Trip to Crewe / Congleton 31-08-2019

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
708	Crewe BS	Congleton BS	38	Arriva NW&W
MX05 OUC	Congleton BS	Buglawton, Co-op	92	Hollinshead Coaches
MX05 OUC	Buglawton, Co-op	Congleton BS	92	Hollinshead Coaches
708	Congleton BS	Crewe BS	38	Arriva NW&W

Today Matthew decided to revisit Crewe after he saw the new bus station. There are also changes to bus service from the 1st September. Research consisted of download some of the bus timetables in the Crewe and North Staffordshire area. We also checked the weather which was for mainly dry and sunny with occasional showers. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had crumpets and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:30 and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and left onto Blurton Road. we ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross. We turned left onto the A50 and we ran Westwards towards Sideway. At the roundabout we and we saw white minibus DS65 UEJ. We turned right onto the Northbound A500. As we ran Northwards we saw First Potteries 65731 running out of service, Z Carz HK57 LFY, Scraggs 6626 VT, West Midlands Ambulance Service YJ16 GLK. We went under the M6 and we continued towards Nantwich. We turned right onto David Whitby Way and we ran towards Crewe. We turned left onto the A532 and we turned into the Crewe Truck stop. The truck stop was closed so we continued into town. We ran up to the main roundabout and we turned left onto the A534. We turned right onto Eddleston Road and we saw Arriva NW&W 2934 on a #84 to Chester. Due to work on the Chester Bridge there was a diversion into town. We turned left onto Wistatston Road. We turned right onto Flag Lane and we ran forwards onto Hightown. I followed the Sat-nav instead of the Sat-nag and I went forwards onto Broad Street. We turned right onto Meredith Street and we came to a dead end on the wrong side of the A532. After turning around we turned left onto the A532 and right into the car park at Asda. We parked up and we walked over to Victoria Street. We went to the chip shop cafe on the corner and Matthew used the toilet. For dinner Matthew had sausage chips and gracy with bread and butter washed down with a glass of Pepsi. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we walked over to the bus station. We saw a few buses parked up on layover. Opposite was Arriva NW&W 4173 parked up.

Arriva NW&W 4173 in Crewe bus station

We waited around for something to catch. We saw Arriva NW&W 2931 on a #31 to Northwich.

Arriva NW&W 2931 in Crewe bus station

After a short while we saw Arriva NW&W 708 on a #38 to Macclesfield.

Arriva NW&W 708 in Crewe bus station

Whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw First Potteries 67655 on a #3 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67655 in Crewe bus station

We got on the bus and we booked Arriva NW&W Day Savers at £5.50 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We followed the road around to the right onto Chester Bridge past the site of the up and coming Little Dessert Shop. We crossed the railway line and onto Edleston Road. At the end of the long straight road we turned left onto the A534 and we ran past the railway station ans past B&Q. We traveled Eastwards along Crewe Road. We went through Haslington and Winterley and further North through Wheelock Heath. We crossed the A534 and we ran through Wheelock. We ran over the canal and into Sandbach town center past Sandbach School. When we got to the Common onto Congleton Road. We joined the A534 and we crossed over the M6 and into open countryside. and we crossed over the Arclid crossroads. On the edge of Congleton we joined the A34 and we ran East along the road for a short while before going onto West Street. We entered town along Antrobus Street, Mill Street and Mountbatten Way. We turned right into Market Street, past the Bear Grills cafe and into the bus station. We got off the bus and we took another picture of Arriva NW&W 708 before it carried on towards Macclesfield.

Arriva NW&W 708 in Congleton bus station

Once off the bus we walked down onto Mountbatten Way. We turned right onto Kinsey Street and at the top of the road we went into the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards Matthew had a glass of Coke. After we had finished we walked along Lawton Street and forwards onto High Street. As we considered going down Market Street as we waited to cross we saw Hollinshead Coaches SN66 WKZ on a #90 Bromley estate circular.

Hollinshead Coaches SN66 WKZ in Congleton

As we were about to cross the road we saw a white Solo arrive in the bus station. We went to investigate and we saw Hollinshead Coaches MX05 OUC on a #92 Buglawton circular.

Hollinshead Coaches MX05 OUC in Congleton bus station

We decided to do this bus so we got on and we booked singles at £1.50 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. When it was time we set off up Market Street and we turned left onto High Street. We continued onto Lawton Street and we turned left onto Mountbatten Way. At the roundabout we Northwards up the A54 and we ran out of town for about half a mile. We turned left onto St Johns Road and we ran into the Buglawton estate. We turned left onto Wharfdale Road and right onto Harvey Road. At the end we turned right onto St Johns Road and we started heading back towards Congleton. We turned right onto the Southbound A54 and we ran into the town centre. WE turned right onto Mountbatten Way and we entered the bus station from the North End. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Hollinshead Coaches MX05 OUC.

Inside Hollinshead Coaches MX05 OUC

Once off the bus we walked past Bear Grills cafe into the car park and we saw black minibus YJ68 AVW.

YJ68 AVW in Congleton

We had around 1/2 hours for the bus bak towards Crewe so we had a walk around town. We went up Market Street and we turned right onto Bridge Street. Matthew took a photo of the old RBS bank which has yet to find a new use. We continued along Bridge Street and we turned right onto Mill Street. We walked across the car park and we went near to the back of Morrisons. We crossed Stonehouse Green and we walked up the back of the market and through the pedestrianised arcade onto Bridge Street. We turned left onto Bridge Street and we visited WH Smith. We brought a couple of bottle of soft drinks and 3 chocolate bars. We walked onto Walked Street and Matthew visited the toilet at the top end of the bus station. We returned to the bus stop and Matthew ate a Bounty. A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As expected it was Arriva NW&W 708 on a #38 to Crewe.

Arriva NW&W 708 in Congleton bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva NW&W Day Saver ticket 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 and onto market Street and we ran down the hill onto Mountbatten Way. We turned left onto Mill Street and we climbed the hill, turning right onto West Street. At the roundabout we went straight onto the A34 and at the following junction we went straight ahead onto the A534. We went out of town through West Heath and then out into open countryside. We crossed the A50 at the Arclid crossroads. On the west side of the M6 we left the A534 and turned right onto Congleton Road and we ran into Sandbach Common where we saw Arriva NW&W 2931 on a #37A to Northwich. After a brief stop we continued on our journey. After a brief stop we went Westwards out of the town onto Crewe Road and through Wheelock. We crossed the A534 and we ran through Wheelock Heath and Winterly, passed the pond. We continued into Haslington and turned left onto Crewe Road and we re-joined the B5077 towards Crewe Green. We crossed over the roundabout onto the Westbound A534 and we ran towards Crewe railway station. We past the railway station and we continued for around 1/2 mile before turning right into Edlestone Road. We ran into town crossing over the railway line. Due to Chester Bridge being closed in one direct we turned right onto the A5078 and we ran forwards onto the A5019. We turned left Earle Street and left onto Prince Albert Street. We turned right onto Chester Street and right onto Market Street. We followed the road around onto Delamere Street and we turned right into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked onto Victoria Street and we saw Arriva NW&W 4410 on a #31 to Northwich.

Arriva NW&W 4410 in Crewe

We headed back to the car and we met up with mum who had left her car keys back at home. She was waiting with sausage rols and a bottle of Irn Bru for Matthew. We got in the car and we set off onto the Eastbound A532 and we turned right onto Vernon Way. We turned left onto Earle Street and we continued onto Manchester Bridge. We turned right onto Macon Way and we we crossed over the roundabout onto Weston Road. We turned right onto David Whitby Way and left onto the A500. We ran under the M6 and as we continued South we came to an incident on the road and the road narrowed to a single lane. We saw Adams Travel EG16 FYD as we waited to merge into the other Lane.

Adams Travel EG16 FYD on A500

We passed the broken down vehicle and we passed Bullocks RB11 BUL, Alfa 72, Terry Bushell A13 TBT, and unidentified National Express liveried coach (#540), MT Travel HK58 ECV, an unidentified white minibus and an unidentified grey coach as we travelled Southwards. We turned left onto the A50 and we saw Alfa 109. As we were coming off the A50 at Longton Matthew took a picture of Terry Bushell A13 TBT.

Terry Bushell A13 TBT on A50

we came off the A50 at Longton and we headed to Z Carz to see what was parked up in the compound on Willow Row. We saw Z Carz Citroen minibus LV59 DZC.

Z Carz LV59 DZC in Longton

Also seen was Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

Another vehicle seen was Z Carz Mercedes minibus KE03 JXC.

Z Carz KE03 JXC in Longton

We turned around and headed back onto Edensor Road and we saw Lucky Seven KE54 ARM.

Lucky Seven KE54 ARM in Longton

We 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 around 18:15. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a slice of red velvet cake. We spent time doing the e-mails and doing the Blog. We chilled out on the computer and watching telly until 01:00... Mark