Trip to Middleton / Rochdale 03-09-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3064	Middleton BS	Rochdale Interchange	17	Go North West
602	Rochdale Interchange	Bury Interchange	93	Transdev Rosso
3218	Bury Interchange	Heaton Park, stop C	135	Go North West
3227	Prestwich, The Woodthorpe	Cheetham Hill,	135	Go North West
67423	Cheetham Hill, Neighbourhood Centre	Bowker Vale, Blackley New Road	59	First Manchester
6218	Bowker Vale, stop a	Middleton BS	41	Go North West

Today we decided to re-visit Middleton. We chose Middleton based on the fact that we had travelled Eastwards a lot recently and non of the Manchester teams were playing at home. It is also easy to park and easy to find someone to eat. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. 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 LJ09 EAF & silver minibus YP67 FXH. We joined the M6 and we headed Northwards. On the M6 we saw silver minibus CK17 YHO, Megabus 54208, at least 2 unidentified Belle Vue Coaches. We saw Turners WJ65 EKW go past us heading Northwards.

Turners WJ65 EKW on the M6

Also seen was Turners YT68 GWG.

Turners YT68 GWG on the M6

Continuing up the M6 we saw grey minibus YC20 FUP and Ellisons YT69 DWE. We got to Junction 21A and we joined the Eastbound M62. As we joined the clockwise M60 we saw Bayliss V123 BAY. We continued around the North side of manchester and we saw an unidentified white coach FN09 ???. We came off the M60 onto the A576 and we ran the last 2 miles into Middleton and we parked on top of the shopping centre. We walkde down into the shopping centre and Matthew used the toilet before we headed out onto Manchester New Road. We continued past Chicken Cottage and we stopped at the Middleton Cafe. 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 3055 on a #18 to Manchester.

Go North West 3055 in Middleton bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Manchester 19427 on a #112 to Manchester Piccadilly.

Stagecoach Manchester 19427 in Middleton bus station

We walked back into the bus station and Mtthew had indicated that he wanted to travel towards Rochdale. We sat neat to Stand A and we waited for a bus in that direction. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. We saw it was Go North West 3064 on a #17 to Rochdale.

Go North West 3064 in Middleton bus station

We got on the bus and we booked System One bus only tickets at £6.40 each before we went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the We set off out of the bus station and we turned left and ran past the Middleton Arena. We turned onto the A664. North up Long Street and then Rochdale Road. The road turned due North by the canal and we carried on under the M62 and into Castleton. We joined the A58 and we traveled Eastwards into town. We turned right onto Drake Street and we approached the interchange from the South. We got off the bus and we had to alook around to see what we could possibly catch. Across the way we saw First West Yorkshire 33883 on layover in between runs on the #590 to Halifax.

First West Yorkshire 33883 in Rochdale Interchange

We had a walk around the outside of the Interchange to see what we could see. We spotted Transdev Rosso 283 on a #464 to Accrington.

Transdev Rosso 283 in Rochdale Interchange

We came back inside the Interchange and Matthew went to the toilet. When Matthew had finished we spotted Transdev Rosso 1764 on a R1 service to Syke.

Transdev Rosso 1764 in Rochdale Interchange

We decided to go towards Bury and there was a bus that was starting to load. It was Transdev Rosso 602 on a #467 to Bury.

Transdev Rosso 602 in Rochdale Interchange

We got on the bus and we 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 Interchange and we turned left onto Smith Street. We continued onto South Parade and we ran forwards onto Newgate. We turned right onto the A58 and we turned left onto Spotland Road. We headed North Westwards to the edge of town and we turned right onto Rooly Moor Road. We continued Northwards and we veered left. We turned right onto Ings Lane and we continued Northwards. We ran up to the turning circle at Daniel Fold and we headed back Southwards. We turned right onto Ings Avenue and we ran forwards onto Caldershaw Road. We turned left onto the A680 and we turned right onto Bagslate Moor Road. We continued onto Norden Road and at the B6222 we turned right and headed Westwards. We ran through Birtle and Fairfield past the hospital. We ran under the M66 and into Bury town centre, We turned left onto Derby Way and we past the site of the old First bus garage which is now a car dealership. We turned right onto the A58 and we saw Elcock Reisen BV22 WUJ and Station Coaches Y4 STA going the other way. We past the rear of the Market and we saw Timewell TL13 TWL cross over the road in front of us to pick up day trippers. We turned right onto Haymarket Street and right into the Interchange where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we headed over to the other side to visit the toilet. Afterwards we saw Rotala Diamond 40793 on a #471 to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40793 in Bury Interchange

We saw that there was a #135 on stand. We saw it was Go North West 3218 on a #135 to Manchester.

Go North West 3218 in Bury Interchange

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. We got up and got off the bus so that we could go and visit the pub. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Go North West 3218 as it continued towards Manchester.

Go North West 3218 in Heaton Park

We crossed over the road and we headed towards the pub. On the way we saw Go North West 3224 on a #135 to Bury.

Go North West 3224 in Heaton Park

We reached The Ostrich pub and we went inside. matthew visited the toilet and afterwards we went to the bar and ordered Cokes. We sat in the small room at the front and we watched the football scores on the TV. The Ostrich was once a regular haunt of Mark E Smith from The Fall. When we had finsihed we returned the glasses to the bar and we went outside to uncle Dave. We carried on Walking Southwards along Bury Old Road and we crossed over the road by The Woodthorpe. The Woodthorpe features in The Fall music video of Ghost in my House. We stood at the bus stop outside and we waited for the next bus towards Cheetham Hill. A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Go North West 3227 on a #135 to Manchester.

Go North West 3227 in Prestwich

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 along Bury Old Road and the last time we did this stretch of road it was on the same bus back in June 2022. We 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 we crossed over the road and we waited for a northbound bus to take us back Towards Middleton. A short time later we saw First Manchester 67423 on a #59 to Oldham.

First Manchester 67423 in Cheetham Hill

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 Northwards up the A665. 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. We passed a #41 going the other way so we got up and got off the bus so that we could catch the next #41 Northwards to break up the journey. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 67423 before it continued towards Oldham.

First Manchester 67423 in Bowker Vale

Once off the bus we decided to walk back q few hundred yards to the stop by the Metrolink Station. We stood at the stop and we waited for the next #41 to Middleton. Whilst we waited we saw First Manchester 37449 on a #59 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37449 in Bowker Vale

A few minutes later we saw a coach approaching As it got closer we saw it was Red Rose UUI 4798 heading Northwards.

Red Rose UUI 4798 in Bowker Vale

We looked at the map and we watched the bus approaching. It was running around 10 minutes late. A short time later it apperared over the hill. It was Go North West 6218 on a #41 to Middleton.

Go North West 6218 in Bowker Vale

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 sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along the A576 and we turned right onto Blackley New Road. We turned left onto Riverdale Road and we turned right onto Chapel Road. We turned left onto Plant Hill Road and left onto Bank House Road. We turned right onto Tweedle Hill Road and right onto the A6104. We ran into the centre of Blackley and we turned left onto the A664. We crossed over the M60 and we ran Northwards over the hill and down into Middleton. We turned left onto the A576 and we entered the bus station from the West end. We got up and got off the bus. On the adjacent stand was Transdev Rosso 732 on a R7 service to Rochdale.

Transdev Rosso 732 in Middleton bus station

We decided to do a circuit of the bus station to take a few pictures before we returned to the car. We saw Go North West 3052 on a #17 to Manchester.

Go North West 3052 in Middleton bus station

We walked arount the outside to the shopping centre side of the bus station. We couldn't get in through that door so we carried on around. We saw Go North West 3238 on a ##17 to Rochdale.

Go North West 3238 in Middleton bus station

Also seen was Go North West 5003 on a #129 Boarshaw circular service.

Go North West 5003 in Middleton bus station

We tried the side entrance to the shopping centre and that was closed too. We walked around the back and we went up the ramp. We got back to the car and we had a choc ice from the cool box. We set off out of the var park and we joined the Eastbound A576. We continued onto the A664 and we ran about 1/2 mile out of town to Hill's chips shop and we parked at the rear. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Irn Bru. When I had finished eating we set off onto the A664 and we headed Westwards through Middleton and onto the A576. We ran the 2 or so miles to the M60 and we joined the anti-clockwise carriageway. We ran around the North Side of Manchester and we joined the Westbound M62. We ran up to the Croft Interchange and we joined the Southbound M6 at Junctio 21A. As we travelled Southwards we saw an unidentified Tyrer's coach. We joined the Southbound A500 and we ran through Talke, Longport, Etruria and Stoke. We came off the A500 at Stoke and we veered off onto Whieldon Road and into Fenton. We dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out of the car to use the toilet, drink some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru and update his calendar. We got back in the car and we conrinued along Wheildon Road past the former Regent which is back up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we turned right onto Blurton Road. We should have turned left onto the A50 but I forgot, so we continued along Blurton Road and we turned left onto Longton Hall Road. We ran into Longton and crossed the A50 and onto Baths Road. We stopped at Tesco to fill up with petrol before re-joining the WEstbound A50. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we ran down the hill and right onto Church Street. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and left onto Finstock Avenue, getting back around 20:15. Later on we did some more of the Blog and we chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark