Trip to The Burnley Big Bus Bash 23-07-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
1775	Burnley, Queensgate depot	Burnley BS	Special	Ribble
81	Burnley BS	Burnley, Queensgate depot	Special	GM Buses
66	Burnley, Queensgate depot	Burnley BS	Special	Burnley & Pendle
8	Burnley BS	Burnley, Queensgate depot	Special	Blackburn Transport
8	Burnley, Queensgate depot	Burnley BS	Special	Blackburn Transport

Today we decided to go to the The Burnley Big Bus Bash bus rally in Burnley. It was an event run by Transdev to promote the new buses being introduced on the Mainline services Padiham & Colne and other point beyond. We checked the weather for today and it was for mainly cloudy weather with the chance of some rain. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews way and we got onto the Westbound A50. We ran North up the A500 into Stoke and we ran into the town centre. We ran around the one-way system and we parked up on South Wolfe Street. We decided that we should have dinner first so we could go straight to the bus depot. We walked around the corner onto Church Street and we ate at the Stoke Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet whilst mum ordered the food. Matthew had a small breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked around the corner to the car and we set off around the one-way system onto Church Street. We turned right onto Shelton old Road and at the bottom we turned left onto the Northbound A500. We ran up to the M6 and we got onto the Northbound M6. We ran North for around 30 miles up to junction 21A and we then went Eastwards along the M62. We got onto the M60 and we continued clockwise around the North of Manchester. We joined the Northbound M66 and we ran past Bury and we continued North onto the A56. We passed nearby Accrington and we then got onto the Eastbound M65. We ran past Burnley and we came into town from the North end as we came off the M65 at junction 12. We went Eastwards along the A682 link road and then at the next roundabout we went South down the A682. We ran through Brierfield and when we got to Ruskin Street. We did a cicrle of the depot whilst we looked for somewhere to park and we ended getting back onto the A682 and turned left onto Ruskin Road. We stopped the car to get out and we said goodbye to mum who was off to do some shopping whilst we went to the bus depot. We walked back to the front side of the depot and we saw one of the new buses pull up outside the depot. It was Transdev Burnley & Pendle 261 on a M1 service to Colne.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 261 in Burnley

We managed to find out by asking around that buses were operating between the depot and the bus station approximately every 20 minutes. We waited at the stop outside and a few minutes and a couple of buses appeared. First we saw Ribble double decker 1775. We also saw Blackburn Transport double decker 8.

Blackburn Transport 8 in Burnley

The buses both parked up in the depot, so we decided to have a walk around the depot. There was only one way in and out of the depot through the main shed. This was kept empty with a few exceptions as to allow vehicles to come and go into the main part of the depot which was an open courtyard. There were a couple of other small sheds off this courtyard where thing like the bus wash was located. In the first shed 1543 was running up and down one side where you could pay to have a short drive off the bus. Also in this shed was Burnley & Pendle 66.

Burnley & Pendle 66 in Burnley

We walked out into the main courtyard in which most of the buses were being displayed. In the yards we saw Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner double decker 3635.

Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner 3635 in Burnley

There seemed to be quite a few different buses from around the different Transdev garages. Representing Intack depot was Transdev Lancashire United Versa 233.

Transdev Lancashire United 233 in Burnley

There were also quite a few different preserved buses on display. In the yard was Ribble single decker 135 in early Stagecoach livery.

Ribble 135 in Burnley

With the other preserved buses was Pennine Leylad national LN19.

Pennine LN19 in Burnley

Back out the depot was one of the new buses for which the launch bus rally had been arranged. It was Transdev Burnley & Pendle 249.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 249 in Burnley

We decided it was time to go out and ride on a bus or two. Whilst we waited we took a few more pictures. In the main repair shops was Transdev Burnley & Pendle double decker 2002.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2002 in Burnley

A few minutes later Ribble double decker 1775 appeared after returning from the bus station. Whilst the bus was emptying out we stood in the reservation in the middle of the road to get a picture of Ribble 1775.

Ribble 1775 in Burnley

The bus emptied out and started to load up again. We got on the bus and we went upstairs. A few minutes later we set off Northwards up the A682. At the next big junction we turned right onto Casterton Avenue and we ran Eastwards to the Burnley Lane part of town. We turned right onto Briercliffe Road and we ran Southwards towards town. We joined the A682 by the church and Duke of York pub and we continued towards town. We crossed over the canal and we ran past Morrisons before turning right into Yorkshire Street. We turned left into Croft Street and we stopped at the end at the drop off stop and the bus unloaded. Once off the bus we walked into the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. We let Ribble 1775 go in the hope of getting something different back to the depot. This paid off as a few minutes later we saw GM Buses coach 81 stop outside on Croft Street. A few minutes later it cam into the bus station and Matthew got a picture of GM Buses 81.

GM Buses 81 in Burnley bus station

We got on the coach and we sat down towards the rear. Whilst we were waiting for the coach to depart we saw First West Yorkshire 69581 on a #592 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 69581 in Burnley bus station

A few minutes later we set off out of the bus station onto Croft Street and we turned right onto Yorkshire Street. We turned left onto the A682 and we ran out of town. We went up the hill past Morrisons and over the canal. We past the Duke of York and we continued up the A682 and we saw ABC coach PO16 HSA. A few hundred yard up the road we pulled into the stop outside the depot. There was a low ceiling above Matthew's seat where the ducting for the ventilation was, and Matthew stood up quickly and banged his head! We let the coach empty out and matthew took a picture inside GM Buses 81.

Inside GM Buses 81

We had another quick look around the depot whilst we waited for a different bus to work. Burnley & Pendle 66 had started up so we asked someone on board if it was going to work. They said it was doing a single one-way trip, after they had been through the yard and packed up their stall in the courtyard. I asked when they were leaving and they said in around 10 minutes! We decided to take a few more pictures whilst we waited for the bus to depart. In the main maintenance shops was Transdev Burnley & Pendle Versa 269.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 269 in Burnley

On the charity driver training run was the aforementioned Transdev Burnley & Pendle T543.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle T543 in Burnley

We went outside to wait for the single decker to depart towards Burnley. Whilst we waited we saw Blackburn Transport 8 parked up outside the garage.

Blackburn Transport 8 in Burnley

A few minutes later Burnley & Pendle 66 pulled out of the garage and stopped by the entrance of the depot. We got on the bus and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the garage and onto the A682 and we ran Southwards into town. In town we turned right onto Yorkshire Street. We turned right onto Croft Street and we stopped at the set down stop outside the bus station. We crossed the road to get a better view and Matthew took another picture of Burnley & Pendle 66 before it returned to to the bus depot.

Burnley & Pendle 66 in Burnley

We were hopefully going to get a bus a back to the depot. Matthew went to the shop and brought some chocolate and a can of Coke. We went back into the bus station and we sat and waited for another bus to appear. A few minutes later required Blackburn Transport 8 appeared on a return service to the depot.

Blackburn Transport 8 in Burnley bus station

whilst we waited to board the bus we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 244 on an adjacent stand.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 244 in Burnley bus station

We got on the bus bus and we went upstairs. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Blackburn Transport 8 before we sat down.

Inside Blackburn Transport 8

A few minutes later we set off out of the bus station onto Croft Street and we turned right onto Yorkshire Street. We turned left onto the A682 and we ran out of town. We went up the hill past Morrisons and over the canal. We past the Duke of York and we continued up the A682 and we saw ABC coach PO16 HSA. A few hundred yard up the road we pulled into the stop outside the depot. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Blackburn Transport 8.

Blackburn Transport 8 in Burnley

It was now 16:00 and we had heard that Blackburn Transport 8 was going to do one last trip towards town, so we got straight back onto the bus and went upstairs and sat down. The bus set of along A682 heading Northwards towards Nelson. We turned right onto Casterton Avenue and we went Eastwards. Instead of turning right onto Briercliffe Road, we continued Eastwards along Eastern Avenue. After quite a long run we turned left onto Ormerod Road. At the roundabout went straight onto Ridge Avenue. At the end of the road we turned right onto Brunshaw Road. We ran down the steep part of the hill and we ran past Turf Moor. We ran under the railway line and at the roundabout we went straight onto Yorkshire Street. We turned left onto Croft Street and we got up and got off the bus. We had arranged to meet mum in the car park opposite to the bus station, we went around the outside of the bus station to take a few more pictures. We saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 605 on a #1 to Burnley.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 605 in Burnley bus station

We continued around the outside of the bus station and we saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle Dart 720 on layover.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 720 in Burnley bus station

We also saw Transdev Burnley & Pendle 245 on a M4 service.

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 245 in Burnley bus station

We walked back into the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards we crossed over Red Lion Street and we walked into the car park. In the car parked we saw Max Private Hire minibus YD61 AXZ.

Max Private Hire YD61 AXZ in Burnley

We got into the car an we set off out of town along Parker Lane and we turned right onto Finsley Gate. We turned left onto Manchester Road and at the roundabout we turned right onto Trafalgar Street. We saw B&N Coaches A7 BXN. We ran onto Westway and we ran Westwards out of town onto the M65. We ran Westwards for a couple of junctions and then we turned left onto the Southbound M66. We ran South and forwards onto the M66 and at the end we joined the anti-clockwise M60 and we saw Kirby Lonsdale coach hire SP04 HRL. We ran around North Manchester and we saw Lets Travel FX51 BVG ahead of us.

Lets Travel FX51 BVG on the M60

We joined the M62 and we ran Westwards to the M6. We ran Southwards through the roadworks and then at junction 16 we got onto the Southbound A500. We ran down to Stoke and we came off and ran into Fenton to Drop uncle Dave off at home. Once we had dropped uncle Dave off we ran up to Heron Cross and we crossed over the A50. We ran through Blurton along Blurton Road and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 18:30. We chilled out on the sofa and we sort out the pictures from today and put them online. We also wrote some of the weeks Blog entries. For a late tea we had a fish finger sandwich followed by chocolate cake. Later on Matthew had a bath and then chilled out on the computer until around 00:30... Mark