Trip to Middleton / Moston 29-03-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
534	Middleton BS‎‎	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	156	JPT
60386	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	89	First Manchester
27599	Moston, before Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester
27600	Middleton BS	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	80	Stagecoach Manchester
433	Moston, before Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	118	JPT
175	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Moston, before Moston Lane/Ben Brierley	118	JPT
517	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Ebsworth Street	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	118	JPT
151	Higher Crumpsall, Delaunays Road/NMG Hospital (Stop C)	Moston, before Moston Lane/Blue Bell	118	JPT
22401	Moston, before Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. We chose where we were going on Friday night after seeing the weather for the North West was going to be for sunny intervals. Other than checking the weather no research was done. We packed the Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside bus maps in the trip bag. Matthew got up at 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for mbreakfast. We set off at around 11:45 today. We went onto the A5035 and then we headed down Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the West bound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. We came of at Shelton New Road to pick up LPG. After gassing up we joined the Westbound A53 and then rejoined the Northbound A500. Near longport we passed D&G 172 coming the other way. The motorway was a little busy and as we headed North we were overtaken by Coach Leasing BF52 SYY. After we had passed the A556 turning the traffic eased a little. We headed North through the Thelwall Viaduct roadworks and then we headed east on the M62. We did the clockwise M60 around to the junction for the A576. We then did then last couple of miles up this road into Middleton, parking up near MacDonalds and the shopping centre. We had only just got out of the car when Matthew chased someone down to say hello. We then walked around to the pavement cafe between the bus station and the shopping centre where Matthew had a bacon barm and some fries. We were a little to far South for him to be eating his bacon in a teacake. Whilst we ate we were able to view a few of the buses. The highlights were seeing First Manchester 40369 on the #415 to Oldham and First Manchester 37297 on the #163. We also saw First Manchester 66194 on the #64 to Manchester in the new livery. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and walked over to the bus station. The general plan was to try and get a few rides on JPT buses. Since the timetable change in January, JPT buses were much more scarce than they used to be in Middleton after they withdrew their #112 Middleton - Manchester service against Stagecoach Manchester. Then general plan was to head down to Moston and to catch a JPT run #118 to the North Manchester General Hospital. Required Stagecoach Manchester 22407 was seen about to work the #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 22407 in Middleton bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to this I don't think he was too keen. As we were wondering what to catch we saw required JPT 534 on a #156 service.

JPT 534 in Middleton bus station

This bus could take us direct to the NMGH cutting out one of the journeys. We got on the bus and booked our off-peak System One bus only day tickets (£5). After we had booked our tickets we went upstairs eventually. There were a few people dotted about. The bus headed out of town down the A576 and across the M60. As we reached Heaton Park we turned right into Higher Blackley and then headed along Victoria Avenue. we passed dud JPT 454 heading towards Middleton on a #156 service. As the bus emptied out Matthew was able to get a picture inside JPT 534.

Inside JPT 534

We then carried on and we eventually got to the NMGH. As arrived at the stop JPT 151 pulled off from the stop on the #118 to Manchester. We decided to wait for the next #118. As we waited we saw First Manchester 69179 on the #52 to Failsworth.

First Manchester 69179 at the NMGH

The next #118 arrived and it was dud JPT 184.

JPT 184 at the NMGH

We were considering doing this anyway so that we could get in the circuit and see what other buses were working. As we waited for the driver to ready the bus to work the next service required First Manchester 60386 arrived on a #89 White moss circular.

First Manchester 60386 at the NMGH

A quick check of the information at the bus stop revealed that this bus went to Moston too. so we decided to do this rather than take dud JPT 184. We got on the bus and flashed our tickets. Before we sat down Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.

Inside First Manchester 60386

The bus set off out of the hospital and onto Delaunays Road towards Crumpsall. It seemed to take a long time to get across to Moston. This is because it sets off going in the opposite direction. The bus then went through Crumpsall Green before heading into more familiar territory in Higher Blackley. The road here was familiar from our previous trips on the #156 service. We then carried on along Victoria Avenue onto Victoria Avenue East East, familiar to us from doing the #80 service. We then turned towards White Moss and then Charlestown before appearing in the more familiar place of Moston. As we entered Moston we saw dud JPT 516 going the other way on the #118. On Moston lane we passed another dud bus on the #118 service, JPT 512 with its distinctive repaired nearside corner. This was a bus we had back in October 2013 on our first trip on the #118 service. We got off the bus and crossed over the road. As Matthew hadn't visited a toilet since we left home we decided to head back to the only place where we knew there was a toilet and that was Middleton. We had almost 10 minutes to wait so we had a let a few buses go. We took a few pictures and one such bus was required JPT 401 which was on the next #118 to the NMGH.

JPT 401 in Moston

This bus used to be a park and ride bus at Chester with Chesterbus until just after First took over their operations in 2007. A few minutes later we saw the #112 to Middleton approaching and it was being worked by dud Stagecoach Manchester 27599.

Stagecoach Manchester 27599 in Moston

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. Stagecoach Manchester 27599 was a bus we scored back in December 2013 on the short run in from Middleton Juction to Middleton. The bus headed North through Moston and up towards Middleton Junction. We then turned left heading west into Middleton. On the way into town we saw dud first Manchester 40364 on a #415 to Oldham. As we pulled into the bus station we saw an unusual working on the #17 to Manchester. It was Volvo B6 40438. We waited for the bus to empty and Matthew got a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 27599.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27599

Just as we got there the bus pulled off and left the bus station. Matthew visited the toilet and then we had to consider how we could get back down to Moston or the NMGH to carry on doing the #118's. As we contemplated what to do we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 27600 on the #80 to Manchester via Moston.

Stagecoach Manchester 27600 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and flashed our tickets. The driver though we were traveling on JPT tickets, were as they were just JPT issued TfGM tickets. The driver must have been newly qualified as he was being supervised. The other driver mentioned they were System One tickets and we got on the bus. We left the bus station and we headed out of town along Manchester New Road. We crossed the M60 and then turn left onto Victoria Avenue East before heading through Charlestown into Moston. The bus was lightly filled front and back so Matthew took a picture of the seats adjacent to us.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27600

As we came into Moston we saw required JPT 517 on a Manchester bound #118. We got off the bus opposite the Bluebell pub and we waited for JPT 517 so we could get a picture of it before we crossed the road. hopefully we would catch up with it later in the day heading in the right direction. We crossed the road and waited for the next #118. A few minutes later we saw it in the distance and it was a Volvo. Hopefully it would be the required one. As it got closer we saw that it was the one we wanted, JPT 433.

JPT 433 in Moston

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. The #118 is the most direct service from Moston to the NMGH. It passes through White Moss and past Boggart Hole Clough before crossing Rochdale Road and into Higher Crumpsall and into the Hospital. When we reached the hospital we let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside the now empty JPT 433.

Inside JPT 433

We got off the bus and we crossed over the road so we could get another picture of JPT 433.

JPT 433 at the NMGH

Whilst we were there we saw required First Manchester 66195 on a #88 White Moss - Manchester circular.

First Manchester 66195 at the NMGH

We decided to wait for the next #118. When it turned up it was required JPT 175.

JPT 175 at the NMGH

Whilst we were waiting for the bus to be readied for service, required First Manchester 60228 made an appearance on the #149 service looking as if it had been repainted recently.

First Manchester 60228 at the NMGH

Eventually JPT 175 was readied for service and we got on the bus and Matthew took a picture inside this vehicle straight away.

Inside JPT 175

We sat down and the bus set off out of the Hospital and over the Rochdale Road and towards Boggart Hole Clough. As we passed the White Moss turning point of the #88A/#89A we saw First Manchester 60386 that we had been on earlier in the day. We went into Moston and we decided to go another stop further down so that we could visit a shop. When we got off we walked a bit further South until we found an off license. Here Matthew had a bottle of Irn Bru and a can of Coke for later, as well as a couple of chocolate bars. We came out of the shop and crossed the road to wait for the bus back to the NMGH. The bus appeared and as hoped it was required JPT 517.

JPT 517 in Moston

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. The bus set off North back through Moston and passed White Moss and Boggart Hole Clough and back across Rochdale Road. When we got to the end we expected the bus to empty but it didn't. Matthew took a picture of the empty bus in front of us before we got off.

Inside JPT 517

We decided to do one more #118 back to Moston before retuning to Middleton and calling it a day. We crossed the road and got another picture of JPT 517 before it headed of back to Manchester.

JPT 517 at the NMGH

Whilst we were waiting for the bus to appear we saw Stagecoach Manchester Enviro 200 36075 on a #151 to Hollingwood which we could have done to Moston if we had wanted to.

Stagecoach Manchester 36075 at the NMGH

It was lucky that we waited for the next bus was required JPD Dart 151.

JPT 151 at the NMGH

We waited for the driver to ready the bus for service and when it was ready we got on and Matthew took a picture as we got on this empty bus.

Inside JPT 151

We sat down and the bus set off Eastwards. We traveled for the last time though Boggart Hole Clough and White Moss and Charlestown before turning South to Moston. When we reached the Bluebell pub in Moston we got off the bus and crossed over the road for our last bus of the day. Whilst we were waiting for our bus, we saw First Manchester 62218 on a #88 White Moss circular.

First Manchester 62218 in Moston

A few minutes later we saw a Stagecoach MAN bus in the distance. We were hoping it was a required one as weh ad seen a few dud one about today on the #112's and #80's. As it approaches we saw it was required stagecoach Manchester 22401. We got on the bus and sat down near the back we headed north out of Moston and onto Greengate. We crossed over the M60 and we carried on North to Middleton Junction. We saw a double decker coming the other way on a #112 to Manchester. It was dud Stagecoach Manchester 17038. At Middleton Junction turned left and went west into Middleton. We saw mum waiting for us at stand B and we waited for the bus to empty so he could get a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 22401.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22401

As he didn't get a very good picture of 22401 as we got on the bus, he got another picture of the outside of the bus too.

Stagecoach Manchester 22401 in Middleton bus station

Matthew visited the toilet and then visited the shop and had a flapjack and another chocolate bar. We then headed back to the car. At the car Matthew had a sausage roll washed down with Irn Bru. We started the car and we headed out of town along the A576. we then joined the anti-clockwise M60 and then onto the Westbound M62. We Got on the Southbound M6 and went through the Thelwall Viaduct roadworks. As we passed the M56 sliproad we saw a Megabus coach. We were contemplating catching up with this coach when I noticed a double decker bus in the rear view mirror. I skow down and stayed in the left hand lane so that the bus could catch us up. As it passed us, Matthew got a great picture of Tiger European L102 VDM

Tiger European L102 VDM on the M6

We carried on down the M6 until we reached the Southbound A500 which we did to Sideway. At Sideaway we went ast on the A50 to Longton so we could check out what was parked up at Z carz. When we got there, there appeared to be 3 vehicles parked here. Mercedes minibus W221 CDN was first in the row.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

Next to this was YN03 HJC parked behind some cars. He took a picture of VW minibus OV05 WSW as this was the first bus in clear view.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

As e turn to get a picture of LDV minibus YN03 HJC we spotted another vehicle in the background. This was red LDV minibus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz YN03 HJC in Longton

We turned in Willow row observing T408 JUX parked up in the compound. We headed back out onto the A50 and at that moment Z Carz coach M534 RSO arrived back at the depot. We headed down onto the A50 and we passed Copelands tours coaches MIB 270 & MIB 278 heading back to their depot. We came off the A50 in Heron Cross and we headed down into Blurton. As we came down the bank I spotted the a coach following us. I pulled up and let it go past us and we saw it was Posh Limos Tri-axle coach P3 OSH. We carried on through Blurton and we noticed the coach pull over and reverse into a side street to turn around. As it turned Matthew got a picture of Posh Limos P3 OSH.

Posh Limos P3 OSH in Blurton

We got home just before 19:00 and it was still just about light. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash followed by a cake bar. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime which was around 02:00 British Summer Time after the clocks were adjusted...Mark