Trip to Middleton / Oldham 07-12-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
16949	Middleton BS‎‎	Moston, before Moston Lane/Leighton Street	112	Stagecoach Manchester
516	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Middleton BS	112	JPT
69420	Middleton BS	Oldham BS	58	First Manchester
40364	Oldham BS	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop D)‎	415	First Manchester
171	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop D)	Moston, o/s Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery	112	JPT
154	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Moston Cemetery‎	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)‎‎	112	JPT
27599	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)‎‎	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to return to Middleton. We only decided to go the night before and the only research we did was to check which First Darts are still operating from Oldham depot on the Dennis Dart Forum and of course to check the weather, which was for cloudy and cool. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 and we headed onto the A5035 and then onto Stanley Matthews Way. We carried on to the Westbound A50 and then onto the Northbound A500 which we did up to Shelton New Road. we picked up LPG and then we headed West on the A53 and back onto the Northbound A500. When we reached the M6we hit traffic. We passed Hollinshead Coaches RIL 1017 going South presumably heading to today's Stoke match. As headed North the matrix displays were warning of 3 different traffic problems. The A556 North was busy, the M62 East was busy as was he M6 North of Warrington. I made an executive decision to go onto the M56 Eastbound. We did the M6 up to Lymm services and then headed East on the M56. We hit a few odd pockets of traffic on the M60 anti clockwise but it was generally plain sailing up to Junction 19 and onto the A576. We drove the last couple of miles into Middleton and then we parked up near to MacDonalds. We walked through the pedestrian area and matthew visited the toilet in the bookies before we went to the pavement cafe adjacent to the bus station. Matthew had a bacon barm and some fries washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw dud First Manchester 40406 on one of the #415 turns. After we had had something to eat we walked to the bus station to see what we could catch. One of the first buses we saw was required JPT Dart 154.

JPT 154 in Middleton bus station

We had another quick walk around and then we spotted required Stagecoach Manchester 16949 on a #80 service.

Stagecoach Manchester 16949 in Middleton bus station

A quick check of the destination board by the stop revealed that the #80 went through Moston, so we got on and booked our System One tickets. Matthew photographed the inside of the downstairs before of this bus before we went upstairs and sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 16949

Upstairs Matthew photographed the upstairs too before the bus set off out of town. The #80 route seems to be more direct than the #112 and we got down to Moston in no time, passing JPT 513 and 512 on #118 services. When we were approaching the Blue Bell we got up and got off the bus. Across the road was required Stagecoach Manchester 22362 on a #112 but new knew we wouldn't get across the road in time to catch it so we got a picture of it instead. After we crossed over the road we saw JPT 182 going in the other direction. We then saw an unfamiliar looking JPT double decker approaching so we decided to flag it down. As it got closer we saw it was required JPT 516 on a #112 to Middleton.

JPT 516 in Moston

We got on the bus and went upstairs. The bus carried on Northwards and headed into town via Greengate and Middleton Junction. We headed along Grimshaw Lane and into town. Just before we reached the town centre we passed dud First Manchester 40369 on an another #415 turn.When we got to Middleton bus station Matthew got a picture inside JPT 516 with it's Arriva past well and truly obvious with its turquoise interior.

Inside JPT 516

We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of this bus as it waited it's next #112 turn.

JPT 516 in Middleton bus station

We then had a quick walk around the bus station taking pictures. First we saw required Stagecoach Manchester 22131 on the #80 to Manchester.

Stagecoach Manchester 22131 in Middleton bus station

We then saw required first Manchester 41788 on the #415 to Oldham.

First Manchester 41788 in Middleton bus station

We had a quick walk around the shopping centre. We visited Wilkinson where we brought some cans of pop and a large Galaxy Caramel. We then walked back into the bus station. Spotted across the way was required First Manchester 69420 on a #58 to Rochdale.

First Manchester 69420 in Middleton bus station

We decided to do this up to Oldham. We got on and sat down near the back. The bus wasn't full but there wasn't anywhere he could photograph inside the bus apart from the adjacent empty seats.

Inside First Manchester 69420

The bus waited for a few minutes, and whilst we waited we saw required First Manchester 40364 on the final #415 turn. We had turned this bus down last time we had seen it back in October. We set off along through Chadderton and then up into Oldham. As we climbed the bank in Oldham bus station we passed required First Manchester 34093 which was running out of service in the opposite direction. When we got to Oldham, Matthew got another picture of First Manchester 69420.

First Manchester 69420 in Oldham bus station

First Manchester 41788 arrived too. The #415 route take longer to get to Oldham than the #58 due to it's indirect route. Matthew had a picnic adjacent to the bus station which consisted of some squares off his Galaxy Caramel and his small bottle of Coke. We then visited the toilet before walking around the other part of the bus station taking pictures. We walked back up to the level end of the bus station and we visited the newsagent where Matthew brought more pop and chocolate bars. We were eying up a #184 towards Manchester, but his was going away from Middleton so we had to turn it down. Required First Manchester 40364 came in and I persuaded him that it would be a good idea to do this bus as he might not get another chance to do it with ADL Darts arriving in Ashton from Devon and Cornwall. We got a picture of this bus before walking around and getting on it.

First Manchester 40364 in Oldham bus station

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The set off om time at 15:40 and we headed down the bank towards the college. We passed another First Manchester Olympian, required 34091 heading into the bus station running out of service. It was starting to go dark and as we headed through Chadderton we passed broken down First Manchester 40369. We decided to get off the bus and not do it all the way to Middleton over the speedbumps. This also gave us a chnace to get a few extra buses in before we went home. The bus empty a little and I took a picture inside First Manchester 40364.

Inside First Manchester 40364 (Mark)

We turned the corner at Middleton Junction and we got up and got off the bus. We decided to head South towards Moston so we could get at least another 2 buses in before we went home. We didn't have to wait for long before we saw a JPT Excel approaching. We knew it was going to be required as we have never done any of there Excels previously. It turned out to be required JPT 171.

JPT 171 in Middleton Junction

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. We headed down Greengate and after the bus had dropped a driver off at the Stagecoach depot Matthew got a picture inside the bus facing forwards with its turquoise coloured seats.

Inside JPT 171

We carried on down to Moston, intending to get off at the Bluebell, but we ended up getting off off a stop too soon in the darkness. As JPT 171 headed South Matthew got a better picture of this bus.

JPT 171 in Moston

We crossed the road to wait for a bus and we didn't have to wait long.I was going to leave the approaching bus as I thought it was a First bus heading in the wrong direction. When we saw it was a JPT #112 bus I flagged it down. It turned out to be required JPT 154 which we had seen earlier in the day. We got on and sat down near the back. The bus emptied out behind us and Matthew took a picture of the interesting maroon coloured seats.

Inside JPT 154

As wehad now got a picture inside JPT 154, I asked Matthew if he wanted to get off at the junction and wait for the next 112. He said yes and we bailed at stop C. The bus set off towards the junction and Matthew got another picture of JPT 154.

JPT 154 in Middleton Junction

We only had to wait a few minutes and we saw a Stagecoach bus approaching. It got closer and we saw it was required Stagecoach Manchester 27599. We got on and sat down near the back. We phoned mum to arrange to meet her at the bus station and then we got caught in the roadworks for a few minutes longer than we expected. We eventually got to the bus station and waited for the bus to empty so Matthew could get a picture inside Stagecoach Manchester 27599.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27599

We met up with mum. Matthew took a picture of Stagecoach Manchester 27599 before heading off to the toilet.

Stagecoach Manchester 27599 in Middleton bus station

After using the toilet we had another walk around the shopping centre and Matthew had 80p worth of pic 'n' mix from a stall near the door. We walked back to the car where there were sausage rolls and drinks waiting for us. We set off down the A576 and onto the clockwise M60. Radio Stoke came into range and we found out that Stoke had beaten Cheslsea 3-2! We did this around past Stockport and onto the M56. We passed SLK Travel X521 EBU and we saw the matrix signs say that the Southbound A556 was busy. We also passed another unidentified carvers coach We did the M56 to Lymm services and then headed on the the M6 to avoid the A556. On the M6 we overtook a Skills double decker, S451 ATV which was full of people dressed as Santa's and Elves... On the A500 we passed Stanways J70 SWC presumably coming away from the Britannia Stadium. We then headed up to Longton on the A50 so that we could see what was parked up at Z Carz. There were only three vehicles on the spare ground today. The first was scania Coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Next to this was Matthews old school transport LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Last but not least was Mercedes minibus W221 CDN. We turned the corner to see what was in the compound. The only bus there was long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We turned the car around and Matthew got another picture of W221 CDN.

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

We headed back home along the A50 to Heron Cross before entering Blurton Along Blurton Road. T2 DLT was parked up at the Lightning house and we reached home at 18:10. It was my works Xmas do and mum dropped me off in Newcastle. I went along the A5035 and A34. For a late tea Matthew had chicken popcorn from Chunky Chicken as I wasn't around to cook tea. A few late night First Potteries sightings in Newcastle were 37159 on a #25 to Keele, 60068 on the #37 to Meir and 40015 on the #22 to Longton. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00. He stayed up late to make sure I got home safely...Mark

Trip to Middleton / Oldham 07-09-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
61240	Middleton BS	Higher Blackley, o/s Hse 506 Victoria Avenue/Glenbrook Road	64	First Manchester
454	Higher Blackley, o/s Open Land Victoria Ave/Glenbrook Road‎	Middleton BS	156	JPT
513	Middleton BS	Moston, opp Moston Lane/Blue Bell	112	JPT
184	Moston, before Moston Lane/Blue Bell	Middleton BS	112	JPT
34098	Middleton BS	Oldham BS	59	First Manchester
34102	Oldham BS	Moorside, Ripponden Road/The Moorside (NE-bound)	83	First Manchester
66858	Moorside, nr Garage Ripponden Road/Turf Pit Lane	Oldham BS	83	First Manchester
40369	Oldham BS	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop D)‎	415	First Manchester
27598	Middleton Junction, Greengate/Middleton Junction (Stop C)‎‎	Middleton BS	112	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we decided to go to return Middleton. The initial plan was to perhaps ride on the the remaining Darts n the #415 service. Research consisted of only checking the weather which initial was for rain. Matthew got up a little before 10:00 and had orange juice and toast for breakfast. Re-cheking the weather forecast, we saw it was now forecastng sunny intervals and the occasional rain showers. We set off at 11:30 going to the garage to drop something off, and up Blurton Road to pick something up. We then went to Heron Cross and joined the West bound A50. At the A500 we headed North and onto the Northbound M6. Traffic was slow up to junction 18, the aftermath of an earlier accident. We then made good progress up to the M62, onto the M60 ring road around to the A576. We headed into Middleton along this road for a couple of miles passing Healings coach R902 WEC and the we parked by the Dusty Miller pub. We walked to the bus station and we ate at the van on the pavement adjacent from it. Matthew had a bacon and egg barm washed down with Irn Bru. Whilst we ate we saw a few buses. First Manchester 40369 was on the #415 to Oldham. We also saw First Manchester 30880. When we had finished we headed into the bus station and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 17011 on a #112 service.

Stagecoach Manchester 17011 in Middleton bus station

Matthew went to the toilet, but by the time he was done Stagecoach Manchester 17011 had left. We had a look around the bus station to see what we could do. We visited the Travel shop and got some bus maps, and then we saw First Manchester 61240 on a #64 service.

First Manchester 61240 in Middleton bus station

We didn't know the route of the #64, so I looked on the board by the stop and we got on and decided to ask for Heaton Park. We brought System One tickets and before we sat down Matthew got a picture inside this bus.

Inside First Manchester 61240

As we left we saw First Manchester 41781 on a #415. We headed out of Middleton along the A576 and crossed over the M60. Here we passed Heaton park and then turned left on the A6104. We got off the bus and then crossed the road to go back the other way. at our stop there were 3 services. There was the #64 back to Middleton which we had just missed which ran at a 30 minute frequency. There was also a #149 to Manchester via Cheetham Hill. Catching this would mean returning on the #149 and #64 or doing a #135 to Bury for a #163 to Middleton. There was also the #156 to Middleton run by JPT which was often a double decker. We decided to see what was on the #149 and if it wasn't anything special we would turn it down and wait fr the JPT service behind it. We then saw a bus going the other way which was little Gem 1801. Research suggests it was on a service #61 to Manchester. What we didn't know that one stop further up the road would have give us an extra service in each direction, the #115 and #116. We found out when Stagecoach Manchester 34116 approached us and then turned the corner on the #116.

Stagecoach Manchester 34116 in Higher Blackley

We saw Stagecoach Manchester 36075 heading the other way on a #115 service. We waited to see What the #149 to Manchester was, and it was an uninspiring Volvo B7RLE First Manchester 66871.

First Manchester 66871 in Higher Blackley

That wasn't worth going to Cheetham Hill with. The #149 in the other direction was a different story. It was required First Manchester Mercedes Citaro 60228

First Manchester 60228 in Higher Blackley

A few minutes later we could see a JPT bus in the distance. Disappointingly it wasn't a double decker. It was however required JPT 454.

JPT 454 in Higher Blackley

We got on and sat near the back. The journey back was along the same route as the #64 back along the A576. It didn't take long to do the 2 miles back into Middleton and when we reached the end of the run Matthew got a picture inside JPT 454 too.

Inside JPT 454

We had a quick look around and we saw Stagecoach Manchester 33075 on a #80 service. We then took a picture of this bus.

Stagecoach Manchester 33075 in Middleton bus station

We were considering doing 33075, when we spotted JPT step entranced bus 513 on layover.

JPT 513 in Middleton bus station

We saw it was on a #112 service, so we decided to wait a few minutes and catch this bus. We waited for the driver to appear, and when he got in we went around to stand B. A few minutes later the bus came around and we got on it. We booked to Moston and we went upstairs. It was empty at the back so he got his picture straight away.

Inside JPT 513

We set off along Grimshaw Lane towards Middleton Junction. We then turned right onto Greengate. The route looked familiar here as it is part of the #415 which we had done previously back in May this year. We carried on past the Stagecoach depot and onto Moston Lane. We got off near the Blue Bell pub in Moston and crossed the road. We didn't have to wait long. We had just missed Stagecoach Manchester 17011 again, and the next bus was another JPT one. We could see it was a single decker. As it got closer we saw it was required JPT 184. We set off back North passing JPT 182 and 154. We got back to Middleton and we spotted required step entranced First Manchester 34098 on the stand in front of us. Matthew cool as a cucumber waited for the bus to empty and then got a picture inside the now empty JPT 184

Inside JPT 184

He also got a picture of the outside of the bus as he had missed getting a picture in Moston.

JPT 184 in Middleton bus station

We walked up to First Manchester 34098 and saw it was on a #59 to Rushcroft. He got a picture before we got on it.

First Manchester 34098 in Middleton bus station

We booked to Oldham and went upstairs. As we left the bus station we saw Stagecoach Magicbus step entranced double decker 16798 on the #80. Stagecoach 16799 was also out. We also saw First Manchester Dart 41788 too. The bus left Middleton and headed out towards Chadderton. As we climbed the hill we could see another First Manchester step entranced bus in the distance! We got int the bus station and we went out of then end to get a picture of 34098. It left the bus station very quickly and we could only get a picture of it as it sped away.

First Manchester 34098 in Oldham bus station

We then headed to the toilet. We took a few pictures and within a couple of minutes another step entranced First Manchester bus had appeared on the other side of the bus station in the form of 34102. We walked along the bus station taking pictures. First Manchester 40330 was on the #415 service. We walked around the other side of the bus station ans we saw that 34102 was still there. It was on a #83 to Sholver, which we guessed was away from Manchester towards to moors. We took a picture and then we walked around to it.

First Manchester 34102 in Oldham bus station

We got on 34102 and inquired with the driver as to how far Sholver was and in which direction it was in. It was heading East so we booked to Sholver and went upstairs. We decided to get off earlier in the Moorside area so that we would get a different bus back. Just before we got off Matthew got a picture inside 34102.

Inside First Manchester 34102

We got off and we watched the bus head up the hill, and Matthew took anther picture of First Manchester 34102.

First Manchester 34102 in Moorside

Where we were there was only a choice of 2 services. The hourly #407 run by Stotts, and the #83. We saw the #407 ging in the other direction. The next bus was a First Manchester #83 service. We could see it was a single decker. As it approached we saw it was required 66858.

First Manchester 66858 in Moorside

It didn't take long to get back to Oldham. It was close to 17:00 and we had to thank about getting back to Middleton. We went to the shop to buy lottery tickets and Matthew had a can of Coke, a flapjack and a Galaxy Caramel. Matthew ate his flapjack and then we thought about which bus to catch back. Conveniently required First Manchester Dennis Dart 40369 was on the next #415!

First Manchester 40369 in Oldham bus station

Having seen that the #415 and the #112 routes intersect at Middleton junction, We decided to do 40369 to there. The bus headed South West to Butler Green and then headed North West to Middleton Junction. When the bus turned left onto Greengate we got up and got off the bus.

First Manchester 40369 in Middleton Junction

As we tried to cross the road we saw JPT 513 and Stagecoach Manchester 22182 going towards Middleton on the #112. After we had crossed we saw JPT 183 heading in the other direction.

JPT 183 in Middleton Junction

A few minutes later we saw stagecoach 17038 heading South. As that bus disappeared we saw a stagecoach single decker approaching. It turned out to be required Stagecoach Manchester 27598.

Stagecoach Manchester 27598 in Middleton Junction

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The bus went back along Grimshaw Lane and it took us no time at all to get back to Middleton. When we reached Middleton we let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside this bus.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 27598

We got off and crossed over to the other side of the road and then got another picture of Stagecoach Manchester 27598.

Stagecoach Manchester 27598 in Middleton bus station

We took a few more pictures of buses including 40369 which we had caught up with. Getting off 40369 had made the journey nearly as quick and we got an extra bus in. Also we didn't have to go over the bumps in Alkrington Gardens! We walked to the car and mum was waiting with for us with some Greggs sausage rolls. Matthew also had a drink of Ben Shaws dandelion and burdock. We set off out of town onto the A576 and this time we got onto the clockwise M60. We went west to the M56 and then we went onto the A556. We got on the M6 at junction 19 and we did it down to the northern end of the A500. We did the A500 down to the A50 and then we headed into Longton to see what was on the Z Carz depot. There were 3 buses on the spare ground. Newest coach ALZ 8539 was at the front of the row.

Z Carz ALZ 8539 in Longton

Behind this was the vehicle on loan from lightning Travel, Mercedes minibus FD53 UNX

Z Carz FD53 UNX in Longton

Last of all was LDV minibus R920 WNT.

Z Carz R920 WNT in Longton

We turned onto Willow Row and there were 2 buses in the compound. First was old school LDV minibus T408 JUX.

Z Carz T408 JUX in Longton

Then there was Z Carz Y568 XFV from the taxi fleet.

Z Carz Y568 XFV in Longton

We turned around and headed onto Longton Hall Road. In Blurton we saw First Potteries 40020 on the #22 to Longton. We got home at around 19:00. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by cheesecake. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime...Mark