Trip to Bury 12-02-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
34262	Bury BS	Chapel Field, Stand Lane/Radcliffe Library (SE-bound)	98	First Manchester
34028	Radcliffe Bus Station	Bury BS	98	First Manchester
31930	Bury BS	Walshaw War Memorial	510	First Manchester
40401	Walshaw War Memorial	Bury BS	510	First Manchester

Matthew had not been out for a few weeks so we asked where he wanted to go. This time he chose Bury. Setting off just after 12:00 it was a fine day, and there were no problems on the road. We arrived in Bury around 13:15. We parked near the library, and we set off to have dinner in the cafe on the corner of Broad and Haymarket. On the way we saw 40359 on a service 510 to Bolton so it seemed that it was going to be business as usual at least on this route.


40359 departs Bury on a service #510 to Bolton (Matt)

For dinner Matthew had sausage, chips and gravy with some bread. After dinner we stood at the end of the bus station to see what was out today. Within seconds we spotted a double decker on stand K in the bus station. I went to get a new map and bus timetables, and worked out the double decker was on a service 98. We decided to do this bus to Radcliffe. When we got on the bus I looked at the timetable and decide we would go to Radcliffe bus station. Until then I didn't even realise there was a bus station having only ever travel on a 524 as far as the tram stop. As we departed we saw 34260 stabled by the side of the tram station. The 98 heads towards Bolton and then travel towards Radcliffe via a couple of housing estates. about 30 minutes later we arrived in Radcliffe bus station. We didn't get up very quickly, and before we could get downstairs the bus pulled off again. We ended up getting off at the next stop outside Radcliffe library.


34262 departs from Radcliffe library towards Manchester on a #98 service (Matt)

Luckily as the pedestrianised town centre meant the bus went round in a big circle, we only had a couple of hundred yards to walk back to the bus station. Radcliffe bus station consists of 2 island each containing 3 bus stops each. We didn't have to wait long at the bus station for a bus back to Bury. 34028 was the next bus back.


34028 on stand at Radcliffe bus station on a service 98 not 524 :-) (matt)

For some reason when we got on the bus I thought it was a 524 but as can be seen from the photograph it was another 98. Whilst on the bus the 524 Bury came in was required 34254. The return journey seemed much quicker, but it still wasn't quick enough to beat the more direct service 524. Just as we left the ring road to turn into the bus station, we passed 34254 going back out to Bolton. When we arrived in the bus station Matthew stood at the end and took a few pictures whilst we worked out what to do next. my thought was to do a quick trip out to Walshaw on a #510 as Matthew likes the Bolton based P---LND batch of darts. We didn't have to wait long for a 510 to show up but it was unusually Wigan based double decker 31930.


31930 arrives in Bury on a service #510 from Bolton (Matt)

As we left we passed 34023 possibly on a #137 Manchester as it was on a stand adjacent to the cafe. It's the first time we have ridden on one of these buses and they are very strange indeed. It used to have dual doors but the centre doors have been removed. there is also a centre staircase. Matthew went upstairs and it was empty. The downstairs was reasonably well filled. The locals must be used to these buses because the all the windows upstairs were covered in condensation even though it was a general fine day with the odd shower. The only clear window was the rear window. I immediately opened a window to try and clear up the condensation. Once the bus started to move we could feel every bump on the road and the body sides shook. It struggled up the lower part of Walshaw road. It is only a short journey to Walshaw and as we have been before we were able to guess were to ring the bell and get up quite well. it must have been running well to time as it paused for a few second and Matthew was able to get another photograph of this bus.


31930 pauses in Warshaw on a service #510 to Bolton (Matt)

We crossed the road and as usual we didn't have to wait long for the return. Unusually for us it wasn't one of the usual Darts, it was a slightly newer one 40401.


40401 on arrival from Bolton in Bury bus station (Matt)

We then had a few minutes taking photograph until we met up with mum to return back home. As always we saw the Almin Travel bus but we still don't know what it does or if it's general service. We would still love to know if we can catch this bus.


Often seen, never caught...Almin Travel minibus L402 BBC outside Bury bus station (Matt)

Matthew and mum got back just before 17:00 and we set off home via picking up LPG on the way. Back on the M6 we encountered heavy traffic due to an accident! We eventually got back home at 18:50 to find out that Tesco had tried to deliver the shopping at 18:35...Drat!...Mark

Trip to Bury 13-11-2010

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 246	Longton Hall Road, Blurton	Moss Street, Bury	Charter	Copelands Tours
40359	Bury BS	Walshaw War Memorial	510	First Manchester
40350	Walshaw War Memorial	Bury BS	510	First Manchester
34058	Bury BS	Tram Stop, Radcliffe	524	First Manchester
MX06 BSY	Tram Stop, Radcliffe	Bury BS	513	Maytree Travel
60227	Bury BS	Rowlands Road, Walmersley	472	First Manchester
34028	Rowlands Road, Walmersley	Bury BS	474	First Manchester
60273	Bury BS	Parr Lane, Unsworth	137	First Manchester
34023	Parr Lane, Unsworth	Bury BS	137	First Manchester
MIB 246	Moss Street, Bury	Longton Hall Road, Blurton	Charter	Copelands Tours

As this was a shorter journey than most, we decided to do this coach from Blurton. We booked the back seat for a change, to see if Matthew would enjoy it. A few days before departure we got a call to say that the seat numbers had changed, we were now in seats 54-57 meaning that this would a different to coach to the ones we had previously had, and therefore Matthew would be travelling a different vehicle. Planning for the trip consisted of looking at which bus tickets we could purchase and printing up section of the GMPTE transport map of Bury. Initial plans were to travel away from Manchester into areas that we knew a little about. So I printed information on buses in the Heywood and Ramsbottom direction.

On the day of the trip we drove to Longton Hall Lane and parked up. Matthew was anticipating travelling on a different copelands Tours coach. Sure enough MIB 246 appeared around the corner and Matthew was extremely happy. We then had an hour travelling around Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle picking up passengers. The driver decided we needed a short stop (10 Minutes), so we pulled into Knutsford services for a quick toilet and fag break. It also gave Matthew to opportunity to take a picture.


MIB 246 rests at Knutsford services (Mark)

After a short break we continued on to Bury. As always, first priority is to get something to eat so we went into a cafe for food. Afterwards, we stood at the bus station and observed for a short while to see which buses came in. As buses were coming in, I was visiting the travel office for relevant time tables. The first buses that Matthew decided was a must have was a wrinkly dart 40359. a quick dash to the kiosk for a service #510 timetable revealed that we could do this bus to Walshaw for another #510 back. So we purchased our 'System One' off peak day tickets and off we went. When we arrived at Walshaw, Matthew photographed the bus as it left before we crossed the road for the return journey.


40359 in Walshaw on a service #510 to Bolton (Matt)

Sure enough after a brief wait, another Bolton allocated wrinkly dart 40350 appeared from around the corner for our journey back to Bury. On arrival Matthew photographed the interior of the bus with its smart brown chequered moquette.


Inside of 40350 in Bury, shortly after arrival from Bolton (Matt)

Whilst considering whether to wait for the next bus on the #510 to turn up, 34028 pulled into the bus station and parked up, and then 34058 turned up on a service #524 to Bolton. Another quick visit to the kiosk for a timetable, we worked out that we could do this bus to Radcliffe for a short wait and a #524 back. So after Matthew took a picture, we did this bus to Radcliffe.


34058 depart south from Radcliffe (Matt)

We alighted at Radcliffe adjacent to the tram station and Matthew took another picture of the departing bus. I had calculated that we only had around 10 minutes to wait. After about 15 minutes, we looked to see what other service were due. We noted that the #513 to Bury also stopped here, and that was the next bus to arrive, so we decided to do this rather than wait any longer for a #524. The bus arrived and Matthew got the shot whilst I flagged the bus down.


MX06 BSY in Radcliffe on service #513 to Bury (Matt)

By the time came to do the third trip Matthew was becoming a bit excitable, we had seen 34028 depart on a #474 Ramsbottom circular, but we weren't quick enough to catch it.


34028 on a service #474 Ramsbottom circular (Matt)

The plan was to catch the next #472 and to meet 34028 somewhere around Ramsbottom, but Matthew couldn't decide what he wanted to do. We eventually got on the next #472, and we worked out we could travel to walmersley to meet the double decker coming the other way. The next #472 that turned up was a Mercedes single decker 60227. We did this to Walmesley and Matthew took a picture as it departed Northwards.


60227 departs North from Walmersley on a #472 Ramsbottom circular (Matt)

After a few minutes wait 34028 appeared over the horizon. After Matthew's excitable antics on the last visit to Bury we decide to call mum, meet up for a snack to give Matthew a few minutes to calm down! Matthew got off the bus and took a few more pictures.


Also seen, 34029 in Bury bus station (Matt)

In the cafe on the town side of the bus station, we bought Matthew a portion of chips, and mum had a Derby scone which Matthew also pinched. During the day and during our snack it had been noted that service #137 seemed to have a few double deckers working. We missed 34291 as we finished our meal so we waited for the next #137. this turned out to be another of the Mercedes single decker buses 60273. A moved was worked out to Unsworth. As we journeyed South we saw rows of coaches parked up including our own. We also saw all the fans streaming out ofa pub on their way to watch the local derby between Bury and Stockport. We then passed a double decker. After we got of we waited for a #137. we had about a maximum of 40 minutes we could wait without missing the coach home. The first bus was a single decker which we decided to flag. Whilst we were waiting a double decker went south just before 34023 appeared.


34023 in unsworth heading towards Bury on service #137 (Matt)

We got on the bus and did the short journey back into town and met up with mum. We took a few pictures at the top end of the bus station whilst waiting for our coach to appear. The most interesting bus was an Almin travel minibus.


Almin Travel L402 BBC in Bury. If anyone knows what service this bus was working please get in touch! (Matt)

On the way back we went non stop back to Stoke, after all the other drop off's the journey took around 2 hours. A good little trip that we are sure to do again some time. (Mark)