Trip to Blackpool 06-10-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 246	Longton Hall Road	Pleasure beach CP, Blackpool	Charter	Copeland's Tours
19042	Royal Oak, o/s Grand Hotel	St Annes, by St Patrick's Road South	68	Stegacoach M & SL
18150	St Annes, by St Patrick's Road South, Don Street	Royal Oak, o/s Royal Oak	68	Stegacoach M & SL
18156	Royal Oak, o/s Royal Oak	St Annes, by Norwood Road	68	Stegacoach M & SL
18146	St Annes, opp Kilgrimol Gardens	Royal Oak, by Station Road	68	Stegacoach M & SL
MIB 246	Pleasure beach CP, Blackpool	Longton Hall Road	Charter	Copeland's Tours

Originally we had planned on going to Bath today but the trip was canceled due low numbers. We had transferred on to a Stratford-on-Avom trip on the 7th October, and that was canceled for the same reason too. Knowing how desperate we were to travel, Copeland's put on a slightly bigger coach on the Blackpool Trip and we transferred our booking onto this. Knowing it was now a 57 seater, we looked up which coaches it might be. They have 5 different 57 seaters, and we had only previously been on one of them. We looked up the weather for today and it was for cool and cloudy weather with sunny intervals. It was a late departure and so we got up around 10:00. After breakfast we drove down to Longton Hall Road to wait for the 11:24 departure. Whilst we waited we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 797 on the #40 service, and First potteries 40147 on a #22 service. The coach turned up a few minutes late and it was MIB 246.

Copeland's Tours MIB 246 in Longton Hall Road

This is the one 57 seater we have been on before! We settled down at the back of the coach and off we went. Traffic around town was very heavy. At Hanley we saw a handful of the new second hand First Caetano Darts like 41494,41498,41501,41522. It was close to 13:00 by the time we got to Newcastle for the last pick-up. We set of Northwards up the A34 and then onto the A500. Just South of the A54, we passed First Manchester 34295 heading South. We had a quick stop at Charnock Richard service for a toilet and shop stop, and then we carried on. We reached the Pleasure Beach coach park around 15:00. We then walked onto Bond Street to get something to eat. As we went Matthew got a few coach pictures.

Coaches at the Pleasure Beach coach park

We had a late dinner at the seaside cafe. We all had breakfast with he exception of Uncle Dave who had his customary sausage sandwich. Whilst we ate we saw a number of buses. By the way buses were coming though in groups it made us think that it was very busy in town and with the time we had it wasn't worth going in that direction today. Just before 16:00 we walked onto station road to go and catch a bus towards St Annes. We had a choice of doing a Blackpool Transport #11 service or a Stagecoach #68 service. We asked Matthew what he wanted to do and he chose Stagecoach. First bus to turn up was Blackpool Transport 351 on a #11 service. This was followed by a slightly late but required 19042 on the #68.

Stagecoach 19042 in Station Road

We got on the bus and booked some day tickets. As we were on the Fylde coast we were able to book a day ticket that cost a mere £3.50! We went upstairs and settled down for the ride. We decided to go just past St Annes so we could come back and maybe get a second trip in. After passed the town we did a right turn and we decided to get off. As we got off we were able to get pictures of this bus.

Stagecoach 19042 in St Annes

We then crossed the road and walked to the nearest stop which was only about 30 yards away. The next bus was due at 16;38 and pretty much bang on time required Stagecoach 18150 appeared.

Stagecoach 18150 in St Annes

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. It was fairly lightly loaded and we we had a quiet and pleasant journey into town. Near the Farmers Arms we hid a tree and were thankful that the bus had tree deflectors attached! We got off this time near Waterloo Road and then got a picture of the bus. Matthew jumped up and down and his camera strap broke. Luckily I had a spare wrist strap attached to my camera and we ere able to effect a repair. We then crossed over to wait for another Southbound service. After a few minutes a very heavily loaded Stagecoach 18156 appeared.

Stagecoach 18156 near Waterloo Road

The bus was full as it was just after 17:00 and there were a few football fans on from the Blackpool Charlton home game. The bus emptied out a little and we decided to get of between Starr Gate and St Annes to make sure we could get back in time to eat and get on our coach. As we got off we saw Blackpool Transport Optare Excel 222 on a Southbound service.

Blackpool Transport 222 near St Annes

We crossed the road and we had approximately 10 minutes to wait for the next #68. Whilst we waited we saw a few buses including Blackpool Transport Excel 226 and an Ashall's Mercedes minibus SF57 EUB. Our bus eventually turned up and it was required Stagecoach 18146.

Stagecoach 18146 near St Annes

We got on and once again went upstairs. The bus was lightly loaded and by the time we reached the South Shore the top deck was empty apart from us. Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside Stagecoach 18146

We went to get off on Bond street, but for some reason the bus stop and then pulled off before we could get off. We eventually got of on Lytham road and had to walk back to meet up with mum. We had already decided we would have chips from a nearby chippy and so Matthew visited the toilet and then we waited outside watching the buses whilst mum was in the queue. The chips were fresh and very hot so we didn't have long to eat them before the coach was due to depart. We walked to the coach park and then ate the chips after they had cooled a little. Un fortunatley this didn't leave much time to get many pictures before we got back on the coach. Matthe did get a good picture of this Smiths of Marple coach.

Smiths of Marple Setra B7 WER

Back on the coach we set off a little after 19:00. The traffic was horrendouns and took until 21:00 to get to Gynn Square. At this point the driver announced that it was as far as he could go and everybody cheered! We then headed off onto the A585 and then onto the M55. Back on the M6 we stopped for a short while at Charnock richard services. Whilst here we saw Selwyns SEL 36 and Hamleys G97 RGG. We set off from here around 22:00 and then reached Newcastle around 23:00. Having dropped of most of the other passengers we got to Longton Hall Lane around 23:45. We drove Uncle dave home and drove home ourselves getting in just after midnight. We had 30 minutes on the computer before going to bed. If we had decided to go North we might have dropped on Blackpool Transport 373. This had it's last day in service yesterday and it can be read about here...Mark