Trip to Derby / Sinfin 02-09-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4216	Derby BS	Alvaston, Stonesdale Court	1	Arriva Midlands
4214	Alvaston, Stonesdale Court	Derby BS	1A	Arriva Midlands
4403	Derby BS	Sinfin, Harrier Way	1	Arriva Midlands
3513	Sinfin, Harrier Way	Derby BS	7	Arriva Midlands
3745	Derby BS	Chellaston, Glenwood Road	2A	Arriva Midlands
3745	Chellaston, Chellaston School	Rose Hill, Ivy Square	2A	Arriva Midlands
3576	Rose Hill, Ivy Square	Derby BS	2B	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Derby. We had checked the weather for today and it was for dry weather with some sunny intervals. We agev Matthew a list of place to go in the North West and Midlands and from the list he chose Derby. Research consisted of checking out the multi-operator ticket and down loading a Derby area map onto the phone. Matthew got up around 09:45 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off onto the A5035 and we ran through Dresden up to Longton. We joined the Eastbound A50 and as we ran into Meir tunnel we passed First Potteries 32633 on a #6 to Hanley. We carried on Eastwards to the edge of Blythe Bridge and we followed the A50 to the right towards Uttoxeter. As we continued Eastwards we passed Robin Hood Coaches W494 HOB parked up in a lay-by and Yorkshire Rose Coaches YJ11 GKO. We continued up the hill towards Doveridge and we passed Midlands Classic double decker 58 on a #402 to Uttoxeter. We came off the A50 onto the A511 and we ran a couple of miles to Hatton to the Salt Box cafe where we had dinner. As we parked up we saw Trent Barton 660 and 661 on V1 Villager services. Matthew went to the toilet and then we sat down to wait for the food which mum ordered. matthew had a small breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. When we had finished eating we continued East to Hilton and then we went Northwards back under the A50 and along the A516 into Derby. We entered the town and we ran into the inner ring road and then we went anticlockwise towards the Intu Derby shopping centre. We parked in the riverside car park adjacent to the bus station and when we parked up we rode down in the left to street level and we said goodbye to mum. We walked under the car park and we saw Notts+Derby 599 on a #73 to Weston-on-Trent.

Notts+Derby 599 in Derby bus station

We crossed over the road to the bus station and we stood on the paved area just outside. We saw Arriva Midlands 3570 in the centre on layover.

Arriva Midlands 3570 in Derby bus station

On stand 2 was Trent Barton 723 about to work an 'Ilkeston Flyer' service.

Trent Barton 723 in Derby bus station

We also saw Notts+Derby 441 on a #11 to Ilkeston.

Notts+Derby 441 in Derby bus station

I went into the bus station to try and by a Spectrum ticket and Matthew stayed with uncle Dave taking bus pictures. We saw required Arriva Midlands 3744 on a F1 service to Alvaston.

Arriva Midlands 3744 in Derby bus station

When I got in the bus station I realised that the travel office was shut and we were unable to purchase Spectrum tickets. As such we made a decision to do Arriva Midland buses as they operate double deckers. Whilst we considered what to do we took a few more pictures. We saw Trent Barton 333 on a i4 service to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 333 in Derby bus station

We also saw required Arriva Midlands 3795 on a #2A service to Chellaston.

Arriva Midlands 3795 in Derby bus station

From our earlier observations we noticed that the Arriva Midlands double deckers were mainly on the #1, #1A and #38 services. The #1 & #1A tended to be the older double decker so we decided to catch one of those. We walked over to the appropriate stand and we saw required Arriva Midlands 4216 on a #1 to Alvaston.

Arriva Midlands 4216 in Derby bus station

We got on the bus and we were about to book Derby Day Saver tickets when the tickets when the driver advised us to get a Family day Ticket at £5! We booked the Family day Ticket and we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and under the car park bridge. We crossed the inner ring road and we ran forwards onto Siddals Road. At the end we turned right onto Station Terrace. We stopped at the bus terminal outside the railway station and then we turned right onto Midland Road. At the end we turned left onto London Road and we ran South. for around 2 miles. In the centre of Alvaston we turned left onto Beech Avenue and then right onto Kelmore Road. We travelled through the narrow centre of Alvaston Village along Church Street and we ran through a temporary traffic lights and onto Elvaston Lane. The bus in front had emptied out so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 4216.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4216

We turned right onto Keldhorne Lane and we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a other picture of Arriva Midlands 4216 as it carried on back towards Derby.

Arriva Midlands 4216 in Alvaston

Once off the bus we crossed over the road to wait for a #1A service back to Derby. A few minutes later the bus appeared and it was required Arriva Midlands 4214.

Arriva Midlands 4214 in Alvaston

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Family Day Ticket to the driver and we went upstairs. As the rear of the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 4214.

Inside Arriva Midlands 4214

We set off along Keldholme Lane and we turned left onto Alvaston Lane. We went along Church Street and we turned left into Kelmoor Road. We turned left onto Beech Avenue and at the roundabout we joined the Northbound A6. We ran around 2 miles into Derby and we turned right into Midland Road. After stopping outside the railway station we continued North up railway Terrace and we turned left onto Siddals Road. We crossed The Cock Pitt and we ran under the bridge before turning right into the bus station. Once we got off the bus station we walked up to the end of the bus station where we saw Skills of Nottingham national Express liveried coach BX16 CGV on a #440 to London.

Skills of Nottingham BX16 CGV in Derby bus station

We decided to keep moving and we spotted required Arriva Midlands 4403 on a #38 to Sinfin.

Arriva Midlands 4403 in Derby bus station

We decided to do this bus so we flashed the Arriva Family Day Ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and under the bridge onto the Southbound A601. We turned right into London Road and we ran around the Intu Derby shopping centre. We followed the road around onto Osmaston Road and over the A601 and Southwards past the Royal Crown Derby pottery. We turned right onto Douglas Road and we continued onto Dairy House Road. We crossed over a roundabout onto St Thomas Road and we turned left to continue South onto St Thomas Road. We crossed over the outer ring road and we continued Southwards down Sinfin Lane. We went for around a mile and at the roundabout we turned right onto Grampian Way. We travelled Westwards and we slowly turned Southwards until we got to a roundabout adjacent to a large Asda store and some small shops. We decided to get up and get off the bus here. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 4403 before int continued back towards Derby.

Arriva Midlands 4403 in Sinfin

Once off the bus we walked over to the shops and we went into the post office. We brought a couple of cans and a chocolate bar and we returned to the bus stop that we had been at earlier. The next bus back was a #7 to Derby via Peartree. A few minutes later we saw the bus go past to turn around at the roundabout. It was required Arriva Midlands Scania 3513.

Arriva Midlands 3513 in Sinfin

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Family Day Ticket to the driver. We set off Westwards along Grampian Way and at the roundabout we turned right onto Stenson Road. We travelled Northwards towards town for a short while before turning left into Oaklands Avenue. We ran to the end and we turned right into Blagreaves Lane. We saw abother one of this batch of Scania's, Arriva Midlands 3514 on a #7 to Sinfin and we turned left onto Stenson Road. We crossed over the ring road and then we took the next left onto Upper Dale Road. We stopped briefly outside a magnificent Sikh Temple and we ran forwards onto Stanhope Street. We turned left into Pear Tree Road and into a busy multi-cultural main street of Rose Hill. We passed the only Arriva Midlands Dart that we saw today, Arriva Midlands 2276 on a #4A to Allenton. We continued onto Normanton Road and we ran up to the inner ring road. We turned right onto Lara Croft Way and then left onto Osmaston Road. We followed this around to the right onto London Road and past the Intu Derby shopping centre. We turned left onto the A601 and left again under the bridge before we turned right into the bus station. We left the bus empty and then Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3513.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3513

Once we got off the bus we walked up to the end to see what was on layover. In the coach bays we saw Tansey's YJ11 GKK.

Tansey's YJ11 GKK in Derby bus station

Wewalked to the path at the end to watch buses departing the bus station. We saw Trent Barton 740 on layover and we also saw Trent Barton 686 on a 6.4 service to Belper and Openwoodgate.

Trent Barton 686 in Derby bus station

We also saw Yourbus 3107 on a #20 to Chaddeston.

Yourbus 3107 in Derby bus station

Wewalked back into the bus station and on the way we saw Trent Barton 657 on a Villager to Burton-upon-Trent.

Trent Barton 657 in Derby bus station

We decided to do a #2 towards Chellaston. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva Midlands 3745 on a #2A to Chellaston.

Arriva Midlands 3745 in Derby bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Family ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned left and under the bridge. We turned right onto the A601 and right again onto London Road past Intu Derby. We followed the road around onto Osmaston Road and we crossed over the ring road. We continued out of town along Osmaston Road and we past the Royal Crown Derby pottery. We crossed over the railway line to Burton and past the Litchurch lane carriage works. We ran through Osmaston and we crossed over the outer ring road. We apssed through Allenton where there were a few shops and we continued Southwards down the A514 through Shelton Lock and into Chellaston. We turned left onto Glenwood Road and we got up and got off the bus. We walked back towards the main road to catch a #2 back towards Derby. As we approached the main road we saw an unidentified Arriva Midlands Scania Omnicity go siling past Northwards towards Derby. We got to the bus stop and then next bus would be the bus that we just got off after it had been around the housing estate. The next bus wasn't for quite a while so we decided to do the #2A up to the edge of town and catch the next #38 behind it. Whilst we waited for Arriva Midlands 3745 to return we saw Arriva Midlands 3573 on a #2 to Melbourne.

Arriva Midlands 3573 in Chellaston

A few minutes later Arriva Midlands 3745 came around the corner out of Glenwood Road on a #2A to Derby.

Arriva Midlands 3745 in Chellaston

We got on the bus and we flashed Family Day Ticket to the driver. As the rear of the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3745 before we sat down.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3745

We ran Northwards up the A514 and we crossed over the outer ring road. When we had travelled around 3 miles and past the Douglas Street turning we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3745 as it carried on towards Derby.

Arriva Midlands 3745 in Rose Hill

We had a few minutes to wait for the next #38 and behind that was also a #2B service that didn't go as far Southwards as the #2A. Matthew had a chocolate bar whilst we waited. The first bus to turn up was required Arriva Midlands 3576 on a #2B to Derby.

Arriva Midlands 3576 in Rose Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed Family Day Ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down. We ran Northwards up Osmaston Road past the Royal Crown Derby pottery and we crossed the inner ring road. We continued onto London Road and past the Intu Derby shopping centre. We turned left onto the inner ring road and we turned left under the bridge and into the bus station. Once off the bus station we walked to the end and we saw Trent Barton 85 on layover in between runs on the Red Arrow service.

Trent Barton 85 in Derby bus station

We went to the shop and we brought some chocolate bars as well as a can of Coke and a small bottle of Irn Bru. We walked out of the West end of the bus station and we saw Trent Barton 448 on a #74 service.

Trent Barton 448 in Derby bus station

We crossed the road to head back to the car park and we saw required Arriva Midlands 2506 running out of service.

Arriva Midlands 2506 in Derby bus station

We met mum at the bottom of the stairs and we went to the second floor to pay the car parking. We continued in the lift the the 4th floor and we got into the car. Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll and a can of Fanta orange. We set off out of the car park and onto the inner ring Road. We wen Southwards down the A6 over the site of the old railway works and near to Derby County's new ground. We got onto the outer ring road and we went clockwise around to the A38. We travelled along the A38 for a short while and we got onto the Southbound A516. We ran out of town and we joined the Westbound A50. Travelling back along the A50 we saw Swiftsure coach RBZ 2567. We continued Westwards near to Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge and we came off the A50 at Longton to see what was parked at Z Car this evening. Since the new part of the yard was opened they appear to have stopped using the spare ground to park buses. We turned left onto Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Renault minibus DS07 LSN in the compound.

Z Carz DS07 LSN in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus OV05 WSW.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

We returned onto the A50 and we saw Autocabs new Volswagen minibus RX60 CVO. We ran Westwards and we came off at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton before turning right onto Church Road. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we got home around 19:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some more of the Blog and out our bus pictures online. Matthew went to bed around 01:00... Mark.