Trip to Rhyl / Chester 03-06-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4098	Rhyl BS	Pensarn, Abergele & Pensarn Stn (SW-bound)	1	Arriva NW&W
4484	Pensarn, Abergele & Pensarn Stn (NE-bound)	Rhyl BS	12	Arriva NW&W
2355	Chester BS	Golftyn, o/s Quay Shopping Centre	10	Arriva NW&W
2355	Golftyn, o/s Quay Shopping Centre	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W
4479	Chester BS	Queensferry, Solar Services (N-bound)	11	Arriva NW&W
2361	Queensferry, Station Road Q3 (SW-bound)	Golftyn, o/s Quay Shopping Centre	10	Arriva NW&W
2361	Golftyn, o/s Quay Shopping Centre	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to North Wales. We got up around 08:00 and went downstairs for breakfast. It was an awful day as regards the weather. It was pouring down with rain and very chilly. We set off around 10:00. The plan was to start the day at Prestatyn, and so we drove out of Chester towards Saltney, and then head onto the A55. We got into Prestatyn Before 11:00 but when we got there we found that the bus station was a building site! Not only that, the outdoor market where mum wanted to visit was dead. This was presumably washed out due to the weather. So we decided to drive onto Rhyl and park up there instead. As we came into rhyl we saw an open topped bus disappearing into the distance. After a bit of driving around we found a parking space on street a block or so away from the bus station. The minor downside was we were limited to 2 hours where we were. We walked back and arrived in the bus station. Most service in Rhyl on a Sunday are quite sparse, the only exception being the # Talacre - Pensarn and the #12 Rhyl to Llandudno service. With that information we decided to do a #1 towards Pensarn. The #1 Pensarn turned up first and this was required Arriva NW&W 4098.

Arriva NW&W 4098 in Rhyl bus station

At almost exactly the same time, required Arriva NW&W 4142 appeared on the #1 to Talacre

Arriva NW&W 4142 in Rhyl bus station

After a few minutes the driver reappeared from a quick break. We got on a booked 3 Arriva NW&W day savers at £6.50 each. When we got on we went upstairs. After a quick loop around to the Seaquarium. We set off westward towards Pensarn. As we reached the other side of the bridge over the river Clwyd we hit a little traffic. After the traffic had died down we could see the traffic was queuing in the other direction for a considerable distance. In the traffic was required Arriva NW&W opened topped double decker 3997. The traffic had started moving by the time we reached the edge of Pensarn and the a couple of minutes later we were at the end of the run. As we got off Matthew got a picture of the top deck.

Inside 4098

We got off and Matthew got another picture of these fine beast.

4098 near Abergele & Pensarn Station

We crossed the road and went to the bus stop for the return bus. The rain was still pouring down and it was lucky that we had a shelter at this stop. As we didn't know how long we had to wait we at a little picnic at the bus stop. We broke out a double Milky Way and had a couple of bottles of pop between us. After around a 15 minute wait we saw a #12 to Rhyl approaching. As it got closer we could see it was 4484. There was no need to look up if this bus was required or not as we had been on it last night! We set off through Pensarn and within about half a mile of leaving town we hit the back end of the traffic. We had approximately 50 minutes to get back to Rhyl. The windows were partially steamed up and you couldn't see that much going on. One amusing thing that we did see was the donkey rides that were taking place in a large gazebo that couldn't of been much bigger that 15x30 feet! We also passed Arriva NW&W 4160 going the other way. After passing through Towyn we reached a crossroads and then the traffic started to move. We got back into Rhyl bus station with about about 5 minutes to spare. Matthew photographed the inside of this bus before we got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4484

We then decided to go to dinner. I had seen a pub in Pensarn called the Yacht which looked like it did nice meals. So off we went in the car. We passed the traffic jam again and this time it seemed to go further towards Colwyn Bay. When we got to the pub I had seen it was full and we could not get a seat. We decide to walk just up the street and go into a pub called the Park Hotel. We had 3 Sunday meals as uncle Dave was feeling a little unwell, and they were £6.95 each. the meal wee very nice if a little expensive. Matthew decided he wanted to have a pudding too. He had chocolate fudge cake and custard which we really enjoyed. By the time we had eaten it was 15:00. The plan was now for us all to go back to Rhyl, with mum to do some shopping in Morrisons and the rest of us to do a few more buses. When we got to Rhyl, Matthew decided he wanted to go shopping instead. by the time we had finished it was getting quite late and so we decided to drive back to Chester. We took a slightly scenic route back, taking in Holywell, just missing a Chester bound 11 service. We went back through Connah's Quay and back along the route of the #10 service. on Sealand Road we passed dud Arriva NW&W 689. We even followed the route under past the canal locks and under ring road. We appeared in the town centre opposite the Bull and Stirrup before driving back to the B&B. Back at the room we had some sandwich made with the stuff we had brought in Rhyl. We worked out on what service 689 was likely to reappear on and then worked out a way to avoid it. The bus we decided to catch seemed to work well in getting a #11 service back in to chester and so we formulated a plan. we walked up to the bus station around 18:00 and within a few minutes required Arriva NW&W appeared on a #10 service.

Arriva NW&W 2355 in Chester bus station

The plan at this point was to travel out to Connah's Quay before the #10 left the main road and then do the #11 back. Im not sure if it was because of the awful weather, but Matthew didn't want to get off. we ended up going to the end of the route. I looked up an alternative move. It seemed, although it was hard to tell because the 2 routes had different timing points, that we could probably get off the #10 along the main road and catch the #11 shortly behind. When we turned onto the main road we could see the double decker on the #11 behind us by a few hundred yards. We asked Matthew again if he wanted to get off and do the double decker behind us and he said no! So we did 2354 back into Chester. When we got back Matthew photographed the inside of the bus.

Inside 2355

Arriva 2361 was already at the stop for the next #10. There must be a vehicle and driver change for the last few trips. We decided not to do this at this point, instead we waited for the double decker on the #11. When it arrived it was required 4479. At the same time another bus came in. It was on a service we had never seen before a #13 to Mold. It was dud 2570, so we decided to stay on the #11. This might be something we catch in the future though. Matthew got a picture of 4479 before we got on.

Arriva NW&W 4479 in Chester bus station

On board we set off towards Queensferry. Once again there weren't any adequate timing point to work out how close we would be in catching the #10 return service. The journey seemed to be quite quick and as we got to Queensferry Asda I though we would have a couple of minutes to cross the road and get to the stop. just as get got off we saw 2361 go sailing by on the other side of the road towards Chester. The next return service wasn't for another hour. we decided to cross over and do the service to Connah's Quay again, at least we would only have 30 minutes to wait. firstly, we decided to have some chips between to help us keep warm on this rainy evening. we then had a drink before crossing over 5 minutes before the Connah's Quay service was due. pretty much bang on time, as predicted Arriva NW&W 2361 appeared.

Arriva NW&W 2361 in Quensferry

We did the bus to the Quay shopping centre and then flashed the ticket again for return journey. As we returned the sun started to poke out from behind the clouds making it a little lighter. we decided to get of just before the bus station on the way back so we didn't have as far to walk. We got off at the stop near the Bull and Stirrup and Matthew got a picture of the bus as we drove away.

2361 near Chester bus station

We then walked back to the B&B for the evening. We uploaded a few more pictures on Flickr and settled down for the night...Mark

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 15-10-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2438	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
2361	Chester BS	Garden City, Sealand School (SW-bound)	10	Arriva NW&W
2356	Garden City, Sealand School (SW-bound)	Wepre, Wepre War Memorial (NW-bound)	10	Arriva NW&W
2301	Wepre, Wepre War Memorial (SE-bound)	Chester BS	10	Arriva NW&W

Today we had decided to go to Chester. Preparation was to pick up the handful of timetable and put them in the bag! It was a really nice day for October and very warm. we set off a little before 12:00 and picked up uncle Dave on the way. Traffic was virtually non existent and we arrived in Ellesmere Port a fraction after 13:00. We had dinner in the market food court and then had a quick toilet stop. By the time we got to the bus station there was only about 5 minutes to wait for the 13:57 to Chester so Matthew didn't get many pictures here. After a short wait required 2438 appeared on the #401 to Chester.


Arriva NW&W 2438 on a #401 Liverpool - Chester service seen approaching Ellesmere Port bus station (Matt)

Matthew got his picture and we had a brisk walk to stop to get on. The journey was quite pleasant in the sun and we passed ALX300 DAF 2411 on an opposite working. As we approached Chester we saw school bus 60035 parked up at the front of the First depot. As we got off Matthew got his customary empty bus shot.


Inside 2438 (Matt)

We then had around 20 minutes or so in Chester. Matthew got a few more picture and I went to fetch Lotto tickets (turned out not to be winners again :-( ). Given the choice of 2361 on the #10 and 2349 on the X11, Matthew chose to do 2361. Either would have been a winner as they were both required. The bus wasn't as full as it has been the last few times we've caught this service and this made for a pleasant journey. I didn't notice, but instead of just drawing forward and taking the tight turn to leave the bus station, we reversed out, and then went round the back of the X11 stop so the turn wasn't so tight. Perhaps there was a problem with the steering on this bus. When we were traveling through the Garden City area. We noticed there was a bus in front stopped with it's hazard lights on. We thought that maybe it had broken down. We then stopped behind it and the driver asked us all to 'please get on the bus in front'. There must have been a fault on our bus. as we transferred, Matthew got a picture of 2361.


Arriva NW&W 2361 in Garden City as we swapped between buses (Matt)

We boarded the new bus, 2356 which was also required! Traveling through the Queensferry area we passed 7550 on an opposite working. We alighted by the Wepre war memorial and Matthew got a picture of 2356.


Arriva NW&W 2356 by the Wepre war memorial (Matt)

We crossed the road and waited for a return service. at 15:19 the electronic display said the next bus was 15:35 for a #12, but there was a #10 due at 15:24. A few minute later Ex Wrexham 2301 appeared and this was also required!


Arriva NW&W 2301 opposite the Wepre war memorial (Matt)

The journey back was noisy as there were a lot of teenagers on the bus. A few minutes later we arrived back in Chester bus station and Matthew got a picture of the 'Smartie' interior of 2301.


Inside 2301 (Matt)

We then had around 30 minutes in the bus station taking picture. Surprisingly, we did not see a single double decker bus in Chester apart from the sightseeing tours open toppers. Have 30069 and 30077 been withdrawn? First did seem to be a full complement of the Marshall Darts out, and also plenty of Solo's. What did take us by surprise was the addition to the fleet of ex Tameside Solo 40311 which we happened to get a photograph of by chance...


New to Chester 40311 (Matt)

Mum then drove into the Market car park for free parking (after 15:00). when she appeared she went to get sausage rolls from Greggs near the market and we took a few more pictures. When mum returned we set off back to the car, making sure we got the shot of our first sighting of a D&G bus in Chester on the relatively new #81 Winsford - Chester service.


First sighting of a D&G bus in Chester... D&G 40 on the #81 Winsford (Matt)

Returning home we tried to pick up Radio Stoke to listen to the match. The car had been int the garage for some work and all the presets had been lost. As the signal is always weak at Chester we were unable to get radio Stoke until we were on the outskirts of Warrington. We tuned in to find stoke 1-0 up and that was soon to be 2-0. Not a bad result against Fulham. We returned home via Longport to pick up LPG and Petrol. As we went south on the A500 we passed quite a few coaches heading North from Stoke's ground. At the A500/A519 junction we were trailing a Kings ferry coach which was probably the Fulham team coach. We reached home around 17:30 from another successful days bus photographing and bashing trip...Mark