Trip to Warrington 27-10-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
F3	Warrington Interchange	Westy, Whitley Avenue (N-bound)	1C	Fairbrothers
F3	Westy, Whitley Avenue (N-bound)	Warrington Interchange	1C	Fairbrothers
F15	Warrington Interchange	Dallam, Harrison Square (S-bound)	21H	Fairbrothers
F15	Dallam, Harrison Square (S-bound)	Warrington Interchange	21H	Fairbrothers
2262	Warrington Interchange	Winwick, o/s B&Q	360	Arriva NW&W
2556	Winwick, opp B&Q	Warrington Interchange	360	Arriva NW&W
SF06 LLG	Warrington Interchange	Grappenhall, nr Pilling Gardens	37	Warrington Coachways
F13	Latchford, o/s Kwik Save	Warrington Interchange	1C	Fairbrothers

Today we decided to pay a visit to Warrington. As well as the mixture of Arriva visitors to Warrington and the unusual buses in the Warrington Coachways fleet, since our last visit there has been a new operator starting up. As we made the decision quite late in the week we did not do too much research other than find somewhere different to park! We checked the weather the night before and it was for a sunny but cold day. Matthew got up around 09:00 which is unusual for a Saturday. After breakfast and getting ready we set off around 12:00. As we were a little late we decided to visit the Bakery on Nashe Drive for dinner. After consuming some bacn and sausage sandwiches we set of on our journey. We joined the A50 at Heron Cross and then went onto the Northbound A500. We then got on the M6 Northbound. Traffic was a little slow and it took quite a while to reach the M62. We had decided to approach Warrington from the North as it is the easiest way to get into town along the A49. We parked in an open car pack near Warrington Central station at around 13:30. As we walked down we saw a few buses parked up on Winwick Street just North of the railway station. One such bus was Ex Arriva NW&W 3271 which is now Fairbrothers F3.

Fairbrothers F3 between duties in Warrington

After taking a few pictures we visited the toilet at Warrington Central station before walking down to the bus station. Matthew took a picture of one of the Fairbrother Volvo B6's with ALX200 bodywork. As we got to the bus station we saw Fairbrother F3 pull into the bus station and so I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. We looked to see were the bus was going and it was on the 1C Westy circular. We booked some of the day tickets for £2.50 and we went upstairs. In the stand next to us Arriva NW&W 2259 which had arrived on the #360 from Wigan had broken down. As the top deck was empty Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside Fairbrothers F3

We sat at the front and settled down for the journey. As we didn't really know where we were going we paid close attention to our route out. The main road along which this service travels is the A5061 Knutsford Road down to Latchford and then a right turn onto the A50 before doing a circuit of the housing estate at Westy. When we reached the Whitley road terminus of the service I went down to the driver to flash the tickets and Matthews pass before we returned to Warrington. As we left the estate in Westy someone took a picture of the bus. On the inward journey we passed another on of the B6's working the following 1C service. When we got back into the Interchange, there was a B6 along side us about to work a 21H. As we had the day ticket I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. So we got straight on it and as it was empty Matthew got his inside picture of this bus too.

Inside Fairbrothers F15

We flashed the tickets and got on and sat near the back. Once again we didn't really know where we were. We stopped outside a Co-op about 20 minutes into the journey and so I got up to flash the tickets to return back to Warrington. Shortly after this we crossed the A49 and we saw a Northbound Arriva bus that Matthew wanted to catch. It was too late to catch this bus because by the time we would have got off we wouldn't have made it to a bus stop. After we had crossed the A49 I asked Matthew again if he wanted to get off and he said no. So we stayed on the bus and went into an housing estate along side the Wigan line and then past the Hospital and then we came back into familiar territory as we crossed over the railway line just North of Bank Quay station. When we got back we had a visit to the toilet and the shop. We had a quick wander around and took some more pictures, we then sat and had a drink until we saw required Arriva 2262 appear on a #360 Wigan service. As we queued up to get on Matthew got a picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2262 in Warrington Interchange

We got on and settled down. Matthew made a friend on the bus as he often does and coincidentally she was getting off at the B&Q Winwick stop. When we got off Matthew got a picture of the bus.

Arriva NW&W 2262 in Winwick

After taking his picture Mathew said goodbye to his new friend. We then decided to grab a quick snack at the adjacent Burger King. Matthew used the toilet whilst he was there and then we went outside and had a little Burger King picnic by the North bound bus stop After we had finished we disposed of the rubbish and then crossed over the A49 to the Southbound stop which is no easy job! It was around 16:00 and the next bus due was a #329 at 16:12. However the next to turn up was a late running #360 which was dud Arriva NW&W 2556.

Arriva NW&W 2556 in Winwick

I asked Matthew if he wanted to let this bus go as I remembered he had been on this bus last time we came to Warrington. He decided he wanted to do it anyway and so we got on and sat in the group of 4 facing seat near the rear of the bus on the nearside. The journey in was quite as most inbound buses are at this time of day. As we got back to the Interchange Matthew go a picture of the empty inside of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2556

Back at the interchange we saw mum. We also saw Warrington Coachways step entranced minibus SF06 LLG and so Matthew decided he wanted to do this! I booked to Lymm as this was the only intermediate place on the route I knew. As we set off I noticed we were taking a similar route to the 1C service, so I decided it would be a good idea to get off near Latchford Village. As the bus went passed the end of the village I shouted next stop. Unfortunately due to the railway and the Ship canal the next stop was about a 1/4 of a mile away. When we got of we were in Grappenhall and Matthew got his picture into the late evening sun.

Warrington Coachways SF06 LLG in Grappenhall

We got off and walked back. Across the ship canal and uder the railway bridge until we got into Latchford Village. As we walked under the railway bridge we saw a warrington bound 1C disappear around the corner, and so I knew we had 15 minutes to wait. We decided to get some money from the cash machine at the Co-op and to get lottery tickets, and Matthew brought some Irn Bru and frozen cakes! We sat at the bus stop and Matthew drank the Irn Bru. This made him miss getting a picture of the bus as it came around the corner. It was required Fairbrothers F13. As we got he got a picture of the inside.

Inside Fairbrothers F13

We sat down for the journey. It was very quite and I think we were the only ones on this service all the way. As we reached the edge of town we passed Warrington Coachways 476 CEL on a #38 service. When we got back to the interchange we met up with mum and it was time to go. We walked up to the top edge of the bus station taking picture of the stabled buses. Parked up were Network Warrington 40,46 & 73 and Arriva NW&W 2940 between X30 duties. Afterwards we walked up winwick street taking pictures of the buses parked up there too. As well as Hiltons double decker RED 448 which ws on rail replacement duties, the were Network warrington 35 & 54 and Arriva NW&W 2992 parked up. There was also Fairbrothers B6 F14.

Fairbrothers F14 between duties in Warrington

We then walked back to the car and tucked into some Greggs mini sausage rolls which mum had picked up whilst we were travelling. We got back to the car at 17:10 and put the radio on to hear Stoke had drawn 0-0 with Sunderland. We drove out the same way we came in. along Winwick street and onto the A49 to Winwick. It was then M62 West on junction and then M6 South. We came off the M6 at the A500 near Crewe and then headed to Longport where we stopped at the BP garage for air in the tyres and LPG. We then headed South to the A50 before heading into Longton. We went passed Z Carz and there wasn't much stabled with T131 SGA at the front of the row with a couple of the airport fleet present too. We then headed home and we were back for around 18:20. We then had some frozen cheesecake! Later we had sausage potatoes and carrots for a late tea before bedtime...Mark