see a bus a mile or so in the distance. before it got to us we saw another unrefurbished bus heading out of Chester which Matthew went to photograph. As he was taking a picture of that bus we could see our bus was was also an unrefurbished example. As it got closer we saw it was required beast Arriva NW&W 7533. I had heard that this bus was still in service in Chester but this was the first time we had seen it and it was dropped on the bus by accident. The bus itself was running fine although the interior was starting to show it's age a little. A really nice touch was the Arriva turquoise coloured seat frames with I think made it look quite smart. When we reached Chester Matthew waited for an empty bus to photograph this soon to be scrapped bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7533

We also got a good picture of the outside of the bus too.

7533 in Chester bus station

We decided to let 7533 go whilst we had a quick toilet stop and I got some sausage rolls for later. Whilst i was getting the sausage roll Matthew was able to get a picture of First Manchester 34260 which we had seen earlier.

First Manchester 34260 in Chester bus station

Also seen and photographed was First Manchester 34228.

First Manchester 34228 in Chester bus station

We waited for the next #10 which was required Arriva NW&W 2572. We leapt off our seat and went across to the stop do catch this bus. We decided to go one stop shorter this time so that we weren't in such a dangerous position at the side of the road. When we got off Matthew got a good picture of Arriva NW&W 2572.

Arriva NW&W 2572 on Sealand Road

We crossed the road to wait for the return service. Whilst we were waiting we also saw First Manchester 69486 on a #31 park and ride service, and Town Lynx MX09 AOL on a #6 to Chester. When the bus turned up it was Arriva 2354, which was not even required for the day!

Arriva NW&W 2354 on Sealand Road

We got back and at least Matthew was able to get a picture of the inside of this unrefurnished beast.

Inside 2354

At this time we were picked up by mum who had booked us in to our B&B for the next 3 nights, Laburnum House in St Anne's Street. We drove back to the B&B and had some sausage rolls and a bit of a chill out before we decide on what we were going to do this evening. For tea we had some small fish and a portion of chips between the 4 of us. we set off a little after 18:00 to see what we could do on the 10/11 corridor, we also thought about how we could do the interesting service #21 operated by Widnes Commercial Motors. When we arrived there was a brand new double decker on the 11 service, As we have never been on any of the new batch of double deckers it was bound to be required. Closer inspection revealed it was Arriva NW&W 4488

Arriva NW&W 4488 in Chester bus station

We got on the bus and as we were going to going into wales now we brought Matthew a Deeside rover too. We decided to do the bus to Queensferry Asda, then at least if we miss the return 11 we could do a #10 instead. There was a time for the bus towards Chester at Queensferry but not for the Holywell bound service, so we had to guess if it was going to make it. It was now damp and trying to rain. We set off and the journey was quite quick. On route we passed Rhyl based Dennis Dart MPD 844. We arrived in Queensferry with about 3 minutes to spare, but the Chester bound bus was already at the stop! We had a quick look around to see where we had to go, and due to limited pedestrian access we had to go about 200 yds to get to the other stop. We ran as fast as we could and luckily we made it. it was required Arriva NW&W 4484. We got on and went upstairs. The journey back was unevetful and when we got back to Chester Matthew got a good picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 4484 in Chester bus station

We now had a short wait for the 19:30 X30 Runcorn service. The plan was to do this bus towards Frodsham, and depending on how far the Deeside rover was valid, or how much 2 adult singles cost, we would do this accordingly. The bus came in and it was required Arriva NW&W 2948.

Arriva NW&W 2948 in Chester bus station

After a short time we got on the bus and asked the relevant questions. The Deeside rover was only valid on Hoole Road and the singles would be about £3 each, so we decided to go just to the end of Hoole Road. When we got off Matthew got another picture of this bus.

2948 on Hoole Road

because we had gotten off still in Chester, we had around 45 minutes to wait for the Widnes Commercial Motors run #21 service. We decided to use the time to have a quick wander around. We set off along the Hoole Road towards chester, and we had thought we could cut through to Kingsway to visit the Co-op, a shop we had visited before. Part way down i decided to use my map function on my phone to find where we were and then to find Kingsway. It turned out we had just passed manning lane South which joins onto Kingsway. So we went back a few yards and went across an old railway bridge to reach Kingsway. We passed the old turning point of the #53 service which we remember being used when we first visited Chester back in 2008. After a quick shop in the Co-op, we head back to the Hoole Road. We saw First Manchester 40182 on the last Firstbus run service of the day. Matthew decided he wanted to visit the toilet so we end up having to direct him down onto the old disused railway line and to use the bushes! We got back to the stop on Hoole Road at 20:15, 10 minutes before the #21 was due. At this point we had an impromptu picnic at the bus stop. the Coca Cola we had purchased a few minutes early must have been shaken up a little on the journey back as when he opened the bottle it exploded up his arm! We polished off the bottle and within a few minutes we could see a white minibus coming around the A41 roundabout. as we have never been on one of the Widnes vehicles, unless we were very unlucky it was going to be required. Closer inspection revealed required VN52 KXM.

WCM VN52 KXM on Hoole Road

We got onto this unusual vehicle and sat down. as far as I am aware, we have never been on one of these unusual Rohill bodied minibuses before. The bus only had 15 seats on it, all with seatbelt plus apace for a wheelchair. It also had what seemed like a disproportional destination display on the front. It was a very nippy vehicle to say the least. When we got to Chester, we were able to take pictures of this bus, now displaying #53 Kingsway for it's next journey.

VN52 KXM in Chester bus station

We then walked back to the B&B to retire for the night. I uploaded my pictures to Flickr and we started to write up the blog before going to bed...Mark.