Trip to Middleton / Oldham 08-12-2018

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
39210	Middleton BS‎‎	Collyhurst, Queens Rd (Stop F)	18	First Manchester
10863	Collyhurst, Queens Rd (Stop B)	Blackley, Victoria Ave (Stop D)	118	Stagecoach Manchester
37390	Blackley, Hilldale Ave	Middleton BS	17	First Manchester
66864	Middleton BS‎‎	Cheetham Hill, Shopping Ctr (Stop L)	59	First Manchester
37458	Cheetham Hill, Bury Old Rd/Shopping Centre (Stop J)	Oldham BS	59	First Manchester
37470	Oldham BS	Middleton BS	59	First Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. As one of the shortest days we didn't want to go anyway too far away and too difficult to get to. Mum also wanted to get her hair done at the shopping centre. As we knew where we were going and what we were doing we did no research for this trip, we didn't even check the weather. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. As I had done a night shift the night before mum drove up to Middleton. We set off just before 12:00 and we ran onto the A5035. We continued over the railway line into Trentham and we joined the Northbound A34. We turned left onto Whitmore Road and we crossed over the Trent and ran up towards Hanchurch. We turned right onto the A519 and we joined the Northbound M6. Travelling up the M6 we saw Park's of Hamilton (NX) LSK 838(#540), Robinson Executive Travel W6 RCT, Caledoniian Travel LSK 508, Jarvis Coaches YX07 AVJ, Global Travel BIG 9854 & Stanley Coaches Y2 STX. We ran up to Junction 19 and we got onto the Eastbound A556. We continued for a few miles and we ran forwards onto the M56. As we travelled Eastwards we saw an unidentified coach on National Express(#328). We took the junction to go onto the The anti-clockwise M60 and we circled around Manchester. We ran through Stockport and we passed an unidentified coach on National Express 540. When we got to the right junction we left the M60 and got onto the Eastbound A576. We ran the last couple of miles into middle and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto Limetrees Road. We entered the car park and we parked up. After visiting the toilet in the shopping centre we went outside to a newish cafe called Sub Station. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. Once we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10844 on a #112 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10844 in Middleton bus station

We went into the bus station and we looked for bus to catch. On layover was dud First Manchester 37391.

First Manchester 37391 in Middleton bus station

We spotted required First Manchester 39210 on a #18 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39210 in Middleton bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on and brought System One bus only tickets at £5.60 each. We went upstairs and the rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 39210 before we sat down.

Inside First Manchester 39210

The bus set off out of the bus station. We joined the Eastbound A576 and then we went Southwards down the A664. We climbed up the hill out of town and then we ran down hill over the M60 and into Blackley. Further down the road we passed Blackley service station and then we saw a road that we recognised... We passed Old Market Street and the West end of Boggart Hole Clough. We continued Southwards into Harpurhey. We crossed the A6010 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39210 as it continued towards Manchester.

First Manchester 39210 in Harpurhey

Once off the bus we crossed over the A6010 and then over the A664. to the nearest Northbound bus stop. We didn't have to wait long before we saw a Stagecoach double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 10863 on a #118 to Dam Head.

Stagecoach Manchester 10863 in Harpurhey

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off up the A664 and we turned right onto Lathbury Road. We turned left onto Fernclough Road and we ran forwards onto Church Lane. We turned left onto Upper Conran Street and we stopped behind the shopping centre in Harphurey. We turned right onto Moston Lane and we ran up through Moston. We ran for around a mile and we turned left onto Charlestown Road. We turned right onto Grange Park Road and we ran up Hall Moss Road. WE continued onto Colmore Drive and we turned left onto Victoria Avenue East. We ran for around 1/2 mile and we turned left onto the A664 where we got up and got off the bus. At the bus stop there a number of youths sheltering for the rain so we decided to walk for to another bus stop. It had pretty much stopped raining so we went Southwards down the A664. As we walked towards the next bus stop we were passed by S Line Travel coach P24 WNL travelling towards Manchester.

S Line Travel P24 WNL in Blackley

We decided to go back Northwards towards Middleton so we could use the toilet. We crossed over the road and we waited at the Northbound stop. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required First Manchester 37390 on a #17 to Middleton.

First Manchester 37390 in Blackley

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The bus set off up the A664 and we travelled for around a mile to the edge of Middleton. We crossed the roundabout and we entered the bus station. The bus pulled onto the stand and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet and then we decided to go around the bus station and take a few pictures. We saw First Manchester 66912 on layover.

First Manchester 66912 in Middleton bus station

As we approached the bus station we saw a minibus parked up by the bingo hall. We decided to go over and investigate. When we got to the bingo hall we saw it was Rothwells Mercedes minibus FE02 BVN waiting to pick up passengers from the bingo.

Rothwells FE02 BVN in Middleton

Once we had seen the minibus, we walked back into the bus station to see what we could catch next. We spotted First Manchester 66864 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 66864 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we crossed the roundabout onto the A576. We ran the couple of miles down to the M60 and we crossed over and into Blackley we past the East side of Heaton Park. We carried on for another couple of miles and we turned left onto Bury Old Road. It seemed like the centre of Cheetham Hill as it was a busy shopping area so we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we went to the world market shop and we brought a couple of cans and a few chocolate bars. We crossed the road and we sat at the stop to wait for a Northbound bus. Whilst we waited Matthew ate a toffee crisp and drank a can of Irn Bru. A few minutes later we saw a double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 37458 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 37458 in Cheetham Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. As this was our fifth bus of the day we decided to do this through Middleton to Oldham and we could do a bus back to Middleton for the last bus. The bus set off up Bury Old Road and we turned right the A576 where we stopped for a short while. he bus carried on along the A576 towards Blackley. We crossed the M60 and we ran the couple of miles into town. We entered the bus station. We left Middleton bus station and we went East out of town along the A669. The weather had now turned and it was starting to snow! A couple of miles out of town we crossed under the railway line by Mills Hill railway station. We carried on another 3 miles or so through Chadderton. We crossed under Oldham Way and we ran up the hill and into the bus station. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 37458 before it continued towards Rushcroft.

First Manchester 37458 in Oldham bus station

Once we ad got off the bus we walked around the bus station whilst we decided what bus to do next. We saw required Stotts PX55 EFM about to work a #343 to Hyde.

Stotts PX55 EFM in Oldham bus station

We used the toilet and then we went down to the other half of the bus station. At the bottom half of the bus station we saw MCT YJ13 HLG on a #402 to Royton.

MCT YJ13 HLG in Oldham bus station

Once we had finished taking picture we walked back up to the top half of the bus station to wait for either a #59 back to Middleton. We saw dud First Manchester 42944 on a #415 to Middleton and we turned it down. Behind it was dud First Manchester 37470 on a #59 to Manchester which we decided to do.

First Manchester 37470 in Oldham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only ticket to the driver before we went upstairs.The top deck was empty at the rear so Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 37470.

Inside First Manchester 37470

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 we had a look around before we returned to mum. We saw First Manchester 37280 about to work a #17 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 37280 in Middleton bus station

We walked into the shopping centre and we met up with mum. We went to the toilet and then we returned to the car. Mum had brought some sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru. We left the car park and we turned left onto Limetrees Road and turned left on the roundabout onto the A576. We entered Tesco and we filled up with petrol. Once we had filled up we rejoined the A576 and we ran Westwards down to the M60. We joined the clockwise M60 and as we ran we saw Swans Travel YH17 YWB. We ran through Stockport and forwards onto the M56. Seen on the M56 were red minibus PJ16 KPZ & Swans Travel YT68 LCO. We jined the Westbound A556 and we ran up the the motorway. At junction 19 we got onto the Southbound M6. As we travelled down the M6 we saw an unidentified JH Coaches coach, Malbank Coaches YN58 CFP, Stanway's BIG 7013, white minibus HK56 UZO, ABC Supremen KX13 DZL and an unidentified white Jones coach. At junction 16 we left the M6 and joined the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 were a handful of unidentified Tyrer coaches, an unidentified Ellison's coach and an unidentified AVA Coaches coach. At Sideway we came off the A500 and we joined the Eastbound A50. At Longton we ran along the high level A50 and we did a u-turn at the East end of town to see what was parked up at Z Carz. We turned left into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Renault minibus BU04 GYW in the compound.

Z Carz BU04 GYW 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 jam filled shortbread biscuit. We did an e-mail and we wrote some of the Blog. Matthew went to bed around 00:00.... Mark.