Trip to Middleton / Ashton 18-08-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
10858	Middleton BS	Miles Platting, Osborne St	112	Stagecoach Manchester
39213	Miles Platting, Osborne St	Middleton BS	18	First Manchester
MX59 NWN	Middleton BS	Ashton BS	419	MCT
YJ13 HLM	Ashton BS	Waterloo, Oldham Road	395	MCT
30945	Waterloo, Tree House Ave	Oldham BS	409	First Manchester
30948	Oldham BS	Middleton BS	59	First Manchester

Today we decided to return to Middleton. Mum had a late finished last night and was also working early Sunday. So we needed a shortish trip but one with plenty of good buses to do and places to go to. As Matthew badge had just expired we to influence the pick towards a place where we knew we could park easily. We gave Matthew a list of places in the Midlands and North West and from the list he chose Middleton. research consisted of checking the weather which was for mainly dry but overcast weather. Matthew got up around 10:15 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 onto Stanley Matthews Way and we passed D&G 170 on a #14 to Hanley. We joined the Westbound A50 and we we got to Sideway we passed a former Albert Wilde Bova going Eastwards. We got onto the Northbound A500 and as we got to Etruria the traffic started to slow. We came off the A500 at Wolstanton and we ran to the Asda petrol station to fill up. We re-joined the Northbound A500 and the traffic was still slow. We were diverted of the A500 at the A527 junction and car were doing a u-turn to get back onto the Northbound A500. We passed an accident on the other side of the A500 and traffic was backed up all the way to the M6. As we went up the A500 we passed white minibus YN61 CLO, Marshall MHZ 9211 and Edwards Coaches BV66 WPW(#528). We got onto the M6 and we travelled Northwards up to junction 19. On the M6 we saw Sutton Grammar School YP63 HJE, Kier YS15 CRJ, blue minibus GL05 RVJ & Bennetts YX04 AWR. We got onto the Eastbound A556 and we ran up to the M56 passing LMT taxi's R13 LMT. We continued forwards onto the M56 and then we took the link road onto the anti-clockwise M60. as we travelled around the outside of Manchester we saw Stagecoach Megabus 54269 and white minibus T223 AVP. We came off the M60 onto the Northbound A576 and we ran the 2 or so mile into Middle town centre. We ran forwards onto Limetrees Road and we turned right into the car park. Once we had parked up we walked through the shopping centre to the toilets at the other end. Once we had finished in the shopping centre we went down the stairs and out and round the corner to the food van on the pavement opposite to the bus station. Matthew had a sausage and egg bap and a few fries, washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10858 on a #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10858 in Middleton bus station

We decided to do this bus, so we got on the bus and we booked System One anybus day tickets at £5.60 before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 10858.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 10858

We set off out of the bus station and we turned left and ran past the Middleton Arena. We turned right onto Market Place and then right again onto Townley Street. We crossed over the A669 and we continued to the end of the street where we turned left onto Grishaw Lane and we ran down to Middleton Junction. We turned right onto Greengate and we carried on down Greengate over the M60 and to the roundabout. We joined Moston lane and we passed First Manchester 67402 on the #81 to The Gardners Arms. Further South we passed required Stagecoach Manchester 10846 on a #114 to Alkrington. We continued South and when past the Blue Bell pub and through Moston. As we approached Harpurhey we turned left onto Upper Conran Street. We continued South past Harpurhey shopping centre and we turned right onto Fenclough Road. We travelled for around 1/3 and when we joined the Southbound A664 we continued Southwards for about 1/2 a mile where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 10858 before it continued on towards Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10858 in Miles Platting

We crossed over the road and whilst we were crossing we saw First Manchester 47476 on a #81 to Manchester and First Manchester 37422 on a #163 to Bury. We waited for a Northbound bus and a few minutes later we saw a bus approaching, As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 39213 on a #18 to Langley.

First Manchester 39213 in Miles Platting

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off Northwards up the A664 we we travelled through Harpurhey past the World Famous Embassy Club. We paused for a short while and then we continued North past Boggart Hole Clough and Into Blackley. We crossed over the M60 and we ran the last mile or so into Middleton. We crossed over the A669 and we entered the bus station. Once we got off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. We had a walk around the bus station and we took a few pictures. We saw First Manchester 53807 on a #415 to Oldham.

First Manchester 53807 in Middleton bus station

We also saw a white minibus MJ64 FKL picking up outside the Club 3000 bingo club.

MJ64 FKL in Middleton

As we were heading into the bus station we saw MCT single decker MX59 NWN on a #419 to Ashton-under-Lyne.

MCT MX59 NWN in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One 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 onto A669 and we ran Eastwards out of town to Mills Hill railway station. Just after the station we turned right onto Mills Hill Road after running South for a while we followed the road around onto Firwood Park and we headed back Northwards up to the main road. We turned right onto the A669 and after a short run we turned left onto Chadderton Park Road. We turned right onto Cathederals Road. We followed the round and we turned right onto Parkway. We turned left onto Park Avenue and we ran up to the back of the Chadderton Park Travelodge. We turned right onto the Northbound Burnley Lane. We went around the roundabout at the start of the A627(M) and we went Southwards down the A663. At the crossroad we turned left onto the A669 and continued past the shopping centre in Chadderton. We turned right onto Peel Street and we ran forwards onto Walsh Street. We turned left onto Denton Lane and at the next roundabout we went South down the B6192. We crossed the A62 and we saw First Manchester 37553 on a #184 to Manchester. We continued down the dead straight B6192 and we turned left onto Hollins Road. We turned right onto the A627 and we ran Southwards for the last couple of miles into Ashton-under-Lyne. We turned left onto the A6043 and we turned right to enter the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside MCT MX59 NWN.

Inside MCT MX59 NWN

Once off the bus Matthew visited the tardis toilet by Stand A. Once he had finished we went around the bus station to take a few bus pictures. We saw First Manchester 33663 on a #409 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 33663 in Ashton bus station

At the top end of the bus station were a few buses on layover. We saw First Manchester 53808 on a #353 to Uppermill.

First Manchester 53808 in Ashton bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Manchester 19626 on layover.

Stagecoach Manchester 19626 in Ashton bus station

We walked around the top end of the bus station and we saw First Manchester 63107 on a #393 to Hunts Cross. We walked back into the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10587 on a #330 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 10587 in Ashton bus station

Matthew wanted to do this bus but we would have gone too far away from Middleton if we had done. The building at the back is going to be the new bus interchange. We continued around the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 36424 on a #346 to Hyde.

Stagecoach Manchester 36424 in Ashton bus station

I wanted to do a #409 to Oldham so we could head back towards Middleton. Matthew didn't really fancy doing one. I spotted MCT Solo SR YJ13 HLM on a #395 to Limehurst Farm, so we decided to do this as it was heading in the right direction.

MCT YJ13 HLM in Ashton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto the A6043. We turned left onto Turner Lane and we went under the railway line. We followed the road to the right and we passed The Junction pub. There were dozens of bikers and a traction engine in steam outside. We turned left onto Lordsfield Avenue. We turned right onto Cranbourne Road and left onto Vicarage Road. We turned right onto Wilshaw Road and left onto Wilshaw Grove. We turned left onto Downshaw Road and right onto Yew Tree Close. We turned left onto Beech Mount and right onto Reins Lee Road. We re-joined Downshaw Road and we turned right onto the A627 right onto Springwood Way and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked back onto the A627 and we crossed over the road. We sat at the Northbound bus stop to wait for a bus to Oldham. Whilst we waited we saw taxi minibus K3 HHN heading towards Oldham. Whilst we waited Matthew had a double Milky Way and a can of Irn Bru. A few minutes later we saw a First Manchester ALX400 approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Manchester 30945 on a #409 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 30945 in Waterloo

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. We sat down and the bus set along the A627. The bus carried on up the A627 and over Oldham Way onto King Street. At the roundabout we turned right onto West Street and into the bus station before we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked out of the bus station and around the side. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 30945 before it continued on to Rochdale.

First Manchester 30945 in Oldham bus station

We decided to take a few bus pictures before we returned to Middleton. We saw First Manchester 37450 on a #59 to Rushcroft.

First Manchester 37450 in Oldham bus station

We continued around to the other half of the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 19487 on a #76 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 19487 in Oldham bus station

As we walked back to the other half of the bus station we saw AVA Coach PT59 AVA arrive into the bus station.

AVA Coach PT59 AVA in Oldham bus station

At the top end of the bus station we saw First Manchester 30948 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 30948 in Oldham bus station

Matthew didn't want to do this bus at first. We went to the newsagents and we brought a can of Coke and a bottle of Fanta. We also brought a couple of chocolate bars and a some jelly snakes. We returned out of the newsagent to see that required First Manchester 30948 was still on stand, so we quickly walked over to it and got on it. We flashed the System One bus tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs. The bus set off out of the bus station and forwards onto Middleton Road. We went under Oldham Way and we ran forwards around a mile into Chadderton. We continued forwards into Mills Hill and we went under the railway line. We ran the last mile or so into Middleton and we entered the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 30948 before it continued on towards Manchester.

First Manchester 30948 in Middleton bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and we walked around the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 36402 on layover.

Stagecoach Manchester 36402 in Middleton bus station

Also we saw First Manchester 53810 on a #415 to Oldham.

First Manchester 53810 in Middleton bus station

We walked around the outside and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10865 on a #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10865 in Middleton bus station

Also seen was First Manchester 37280 on a #17 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 37280 in Middleton bus station

We headed into the shopping centre and we met up with mum. We went up to the roof and to the car. Mum had brought Matthew a Greegs sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park onto Limetrees Road and we crossed the roundabout onto the A576. We ran out town for a couple of miles and we joined the clockwise M60. As we travelled around the the M60 we saw Cab Travel BX64 JZU and taxi minibus SJ63 BVF / KX11 ETU / YM14 EPN. We ran forwards onto the M56 and as we travelled Westwards we saw National Holidays NH13 GWH. We ran forwards onto the A556 and we continued forwards as far as the M6. We joined the Southbound M6 and as we travelled down we saw Kier WR17 NDX, Selwyn's SHZ 9024, Alfa 102, taxi minibus SF12 GJG and an unidentified Longmynd Travel coach. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 were taxi minibus SF11 MVO, white minibus BX60 ELH. We ran through Longport and Etruria and into Stoke. We came off the A500 at Sideway and as we joined the A50 we saw Intercity WJ12 NKX on the roundabout. We travelled Eastwards as far as as Longton. Seen in Longton was grey minibus GX11 EUW. We ran around to Z Carz to see what was there this evening. The spare ground was empty so we turned into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Volkswaggen minibus OV05 WSW which is currently VOR.

Z Carz OV05 WSW in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Vauxhall minibus DG10 VMO arrive at the depot.

Z Carz DG10 VMO 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 a cumberland sausage and mash 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.