Trip to St Helens / Liverpool 29-04-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2967	Earlestown BS	St Helens BS	34	Arriva NW&W
2939	St Helens BS	Clock Face, Fallow Close	32	Arriva NW&W
3002	Clock Face, Fallow Close	St Helens BS	17	Arriva NW&W
4599	St Helens BS	Liverpool, Queens Square	10	Arriva NW&W
4603	Liverpool, Queens Square	Fincham, Princess Drive	10A	Arriva NW&W
10814	Fincham, Princess Drive	St Helens BS	10A	Stagecoach Merseyside

Today we decided to revisited St Helens. I had checked the weather for today and it was for mainky dry weather with some showers, with there being less showers in the North. As such I asked Matthew to pick somewhere in the North West and Matthew chose St Helens. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum came back from work and we set off around 12:00. We got in the car and we ran along 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 came off at Stoke and we turned left onto Church Street. We ran around the one-way system and we turned left at Sainsbury's onto London Road. We stopped at the petrol station and we filled up with petrol. We headed back onto London Road and we ran into Stoke. We ran forwards onto Campbell Place and we turned left onto Church Street. We ran towards Hartshill and we turned right onto Shelton Old Road. We ran down the hill and we turned left onto the Northbound A500. We ran through Etruria, Longtport and Talke. As we headed up to the motorway we saw blue minibus SF10 LLT. At Borthomley we joined the Northbound M6. Travelling up the M6 we saw an unidentified Johnsons coach, Alfa 141, an unidentified BN Coaches coach and an unidentified Cannon BBT 70 seater coach. We travelled through Cheshire and over Thelwall Viaduct. At junction 21A we joined the Westbound M62. We ran up to the next junctiona dn we came off onto the Northbound A49. As we headed around the raoundabout we saw Holmeswood PO17 EKE coming off the M62. We headed North to Newton-le-Willows and we stopped at the railway station to but Saveaway tickets at £6 each. Once we got the tickets we we carried on Northwards up the A49 through the town cenmtre. We turned left onto the A572 and we headed Westwards around the North side of town. We turned sharp left onto Market Street and we headed into the town centre. We turned right onto Tamworth Street and we stopped at the free town car park. We parked up and we headed towards the town centre. On the way we saw Arriva NW&W 2691 on a #34A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2691 in Earlestown bus station

We headed across to Crumpets, but as we got there they were closing up. So we walked back past the bus station to Wetherspoons. Matthew went to the toilet and mum ordered the food. When he returned to the table Matthew had a burger with a chicken burger with chips washed don with a glass of coke. When we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we headed across the the bus station. We waited for a bus to St Helens. Whilst we waited we saw Network Warrington 238 on a #22 to Vulcan village.

Network Warrington 238 in Earlestown bus station

A few minutes later the bus arrived. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2967 on a #34A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 2967 in Earlestown bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tcikets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Tamworth Street. We ran out of town along Market Street and at the end we turned left onto the A572. We ran West for a few miles into Parr and we joined the A58 on the eastern edge of town. We ran into the centre of town along Corporation Street and we followed the one way system around onto Bickerstaffe Street where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2967 before it returned on a #34A to Newton-le-WIllows.

Arriva NW&W 2967 in St Helens bus station

We had a look around to see what we could catch. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 24182 on a #10A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 24182 in St Helens bus station

Also seen was Arriva NW&W 2696 on a #33 to Sutton Heath.

Arriva NW&W 2696 in St Helens bus station

We walked over to the other side of the bus station to see what was on layover. We saw Arriva NW&W 4625 in between runs on the #10A to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4625 in St Helens bus station

Also seen was Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 on layover in between runs on the #10A to Liverpool.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10547 in St Helens bus station

A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 3174 depart on a #329 to Warrington.

Arriva NW&W 3174 in St Helens bus station

We walk over to the middle stands. I assume we were going over to catch something towards Liverpool. On the way over we saw Arriva NW&W 2939 on a #32 to Clock Face and Matthew decided he wanted to do this.

Arriva NW&W 2939 in St Helens bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off through the town and then across the roundabout near to KFC. We went along Peasley Cross Lane and under the railway line. We went South and we turned left onto Robins Lane. We turned right onto New Street and we went over the railway line at over the narrow bridge. We turned left onto Mill Lane and right onto Leach Lane. We turned left onto Clock Face and we turned right onto Garton Lane. We turned right onto Bodden Street and we ran forwards onto Burnage Avenue. We ran to the far end and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 2939 as it returned North on the #32 towards Clinkham Wood.

Arriva NW&W 2939 in Clock Face

After getting off the bus we headed towards the shops. We visited the Morrisons Local and we brought a can of Coke and a bag of Starburst. We headed back to the bus stop and we waited for a #17 back to St Helens. Whilst we waited we went into the trip bag and we found a rather squished Milky Way duo in the bag. we had been to this stop before. It turns out that we got off here on our very first visit to St Helens back in January 2012! A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3002 on a #17 to Laffak.

Arriva NW&W 3002 in Clock Face

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tockets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Burnage Avenue and we turned right onto Four Acre Lane and we turned left onto the A569. We ran up to the roundabout and we turned right onto Mill Lane. This was a diverssionary route becasue the A569 past Sherdley Park was shut for the day. We turned left onto New Street and we ran Northwards over the railway line over the narrow bridge. We turned left onto Robins Lane and we turned right onto Marshall Cross Road and we ran past the hospital. We ran forwards onto Peasley Cross Lane and we ran past the Saints rugby stadium. We crossed the Linkway onto Pheonix Brow and we ran forwards onto Corporation Street. We crossed over the railway line and we turned left onto Hall Street and right onto Bickerstaffe Street where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we headed to the middle stands to catch something going West. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 2904 on a #31 to Parr.

Arriva NW&W 2904 in St Helens bus station

We waited for a bus towards Liverpool. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 4599 on a #10 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4599 in St Helens bus station

The bus set off out of the bus station through town passing Hatton MX59 AWC on a #12 service. We went past the new Nando's and Cinema. We joined the A58. As we went past West Park Rugby club we saw a Selwyns coach. We carried on Westward along the A58 to the edge of Prescot and we turned left onto St Helens Road. We turned right onto the A57 and we crossed over the M57. We continued a further mile or so into Page Moss. We travelled along the dual carriageway for a further mile or so and we entered the Dovecot area and we continued for another mile past Alder Hay hospital and into the bustling region of old Swan. We continued along the A57 through Stanley, Fairfield and Kensington. We crossed the A580 and we passed the hospital. We turned left onto Derdy Stree and right onto Pembroke Place. We continued onto London Road and we turned left onto the A5038. We ran past Liverpool Lime Street railway styation and we followe the road to the right. We turned left onto Hood Street and we entered the Queens Square bus station area where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4599 as it continued towards the Liverpool One bus station.

Arriva NW&W 4599 in Liverpool

Once off the bus we had a look around. Matthew had an ice cream and we took a few bus pictures. We saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10539 on a #14A service.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10539 in Liverpool

Another vehicle seen was Arriva NW&W 4836 on a #15 to Huyton.

Arriva NW&W 4836 in Liverpool

We crossed over Hood Street and we headed into Queens Square. We were looking for a pub. We walked through the square onto the A5038 and we found a pub called Doctor Duncans. Matthew went down to the basement to use the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. When we had finished we came out of the pub and we walked through Queens Square to stand 2 to wait for a bus back towards St Helens. We considered doing Arriva NW&W 4715 on a #10B to Huyton, but there was a very long queue. Whilst that bus was loading we saw another bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 4603 on a #10A to St Helens.

Arriva NW&W 4603 in Liverpool

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the dricer before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus was very full and initially we all hgad to sit seperately. We set off up Hood Street and we turned right on to the A5038. We followed the road to the left and we ran past Liverpool Lime Street railway station. We turned right onto London Road and left onto Anson Street. We turned right onto the A57 and we headed out of Liverpool. We crossed the A580 and we continued into Kensington. We carried on Eastwards through Stanley and into Old Swan and the bus emptied out and we were able to sit together. As we travalled Eastwards we could see black cloads ahaed. We decided to get off at the next stop with a shelter. We came into Fincham and we got up and got off the bus. We knew there was a Stagecoach #10A behind us. We let Arriva NW&W 4802 on a #10B to Huyton. A few minutes later we saw Stagecoach Merseyside 10814 on a #10A St Helens.

Stagecoach Merseyside 10814 in Fincham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Saveaway tickets to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. We headed Eastwards along the A57 and we crossed over the M57 before going into Prescot along the High Street and we went straight onto the A57. We ran South Eastwards out of town past Whiston Hospital and down towards Rainhill railway station. we turned left onto Rainhall Road and we went North towards Thatto heath. We crossed the railway and we went North to the A58. At the junction we turned right and we ran into the Western end of St Helens. After running though the shopping centre of town and we passed the town hall before running in along Bickerstaffe Street and Corporation Street. We got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took a picture of Arriva NW&W 4621, on layover in between runs on the #89 to Liverpool Airport.

Arriva NW&W 4621 in St Helens bus station

We walked around the corner into Charles Street and we met up with mum. We got in the car and we set off along Charles Street. We turned right onto Parade Street and right onto Hall Street. We turned left onto Corporation Street and we crossed over the railway line. We ran forwards onto the A58 ans we turned right onto the A572. We ran to the edge of town and we turned right onto Ashtons Green Drive. We stopped at the shop and I went to the chip shop to get food. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a can of Irn Bru. When I had finished eating we set off up Ashtons Green Drive and we rejoined the Eastbound A572. We ran around the North Side of Earlestown and we turned right onto the A49. We headed South towards Winwick and we joined the A49 link road up tp the M6. WE got on the Southbound M6 and as we travelled Southwards we passed a number of coaches in both directions. We saw an unidentified white coach, white school minibus YN63 ESO, an unidentified Holmeswood coach, Anderson WH68 LRN, white minibus RE63 UGK, 2 x unidentified Tyrers coaches. We decided to stop at Sandbach Servoce so that Matthew could go toilet. We we stopped we saw 3 coaches. We saw Aziz Coach Service MY17 AZZ.

Aziz Coach Service MY17 AZZ in Sandbach Southbound

Also seen was Plan Ahead Travel BV69 LNM.

Plan Ahead Travel BV69 LNM in Sandbach Southbound

Another coach seen was Boudens YD18 WYL.

Boudens YD18 WYL in Sandbach Southbound

After going to the toilet we got back in the car and we continued Southwards down the M6. At junction 16 we went South down the A500 through 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. He also had some of uncle Rob's Irn Bru. We updated uncle daves calendar to show recent activity. 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 21:30. 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 01:00... Mark