Trip to Middleton / Manchester 02-04-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3060	Middleton BS	Manchester Shudehill	18	Go North West
4005	Manchester Shudehill	Prestwich, St Ann's Road	93	Go North West
3263	Prestwich, Red Lion	Manchester Shudehill	98	Go North West
40820	Manchester Shudehill	Salford, Rossall Way (stop G)	8	Rotala North West
6154	Salford Shopping Centre (Stop A)	Cheetham Shopping Centre (Stop K)	52	Go North West
37431	Cheetham Hill, Neighbourhood Centre	Higher Blackley, Victoria Avenue	59	First Manchester
19421	Higher Blackley, Glenbrook Road	Blackley, Old Market Street	156	Stagecoach Manchester
3267	Blackley, Charlestown Road	Middleton BS	17	Go North West

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. Matthew had wanted to go further afield, but we decided to schedule that for another weekend when we have an overnight stay. I did no research for this trip, other than check the weather, which was for a cold but mainly sunny day. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum returned home from work and we got ready to go out. We set off just before 12:00 through Blurton and onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued down Wheildon Road and we joined the Northbound A500. As we ran up towards the motorway we saw City Centre Central FE15 UAD and Tyrer's TYR 11R and another unidentified Tyrer's coach. We joined the M6 and we headed Northwards. On the M6 we saw at least 3 unidentified Tyrer's Coaches, an unidentified Travel Express coach and St Peters School (Wisbech) WA68 BFP. We came off the M6 at junction 21A and we headed Eastwards along the M62. When we got to the M60 we joined the clockwise carriageway and continued Eastwards. On the M60 we saw Marchant's C7 FCT (Cheltenham Town FC club coach).

Marchant's C7 TFC on the M60

Continuing along the M60 we saw a double decker coach in black and white Totenham Hostpurs colous and grey minibus J30 PDA. We cae off the M60 at junction 19 and we ran Northwards up the A576. When we came to the edge of town we turned left onto Limetree Road and we entered the car park above Middleton Shopping Centre. There was a bit of kerfuffle trying to park up as they were doing some work on one of the barriers. We ended up going to a different park of the car park that was one-way. The exit barrier at the end was closed and out of action so we had to turn around and go back the wrong way. The guy running the intercom was very unhelpful to say the least! We eventually got back around to the shops area and we parked up. Once we had parked up we visited the toilet before exiting the shopping centre to look for a cafe to eat. The old van under the ledge by the bus station had gone and the substation was just closing as we got there. We walked up Manchester New Road and we stopped at Midddleton cafe. It was at this point we discovered that Internet wasn't working on my phone. I tethered my phone to mu's so that we were able to carry on looking at things. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we went outside and we said goodbye to mum before heading off down Manchester New Road towards the bus station. We decided to have a walk around the outside to take a few pictures before we caught a bus. We continued along Park Road and Middleton Way and we saw Go North West 3007 on a #17 to Manchester.

Go North West 3007 in Middleton bus station

Also seen was Go North West 5001 on a #415 to Oldham.

Go North West 5001 in Middleton bus station

Another vehicle seen was Go North West 5001 on a #18 to Manchester.

Go North West 3060 in Middleton bus station

We decided to do this bus so we walked around and into the bus station. We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only day tickets at £6.40 each before going upstairs and sitting down. We set off out of the bus station onto Middleton Way and we turned right onto the A664. We crossed over the M60 and we ran through Blackley. We continued though Harpurhey and Collyhurst. We crossed the railway line and we were now into new territory. As we approached Manchester we saw Flixbus BV67 JZH parked up to the left on a side street. We continued for another few hundred yards and we turned right into Shudehill Interchange where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a walk around as we decided what to catch next. We sat down and Matthew had a Crunchie. We decided to go Northwards as we had done two weeks ago, so we waited for a bus off the top stand A few minutes later we saw Go North West 4005 on a #93 to Prestwich Tesco.

Go North West 4005 in Manchester Shudehill

We got on the bus and 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 out of the Interchange and we turned right onto Shudehill. We continued onto Withy Grove and we turned right onto Corporation Street. We turned left onto Todd Street and we continued onto Victoria Station Approach. We ran past the front of Victoria Railway statio along Hunts Bank and we turned left onto Victoria Street. We ran along Chapel Street and we turned right under the railway line onto Blackfriars Road. We continued Northwards out fo the city centre and we crossed over the A6042. We continued Northwards up the A6041 and we continued forwards onto the A5066. We crossed over the river Irwell and we turned left onto Lower Broughton Road. The road turned to the right and we headed Northwards alongside the River Irwell. We turned left onto the A576 and we turned right onto Littleton Road. We crossed the Irwell and we continued Northwards. We turned right onto Moor Land and left onto Kersal Road. We turned right onto Hilton Land and left onto Butterstile Lane. We turned left at the roundabout onto Venwood Road and we turned left onto Woodwards Road. We turned left onto Kershaw Avenue and right onto Carr Avenue At the end we re-joined Buttersile Lane and continued Northwards. We continuned to the end of the Lane and we joined the Northbound A56. As we were approaching Prestwich we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Go North West 4005 as it continued towards Prestwich Tesco.

Go North West 4005 in Prestwich

Once off the bus we headed Northwards towards the centre of the village. We spotted a pub across the road and Matthew indicated that he needed to toilet so we crossed the road and we went to the Red Lion. After using the toilet Matthew sat at the bar and had a glass of Coke. Once we had finished we went outside and we joined uncle Dave. We walked a few yards to the Southbound bus stop and we waited for a bus. Whilst we waited we saw Go North West 3205 on a #98 to Bury.

Go North West 3205 in Prestwich

A minute or so later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Go North West 3263 on a #98 to Manchester Shudehill.

Go North West 3263 in Prestwich

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before we went upstais and sat down. We set off Southwards down the A56 and we continued through Sedgeley park. We turned right onto Great Clowes Street and we stopped at the Murray Street stop to await time. A minute or so later we headed Southwards over the A576 and past Albert Park. We now joined the part of the route we did in the opposite direction 2 weeks ago. We crossed the Irwell and we continued Southwards into Manchester along Blackfriars Road. When we got into the centre of Manchester we hit traffic. We went under the railway line and we turned left onto Chapel Street. We ran forwards onto Victoria Street and we turned right into Hunts Bank. We turned right onto Victoria Station Approch and onto Todd Street where we saw Ausden Clark BIG 9828 & BIG 9834. Coming the other way was McLeans S90 ASM. We veered left onto Withy Grove and forwards onto Shudehill before turned left inti Shudehill Interchange where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked up to Shudehill where we saw Go North West 3107 arriving on a #97 to Bury.

Go North West 3107 in Manchester Shudehill

We decided to head out towards Salford. We had seen the #8 on the top stand on previous visits, so I checked that it went via Salford and it did. A few minutes later we saw Rotala Diamond North West 80420 on a #8 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40820 in Manchester Shudehill

We crossed over the exit and we entered the bus station. We waited for the bus to be readied for service. When the bus was was ready we got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before we went upstais and sat down. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto Shudehill. We continued onto Withy Grove and past the Printworks. We turned right onto Corporation Street and we turned left onto Todd Street. We continued onto Victoria Station Approach and around the corner onto Hunts Bank. We turned left onto Chapel Street and we crossed the Irwell. We turned left onto Victoria Bridge Street and we crossed over the Irwell again. We went past a building site where a concrete building was being demolished and turned right into Deansgate. We turned right into Bridge Street and we crossed over the Irwell again. We were in traffic and we were passed by white minibus Y611 AKV going the other way. We went under the railway line by Salford Central railway station. and we turned left onto Chapel Street. We continued onto the A6 and we ran past Salford Crescent. We continued Westwards to the roundabout by the police station and we pulled up outside of Salford Shopping Centre. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Diuamond North West 40820 as it continued towards Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40820 in Salford

We decided to go Eastwards around the top of Manchester to head back towards Middleton. To do this we were going to catch a #52 to Cheetham Hill. We walked around the corner and down to stop A where the #52 departs from. When we got there we saw Rotala Diamond 20054 on a #74 to Agecroft.

Rotala Diamond 20054 in Salford

A few minutes later we saw an approching bus. As it got closer we saw it was Go North West 6154 on a #52 to Cheetham Hill.

Go North West 6154 in Salford

We got on the bus and 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 along Hankinson Way and we crossed over the A6 onto the A576. We turned right onto Langley Road South and we headed Northwards. We turned right onto Douglas Green and we turned right onto Gerald Road. At the roundabout we rejoined the Eastbound A576. We crossed over the Irwell and we ran past Albert Park where we boarded a #52 in the opposite direction two weeks previously. We crossed over Great Clowes Street and we ran into new territory. We continued Eastwards over the A56 and we veered left to continue following the A576. We ran past Mandley Park and we continued to the North end of Cheetham Hill and the junction of the A665. We turned right onto the A665 and we ran through the main part of Cheetham Hill. We turned left onto Thomas Street and we started to go around the Tesco car park until we got to the bus stop where we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus Matthew took another picture of Go North West 6154 before it Continued to Failsworth.

Go North West 6154 in Cheetham Hill

Once of the bus we walked back along Thomas Street and we walked Southwards down the A665. We walked down to the junction of Woodlands Road and we crossed over the A665 to catch a bus back North towards Middleton. We didn't have to wait long before we could se a First Manchester bus approaching in the distance from the South. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Manchester 37431 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 37431 in Cheetham Hill

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 Northwards up the A665. This weas a bus that we first had from Heap Bridge to Bury on a #163 back in November 2013. We turned right onto the A576 and we ran Northwards. We ran under the tram line to Bury and we past Bowker Vale tram stop. As Matthen had been excellent today, I asked him if he wanted to break the journey and get few extra buses in, to which he agreed. A quick bit of research revealed that there was a #156 to Manchester from around the corner in about 20 minutes. As we approached the junction with Victoria Avenue we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 37431 as it continued Northwards towards Oldham.

First Manchester 37431 in Higher Blackley

We watched First Manchester 37431 go off into the distance and we had around 20 minutes to do a few hundred yards around the corner to the bus stop we needed. We crossed over the very busy and complex junction of the A576 and Victoria Avenue onto the North side of Victoria avenus and we crossed over the Victoria Avenue Bridge over the River Irk. We continued a few hundred yards Eastwards and we crossed over Glenbrook Road and we got to the bus stop. We sill had around 10 minutes so Matthew had a can of orange Fanta whilst we waited for the bus. After about 10 minutes chatting to a lovely local lady, we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 19421 on a #156 to manchester Shudehill as we had seen on the bustimes.org bus map.

Stagecoach Manchester 19421 in Higher Blackley

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 Eastwards and we ran up past Tweedle Hill. We turned right onto Plant Hill Road and we ran past the Manchester Co-operative Academy where one of the Manchester Bee's is situated. At the end we turned left onto Chapel Lane and right onto Mill Brow. We ran forwards onto Delaunays Road and we ran down to the North Manchester General Hospital. We turned right into Crumpsall Way and we stopped at the NMGH bus terminal. After a short wait we turned right onto Delaunays Road and we headed back Northwards. We followed the road to the right onto Mill Brow and we ran forwards onto Old Market Street. We turned right into Slack Road and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we walked onto Grant Close and forwards onto Old Market Street. We turned right onto Old Middleton Street and we saw Go North West 3267 above us on the A664. We climbed up some steps onto the A664 and Matthew got a picture of Go North West 3267 before we got on it.

Go North West 3267 in Blackley

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 upstairs and sat down. We set off Northwards up the A664 and we went towards Blackley. As we waited at the crossroad we saw Anderson Travel WJ19 HPZ going Southwards. We crossed the M60 and we ran up the hill through Alkrington. We crested the hill and we ran down towards Middleton. When we got to the roundabout we ran forwards onto Park Road and into the bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a walk around the outside of the bus station. We saw First Manchester 37552 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 37552 in Middleton bus station

We walked around to the other side and we saw Go North West 6161 ona #41 to Sale.

Go North West 6161 in Middleton bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Manchester 10848 on a #112 to Manchester Piccadilly.

Stagecoach Manchester 10848 in Middleton bus station

Once we had finished taking pictures we tried to get into the shopping cente through the East entrance. This had been locked off, so we walked back around to the South Entrance and up the stairs to the top floor. We met up with mum and we went back to the car. Matthew had a can of Irn Bru and mum went to pay for the parking. We decided to go to Tesco to use the toilet before we headed back homewards. We came out of the car oark and we foolishly turned right onto Limetrees Road. We continued onto Factory Street and turned left onto Wood Street. We turned right onto Eastway and at the roundabout we ran forwards onto Lance Corporal Joel Halliwell VC Way! We turned right onto Oldham Road and right onto Park Road before entering Tesco. Had we turned left out of the car park it would have been about 1/4 of the distance! We parked up and Matthew went into tesco and used the facilities. When we had finished we set off out of Tesco onto Oldham Road and we headed North Eastwards. We past our intended chip shiop and we continued towards Mills Hill railway station. When we realised we had missed it we turned into a side street and we headed back Westwards. We turned right into Hilton Fold Lane. We turned right onto Norman Street and we parked up at the back of the chip shop. I went back onto Oldham Road and I got the food. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. We set off up Norman Street and turned around. We turned left onto Hilton Fold Lane and right onto Oldham Road. We ran back into Middleton and we joined the Southbound A576. We ran the 2 or so miles back to the motorway and we joined the anti-clockwise M60. We ran around the North side of Manchester and we came off at junction 12 onto the Westbound M62. We continued Westwards for around 10 miles until we reached the M6, where we joined the Southbound Side. We crossed the Manchester Ship canal and we continued through Cheshire. Travelling back along the M6 we saw Selwyn's Travel (NX) BD65 JFA(#550) / BV19 XSA(#540), an unidentified blue and yellow coach & silver minibus SG63 KGF. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we headed Southwards. We ran through Longport and Stoke and we veered left onto Wheildon Road. We went under the railway line and we stopped at uncle Dave's house. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards drank some of uncle Rob's pop. He also updated uncle Dave's calendar with the details of today's trip. We said goodbye to uncle Dave and we set off back to Blurton. We set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 we got back to Blurton around 20:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. We watched TV and Matthew got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark