Trip to Leigh / Manchester 18-03-2023

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
39242	Leigh BS	Salford, Broad St/Pendleton Church (Stop U)	V1	First Manchester
40838	Salford Shopping Centre (Stop D)	Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens	36	Rotala Diamond NW
2740	Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens	Hulme, Hulme Park	263	Arriva NW&W
11262	Hulme, Hulme Park	Old Trafford, White City	256	Stagecoach Manchester
4020	Ordsall, Clipper Quays	Salford Shopping Centre	53	Go North West
39244	Broad St/Pendleton Church (Stop Q)	Astley Street, Guided Busway Stop	V2	First Manchester
39237	Astley Street, Guided Busway Stop	Leigh BS	V1	First Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Leigh. We gave Matthew a choice of locations around the North West and he chose Leigh. We wanted somewhere where we knew where to park and where to eat as mum was finishing work in the morning and we just needed to go. We did no research for this trip other than to check the weather. It forecast grey weather with showers and occasional sunny intervals, with hindsight checking the Google Maps App would have saved us an hour of time. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Mum got home later on and we set off just before 12:00. We set off 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.Running up the A500 we saw Plants P19 NTM, Redline BJ17 RED / SN69 RED, The Traveller Choice reg like 382 NBF, Stanton's of Stoke WSV 530, grey coach ???? GJD and Flixbus BV67 JZJ. We joined the Northbound M6 and as we joined the motorway we saw Lauderdale Coaches CU68 VKE in front of us.

Lauderdale Coaches CU68 VKE on the M6

We continued up the M6 and we saw an unidentified TJ Travel coach, Selwyns (NX) 235(#121), 2 Stagecoach E200MMC's SN65 ???, white minibus SH56 ODT and taxi minibus ML15 TVA. We came off the M6 at junction 22 and we headed Eastwards alonng the A579. A mile or so up the road we hit a queue of traffic. If I had the sat Nav up and running I would have seen the reason why. There were roadworks on the A572 and as such on;y a few cars at a time could get through off the A572. We queued up for nearly an hour before eventually turning right onto the A579. We got through the roadworks and we crossed over the A580. We continued for the last few miles into Leigh and we turned right onto Spinning Jenny Way. We turned left onto Queen Street and left onto Brown Street South. We turned right onto Gas Street and we turned left into the car park. We parked up and we walked through the Spinning Gate Shopping centre and we came out by the bus station. We saw First Manchester 39260 on a V1 to the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

First Manchester 39260 in Leigh bus station

Seen arriving on a V1 service was First Manchester 36279.

First Manchester 36279 in Leigh bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we met up mum at the food truck. Matthew had a sausage barm washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished we said goodbye to mum and we had a walk around the bus station. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10446 on a #8 to Wigan. We decided to head towards Manchester via Salford. We saw there was a V1 on stand. As we got closer we saw it was First Manchester 39242 on a V1 service to the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

First Manchester 39242 in Leigh bus station

We got on the bus and we booked System One Bus Only Day tickets at £5.80 each. We went upstairs and we sat down near to the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station and onto Spinning Jenny way. We ran forwards onto Princess Street and onto the guided busway. We ran along the busway for approximately 4 miles and we joined the Southbound B5232 in Ellenbrook. We ran South for around 1/4 mile and we turned left onto the A580. We ran fast along the A580 and we crossed under the A580 and the Wardley park and ride car park. We continued Eastwards and the A580 merged with the A6. We continued on to Pendleton and near the the police station we cam off the main A6 and onto a parallel slow lane where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39242 as it continued towards Manchester.

First Manchester 39242 in Salford

We had a look around to see what bus we might catch towards Manchester. We quickly worked out the Diamond NW & Stagecoach Manchester buses towards Manchester departed from stand D. A short time later we saw Stagecoach Manchester 12186 on a #38 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 12186 in Salford

Matthew decided not to do this bus as he wanted to go to the toilet. We walked into the shopping centre on the Eastern side and we followed the signs towards the toilet. We cam out on the Northern side and there was a small toilet block behind where we have caught buses towards Bolton on stand G. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards we cut through onto the North side of the shopping centre. We saw Go North West 4017 on layover in between runs on the #53 to Cheetham Hill.

Go North West 4017 in Salford

We walked around to the East side to stand D and we waited for a bus towards Manchester. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 2948 on a #10 to Manchester.

Arriva NW&W 2948 in Salford

A short time later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Rotala Diamond 40838 on a #36 to Piccadilly Gardens. We got on the bus and we flashed the System One Bus Only Day ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along Hankinson Way and we turned left Rossal Way. We joined the roundabout and we turned right onto the Eastboundd A6. We passed the point where somebody has tagged themselves as being a business on the road which is 'Temporarily closed'. We headed past Salford Crescent to the edge of the city Centre. We ran forwards onto Chapel Street and we turned right onto the A34 past Salford Central station which is temporarily closed for refurbishment. We turned left onto Cross Street and right onto King Street. We turned left onto Spring Garden and we followed the road around onto York Street. We turned left onto Mosley Street and we turned right into Piccadilly Gardens. We pulled up on stand and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of Rotala Diamond 40838 before it returned to Bolton.

Rotala Diamond 40838 in Manchester

We had a bit of a walk around to see what we might catch. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 19406 on a #42 to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 19406 in Manchester

Whilst having a look around we saw Little Gem 1968 on a #44 to Altrincham. A short time later we saw an Arriva bus enter the bus station. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva NW&W 2740 on a #263 to Altrincham.

Arriva NW&W 2740 in Manchester

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the terminal and we turned right onto Portland Street where we saw Stotts (NX) BV67 JXM(#173) and Ausden Clark BIG 9828. We turned left onto Princess Street and right onto Whitworth Street. We turned left onto Oxford Street and we headed Southwards. We turned right onto Booth Street West. We passed the College of Music and we turned right onto Boundry lane. We decided to get of somewhere we could get on a #53 service so that we could get back to Salford. We turned left onto the A5067 and we ran for about 1/3 of mile and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we had a look at the timetable. We had just missed a Salford bound #53 so we had alomost 30 minutes to wait. We whilst we waited Matthew had a flapjack. We decided to could catch another bus towards trafford and walk over the ship canal to get a #53 forwards. A short time later we saw a bus that we could catch. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 11262 on a #256 to Flixton.

Stagecoach Manchester 11262 in Hulme

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only Day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off along the A5067 and we ran for about 1/4 of a mile before we turned right following the A5067. We turned left onto Royce Road and we headed Westwards. We ran forwards onto City Road an we turned left onto the Chester Road. We followed Chester Road to the right and we turned left onto the A56. As we approched the White City Retail Park we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took amother picture of Stagecoach Manchester 11262 as it continued towards Flixton.

Stagecoach Manchester 11262 in Old Trafford

We crossed over the A56 and we saw Angela GX21 ECF heading Westwards. We walked forwards onto Trafford Road and we crossed over the Bridgewater and Manchester ship canals. We walked past Clipper Quay and we stopped at the bus stop. We sat down at the stop and we checked the timetable. The bus was due in 5 minutes. A short time later we saw the bus approaching on the other side of the bridge over the ship canal. As it got closer we saw it was Go North West 4020 on a #53 to Salford.

Go North West 4020 in Ordsall

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only Day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards passing Britannia DU61 LLC & The Travellers Choice PO18 EES pasrked in a side street. We turned left into The Quays and we followed the road through the Salford Quays area. We crossed the Marinas Canal and we passed petween the North Bay and Huron Basin. We ran past Media City and we ran forwards onto Broadway. We turned left onto Trafford Road and we crossed over the A57. We turned left onto Liverpool Street and right onto Cross Drive where we saw Alfa 107 parked up. We turned left onto Churchill Way and we turned right onto Hankinson Way and we pulled up outside of the shopping centre where we got up and got off the bus. Once of the bus Matthew took another picture of Go North West 4020 before it returned to Cheetham Hill on a #53 service.

Go North West 4020 in Salford

We walked around the cober onto Rossall Way and we saw Go North West 6163 on a #95 to Bury.

Go North West 6163 in Salford

We walked around the corner and down the alleyway to the toilet block. The toilets had clsoed by the time we had got there. We decided to do across the car park to Tesco Extra. We went into the shop and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards we went into the shop and we had a look around. There were very few drinks left with the meal deal section of the shop and there was nothing that Matthew would drink. There wan't much chocolate either and Matthew ended up getting a Kinder Egg. We went to the self service tills and we paid for the egg before meeting up with uncle Dave and walking across the car park. We were now heading back towards Leigh. We walked along Pendleton Way. We walked through the passageway onto the sliproad for the A6 and we waited at the bus stop for a bus towards Leigh. There were 2 buses coming at once. A V2 to Atherton and a V1 to Leigh. The V2 came first and the V1 was right behind it displaying Bus Full. We decided to do the V2 and get off at the junction. As it got closer we saw it was First Manchester 39244 on a V2 to Atherton.

First Manchester 39244 in Salford

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. We decided to go to the Astley Street guided bus way stop and get off to catch the following V1 service. We ran fast along the A580 and we we passed Stagecoach Manchester 10443 on a Leigh bound #34 service. We also passe a silver Mercedes mini coach parked outside a pub on the Southside of the A580. We went under the M60 and we ran up to Worsley where we turned right onto Newearth Road. We went North for a short while and we joined the guided bus way. After running West along the bus way we came to the Astley Street stop so we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39244 before it carried on towards Atherton.

First Manchester 39244 in Astley Street

We waited for the next bus to Leigh. A minute or so later the bus that had been full came into the stop. It had now emptied out so we could get on it. As it got closer we saw it was First Manchester 39237 on a V1 to Leigh.

First Manchester 39237 in Astley Street

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set of along the guided bus way and we ran fast to edge of Leigh and we left the guided bus way and we joined Spinning Jenny Way. We past Tesco and the shopping centre and we turned right into Leigh bus station where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39237 before it returned to the depot.

First Manchester 39237 in Leigh bus station

Matthew decided that he needed the toilet so we headed to the George and Dragon which was next to the bus station. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards had a glass of Coke. We watched a bit of the Manchester City vs Burnley match and we drank our drinks. When we had finished we headed outside to the bus station and we met up with uncle Dave again. On the way to the road we saw Rotala Diamond 30971 on a #584 to Crankwood.

Rotala Diamond 30971 in Leigh bus station

We walked onto Spinning Jenny Way and we walked around the shopping centre to the car park and we met up with mum. We got in the car and Matthew had a can of Irn Bru before we set off onto Gas Street. We turned left onto Brown Street South and right onto Queen Street. We turned right onto Spinning Jenny Way and we turned left onto the A572. We crossed the A579 and in Lowton we turned right onto Sandy Lane. We followed the road around onto Byrom Lane and we turned left onto Slag Lane. We stopped at Victoria's Plaice and I went to the chip shop whilst Matthew went to the shop next door with mum. He brought a bottle of dandelion & burdock and a bar of chocolate for later on. Matthew had sausage chips and gracy and once I had finished eating we set off onto Slag Lane and we turned left onto Church Lane. We crossed over the A580 and we turned right onto the A572. At the light we turned left onto the A579. The traffic had allo gone and we got to the motorway in a few minutes. We joined the M6 and we headed Southwards. Travelling back along the M6 we saw an unidentified Bibby's of Ingleton coach. 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 20:00. 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 00:00... Mark

Trip to Wigan / Salford 28-05-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
21241	Wigan BS	Hindley, Wigan Road/Hindley Council Offices (Stop A)	540	Stagecoach Manchester
36785	Hindley, Wigan Road/Hindley Council Offices (Stop A)	Tyldesley, Shuttle Street/Lime Street (Stop A)	32	Stagecoach Manchester
39245	Tyldesley, Stanley Street/Meanley Street (Stop G)	Salford, Broad St/Pendleton Church (Stop U)	V2	First Manchester
39255	Broad St/Pendleton Church (Stop Q)	Astley Street, Guided Busway Stop	V2	First Manchester
39244	Astley Street, Guided Busway Stop	Leigh BS	V1	First Manchester
27818	Leigh BS	Wigan BS	658	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to re-visit Wigan. We checked the weather for the North West and Midlands, and it was for mainly dry and sunny weather with some showers in the Midlands. We gave Matthew a choice of destinations and from the choice Matthew chose Wigan. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 and we turned onto the A5035. We turned right onto Stanley Matthews Way and we joined the Westbound A50. At Sideway we turned right onto the Northbound A500. As we traveled up the A500 we saw a few buses. these included City Cabs WX04 XGD and Photoflash R77 PHO. We had to queue for the last half a mile before we joined the Northbound M6. As we traveled north we saw Allander coach YJ16 EOB, Bullocks Coaches RB11 BUL and we also saw U-Drive HJ15 ZND.

U-Drive HJ15 ZND the on M6

As we continued North up the M6 we saw an unidentified Edwards Coaches blue & pink coach, Stafford Coaches CNZ 3828, Alfa 83, Rotala Diamond 20795 broken down on the North bound M6 and Rotala Diamond 20825 going North (to replace it?). We came off the M6 at junction 25 and we went North up the A49 into town. We caught up with plain white coach P982 JBC. We went past the large roundabout outside Asda and we continued North into Wallgate and past the two railway stations. we turned left into King Street West and we turned right into Crawford Street. There were no space on Crawford Street, so we went across Bishopgate and left onto Dorning Street where we found a space. We set off to Hallgate so we could have dinner in Mr Chips. On the way we saw Stagecoach Manchester 27234 on a #600 to Bryn.

Stagecoach Manchester 27234 in Wigan bus station

We went into the Cafe and Matthew patiently waited his turn for the toilet to become vacant. After using the facilities we ordered the food... Matthew had sausage and chips with bread and butter washed down with a small bottle of Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and we walked the short distance over to the bus station. The first thing we noticed was Rotala Diamond white Versa 30144 on layover between working #635's to Appley Bridge.

Rotala Diamond 30144 in Wigan bus station

Further down on the Western side of the bus station we saw dud Arriva NW&W 2997 on layover.

Arriva NW&W 2997 in Wigan bus station

This was a bus that we first had in May 2012 from Abram to Wigan on a #360 service. We crossed over at the bottom of the bus station and we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 36783 on a #632 Highfield Grange circular.

Stagecoach Manchester 36783 in Wigan bus station

We spotted required Stagecoach Manchester 36785 on a #32 to the Wardley Park & Ride site on the A580. The service which used to run to Manchester had now been reduced to hourly and truncated, with passenger for Manchester having to change on the new V1/V2 service. The bus wasn't due to depart for another 25 minutes, so I asked Matthew if he wanted to do a #598 or #540 to Hindley and catch the #32 forwards, which agreed to do. The was a #540 about to pull on the stand behind us, and we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 21241.

Stagecoach Manchester 21241 in Wigan bus station

We sat down in the bus station for a short while whilst we waited for the bus driver to ready the bus for service. The bus came onto stand a we got in the queue to get on the bus. When we got to the front we got on the bus and we booked System One bus only tickets at £5.40 each. we sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus was well loaded. The bus set off out of the bu station and we went down Dorning Street and the left onto King Street West We crossed Wallgate onto Library Street and we crossed over the A49 onto Millgate. We turned right onto Warrington Road for a short distance before turning left onto Darlington Street East. We ran East for just under 1/2 mile and we turned right onto Manchester Road.and we ran through Ince and past Walmesley park into Hindley, a distance of around 2 miles. When we saw the traffic lights we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 21241 before it carried on towards Bolton.

Stagecoach Manchester 21241 in Hindley

As we got off the bus we spotted a white Solo around the corner. We went to investigate... It was Wigan Buses Solo YN04 XYY which was about to work the #620 to Ashton.

Wigan Buses YN04 XYY in Hindley

A few minutes later we saw required Cumfybus YD63 VAX on a #559 to Bolton via Westhoughton.

Cumfybus YD63 VAX in Hindley

A few minutes later we saw a distance Stagecoach Manchester Enviro200... As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Manchester 36785 as expected.

Stagecoach Manchester 36785 in Hindley

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the road to the traffic lights. We turned left onto the A58 and we headed north towards Castle Hill. We turned right onto Sandy Lane and we went East to Broadway where we turned right. We turned left onto Hollins Road and right onto Long Lane and we ran back down onto the A577. We traveled East to Hindley Green and trough Dangerous Corner. We came into Atherton from the West and and we saw First Manchester terminating on the V2 service from Manchester. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 36785.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 36785

we left Atherton on Tyldesley Road and we came into Tyldesly, turning left onto the one way system along Shuttle Street. We got up and got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 36785 as it carried on towards the Wardley park & ride site.

Stagecoach Manchester 36785 in Tyldesley

As this was our first visit to ancestral home, we weren't sure where all the bus stops were. The V1/V2 didn't stop at stop A were we got off so we though it would stop on one of the street that went between Shuttle Street and Manchester road, which was the high Street and the other side of the one way system. As we walked down Shuttle street we ere passed by a Manchester bound V2 service. We saw were the bus turned and now we knew were the bus stop was. We got to the bus stop in a couple of minutes and we had just under 15 minutes to wait for the next service. We had a quick look around and we saw First Manchester 69168. Just as our bus was due we saw First Manchester 39253 on an Atherton bound V2 service.

First Manchester 39253 in Tyldesley

We then turned to see dud First Manchester 39245 on the V2 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39245 in Tyldesley

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One bus only tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. We had agreed with Matthew to go to Pendleton Church, Salford on this bus, which would be the furthest East we had traveled from this direction. We didn't know where we were going, but luckily the buses on the vantage service have the next stop anouncements. We set off through Tyldesley and onto Astley Street. We went a hundred yard or so down the hill and we turned left into the guided bus way. We ran fast Eastwards along the old railway track bed up to Newearth Road where we reached the end of the guided bus way and we turned right. Traveling South down Newearth road we passed the point to which had had traveled the furthest from Leigh. We passed Rotala Diamond 32211, which we had last time we visited the area on a VH1 service...twice! At the bottom of Mewearth Road we turned left onto the A580 and we traveled fast along this main thoroughfare. We crossed under the M60 and we passed the Wardley park & ride site where the #32 now terminates. We then got to a point where the bus announced the next stop as Pendelton Church so we rang the bell. We were on the fast section of the route and we traveled for around 3 miles before the next stop! We joined the A6 and came up of the dual carriageway below and onto a high level road by the church. After crossing a roundabout we saw the stop and we got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39245 as it carried on towards Manchester.

First Manchester 39245 in Salford

Where we got off the bus it was incredibly 'bus busy'... There seemed to be a bus come past us every few seconds! We saw First Manchester 33695 go whizzing by on a #37 to Manchester.

First Manchester 33695 in Salford

We also saw Stagecoach Manchester 19504 on the #38 to the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Stagecoach Manchester 19504 in Salford

We spotted a gap in the bus traffic so we went into Paresh's Newsagent to get some refreshments. We brought a can of Coke and a can of Vimto and a couple of chocolate bars. After paying for the stuff, we left the shop and it was time to find the return stop. We saw a subway so we headed into it. There was a footbridge across the A6 below so we crossed over it and we headed under the subway. Matthew decided he want to use the toilet and we spotted a KFC under the next subway, so that's where we went. We went into the KFC and Matthew used the toilet first. After he used the facilities we waited in the queue to get served. The road circled around the KFC off the roundabout and there were buses past every few second to the shopping centre stops behind us. Matthew had a portion of fries and a cup of Coke as well as a millionaires shortbread. After we had got the stuff we we needed to find somewhere to go and eat the food. We set off out of KFC and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 12239 on a #50 to East Didsbury.

Stagecoach Manchester 12239 in Salford

We also saw Arriva NW&W 4494 on a #10 to Manchester.

Arriva NW&W 4494 in Salford

There was a car park next to the shopping centre which all the buses that stop circled around before going back onto the roundabout. We spotted some bollards next to a small patch of grass so we decided to sit there and eat the food and watch buses for a while. We saw First Manchester 37435 on a #8 to Manchester

First Manchester 37435 in Salford

After we had finished eating we walked back to the towards the subway. We stopped when we saw First Manchester 37370 on a #67 to Manchester.

First Manchester 37370 in Salford

We went to the opposite side of the road where we got off the bus next to Pendleton police station, but it appeared that the bus stop must we on the Western slip road so we headed accross to that side, on the way we saw a Routemaster Buses Routemaster double decker, which appeared to be on hire to a wedding party. We eventually found the stop and we looked at the timetable having just missed a V1 service to Leigh. The nest Vantage service would be a V2 in around 7 minutes. Whilst we waited we saw First Manchester 33673 on a #36 to Bolton.

First Manchester 33673 in Salford

A few minutes later we saw a Vantage bus approaching so we leaped up to flag it down. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 39255 on a V2 service as expected.

First Manchester 39255 in Salford

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the bus was empty, so Matthew got a picture inside First Manchester 39255.

Inside First Manchester 39255

We decided to go to the Astley Street guided bus way stop and get off to catch the following V1 service. We ran fast along the A580 and we we passed Stagecoach Manchester 10443 on a Leigh bound #34 service. We also passe a silver Mercedes mini coach parked outside a pub on the Southside of the A580. We went under the M60 and we ran up to Worsley where we turned right onto Newearth Road. We went North for a short while and we joined the guided bus way. After running West along the bus way we came to the Astley Street stop so we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Manchester 39255 before it carried on towards Atherton.

First Manchester 39255 in Astley Street

We got off the bus and we sat down and waited for the following bus. Whilst we waited we saw First Manchester 39250 on a V1 to Manchester.

First Manchester 39250 in Astley Street

A few minutes later we saw another bus approaching from the East. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Manchester 39244 on a V1 to Leigh.

First Manchester 39244 in Astley Street

We got on the bus and we flashed the System One ticket to the driver before we went upstairs and sat down. We set of along the guided bus way and we ran fast to edge of Leigh and we left the guided bus way and we joined Spinning Jenny Way. We past Tesco and the shopping centre and we turned right into Leigh bus station. We let the bus empty out and Matthew took a picture inside First Manchester 39244.

Inside First Manchester 39244

Once we got off the bus Matthew used the facilities and then we looked for a bus to Wigan. Whilst Matthew was in the toilet we saw both a #598 and a #658 depart the bus station. Whilst we waited we decided to take a few bus pictures. We saw Stagecoach Manchester 10450 on a #34 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 10450 in Leigh bus station

Outside the bus station on stand M we saw Stagecoach Manchester 10443 about to work a #34 to Bryn.

Stagecoach Manchester 10443 in Leigh bus station

A few minutes later we saw a #658 service come into the bus station. As we got closer we saw that it was required Stagecoach Manchester 27818.

Stagecoach Manchester 27818 in Leigh bus station

We flashed the System One ticket to the driver for the final time today and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we went North up Market Place. After traveling Noth we went west along Kirkhall Lane to Westleigh. We continued West to Tamar and hen we took the B5237 West towards Platt Bridge. As we travelled through Bickershaw we saw an ex Arriva London DLA double decker at the side of the road. At Plat bridge we went North through the town center and past the scrapyard, where there appeared to be even more buses than we had seen previously. We carried on North through Ince-in-Makerfield and North into Wigan town centre. We turned left into Darlington Street and we crossed the A49 and onto King Street. We continued across Wallgate onto King Street West and we came into the bus station up Dorning Street. When the bus got on stand we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 27818.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27818

Once off the bus we saw Arriva NW&W 4184 on layover at the bottom of the bus station.

Arriva NW&W 4184 in Wigan bus station

We walked around the bus station onto Hallgate where we saw Wigan Coachways DSK 516 on layover.

Wigan Coachways DSK 516 in Wigan

We walked back to the car which mum had moved to Bishopgate. We got in the car and Matthew had a Greggs sausage roll washed down with a small bottle of Irn Bru. We set off down Dorning Street and Frog lane. We headed under the railway and we worked our way over to the A49. We went around the pier and we went South down the A49 and onto the M6. As we traveled South down the M6 we passed Crusade Travel minicoach J60 CTL, a couple of Paul's of Stoke coaches HIL 2375 & M41 BUS, and also an unidentified Swans of Chadderton coach. We also saw Happy Days 230.

Happy Day 230 the on M6

Further South we were caught up by Johnson YJ11 AMO.

Johnsons YJ11 AMO the on M6

At junction 16 we joined the Southbound A500 and we ran down to Sideway where we went East on the A50. We came off the A50 at Longton so we could go check out what was at Z Carz tonight. In the front row we saw Z Carz minibus Y568 XFV.

Z Carz Y568 XFV in Longton

We also saw Z carz minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

At the front of the row we saw Z Carz minibus MV53 KKO.

Z Carz MV53 KKO in Longton

In the second row we saw Z Carz minibus HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

Closest minibus to the road was Z Carz minibus HK57 LGW.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We turned left to see what was parked up in the Willow Row compound tonight. We saw Z Carz Iveco minibus YJ53 WPD.

Z Carz YJ53 WPD in Longton

We also saw Z Carz Ford minibus YS09 LWV.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we crossed over the top onto Baths Road. We filled up with diesel and we got back onto the Westbound A50. We came off the A50 at Heron Cross and we went through Blurton along Blurton Road. We turned right into Church Road and right again Beaconsfield Drive where we saw white Iveco minibus NX03 BFP. We got home around 19:30. For a late tea Matthew had sausages, potatoes and carrots followed by a jam filled shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00... Mark