Trip to Meadowhall / Rotherham 04-01-2020

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
35134	Meadowhall Interchange	Rotherham Interchange	X1	First South Yorkshire
37105	Rotherham Interchange	Swinton, Midland Road	218	Stagecoach Yorkshire
22768	Swinton, Queen Street	Rotherham Interchange	221	Stagecoach Yorkshire
69245	Rotherham Interchange	Rawmarsh, West Avenue	22C	First South Yorkshire
22557	Rawmarsh, Haugh Road	Rotherham Interchange	8	Stagecoach Yorkshire
35129	Rotherham Interchange	Meadowhall Interchange	X10	First South Yorkshire

Today Matthew decided he wanted to re-visit Meadowhall. We have previously been once before last year on the 23rd of November whilst we visited Sheffield. We did no further research other than to look up the postcode and to check the weather. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toasted milk loaf and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:45 and we ran down to the A5035. We ran through Dresden up to Longton and we joined the Eastbound A50. As we ran through Meir we saw First Potteries 63179 on a #6A to Hanley. We ran through the tunnel and past the Copeland's Tours depot where we saw an unidentified double decker. We continued through to Uttoxeter and we we headed up past Doveridge and Sudbury. We came off the A50 onto the A511 and we ran South towards Hatton and we stopped at the Salt Box cafe. Matthew went to the toilet whilst mum ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw Midland Classic 69 on a #401 to Burton, Midland Classic 74 on a #406 to Uttoxeter, Trent Barton 679 & 680 on V1 Villager services & 2 unidentified Roberts coaches. When we had finished eating we returned to the car and we set off onto Derby Road. We ran through Hilton and we joined the Northbound A516. We ran Northwards for a few miles and onto the Northbound A38 where we saw Trent Barton 742 on an X38 to Burton. We ran to the West of Derby town centre and we continued Northwards. As we travelled up to the M1 we saw white minibus SN64 MSV and Afford rent-a-car MK67 UES. We joined the Northbound M1 and we ran junction 34. We turned left onto the A6178 and right onto Vulcan Road. We turned right and ran around the North side of the Meadowhall Shopping Centre and we ran up Barrow Road and into the park and ride site. We walked into the Interchange and we saw First South Yorkshire 63023 on a #95 to Walkley.

First South Yorkshire 63023 in Meadowhall Interchange

We continued into the Interchange and we went down the stairs to the buses. Matthew used the toilet before we went to look for a bus to catch. A few minutes later we saw First South Yorkshire 35134 on a X1 to Maltby.

First South Yorkshire 35134 in Meadowhall Interchange

We got on the bus and we purchased SYConnect day tickets at £7 each before going upstairs and sitting down. We set off out of the interchange and we set off onto Meadowhall Way. We turned left onto Blackburn Meadow Way and we ran to the end. We turned left onto the A6178. We ran through Templeborough and Ickles and we came into the West end of Rotherham. We ran along Sheffield Road and forward onto Westgate. We turned left onto Corporation Street. We ran forwards into Rotherham Interchange and Matthew decided he wanted to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus we had a walk up and down through the bus station and we looked for something to catch. We saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 37105 on a #218 to Barnsley.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 37105 in Rotherham Interchange

We got on the bus and we flashed the SYConnect day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the Interchange and we turned right onto Centenary Way. At the roundabout we turned left onto St Ann's Road. We travelled Northwards crossing over the rivers and railway line and past the Parkgate retail park. We continued Northwards and we turned right onto Great Eastern Way. We turned left on to Barber's Avenue and we ran Northwards into Rawmarsh. We turned left onto Green Lane and left onto Bellows Road. We turned right onto High Street and we continued Northwards. We continued onto Blythe Avenue and we ran forwards onto Dale Road. We turned right onto Kilnhurst Road and we crossed over the railway line. We turned left onto Victoria Street and right onto Highthorn Road. We continued onto Fitzwilliam Street and we turned left onto Piccadilly Road. We turned right onto Valley Road and we left the housing estate onto Rookery Road. At the end of the road we turned right onto Church Street and we ran through the centre of Swinton. In the centre of town we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 22535 on a #220 to Doncaster. We ran towards the railway end of town where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Yorkshire 37105 as it continued towards Barnsley.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 37105 in Swinton

Once off the bus we walked through town back towards the centre. We had spotted a co-operative food store on the way past so we walked back to that. Matthew had a a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. We walked back to the Rotherham bound bus stop and Matthew decided he wanted to go to the toilet. We saw a nearby pub so we went in and Matthew used the facilities. Afterwards we went to the bar and Matthew had a glass of Coke. We went outside and we re-joined uncle Dave and we went to the bus stop in the dead centre of town. As we waited for our bus, we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 22765 on a #220 to Doncaster.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 22765 in Swinton

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. It was Stagecoach Yorkshire 22768 on a #221 to Rotherham.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 22768 in Swinton

We got on the bus and we flashed the SYConnect ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Church Street and we turned right onto Racecourse Road. We turned sharp left onto Wath Wood Road. We ran forwards onto Sandygate and at the roundabout we veered right onto Warren Vale. We crossed the roundabout at Wentworth Road with the topiary direction signs. We ran into Rawmarsh and we stopped outside the Stagecoach depot which I didn't notice going in the other direction. There was a quick driver change and we set off Southwards. We turned right onto Hugh Road and left onto Greasbrough Lane. We turned left onto Cinder Bridge Road and we ran through Greasbrough. We ran down Carr Hill under the railway line and into the North end of Rotherham. At the roundabout we turned left onto Bridge Street and we ran past Rotherham Central railway station. We ran into Rotherham Interchange from the South end and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a walk around to see what we might catch. We saw First South Yorkshire 69229 on a #115 to East Herringhthorpe.

First South Yorkshire 69229 in Rotherham Interchange

A few minutes later we saw First South Yorkshire 69245 on a #22C to Wath.

First South Yorkshire 69245 in Rotherham Interchange

We decided to do this bis so we got on and we flashed the SYConnect ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the Interchange and we turned right onto Centenary Way. At the roundabout we turned left onto St Ann's Road. We travelled Northwards crossing over the rivers and railway line and past the Parkgate retail park. We continued Northwards past Burger King and we continued onto Broad Street. We continued up Rawmarsh Hill onto High Street and forwards onto Blythe Avenue where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First South Yorkshire 69245 as it continued towards Wath.

First South Yorkshire 69245 in Rawmarsh

We crossed over the road and we waited for a bus back towards Rotherham. We didn't have to waai for long at all before we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 22557 on a #8 to Rotherham.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 22557 in Rawmarsh

We got on and we flashed the SYConnect ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Blythe Avenue and forwards onto High Street. We ran Southwards down the A633 and we ran through Parkgate retail park. We came into Rotherham and we turned right onto Centenary Way. We turned left onto Greasbrough Road and we turned left onto Bridge Street and into the Interchange. Once off the bus we had a walk around to see what we could see before we returned to Meadowhall. We saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 22766 on a #218A to Barnsley.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 22766 in Rotherham Interchange

Matthew decided he wanted the toilet and afterwards he spotted a cafe. We went to the cafe to get a vanilla slice and a bottle of Coke to take away, but Matthew decided he was eating in! We sat down at a table and Matthew ate his vanilla slice and drank his bottle of Coke. On the way back we saw Stagecoach Yorkshire 37103 on a #9 to Rawmarsh.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 37103 in Rotherham Interchange

We were going to catch the X1 which we saw was First South Yorkshire 37122 on a X1 to Sheffield. We explained to him that mum wasn't very well and if we didn't catch a bus back to Meadowhall we would be stuck there. Eventually we persuaded Matthew to catch it was First South Yorkshire 35129 on a X10 to Sheffield.

First South Yorkshire 35129 in Rotherham Interchange

We got on and we flashed the SYConnect ticket to the driver for the final time today before going upstairs and sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the Interchange onto Corporation Street and we veered right onto Westgate. We turned right onto Sheffield Street and at the roundabout onto the A6178. We headed through Ickles and into Templeborough. We continued towards the motorway and we turned right onto Blackburn Meadows Way. We ran under the motorway and we turned right onto Meadowhall Way we crossed over the river Don and we entered Meadowhall Interchange. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took an other picture of First South Yorkshire 35129 before it continued towards Sheffield.

First South Yorkshire 35129 in Meadowhall Interchange

Once away from the bus Matthew used the toilet and we met up with mum. We walked up the stairs and we headed along the path to the car in the car park. Mum had brought sausage rolls and can of Irn Bru. We set off out of the car park onto Barrow Road and we turned left onto the B6082. It was a long straight road the runs through the industrial area of Brightside. We ran to the end of Carlisle Street and when we realised it was a dead end we turned right onto Sorby Street. We turned left onto Kirk Street and we saw former School minibus GN06 JWM in the yard of Ben Weaver minibus sales along with countless other minibuses. We turned left onto the B6080 and at the end we turned left onto the A6135. We turned left onto the A61 and we ran down the East side of the city centre between the bus interchange and the railway station. We continued around the ring road to the South side of the city and we turned left onto the B6388. We ran along Cemetery Road through Sharrow and we continued into Brincliffe. We joined the A625 and we ran Westwards out of the City. We ran through Parkhead and Whirlow and we ran Southwards along the A625 into Calver. We crossed over the A623 and we ran forwards onto the B6001 into Hassop. We turned right onto Longreave lane and we went into Rowland before heading Southwards. We turned right onto the A6020 and we ran down to the A6. We turned right and we headed Northwards towards Buxton. We ran as far North as Blackwell and we turned left onto the A5270. We crossed the A515 to the South of Harpur's Hill and we ran Southwards along the B5053. We ran through Glutton and into Longnor. We Headed Westwards along Leek Road and we turned left to go through Fawfieldhead. We ran through Newton and we went past the Mermaid Inn. We continued through Thorncliffe and we see the lights of Leek town centre below us. We dropped down into the North end of Leek and we turned left onto the A53. We ran into the centre of Leek past Lidl and the site of some new houses being built. We turned left onto Ball Haye Street and we continued onto the Southbound A53. We turned left into Compton and we ran out of Leek towards Leek Brook. We went over the hill and we dropped down into the Churnet valley and Cheddleton. We climbed the hill up the other side and we stopped at the chip shop hoping to get chips. The chip shop was in darkness and there was a notice on the door saying it was shut until 6th January! We decided to continued to a local chips shop via Z carz. We set off back onto the A520 and we ran through Wetley Rocks and into Cellarhead. We crossed the A52 and we ran fast for a couple of miles to Weston Coyney. We continued down the A520 into Meir and at the roundabout we turned right onto the Westbound A50. We joined the A50 and we ran fast to the edge of Longton where we came off the A50. We went to Z Carz to check out what was parkked up there this evening. We turned left into Willow Row and in the compound we saw Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

We turned around and we turned left onto Edensor Road. We turned right onto Greendock Street and we ran forwards onto Heathcote Road. We ran forwards onto Longton Hall Road and we ran to the end. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we stopped at the chip shop. We went into the chip shop and we ordered food along with a small bottle of dandelion & burdock. We returned to the car and Matthew decided he needed the toilet which he did against the back wheel of the car. Luckily there was no one about! We rejoined Blurton Road and we turned right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got home around 19:45. When Matthew got home he ate his sausage chips and gravy washed down with a small bottle of dandelion and burdock. We spent time doing the e-mails and doing the Blog. We chilled out on the computer and watching telly until 00:00... Mark.