Trip to Wigan / Bolton 26-11-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2904	Wigan BS	Bamfurlong, Bryn Hall	320	Arriva NW&W
3057	Bamfurlong, Bryn Hall	Platt Bridge, Millers lane	320	Arriva NW&W
1031	Platt Bridge, Millers lane	Bolton BS	559	Vision Travel
19410	Bolton BS	Westhoughton, Stop E	7	Stagecoach Manchester
40746	Westhoughton, Stop D	Daisy Hill, Stop B	516	Rotala Diamond
27231	Daisy Hill, Furze Avenue	Wigan BS	7	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Wigan. Matthew chose Wigan in the week and very little research was done, other than to check where to park and to check the weather, which was for dull and wet weather. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and apple juice for breakfast. We got ready and we set off around 12:00. We set off through Blurton 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. We saw a white and blue Megabus on a Northbound M11 service. Traffic was moving quite slowly as we headed up to the M6. AS we travlled Northwards we saw Flixbus 019 (023) and Lucky Seven KN12 NBF. We joined the Northbound M6 at juntion 16 and we headed through Cheshire into Greater manchester. On the M6 were an unidentified grey coach, Globus YN22 ??? , ABC coach hire BA19 ???, an unidentified JH Coaches coach, an unidentified MacPhails Coaches coach and an unidentified AC Coaches coach. We came off the M6 at junction and we joined the A49. We followed the road to the edge of town and we ran forwards onto the A577. We crossed the big roundabout and we crossed ovrt the Leeds and LIverpool canal before turning left onto Wilcock Street. We turned left onto Miry Lane and right onto Prescott Street. We turned right onto Frog Lane and we went under the railway bridge. We turned right into Deanery Court and left into Richmond Street. We turned left into the car park and we parked up. We walked up Hallgate and past the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 36799 0n a #4 Kitt Green circular service.

Stagecoach Manchester 36799 in Wigan bus station

We walked up the passageway onto Hallgate and we saw the cafe that we sometimes go to was closed. We continued onto Hallgate and we saw the Mr Chips had closed down! Mum suggested a cafe around the corner, so we continued up Hallgate and we turned left onto Market Street. We stopped at The new Chippery. Matthe went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. For dinner Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a bottle of Coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbyue to mum and we walked along Market Street and turned left into the entrance of the bus station. We had a walk around to see what we might catch. We walked down to the bottom end of the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19481 on a #10 to Leigh. I'd asked Matthew where he had wanted to go and he said he would like to go to Bolton. We had just missed a #575 and there was a #7 on stand but it left empty. We walked back up to the other end and we saw Arriva NW&W 2904 on a #320 to St Helens which we decided to do.

Arriva NW&W 2904 in Wigan bus station

We got on the bus and we brought System one bus at only tickets at £5 each before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto New Market Street and we turned right onto Mesnes Street. We ran forwards onto Compton Street and we crossed over the A49 onto the A573. We ran out of the town and we past Lidl and we crossed over the A577. We continued Southwards down the A573 and we crossed over the canal and under the railway line. We ran through Ince-in-Makerfield and we continued through Spring View and into Platt Bridge. We had seen a #559 bus which runs from Ashton-in-Makerfield to Bolton. The service is hourly, so we though we could get off the bus we were on and catch another bus back to Platt Bridge and wait for it there. We worked out we could intercept a Northbound #320 if we got off before Ashton-in-Makerfield. We continued Southwards through Bryn Gates and Bamfurlong and we spotted 2 bus stops opposite each other with bus shelters so we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2904 as it continued towards St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2904 in Bamfurlong

We crossed over the road and we waited at the bus stop opposite to the Bryn Hall pub. We didn't have to wait too long for the Northbound service. A short time later as the bus approached we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3057 on a #320 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 3057 in Bamfurlong

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Day ticktets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards out of Bamfurlong and Bryn Gates. We crossed over the railway line and the Leigh branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and we came into Platt Bridge. When we got to the centre of town we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we visited the Co-op. Matthew brought a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars, as well as some cornflake cakes. We went back to the stop and we waited for the #559 to Bolton. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 2695 on a #360 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2695 in Platt Bridge

Whilst we were waiting we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19481 on a #10 to Wigan. A short time later saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was Vision Travel 1031 on a #559 to Bolton as expected.

Vision Travel 1031 in Platt Bridge

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Day ticktets to the driver. The bus was empty so Mathew took a oicture inside of Vision Travel 1031 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Vision Travel 1031

We set off Northwards out of Platt Bridge and we turned right to continue along the A58. We turned right again at the roundabout following the A58 North Eastwards through to Hindley. In the centre of Hindley we turned left onto the A577 and we turned right onto Cross Street. We re-jined the A58 and we headed Eastwards out of Hindley crossing over Borsdane Brook. We ran through Hart Common and Dobb Brow and we crossed over the railway line before heading into Westhoughton. We ran forwards onto the B5236 and we turned right into Market Street and into the centre of Weshoughton. After a brief stop we ran out of town and re-joined the A58. At the Checkerbent roundabout we joined the Eastbound A6. We ran up to Four Lane Ends and we turned left onto the Northbound A579. We crossed over the M61 and the road looked familiar. It was the same route the #582 which we had done to the edge of Bolton many years ago back in March 2013. We ran into Daubhill and we turned left onto Deane Church Lane and we turned right onto Willow Lane. We turned right onto Venice Street and we turned left to re-join the A579. We ran into Bolton and we turned left onto Black Horse Street. We turned right onto Great Moor Street. We turned right onto Newport Street and we entered the bus station. Once off the bus we headed to the toilet. Afrerwards we went outside to get a few pictures before we decided what to catch. We saw Rotala Diamond 40843 on a #524 to Bury.

Rotala Diamond 40843 in Bolton Interchange

Also seen was Arriva NW&W 2684 which was running out of service.

Arriva NW&W 2684 in Bolton Interchange

Originally we had spotted a #520 to Westhoughton, which we throught about doing, but it wasn't sue off for a while. Onan adjacent stand we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19410 on a #7 to Wigan. We decided to do this bus so we got on and we flashed the System One Bus Day ticktets to the driver we went upstairs and we sat down. The bus set off out of the interchange and we turned right onto Newport Street. We turned left onto Great Moor Lane and we went forwards onto Deane Road. We past the site where there used to be an old double decker bus. This was now part of an aeroplane fuselage and call Steaks on a Plane. We ran about 3 miles out of town and we crossed under the M61. Chequerbent roundabout we saw an unidentified Grayways coach parked up at the side of the road. At the Chequerbent roundabout we turned right onto the A6 and we saw a giant illuminated xmas tree sign at the Mercury service station. We turned left onto Bolton Road and we ran down towards Westhoughton. We turned right onto Market Street and we ran through the town centre of Westhoughton. At the Western end we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took anothr picture of Stagecoach Manchester 19410 as it continued towards Wigan.

Stagecoach Manchester 19410 in Westhoughton

Once off the bus we crossed the road and we went into the pub. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we fought our way to the bar in a very busy and noisey pub and Matthew had a glass of coke. When we had finished our drinks we crossed over the road to wait for a bus towards Wigan. Whilst we waited we saw Rotala Diamond 33004 on a #516 to Leigh.

Rotala Diamond 33004 in Westhoughton

A few minutes later we saw Rotala Diamond 40746 on a #516 to Leigh.

Rotala Diamond 40746 in Westhoughton

We realised that we could do this bus down to Daisy Hill and get an extra bus in so we crossed the road and got on the bus. We placed the System One ticket under the scanner before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along Market Street and we turned right onto Mill Street. We turnd right onto the Westbound A58 and we followed the road the the left and headed Southwards. We turned left onto Southfield Drive and at the roundabout we followed the road to the left and we headed Northwards. We turned right onto Washacre and we turned right onto the B5235. We passed Daisy Hill railway station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Rotala Diamond 40746 as it continued towards Leigh.

Rotala Diamond 40746 in Daisy Hill

It was trying to rain and there was no shelter at the bus stop. We decided to walk back up the B5235. We crossed over the road and we turned left into Washacre. The next bus stop didn't have a shelter either, so we continued al little further along Washacre. Still no bus stop, but we decided not to go any further in case we missed the next bus. Matthew sat down and ate a chocolate bar. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 27231 on a #7 to Wigan.

Stagecoach Manchester 27231 in Daisy Hill

We got on the bus and we placed the System One bus only day tiacket under the scanner for the final time today before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set of along Washacre and we turned right onto the B5235. We passed Daisy Hill railway station and we turne right onto Lower Leigh Road. We ran forwards onto Hindley Road and we continued forwards onto Swann Lane. We turned right onto Green Lane and left onto Crossdale Road through Hindley Green. We turned right onto Long Lane and left onto Alder Lane. We turned left onto Broadway and we turned right onto Lancaster Road. We ran forwards onto the Westbound A58 and we ran into the centre of Hindley. We turned right onto the A577 and we ran the last coupke of mile into Wigan. Once off the bus Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards, we had a walk around to see what pictures we could get before we left. We saw Arriva NW&W 2970 on layover.

Arriva NW&W 2970 in Wigan bus station

We walked onto Hallgate and we met up with mum who had driven up to Hallgate to meet us. Matthew had a can of Irn Bru. We set off along Hallgate and we followed the one-way system onto Dorning Street. We followed the road around to the right past the old Uncle Joe's Mintball factory and we ran forwards onto Deanery Street. We turned left onto Frog Lane and went under the railway bridge before turning left onto Prescott Street. We turned left onto Miry Lane and right onto Herbert Street. We turned left onto the A577 and we ran around the one-way system and around Wigan Pier. We crossed under the Liverpool line and we past the big roundabout. We continued Southwards to the A49 and we stopped at a chip shop. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy followed by a piece of chocolate cheescake. After we had eaten our food we set off along the A49 and we turned right into Sainsburys and stopped at the petrol station. After filling up we re-joined the Southbound A49 and we ran the last few miles down to the motorway. Travelling back along the M6 we saw ABC coach hire BA19 ???. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Southbound A500. 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 saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and at the roundabout we veered right onto Church Street. We turned right onto the A5035 and back to Blurton. Later on we did some more of the Blog and wrote an e-mail. Matthew ate a peice of millionaire's shortbread and we chilled out on the sofa until bedtime around 00:00... Mark