Trip to Burnley / Nelson 03-05-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2762	Burnley BS	Altham, by Simon Jersey	152	Transdev Lancashire United
2758	Altham, by Simon Jersey	Burnley BS	152	Transdev Lancashire United
D8	Burnley BS	Nelson Interchange	215	Pennine
D1	Nelson Interchange	Burnley BS	215	Pennine
2767	Burnley BS	Nelson Interchnage	X43	Transdev Burnley & Pendle
D6	Nelson Interchange	Burnley BS	215	Pennine

Today we decided to re-visit Burnley. We had read in Buses magazine about the demise of Pennine and their impending closure in mid May. We checked the weather for the Burnley area and it was for cloudy with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 09:30 today, and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off at a little after 11:30 and we headed onto the A5035. We turned into Stanley Matthews Way and past the Britannia Stadium where Stoke were preparing for their final home match of the season. We joined the Westbound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500. We came off the A500 at Shelton New Road where we went to fill up with LPG. Just after 12:00 we re-joined the A500 off the A53. On the A500 we passed ABC Supreme SB56 SKV. We joined the Northbound M6 and the traffic was quite heavy as you would expect on bank holiday weekend. At the M62 we went East and then onto the clockwise M60. We turned North onto the M66 passed Bury and North along the A56 towards The M65. A couple of junction along the M65 we left the motorway to travel for the last couple of miles into Burnley. After parking up on Red Lion Street. We walked over to the Atlantis cafe and Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a large cup of Coke and after 3 visits to this cafe the lady serving know exactly how to do mums tea! We finished eating just before 14:00 which gave us an opportunity to possbly catch the Saturdays only 14:00 #517 to Halifax if we so desired. This service is often worked by Marshall Darts. Today, disappointingly it was being worked by First West Yorkshire Solo 53301.

First West Yorkshire 53301 in Burnley bus station

Have decided it wasn't worth doing the #516 today, we carried on around the outside of the bus station taking pictures. There was nothing outstanding or unusual today, so we carried on around to the other side of the bus station. On the way back into the bus station we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 'Mainline' liveried 1046 on an incoming #26 to Clitheroe.

'Mainline' 1046 in Burnley bus station

There was a #152 Preston service due at 14:20, so we decided to wait for that. Just before 14:20 the bus rolled up and it was required Transdev Lancashire United 2762.

Transdev Lancashire United 2762 in Burnley bus station

We waited for the bus to be readied for service and then we got on the bus. We brought Silver Day tickets at £6, and then we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and we saw Pennine D6 which was about to work the 14:25 #215 to Skipton. The bus carried on through town picking up a few more passengers before we crossed over the M65 and set off towards Padiham. There were people font and back of the bus, so Matthew took a picture of the empty seats opposite us.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 2762

We passed though Whitegate and into Padiham. We crossed the A6068 and carried on into Altham. We decided to get off in the industrial estate, where there was a stop with a shelter, and then bus usually passed before Clayton-le-Moors. We turned into the industrial estate and we rang the bell to get off. When we got off Matthew got another picture of Transdev Lancashire United 2762.

Transdev Lancashire United 2762 in Altham

We only had to wait for around 2 minutes and the other bus turned up. It was dud Transdev Lancashire United 2758.

Transdev Lancashire United 2758 in Altham

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. Matthew decided to get a picture of the top deck as we got on as it was almost empty.

Inside Transdev Lancashire United 2758

The bus left the industrial estate and went towards Padiham. We crossed over the Calder and went through Whitegate before crossing over the M65 and going into town. First West Yorkshire 66747 was parked outside the bus station ready to work the 15:25 #589 to Rochdale. We got into the bus station and the Pennine bus was already in the bus station. It was required Pennine Dart D8. We just had time for Matthew to visit the toilet before we walked up to the bus to catch it.

Pennine D8 in Burnley bus station

The bus was quite well filled and we got on and booked to Nelson We sat down near the back the the bus set off out of town and onto the A682. The bus headed up into Brierfield and it emptied out a little. Matthew then took a picture of some of the empty seats beside us.

Inside Pennine D8

A few more people got on and we we carried onto into Nelson. When we got to the interchange we got off and Matthew got another picture of Pennine D8.

Pennine D8 in Nelson Interchange

We had a quick walk around the outside of the bus station but there was only one bus to photograph! Because there was a quiet spell in the bus station, we went to the shop and Matthew brought some Coca Cola, a couple of chocolate bars, a large cola bottle sweet and a flapjack. After using the toilet we sat down in the bus station an Matthew had a little picnic consisting of the flapjack wash down with a small bottle of Barr cherryade. Noted whilst Matthew ate his snack was a new arrival with Transdev Burnley & Pendle fleet. Wright Streetlite 805 was operating the #2 service. The bus back to Burnley was due at 16:00. Pretty much bang on time the bus made an appearance and it was required Pennine D1.

Pennine D1 in Nelson Interchange

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The bus seem quite well filled. It seemed the the impending end to the Pennine buses had spurred people on to use the service in a bid to save it. We headed back through Brierfield and back into Burnley. When we got back into the bus station Matthew waited for the bus to empty and then took a picture inside Pennine D1.

Inside Pennine D1

As we weren't going to travel out on Pennine D1 again, we decided to walk around the bus station and take a few pictures. Transdev Burnley & Pendle Streetlite 805 had caught us up and was now in Burnley bus station. Also in the bus station was terminating X43 from Manchester, worked by Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2778.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2778 in Burnley bus station

About to work the next #589 to Rochdale was First West Yorkshire 69578.

First West Yorkshire 69578 in Burnley bus station

Working on the #8 local service to Bacup was Transdev burnley & Pendle MPD Dart 720.

'Starship' 720 in Burnley bus station

We walked back into the bus station and Matthew went to say hello to someone in the cafe. We decided to go back to Nelson to caver the third bus on the #215 service. To get there we decided to catch required Transdev Burnley & Pendle double decker 2767.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. It was empty, so Matthew took his picture immediately.

Inside Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767

The bus left Burnley bus station an we headed out onto the Northbound A682. We went through Brierfield and into Nelson. We got to the interchange station around 16:53. We got off the bus and walked around to the side of the interchange and we took another picture of Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2767 in Nelson interchange

As we only had a short time here and the shop had shut at 16:00. We got a Milky Way out of the bag and a bottle of Barr Cherryade. We then saw Holmeswood YJ56 WTX arrive on the #7 Clitheroe bus.

Holmeswood YJ56 WTX in Nelson interchange

At the other end of the interchange, Holmeswood YJ56 AUM was on the #95 to Colne.

Holmeswood YJ56 AUM in Nelson interchange

A minute or so later, required Pennine D6 came in on the 17:00 service #215 to Burnley.

Pennine D6 in Nelson interchange

We got on the bus, and there weren't many seats left on this service. Me and Matthew had to sit away from uncle Dave as the bus was so busy. The bus headed back through Brierfield and towards Burnley. Near to the Transdev bus garage, we saw an unusually liveried Holmeswood Optare Solo YJ55 BGX parked up. We got back to the bus station and Matthew turned down the chance to photograph the inside of Pennine D1 as he had seen someone he wanted to say hello to. He dragged us onto the #152 to Preston to say hello before we walked back to the car via the bus station shop. At the car mum had sausage roll and Matthew washed his down with a large can of Irn Bru. Also there was a medium sized Manchester tart. We set off out of Burnley and onto the M65. We went a couple of junctions along the motorway unit we joined the A56 South. On the A56/M66 we saw B&J Travel minicoach YN10 ENX also going South. as we left the M66 to joined the clockwise M60 another driver alerted us to the fact that our back nearside tyre was nearly flat. As we didn't want to travel all the way home with this, I had a though and remembered there was probably a petrol station in Prestwich at the next junction for the A56. We had previously been here when we went to Bury back in march 2012. We came off the M60 and we spotted a shell petrol station right by the roundabout. We found somewhere to turn and went back to the petrol station. First Manchester 60276 passed us going South. As it was a 50p/timed compressor I took of all the dust caps off the tyres before I started to pump up. By the time I had finished there was someone else waiting so I jumped in the car and drove off, forgetting all the dust caps! We rejoined the the M60 and then we carried on West onto the M62. When we got to the M6 we went South through the the roadworks at Thelwall viaduct, which should hopefully be completed soon. further south we passed Z Carz W221 CDN going North. We got onto the Southbound A500 and then onto the A50. We came off the A50 at Longton to see what was at Z Carz. Tonight it was all minibuses. First in the row was Z carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to this was one of his old school buses. LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Another bus that did a few days on his school bus run was Z Carz LDV mininbus DS51 ZJU.

Z Carz DS51 ZJU in Longton

At the back of the spare ground was Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and there was another bus parked up. It was modern LDV miminbus CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

At the back of the compound was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We turned around in Willow Row and headed back onto the A50.we did this up to Heron Cross. Lightning Travel minibus T2 DLT was parked up at the Lightning house as we passed it going into Blurton. At the end of Beaconsfield on the #23 to Hanley was first Potteries 40029. We got home around 19:15 and for a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by the remains of a chocolate fudge cake that he had the other day. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00...Mark