Trip to Ormskirk / Skelmersdale 25-08-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3089	Ormskirk BS	Clay Brow, opp Hare and Hounds	375	Ariva NW&W
4104	Clay Brow by Hare and Hounds	Omskirk BS	385	Ariva NW&W
4100	Ormskirk BS	Skelmersdale BS	375	Ariva NW&W
YJ56 AUF	Skelmersdale BS	Omskirk BS	3A	Holmeswood

Today we decided to go to Ormskirk. We decided to go here a few day previously. This was a place where we have passed through but never really spent any time here. Preperation consisted of downloading timetables from Arriva and the Merseytravel websites. Matthew had a bit of a late nigth on Friday, and so he didn't get up until gone 10:00. The weather had been forecast to be mainly cloudy with sunshine and showers. He had some breakfast and used his computer and we were ready to go around dinner time. We set off at 12:15 headed through Blurton. We passed the Lightning house where we saw a yet to be identified minibus being prepared for service. We got onto the A500 and immediately we were stuck in traffic. That had been an accident near Etruria and this added around 15 minutes to our journey. Whilst we were waiting on the A500, Aiming High FJ10 BJY passed us heading towards Shelton. After we passed the accident we made good time up to the M6. As we approached the M6 we could see the traffic was standing on the Northbound side, so we decided to head up to the Next junction via Radway Green. Back on the motorway traffic was still heavy. There was a bit of a rain shower and then the road and rain cleared up as we headed North of the M62. We arrived in Ormskirk at 13:55 and we parked in in Morrison's as this was where Matthew wanted to have dinner. Matthew had a breakfast and lemon meringue pie for afters. This was was down with a cup of Coke. We couldn't stay parked in Morrison's and so we headed off to park in the car park on the inside of the bus station. When we got there we found out it was a short stay car park and so we drove around and found another car park by the council offices. We parked up and walked back into the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Versa 25231 and Holmeswood MX07 LBG.

Holmeswood MX07 LBG in Ormskirk bus station

The first Arriva bus we saw was Arriva NW&W 4100 on a Southport bond service. We decided to turn this down and wait a couple of minutes for the Wigan bound bus. This was Arriva NW&W 3089.

Arriva NW&W 3089 in Ormskirk bus station

We asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes. I looked up 3089 and it was required. I also looked up 4100 which I'd thought we had been on only to find out that was required too! We got on and booked 3 Arriva day tickets as well as Matthew ticket as mum was again travelling with us. I thought it would be good idea to go to Skelmersdale (Skem as it is known by locals) and beyond so we could learn the route and see where places we could get off in the future. We passed several buses in the opposite directions. There were a mixture of Pulsars and Volvo B7's on the 375/385. The 395 was mainly Pulsars with the exception of Cadet 2494. Just before we reached Skem bus station we noticed a canoe lying on a path near a roundabout! We passed Skem bus station and it seemed like quite a nice little place. There was a bus enthusiast there with a red jacket talking to the driver on a #311 service. At this point over 30 minutes had passed so we decided to get off at a convenient point. We spied a place in a nice residential area where there were stops on opposite sides of the road and so we got off. As we got off the bus Matthew got another picture of 3089.

Arriva NW&W 3089 at Clay Brow

Matthew spotted a Total garage just down the road, so we went for a spot of shopping. Matthew choosing some Coke and a Milky Way. We headed back to the bus stop where there was already a gentleman waiting for the bus. We were discussing with Matthew as to whether it was going to be a double decker or not and the gentleman said that it was as he could see the reflection! We then heard the bus before we heard it as it was the magnificent Arriva NW&W 4104 with its loud roar!

Arriva NW&W 4104 at Clay Brow

We got on the bus and went upstairs again. It was quite full and we sat near the back on the drivers side. We went back through Skem bus station and then we noticed something we didn't notice on the way out. A bus yard containing all sorts of vehicle from small minibuses to Mercedes minibus with proper bus doors. It was the Ashley Travel garage. When the bus emptied out a little, Matthew took a picture of the inside of the top deck.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4104

We carried on through and eventually got back to Ormskirk around 16:20. Matthew had a quick visit to the loo before waited for our bus. having seen 4100 was required when in came in earlier, we decided to do it when it reappeared.

Arriva NW&W 4100 in Ormskirk bus station

We got on and Matthew took a picture of the rear of the bus where it was empty.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4100

We headed back east and this time we decided to get of in Skem bus station. Matthew decided he wanted to go use the toilet. He then visited a newsagent get a few more drinks and sweets before visiting a Nat West cash point to get some money. We headed back to the bus station. There was required Arriva NW&W 2945 on a #311 service. Matthew spotted required Holmeswood Solo YJ56 AUF. We knew it was required as we have never been on a Holmeswood vehicle before.

Holmeswood YJ56 AUF in Skelmersdale bus station

As we got on Matthew honked the horn. We booked to Ormskirk, and an adult single costed £2.60. Before we sat down Matthew took a picture of this empty bus.

Inside Holmeswood YJ56 AUF

The bus set off and after entering and leaving Asda it stormed through the country lanes of West Lancashire. We called at Parbold and there was a train stopped in the railway station. We then went to Burscough Bridge and there was a train stopped in the railway station there too. A gentleman got on and said he got off the train as there was a blockage on the line. We eventually reached Ormskirk and as we passed the railway station we noticed a train stopped there too! We got off and we took a few more pictures before we left the bus station. One such picture was of Arriva NW&W 2966 on a #395 to Wigan. These service work back to St Helens on the #352 as the 352 and 395 interwork.

Arriva NW&W 2966 in Ormskirk bus station

As we walked back to the car we spotted some artwork on a wall of a man dangling naked from a window as his lover and her husband look out the window! We decided we were going to get something to eat. Uncle Dave said he had noticed a chip shop just outside of town on the Skem road. As we left town we passed Arriva NW&W 4107 heading towards Southport. We eventually found the chippy in the Woodrow area of Skem a good 15 minutes out of Ormskirk. After stopping for sausage and chips we carried on our way home. We were on the M58 within a couple of minutes and then we got back onto the Southbound M6. The heavens opened and it was slow progress on the M6 in the heavy rain with poor visibility. We passed Hartley Travel R419 AOR. We drove through the rain which was quite bad between The M62 and the M56. After a brief break it was back heavier than before as we reached the A556 and it continued until just before the A500 junction. We stopped at Longport for LPG. Whilst we filled up First Potteries 40143 went past heading towards Burslem / Tunstall. We then headed to Longton and Copelands MIB 278 went past us as we got off the A50 at Longton. We passed the bus station and then went to the Z Carz depot where Matthew got a picture of BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

We then headed home seeing First potteries 40376 on a #23 service. We got home around 20:10 just before it went dark. We then settled down for the evening before bedtime...Mark