Trip to Bury / Manchester 25-06-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3209	Bury Interchange	Radcliffe BS	98	Go North West
1012	Radcliffe BS	Bury Interchange	513	Vision Travel
3227	Bury Interchange	Cheetham Hill, (Stop L)	135	Go North West
3221	Cheetham Hill, Woodlands Road	Manchester, (Stop NU)	135	Go North West
3206	Manchester Shudehill	Lower Broughton, Mocha Shopping Centre	93	Go North West
3254	Lower Broughton, Great Clowes Street	Prestwich, Red Lion	98	Go North West
6101	Prestwich, Longfield Centre (Stop D)	Bury Interchange	98	Go North West

Today we decided to re-visit Bury. We have not visited since Transdev took over Rosso, or since First Manchester sold the Bolton depot to Rotala Diamond NW. Research for the trip consisted of where to park and where to eat, as well as checking the weather, which was forecast for warm weather, sunny intervals and occasional showers. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast for breakfasr. We had to wait in for a parel so we left Blurton around 12:20 which was a little later than usual. We set off onto Beaconsfield Drive. We turned left onto Church Road and at the mini roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road. We ran into Heron Cross and we crossed over the A50. At the traffic light we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Whieldon Road and we stopped to pick up uncle Dave. Once uncle Dave was onboard we ran down onto the Northbound A500. As we travelled Northwards we saw we saw City Centre Central BV58 VLU, WMAS YJ19 HFD and MP Travel DY66 VOO. We joined the M6 at junction 16 and we headed Northwards. On the M6 we saw Z Carz HK57 LGW / HK57 LFY, white minibus NL11 HGX, Roseville BV60 BAA and Park's of Hamilton reg like HSK 908. At junction 21A we joined the Eastbound M62. On the M62 we saw 2 unidentified Caledonian Travel coaches. We continued onto the ckockwise M60 and we ran around the North side of Manchester. We left the ring road and joined the M66 and we ran up to the town centre up the A58. We turned left onto the Market car park and we parked up. Once we had parked up we went under the subway into the market. As we walked around the back of the market to the Interchange we saw Fenn Holidays MR09 FEN. We cut into the shopping area and we went to the cafe at the side of the bus station. THere was not toilet so mum ordered the food and I took Matthew over to the toilets in the Interchange. On the way we saw Transdev Rosso 739 on a B4 service to Heywood.

Transdev Rosso 739 in Bury interchange

We returned to the cafe and Matthew had a full English breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we went outside and we said goodbye to mum before we headed into the interchange. We saw Rotala Diamond 40790 on a #471 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40790 in Bury interchange

Also seen was Go North West 3209 on a #98 to Manchester.

Go North West 3209 in Bury interchange

We had a walk around to see what else we might catch. We saw Go North West 3226 on a #135 to Manchester.

Go North West 3226 in Bury interchange

We decided we would catch the #98 so we walked back into the interchange and we crossed into the middle stands. We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only day ticket at £6.40 each. We went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Haymarket Street. We turned right onto the A58 and we ran down the hill into the valley. We continued Westwards along the A58 and we turned right onto B6196. We headed up the hill towards Starling before turning left onto Watling Street. We turned right onto A58 past a new petrol station, which used to be the site of an Indian restaurant. We continued Westwards for a short while before turning left onto Higher Ainsworth Road. We headed Southwards before turning right onto Turks Road. We turned left onto Coronation Road and we ran to the end. We turned left onto Pilkington Road and right onto Lowe Street going around the Redbank playing fields. We turned right onto Ainsworth Road and at the end we turned left onto Water Street. We continued onto Blackburn Street and we ran through the town centre before turning right onto Dale Street and entering the small bus station at Radcliffe where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Go North West 3209 as it continued towards Manchester.

Go North West 3209 in Radcliffe bus station

We set off towards the market so that Matthew could use the facilities. We set off along Dale Street and back to the market hall. We walked to the back end and Matthew used the toilet. We came out of the open fire exit onto Lidl car park and we walked across to the bus station. As we approached the bus station we saw Vision Travel 1012 arrive on a #513 to Bury.

Vision Travel 1012 in Radcliffe bus station

We got on the bus and flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Dale Street. We ran forwards onto Deansgate and onto Church Street West. We turned left onto Spring Lane and right onto Bury Road. We headed North Eastwards towards Fishpool for around 1 1/2 mile before turning left onto the A56. We turned right onto the A58 and left onto Haymarket Street. We entered the bus station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a look around to see what we could catch next. We saw Go North West 3227 on a #135 to Manchester.

Go North West 3227 in Bury interchange

We set off towards the stop from which the #135 departs. On the way we saw Transdev Rosso 617 on a R2 to Norden.

Transdev Rosso 617 in Bury interchange

We walked over to the stop and we saw it was Go North West 3227 as expected. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the bus station and onto Haymarket Street. We crossed over the A58 onto Knowsley Street before joining Manchester Road and running Southwards past Gigg Lane. We crossed the river Roch and we climbed the hill up towards Whitefield. At Besses O' The barn we deviated left onto Bury Old Road and we went under the tramway and over the M60 at the same point. We continued south along bury Old Road and we skirted the Western side of Heaton Park. West past the previous Southerly point that we had travelled from Bury and continued along the A665 for a further mile or so and onto The North end of Cheetham Hill. We travelled to the South end and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Go North West 3227 before it continued towards Manchester.

Go North West 3227 in Cheetham Hill

As we came into Cheetham Hill we spotted a ghost sign on the opposite side of the road. We headed in the direction of the sign and crossed over the road. We saw First Manchester 37434 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37434 in Cheetham Hill

We photographed the ghost sign and we headed Southwards along the road. We stopped for a short while to shelter whilst there was a short shower, Matthew drank a can of Coke. Once Matthew had finished the can it had stopped raining. We crosed back over the road and we headed Southwards to the next bus stop. We waited for a bus towards Manchester. A short time later we saw Go North West 3221 on a #135 to Manchester.

Go North West 3221 in Cheetham Hill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off down the A665 and we crossed over the ring road and the old First bus garage which is now Go North West. We continued Southwards into the centre of Manchester and we crossed the East end of Manchester Victoria railway station. We turned right onto Corporation Street and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we turned left onto Hanover Street. We turned right onto Dantzic Street and we cut between the bus station and the tram station. We entered Manchester Shudehill bus station and we took a few pictures whilst we decided what to catch next. We saw Megabus 54604.

Megabus 54604 in Manchester Shudehill

We decided to do a bus towards Prestwich. We saw Go North West 3258 on a #67 to Cadishead.

Go North West 3258 in Manchester Shudehill

Also seen and turned down was Go North West 3064 on a #100 to Warrington.

Go North West 3064 in Manchester Shudehill

A few minutes later a bus appeared and we saw it was Go North West 3206 on a #93 to Carr Clough.

Go North West 3206 in Manchester Shudehill

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before went upstairs and sat down. 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. As we travelled through Manchester we realised that this particular bus wasn't going to Prestwich. We turned left onto Todd Street and we continued onto Victoria Station Approach. We ran past the front of Victoria Railway station 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 and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another of Go North West 3206 as it continued towards Carr Clough.

Go North West 3206 in Lower Broughton

Once off the bus we had a short walk along the Irwell and we saw a couple of Goosander ducks and a Grey Heron. We could also hear a distant music festival. We walked arounf the corner onto the A5066 and we waited for the next Northbound bus towards Prestwich. A short time later we saw Go North West 3254 on a #98 to Bury.

Go North West 3254 in Lower Broughton

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver before went upstairs and sat down. We set off along the A5066 and we ran past Albert Park. We crossed over the A576 and we continued Northwards onto B6187. We ran for around 1/3 mile before we turned left onto the A56. We headed Northwards into Prestwich and we past the Red Lion pub before we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Go North West 3254 as it continued towards Bury.

Go North West 3254 in Prestwich

Once off the bus we walked up to the crossing and we crossed over the road. As we headed down to the pub we saw Austrian coach Beat The Street IL 312 ME.

Beat The Street IL 312 ME in Prestwich

Right behind that coach was Beat The Street IL 537 JE. We went into the pub and Matthew used the toilet. A further 2 Beat the Street coaches came past. THese were IL 485 ?? & IL 882 ??. Afterwards we went to the bar and we ordered 2 cokes. This was an unbeleiavbly cheap drink! It turned out that this pub used to be a regular haunt of Mark E Smith. When we had finished our drinks we went outside and we crossed back over the road to where uncle Dave was waiting. We walked back to the bus stop and we waited for something heading Northwards. Whilst we waited we saw Westfield grey minibus NU64 UET.

Westfield NU64 UET in Prestwich

A #98 turned up, but this was only going to the next stop up the road and terminating so we didn't get on it. A short time later we saw another bus approaching. It was Go North West 6101 on a #95 to Bury.

Go North West 6101 in Prestwich

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only day tickets to the driver for the final time today before went sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up the A56 and we ran past Tesco and over the M60. We continued Northwards and we pulled into Whitefield Tram stop. We came out of the tram stop and we turned right onto Stanley Road. We turned right onto Moss Lane and left onto Ribble Drive. We turned left onto Mersey Drive and we headed Northwards. We ran forwards onto Kennedy Drive and we turned right onto Parr Lane. We turned left onto Sunny Bank Road and at the end we turned right onto the Northound A56. We ran past the A6053 and past the site of a former Esso petrol station which is being converted into a EV charging hub. We turned right onto Parkhills Road and we turned left onto Market Street. We turned left onto the A58 and right onto Haynarket before enturing the interchange where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a walk around taking a few more pictures. We saw Rotala Diamond 40757 on a #163 to Manchester Piccadily Gardens.

Rotala Diamond 40757 in Bury interchange

We set off through the bus station and headed towards the A58. We walked behind the market and we went under the subway onto the car park back to the car. We got in the car and matthew had a can of Irn Bru. We set off onto Spring Street and we turned left onto the A58. We turned left onto Market Street and we crossed over the East lancs Railway line to Heywood. We turned right onto Wellington Road and left onto the Southbound A56. We ran down the hill and over the River Roch before stopping at the chips shop. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy. When I had finished eating we set off onto the Southbound A56. We ran down towards Prestwich and we joined the anti-clockwise M60. We joined the Westbound M62 and we headed into Chesire. As we travlled Westwards we saw an unidentified Tetley coach. The petrol light came on in the car and we didn't have aenough Fuel to get back home. We joined the Southbound M6 and mum searched for nearby petrol stations. She spotted one on the A556 just off the M6 at junction 19. We came off the M6 and we went over the new bridge onto the Westbound A556. We stopped at the petrol station and Matthew had a bar of chocolate. At the petrol station was Eavesway minibus BU19 ???. We headed Westwards onto the A556 and we turned around to get back onto the M6. As we travelled down the M6 we saw MIT Luxury Coaches OU17 ORL, white coach YT20 ???, An unidentified Elite VIP coach, an unidentified Hunters coach, City cabs YX61 VVO and Acklams YN71 ???. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we ran though Longport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we diverted onto Wheildon Road. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road and past the former Regent pub which is now up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. 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 and we got back to Blurton around 20:45. 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 00:00... Mark