Trip to Burnley / Nelson 04-01-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41316	Burnley BS	Brunshaw, by Bronte Avenue	517	First West Yorkshire
254	Brunshaw, by Bronte Avenue	Worsthorne, o/s Church Square	2	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
254	Worsthorne, o/s Church Square	Burnley BS	2	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
1043	Burnley BS	Whitegate, by Cowley Crescent	23	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
1855	Whitegate, by Whitegate	Burnley BS	23	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
2768	Burnley BS	Nelson Interchange	X43	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
1863	Nelson Interchange	Burnley BS	25	Transdev Burnley & Pendle

Today we decided to visit Burnley. We had only passed through Burnley once before back in November last year. Research for the trip consisted of looking at the Transdev fares and timetables. We also looked at the #517 to Halifax although I thought it would be unlikely we would be there at the right time. The weather was predicted for a fine afternoon although the morning weather was fairly gloomy. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Today we set off around 11:30 going onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthews Way. As we passed the Britannia Stadium we saw Atlantic Travel XIB 1494 arriving with Stewards for the Stoke City - Leicester City FA Cup tie. We headed on to the A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. At Shelton we diverted off the A500 and to get some LPG before carrying on North. We got on the Northbound M6 and then onto the Eastbound M62. We headed clockwise around the M60 and then onto the M66. We did the M66 into Rawtenstall and then dropped into Burnley on the A682. We parked on a car park on the opposite side of Red Lion Street to the bus station and then walked across. After visiting the toilets, we ate at the cafe in the bus station where Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. It was around 13:45 when we finished eating so we decided to have a walk around the bus station and take a few bus pictures. We walked past the taxi's outside the bus station and onto the A682. On the top stand was Transdev Burnley & Pendle 266 on the #2 to Worsthorne.

'Starship' 266 in Burnley bus station

Leaving the bus station on the #483 to Bury was Rossendale Transport 218.

'Rosso' 218 in Burnley bus station

First West Yorkshire 32520 had just arrived on the #592 from Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 32520 in Burnley bus station

We then saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 709 on the #1 to Pike Hill.

'Starship' 709 in Burnley bus station

We headed back around the bus station as we had just seen a X43 to Nelson arrive. It was required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2778.

'Witch Way' 2778 in Burnley bus station

It was 14:00 and we were considering doing 2778 when the #517 to Halifax arrived and it was required First West Yorkshire 41316.

First West Yorkshire 41316 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus and booked to Pike Hill as I knew I could get a Transdev service back from here. We sat down near the back of the bus and the bus set off through town. We had missed getting 41316 back in September when we had seen it pass us on the #517 as we headed out of Halifax. We headed out of town and we passed Turf Moor. There was a large picture of 'Stokie' Martin Patterson on the cladding outside the stadium who also played for Burnley for a few seasons. We carried on east and we passed dud First West Yorkshire 41281 on the inbound #589 from Rochdale. The bus emptied out a little as we headed out of town and Matthew got a picture inside 41316 facing forwards.

Inside First West Yorkshire 41316

The bus went up a very steep hill and we assumed that we had reached Pike Hill. We also saw a Starship Versa turn a corner ahead of us, so we decided that this would be the place to get off. We got to the top of the hill and Matthew got another picture of the fine Marshall Dart 41316.

First West Yorkshire 41316 in Brunshaw

We got off and we crossed the road. Checking the timetable their wasn't a bus due for nearly another thirty minutes! The #2 from this stop was due at 14:41. We crossed back over and the #2 from the opposite side was due at 14:31. There was also the #589 due at 14:28. We had a bit of a walk around to pass some od the time and we thought about getting a picture of 41281 as it climbed up the hill. We could wait on the corner and trot to the bus stop just in case the #2 came first. The #2 did come first so we made our way to the stop. It was required Transdev Burnley & Pendle 254. We booked our silver day tickets and we headed into Worsthorne. We came straight back on the bus and we headed back passed Bronte Avenue on what would have been the 14:41. When we got off Matthew got a picture of 'Starship' 254 through the glass of the bus station.

'Starship' 254 in Burnley bus station

We wanted to keep moving so we had a look around at what we could do. We let required Lancashire United 1100 on the #152 to Preston. We saw required Burnley & Pendle 'Mainline' 1043 on the #23 to Accrington so we decided to do this service part way.

'Mainline' 1043 in Burnley bus station

When the bus was ready for service we got on and sat down near the back. There were some empty seats at the back at this point so mathew got his picture there.

Inside 'Mainline' 1043

The bus filled up a little more before departure and then it picked up some more passengers at it went through the town centre. We crossed the M65 and headed up towards Padiham. When we had travelled another mile or so we decided to get off. We got off and we got pictures of 'Mainline' 1043 as it headed Westward.

'Mainline' 1043 in Whitegate

We crossed the road and we waited for the next bus into town. We were approached by a coupe of Jehovahs Witnesses who tried to convert us! It is usually Matthew who approaches stranger to say hello. Before we could be converted, we saw a bus approaching and we got on it. It was required 'Mainline' 1855.

'Mainline' 1855 in Whitegate

The bus was quite well filled and we got on and sat near the back. Matthew didn't get a picture inside the bus as it then became the #25 to Keighley! We got of and it was around 15:30. There was a X43 at 15:37 so we decided to do this to Nelson so we could see a new place.Matthew visited the toilet and said hello to a few people before we got a picture of Transdev Burnley & Pendle 'Witch Way' bus 2768.

'Witch Way' 2768 in Burnley bus station

We got on and and went upstairs. The bus set off bang on time and we headed out of town and along the A682. On the edge of town we passed Transdev Burnley and Pendle decker 2750, which is now in Mainline colours. We passed through Reedley and Brierfield and the sun came out just before it was about to go dark. We passed a war memorial and a quite impressive mosque just off the main road as we headed into Nelson. I had looked on the timetable and the journey time was 15 minutes. We had also noticed that it was an interchange so we knew we would turn towards the railway line to the South of us. We waited for the bus to empty behind us, so he got a picture inside 'Witch Way' 2768.

Inside 'Witch Way' 2768

We got off the bus and we decided to have a walk around the bus station. Matthew visited the toilet and then we walked around the outside of the bus station As we were there, we saw our first Pennine bus. It was Dennis Dart KX51 UDE otherwise know as D5

Pennine D5 in Nelson interchange

We carried on around the bus station an we saw Tyrer YJ05 WCE in the Nelson sunset,

Tyrer YJ05 WCE in Nelson interchange

back in the bus station we visited the shop where Matthew purchased Munchman flapjacks, chocolate and a can of Coke. We let one Mainline bus go as he was still eating his flapjack when it arrived. The next one was only eight minutes later and it was required 'mainline' 1863.

'Mainline' 1863 in Nelson interchange (Mark)

We got on and sat down near the back. The bus set off back towards Burnley. It was now getting dark. The monument was lit up with light that change colours. We paused outside it for a minute or so and we saw the lights slowly changing. We also noticed Santa's Pizza and some interesting looking cake shops! We called mum to tell her we were on our way and when we got to the bus station Matthew let the bus empty before getting a picture inside.

Inside 'Mainline' 1863

We then walked out of the bus station towards the car park. On Red Lion Street was 'Starship' 262 stabled between duties.

'Starship' 262 outside Burnley bus station

We got back to the car where sausage rolls and pop were waiting for us. We set off back onto the A682 towards Rawtenstall were we saw Pilkington Bus VU52 UEJ. We carried on out of town and then onto the M66. We carried on South onto the anti-clockwise M60 and then onto the Westbound M62. We then went south on the M6 and onto the Southbound A500. At Sideway we headed East on the A50 where we saw Z Carz M420 UEH. We got off the A50 at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. There were 5 buses parked up on the spare ground tonight. First it was Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Then there was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Then there was former Alton Towers coach M534 RSO.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

Next to the was former Phil Smiths Travel Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Last but not least was Blackwood liveried coach B12 PWS displaying 420 in the window.

Z Carz B12 PWS in Longton

We turned onto Willow Row and we saw SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX in the compound. We headed back onto the A50 which we did to Heron Cross where We headed through Blurton on Blurton Road and we through the estate and got home around 18:30. For a let tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until 00:30...Mark