Trip to Wigan 09-03-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
FJ10 BJY	Packmoor	YMCA Hanley	Charter	Aiming High
FJ10 BJY	YMCA Hanley	Packmoor	Charter	Aiming High
16959	Wigan BS	Hindley Green, Atherton Road/Hindley Green (Stop B)	32	Stagecoach Manchester
22144	Hindley Green, Atherton Road/Hindley Green (Stop A)	Wigan BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester
2626	Wigan BS	Standish, o/s House 104 Wigan Road/Almond Crescent	362	Arriva NW&W
2995	Standish, Wigan Road/Ashfield Park Drive (SE-bound)	Wigan BS	362	Arriva NW&W
16956	Wigan BS	Hindley Green, o/s House 573 Atherton Road/Long Lane	32	Stagecoach Manchester
22361	Hindley Green, Atherton Road/Lincroft Road (W-bound)	Wigan BS	598	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we had decided to go to Wigan. Research for Wigan was not don other than to check the weather. It was going to be cold with light rain, 3'. There was also the small matter of Matthew going to do some archery first. Matthew got up around 08:30 today and had toast for breakfast. He had a shave and then we jumped into the car. We set off past the hem Heath pub and down Stanley Matthews Way. We got onto the west bound A50 and then headed north along the A500. North of Longport we got on the A527 Tunstall Bypass and we did this through to Packmoor, before turning left and driving to Middlehurst school. We said goodbye and Matthew ran off down to the computer room for a few minutes before they set off. Today they went to the YMCA in Aiming High FJ10 BJY.

Aiming High FJ10 BJY in Middlehurst

They set off to High Lane and Chell then we saw First PMT 40030 on a #8 service. they headed to Hanley and then drove around Hanley and then turned into the YMCA. They went upstairs and Matthew did some climbing and archery before returning to the bus. They then headed to the edge and drove around the ring road and onto High Lane. They then went straight up to Burslem. we saw 40140 on a #20 service. They headed up to Tunstall and then to Packmoor. When they got back we arrived a minute later to pick him up. They car was running a little hot so we decided to add a bit of water to the coolant to make sure it didn't overheat on the journey up. We then set off to Turnhurst and back down the A527 to the A500. We turned north heading through the roadworks up to the M6. The traffic was light today and we made good progress. We got to the A49 by around 13:30 and we parked up in wigan around 13:45. We walked through the bus station to The Courtyard Cafe. Matthew had a small breakfast and then fudgecake and custard for afters. We got out of the cafe around 1420 and we saw Arriva NW&W hybrid 4499 about to depart on a #715 service. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he said yes. He took a picture of the bus and it pulled off before we could get round to it!

Arrva NW&W 4499 in Wigan bus station

Behind 4499 on stand was Stagecoach Manchester 16959 about to work a #32 to Manchester. We decided to do this. Matthew got a picture and then we went to get on it.

Stagecoach Manchester 16959 in Wigan bus station

We booked our system one bus tickets and then sat upstairs. It was empty so Matthew got his empty bus picture straight away.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 16959

We didn't know the exact route so we downloaded the table from the TfGM site and looked at the route on the Wigan South map. We decded that Athehton was too far for today, but Hindley Green would give us a choice of bus back. We set off Eastward to Hindley and then through the housing estates to Hindley Green. We got off and before we could cross the road we saw 19517 heading back to Wigan on a #32. So we crossed the road to wait for a #598. We only had to wait 10 minutes and then required Stagecoach Manchester 22144 made an appearance from around the corner. We got on and sat down near the back. Th journey takes a little longer on the #598 as it heads further over toward Ince before retuning North to Wigan. When we reached the bus station he waited for the bus to empty and then got his empty bus picture.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22144

We then had a little time to take a few pictures. We saw Arriva NW&W 721 on a #360 to Warrington and then 2269 arrived from golborne on a #360 short.

Arriva NW&W 2269 in Wigan bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do 2269, but surprisingly he turned it down. We then saw cadet 2626 arrive on a #362 to Chorley and he said yes to that. We got on the bus and booked to Standish. We set off and headed North out of town past the hospital and then just outside of the town we got off. Matthew then got a picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2626 in Standish

We then crossed the road to wait for a return service. There was a #113 due until 34 past so were waiting for the next #362. Stagecoach Manchester 47336 went North on a #113 and then a few minutes later, required Arriva NW&W Pulsar II 2995 made an appearance.

Arriva NW&W 2995 in Standish

The journey back was swift and I was expecting Matthew to get his empty bus picture. He spotted a young lady on the #32 stand waiting for Stagecoach Manchester 16956 to be readied for service so he went over to say hello to her. he then went to the toilet, and wen he was done 16956 still hadn't finished loading so he decided he wanted to do this. We got and after he said hello to his friend again we went upstairs. We decided to get off a couple of stops earlier than before so we might get a #32 back. Unfortunately we passed the #32 just before we got off.

Stagecoach Manchester 16956 in Hindley Green

We got off and called into a garage for soe chocolate and a can of Coke. We then crossed the road to wait for a #598. Whilst we were there we saw South Lancs Travel 3 on a #641 service. We didn't ave to wait too long before we saw a another Stagecoach Manchester ALX300 approaching. It got closer and we saw it was required 22361.

Stagecoach Manchester 22361 in Hindley Green

We got back into the bus station around 17:20 and then we walked passed the buses on Hallgate and Dorning Street. We got back to the car and had sausage rolls and pop. Back at the car we drove out of town and onto the A49 at Wigan Pier. We circled the Pier and then headed South down the A49 and onto the M6. We came off at junction 16 and down the A500 to Sideway. We then got on the A50 to Longton. At Longton we went past the Z Carz depot. Today it was all smaller vehicles. First on the row was his former college bus LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Next was Iveco minibus HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

We then saw Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX and then Renault minibus.

Z Carz CE02 LYX & YE52 UZX in Longton

Last on the row was Renault BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

We turned into willow row and were surprised to see the Ex Lightning Travel/Z Carz orange bus FD53 UNX, so we turned in the road so he could get a picture of it.

Z Carz FD53 UNX in Longton

We then headed down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We got home around 18:45. For a let tea tonight Matthew had bangers and mash and he also had a small angel cake slice too. He the chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark