Trip to Ashton / Hyde 25-05-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40403	Ashton BS	Hazelhurst, nr house 14 Hazelhurst Road/Matlock Avenue	39	First Manchester
40403	Hazelhurst, nr house 14 Hazelhurst Road/Matlock Avenue	Ashton BS	39	First Manchester
40380	Ashton BS	Hyde BS	346	First Manchester
19120	Hyde BS	Ashton BS	330	Stagecoach Manchester
40382	Ashton BS	Hazelhurst, nr house 14 Hazelhurst Road/Matlock Avenue	38	First Manchester
40382	Hazelhurst, nr house 14 Hazelhurst Road/Matlock Avenue	Ashton BS	38	First Manchester

Today we were going back to Ashton-under-Lyne. We had planned on returning here after our brief visit there earlier in the month.. Research consisted of asking on the Dennis Dart Forum which services were best to see the remaining Ashton Darts, and to check the weather which was for a warm sunny day. Matthew got up just before 11:00 today, and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set of a little later than usual today around 12:30. We drove onto the A5035 and ten onto Stanley Matthews Way. We headed onto the Northbound A500 and onto the M6. The traffic was going slow. A few miles North we passed Z Carz BV51 BNO heading South. Once we left the M6 and headed up the A556 the traffic situation improved. We got onto the M56 and went on the Anticlockwise M56 up to junction 23. We tried to find a place called Hanson cafe whilst we were on the move but we didn't succeed. So we got back into the car and drove around to Water Street and parked up there around 14:15. As we walked to the us station Matthew got a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 36427

Stagecoach Manchester 36427 in Ashton bus station

We ended up having some food from a sandwich place that was on the edge of the bus station. Matthew went to the bookies to use the toilet and as we walked up we saw First Manchester 31929 on a #333 service.

First Manchester 31929 in Ashton bus station

We then came back to the sandwich shop to choose a Cake. Matthew had a sausage bap and a can of Coke and then ate a Bakewell slice. We sat in the bus station to eat it. whilst we ate we saw First Manchester dart 40374 on a #389 service. We finished eating and said goodbye to mum. We walked up to the end of the bus station and we saw 40382 on a #38 circular. We took pictures and then it pulled off so we missed that on. We then decided to wait to see what was on the #39 circular. whilst we waited we took a few pictures. We took one a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 22098 #7 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 22098 in Ashton bus station

Just before 15:00 required First Manchester 40403 made an appearance on the #39. We walked around to get a picture whilst a driver change took place.

First Manchester 40403 in Ashton bus station

We bought our System One bus tickets and sat down near the back. The journey isn't that long so we decided to do an out and back trip on this us. We left the bus station and turned right onto Wellington Road. At this point we passed 40406 displaying #346 on the front. We carried on up Penny Meadow and onto Whiteacre Road. We came onto Queens Road and onto Palace Road. We also passed 40384 on a #331 service. We then reached the top circle of the route on Hazelhurst Road. The bus returned back along Weymouth Road, Kings Road and Curzon Road rejoining the common part of the route on Whiteacre Road. When we got Back Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture of the inside of 40403.

Inside First Manchester 40403

As we came into the bus station we spotted 40380 on a #346 about to depart. Rather than waiting 15 minutes for 40382 on the #38, we thought we would tried and get down to 40380 before it departed. We walked briskly to the opposite end of the bus station and got a picture of 40380.

First Manchester 40380 in Ashton bus station

We walked over to the bus and got on it. We sat near the back and the bus set off. The #346 doesn't take the most direct route to Hyde, It travels to the East of the two towns and diverts East up Talbot Road and back into Hyde along Victoria Street. As we traveled down we passed First Manchester 40374 heading north on a #346 service. We got to Hyde in around 30 minutes and we got of the bus and walked around the side of the bus station to get a picture of 40380.

First Manchester 40380 in Hyde bus station

Matthew visited the toilet in the bus station and then we had a walk around taking a few bus pictures whilst we waited for something to turned decent to turn up back to Ashton. There a few Stagecoach Enviro 400's coming and going with one such vehicle being Stagecoach Manchester 19235.

Stagecoach Manchester 19235 in Hyde bus station

We walked around the other side of the bus station and sat by the Bridge over the M67 taking a few bus pictures. We decided to check out the shop in the bus station but it had closed 40 minutes early around 16:20 instead of 17:00 as it was supposed to. We saw First Manchester Solo 53148 on the #389 to Ashton, but Matthew didn't want to catch it. He took a picture of it instead.

First Manchester 53148 in Hyde bus station

There was now nearly a 15 minutes gap in the #346 service. He had turned down a Stagecoach Enviro 400 and a First Manchester Solo on the #346. We then spotted required Stagecoach Manchester 19120 on a #330 to Ashton and I asked Matthew if he wanted to catch it and he said yes. He took a picture of it from the door of the stand behind the bus.

Stagecoach Manchester 19120 in Hyde bus station

We walked up to the bus and got on it. We sat upstairs and the bus set off. The bus takes a very direct route from Hyde to Ashton through Dukinfield along Victoria Road. We left around 16:30, and I worked out if we could get back for 17:10 we would have another shot at riding on First Manchester 40382. The journey took less than 15 minutes. We saw 40403 leaving again on the #39 so we went to the toilet in the betting shop and then went to the top of the bus station to take pictures. Whilst we waited for 30382 to appear Matthew got a picture of First Manchester 37453 on a 348 service.

First Manchester 37453 in Ashton bus station

We saw 40382 had arrived on Stand P, and Matthew got a picture of the bus.

First Manchester 40382 in Ashton bus station

As we were about to cross over to get on 40382, an elderly gentleman dropped down to the floor in front of us. I thought he had had an heart attack, but he told me he had had too much to drink. With the help of another gentleman we stood him up, and then we rushed off to catch the bus! There was no way I was going to miss 40382 again. We crossed over and got on the bus, sitting down near the back. We set off on the reverse route tat we had done on 40403. The bus was empty by the time we got onto Queens Road. Here we passed 40374 again, this time on a #331 service. When we got back Matthew took a picture of the empty First Manchester 40382.

Inside First Manchester 40382

We walked back to the car taking a few more pictures. It was now around 17:40. When we got back to the car mum had got sausage rolls and Matthew had a drink of Vimto and another Bakewell Slice. We set off and turned left out of Water Street and followed the signs for Manchester until we saw the sign for the M60. We headed clockwise around the Southern half of the M60 through Stockport and then we joined the westbound M56. We did this to the A556 and then joined the Southbound M6. We then did the A500 down to the A50 and into Longton. At Z Carz tonight there were only 4 vehicles. Front of the row was LDV minibus R920 WNT.

Z Carz R920 WNT in Longton

This was followed by the Meredes minibus that we had seen earlier in the day, BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

Behind then was buses from the taxi fleet X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

Also present was airport transfer bus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

We then headed down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We saw First Potteries 42726 on a Hanley bound #23 and 40150 on a Longton bound #22. We got home at 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash. Matthew then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:30...Mark