Trip to Preston / Penwortham 10-11-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
47219	Fishwick, Acregate Lane	Preston BS	9	Stagecoach Lancashire
15840	Preston BS	Lea, o/s Police Station	68	Stagecoach Lancashire
15908	Lea, opp Pig & Whistle	Preston BS	61	Stagecoach Lancashire
15819	Preston BS	Fulwood, Lightfoot Lane	41	Stagecoach Lancashire
15697	Fulwood, Parklands	Preston BS	41	Stagecoach Lancashire
27114	Preston BS	Penwortham, Kingsfold Shops	3	Stagecoach Lancashire
27115	Penwortham, Kingsfold Shops	Preston BS	3	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to re-visit Preston. Our last visit to Preston was for the Rolala Preston Bus Olympian farewell in December 2016. We checked the weather and the roads and the weather for today seemed to be letter further North. We showed Matthew the map and on the map he chose to visit Preston. Other research consisted of checking the availability of Stagecoach and Preston Bus day tickets. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had crumpets and orange juice for breakfast. just before 12:00 we set off onto the A5035 and we turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way. We joined the Westbound A50 and we ran down to the roundabout at Sideway. We turned right onto the Northbound A500 towards the motorway. As we ran up the A500 we saw white coach YT68 GWP, Vicky's Coaches VKZ 989 & Copeland's Tours MIB 229. We ran up to junction 16 and we got onto the Northbound M6. Seen on the M6 were Kier YS15 CRJ / WR17 JFU / VN15 FXJ, Mostonian ESK 812, an unidentified National Express liveried coach(#540), Titterington's BJ10 VTV, Hollinshead J10 BUS / DH13 HOL, Holmeswood K5 HWD, Vision Travel BK63 ZSW, an unidentified LMT blue white minibus, an unidentified Caledonian Travel coach, an unidentified Coastal Coaches midicoach, an unidentified red/white MP Travel Dart & white minibus LK56 ALO. We decided to come of the M6 at junction 28 to see if we could find somewhere to eat in Leyland. We headed West along the B5256. We came to a set of two mini roundabout and we ran forwards onto the B5254. We turned into the car park by the Lancashire FA and we decided to turn around and get closer to the cafe we had found. We turned left onto the B5254 and we turned right onto Towngate. We turned right into Hough Lane and the road on which the cafe was situated on had a street market. We turned left onto Quin Street and we followed the road around. We turned right onto Newsome Street and at the end we turned right back onto Hough Lane. As we couldn't find anywhere suitable to park we turned left onto Thurston Road. At the end we turned left onto the B5254 and we ran out of town. We crossed over the roundabouts and we ran forwards onto the B5256. We ran up to the M6 and we got onto the Northbound side. We ran up to junction 31 and we got onto the Westbound A59. We ran into town and we decided to try and find at at cafe mum had found in Fishwick. We came into Fishwick and we spotted the cafe. There just happen to be a parking space free when we arrived. We got out of the car and and we went into the cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a glass of Coke. When we had finished we went outside to catch a bus. We said goodbye to mum and we walked about 50yds to the nearest bus stop. We had already decided to catch stagecoach buses today, so when we saw Rotala Preston Bus 40584 on a #16 to Farrington Park Matthew took a picture.

Rotala Preston Bus 40584 in Fishwick

A few minutes later we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 47219 on a #9 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47219 in Fishwick

We got on the bus and we booked Stagecoach Preston Dayrider tickets at £4.70 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A59 and we and we ran the mile or so into the town centre. We veered slight right along the A59 and we turned left into Percy Street. We ran forwards Onto Lords Walk and we entered the bus station. We pulled onto the stand and we got up to get off the bus. Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47219 before we got off it.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47219

Once off the bus we headed to the toilets which have been renovated since our last visit. One Matthew had used the facilities week walk down to the far end of the bus station to see what was working. We saw Stagecoach Lancashire 15840 on layover in between services.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15840 in Preston bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Lancashire 15822 on a #41 to Lancaster.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15822 in Preston bus station

We decided to do Stagecoach Lancashire 15840 which was going out on the #68 to Blackpool. As we queued to get on the bus, we saw Rotala Preston Bus 20013 on a #77 to Blackpool depart from the adjacent stand.

Rotala Preston Bus 20013 in Preston bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Preston Dayrider ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We decided to do the bus to Lea as we know knew where this place was. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Tithebarn Road. We turned right onto Old Vicarage and right onto Lancaster Road. We turned left onto the A59 and at the next junction we turned right onto Friargate. We continued onto the A583 and we headed out of town an under the West coast main line. We turned left following the A583 and right onto the A5072. We the A5072 and we passed Stagecoach Lancashire 15582 on a #68 to Preston turning out of Egerton Road. We ran to the end of the road and we turned left onto the A5085. We continued for another mile or so and we got up and got off the bus outside Lea police station. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15840 as it continued towards Blackpool.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15840 in Lea

Once off the bus we decided to walk along the road for a short distance to find a shop. We spotted a petrol station across the way so we went over there. Matthew spotted the customer toilet so he used that. We brought a couple of cans of pop and a couple of chocolate bars. Once we had paid for the goods we went outside and used the cash machine. We continued down the road to the next stop and we waited for a Preston bound bus. We checked the timetable and there was a bus due in a few minutes. We saw a bus approaching and as it got closer we saw that it was dud Stagecoach Lancashire 15908 on a #61 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15908 in Lea

We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Preston Dayrider ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. This was a bus we first had back in August 2013 from Lea to Preston. We set off along the A5085 and we travelled Eastwards towards town. We crossed over the railway line to Blackpool and we turned right into Tulketh Brow. We joined the Southbound B6241 and we ran forwards onto the A583. We ran under the West coast main line and into Preston town centre. We passed 'Ships & giggles' and we went around the roundabout onto Friargate. We turned left onto the A59 and we ran up to the Holiday Inn before turning right onto Tithebarn Street. We turned left onto Carlisle Street and we ran onto Derby Street. We turned right onto Lords Walk. We entered the bus station and we ran onto stand. We got up and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15908 before we got off the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15908

Matthew indicated that he wanted to do a #40 or #41 North towards Lancaster. Stagecoach Lancashire 15819 had just arrived and was no due to depart for another 20 minutes or so. We went and stood by the exit and Matthew took a few bus pictures whilst we waited. We saw Rotala Preston Bus 40628 on a #19 to Farrington Park.

Rotala Preston Bus 40628 in Preston bus station

Nearer to the departure time we went back inside the bus station and Matthew took a picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15819 as the driver prepared the bus to work the next #41 to Lancaster.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15819 in Preston bus station

The bus hadn't started to load so we headed back to the exit to take a few more bus pictures. We saw Rotala Preston Bus 40593 on a #35 to Tanterton.

Rotala Preston Bus 40593 in Preston bus station

We walked along the grassy mound next to the end of the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Lancashire 15471 on a #68 to Blackpool.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15471 in Preston bus station

We went back into the bus station and the bus had started to load. We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Preston Dayrider ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15819 before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15819

We set off out of the bus station onto Tithebarn Street. We turned right onto Old Vicarage and right again onto Lancaster Road. We crossed the A59 and we went North up the A6. We passed the Withy Trees, which was the furthest North point we had travelled to on our last run on these services in October 2016. We continued further North for around another 1km and we got up and got off the bus just short of the M55. Once off the bus Matthew took an other picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15819 as it continued North towards Lancaster.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15819 in Fulwood

Once off the bus we crossed over the road and we walked to the nearest Southbound bus stop. Whilst we waited for the bus Matthew had a flake out of the supplies in the trip bag. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching from under the motorway. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15697 on a #41 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15697 in Fulwood

We got on the bus and we flashed the Preston Plus dayrider ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. We set off down the A6 and we travelled around 1km to withy trees. We ran a further 3/4 of a mile down the A6 to the north edge of town we ran across the A59 and around the one way system before entering the bus station from the South. Once we got off the bus we had a quick look around to see what we could do next. We spotted required Stagecoach Lancashire 27114 about to work a #3 to Penwortham.

Stagecoach Lancashire 27114 in Preston bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Preston Plus dayrider ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Tithebarn Street. We ran forwards onto Lord Street and we turned left onto Lancaster Road. We turned right onto Fishergate and we ran up to the railway station. We continued onto Fishergate Hill and forwards again onto Liverpool Road. We went onto the A59 and we turned left onto Cop Lane. We ran to the end and we turned right onto Pope Lane. We turned left onto Kingsfold Drive and we ran to the end. We turned left onto Studholme Crescent and left onto New Lane. We turned left onto Pope Lane and when we got to the shop we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 27114 before it returned to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 27114 in Penwortham

Once off the bus we went to the Co-operative food store. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. When we had finished we went out and Matthew decided he needed the toilet. There was a pub next door so we visited the pub. Matthew used the toilet and then we brought a glass of Coke. After Matthew had finished his drink we went outside to wait for the next bus back to Preston. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Lancashire 27115 on a #3 to Preston.

Stagecoach Lancashire 27115 in Penwortham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Preston Plus dayrider ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Pope Lane and we turned right onto Cop Lane. We crossed over the A582 and we ran to the end of the Lane. We turned right onto the A59 and we ran forwards onto Liverpool Road and we crossed over the river Ribble. We ran forwards onto Fishergate Hill and we went past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Fishergate and we veered left onto Corporation Street. We joined the Eastbound A59 and we turned left onto Tithebarn Street. We turned left onto Carlisle Street and we entered the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Lancashire 27115 before we got off the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 27115

We called mum and and we found out she was still at Morrisons and about to set off. We decided to walk around the bus station and take a few more pictures whilst we waited. We set off onto Lord Walk and we walked down the side of the office block where we were able to get a picture of Caledonian Travel LSK 509 which was on layover.

Caledonian Travel LSK 509 in Preston bus station

We walked back onto Lords Walk and we turned left onto Derby Street. We turned left onto Carlisle Street and we saw Moving People B13 KJT parked up.

Moving People B13 KJT in Preston bus station

Mum called to say she was parked up at B&M so we walked onto Carlisle Street and into the car park to meet up with mum. We got in the car and had a sausage roll and a can of dandelion & burdock. We set off onto Carlisle Street. We ran onto the A59 and we went onto the Northbound A6. As we were heading in the wrong direction we turned right into Melilng Street. We turned left Lancaster Road. We turned left into Lund Street and left into Margaret Street. We turned right onto Gardner Street and right onto the A6. We veered left onto the ring road and we ran forwards onto the A6. We crossed over the Ribble and we ran South before joining the Eastbound M65. At the first roundabout we turned right and joined the Southbound M6. As we ran down the M6 we saw Titteringtons BJ10 VTV, taxi minibus DK09 EJA, white minibus DL14 FPT & Happy Days Coaches L1 HDC. We came off the M6 at Junction 16 and we joined the Southbound. Seen on the A500 was an unidentified Rothwells coach. We came off the A500 at Sideway and we joined the Eastbound A50 and we ran up to Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. We turned left into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Renault minibus PE10 MJK in the compound.

Z Carz PE10 MJK in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LGW about to depart.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We ran Westwards along the A50 and we cam of at Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We continued up to Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Avenue and back home at 19:30. For a late tea bangers and mash with carrots followed by Bakewell tart. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.