Trip to Conkers / Nantwich 05-05-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
GN60 GZM	Packmoor	Conkers	Charter	Middlehurst
GN60 GZM	Conkers	Packmoor	Charter	Middlehurst
3348	Sandbach o/s Common	Crewe BS	37	Arriva NW&W
4040	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
SL17	Nantwich BS	Nantwich, o/s Sainsbury's	52	GHA
SL17	Nantwich, o/s Sainsbury's	Nantwich BS	52	GHA
26	Nantwich BS	Crewe BS	45	D&G
3331	Crewe BS	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

Todays was going to be a trip to Wigan. Also today was a trip for Matthew to Conkers with Aiming High. Research for the Wigan trip consisted of downloading timetables from the transport for greater Manchester site. Matthew was due to leave Packmoor at 09:30, so we set of a fraction after 09:00. After we dropped Matthew off we went home to mow the lawn and make final preparation for the Wigan trip. In the meantime Matthew found out he was going to be going on a different minibus than usual, Middlehurst minbus GN60 GZM. Matthew got a good picture of the bus before it loaded up.

Middlehurst GN60 GZM about to set off for Conkers

Conkers is an activity centre near Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Matthew reportedly had a great time and took a few pictures inside the visitor centre.

Beetle in the Indoor Activity Centre at Conkers

Whilst out he saw Arriva Midlands 2242 in Burton-on-Trent. They also stopped somewhere for chips and Coca Cola. The called into a garage near Uttoxeter and saw saw Arriva Midlands 2200. He also had cake. The plan was now to pick up Matthew after his outing and to get to Wigan around 14:30. We set off a little after 13:00 to pick Matthew up from Packmoor. As we approached the A527 turning on the A500 we noticed the traffic had started to build up. we go stuck in slow moving traffic and had to move over for emergency vehicle several times so we guessed there had been a serious crash up ahead. We passed the crash site just before we got to our turnoff, and it appeared a car a crossed the central reservation and landed on it's roof. We got to Packmoor around 13:40 and Matthew had not yet got back on the minibus. They eventually turned up just before 14:00. the road had been closed behind us and the bus had been diverted via Tunstall and had taken a extra. 20 minutes to get there. Matthew went to use the toilet and then we got into the car to North and saw Wigan Coachways N551 VDC. As we wanted Matthew to have a good long trip to Wigan we made the decision to go to Sandbach instead. We would put off going to Wigan for a short while. We got to Sandbach around 14:20 and Matthew was a little disappointed at not going further today. At the stop on the common, Matthew pointed at the 14:55 GHA 319 service to Goostrey and Homes Chapel. i downloaded the timetable and saw that this circular service didn't return back to Sandbach so doing this probably wasn't going to be an option today. There was a 14:40 to Crewe which might be something good, so we decided to wait and see what this was. just before 14:40, Arriva NW&W 3348 appeared and Matthew had a big smile on his face so we knew this was going to be the first bus that we did today. We brought NW day rovers and went upstairs. Matthew got a picture of the empty upstairs as we got on.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3348

As we left Sandbach, we passed the previous #37 to Crewe returning, which was Arriva NW&W 3331. The plan had been to go Haslington and come back on the #38 which would probably be required as we have only been on one of the three new Gemini's that usually work on the #38 service. Matthew had other ideas though, and he didn't want to get off. We ended up doing 3348 all the way to Crewe. As we went into Crewe station we could see another double decker along side us on the adjacent stand. It was required 4040. we got off 3348, and as we waited to see where 4040 was going Matthew got a picture of 3348.

3348 in Crewe bus station

4040 was going to Nantwich, which wasn't what I planned to do, but at least it was a required bus and so we waited for the driver to return. When the driver got on, we booked to Nantwich and we went upstairs. Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck on this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4040

the ride down to Nantwich via Willaston was very pleasant. On the way down we passed a few different Plaxton Centro's returning from Nantwich and chester. One of the Centro's we saw was our bogie machine 2619 ,so it was good to know this bus was out of the way! When we got to Nantwich Matthew was able to get a good shot of 4040 in the bus station.

4040 in Nantwich bus station

As Matthew didn't want to go back on 4040 we had an approximately 15 minute wait for the next service. We saw GHA Solo SL14 on a #73 service which Matthew wanted to do,but i wasn't sure how we could get back. When the next Solo came in on a Sainburys circular, he got a picture of it, Solo SL17.

GHA SL17 in Nantwich bus station

After taking the picture Matthew decided to get on the bus. I asked the driver how long it took to do the circle and he said 15 minutes. So we decided to do a quick trip down to Sainsbury's and back leaving uncle Dave behind. When we reached Sainsbury I got up to pay for the return journey. When we got back we just missed a Cadet heading to Crewe. Matthew must have seen something or someone when we were out on the circular, because then he took us on a walk around town. we stopped and sat on a bench on an island in the road where he had a bottle of Coke from the emergency rations. When we got back to the bus station 2619 was on stand to return to Crewe and Matthew walked straight passed to find a toilet. We found one next to the market, and on the way back we had to stop at a sweet stall he noticed on the way to the toilet. Needless to say 2619 had now departed. I made an executive decision that in order to get back to Sandbach we would catch the next bus back whoever operated it. the next bus back happened to be required D&G 26 and so after Matthew had got picture we got on.

D&G 26 in Nantwich bus station

We paid the fare £2.50 each for an adult single and sat down. It was now 16:20 and we worked out how to get back to Sandbach. Mum couldn't come to meet us anywhere as she wasn't feeling well enough to drive so we had to get back on our own. As we traveled back towards Crewe we passed D&G 42. There was a 16:35 #38 and the next bus was a 17:17 #37. We got into Crewe at 16:37 and must have just missed the #38. Before we got off Matthew to a picture of the inside of D&G 26.

Inside D&G 26

We now had a fair wait for our bus and we saw and photographed quite a few others whilst we waited. D&G 41 which we saw at Nantwich made an appearance at Crewe. Arriva 2619 arrived from Nantwich on the #84 we had missed half an hour previously. we saw 4040 again working another turn to Nantwich. Of the 2 Arriva buses that had been parked up, 2615 worked off empty presumably back to Winsford, and 2502 went on to work an #84

Arriva NW&W 2502 on a #84

We turned down returning to Sandbach via Winsford on 2612 which as on a the 17:01 #31A. At around 17:05 our bus arrived in the bus station and it was the dud but interesting Arriva 3331.

Arriva NW&W 3331 in Crewe bus station

After taking a few more pictures and waiting until time, we boarded the bus. the bus filled up due to the fact that the Crewe game had just let out. Crewe had just managed a 2-2 draw and this meant that had made the division 2 play-offs! at the railway station even more people got on and needless to say the journey was a lively one. considering the bus was quite full, 3331 moved really quickly. As we stopped in Haslington near to the Co-op, a car decide to overtake us and subsequently flattened a bollard on the central reservation. the bus did empty out a little. As we approached sandbach we passed 3330 again going towards Crewe. eventually we got to Sandbach where Matthew got another picture of this beast.

3331 on Sandbach Common

When we got to the car, Matthew had a sausage roll waiting for him. We headed back along the A534 to the M6 and we came off at junction 16 for the A500. Matthew decided he wanted a slight detour around the city as we traveled home. we came off at the A34 and went north to Talke. We then traveled home past Tesco and then via Kidsgrove, Whitehill, Newchapel, Packmoor, High Lane, Smallthorne, Hanley and Fenton. We got home around 18:20...Mark

Trip to Sandbach 17-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4156	Sandbach Common	Wharton, opp Wharton Gardens	37	Arriva NW&W
2611	Wharton, nr Wharton Gardens	Winsford, Town Bridge (W-bound)	31A	Arriva NW&W
2613	Winsford, Town Bridge (W-bound)	Sandbach, o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W
2613	Sandbach, o/s Common	Elworth nr railway station	37	Arriva NW&W
3334	Elworth adj railway station	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided it was a local-ish trip as mum had a busy weekend. As such when asked for a local destination Matthew chose Sandbach. No research was done or need for this trip apart from to look up on the Internet the location of a cafe in Sandbach. We set off a round 12:30 going up the A500 and onto the M6. we then came off at the next junction and we arrived on he common a few minutes before 13:00. We arrived in time to see the 13:00 #38 departure to Crewe which was 4491. We also saw 2613 arrive in the common on a #37 and then go out of service. We then walked to the cafe we had found on the Internet. Sally's cafe is situated on Green Street which is almost directly opposite the Market entrance. For breakfast/dinner we had 2 breakfasts, a sausage sandwich and a bacon sandwich. With drinks it came to around £15 for the 4 of us. Whilst we waited for the food I went to the cash machine and saw 2615 on a Crewe bound #37. The cafe was quite busy and we did not get out until just before 14:00. We saw the next #38 to Crewe which was 4490. The next bus was was the #319 Goostrey circular which was GHA S290 AOX

GHA S280 AOX on a #319

We also saw D&G 66 on a Scholar Green bound #78 service.

D&G 66 on Sandbach Common

Around 14:08 as booked Arriva NW&W 4156 appeared on the common. It was not required as we had been on this bus last week but Matthew seemed very pleased to see this bus on our service.

Arriva NW&W 4156 on Sandbach Common

As we got on Matthew took a picture of the empty top deck of 4156.

Inside 4156

Whilst we waited for time we saw 4491 return on the Macclesfield bound #38. We set of dead on time and headed North. Past the railway station and along the section of the road by the canal. As we turned into the housing estate we passed 2608 on a Crewe bound #37. We must have been going quite well as we sat by the Bullring in Middlewich for a couple of minutes before continuing on towards Winsford. as we approached the Brighton Belle we passed the next #37 to Sandbach which was 3330. It was now getting very overcast and it was starting to rain. As we went up Winsford High street we passed 3348 on a Northwich bound #31A service. As we went back down we saw D&G 41 on the #81 Chester service. We were now wondering where to get off to catch the bus back. last week we had got off as we turned into Wharton. As we turned this corner we passed the next #37 right on the corner and this meant that we would have to go further North. as we approached the Wharton Gardens area I thought that if there was a shelter for the Southbound service then we would get off there. As we turned the corner we spotted a shelter so we rang the bell and went down stairs. We got off in a torrential downpour and we got pictures of this fine bus in the rain.

4156 in a very wet Wharton Gardens

We crossed the road and waited in the shelter for the next Southbound service. A quick consult of the bus stop timetable told us that there was a #31A in about 5 minutes. The sun came out again and time passed quickly. Before we knew it, we saw an unidentified Centro approaching. It was almost certainly required as we had only been on one of these buses (three times!). As it got closer we could see it was required 2611.

Arriva NW&W 2611 in Wharton Gardens

We got on the bus and headed back towards Winsford. I consulted the electronic #37 timetable and we knew there was a sandbach bound #37 about 15 minutes behind us. We decided to get off at the bottom of Winsford High Street just in case the sandbach bus was better than what we were on. 2611 was making very strange noises as it went along. It kind of made an intermittent 'fzzzzt' noise as it accelerated away. on the Corner of Wharton Road we passed a Northbound #31 which was 2501. we also saw minibus P837 LVT. We got off at the bottom of the High Street as planned and Matthew got another picture of 2611.

2611 on High Street Winsford

We now had a 15 minute wait in which we would see another Northbound #37. This turned out to be 2615 which I saw earlier in Sandbach. The time past quickly and before we knew it we saw another Centro approaching. It was required 2613.

Arriva NW&W 2613 on High Street Winsford

As we headed back towards Sandbach the First bus we passed was 3330 on Station Road. We asked Matthew if he wanted to get off for required 2608 and to go back catch the unknown bus behind us, or to carry on to Sandbach with 2613 and then go back to Sandbach railway station to pick up the unknown bus behind us. Matthew chose to carry on to Sandbach ans so we did. We passed 2608 on the corner of the estate in almost the same position as we passed it going the other way. We then had the run in to Sandbach. As we got off, Matthew took a picture of the empty 2613.

Inside 2613

Whilst in town we paid a quick visit to the facilities by the Market. We also saw the other Macclesfield turn which was 4489.

Arriva NW&W 4489 on Sandbach Common

We then saw D&G 64 on a Nantwich bound 78.

D&G 64 on Sandbach Common

We got back on 2613 and sett off around 16:17 towards the railway station. We got off and crossed the road to wait for the return service. As it approached we could see it was a millennium fleet double decker. As it approached we saw it was required 3334

Arriva NW&W 3334 by Sandbach railway station

We got on and Matthew took a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside 3334

A quick journey, we then arrived in Sandbach. Matthew got a picture of the bus before it departed towards Crewe

3334 on Sandbach Common

We then went back to the car for sausage rolls and drinks. The route back was along the A534 towards Crewe. We then went through Haslngton and along the #20 route towards Alsger. We turned off past Radway Green before joining the A500 at the M6 Junction 16 roundabout. Stopping in Longport for LPG, we then went to Longton so Matthew could look at the King Street Total petrol station before retuning home.we saw Lightning Travel S298 JOB in Heron Cross and we got home around 17:40...Mark.

Trip to Northwich / Sandbach 10-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4156	Northwich Interchange	Middlewich, o/s Cheshire Cheese	37	Arriva NW&W
2619	Middlewich, opp Cheshire Cheese	Wharton, nr Wharton Road	37	Arriva NW&W
3329	Wharton, Wharton Road (cnr)	Sandbach, o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W
3329	Sandbach, o/s Common	Elworth nr railway station	37	Arriva NW&W
3348	Elworth adj railway station	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

This week we gave Matthew a choice of some of our usual destinations and unexpectedly Matthew chose Northwich. As I wanted to try and get the best out of the trip I asked a question on the Dennis Dart Forum as to the best services to ride on Arriva Marshall Darts and double deckers in Northwich. After getting advice I downloaded most of the local timetables onto my hone along with the Nortwich and Winsford bus map as supplied by Cheshire West and Cheshire council website. We set off a little after 12:00 today. It was a fine sunny day, quite warm for the beginning of March. we picked up mum's friend on the way and we stopped for dinner at the Country Kitchen food van which is situated in Middlewich. Having filled up with food and drink we headed North to Northwich. On the way in we passed Arriva NW&W 2500 on the 13:30 #37 to Crewe & a Network Warrington bus. Having parked up in town we walk down past the buses on stand. The first bus we saw was Arriva NW&W 7644 on a #1 service.

Arriva NW&W 7644 in Northwich

There was also a #82 to Chester too, which was GHA ALX200 P804 NJN.

GHA P804 NJN in Northwich

We then went to use the facilities. By the time we got back the Network Warrington bus appeared on stand, and it was number 59.

Network Warrington 59 in Northwich

Just as we took the picture we turned and saw a double decker on stand on the #37. Closer inspection revealed it was Arriva NW&W 4156 which was required. I asked Matthew if that was the bus he wanted to do and he said "yes".

Arriva NW&W 4156 in Northwich

We got on board and we then had around 10 minutes to wait before it was due off at 14:00. I decided it was a good plan to do the bus South as far as we could until we passed something interesting, and then we could double back and then do the bus further South. On stand it appeared that many of the locals today were Plaxton Centros. We only saw one MPD Dart and that was Arriva NW&W 862. We set off on time and we wondered were e would pass the first bus coming the other way. I expected to pass a bus coming the other way after 10 minutes and then evry 15 minutes therafter. The first bus we passed must have been on part of the route where the bus goes along different streets in different directions as we did not pass a #37 for nearly 25 minutes. In the Wharton area we passed a Centro on a #31 and then immediately afterward we saw 3348 heading North. This was a required bus, so we decided we would work out how to get this bus in. I estimated that the bus would be on the 16:00 from Northwich to Sandbach. I worked out that we could go to just the other side of Middlewich and then we would be on the last unknown bus that followed 2500 down on the 13:00 Northwich to Sandbach. Having gone through Winsford, we climb up Station road toward Middlewich and we passed another #37. It was another required Northern Counties bodied double decker 3349. This changed thing for us as it meant we would have to keep going towards Sandbach if we were to get the best buses in. We apssed through Middlewich and we decided to get off on the A533 as it left town. We spotted 2 stops virtually opposite each other and so we got off outside the Cheshire Cheese pub where Matthew got another picture of this fine beast.

4156 on the outskirts of Middlewich

We crossed the road and waited for the bus. We only had to wait round 5 minutes and the bus appeared. It was a Centro so there was a good chance it was going to be a required bus as we had only had one of these buses previously. As it got closer we could see it was 2619.

Arriva NW&W 2619 on the outskirts of Middlewich

We got on the bus and I had a quick check of the buses I have traveled on page. It was the same bus as we had been on twice before so it was not required :-(. I had worked out that we could go to just the other side of Winsford and then I hoped to pic up 3348 on a Sandbach service, which we could then do back to the station and pick up 3349 on the following bus. Somewhere between Middlewich and Winsford we passed a Centro on the next #37. As we passed through Winsford I called up mum and arranged to meet her in Sandbach around 16:30. as we went down the bank towards Wharton we saw required 3334 on a #31 service. We climbed the hill out of Winsford towards Wharton, and when we turned into the estate we got off to wait for what we hoped would be 3348.

2619 in Wharton

After around 5 minutes we could see a bus approaching but it was not a Northern Counties double decker. As it approached we could see it was dud 3329.

Arriva NW&W 3329 in Wharton

It turns out the buses on the #37's must do a short on a #29 in between #37's at Northwich adding an extra bus into the circuit. At least we know this for future reference. On the bus Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside 3329

We headed South back through Winsford and around town, The only problem with covering the #37's around Winsford is that you feel like you are going round in circles! We then made a quick journey to Sandbach where we able to get picture of this bus in the late afternoon sun.

3329 on Sandbach Common

We now knew we would be almost certainly going back to Sandbach station to pick up 3348, but this would mean we would get 3349 in today. We had a short layover in Sandbach Common in which we saw 4489 on a Macclesfield bound #38

Arriva NW&W 4489 on Sandbach Common

After around 5 minutes the driver let everyone on and we went back up onto the top deck. We set off on time towards the Station and the journey to the station was quick. As we got off Matthew got another picture of this bus.

3329 by Sandbach railway station

We crossed the road and we had a 5 minutes to wait for the return bus, and it was indeed 3348 as hoped and predicted (eventually...!)>

Arriva NW&W 3348 by Sandbach railway station

We went upstairs of course and Matthew took a picture of the top deck.

Inside 3348

The return journey was uneventful albeit the strange noise which the engine of this bus makes. There was a very strange wooshing sound coming from the engin as the bus accelerated away from stops. We got to the Common at Sandbach and then we were able to take a couple of great pictures of this bus.

3348 on Sandbach Common

I phoned mum to see were she was and she was just leaving Middlewich heading in our direction. Whilst we waited for mum we went to use the facilities in town. As we got back to the Common we saw 2614 which we must have passed early on the next Northwich bound #37.

Arriva NW&W 2614 on Sandbach Common

We also saw 4490 on another Macclesfield bound #38. Mum arrived and Matthew tucked in to a sausage roll as I went to fetch some lottery tickets. As we left town we passed Bakerbus 180 on a X38 service. We went home via Rode Heath and past Caudwell Tavern before joining onto the A34 at Talke. We then got onto the Southbound A500 and dropped off mum's friend around 17:30. After a quick stop to out air in the tyres we got home around 18:00...Mark