Trip to Derby / Nottingham 11-05-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
80	Derby BS	Nottingham Victoria BS	Red Arrow	Trent Barton
777	Nottingham Victoria BS	Ilkeston, Market Place (Stop 5)	2	Trent Barton
803	Ilkeston	Stapleford, Memorial Garden	my15	Trent Barton
133	Stapleford, Memorial Garden	Nottingham, Friars Lane (Stop F3)	i4	Trent Barton
819	Nottingham Victoria BS	Hucknall, Vine Terrace	Threes	Trent Barton
817	Hucknall, Vine Terrace	Nottingham Victoria BS	Threes	Trent Barton

Today we decided to re-visit Derby. Me and Matthew's mum had both being doing tough shifts at work so we opted for a reasonably close and easy option. Research consisted of checking the weather which was cool and cloudy with occasional rain showers. Had we done further research we might not have picked Derby, as it was the first leg of the Championship play-off and Derby County were at home to Leeds United on a 17:15 kick-off! We decided that we would stop at the Salt Box Cafe and eat on the way. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and a orange for breakfast. Mum got home from work just before 11:00 and we got ready to go out. We set off onto the A5035 and we headed along the A5035 through Dresden up to Longton. We crossed over the A50 and we joined the Eastbound A50. We ran through Longton and Meir and as we passed the Copeland's Tours depot we saw Copeland's Tours MIB 302 arriving back at their depot. We continued Eastwasrds along the A50 and as we travelled towards Derby we saw Taxico TXI 7007 come off the A50 ahead of us. We joined the A511 and we headed into Hatton. We stopped at the salt box cafe and Matthew went to the toilet. For dinner Matthew had a breakfast and washed down with a bottle of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw Midland Classic 8 on a #401 to Burton and Trent Barton 715 on V1 Villager services. When we had finished eating we continued East to Hilton and then we went Northwards back under the A50 and along the A516 into Derby. We entered the town and we ran into the inner ring road and we ran clockwise around town we turned right into Cathedral Road and we followed it around to the left. We ran forwards onto Full Street and we ran forwards onto Morledge. We pulled up in a loading bay near to the bus station and we got out of the car. We said goodbyebye to mum and we headed towards the bus station. On the way we saw Yourbus 1801 on a Y3 service to Cotmanhay.

Yourbus 1801 in Derby

We headed to the top end of the bus station and we took a few bus pictures whilst we decided what to do. We saw Trent Barton 721 on a Ilkeston Flyer to Ilkeston.

Trent Barton 721 in Derby bus station

Also seen was Arriva Midlands 3552 on a #24 to Oakwood.

Arriva Midlands 3552 in Derby bus station

A short time later we saw Chalfont Coaches National Express liveried coach BK14 LEU on a #230 to Gatwick.

Chalfont Coaches BK14 LEU in Derby bus station

Also seen was Trent Barton 80 on a Red Arrow service to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 80 in Derby bus station

We decided to do this bus, so we we went in to bus station. There was a ticket desk by the stand and we brought a group zig-zag ticket at £14. We got on the bus and we flashed the group Zig-zag ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station we saw Trent Barton 503 on a Spondon Flyer, Yourbus 3105 on a 20 to Chaddesden and Arriva Midlands 4215, We continued onto the Northbound A601 We came off at the next junction and we joined the Eastbound A52. We ran fast along the A52 passing and we crossed over the M1 and passed Toton depot. We continued Eastwards to the edge of Nottingham past the QMC. We crossed the ring road and ran forwards onto the A6200. We continued onto Wollaton Street and we crossed over the tramline before turned left onto South Sherwood Street. We turn right onto Shakespeare Street and left onto Mansfield Road. We turned right onto the B684 and we entered Nottingham Victoria Bus Station. We got up and Matthew took a picture inside Trent Barton 80 before we got off the bus.

Inside Trent Barton 80

Once off the bus Matthew went to the toilet. We then had a look around the bus station and took a few bus pictures. We walked to the top end of York Street and we had a look around the corner on Mansfield Street. We saw Nottingham City Transport 387 on a #46 to Mapperley.

Nottingham City Transport 387 in Nottingham

Also seen on Mansfield Street was Nottingham City Transport 924 on a #89 to Rise Park.

Nottingham City Transport 924 in Nottingham bus station

There was a paved area adjacent to the rear of the bus station from which you could photograph the buses. We walked along the back of the bus station and we saw required Trent Barton 777 on a 2 service to Cotmanhay.

Trent Barton 777 in Nottingham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Mansfield Road. We turned right onto Shakespeare Street and we turned left onto North Church Street. We turned right onto Burton Street and left onto South Sherwood Street. We turned right onto the A6008 and we crossed over the roundabout onto Derby Road. We crossed the roundabout onto the A609 and we headed Westwards out of town. We headed through Wollaton and out of town towards Trowell. We crossed over the M1 and we followed the road to the right as we headed Northwards. We continued up the A609 to the South end of Ilkeston and we crossed the roundabout onto South Street. We followed the road to the left onto Market Place and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Trent Barton 777 before it carried on to Cotmanhey.

Trent Barton 777 in Ilkeston

Across the road we saw Yourbus 1806 on a Y3 to Derby.

Yourbus 1806 in Ilkeston

We set off along Wharncliffe Road and we went forwards onto Market Place. Across the square we saw taxi minibus LO08 ORD. We Headed North up market Place and Matthew visited the toilet. Once Matthew had finished we walked back up Market Place and onto Wharncliffe Road where we saw required Trent Barton 803 on a my15 service to Old Sawley.

Trent Barton 803 in Ilkeston

We got on and flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver. The bus set off along Market Place and we followed the road around to the right onto South Street. We got onto the Southbound A609 and we ran towards Trowell. By the Festival Inn we ran forwards onto the A6007. I was original intending to go as far as Long Eaton. But we realised the bus ran through Stapleford and we would have more choices of bus to catch. We turned right onto the B6003 and we ran Southwards into Stapleford. We turned right onto the B5010 and it appeared to be the town centre so we got up to get off the bus. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Trent Barton 803.

Inside Trent Barton 803

Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Trent Barton 803 as it carried on towards Old Sawley.

Trent Barton 803 in Stapleford

Behind us we saw Trent Barton 132 on a 14 to Sandiacre.

Trent Barton 132 in Stapleford

We crossed over the road and we visited the convenience store. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. We went to the stop and we waited for a bus to Nottingham. Whilst we waited we saw Notts Bus FJ07 WGK on a #510 to Stapleford.

Notts Bus FJ07 WGK in Stapleford

A few minutes later we saw Trent Barton 133 on a i4 to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 133 in Stapleford

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards back of the bus. The bus set off along the B5010 and we ran forwards for around 2/3 of mile before we joined the Eastbound A52. As we ran Eastwards we ran to the edge of Nottingham and we crossed the ring-road. We ran forwards onto the A6200 and we ran into town. We ran onto Wollaton Street and we ran over the roundabout Maid Marian Way and we were passed by DG taxis YD67 TVV. We turned left onto Friar Lane and the bus terminated. We got off the bus and on the stand in front we saw Trent Barton 212 on an Indigo service to Derby.

Trent Barton 212 in Nottingham

We walked around the corner onto Beastmarket Hill and we saw Nottingham City Transport 968 on a #48 to Clifton.

Nottingham City Transport 968 in Nottingham

It had started to rain so we walked quickly towards the Victoria bus station. We walked forwards across the square onto Market Street and we turned right onto Upper Parliament Street. We turned left onto South Sherwood Street and we walked past the noodle restaurant and we turned right onto Burton Street. We walked to the end and outside the main entrance to the Into Victoria Centre we turned left onto Mansfield Road. We turned right onto Union Road and we walked into the bus station through the main pedestrian entrance. The the window you could see the cutting below where the old Great Central Railway station used to be. In the bus station we saw Stagecoach East Midlands 36514 on a Pronto service to Chesterfield.

Stagecoach East Midlands 36514 in Nottingham bus station

On an adjacent stand we saw required Trent Barton 819 on a Three [B] to Mansfield.

Trent Barton 819 in Nottingham bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Union Road and we turned right onto Mansfield Street. We ran Northwards out of town and we joined the Northbound A60. Near to Lidl we veered left onto Hucknall Road. As we travelled Northwards we arranged with mum to meet up back at Nottingham. We ran North up the A611 and at the T-junction we turned right onto Hucknall Lane. We ran forwards onto Nottingham Road and we went through Butler's Hill and into the South end of Hucknall where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Trent Barton 819 before it continued onto towards Mansfield.

Trent Barton 819 in Hucknall

Once off the bus we went to the pub on the corner. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. THe pub was quite full, many off which were watching the Derby County vs Leeds United play-off game. We sat at a table with a couple of strangers and after we had we took the glass back to the bar and we went outside to meet back up with uncle Dave. We crossed over the road and we waited for a bus back to Nottingham. A few minutes later we saw Trent Barton 817 on a Three [A] to Nottingham.

Trent Barton 817 in Hucknall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Zig-zag group ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards back of the bus. We set off along High Street and forwards onto Portland Road. We ran through Butlers Hill and forwards onto Nottingham Road. At the roundabout we ran forwards onto Hucknall Lane. We turned left onto Moor Bridge and we ran past the hospital along the A611 to the edge of town. We joined the Southbound A60 and we ran for about 3 / 8ths of a mile to the junction. We went forwards onto Mansfield Road and we entered the bus station down York Street. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Trent Barton 817 before we got off.

Inside Trent Barton 817

Once off the bus we called mum to try and work out a location we could be picked up. In the bus station Matthew took another picture of Trent Barton 817 before it returned to Mansfield.

Trent Barton 817 in Nottingham bus station

We walked down York Street and forwards onto Union Road. We turned right onto Mansfield Road and we waited by the side of the road. We arranged with mum to pick us up from Major Street. Whilst we waited for mum to arrive we took a few bus pictures. We saw Nottingham City Transport 437 on a #45 to Gedling.

Nottingham City Transport 437 in Nottingham

Also seen was Nottingham City Transport 916 on a #68 to Bulwell.

Nottingham City Transport 916 in Nottingham

Mum arrived and we got into the car. She had brought Greggs sausage rolls and a bottle of Irn Bru. We set off onto Mansfield Street and we turned left into Bluecoat Street and right into North Sherwood Street. We turned left onto Peel Street and we headed Southwards. We ran forwards onto Clarendon Street and we joined the one-way system. We ran around the roundabout and did a u-turn to run Westwards along Derby Road. We ran forwards onto the A6200 and to the edge of town. We crossed the ring road and we ran forwards onto the A52. We ran fast to the edge of Derby and we joined the clockwise ring road. We turned right onto Friar Gate and we ran forwards onto the A52 and out of town. We ran for around 10 miles and we turned left onto the Southbound A515. We ran Southwards for around 8 miles and we joined the Westbound A50. We ran to the edge to Uttoxeter and we continued Eastwards along the A50 and we saw an blue Copeland's Tours Van Hool coach MIB 104 at the depot. We continued through Meir into Longton and we came off the A50. The spare ground did have any buses parked on it. We turned left into Willow Row and there a a couple of minibuses visible. We saw Z Carz Renailt minibus YE52 UZX in the compound.

Z Carz YE52 UZX in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Peugeot minibus YJ12 SGV.

Z Carz YJ12 SGV in Longton

We turned around and ran down Edensor Road past the site of the old Edensor school which is being re-developed. We turned left onto Spring Garden Road and we ran to the end. We turned right onto the A5035 and we ran through Dresden back to Blurton. We got home around 19:45. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. We then chilled out at home and uploaded pictures and did some of the Blog. Matthew chilled out om the computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark