Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 17-07-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2404	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
N2 GHA	Chester BS	Countess of Chester Hospital	H4	GHA
2409	Bache, Egerton Arms PH (nr)	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
50046	Chester BS	Gorse Stacks	53	First Potteries

We started off at around 12:15 and did our usual move of dinner in Ellesmere Port. As it was dry (just about) we had dinner alfresco at the Grace Arms again. JP & chilli, cheese and onion sandwich with chips, all day breakfast and Home-made lasagne. With drinks this was £24.95.


GHA VX51 PZM outside the Grace Arms on service 111 (Matt)


After dinner we drove into town, so mum could go shopping and we could catch a bus to Chester. Parked up in the bus station were GHA bus N2 GHA and Arrowebrook Dart S760 RNE


Arrowebrook S760 RNE on servuce #138 (Matt)


Today Matthew chose Arriva and almost immediately Arriva NW&W 2404 turned up on the #401 to Chester. We did this short hop to Chester and then stood in our usual spot so Matthew could take picture for an hour or so.


Arriva NW&W 2404 in Chester bus station on service #401 (Matt)

Of note today were First double deckers 30060/77 & 34224. Also Arriva NW&W 2452 turned up on a #401.


First PMT 30077 in Chester bus station (Matt)


First PMT 34224 on service #5 (Matt)


'Goldfish Bowl' 2452 on service #401 to Liverpool (Matt)

After about an hour we decide to do the H4 which Matthew has eyed up catching before. This service take about 5-10 minutes to do the short hop to the countess of Chester hospital.


Inside N2 GHA, Chester bus station (Matt)


As is often the case with the independent operators, the driver was really good and was happy to see Matthew take interest in the bus.


GHA bus N2 GHA outside the Countess of Chester Hospital (Matt)


GHA bus N2 GHA heading South towards Chester bus station on service H4 (Matt)

After we got off this bus at the hospital, we walked across the main road and waited for a bus at the stop adjacent to the Egerton Arms pub. A #1 First service flashed around the corner that we did not have tine to flag it down! a few minutes later we had another Alexander bodied Arriva bus on the #401 in the form of 2409. Another short hop and we were in Chester bus station again.


Arriva NW&W in Chester bus station on service #401 to Liverpool (Matt)

Matthew had already expressed a wish to do a First minibus, so when we got back to Chester, we met up with mum who had driven down from Ellesmere Port.


First PMT 50046 in Chester bus station on service #53 Kingsway (Mark)

So moved arranged, I drove to Gorse Stacks to meet the #53 Kingsway service, whilst Matt and his mum caught the bus 50046. It was then all back to the car for snacks and to drive home...

Photos to follow...

Trip to Ellesmere Port & Chester 31-10-2009

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2446	Ellesmere Port BS	Chester BS	401	Arriva NW&W
50046	Chester BS	Plas Newton Lane	51	First Potteries
50044	Kingsway	Chester BS	53	First Potteries

As a treat for good behaviour, Matthew was asked where he wanted to go, and he chose Chester. We started off by heading to Ellesmere Port, where we went to the Grace Arms for dinner. This allowed Matthew to have something to eat before we got started, and he could photograph some buses too. We spent around an hour here eating, purchasing packs of pipers crisps to take home and taking photographs.


65740 on a Liverpool bound #1, outsaide the Grace Arms

After dinner, we drove into Ellesmere Port town centre and headed to the bus station. We made a decision on which bus to catch into Chester and after nearly catching the #4 GHA service, we chose to #401 Liverpool - Chester. Arriva NW&W 2446 promptly arrived and we did this to Chester, where Matthew had around an hour to take photo's in and around the bus station.


2446 at Ellesmere Port on the Arriva #401 to Chester.


30060 at Chester BS working a #2 Chester-Blacon via Saxon Way

After mum had arrived from Ellesmere Port by car, we decided to take Matthew on a quick out and back trip. Last time we had been to Chester, we had done the #53 to Kingsway. Whilst waiting for the next bus back, we had spotted a #51 disappear round by the shops. I had assumed that these routes were very close together at this point in the road, so you could catch a #51 up and a #53 back, or vice versa. It turns out that last time the bus had been diverted due to roadworks! having already got on a #51 we asked to go to the point where the bus passed the closest to Kingsway. Not really knowing where we were going, we asked the driver to let us know where we had to get off. We got off on Plas Newton Lane, and he told us to head down Queensway, and Kingsway was at the end. It took us a few minute, but we eventually ended up in familiar teritory...


50046 in Plas Newton Lane on a service #51 to Chester.

A short 10 minute wait and the #53 Chester service appeared, after we watched it go the other way


50044 in Kingsway on a #53 to Chester.

(Mark)