Trip to Halifax 14-09-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
31775	Halifax BS	Mytholmroyd, opp Burnley Road White Lee Gdns‎	593	First West Yorkshire
66756	Mytholmroyd, adj Burnley Road White Lee Gdns	Halifax BS	591	First West Yorkshire
61288	Halifax Town Centre, George Street (Stop 24)‎	Sowerby, Rooley Heights (NE-bound)	579	First West Yorkshire
41281	Sowerby, Rooley Heights (NE-bound)	Pye Nest, adj Bolton Brow East Parade‎‎	579	First West Yorkshire
TJ25	Pye Nest, adj Bolton Brow East Parade‎	Halifax Town Centre, Crown Street‎	300	TJ Walsh
TJ11	Halifax Town Centre, Market Street (Stop 16)	Ovenden, Keighley Road Shay Ln (SE-bound)	600	TJ Walsh
66748	Ovenden, Keighley Road Shay Ln (SE-bound)	Halifax Town Centre, Broad Street (Stop 30)‎	522	First West Yorkshire

Today we decided to go to Halifax. It was a fairly late decision this week. We did no research as such, other than to check the weather (cloudy with sunny intervals) and to find and look at the Calderdale bus map. Matthew got up a little after 10:00 and had his usual toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and got onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthew Way. We went West on the A50 and then North on the A500. The M6 was very busy as we traveled North we passed Copeland's Tours MIB 104 and MIB 346 going the other way. We were also passed by AT Browns Bova coach K30 ATB. After junction 19 the traffic eased and we made better time from this pint onwards. We got onto the East bound M62 and then onto the clockwise ring road. We carried on along the M62 over Saddleworth Moor and we came off the M62 at junction 24. We drove into town up the A629 and then parked near the bus station off the long and Winding Road. We walked up to the bus station to use the toilets and then carried on to Ivanhoe's fish and chip shop. It was busy when we arrived and we struggled to find a seat. It did empty out a little by the tie the food was ready. Matthew had chips sausage and gravy with a hot dog bun and draught Vimto. Whilst we ate we saw something that we had not seen before on our previous visit. First West Yorkshire 31807 on a #512 Mixenden service. It was the first time we had seen a step entranced bus work here. After we had eaten I gave Matthew a choice of wait at the adjacent stop for a TJ Walsh minibus or going to the bus station. Matthew choice the bus station so we walked back to the bus station. As we arrived we saw another step entranced bus working. First West Yorkshire 30809 was leaving on a #592 to Burnley. It also looked like there was another step entranced bus on layover. We walked down and saw it was former Bury vehicle 30802.

First West Yorkshire 30802 in Halifax bus station

As we walked around the bus station another step entranced bus appeared. First West Yorkshire 31775 parked up in the bus station layover area. Where we were standing there was a list of bus services and departure stands. The display was blank as it sat for a few minutes. A driver appeared and set the destination as 593 Old Town. We looked it up on the board and it was from stand C2. As it moved off Matthew got a picture of it.

First West Yorkshire 31775 in Halifax bus station

The bus couldn't turn sharply enough to get onto C2 so it had to do a circle of the bus station. That was fortunate for us because we had to walk all the way up to the top of the bus station before we could cross over to the C stand! We just about beat the bus onto the stand and then we got on it. We brought our Metro Day tickets and then went upstairs. We looked at the map and we discovered Old Town was North of Hebden Bridge. We decided we would get off before then as we didn't want to spend all of our time on this bus when there were so many other buses to go after. We made a decision to get off at Mytholmroyd. The bus left town through Kings Cross where we saw First West Yorkshire Dart 41281 on a #579. We then turned onto the A646 Burnley Road. We passed through Luddenden and just before we got to Mytholmroyd we saw First West Yorkshire Dart 41316 on the elusive #517 service. The front of the top deck was empty so Matthew got a picture as we got off the bus.

Inside First West Yorkshire 31775

We got off the bus and we got another picture of the bus as it disappeared Westward.

First West Yorkshire 31775 in Mytholmroyd

The was very busy for a short while, and as we waited to cross over we saw First West Yorkshire new liveried Volvo 66750 bound for Rochdale.

First West Yorkshire 66750 in Mytholmroyd

Eventually we crossed the road to wait for a Halifax Bound bus. We didn't have to wait for long before 66756 appeared on a #591 to Halifax. We got on the bus and sat down near the back. I asked Matthew if he wanted to get off at Kings Cross to cover the #579/#300's quicker and he said no. As we entered Kings Cross we did so behind TJ Walsh TJ19 on a #300 towards Halifax. on the other side of Kings Cross we saw First West Yorkshire 30844 on a #579 taking the step entranced deckers in service total up to 5. We headed town and when the bus got to the bus station and emptied out Matthew got a picture inside 66756.

Inside First West Yorkshire 66756

As he didn't get a very good picture of the bus in Mytholmroyd, he also took another picture of the bus in the bus station before in went on layover.

First West Yorkshire 66756 in Halifax bus station

We decided to go after a couple of minibuses so we set off towards George Street. On the way we saw 31807 again n the #512 service.

First West Yorkshire 31807 in Halifax

We carried n walking and went to the disabled toilet on George Street before walking up to stop 24. We had just missed a mini bus, but required First West Yorkshire 61288 was at the stop on a #579 to Sowerby, so we decided to do that up. Before we got on Matthew took a picture.

First West Yorkshire 61288 in Halifax

The bus was quite full and we sat near the back. The bus set off through Kings Cross ad we passed 30844 coming the other way. We passed through Sowerby Bridge and did the steep climb through the housing estate up to Sowerby. When we got to the end of the run we got up and we saw a TJ Walsh mini bus TJ26 leaving the stop. We got up and Matthew got a picture inside this fine bus.

Inside First West Yorkshire 61288

We also got off and got another picture of the bus at Sowerby too.

First West Yorkshire 61288 in Sowerby

We let 61288 go as there wasn't long for the next bus. Matthew had a drink of Tizer and we decided to d the next bus. If it wasn't a minibus we would get of in Sowerby Bridge and wait for one. The next bus turned up and it was required First West Yorkshire 41281.

First West Yorkshire 41281 in Sowerby

We got on and Matthew took a picture inside this beast too.

Inside First West Yorkshire 41281

We sat down near the back and a couple of minutes later the bus set off. We headed back thrugh the housing estate and down into Sowerby Bridge. We decided to get off just the other side of town and we saw required TJ Walsh mini TJ19 going the other way. This was followed by a road train! We got off and got another picture of this nice example of a Marshall Dart.

First West Yorkshire 41281 in Sowerby Bridge

At the stop we didn't have to wait ore than 5 minutes before we saw minibus approaching. Unfortunately for us it was one of 2 we had done last time we visited Halifax, TJ Walsh TJ25.

TJ Walsh TJ25 in Sowerby Bridge

The bus was empty so he got a picture as soon as we got on.

Inside TJ Walsh TJ25

We headed up the hill to Kings Cross and then back into town. it isn't very often you hear music on the bus and for some reason Matthew was fascinated by the radio / mp3 player in the bus and took a picture of that. We got off and crossed the road to head back to George Street. We took another picture of TJ25 before we went.

TJ Walsh TJ25 in Halifax

We decided to visit a shop, where Matthew had 12 the contents of the drinks chiller and 2 bars f chocolate! The plan had been to wait on George street for one of the required TJ Walsh minibuses, but we saw required TJ11 on a #600 go passed us. We decided to 'head it off at the pass', or more accurately the stop by the chip shop. We walked down Russell Street and Matthew took a picture of Bon Marche! We just managed to beat the bus to the stop and Matthew got a picture.

TJ Walsh TJ11 in Halifax

We got on the bus and sat down at the back. The bus set out of town northwards passed the Dean Clough Mill and we climbed out of town. It takes the same route as the #700 along the A629 up to Ovenden Way, and then the bus returns to Halifax via Nursery Lane and back down the A629. As the bus turned onto Nursery Lane the bus emptied out. Further down the road the bus was about to start filling again so Matthew quickly took a picture before someone got on.

Inside TJ Walsh TJ11

The bus turned onto the A629 to head back into town and we got off. We didn't have to wait long before we saw a bus approaching. It was required First West Yorkshire 66748.

First West Yorkshire 66748 in Ovenden

We got on the empty bus and Matthew took a picture inside too.

Inside First West Yorkshire 66748

The bus carried on into town down the A629. Just before the edge of town we came off the A629 and went passed the Dean Clough mill. We got off the bus at a stop adjacent to the bus station (stop 30) and we decided to have a few minutes taking pictures before we went back to the car. One of the buses we saw was First West Yorkshire 61289 on the #560 service.

First West Yorkshire 61289 in Halifax bus station

We then saw Arriva Yorkshire 1108 on a #255 service.

Arriva Yorkshire 1108 in Halifax bus station

Before we left we decided to d one more lap of the bus station taking pictures. At the bottom of the bus station was First West Yorkshire 32692 on a #508 to Leeds.

First West Yorkshire 32692 in Halifax bus station

We headed back to the car via the toilet, and then we had our Greggs sausage rolls. We need to take on fuels so we had a slight diversion North onto Pellon Lane. As I had had very little sleep last night mum drove back home. It was now nearly 18:00. We headed down the A629 and onto the M62 Westbound. We went onto the anticlockwise M60 and then carried onto west along the M62. At the M6 we headed South. We followed down and then photographed former Procters (now with Global Travel) Van Hool coach HUI 6822 just North of Sandbach services.

Global Travel HUI 6822 on the M6

We then went South on the A500 and then East on the A50 to Longton. At Z Carz today there were 4 buses on the spare ground. There was a new coach to Z Carz, M534 RSO.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

At the back of the spare ground was coach ALZ 8539. Then there were also 2 LDV minibus. At the front we saw R920 WNT.

Z Carz R920 WNT in Longton

Behind R920 WNT was a blue LDV minibus, probably YN03 HJC. In the Willow Row compound was LDV minibus T408 JUX Not For Service. We went back passed the coach so I could take a picture and then we returned home down Longton Hall Road. We got home around 19:20. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:30...Mark