Trip to Mansfield 29-06-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
22799	Mansfield BS	Pleasley, opp Anthony Bek School	Pronto	Stagecoach East Midlands
17709	Pleasley, opp Pit Lane	Mansfield BS	23	Stagecoach East Midlands
33214	Mansfield BS	Ladybrook, opp Annesley Way	6	Stagecoach East Midlands
33849	Ladybrook, opp Annesley Way	Mansfield BS	6	Stagecoach East Midlands
18044	Mansfield BS	Shirebrook, Market Place (Stop 3)	23	Stagecoach East Midlands
18043	Shirebrook, Market Place (Stop 1)	Mansfield BS	12	Stagecoach East Midlands

Today we decided to return to Mansfield. This was our first return here since the new bus station opened at the end of March. Research consisted of looking at the Stagecoach website, looking at the Nottinghamshire County Council website and looking at the British Bus Publishing book to see what is currently allocated to Mansfield. From the rear of the book (page 135) we saw that there was one Olympian (dud 16456) and one East Lancs bodied Dart (required 33214). There were also 10 Tridents of which all but 17738 were required, and 23 other dart of which all but 2 were required. We also checked the weather and it was for a mild grey day with sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and he had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 today. We headed into Longton on the A5035. here we saw Z Carz M372 NWN going to Bath parked up in the distance at the depot. We got onto the A50 and headed East. Many miles later we hit the M1 and then went North. At junction 28 we left the M1 and went onto the Northbound A38. We followed the road to the edge of Mansfield and we saw required Dart 33214 on a #6 service. We then followed the Sat Nav to a car park on Toothill Road. We missed the turn the first the around so we had to do another circle of town! We parked up and started to walk towards the bus station. We walked onto Clumber Street to head towards the bus station and we saw this ADL Trident 18120 on a #28B service to Eakring.

Stagecoach East Midlands 18120 in Mansfield

We carried on through town and had our dinner at the same place as last time the Gala cafe. After visiting the toilet Matthew sat down to have a breakfast washed down with Fanta. We finished eating around 13:45 and we walked to the new bus station. First impressions of the bus station were great, it had much more passenger space that our local bus station, nearly as many stands and cost a fraction of the money! we visited the travel desk and picked up a few timetables as well as the really useful Stagecoach Mansfield Move bus guide. We saw a Chesterfield bound Pronto and Matthew decided he wanted to do it. It was required Stagecoach East Midlands 22799.

Stagecoach East Midlands 22799 in Mansfield bus station

We purchased out Dayrider Plus tickets got on and sat down on this busy service near the back. It was quite well filled and Matthew wasn't able to take a picture inside this bus. We traveled through town and then onto Chesterfield Road South. we decided to travel up to Pleasley which was the furthest point we could travel to and still get a choice of buses back to Mansfield. As we sat awaiting time at Mansfield we removed our jackets at it was really warm on the bus. The journey was swift and the bus emptied a little, but not enough for him to get a picture inside the bus. we passed the roundabout at Pleasley and turned left so we decided to get off the bus here. Matthew got a picture of Stagecoach East Midlands 22799 as it sped off into the distance.

Stagecoach East Midlands 22799 near Pleasley

Behind the bus stop we could see a path heading away from the footbridge in the photograph so I guessed that this path headed back into the village. We headed back onto Chesterfield Road and Pit Lane back toward the village. There was a Mansfield bound stop opposite Pit Lane so we crossed the road to see if there was a timetable. There was only a Pronto timetable in the stop, so we were about to set off further into the village when we turned and saw a #23 service. I stuck my hand out and it stopped. It was required Stagecoach East Midlands Trident 17709. We had a bit of bother as I thought I had lost Matthew's pass so we brought him a Dayrider Plus ticket. He then went to say hello to someone who didn't speak English so it took a while before they understood him too! We sat down and I found his pass in my wallet so that problem was solved albeit being £4.70 down. We traveled into town back down Chesterfield South Road. It seemed to take a little longer going South on the double decker. When we got back Matthew waited for the bus to empty and took a picture inside of this beast.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 17709

He also took a picture of the outside of 17709 through the glass of the bus station too.

Stagecoach East Midlands 17709 in Mansfield bus station

We didn't see anything immediately that wanted to do, so we decided to have a walk around the outside of the bus station and take a few pictures. We walked out of the bus station and we saw required Stagecoach East Midlands Dart 33834 on a #14 service to Kirton.

Stagecoach East Midlands 33836 enters Mansfield bus station

We crossed over the bus station entranced and walked around the outside of the bus station to take a few pictures. Matthew got a picture of one K&H Doyles full length Darts on layover. It was required W975 ETW.

K&H Doyle W975 ETW in Mansfield bus station

We also saw another of the Stagecoach East Midlands Man / Enviro 300's leaving the bus station towards Nottingham. It was required 22774.

Stagecoach East Midlands 22774 in Mansfield bus station

Next we saw required K&H Doyle Trident T183 CLO move into one of the layover spaces.

K&H Doyle T183 CLO in Mansfield bus station

At this point we saw dud Stagecoach East Midlands 16456 arrive on a #28B service from Eakring. Required 17737 also made an appearance and was about to do the 15:00 to Newark. Stagecoach 16456 parked up in the layover area. We walk back to the bus station with the intention of catching 17737. At this point Matthew wanted the toilet. whilst he was in there 17737 departed for Newark. That didn't matter too much as whist he was there required East Lancs Dart 33214 reappeared so we decided to do that. Matthew got a picture through the glass before we got on.

Stagecoach East Midlands 33214 in Mansfield bus station

We got on and sat down near the back of the bus. It was still on the #6 circular service to Ladybrook, so we decided to do the bus until it was empty, or until it started to fill again before we got off. We set off out of town and onto Bancroft Lane. we then went onto Ladybrook Lane before starting to circle the estate. People started to get off the bus, unfortunately one person got on, so we waited for the bus to nearly empty and then Matthew got a picture inside 33214.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 33214

We got off at the next stop and we had 15 minutes to wait. We passed the time by having a mini picnic at the bus stop. Matthew had a can of Fanta and a squashed Milky Way. It was warm and there was bright sunshine. We checked the time of the next #23 from Mansfield and we saw that it was due off 5 minutes after we got back into the bus station. We then spotted the Dart approaching. It was required Stagecoach East Midlands 33849. Matthew got a close up of the bus as it came onto the stop.

Stagecoach East Midlands 33849 in Ladybrook

It was empty as we got on the bus so he got his picture there and then.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 33849

After sitting down near the back We carried on around estate and back on Ladybrook Lane and then back into town. when we got there we saw required 18044 on stand for the #23 to Langwith so we decided to jump on this bus after Matthew took a picture

Stagecoach East Midlands 18044 in Mansfield bus station

We went upstairs and we had a couple of minutes to wait. whilst we were there we saw an Olympian that we didn't know was there. it was required Stagecoach East Midlands 16455. We also saw Mc Ewens N711 LTN which we think was working the bingo bus service. The bus set off along the Chesterfield South Road. and through Pleasley The bus then headed over to Shirebrook. As the bus emptied a little Matthew got a picture of the front of the bus.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 18044

The bus got to Shirebrook and we could see another double decker in the streets nearby. We got off and took a picture of this fine beast.

Stagecoach East Midlands 18044 in Shirebrook

Almost as soon as we had taken the picture of 18044 we saw another bus come on stand just behind it. It was required stagecoach East Midlands 18043 on a Mansfield bound #12 service.

Stagecoach East Midlands 18043 in Shirebrook

We got on and went upstairs. We had planned on going to the shop in Shirebrook but seeing this bus had changed our minds. The bus was empty upstairs so he got a picture as soon as he sat down.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 18043

The journey back was on the #12 was longer. We set off towards Warsop though open countryside and then through an housing estate. At Warsop we paused for a minute or 2 before setting off South through Mansfied Woodhouse and into town. When we got to Mansfield we met up with mum. We took him to the shop and Matthew brought some Coke, 3 Crunchie's for a pound and a toffee flavoured yoghurt. Matthew then visited the toilet before we left the bus station. Mum had moved the car to a nearby 30 minute waiting area so we walked across to there and got in the car. We had already purchased sausages rolls and matthew washed one down with a personalised bottle of Coke. We drove out of town on the A38 and to the Travelodge to drop mum off. She told us to wait for a coupe of minutes and after she had dropped some stuff of she asked us to take her to the Speed the Plough pub where uncle Chris was waiting. We dropped her off and headed back to the A38. Part way along this road towards the M1 we saw Trent Barton 474 on a 'Nines' emerge from the road to the right whilst we were stopped at the traffic lights.

Trent Barton 474 near Sutton

We followed the bus for a short while. It eventually turned into the East Midlands Designer Outlet. At the next junction we joined the southbound M1 and we did this down to Junction 24A. On the A50 we saw a number of buses and coaches. At uttoxeter we saw Wardle Transport 4695 running empty of an X50 service. We also saw Royalls Travel G231 LDW heading East near the JCB factory. At the Meir Heath junction we passed preserved SUX 476X with ribbons attached, I'm guessing it had been attending a wedding! We also passed Copelands TIL 4508, the Ex Tappins Plaxton Paramount coach. At Longton we came off the A50 to go visit the Z Carz depot. First we saw airport tranfers minibus Z Carz MJ03 DPU, which we have never seen in daylight before!

Z Carz MJ03 DPU in Longton

Also there was DAF minicoach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

We check to see if there was anything in Willow Row, and when we saw there wasn't we set of down Longton Hall Road. We saw First Potteries 40011 on the #22 to Longton looking like it had been involved with a collision with a tin of blue paint and not cleaned off properly! We got home around 18:45 and Matthew ate his toffee flavour yoghurt whilst he waited for his tea. We had a late tea of bangers and mash with carrots and this was followed by a piece of cheesecake. We then chilled out watching Glastonbury on the telly and Matthew used his computer before going to bed at the unusual time of 11:15 on a Saturday night which surprised us all...Mark