Trip to Wigan 03-11-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34292	Wigan BS	Norley Hall, Norley Hall Avenue/Ambleside (N-bound)	621	First Manchester
31903	Norley Hall, Norley Hall Avenue/Ambleside (N-bound)	Wigan, Wallgate/North Western Stn (Stop B)	621	First Manchester
34296	Wigan, Wallgate/North Western Stn (Stop D)	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	628	First Manchester
4105	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	375	Arriva NW&W
30586	Wigan BS	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	628	First Manchester
30586	Pemberton, o/s House 563 Ormskirk Road/Enfield Street‎	Wigan BS	628	First Manchester

Following the announcement of the sale of the First Manchester depot, today we decided to visit Wigan. With a lot of the fleet clearly past there best, we thought it unlike many of the vehicles based at Wigan would be repainted or even last very long once the take over takes place. We checked the weather and the overall forecast for today was for rain. However between 14:00 and 17:00 it was down for cloudy so hopefully we wouldn't get wet. Matthew got up around 10:30. He didn't go to sleep until 04:00, probably due to the fact he was really looking forward to a return trip to Wigan. After toast and orange juice for breakfast we set off around 11:45. We set off to Heron Cross where we joined the Westbound A50. We then went North along the A500 to Shelton, where we diverted to Etruria to get LPG. There was a bit of wait to fill up and we set off from Etruria around 12:30. Onto the westbound A53 until we rejoined the A500. We then went North along the M6 and it was quiet for the first week for a while. We made good time on the motorway and we came off at the A49 junction to drive into Wigan. We decided to stop for petrol at Sainsbury's as we were virtually empty! After a quick stop we carried on into town. As we went into town we spotted 3 step entranced double deckers. 31903 was seem coming off Ormskirk Road on what we assumed was either a #621 or a #628 service. 34028 emerged from near the pier on a #632 service. We then saw 34292 emerge from under the Bridge by the railway station on a #621 service. Parking in the usual spot was busy so we parked near the Uncle Joe's mintball factory. We walked up Dorning Street and onto Hallgate where we went into the cafe where we usually eat. Matthew visited the toilet and then had a breakfast. The hash browns were an unusual shape, not dissimilar to a large fish finger! After dinner we walked up to the bus station and took a few pictures whilst we waited for mum to pay the bill and catch up. Matthew saw and photographed required Arriva NW&W 4106 on a #375 service.

Arriva NW&W 4106 in Wigan bus station

We then used the toilets in the bus station As we came out we spotted a NC bodied First double decker over by the #621 stop ans it was 34296. So that was at least 4 step entranced buses out today when we only usually see 1 or 2. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do required First Manchester 34292 and he said yes. We went over and booked our system one bus only tickets which have now gone up price to £5. We went upstairs and Matthew got his picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 34292

We sat on the bus and we saw 34296 arrive on a #628 service. As we set off we passed another double decker. It was dud First Manchester 31923. We now knew of 5 double deckers out, and there were 2 on which we had never been on before. beside 34292, 31903 and 34292 were required. we picked up 31923 in September this year and 34028 was a regular in Bury and we had been on it on 3 separate occasions between 2010 and 2012. We headed off towards Pemberton and as we were about to round the corner into Norley Hall Avenue we saw another double decker. It was required First Manchester 30586. We decided to get of by the shops in Norley Hall so that we could make an assessment of what order the buses were running in. We got off adjacent to Ambleside and got a picture of this fine beast.

First Manchester 34292 in Norley Hall

We decided to cross the road and wait by the Co-op to see what turned up on the next #628. It was required First Manchester 60159 but we decided to turn it down on this occasion. We then saw required 34296 on the other side of the road on a #621 service. We were now starting to build up a picture of which buses were running and in what order. Having at least 12 minutes to wait for another bus in any direction we visited to Co-op. Matthew chose a can and bottle of Coke and a chocolate cake. There was a small queue so it took a few minutes to get served and Matthew said hello to the lady on the adjacent till before we left. Having seen 30586 on a #628, we decided to cross back over to the Ambleside stop to wait for the next #621 which we though might be 30586. First Manchester 31923 appeared on the other side of the road on a #628 service. After a few minutes we saw a bus appear on the horizon whhich we though might be 30586 but as it got closer we saw it was required First Manchester 31903. Matthew got a picture of the bus as it approached.

First Manchester 31903 in Norley Hall

It was 2 down 2 to go at this point. We knew 30586 was behind us and we knew for definate that 34296 was 1 bus in front of us in the circuit. As we carried on a round we noted the buses as we passed them. somewhere near Wigan Pier we passed 34292 which we had been on earlier so knew 34296 should be on the next #628 service. To be sure of getting 34296 we decided to get off near Wigan North Western railway station. As we got off Matthew got another picture of 31903.

First Manchester 31903 outside Wigan NW station

We got off 31903 and crossed the road. We saw First Manchester 40386 on a #628 and we also saw Derek Ball Neoplan coach W889 MOT outside North Western station. After only a couple of minutes 34296 appeared from around the corner as expected.

First Manchester 34296 outside Wigan NW station

As we set of anticlockwise around the circuit, we passed Arriva NW&W 4103. Matthe got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 34296

We had booked to Ormskirk Road so we sat back and enjoyed the journey. Making further observations as we went around, we worked of that the last required double decker bus on the circuit was 2 buses behind us, 1 behind 31903. this equated to doing the full circuit and waiting 24 minutes for the bus to appear. We thought we could get off on the Ormskirk Road and catching something different in so we didn't have to wait as long in Wigan bus station. We rounded the corner from Norley Hall Avenue and then got off on Ormskirk Road. We didn't have to wait long for a bus to appear. It was an Arriva double decker with a 2 in 6 chance of being required. with 4103 and 4106 being out of the way, we had slightly reduced odd of it being required. As it approached we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 4105.

Arriva NW&W 4105 in Pemberton

So that was 4 buses and 4 scores! We sat down for the journey in and we passed the dud and noisy Arriva NW&W 4104 which we had back in August. Mum called as I was about to text her and we arranged to meet up at the bus station. When we reached the bus station, Matthew got a good picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4105

Back in Wigan we had 20 or so minutes to wait for 30586. We met up with mum as we had arranged and we had a quick toilet stop, followed by a drink of Barr Cherryade and a Greggs sausage roll. As 34028 was parked up in front of us on the #632 he managed to get a good picture of this.

First Manchester 34028 in Wigan bus station

We had 10 minutes or so to take pictures. Another required step entranced double decker appeared. 34296 whizzed up through the bus station and we didn't see what it was on. We decided to concentrate on 30586 anyway so we carried on taking pictures as we waited. 31903 was on stand for the #628 and we saw saw 30586 arrive. As is often the case when a bus cant get on its stand it does a lap or so of the bus stations and parks up somewhere until it can. Whilst e waited Matthew got a picture of Arriva NW&W 2676 on a #362 service.

Arriva NW&W 2676 in Wigan bus station

31903 set of around 16:18ish and immediately 30586 did another lap of the bus station to get onto stand P. As it came past the bottom of the bus station Matthew got a picture of this Palatine II Dennis Arrow.

First Manchester 30586 in Wigan bus station

It was 16:23 and we had to wait until 16:30 for departure. Before we left matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 30586

When it moved we had manage to get a ride on as far as I know both of Wigans serviceable Dennis Arrows with Palatine II bodies. We decided the best thing to do was to just do a complete lap of the circuit. The bus was due back in Wigan at 17:08 so there didn't seem any point in getting off to wait somewhere for 12 minutes when the complete journey time was 38. As we went around darkness fell over Wigan. We got back on time and it was pretty much dark, especially in the floodlit bus station. As we always do we decided to do a quick sweep of the bus station and surrounding areas as we walked back to the car so we could take pictures. First Manchester 40395 was stabled awaiting time on a #658 service to Leigh.

First Manchester 40395 in Wigan bus station

We walked down Hallgate and got a couple more pictures of 60142 and 60390. There was nothing parked on Dorning Street which was a tad disappointing, and so we went to the car and Matthew ate another sausage roll washed down with a bottle of Fanta. We set off down Frog lane before turning left and heading back towards Wigan Pier past the Wigan Coachways depot. We got back onto the A49 and then went around wigan Pier so that were heading South. We then headed down to the M6 at junction 25. We then headed South straight down to the A500 at junction 16. It was then southbound on the A500 until we reached the A50. We then drove along Stanley Matthew Way and past the Hem Heath pub to Blurton. We parked up and got into the house around 18:30. We had sausage carrots and potatoes for tea and then we took Uncle Dave home around 21:00. We then settled down before bedtime...Mark.