Trip to Bury / Cheetham Hill 13-05-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
37405	Bury TI	Heywood, Market St (Stop C)	163	First Manchester
37416	Heywood, Hill St (Stop A)	Bury TI	163	First Manchester
37281	Bury TI	Cheetham Hill, Shopping Ctr (Stop L)	135	First Manchester
33690	Cheetham Hill, Bury Old Rd/Shopping Centre (Stop J)	Middleton BS	59	First Manchester
37546	Middleton BS	Cheetham Hill, Bury Old Road/Seymour Road (Stop H)	59	First Manchester
37289	Cheetham Hill, Seymour Rd (Stop G)	Bury TI	135	First Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Bury. We had checked the weather for today and it was forecast for a mainly dry and mild day with some sunshine all over the Midlands and North West. We gave Matthew a list of destinations to chose from and from the list he chose Bury. Matthew got up around 09:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 and we drove through Blurton along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and we continued onto Blurton Road. There had been a fire on Blurton Road so we had to divert around it. We turned left onto Brookside drive. We turned right onto Meaford Drive and right again onto Hollybush Road before re-joining Blurton Road. We travelled up Heron Cross and we turned left into Grove Road. We ran down into Stoke and forwards onto the A500. We ran North to Shelton New Road and we came off to go to the gas garage. Once we had filled up with LPG we joined the Westbound A53 and we ran back onto the A500. On the A500 we saw an unidetified dark green mini coach with a silver winged crest on the side. We ran North up to the M6 and then we got on the Northbound M6. As we travelled North up to the M62 we saw S&S Travel TSV 719, Stagecoach Merseyside 34807/34806, Jackie's Coaches WA04 MHV and an unidentified Thandi Coaches tri-axle double decker coach. At junction 21A we got onto the Eastbound M62 were we saw M&D Travel K50 MND. A few junction along we got onto the clockwise M60 and we ran around a few junctions to the M66 where we went North. Just to the East of Bury we got onto the A58 and we ran Westwards into and around town, we saw National Holidays NH63 GYH parked up near to the market. We turned right into Haymarket Street and we parked up in a side street near to Bolton Street. The had planned in eating at the Two Tons, We walked across the sqaure to the pub and Matthew used the toilet. Mum look at the menu which was limited and expensive. We walked around in a circle along The Rock and right into Crompton Street. we went through the Mill Gate shopping centre and we came out on Haymarket Street. Before we crossed Haymarket Street we saw First Manchester 69204 on a #468 to Tottington.

First Manchester 69204 in Bury interchange

We decided to eat at a place called Your Burger. Matthew had a beefburger with fries washed down with a bottle of Coke. Once we had finished eating we went onto Haymarket Street and we said goodbye to mum. On the way to the bus station we saw First Manchester 69146 on a #472 Ramsbottom circular service.

First Manchester 69146 in Bury interchange

We walked into the interchange and we considered what bus to do first. One of the first bus that we saw and considered doing was Rossendale 171 on a #467 to Rochdale.

Rossendale 171 in Bury interchange

We were about to get on the bus and I realised that I hadn't got any money! I spotted a cash machine just outside the bus station but the queue was ridiculous! Uncle Dave offered to borrow some money to me until such time I could get to a cash machine. By the time we had sorted this out the Dart had left the bus station. Further back in the interchange we saw required First Manchester on a #163 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37405 in Bury interchange

We waited for the bus to be readied for service and we got on a purchased System one bus only tickets for £5.20 each. The lower saloon was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37405 before we went upstairs.

Inside First Manchester 37405

The top deck was also empty so Matthew took another picture inside First Manchester 37405.

Inside First Manchester 37405

Whilst we waited for departure time we saw required First Manchester 33710 on a #471 to Bolton.

First Manchester 33710 in Bury interchange

We set off out of the bus station and straight onto the Eastbound A58. As we entered the road we saw aun unidentified Dunwood coach as well as row of coaches parked in the distance on Market Street. We continued East to the M66 and we went under and into Heap Bridge. We turned right onto Heap Brow and left onto Bury old Road. Around a 1/4 of a mile down the road we turned right onto Sutherland Road and left onto Argyle Street. We ran through a housing estate the entire length of Argyle Street and past some shops and then we turned left onto Pilsworth Road. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A58 again and we ran into the west end of Heywood. There was a short one way system around town and after passing the Wetherspoons pub we came to the Eastbound bus stop where we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 37405 as it carried on towards Manchester.

First Manchester 37405 in Heywood

From memory of our last visit to Heywood. We went across the road to the Westbound one-way street where we spotted the stop. On the was we saw a cash machine so I was able to get some money to pay uncle Dave back! We just missed First Manchester 66 on a #471 to Bolton, and this was followed straight afterwards by required First Manchester 37416 on a #163 to Bury.

First Manchester 37416 in Heywood

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. We set off along the A58 and we turned left onto Pilsworth Road. We turned right onto Argyle Street and we run to the other end of the estate and we stopped at the triangle at the end of the road where the Westbound bus stop is situated. We continued down to the A58 along Sutherland Road, Bury Old Road and down Heap Brow. After going under the M66 we climbed the hill up into Bury and around the town centre and market before we turned right into Haymarket Street. We then turned right into the bus station and went onto stand. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37416.

Inside First Manchester 37416

When we got off the bus we saw Rossendale double decker 122 about to work a #467 to Rochdale.

Rossendale 122 in Bury interchange

We crossed over to the other side of the interchange and Matthew used the toilet. When we came out we spotted required First Manchester 37281 about to work a #135 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37281 in Bury interchange

We decided to do this bus down as far as Cheetham Hill, so we got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. As the rear of the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37281.

Inside First Manchester 37281

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto Haymarket Street. We crossed over the A58 onto Knowsley Street before joining Manchester Road and running Southwards past Gigg Lane. I though we had previously done a #135 to Cheetham Hill. but we had only ever previously been as far as Heaton Park. We crossed the river Roch and we climbed the hill up towards Whitefield. At Besses O' The barn we deviated left onto Bury Old Road and we went under the tramway and over the M60 at the same point. We continued south along bury Old Road and we skirted the Western side of Heaton Park. West past the previous Southerly point that we had travelled from Bury and continued along the A665 for a further mile or so and onto The North end of Cheetham Hill. We travelled one stop further South than we had ever been before and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we saw First Manchester 66857 on a #42 to Manchester.

First Manchester 66857 in Cheetham Hill

Cheetham Hill is a very Culturally diverse area, and we learned from our last trip that we need to pick the right shop to take Matthew into if we wanted to buy him the usual thing that he recognises. We spotted a Premier convenience store so we crossed the road and went in. matthew brough a can of Coke as well as a couple of chocolate bars. When we came out of the shop we saw Shiel Buses minibus SN17 BKU heading North.

Shiel Buses SN17 BKU in Cheetham Hill

As we approached the bus stop we saw First Manchester 33690 on a #59 to Rushcroft.

First Manchester 33690 in Cheetham Hill

We decided to do this bus as far as Middleton so we got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 33690.

Inside First Manchester 33690

The bus set off up Bury Old Road and we turned right the A576 where we stopped for a short while. We continued North Eastwards past Bowker Vale tram stop and to the East of Heaton Park. We crossed the M60 and we ran the couple of miles into town. We entered the bus station. Once in Middleton bus station we got up and got off the bus. In the bus station Matthew used the toilet. After using the toilet we went for a walk around to take a few bus pictures. On layover we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10844 which was about to work a #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10844 in Middleton bus station

We also saw required First Manchester 37303 which was about to work a #17 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37303 in Middleton bus station

There wasn't much in the bus station at that time so we walked around the bus station where we decided to go back South towards Cheetham Hill. A few minutes later we saw a #59 come into the bus station and it was required First Manchester 37546.

First Manchester 37546 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. We set off out of the bus station and we turned onto the A576. We ran the couple of miles down to the M60 and we crossed over and into Blackley we past the East side of Heaton Park. We carried on for another couple of miles and we turned left onto Bury Old Road where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we crossed over the road to wait for something back to Bury. Whilst we waited we saw First Manchester 66876 on a #52 to the Trafford Centre.

First Manchester 66876 in Cheetham Hill

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching and it was dud First Manchester 37289 on a #135 to Bury.

First Manchester 37289 in Cheetham Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. We set off up the A665 and we ran West of Heaton Park. We crossed over the M60 and we joined onto the A56. We ran North through Whitefield and at the edge of Bury we veered right onto Knowsley Street. We crossed over the A58 and we ran into Haymarket Street. We turned right into the bus station and we let the bus empty before Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37289.

Inside First Manchester 37289

Once off the bus we decided to take a few pictures before we returned to the car. We saw Rossendale 244 on the #469 to Tottington.

Rossendale 244 in Bury Interchange

We also saw Rossendale Dart 169 on a #478 to Ramsbottom.

Rossendale 169 in Bury Interchange

We walked back to the car and mum was waiting with sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We drove along Haymarket Street and we followed the one way system onto Moss Street. We turned left onto Manchester Road and we ran down to the A58. We ran Eastwards around the town centre and down the hill to the M66 where we went Southwards. We travelled the few miles down to the ring road and we joined the anti-clockwise M60. Travelling back along the M60 we saw taxi minibus PO17 ZZR. We joined the M62 and we ran Westwards to the M6. We then travelled South down the M6 were we saw an unidentified Rigby's Bova, an unidentified white (Vision?) coach on a low load going North & taxi minibus ML64 LHH. At junction 16 we got onto the Southbound A500 where we saw white minibus BF52 JFG. At Sideway we went East along the A50 and we saw Marshall's of Sutton-on-Trent minicoach YN05 UGO. As we came off the A50 we saw John Musso YD60 CXA. We stopped at Z Carz to see what was parked up there this evening. In the first row we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus LV52 TZY.

Z Carz LV52 TZY in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

Also in the front row we saw Z Carz LDV minibus PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

Next to the LDV minibus was Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also in the front row was Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW.

Z Carz BU04 GYW in Longton

In the second row we saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus DG10 VMO.

Z Carz DG10 VMO in Longton

We turned left onto Willow Row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We thought we saw another minibus so we turned the car around further down the road. As we got closer we saw that it was Z Carz Vauxhall minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

We returned onto the A50 and we saw white minibus GIG 8676 & ABC Supreme DU60 XTB. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we ran through Blurton along Blurton Road. The fire engine and police cordon had gone by the time we came back past it. We turned right onto Church Road and we turned right onto beaconsfield Drive. We got back home around 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark.