Trip to Bolton / Horwich 16-02-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
39246	Leigh BS	Salford, Pendleton Church (Stop U)	V1	First Manchester
33841	Salford, Rossall Way (stop G)	Bolton BS	36	First Manchester
2678	Bolton BS	Horwich, The Crown (Stop C)	575	Arriva NW&W
2681	Horwich, The Crown (Stop C)	Wigan BS	575	Arriva NW&W
19522	Wigan BS	Lowton, Lowton Labour Club	10	Stagecoach Manchester
22587	Lowton, Lowton Labour Club	Leigh BS	10	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Leigh. Still being darkest Winter we wanted somewhere not to far away with a multi-operator ticket. We gave Matthew a list of place from the Midlands and the North West to chose from and from the list he chose Leigh. Research consisted of checking the roads were clear on AA Roadwatch, checking the weather and we also looked to see if the new Wigan bus station had been completed, which it had. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After getting ready, we set off around 11:45 on to the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we went past the Gordon Banks statue where growing number of tributes had been laid after his sad passing away earlier in the week. We turned left onto the Westbound A50 and at Sideway roundabout we joined the Northbound A500. We travelled Northwards and traffic was quite light today and we made good progress. Near to Wolstanton we were passed by Holmeswood coach PO68 BYG.

Holmeswood PO68 BYG on A500

We quickly got up into Cheshire and we joined the Northbound M6. As we travelled North up the M6 we saw Eavesway YJ11 GKD, gold coach BX54 ECT, The Travellers Choice PO16 LZS / PO17 CLJ, an unidentified North West Construction minibus, an unidentified Reays coach and black minibus EG16 WLA. We came off the M6 at junction 22 and we headed Eastwards up the A576. At the end we joined the A572 and we continued Eastwards. We crossed the A580 and we continued up the A572 the last few miles into the centre of Leigh. We turned right onto Spinning Jenny Way and we saw JR's Airport Express YJ53 WPE. We turned left onto Queen Street and left again onto Brown Street South. We turned right onto Gas Street and we entered the shopping centre car park. The car park is currently free at weekends in a bid to help shoppers in town. Once we had parked up the car we went to the toilet block and the toilet appeared to be closed. We walked through the shopping centre and Matthew visited the toilet in the bus station. We sat at the open air dinner by the food van and Matthew had a cheeseburger with a few fries washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and headed over to the bus station to see what we could catch. We saw First Manchester 39246 on a V1 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39246 in Leigh bus station

Also seen was Jim Stones BUS 1T on a #593 Tamar circular.

Jim Stones BUS 1T in Leigh bus station

As we considered what to catch we saw First Manchester 69526 on a #582 to Bolton.

First Manchester 69526 in Leigh bus station

We decided to do required First Manchester 39246 on the V1 to Manchester as far as Salford. We got on the bus and we booked System One Bus Only Day tickets at £5.80 each. We went upstairs and we sat down near to the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Spinning Jenny way. We ran forwards onto Princess Street and onto the guided busway. In a nearby yard we saw red double decker bus R781 SOY parked up. We ran along the busway for approximately 4 miles and we joined the Southbound B5232 in Ellenbrook. We ran South for around 1/4 mile and we turned left onto the A580. We ran fast along the A580 and we crossed under the A580 and the Wardley park and ride car park. We continued Eastwards and the A580 merged with the A6. We continued on to Pendleton and near the the police station we cam off the main A6 and onto a parallel slow lane where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39246 as it continued towards Manchester.

First Manchester 39246 in Salford

Behind our bus was required First Manchester 33726 on a #36 to Manchester.

First Manchester 33726 in Salford

We visited the Paresh Newsagents like we had done on out first visit to Salford back in May 2016 and Matthew brought a can of Coke and a can of Vimto. We also brought a couple of chocolate bars. Once we had finished in the shop went into the subway and we headed over to the Salford Shopping Centre. We went under the roundabout and over the A6. We walked around the police station and under the shopping centre access road and into the shopping centre. We decided to have more of a look around that we have had before and we took a few bus pictures. We saw First Manchester 37399 on a #100 to the Intu Trafford Centre.

First Manchester 37399 in Salford

We had planned on going North and we had already found the relevant bus stop. After looking at a few other buses we walked back to the stop to see required First Manchester 33841 on a #36 to Bolton.

First Manchester 33841 in Salford

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only Day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off from the stop and we headed up to the Westbound A6. We ran alongside the main carriageway in a bus lane for a few hundred yards and we veered left onto Bolton Road. We ran alongside the A6 for a 3/4 of a mile and we cam to a large roundabout. The A580 and the A6 split off from each other and we followed the A6 for around a mile into Swinton. We stopped briefly outside a brutalist Lancastrian Hall in the centre of town. We continued Westwards into Walkden and we asked Matthew if he wanted to get up and off the bus. Matthew decided he wanted to stay on the bus and continue up to Bolton. We continued Westwards out of Wakden along the A6 and we turned left into Hilton Lane passing Rotala Diamond 20989 on the VH2 Walkden circular service. We turned right onto Hulton Avenue and we continued forwards onto Madams Wood Road. We crossed the A5082 and we ran forwards onto Kenyon Way. We ran through the estate and we reappeared on the A6. We headed Eastwards for a short distance and we turned left onto the A5082. We crossed over the M61 and we turned left onto Tennyson Road. We ran forwards onto George Street across Highfield Road and forwards onto Laburnam Road. We crossed the B6199 and we ran North up Harper Green Road. We turned left onto Lavender Road and right onto Bradford Road. We crossed Green Lane and we continued north towards Bolton. We ran forwards onto Nelson Street and forwards onto Thynne Street. We turned left onto the A579 and right onto Black Horse Street. We turned right onto Great Moor Street and right into Newport Street and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. In the adjacent stand was First Manchester 66905 on a #561 Withins circular.

First Manchester 66905 in Bolton bus station

This was our first visit to Bolton since the new bus station was built. The bus station is triangular in shape and has layover bays for buses down either side. Matthew visited the facilities and then we walked around the other side to see what buses we could catch. We took a few pictures through the glass of buses on layover and we spotted a 575 which could get us back towards Wigan and then onwards to Leigh. We went to get on a Rotala Bus, but it pulled off before we got to it. On an adjacent stand we saw Arriva NW&W 2678 on a #575 to Horwich.

Arriva NW&W 2678 in Bolton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only Day tickets to the driver The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2678 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2678

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto the A575. We turned left onto Deansgate and right onto Bridge Street. We turned left onto the B6205 and we crossed the ring road onto the B6226. We veered left onto the A673 and we ran Westwards out of town. We ran through Heaton and Lostock and we continued Northwards for the last couple of miles. When we got to the North end of town in familiar territory, we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 2678 as it ran up to the roundabout for the return trip to Bolton.

Arriva NW&W 2678 in Horwich

Once off the bus we crossed the road and we visited The Crown. Matthew used the toilet and then we went to the bar to get a drink. Matthew had a glass of Coke and we sat at a table for a few minutes whilst Mathew had his drink. We went back outside to met up with uncle Dave and we spotted a bus approaching. It was required Arriva NW&W 2681 on a #575 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2681 in Horwich

We crossed the road and we got on the bus. We flashed the System One Bus Only Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up the road and we turned left onto the B5238. We went under the M61 and past Blackrod railway station. At the end of the Road we turned right onto the A6 and we headed Northwards. We turned left onto the B5408 and Southwards through Blackrod. At the Southern end of Blackrod we turned Scot Lane and we ran into Aspull. We went around the triangle in the centre and we stopped briefly at the bus stop. We headed North up the B5239 and we turned left onto Saint David's Crescent. We turned right onto Holly Road and right onto the B5238. We ran Southwards through New Springs and Whelley and we turned right onto the A573. We crossed the A49 onto Crompton Street and we ran forwards onto Mesnes Street. We turned left onto the B5375 ans we entered the bus station for the North End. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew visited the toilet. This was our first visit to Wigin since the bus station was re-built. When Matthew had finished in the bus station we had a walk around to take a few bus pictures. We saw Arriva NW&W 2997 on a #575 to Bolton.

Arriva NW&W 2997 in Wigan bus station

The layover bays in the bus station area are in the same place as they were. We walked through a little gate and along the row. We saw Arriva NW&W 4607 on layover in between runs on the #375 to Southport.

Arriva NW&W 4607 in Wigan bus station

Also in the row was Arriva NW&W 2983 on a #395 to Skelmersdale.

Arriva NW&W 2983 in Wigan bus station

Another vehicle on layover was Rotala Diamond 20814 service unknown.

Rotala Diamond 20814 in Wigan bus station

Once we had finished looking at the buses on layover we walked back up to the bus station stanf=d and we looked for a bus that could take us towards Leigh. We spotted required Stagecoach Manchester 19522 on a #10 to Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 19522 in Wigan 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 top deck was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 19522 before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19522

The bus set off out of the bus station and down Dorning Street and onto King Street West. We turned right past the rail stations and we saw Pemberton ML56 SWK. We continued South down the A49 past Wigan Pier. We ran through the Marus Bridge area. After Taybarn's we continued South down the A49 into Bryn. We turned right into Old Road and then we ran into Ashton-in-Makerfield. We turned left onto Bolton Road and after around 1/2 a mile we turned right onto Golborne Road. We turned right into Edge Green Lane and we zigged down to the Southern end of Golborne along Bank Street and Heath Street. In Golborne we turned left onto the High Street and we stopped in town before going over the railway line before the bus turned into Lowton Road. We ran forwards onto Church Lane and when we got to the A580 we went Eastwards. We turned left onto the A572 and we got up and got off the bus near to Lowton Social Club. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19522 before it continued towards Leigh.

Stagecoach Manchester 19522 in Lowton

The plan was to catch the next #34 or #10 bus up to Leigh, whichever came first. Whilst we waited we shared a trio Bounty which we had purchased in Salford earlier in the day. Going the other way we saw Arriva NW&W 2982 on a #34 to St Helens and Stagecoach Manchester 19518 on a #10 to Wigan.

Stagecoach Manchester 22587 in Lowton

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 went sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards up Newton Road and we crossed the A579. We ran the last mile or so into the centre of Leigh and we turned right onto Spinning Jenny Way. We turned left into the bus station and we ran through to the other side and onto the stops on the B5215. Once we got off the bus we saw Arriva NW&W 2672 which had passed us on the #34 whilst we were stopped in Lowton.

Arriva NW&W 2672 in Leigh bus station

We had a quick walk around the bus station taking pictures before we returned to the car. We saw Rotala Diamond 30536 parked up between duties.

Rotala Diamond 30536 in Leigh bus station

Around the other side of the bus station we saw Rotala Diamond 20902 on a #583 to Hag Fold.

Rotala Diamond 20902 in Leigh bus station

Mum had moved the car during the day and was now parked on Bradshaw Gate. We walked out of the bus station past Lloyds and onto Bradshaw Gate. We dropped the bag in the car and we went to McDonalds. Matthew used the toilet and we each had a portion of fries. He also had a Greggs sausage roll and a can of Irn Bru. We set off out of Bradshaw Gate and we turned left onto the B5215. We ran Southwards onto the A572 and we ran Southwards to Lowton. We crossed the A580 into Lane head and we turned right onto the A579. We joined the Southbound M6 and we ran through Cheshire. As we travelled Southwards we saw an unidentified Reays coach. at junction 16 we joined the Southbound A500. Seen on the A500 was an unidentified Kirby Lonsdale coach hire midi coach. At Sideway roundabout we joined the Eastbound A50. Seen on the A50 was an unidentified Barratts (Nantwich) coach. We came off the A50 at Longton and we went to see ehat was parked up at Z Carz this evening. The spare ground was empty as expected so we turned left into Willow Row to see what was in the compound. We saw Z Carz Peugeot minibus YJ62 LSX.

Z Carz YJ62 LSX in Longton

Also seen was a new arrival. It was Z Carz Peugeot minibus YJ12 SBY.

Z Carz YJ12 SBY in Longton

We turned around and got back onto the A50 and we went Westwards to Heron Cross. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran through Blurton. We ran forwards onto Church Street and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home just before 19:00. 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.