Trip to Ashton / Glossop 18-01-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
19278	Ashton Interchange	Glossop, Henry Street	237	Stagecoach Manchester
MX57 URA	Glossop, Market Hall	Hyde BS	341	Stott's
19182	Hyde BS	Stockport BS	330	Stagecoach Manchester
37037	Stockport BS	Trafford Centre BS	25	Stagecoach Manchester

Today Matthew decided to re-visited Ashton-under-Lyne. As we knew we were going in advance we did some research. We checked which depots First Manchester operate from and which ones had been sold to other companies. We also checked the weather which was for cool, dry and sunny weather, slightly warmer the normal for the time of year. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum went out to the post office around 11:20 to pick up a parcel. She also picked up her friend who was coming with us today. We got in the car just after 11:30 and we set off onto the A5035. Mum had the sat-nav set to shortest route instead of the fastest so it took us the wrong way! We turned left onto the A5035 and left onto Ripon Road. We turned the car around and we turned right onto the A5035. We ran over the railway line into Trentham and we saw First Potteries 63097 on a #22 to Longton. We turned right onto the Northbound A34 and we turned left onto Whitmore Road. We ran to the end and we turned right onto the Northbound A519. We joined the Northbound M6 and we travelled through Staffordshire. As we travelled North we saw Park's of Hamilton BV67 JYZ (#540), HSK 646 (#532), H&H Hire B8 HNH, silver minibus CP19 KWL, Edwards Coaches (NX) BV67 JYD(#528), an unidentified Megabus (M11), an unidentified Ellison's coach and an unidentified Hollinsheads. At junction 19 we came of the M6 and we headed Eastwards for around 5 miles. Seen on the A556 were Copeland's Tours MIB 279 and an unidentified white coach. We joined the Eastbound M56 and we ran Eastwards up to the anti-clockwise M60. Seen on the M60 were 2 unidentified Sky Coaches, Stagecoach Manchester 19330(X30) & High Peak 804 (#199). We came off the M60 at junction 24 and we joined the Eastbound A57. We ran into the centre of Denton and at the lights we turned left onto the Northbound A6017. We ran past the new Wellness Centre in Tameside and past the retail park. We turned right onto Shepley Road and following the sat-nav against my better judgement we turned right onto Globe Lane. When we realised the sat-nat wasn't very accurate we turned around and we turned right at the roundabout. We spotted the cafe and we parked up nearby. Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast with toast as well as a buttered bap so he could make a sausage sandwich from other people's sausages! Afterwards he had a bakewell slice. When we had finished eating we headed outside and we got in the car. We ran Northwards up Astlet Street. In the centre of Dukinfield we turned left onto King Street. We crossed over the A635 onto the A627 and we turned right onto Newman Street. We ran forwards onto Water Street and the road we were heading for had been truncated with the building of the new Interchange. We got out of the car and we said goodbye to mum and her friend. Once out of the car we headed into the Interchange. In front was the new section of the interchange that was being built.

Ashton Interchange construction work

In the Interchange we saw First Manchester 37556 on a #350 to Micklehurst. We walked up to the top end of the Interchange and we saw First Manchester 33684 on a #409 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 33684 in Ashton Interchange

We waited around at the top end of the Interchange and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19278 on a #237 to Glossop.

Stagecoach Manchester 19278 in Ashton Interchange

We walked down through the Interchange and we waited for the bus to be readied for service. We got on the bus and we booked System One Bus Only Day tickets at £6 each. We went upstairs and the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 19278 before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 19278

We set off out of the Interchange onto Wellington Road and we ran past the railway station. We ran forwards onto Penny Meadow and we continued onto Beaufort Road. At the end of Beaufort Road we turned left onto Stamford Street. We veered right onto Rassbottom Street and we ran into Stalybridge. We past the railway station and we went into the town centre. We ran forwards onto Market Street and we turned left onto Waterloo Road. We ran forwards onto Trinity Street and we ran through the town centre onto the square. We ran Southwards out of town and we turned left onto Acres Lane. At the end of Acres Lane we turned right onto Mottram Road. We ran past Stalybridge Celtic's ground, where we saw an unidentified Sharpe's coach parked up. We passed MCT E200MMC bus YX19 ONS on a #387 to Ashton. We continued along Mottram Road and we ran forwards onto Roe Cross Road. We ram through Maltley and Roe Cross and into Mottran in Longendale. We turned left onto Mottram Moor. We continued along the A628 and into Hollingworth. We ran forwards onto Manchester Road into Tinwistle and we turned right onto New Road. We ran down into the valley and we ran forwards onto Waterside. We ran forwards onto Station Road and we ran up to the corner by the railway station. After a brief stop we turned right onto Railway Street. We ran forwards onto Newshaw lane and we turned left onto Brookfield. We ran under the viaduct at Dinting and forwards onto High Street West. We ran the last 1/2 mile into the centre of Glossop and we turned left into Norfolk Square. We turned right to continued around the square and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19278 as it continued towards the end of the run on Shirebrook Drive.

Stagecoach Manchester 19278 in Glossop

In front of us was High Peak 290 on a #390 to Whitfield. Once off the bus we walked down through the square and we crossed over into the market hall. We walked around the market looking for toilets. We stopped at a Market Stall and Matthew had 50p worth of spearmint chews and a Milky Way. We asked where the toilets were and we were directed to a toilet block outside the market. After using the toilet we headed back to the bus stop. There wasn't another Ashton bound bus for 20 minutes so we went to get a drink. We walked onto High Street East and we visited the petrol station and Matthew had a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. We walked back along High Street East and we saw High Peak 290 on a #390 to Whitfield.

High Peak 290 in Glossop

We conitnued back into the town centre and we stopped at the bus stop outside the market hall. Whilst we waited we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19113 on a #237 to Ashton. He indicated that he wanted to do the #341 to Hyde, but that wasn't for another 30 minutes or so. We decided to have a walk around rather than wait at the bus stop for 30 minutes. We walked Westward along High Street West looking for a cash machine. When we did find one. we crossed over the road and we walked Eastwards along High Street West to Norfolk Square. After getting some money out of the cash machine we crossed back over to the market hall to wait for a the bus to Hyde. Just after 16:00 we saw South Pennie Community Transport HV69 EPX on a #351 to Holmfirth. the back of the bus stopped on Henry Street. When it set off Matthew moved up to the road to get a picture. It appeared from around the corner and as it got closer we saw it was Stott's MX57 URA on a #341 to Hyde.

Stott's MX57 URA in Glossop

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. Th bus set off along High Street West and we headed Westwards out of town. About a 1/2 mile out of town we crossed the roundabout and we turned left onto Simmondley Lane. We turned left onto Pennine Road and we ran past the local shops. We turned right onto Werneth Road and we looped back onto Pennine Road. We turned right onto Simmondley Lane and we ran back down to the A57. We ran under Dinting viaduct and we turned left onto Glossop Road. We ran into Gamesley and we went back under the railway line. We ran down into the village of Charlesworth and we turned right onto Long Lane. We ran into Broadbottom and we went under the railway line. We ran past Broadbottom railway station and we headed Northwards up towards Mottram. We ran through Mudd and we turned left onto Ashworth Lane. We ran past the library and we crossed over the A560. We ran forwards onto Underwood through Hattersley and we turned left onto Hattersley Road West. We turned left onto Fields Farm Road and we ran forwards onto Beaufort Road. We crossed over the A560 onto Clough End Lane and we looped back around onto the Southbound A560. We ran for a few miles towards Gee Cross and we turned right onto Werneth Avenue. We turned right onto Backbower Lane and right onto Grange Road South. We ran around the loop and we turned right onto Grange Road. We turned left onto Peel Street and right onto Stockport Road. We turned right onto Lumn Road and right onto Mansfield Road. We turned left onto Walker Lane and we turned right to re-join Lumn Road. We turned right onto Market Street and we ran into the centre of Hyde. We turned right onto Clarendon Street and we entered the bus station from the East end. Web got up an got of the bus and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 36422 on a #346 to Ashton.

Stagecoach Manchester 36422 in Hyde bus station

Once off the bus Matthew decided he wanted the toilet. The bus station toilet were closed so we went for a walk to look for somewhere for Matthew to go. We ran up Clarendon Street and we spotted a pub on the corner. We went in the pub and Matthew went to the toilet. After using the toilet Matthew had a glass of Coke. After we finished the drink we went outside and met up with uncle Dave. We walked back down Clarendon Street and back to the bus station. Mum had driven to The Trafford Centre so we tried to work out how we could get to her. We decided to go via Stockport. We walked into the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19182 on a #330 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 19182 in Hyde 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 bus set off around the bus station and out of the bus station onto Market Street. We ran southwards through the town centre and we turned right onto Dowson Road. We ran out of town down the hill and forwards onto the A560, passing Belle Vue YN08 MLL going the other way. As we passed Woodley railway station we saw a freight train going towards the Bredbury Freight terminal. We continued through Bredbury and we ran forwards onto the B6104. We crossed over the big roundabout on the east end of Stockport and and as we entered town. We ran through Stockport along Little Egerton Street and great Egerton Street and we entered the bus station through Mersey Square and under Wellington Road South. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus matthew took a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19182 before it returned on a #330 to Ashton.

Stagecoach Manchester 19182 in Stockport bus station

Once off the bus we went to catch a #23 or #25. We just missed a #23 so we walked to the stop to wait for the next bus. As we got to the stop we saw Stagecoach Manchester 37037 on a #25 to The Trafford Centre.

Stagecoach Manchester 37037 in Stockport bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only Day ticket to the driver for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and we went under the A6. We turned right into Mersey Square and we looped around to join the Northbound A6. We ran Northwards over the M60 and we ran into Heaton Norris. We turned left into Heaton Road. We turned right onto Parsonage Road and left onto Heaton Moor Road. We ran through Heaton Moor and we turned right onto Clifton Road. We turned left onto Buckingham Road West and right onto Mauldeth Road. We ran forwards onto Burnage Lane and we turned left onto Mauldeth Road. We crossed over the A34 and we continued along Mauldeth Road. As we ran Westwards we saw an unidentified Bullock's coach and an unidentified National Holidays coach. We ran forwards onto Mauldeth Road West and we turned right on to the Northbound A5145 and into Chorlton-cum-Hardy. We turned left onto the A6010 and we ran forwards onto the A5145. We crossed the A56 at Stretford and we continued Westwards onto Kingsway. We turned right onto the A5181 and we veered left onto Barton Road. We crossed the M60 on Lostock Road and we turned right onto Barton Road. We crossed under the M60 again and we ran Northwards into The Trafford Centre. At thr first roundabout we turned right and we entered the bus station. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 37037 before we got off the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 37037

Once off the bus we took a few pictures and afterwards Matthew used the toilet in the shopping centre. We met up with mum and her friend and Matthew took a few more pictures before we returned to the car. We saw First Manchester 69147. This bus on loan to Rotala Diamond on layover in between runs on the #68 to Farnworth.

Rotala Diamond 69147 in Trafford Centre bus station

now allocated to First Potteries. As we walked towards the car we saw Go North West 37393 on a #100 to Warrington.

Go North West 37393 in Trafford Centre bus station

Matthew visited the garage and brought a bottle of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. In the car Matthew had a sausage roll and a bottle of Irn Bru as well as a ring doughnut. We got in the car and we set off out of the petrol station towards the B5214. We saw Go North West single decker 4015 pull up along side us on a #52 to Cheetham Hill. We turned left and at the next roundabout we joined the Southbound M60. As we travelled home we saw Stagecoach Manchester 36416(nis). We came off at junction % and we ran Southwards down the A5103 to the M56. Seen on the M56 was taxi minibus DV16 PZH. We came off the M56 at junction 7 and we joined the Westbound A556. We travelled to the M6 and we got onto the Southbound M6 at junction 19. Seen on the M6 was Selwyn's (NX) BV67 JXP(#441). We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Southbound A500. We ran through Talke, Longport and Etruria and through Stoke. We came off the A500 at Sideway and we joined the Eastbound A50. We came off the A50 at Longton and we went to Z Carz to see what was parked up there this evening. There was nothing on the spare ground as expected and we turned left onto Willow Row. Outside the depot we saw Z Carz Renault minibus YJ61 GYZ parked up on the road.

Z Carz YJ61 GYZ in Longton

In the compound we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus LJ07 PXW parked up.

Z Carz LJ07 PXW in Longton

We carefully turned the car carefully and we returned onto the A50. We ran up the Heron Cross and we turned left onto Blurton Road. We carried on down the hill into Blurton. We ran through Blurton before turning right onto Church Road. We turned right onto A5035 and we got home around 20:10. Mum went to drop off her friend and pick up some chips for tea. For a late tea we had sausage chips and gravy followed by a Milky Way. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some more of the Blog and out our bus pictures online. Matthew went to bed around 01:00... Mark.