Trip to Northwich / Knutsford 23-12-2017

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4705	Northwich Interchange	Greenbank, adj Greenbank Lane	1	Arriva NW&W
2611	Greenbank, adj Greenbank Lane	Northwich Interchange	1	Arriva NW&W
4703	Northwich Interchange	Rudheath, Wright Avenue (cnr)	2	Arriva NW&W
4703	Rudheath, Wright Avenue (cnr)	Northwich Interchange	2	Arriva NW&W
F14 HOW	Northwich Interchange	Knutsford BS	289	Springfield's

Today we decided to re-visit Northwich. As one of the shortest days of the year, we decided to stay fairly local. We gave Matthew a choice of doing preserved PMT RE Bristol 207 or going to Northwich to get in a few of the new minibuses, and from the choices he chose to go to Northwich. We checked the weather for today and it was for a mild dry day with some sunshine. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:40 on the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews way. Near to the BET365 Stadium we saw D&G Bus 170 on a #14 to Stafford. We joined the Westbound A50 and at Sideway we turned right onto the Northbound A500. As we travelled North we passed Stanton's of Stoke 5658 RU. We ran up to Junction 16 on the M6 and we got onto the Northbound side where we saw Omega Travel Group KX15 GFE go past us. It was busy on the M6 so we only went up one juction. On the M6 we saw an unidentified JP Coaches coach and Alfa 78. We came off the M6 onto the Westbound A534 and we turned right onto Congleton Road where we passed Arriva NW&W 4490 on a #38 to Macclesfield. We ran through the town centre and we joined the Northbound A533. We ran out of town past the railway station and up towards Middlewich passing Arriva NW&W 704 going towards Sandbach. Near to the town we saw FWL 781Y in a yard opposite the canal. In Middlewich we joined the Westbound A54 and we ran up to the Golden Lion where we stopped. In the car park is The Country Kitchen food van. Matthew had a bacon, egg and sausage barm washed down with a small bottle of Coke. Once we had finished eating we ran Northwards up the A54 and we turned right onto the A533. We followed the road right into Northwich town Centre and we turned turned right onto Watling Street. We passed the bus Interchange and we saw Arriva NW&W 4702 on a #29B to Leftwich and network Warrington 66 on a #45 to Warrington. We turned left onto Crum Hill and we parked up in the car park behind the Seafarer. We said goobye to mum and we walked onto Watlin Street. Across the road work is being carried out on the civic buildings. We stopped at the market and Matthew used the toilet. In the Interchange we saw required Arriva NW&W 4705 on a #1 to Weaverham.

Arriva NW&W 4705 in Northwich Interchange

We decided to do the Mellor bodied minibus, and whilst we waited for it to be readied for service we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2620 on a #82 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 2620 in Northwich Interchange

When it was ready for service we got on Arriva NW&W 4705 and we brought Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket at £5.50. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off along Watkin Street. We turned right onto Chester Way and we continued around the one-way system over the river Dane. We turned left onto Castle Street. We continued onto Chester Road and we went under the railway line and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4705 as it continued towards Waeverham.

Arriva NW&W 4705 in Greenbank

It took a couple of minutes to cross the road as the road was very busy. Once we got across the road we waited for the bus back to Northwich. A few minutes later we saw a Plaxton Centro approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 2611.

Arriva NW&W 2611 in Greenbank

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Chester Road and under the railway line. We continued onto Castle Street and forwards onto the one-way system. We followed the A533 to the right and we crossed over the river Weaver and we ran forwards onto Watlin Street and into the Interchange. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2611.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2611

We got off the bus and we had a look around for something else to catch. We saw Arriva NW&W 4703 on a #2 to Rudheath.

Arriva NW&W 4703 in Northwich Interchange

We decided to do required Arriva NW&W 4703 so we got on and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Watling Street and we turned left onto Meadow Street. We followed the road around onto Witton Street and we crossed over Venables Road and we continued along Witton Street and onto Chester Way. We crossed over the roundabout onto Station Road and we continued Southwards out of town onto Middlewich Road. We turned right onto East Avenue and we ran around the estate. We ran onto Belmont Road and across the roundabout onto Malpas Road. We turned left onto Middlewich Road and we ran up to the railway station,. We crossed over Victoria Road onto Station Road and at the roundabout we turned left onto Chester Way. We followed Chester way around the one-way system and we crossed over the Weaver and came back into town onto Watling Street and into the bus interchange where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the toilet and then we waited for another bus to catch. After we waited for a while we saw dud Arriva NW&W 4105 on a #31 to Crewe.

Arriva NW&W 4105 in Northwich Interchange

A few minutes later we saw Network Warrington 51 on a #45 to Warrington.

Network Warrington 51 in Northwich Interchange

A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 4701 on a #4 to Barnton.

Arriva NW&W 4701 in Northwich Interchange

Matthew turned doing doing the required minibus and I suspected that he wanted to do something different. A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 3161 on a #37 to Sandbach.

Arriva NW&W 3161 in Northwich Interchange

We also saw Springfield F14 HOW which was on the #289 to Altrincham.

Springfield F14 HOW in Northwich Interchange

Matthew decide he wanted to do this bus even though we didn't have a ticket for it. I thought we could do it to the station and then catch an Arriva bus back. We got on the bus and we booked to the railway station before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Watling Street and we went forwards onto Chester Way. We turned left onto Meadow Street jsu as the #2 bus had done. We followed the same route out of town along Witton Street and onto Chester Way. We crossed over the big roundabout onto Station Road and we turned left onto Manchester Road where we should have got up and got off the bus, but Matthew refused to get off. As such we ended up going to Knutsford. We travelled for around a mile to Lostock Gralam and ran around the village on Fryer Road and Townshend Road. We turned right onto Hall Lane and we ran North up to the B5391 where we turned right. We ran fast up the road in a North Western direct for around 3 miles before we got to the A556. The bus stopped and there was a driver change. We turned left onto the A556 and we did a u-turn on the roundabout over junction 19 of the M6, where we saw an unidentified Hamilton's coach and an unidentified Springfield coach which had tottenham Hotspur FC on the display. We Headed South down the A556 and we turned left onto the A5033. We crossed over the M6 and we ran into Knutsford. As we came into town we saw PC Coaches EC14 PCC. We turned right onto King Edward Road and we ran forwards onto Toft Road past the railway station. We turned right onto Stanley Road and right into Bexton Road before entering the bus station. We got up and got off the bus an Matthew got another picture of Springfield F14 HOW.

Springfield F14 HOW in Knutsford bus station

We saw D&G Bus 156 on a #88 to Wilmslow. Once of the bus we went to find a toilet. The original disabled toilet was out of use and we screwed shut. There was a new toilet at the other end of the block but this didn't have a RADAR lock fitted. Matthew used the toilet and then we returned to the bus station. There wasn't another bus back to Northwich for nearly 2 hours! We decided to go and walk to the railway station to see if there was a train back to Northwich. We walked onto Toft Road and we turned right. After crossing over the crossing we walked over to the railway station to see if the was a train to Northwich due. There was a train at 17:01 in around 15 minutes but Matthew made it clear that he wouldn't do a train. We walked around the corner to the Shell petrol station and Matthew brought a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. We retruned to the bus station and we saw D&G 150 which was about to work a #88 to Wilmslow.

D&G 150 in Knutsford bus station

We also saw D&G Bus 152 on a #300 town circular service.

D&G 152 in Knutsford bus station

As there wasn't a way back to Northwich we contacted mum to come and pick us up. We sat in the bus station and Matthew ate a Crunchie. A short while later mum arrived in the car park of Booth's and we got in the car. Mum was waiting with Greggs sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park onto Bexton Road and we turned left onto King Edwards Road. We turned left into Gaskell Avenue and right into Stanley Road. We ran West along the A5033 and we crossed over the M6. We joined the Northbound A556 and we joined the Southbound M6 at junction 19. We travelled southwards through the roadworks and we were passed by The Traveller Choice PO15 KTL.

The Travellers Choice PO15 KTL on the M6

We also saw silver minibus DX13 YWC, taxi minibus KS17 JWC, an unidentified Parks of Hamilton coach / HSK 655 (#540) and an unidentified Go Travel coach. We came off the M6 at junction 16. We stopped briefly at the lay-by on the A500 so we could swao drivers and we ran Southwards down the A500. We heard on the football on the radio had just finished with a 3-1 win for Stoke City over West Bromwich Albion. As we travlled South we passed a few of the buses & coaches coming out of the BET365 stadium. We saw John Musso YK05 LFA, Stanton's of Stoke 614 WEH and First Potteries 32634(BS1) / 37158(BS1). We came off the A500 at Sideway and we went Eastwards up the A50 to Longton. We came off the A50 and we stopped at Tesco for Petrol. We crossed over the A50 and we headed to the spare ground where the Z Carz minibuses used to park. There were no buses there so we turned left onto Willow Row to see what was in the depot. We saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus DG10 WMJ. Afterwards we saw Z Carz Ford minibus DC12 KNG.

Z Carz DC12 KNG in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We joined the A50 and we turned left onto Heathcote Street. We continued onto Longton Hall Road and at the bottom we turned right onto Blurton Road. We stopped at St Mary's chip shop and we brought chips for tea and a couple of small bottle of pop for Matthew. We set off 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 18:00. When we got home Matthew had 2 small sausage s with chips and gravy followed by a jam filled shortcake 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.