Trip to Altrincham / Stockport 01-09-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
26142	Altrincham Interchange	Stockport BS	11A	Stagecoach Manchester
10585	Stockport BS	Hyde BS	330	Stagecoach Manchester
10588	Hyde BS	Stockport BS	330	Stagecoach Manchester
KX10 DVN	Stockport BS	Stockport railway station	300	MCT
KX10 DVN	Stockport railway station	Stockport BS	300	MCT
10598	Stockport BS	Manchester Airport BS	330	Stagecoach Manchester
697	Manchester Airport BS	Stockport, Merseyway Precinct (Stop AE)	199	High Peak

Today we decided to re-visit Altrincham. We gave Matthew a list of place from the Midlands and North West and from the list Matthew chose Altrincham. Research consisted of checking AA roadwatch to see if there were any problems. There had been an accident on the Northbound M6 near to junction 17. We also checked the weather which was for warm weather with sunny intervals. Matthew got up aaround 10:30 and had crumpets and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we ran past the BET365 stadium and onto the Westbound A50. We got onto the Northbound A550 and we saw Albert Wilde TU07 SOU & Harry Shaw PO17 EJN. We stopped at Asda to fill up with petrol and then we re-joined the Northbound A500. At talked we got onto the Northbound A34. Traffic was slow from the junction by Toby Cavery right up to the other side of the Red Bull due to traffic lights. It added another 30 minutes onto our journey. We ran North through Scholar Green and as we approached Congleton we saw Hollinshead DH15 HOL. We ran up to Wilmslow and we joined the Northbound A538. Seen on the A538 near to Manchester Airport was Abacus MD64 FKZ. We continued into the town centre and we ran up the high street and we turned right after the transport interchange. We crossed over the tram line and we turned sharp right parking in the car park near to the ice rink. We parked up and we saw GM Travel ML63 HKB parked up near to the Eastern exit of the Interchange.

GM Travel ML63 HKB in Altrincham

We crossed over the tram and railway lines and into the bus section of the interchange. We went towards the high street and we saw Rotala Diamond 20830 on a #287 to Bowdon Vale.

Rotala Diamond 20830 in Altrincham Interchange

We crossed over the high Street and we went to the Kingfisher cafe. We went upstairs and Matthew used the toilet. When he had finished we went outside to the table where mum and uncle Dave were sitting. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy and he swapped some of his chips for some of uncle Dave's sausage bap. He washed it down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked back to the interchange. As we got back to the interchange we saw Rotala Diamond 20872 on a #285 to Timperley.

Rotala Diamond 20872 in Altrincham Interchange

We walked through interchange and out the other side. In the layover bays we saw Arriva NW&W 2749 on a #263 to Manchester.

Arriva NW&W 2749 in Altrincham Interchange

We walked up to the layover bays by the tram lines and we saw Rotala Diamond 20844. We went back into the interchange and we saw Arriva NW&W 2748 on a #263 to Manchester.

Arriva NW&W 2748 in Altrincham Interchange

We decided to head towards Stockport and there was a bus due any minute. In the distance we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 26142 on a #11A to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 26142 in Altrincham Interchange

The bus pulled into the interchange and we got on. We brought System One bus only day tickets at £5.60 each and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the interchange and we turned right onto the A538. We turned right onto the A560 and we headed out of town. We passed Timperley hall and we veered left onto Stockport Road. We passed through the centre of Timperley and out the other side, re-joining the Eastbound A560. At the next roundabout we turned left onto Moor Road past the tram stop of the same name. We turned right onto Wythenshawe Road and we crossed under the M60 past the Britannia Airport hotel. This was the point to which we had previously travelled from Altrincham back in February 2012, on Stagecoach Manchester 17624. We continued Eastwards into new territory and we turned right onto Moor End and left onto Longley Road. We turned right onto Sharston Road and we crossed the M56 and onto the A560. We stopped at a group of bus stops in Sharston and we followed the road to the left. We ran through Gatley and and the centre of Cheadle and we continued through Cheadle Heath and down the hill into Stockport. We truned right onto the A5145 past the front of the Stagecoach depot and we turned left onto Daw Bank and under the railway line. We turned left and we entered the bus station from the Southern end. We pulled up on stand in a substantial bus station and we let the bus empty out. Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 26142 before we got off it.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 26142

As it was our first visit to Stockport bus station we had a wander around and took a few pictures. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10481 on a #203 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10481 in Stockport bus station

We walked up to the facilities under the Wellington Road South bridge and Matthew used the toilet. We continued around the bus station and on the Southern side were bus layover bays. In one of the bay was MCT staff bus LJ08 JYK.

MCT LJ08 JYK in Stockport bus station

We walked into one of the middle stands as we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 10585 on a #330 to Ashton-under-Lyne.

Stagecoach Manchester 10585 in Stockport bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 10585.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 10585

We set off out of the bus station under Wellington Road South and we turned left onto Mersey Square. We followed the road through the shopping centre area and right onto Great Egerton Street. We turned left onto Little Egerton Street and we stopped on Prince's Street. This was near the site of the old Stockport Tiviot Dale railway station where Matthew great grandma who he never knew used to work in the station buffet in the early part of the 20th century. We turned left onto Warren Street and we joined the Eastbound A560. We came to a rather large roundabout and we went forwards onto a bus only lane through the centre of the roundabout. We went forwards onto the B6104 and we ran past Vernon Park before re-joining the Eastbound A560. We passed Bredbury and Woodley railway stations and we ran up the hill into Hyde. When the A560 veered to the right we carried straight on up Dowson Road. At the end of Dowson Road we turned left into Market Street. We past the Nat West bank were I had a job fixing cameras in the office about around 2001. We turned right onto Clarendon Street and we entered Hyde bus station from the Eastern end. We decided that we would only do the bus as far as here so we got up and got off the bus. We walked up to the top end to use the toilets but they were locked off. Matthew wanted the shop but it was just closing. The gentleman saw Matthew wanted to go in so he re-opened the shop up for him. He can an can of Coke and a bottle of Fanta as well as a couple of chocolate bars and some wriggly worm. After we paid for the stuff w went outside and Matthew ate the worms and drank the bottle of Fanta. Whilst in the bus station we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10598 on a #330 to Ashton.

Stagecoach Manchester 10598 in Hyde bus station

Also we saw First Manchester 47470 on a #346 to Ashton-under-Lyne and First Manchester 47477 on a #389 to Gee Cross. We decided to head back towards Stockport as it was getting late. We waited opposite the bottom stand and a few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10588 on a #330 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 10588 in Hyde bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off around the bus station and out of the bus station onto Market Street. We ran southwards through the town centre and we turned right onto Dowson Road. We ran out of town down the hill and forwards onto the A560. As we passed Woodley railway station we saw a freight train going towards the Bredbury Freight terminal. We continued through Bredbury and we ran forwards onto the B6104. We crossed over the big roundabout on the east end of Stockport and and as we entered town we saw an unidentified Colin's Coaches coach going along the Westbound side of the M60. We ran through Stockport along Little Egerton Street and great Egerton Street and we entered the bus station through Mersey Square and under Wellington Road South. We got up and got off the bus. Matthew went to the facilities again and we had a look around to see what we could possibly catch. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 19347 on a #368 to Wythenshawe hospital.

Stagecoach Manchester 19347 in Stockport bus station

Matthew saw a bus which e dragged us towards. It was MCT KX10 DVN on the #300 Metroshuttle free bus service.

MCT KX10 DVN in Stockport bus station

He decided he was doing this bus so we got on and sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station. We set off onto Daw Bank and we ran North through the town. We turned right onto High Street and we turned right onto Wellington Street. The bus emptied out at the front so Matthew took a picture inside MCT KX10 DVN.

Inside MCT KX10 DVN

We ran forwards towards the railway station and we saw M&H Coaches M444 MNH parked nearby. After a brief stop at the railway station we set off out of Station Road and onto the A6 We turned left onto Exchange Street and we crossed daw Bank and and back into the bus station. We got off the bus and walked to the end. Matthew took another picture of MCT KX10 DVN before it continued around the next part of the #330 town circular service.

MCT KX10 DVN in Stockport bus station

We had a walk around the bus station and I wanted to catch a #11 back towards Altrincham, but Matthew have other ideas. We stood at the South end of the bus station and we saw High Peak 692 on a #199 to Buxton.

High Peak 692 in Stockport bus station

We walked along the Southern stands and we saw Selwyn's YJ05 PWF parked up in one of the layover bays.

Selwyn's YJ05 PWF in Stockport bus station

We stood at the end of the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19251 running empty into the bus station.

Stagecoach Manchester 19251 in Stockport bus station

A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10598 on a #330 to Manchester Airport.

Stagecoach Manchester 10598 in Stockport bus station

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off out off the bus station onto Daw Bank and we went forwards onto the A5145. We joined the Westbound M60 and we ran fast to the airport. As we travelled we saw Options YG17 SSX. We veered onto the M56 and we came off at junction M56. We came off at the next roundabout and we headed towards T2. We turned left onto Chicago Avenue and we went forwards into the Airport bus station. We got off of the bus and we saw a number of buses and coaches. In an adjacent stand wasSwan's Travel YX66 WMU.

Swan's Travel YX66 WMU in Manchester Airport bus station

Also seen was Yellow Rose coach PN51 ONW. We went inside and Matthew used the toilet. We walked to the other end of the 10 stand bus station and we saw Park's of Hamilton BV67 JYT on a #548 to Birmingham.

Park's of Hamilton BV67 JYT in Manchester Airport bus station

We walked into one of the middle stand and Matthew sat down by the stand for the #199 to Buxton. There was one due in around 10 minutes. After a few minutes and we saw High Peak 697 arrive to work the #199 to Buxton.

High Peak 697 in Manchester Airport bus station

The driver went for a quick comfort break and whilst we waited we went to check out the coach that had arrived at the West end of the bus station. we saw that it was Selwyn's BV67 JXN on a #212 to Manchester.

Selwyn's BV67 JXN in Manchester Airport bus station

We walked back over to the Skyline stop and whilst we waited for the bus to be readied we saw Ingleby's 741 XUG arrive into the bus station.

Ingleby's 741 XUG in Manchester Airport bus station

A few minutes later the bus was readied for service. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Chicago Way and we turned left to head back to the motorway. We joined the Eastbound M56 and we were passed by silver minibus BE55 MCR. We took the spur onto the Eastbound M60 and we came off the M60 at junction 1 and we joined the A5145. We joined the Eastbound A560 and we went forwards onto Great Egerton Street. We turned right and we ran onto Mersey Square where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of High Peak 697 before it continued into the bus station.

High Peak 697 in Stockport

Also seen was MCT YJ61 JDX running out of service into the bus station.

MCT YJ61 JDX in Stockport

Matthew wanted the toilet so we went into the nearby Chestergate pub. After using the facilities Matthew had a small glass of Coke. Once he had finished the drink we went back outside to uncle Dave. Mum called and we spotted her pulling up outside the pub. We got in the car and Matthew had a Gregg's sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We turned the car around and we headed across the lights onto Daw Bank. We joined the A5145 and we got onto the Westbound M60. We took the spur onto the M56 and we ran past the airport and we came off at junction 8 onto the the A556. We ran the couple of mile to the motorway and we joined the Southbound M6. As we travelled down the M6 we saw an unidentified Vision Travel coach. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we ran down the A500. We passed through Longport and Etruria and we ran through Stoke. WE came off the A500 at Sideway and we went Eastwards onto the A50. We came off the A50 at Longton so we could have a look at what was Z Carz this evening. There weren't any Z Carz vehicles on the spare ground and we turned left onto Willow Row. In the compound this evening was new to Z Carz Mercedes minibus WX55 OHH.

Z Carz WX55 OHH in Longton

Also in the compound was Z Carz Citroen minibus LV59 DZC.

Z Carz LV59 DZC in Longton

Adjacent to the was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW 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 got back home at 20:00. When we got back for a late tea Matthew had chicken and donna meat with fries 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.