Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 08/12/2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3006	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	2	Arriva NW&W
2631	Chester BS	Chester, opp Sealand Road P&R	10	Arriva NW&W
2357	Chester, opp Sealand Road P&R	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
4488	Chester BS	Queensferry, Deeside Leisure Centre (NW-bound)	X11	Arriva NW&W
2629	Queensferry, Deeside Leisure Centre (SE-bound)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Chester. We hadn't been to Chester for 6 months, and since we had been I had heard alot had changed. We did no research for this trip as we have been to Chester many times. In hindsight, perhaps it would have been good idea to have done some today. We checked the weather the evening before and it was to be cold with rain! Matthew got up around 10:30 and had his breakfast of toast and orange juice. We set off around 12:00 and we headed to heron Cross. We then headed west on the A50 up to the A500. We headed to North up to the M6 and then onto the westbound M56. Just outside Chester we turned onto the northbound M53 which we did to the outskirts of Ellesmere Port. We then did the road into town past the railway station and then onto Civic Way and we parked up near the market. We used the toilets in the market before going to the foodcourt. It took a fewminutes before we got an empty table, but we sat down and ordered food from Cafe Bellamy. Matthew had a breakfast and me and Uncle Dave had sandwiches. Mum had a toasted tea cake. After we had eaten we walked up to the bus station. The GHA staff bus was Optare minibus MB29. We got a picture and then went across to wait for the Chester bus. We noticed that the travel office was open so I decided to pick up a timetable for the 1,2 and X2. I asked Matthew which buses he wanted to catch and he said 'Arriva'. The next bus to Chester was conveniently an Arriva one on a #2 service. We went up to the top of the bus station to get a picture of the bus when it arrived. A couple of minutes later Arriva NW&W 3006 rounded the corner and Matthew got a picture.

Arriva NW&W 3006 approaching Ellesmere Port bus station

Not too surprising this bus was required as we haven't been on too many of these Birkenhead based Pulsars. We booked our Deeside rovers and settled back to enjoy the journey. This was the first time we had done a #2, and it took me by surprise when we turn off the main road onto the estate. Then I remembered that this service had replaced the old #3 Rivacre service that we used to do back when it was Step entranced Darts and Olympians. WE passed a few of the newer First Scania's and another Birkenhead Pulsar on a #2. We also passed First Dart 41068 on a X2 service we got to Chester and the busemptied out Matthew got his empty bus picture of Arriva NW&W 3006.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3006

We then went over to our usual perch when in Chester and took a few pictures of the buses. The first thing of interest we saw was dud First Manchester 34260. A bus that we have had once before in Bury back in January 2011, but never whilst in Chester.

First Manchester 34260 in Chester bus station

We let go Arriva NW&W 2635 on one #10 service, and then let go dud Arriva Solo 689 which we had been on on the same weekend last year 12 months ago. We said we would do the next #10 whatever it was, and the next one was required Arriva NW&W 2631.

Arriva NW&W 2631 in Chester bus station

The driver went off for a quick break as they often do on #10's so we had a little more time.We then saw a couple of First Solo's that we had never see before. The first one being First Manchester 50280 on a #51 service.

First Manchester 50280 in Chester bus station

The was followed almost immediately by First Manchester 40309on a #5 service.

First Manchester 40309 in Chester bus station

Then a #82 service came in. This was the first time we had seen a double decker on this service and it was being worked by W469 BCW.

GHA W469 BCW in Chester bus station

The driver had now returned to the bus bus so we ambled across to 2631. We got on and sat near the back of the bus. It was quite full when the bus left the bus station, so there were no opportunities to take a picture inside. We decided to do this bus to the Welsh border and then catch something back. We got off at Sealand Road by the P&R site. First Manchester 69490 was unloading and e were able to get a picture of this before crossing the road to wait for the next inbound #10. A quick check of the timetable told us we had around 10minutes to wait. The rain had held off so far but it was still quite cold and waiting was not much fun. A few minutes later and we saw a Dart round the corner. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 2357.

Arriva NW&W 2357 on Sealand Road

We got on and sat near the back on this near empty bus, As we travlled in we saw the only other Arriva Dart we saw and that was dud Arriva NW&W 2355. When we got back and the bus emptied out Matthew got a picture inside the empty refurbished Dart.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2357

The Dart unloaded by the cinema, and so we took a few pictures as we walked back down. One picture was of GHA single decker SB38 on the X20 Winsford service.

GHA SB38 in Chester bus station

We walked down to our perch and we saw GHA T112 KGP SB44 was on a #82 Tarvin service. There were 2 Arriva buses in the bus station. Dud Arriva NW&W 4488 was on the X11 service and required Arriva NW&W 2630 was on the #10 service. I thougt we were going to 2631 on the #10, but Matthew changed his mind at the last moment and decided to do 4488. That was ok because need to leave something left to do so there are reasons to come back! We got on 4488 and sat upstairs near to the staircase. It was now fully dark and we couldn't really see much of the journey. When we got to the Roundabout and saw Asda we decided to get of at the next stop. We got off and Matthew got a picture of 4488 as it sped off into the distance.

Arriva NW&W 4488 by the Deeside Leisure Centre

We crossed the road and walked to the stop. The sign on the bus said there was a bus due at 17:08. We could see an orange display in the distance so we knew we wouldn't have to wait long. As it got closer we saw it was a Cadet 2. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva 2629. We sat down near the back of this near empty inbound service. The bus did pick up a few passenger as it went into town. There was an accident at the junction of Sealand road and Stadium Way, and the bus divert via Stadium Way, Cheyney Road and Bouvene Street before rejoining it original route. When we got back Matthew got a picture of the inside of this Cadet 2.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2629

We then got off and got a picture of the outside of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2629 in Chester bus station

We also saw one of First Manchester new arrivals 66703 on a #16 Saltney service. It was time to got to the toilet before heading back to the car. Matthew tucked into a Greggs sausage roll and we set off for home. We headed around the ring road before heading North up the A56. We got onto the M53 and then turned onto the Eastbound M56. near Warrington we got onto the Southbound M6 and then onto the A500.Matthew decied he want ed to swing by the First garage in Newcastle and so we headed south down the A34. As we passed we saw First 32627 ear the front of the garage. We then did the A53 out of town, cut across to the stoke road and then headed down Shelton New Road. We got back on the Southbound A500 and then onto the Eastbound A50. At longton we got off this road and went past the Z Car depot. There were only 3 vehicle here. They were D104 XAN, W344 WNS and BV51 BNO. We then headed down Longton Hall Road and then home. we got back at 19:05. We the settled down for a late tea of Sausages and Mash. Matthew then sat on his computer until bedtime...Mark