Trip to Middleton / Oldham 05-10-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
22183	Middleton BS‎‎	Moston, before Moston Lane/Leighton Street	112	Stagecoach Manchester
512	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Higher Crumpsall, Crumpsall Way/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	118	JPT
454	Higher Crumpsall, Crumpsall Way/NMG Hospital (Stop C)‎	Middleton BS	156	JPT
22181	Middleton BS‎‎	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	112	Stagecoach Manchester
62214	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Failsworth, opp Lord Lane/Wyndale Drive	52	First Manchester
10044	Failsworth, opp Lord Lane/Wyndale Drive	Oldham BS	76	Stagecoach Manchester
40416	Oldham BS	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop D)‎	415	First Manchester
17038	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)‎‎	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to go to Middleton. No research was done for this trip, other than to check the weather and make sure that we had all the relevant maps in the bag. The weather was predicted for dry, unseasonably warm with sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30. We headed onto the A5035 and onto Stanley Matthews Way. We then went onto the Westbound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton to get LPG. Whilst we filled up we saw First Potteries 65705 on a #34 service. We got onto the Westbound A53 and back onto the Northbound A500. Traffic on the M6 was better tan it had been in recent weeks and we made quite good time. Coaches that passed us were New adventure Travel YN13 GDE and Reptons REP 916. We then went Eastbound on the M62, and then Clockwise on the M60 until we reached the A576. We then did the last couple of miles into town up the A576 and parked up near MacDonalds. We walked through town and we spotted an inflatable slide in the distance we took a picture of. We ate at our usual spot in Middleton, The pavement cafe near the shopping centre. what we hadn't anticipated was Oktoberfest, which was in full swing by the time we arrived, between the cafe and the bus station! From the Middleton Town Centre Management site...

'We are planning an Oktoberfest themed event on 5th October 2013. This is the events first year and we hope you can come down to Middleton Town Centre and make this an event to remember...'

As we ate at our usual spot we had quite loud 70's music! Matthew had a sausage bap with some fries washed down with a can of coke. Whilst we ate we saw required stagecoach 17038 on the #112 as well as First Manchester Solo 40314 on the #415 service. When we had finished around 13:30 we walked to the bus station via the event portaloo toilets, which Matthew wanted to use. The band just started as we were leaving play a cover of Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze. We had a quick look around the bus station to see if there was anything interesting about. We didn't see anything spectacular about so we decided to have a ride on required Stagecoach Manchester 22183, which was on the #112 service.

Stagecoach Manchester 12183 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and booked our System One tickets and the bus was empty at the rear so Matthew took a picture of the inside too.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 12183

We decided to do this down to Moston, so we could see what w buses were out and about. we left town and went out to Middleton junction along Grimshaw Lane. We turned right onto Greengate where we saw JPT 151 & Stagecoach Manchester 17068 on Northbound #112's. When we got to Moston Lane we got off the bus to see if there was anything else interesting. We did have to wait long before we saw a JPT double decker coming towards us. As it got closer we saw it was required JPT 512 on a #118 to the North Manchester General Hospital.

JPT 512 in Moston

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The bus set off and we entered new territory for us when we turned left onto Charlestown Road. The bus passed an area called Boggart Hole Clough which looked an interesting place. The #118 seemed a frequent service as we passed JPT 154 & 511 coming the other way. As we traveled through the streets the bus emptied out so Matthew got a picture inside JPT 512.

Inside JPT 512

Eventually we reached the hospital and it seemed a reasonably quit place that was 'bus busy'. When we arrived we had pulled in behind First Manchester 59012 which was on a #154 service to Bury.

First Manchester 59012 outside the NMGH

We also got another picture of JPT 512 now it was parked up.

JPT 512 outside the NMGH

We decided to have a walk onto the main road and see what buses ran from those stops. On stop only had 2 buses that called there Monday to Friday only! The other stop didn't have a bus for a while and we had seen 3 JPT buses go into the hospital so we walked back to where we got off. At the hospital main stop we saw JPT 182 which was out of service.

JPT 182 outside the NMGH

Behind this was JPT Optare Excel 177, which was on the next #118 back out through Moston.

JPT 177 outside the NMGH

Behind this was JPT 454 on the #156 to Middleton.

JPT 454 outside the NMGH

Matthew decided to do JPT 454, so we got on and sat near the back. I looked up this bus and it turned out to be one of the 4 JPT buses we had been on prior to today! We had been on this bus only 28 days ago on the same service! The bus set off and we wound our way through the streets of Higher Blackley and onto Victoria Avenue. We passed the stop which we got on JPT 454 four weeks ago and then we carried on into Middleton. When we got there we waited for the bus to empty and then Matthew got a picture inside JPT 454.

Inside JPT 454

When we got back to the bus station in Middleton there was another lull in the activity. Matthew went to the disabled toilet in the bus station and I attempted to use the gents (the gate had my 20p but wouldn't let me in!). I then had to use the Oktoberfest event toilets... We got back to the bus station and Matthew had a Crunchie and a bottle of Irn Bru. We the saw Stagecoach 22181 on the #112 and as it was required we decided to do that. We crossed over the crossing and got a picture of the bus.

Stagecoach Manchester 12181 in Middleton bus station

The bus was quit full and didn't empty much so he wasn't able to get a picture inside the bus. We went down to Moston again, as we crossed the roundabout by the Gardeners Arms, we saw Magicbus 16799 heading South East. We got off at Moston and crossed over the road. We saw Stagecoach 27598 approaching which we knew was dud so we turned it down. Behind it was a First Manchester bus, 62214 which we knew was definitely required so we decided to get on it. The bus was on a #52 to Failsworth which we had never been to before. We looked up where the service went on the map and we saw Failsworth was around 3 miles due South of Oldham. The bus went through Newton Heath, where we saw Magicbus 16799 parked up again. the bus then headed towards Failsworth we didn't know what the place was like and how busy it would be. When we turned onto a street with a few different services on the bus stop flags we decided to get off. As we went to get off we saw that the us had emptied and Matthew took a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 62214

As the bus went off into the distance he got a picture of the outside of 62214 too.

First Manchester 62214 in Failsworth

As we guessed there were a coupe of service to Oldham from here from the same stop. We only had to wait foe 2-3 minutes when we saw a stagecoach double decker approaching. It turned out to be required Stagecoach Manchester 10044. We got on and went upstairs. The bus was nearly empty upstairs and after a few stops the other passenger left the bus and Matthew took a picture inside this bus.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 10044

We got off the bus and we waited for the bus to go onto its departure stand before we got a picture on the outside of the bus too.

Stagecoach Manchester 10044 in Oldham bus station

We went to the toilets and then we went see f there was anything interesting working. At stand B there were two darts on the #415. First Manchester 40406 was standing empty at the end and then First Manchester 40364 and went straight onto stand to pick up passengers.

First Manchester 40364 in Oldham bus station

Matthew turn down required 40364 as I think he fancied doing a double decker. First Manchester 40406 then went off empty. We saw First Manchester 40329 on a #406 to Chadderton, and we also saw First Manchester 40316 on a #402 Royton circular. We needed to head off back to Middleton soon and it was around 16:20. There was a #59 at 16:31 and a #415 at 16:39. we visited the shop in the bus station where Matthew brought a can of Coke and some chocolate. We sat down and Matthew had a drink of Irn Bru. The #415 came in and it was required First Manchester Wright bodied Dart 40416.

First Manchester 40416 in Oldham bus station

Matthew was still adamant we did a double decker. When the #59 arrived, it was an uninspiring Volvo so he changed his mind and decided to do 40416 instead! We got on the bus and it was quite full. We sat down near the back and the bus pulled off. As the bus headed South to Middleton Junction, the bus emptied out quite quickly and so he was able to get a picture of the inside of First Manchester 40416 just before we got off.

Inside First Manchester 40416

The just before the bus went under the the railway bridge we hit a bump in the road the rear suspension bottomed out with a very loud 'crack'. These well traveled and well loved Darts surely can't carry on for much longer in service... Rather than bounce our way through Alkrington Gardens over the speed bumps, We decided to get off at Middleton Junction and get a #112 into town. We got off and immediately behind us on a Southbound #112 was required 17068.

Stagecoach Manchester 17068 at Middleton Junction

Had we not been short of tie we may have done this. As it was we crossed over the road to wait for a Middleton bound #112. We had just seen JPT Optare Excel 174 going into Middleton. A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching, and finally we had caught up with required Stagecoach Manchester 17011.

Stagecoach Manchester 17038 at Middleton Junction

We got on and the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture downstairs.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 17038

We went upstairs and it was empty too, so he got another picture of the upper saloon.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 17038

The bus set off and turned onto Grimshaw Lane. A short while up the road we saw a bus at a stop with a van parked in front of it. It was the JPT service support vehicle attending the broken down JPT 182. We carried on into Middleton and we got off Stagecoach Manchester 17038. We had a quick walk around the bus station taking pictures. On layover was JPT Pointer Dart 151.

JPT 151 in Middleton bus station

We then walked back to the car via MacDonalds where Matthew used the toilet. back at the car Matthew had a sausage roll and a fudge cake which mum had brought whilst in town. He also had a MacDonalds chicken nugget meal. We set off out of Middleton and down the A576. We carried on a round the M60 clockwise and the onto the Westbound M56. We headed onto the M6 via the A556. On the M6 we saw a few coaches. We passed two coaches as we headed home, and decided to slow down and let the coaches pass us so Matthew could take pictures. The coaches were Bennetts S574 KJF.

Bennetts S574 KJF on the M6

This was followed closely behind by FR Willetts S33 PRW.

FR Willetts S33 PRW on the M6

When we reached the A500 the Bennett's coach came off the M6 with us and FR Willetts S33 PRW carried on South down the M6. We did the A500 down to the A50 and then into Longton so we could go passed the Z Carz garage. There were four vehicle there tonight. First there was Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Next to this was Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

At the rear of the land was ALZ 8539 which doesn't seem to have moved for around a week.

Z Carz ALZ 8539 in Longton

Then there was Z Carz newest recruit T2 DLT. It has no decals yet and a magnetic legal address so this may be a loan vehicle.

Z Carz T2 DLT in Longton

We carried on home down Longton Hall Road were we saw First Potteries 40018 heading into Longton on the #22. We also saw First Potteries 53209 on a #23A. We got home around 18:40 and as we parked up we saw JayJays Travel RX57 POV in the distance. We decided to walk up to and take a picture before we went into the house.

jayJays Travel RX57 POV in Blurton

We had bangers and mash with some slightly burnt carrot for a late tea, followed by cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until he went to bed around 01:00...Mark