Trip to Derby / Nottingham 04-08-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
84	Derby BS	Nottingham Victoria BS	Red Arrow	Trent Barton
770	Nottingham Victoria BS	Ilkeston, Market Place (Stop 5)	2	Trent Barton
809	Ilkeston	Stapleford, Memorial Garden	my15	Trent Barton
326	Stapleford, Memorial Garden	Lenton, QMC Main Entrance (Stop QM02)	i4	Trent Barton
705	Lenton. QMC Main Entrance (Stop QM02)	Nottingham, Wollaton Street (Stop Y5)	i4	Trent Barton
778	Nottingham, Cathedral (Stop Y3)	Ilkeston, Market Place (Stop 5)	2	Trent Barton
718	Ilkeston, Market Place (Stop 1)	Derby BS	Ilkeston Flyer	Trent Barton

Today we decided to re-visit Derby. As mum had been working quite a bit lately we wanted a shortish trip. Research consisted of looking on the Trent Barton site for fares and the area map. We also checked the weather which was for warm dry weather with hazy sunshine. Matthew got up around 10:15 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off onto the A5035 and we headed through Dresden up to Longton. We got on the the Eastbound A50 and passed D&G 112 on a #1A to Wood Lane. we ran throughMeir tunnel up towards Blythe Bridge. We followed the A50 to the right and we passed M&D Travel K50 MND & white minibus BX08 YDB We ran near to Uttoxeter before going up the hill near to Doveridge. We continued Eastwards through Foston and we joined the Northbound A38. We ran to the edge of Derby and we ran into town along the A516 following Viking Travel W875 UGY. We turned right onto the A601 and left onto Babington Lane. We followed the road around onto Osmaston Road and we parked up. We went to the salvation army cafe and Matthew used the tioilet. The shop didn't sell any food that Matthew would eat so we brought a slice of cake for later and left. A couple of doors down was Nicky's cafe and Matthew had a brunch washed down with a glass of Coke. After we had eaten we siad goodbye to mum and we walked around the corner onto London Road. We turned left on the A601 and we went left again onto Morledge. As we approached the bus station we saw Notts & Derby 456 on a #73 to Weston-on-Trent.

Notts & Derby 456 in Derby bus station

Also we saw Arriva Midlands 4216 on a #1 to Alvaston.

Arriva Midlands 4216 in Derby bus station

Also seen was Trent Barton 84 on a Red Arrow service to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 84 in Derby bus station

We decided to do this bus, so we we went in to bus station and we got on the bus. We booked a group zig-zag ticket at £14 and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station we saw National Holidays NH17 GFH, We continued onto the Northbound A601 We came off at the next junction and we joined the Eastbound A52. We ran fast along the A52 passing and we crossed over the M1 and passed Toton depot. We continued Eastwards to the edge of Nottingham past the QMC. We crossed the ring road and ran forwards onto the A6200. We continued onto Wollaton Street and we crossed over the tramline before turned left onto South Sherwood Street. We turn right onto Shakespeare Street and left onto Mansfield Road. We turned right onto the B684 and we entered Nottingham Victoria Bus Station. We got up and Mattew took a picture inside Trent Barton 84. before we got off the bus.

Inside Trent Barton 84

Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. We then had a look around the bus station and took a few few bus pictures. There was a paved area adjacent to the reat of the bus station from which you could photograph the buses. We saw Trent Barton 770 on a Two service to Cotmanhay.

Trent Barton 770 in Derby bus station

Once we had finished taking pictures we walked back into the bus station to find something else to catch. We decided to do Trent Barton 770 on the Two service as far as Ilkeston. We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Mansfield Road. We turned right onto Shkespeare Street and we turned left onto North Church Street. We turned right onto Burton Street and left onto South Sherwood Street. We turned right onto the A6008 and we crossed over the roundabout onto Derby Road. We crossed the roundabout onto the A609 and we headed Westwards out of town. We headed through Wollaton and out of town towards Trowell. We crossed over the M1 and we followed the road to the right as we headed Northwards. We continued up the A609 to the South end of ilkeston and we crossed the roundabout onto South Street. We followed the road to the left onto Market Place and we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus we considered doing Trent Barton 802 on a my15 service to Old Sawley.

Trent Barton 802 in Ilkeston

Matthew decided against this and we had a quick walk around the market place. We past an office in which soemone was clearly trying to get hold of 'Ken' based on the large number of letters post through the letterbox addressed to him. Matthew visited the toilet and then we headed back to the Market Place bus stops. We saw Trent Barton 809 on a my15 to Old Sawley and we decided to do it.

Trent Barton 809 in Ilkeston

The bus was about to have a driver change so we went to take a few more pictures whilst we waited. We saw Trent Barton 775 on a Two service to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 775 in Ilkeston

We also saw Yourbus 3028 on a Y3 fast service to Derby.

Yourbus 3028 in Ilkeston

We waited for the driver to swap over and we got on and flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Trent Barton 809 before we sat down.

Inside Trent Barton 809

The bus set off along Market Place and we followed the road around to the right onto South Street. We got onto the Southbound A609 and we ran towards Trowell. By the Festival Inn we ran forwards onto the A6007. I was original intending to go as far as Long Eaton. But we realised the bus ran through Stapleford and we would have more choices of bus to catch. We turned right onto the B6003 and we ran Southwards into Stapleford. We turned right onto the B5010 and it appeared to be the town centr so we got up and got off the bus. As it was a warm day went to an off license to do some shopping matthew brought a couple of different cans and a couple of chocolate bars. We headed to the stop opposite and we saw that there was a Nottingham bound i4 service from that stop every 10 minutes. Matthew had a drink of Fanta and and a Milky Way whilst waited for the next bus. A few minutes later we saw an i4 bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Trent Barton 326 on a i4 to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 326 in Stapleford

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards back of the bus. The bus set off along the B5010 and we ran forwards for around 2/3 of mile before we joined the Eastbound A52. As we ran Eastwards we saw an unidentified Lingard's coach. We ran to the edge of Nottingham and we crossed the ring-road and we got up and got off the bus. Whilst we were there we saw quite a few Nottingham City Transport buses. We saw Nottingham City Transport 449 on a #36 to Nottingham.

Nottingham City Transport 449 in Lenton

The plan was to cross over and catch a Red Arrow back to Derby. Matthew seemed reluctant to do this. A few minutes later we saw Nottingham City Transport 950 on a #34 to Nottingham.

Nottingham City Transport 950 in Lenton

A few minutes later a Nottinghm bound Trent Barton bus appeared and Matthew decided he wanted to do this. It was required Trent Barton 705 on an Indigo service to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 705 in Lenton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards back of the bus. We ran along the A6200 for around a mile and we continued onto Wollaton Street where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked around the corner onto Derby Road. Matthew wanted to go to the toilet so we found a micro brewery pub and went in there. Matthew went to the toilet and we brought a glass of Coke, which matthew drank outside on the pavement seating area. When we had finished we crossed over the road to the westbound bus stops. We decided to do a Two back to Ilkeston and an Ilkeston Flyer forwards from there to Derby. Whilst we waited for a Two we saw Nottingham City Transport 619 on a #77 to Shelley.

Nottingham City Transport 619 in Nottingham

A few minutes we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Trent Barton 778 on a Two to Cotmanhay.

Trent Barton 778 in Nottingham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards back of the bus. The bus set off along Derby Road. We crossed the roundabout onto the A609 and we headed Westwards out of town. We headed through Wollaton and out of town towards Trowell. We crossed over the M1 and we followed the road to the right as we headed Northwards. We continued up the A609 to the South end of ilkeston and we crossed the roundabout onto South Street. We followed the road to the left onto Market Place and we got up and got off the bus. The plan was to get straight on the Ilkeston Flyer to Derby so we crossed over and we saw required Trent Barton 722 on the Ilkeston Flyer service.

Trent Barton 722 in Ilkeston

Matthew decided he didn't to rush back to Derby so he let that bus go. We decoded to visit the shop across the road and we brought a couple of cans and some jelly sweets. We walked back across the road to the Matthew drank a can of Cherry Coke and ate the jelly sweets. Whilst we waited for the next bus we saw Trent Barton 739 on a my15 to Old Sawley.

Trent Barton 739 in Ilkeston

A few minutes later the bus turned up and it was required Trent Barton 718 on an Ilkeston Flyer to Derby.

Trent Barton 718 in Ilkeston

Matthew hesitated and we nearly didn't get on the bus. We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards back of the bus. We set off along Whamcliffe Road and we turned right onto South Street. We turned left onto the A609 and we crossed over the roundabout onto Stanton Road. We ran down to Little Hallam and we followed the A6096 around to the West and through Kirk Hallam. We ran down into Spondon and we went under the A52 along Willowcrort Road. We joined the Westbound A6005 and we ran the short distance to the A52. We ran fast into Derby and we saw Skills of Nottingham National Express liveried coach BX16 CHD on a #440 to London. We turned left onto the clockwise ring road and we entered the bus station. Once in the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Trent Barton 718.

Inside Trent Barton 718

Once off the bus we met up with mum and we and we saw Kinchbus 913 on a Skylink service to Leicester. We went outside onto Morledge and we saw MC Travel BU52 NCT heading Eastwards.

MC Travel BU52 NCT in Derby bus station

Also seen was Chalfont BK14 LFA on a Gatwick service.

Chalfont BK14 LFA in Derby bus station

We got in the car and Matthew had a sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We set off onto Morledge and we saw Harpur's CN55 MUE. We got onto the anti-clockwise ring road and we ran around to the A52. At the next roundabout we turned left onto the A38 and we ran a cfew miles Soouth to the point where the A516 joins with the A38. We exited onto the A516 and we ran around Mickleover and Etwall and joined the Westbound A50. As we travelled towards Stoke we saw an unidentified Viking Travel coach, Safeway Coaches SF02 WAY, an unidentified Coach Leasing coach, Happy Al's CC05 ALS, Orbit Coaches IIL 8585 & Alfa 101. We came off the A50 at Longton and we went to Z carz to see what was parked up there this evening. The spare ground was empty so we turned into Willow Row. In the compound we saw Z Carz Volkswaggen minibus OV05 WSW which is currently VOR.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

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 bangers and mash with carrots 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.