Trip to St Helens / Halewood 07-07-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3012	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	20	Arriva NW&W
4602	St Helens BS	Prescot, Church Street	10A	Arriva NW&W
15	Prescot BS	Wavertree, Glynn Street	61	Halton Transport
49	Wavertree, Hey Green Road	Belle Vale Interchange (Stop B)	61	Halton Transport
4825	Belle Vale Interchange (Stop B)	Halewood Shopping Centre	79	Arriva NW&W
4565	Halewood, Leathers Lane (Stop C)	Belle Vale Interchange (Stop B)	79D	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to re-visit St Helens. No research was done for this trip not even to check the weather, as it has been hot and sunny for a couple of weeks now. We gave Matthew a list of destinations from the North Midlands and North West and from the list Matthew chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had Matthew his toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got ready to go out. We set off around 11:45 onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthew Way. After passing the BET365 stadium, we joined the Westbound A50 which we did down to Sideway and then we joined the Northbound A500. We ran up to Wolstanton and then we came off to get petrol at Asda. After topping up with petrol we re-joined the Northbound A500 we saw Swans Travel YN14 NRJ. As we travelled up to the M6 we saw coach hire DIW 1386, an unidentified Holmeswood coach, Alfa 86 & white minibus EN67 MWA. Matthew also lost his hat out of the window as we travelled up through Cheshire. At junction 20 we went Westbound along the M62. Seen on the M62 was taxi minibus YG16 AHB. We came off the M62 and we went Northwards up the A49 to Newton-le-Willows. We stopped the the railway station to buy Saveaway tickets and then we continued into Earlestown. At the mini roundabout we turned left onto the A572 and we ran for a couple of miles before we turned shap left onto Market Street. We turned left into Leigh Street and we parked outside The Nine Arches pub. We went into the pub and Matthew used the toilets. Once we had been to the facilities mum went to the bar to order the food. Matthew had a chicken fillet and a burger on a bap with fries washed down with a glass of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked to the bus station. We saw Arriva NW&W 2691 on a #34 to Leigh.

Arriva NW&W 2691 in Earlestown bus station

After a quick check of the car just to make sure the hat wasn't there, we saw a bus approaching. It was required Arriva NW&W 3012 on a #20 to Earlestown.

Arriva NW&W 3012 in Earlestown bus station

We got onto the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and went onto Market Street. We turned onto the A572 and we turned onto Vista Road. We ran North for around 3/4's of a mile and then we turned left onto the A599. We ran through new Boston into Haydock and we passed the Tesco superstore. We joined the A58 just outside of town and we ran into town and over the railway line along Corporation Street. We followed the one-way system around onto Bickerstaffe Street and into the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3012 before it returned to Earlestown.

Arriva NW&W 3012 in St Helens bus station

We decided to have a walk around to see what was about before we caught another bus. We walked up to Corporation Street to see what was parked up on layover. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27155 about to work a #10A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 27155 in St Helens bus station

We walkd back through to the other side pf the bus staton and we saw preserved ex Southampton 187 on a tour running aong Bickerstaffe Street.

Southampton 187 in St Helens bus station

We went to the middle stands to see what we sould do towards liverpool and we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27155 about to do a #10A. By the time Matthew had taken a picture the bus pulled off. Right behind it was Arriva NW&W 4602 on a #10A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4602 in St Helens bus station

We decided to do this bus. We got on and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. A quick check of the buses I have travelled on page revaeled that this was dud. We had been on Arriva NW&W 4602 before when we did it from Belle Vale to Hunts Cross on a #89 back in September 2017. The bus set off out of the bus station through town. We went past the new Nando's and Cinema. We joined the A58 and we ran Westwards. We turned off the main road to head towards Thatto Heath down Lugsmore Lane. We continued South through Nutgrove and over the railway line at Rainhill. Here we joined the A57 for the run towards Prescot. We passed Whiston hospital and we went around the town to the North. We got off the bus by the stop opposite to Tickle Hall Cross. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4602 before it continued to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4602 in Prescot

We turned down dud 4621 which was on the #89 to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and we went to the Sun Inna and Matthew used the toilet. The England vs Sweden game was on the television and the score was still 0-0. We brought a can of Coke and we went outside to uncle Dave. We walked onto Church Street and into the bus station to wait for something going Westwards. The first bus due was Halton Transport 15 on the #61 to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 15 in Prescot bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we ran down towards the shops and we passed Cumfybus ex Rotala Versa YJ61 JJO on a #139 service. We headed South down Sewell past the shops and forwards onto Hall Lane. We went forwards onto Cross Lane ans at the end we turned right onto Dragon Lane. We ran near to Whiston railwat station and then forwards onto Windy Arbour Road. We continued South over the M57/M62 and onto a large roundabout over the motorways. We turned right onto Tarbock Road and we went North past Huyton Industrial Estate where we saw an unidentified green Routemaster with an all over Crabbies advertisement which we believe to be RMC 1459. We turned right onto Meadow Drive and left onto Manor Farm Road. We turned right onto St John's Road and then left onto Huyton Hey Road. We turned left into Huyton bus station and we asked Matthew if he wanted to carry on a bit further and he said yes. We decided to go further in to Merseyside as far as Wavertree. We came out of the bus station and we turned left onto the B5199. At the roundabout we turned right onto the A5080. We crossed over the M62 and we ran parrallel to the motorway for anout a mile. Near to Broad Green we turned left onto Rocky Lane. We crossed over the A5058 onto Thingwall Road. At the end we turned right the B5178. We crossed over the roundabout onto Wavertree High Street and as we got towards the centre we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Halton Transport 15 as it carried on towards Liverpool.

Halton Transport 15 in Wavertree

We turned and immediately we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 27289 on a #204 to Liverpool. Across the roads we saw Arriva NW&W 5008 on a #79C to Murdishaw.

Arriva NW&W 5008 in Wavertree

We crossed over the road and we saw a shop by the bus stop. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a Flake and a carton of orange. We went outside to wait for the bus. Whilst we waited Matthew had a Milky Way and the carton of orange. A minute or so later we saw a Halton Transport bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Halton Transport 49 on a #14A to Runcorn.

Halton Transport 49 in Wavertree

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along Wavertree High Street and fowards onto the B5178 into Childwall. We crossed over the Childwall 5 ways roundabout onto Childwall Valley Road and we continued for around 1 1/2 miles until we cam to the Belle Vale shopping centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Halton Transport 49 as it carried on towards Runcorn.

Halton Transport 49 in Belle Vale

We decided to catch the next #79 to Halewood Shoping centre as oopsed to going further into Merseyside. We waited at the bus stop for a few minutes and then we saw a hybrid bus approaching. As we haven't had many Hybrids I thought that there would be a high chance of it being a required one. As it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 4825 on a #79D to Halewood Shopping Centre.

Arriva NW&W 4825 in Belle Vale

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. This was a bus that we had been on from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Liverpool South Parkway back in June 2017. We set off along Childwall Valley Road. We followed the road around the 90' left hand turn into Netherley and we turned right onto Wood Lane. We continued onto Gerrards Lane and at junction we turned left onto Lydiates Lane. We turned riught onto Okell Drive and we ran around the housing estate. At the roundabout we turned right onto Church Road and into the old village. We turned right onto Baileys Lane and we crossed over the railway line. We turned right onto Leathers lane and by the shopping centre we turned left onto Hillingdon Avenue where the bus terminated. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4825.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4825

Once off the bus we walked around the corner onto Leathers Laneand into the retail park. At the bottom end we could see a line of Arriva double deckers on various services. We went down to the 3 buses stops in the shopping centre. We saw Selwyns LJ08 RJY on a #3A Huyton circular.

Selwyns LJ08 RJY in Halewood

Matthew decided he wanted the toilet so we went into Subway. After using the toilet we brought a bottle of Pepsi and a bottle of water. We walked up to stand C to wait for the next #79/79D to Belle Vale. Whilst we waited we saw required Arriva NW&W 4827 on a #78 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4827 in Halewood

A few minutes later we saw required Arriva NW&W 4557 on a #75 to Liverpool One.

Arriva NW&W 4557 in Halewood

The bus pulled up from down the bottom end and as it got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva NW&W 4565 on a #79D to Liverpool Dale Street.

Arriva NW&W 4565 in Halewood

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4565 before we sat down.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4565

We set off out of the shopping centre and we turned right onto Leathers Lane. We turned left onto Baileys Lane and we crossed over the railway line and ran into the the old village centre. We turned left onto Church Road and at the next roundabout we turned left onto Okell Drive. As we travelled up throught the estate we realised it was getting a bit late. Mum called to say she had finished in town so we arranged to meet up at Belle vale. We turned left onto Lydiate Lane and Right onto Gerrards Lane. We continued onto Wood Lane and at then end we turned left onto Childwall Valley Road. We followed the road through 90' and we ran towards the shopping centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4565 as it carried on towards Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4565 in Belle Vale

Once off the bus we waited for mum to arrive and we took a few more bus pictures. We saw required Arriva NW&W 4600 on a #89 to Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Arriva NW&W 4600 in Belle Vale

A few minutes later we saw required Halton Transport 69 on a #14A to Liverpool.

Halton Transport 69 in Belle Vale

Also seen was Arriva NW&W 4454 on a #79 to Halewood Shopping Centre.

Arriva NW&W 4454 in Belle Vale

Mum appeared and we got in the car. Matthew had a sausage roll and a can or orange Fanta. We set off along Childwall Valley Road and we ran into Netherley. We turned left into Whitefield Lane we saw silver minibus AK66 YZP. We continued into Tarbock village and we turned right onto the A5080. We joined the Eastbound M62 and we saw an unidentified Ashcroft's Travel coach. We ran up to Junction 10 and then we got onto the Southbound M6. Travelling South down the M6 we saw an unidentified Red Rose coach, an unidentified white Mercedes minibus, Alfa 106, silver taxi minibus PL08 JKO, 2 x unidentified Straffords coaches, an unidentified Anthony's Travel coach, foreign minibus HEL 177, an unidentified Omega1 coach. We ran down to junction 16 and we came off the motorway onto the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 were Paul's of Stoke Y14 POS, preserved PMT 207, Stanways PIL 2678. We ran through Longport and Etruria aand Stoke. At Sideway we came off the A500 onto the A50. Seen on the A50 was grey minibus YM66 UBU. We came off the A50 and Longport and we went to Z carz to see what was parked up there this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground so we turned left into Willow Row. We saw Z Carz new minibus SJ61 OPK parked up near to the gate.

Z Carz SJ61 OPK in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz new minibus SA12 CKO.

Z Carz SA12 CKO in Longton

At the back of the compound was Z Carz Volkswaggen minibus OV05 WSW which is now VOR.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW in the corner of the new yard. We went West along the A50 to Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We ran down Finstock Avenue and we stopped briefly for mum to pick up some baps. We continued down Finstock Avenue and we got back home at 19:30. When we got back for a late tea Matthew had sauage baps followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.