Trip to Crewe / Nantwich 21-12-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4156	Crewe BS	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
3615	Nantwich BS	Tarporley, opp Community Centre	84	Arriva NW&W
4078	Tarporley, o/s Community Centre	Nantwich BS	84	Arriva NW&W
2609	Nantwich BS	Crewe BS	84	Arriva NW&W
4490	Crewe BS	Sandbach, o/s Military Arms PH	38	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Crewe to try and get a ride on step entranced double decker Arriva NW&W 3615. Matthew had been in respite this week and we didn't decide where we were going until Friday night. Very little planning was done for the trip other than to check the weather which was forecast for sunny and dry with rain later. Matthew got up just after 10:00 today and had toast and blackcurrant juice for breakfast. We set off at around 12:15 today. We drove onto the A5035 and onto Stanley Matthew Way. We then got onto the A50 passing an unidentified Aimee's coaches minibus going the other way. We got onto the Northbound A500 which we did up to the A5020. We then drove into Crewe. There was some traffic around the railway station as usual and then we turned into Edlestone Road and drove into the town centre parking in Delamere Street around 13:00. We walked through the bus station towards Les's Fish Bar. On the way we saw Arriva NW&W 4078 on stand about to work the 13:00 to Chester. We sat down in the chip restaurant and we order our food. Matthew went to the toilet and the food arriweved. He had Chips beans and sausage with 2 round of bread and butter washed down with a cup of Pepsi. After we had finished eating headed back to the bus station were we saw Arriva NW&W 4156 about to work the #84 to Nantwich.

Arriva NW&W 4156 in Crewe bus station

We decided to do this bus so we could see what was working the #84 service a bit quicker. Arriva NW&W 4156 was a bus we last did back in February 2013. We got on the bus and booked our Arriva Daysaver tickets. We then went and sat upstairs. The bus set off out of town and along Edleston Road. Part way along we passed the bus we come for, Arriva NW&W 3615 working an inbound #84 service. We turn right onto Nantwich Road and we headed out of Crewe. We then turned left into Willaston before retuning onto the A534 and heading into Nantwich. When we got to Nantwich the bus empties out and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva NW&W 4156.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4156

We got off Arriva NW&W 4156 and we saw saw GHA SL13 which was on layover. We took a picture of this and then started to walk out of the bus station.

GHA SL13 in Nantwich bus station

We also took another picture of Arriva NW&W 4156 too.

Arriva NW&W 4156 in Nantwich bus station

We knew Arriva NW&W 3615 would be on the next Chester bound service so we decided to wait at Nantwich. Whilst we waited we decided to go and use the toilet in the Market and to pick up some spearmint chew from the still opposite the toilets. We walked back to the bus station and we only had a few minutes to wait. Whilst we waited we saw D&G 124 and GHA Solos SL06 & SL14 arrive before required Arriva NW&W 3615 rounded the corner and entered Nantwich bus station on the #84.

Arriva NW&W 3615 in Nantwich bus station

We got on the bus and went upstairs. As it was the shortest day of the year and we knew we wouldn't have long before it went dark we decided to do the bus to Tarporley before returning back towards Crewe. The bus stormed through the Cheshire countryside along the A51 and then onto the A49. We then turned into Tarporley village. we saw a petrol station with a Spar shop so we decided to get off there.

Arriva NW&W 3615 in Tarporley

After we had taken a picture of Arriva NW&W 3615 we crossed over the road and went to the Spar shop. Matthew brought some chocolate bars as well as some of the cheap bottles of pop and a can of Coke. We walked back to the bus stop and the bus towards Crewe was now due. A few minutes later dud Arriva NW&W 4078 reappeared.

Arriva NW&W 4078 in Tarporley

We got on the bus and went upstairs. We decided to stagger our journey and to do this to Nantwich. 4078 put in a really spirited performance... It seemed to travel quite quickly along the A51 toward Nantwich. We had only been on this bus once before when we did the bus from Littleton to Chester on the #84 back in November. When we got to Nantwich we got off and we got another picture of this fine beast.

Arriva NW&W 4078 in Nantwich bus station

We also got a picture of GHA SL06 which was now on layover in the bus station.

GHA SL06 in Nantwich bus station

We decided to visit the toilet again and when we retuned to the bus station we saw dud Arriva NW&W 4042 on the next #84 to Chester.

Arriva NW&W 4042 in Nantwich bus station

Also in the bus station was one of D&G MCV Evolution buses on the #45 to Crewe. It was required D&G 132.

D&G 132 in Nantwich bus station

Behind D&G 132 was Arriva NW&W 2609 on the #84 to Crewe. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus back to Crewe and he said yes.

Arriva NW&W 2609 in Nantwich bus station

We got on and sat down near the back. Consulting the 'Buses I have travelled on' page It turned out the 2609 was required! We now only need 4 Winsford based Centros. We returned back via Willaston and the A534 and then down Edleston Road into Crewe town centre. When we got into the bus station Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside Arriva NW&W 2609 too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2609

When we got to Crewe we watched a few buses come in and go out. Arriva NW&W 4078 and now transferred onto the #31 to Northwich, possibly swapping for required Arriva NW&W 2614 which was now on the #84. Matthew decided that he fancied a bit of a walk around town so we headed off into the shopping centre before walking around the town centre and back into the bus station. As we got back into the bus station and we saw required Arriva NW&W 4490 arrive on the #38 from Macclesfield. We decided to do this back out towards Sandbach.

Arriva NW&W 4490 in Crewe bus station

We waited for 5 minutes whilst the driver had a quick break before readying the bus for service at 16:35. We got on the bus and went upstairs. It was empty towards the back so Matthew got a picture inside 4490 too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4490

The plan had been to do this bus to Wheelock and the catch the #38 back with would almost certainly be required 4491. matthew decided that he needed the toilet again, so we decided we go to Sandbach and use the toilet there. This would mean that we would just miss the #38 and would have to wait 30 minutes for the next bus back Crewe. I phoned mum to tell her our plans and she said she would come up to us and pick us up from Sandbach. We arrived in Sandbach and as predicted we just missed Arriva NW&W 4491 on the #38 to Crewe. We went to use the toilet and then we went to the chip shop and we shared a portion of chips between me, Matthew and uncle Dave. Matthew had a whole jumbo sausage too. This was washed down with a can of Fanta. Whilst we ate we saw Arriva NW&W 2503 on the #37 to Northwich. We also saw D&G 164 on #78 to Nantwich.

D&G 164 in Sandbach

Just after we had finished eating it started to rain, and rain hard. The main stop was filling up with passengers waiting for the next Crewe service so we retreated to the stop for the Macclesfield bus. Mum eventually turned up after around 30 minutes. She had gotten a little lost following the GPS! We walked over to the car and got in. We then saw dud Arriva NW&W 4099 on the #37 to Crewe. We set off home via the A534 which we did East to the M6. We went down the motorway one junction to the A500 and then we headed to Longton on the A50 to see what was parked up at Z Carz. There were a few vehicles parked up here this week. At the front of the row was coach M534 RSO which appeared to be having some work done.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

As can be seen there are a few boy panels missing from nearside of the coach.Next to this was Scania coach D104 XAN.

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

Next to this was OV05 WSW which was parked in the shadow of the coach. Besides this was Mercedes minibus BV51 BNO.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

Behind a few parked cars was Mercedes minibus W221 CDN. In the Willow Row compound was airport transfer minibus DL03 HHU and SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX. We headed back onto the A50 which we did to Heron Cross. We headed home via Blurton Road and the A5035, passing First Potteries 40029 on the #23. We got back home at 18:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a Manchester Tart. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to Birkenhead 15-09-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4099	Birkenhead BS	Moreton, nr Bermuda Road	407	Arriva North West & Wales
30243	Moreton, nr Bermuda Road	Birkenhead BS	38	First Manchester
3123	Birkenhead BS	King's Parade, New Brighton	410	Arriva North West & Wales
3129	King's Parade, New Brighton	Birkenhead, nr Hamilton Square	410	Arriva North West & Wales

Today we finally got to take a trip to Birkenhead. We had planned to go on the 1st of September, but we decided to cover the last day of Bakerbus operation on the #350 service and we put down Birkenhead on Matthew's planner for today instead. In the 2 weeks that had passed, quite a few changes had taken place in the Wirral. First Manchester had had some step entranced Olympians from South Yorkshire which seem to be for the #38 service, and Arriva had received a new batch of Pulsar 2's which were being loaned out to cover the Olympics. We checked the weather for today and the weather was going to be dry with sunny intervals. Matthew got up around 10:20 and we had planned on leaving around 11:30. It took a little longer than anticipated to get ready and we left home around 12:20. We stopped at Longtport for LPG and then we continued North on the A500. As we travelled North we passed MIB 246 going South presumably on football duties. We got to the top of the A500 and then onto the M6. Traffic was heavy and we made relatively slow progress up to the M56 and then it was plain sailing. We did the M56 west to the M53 and then we did this to Junction 3 and came into Birkenhead from the West side of town. As we went along the A552 we saw Arriva 4097 heading into Liverpool on a #471 service. We saw 4050 going in the opposite direction. We got into town and parked by the bus station a little after 14:00. For dinner we went to the burger van inside the Market by the carousel. After we consumed 2 bacon baps and 1 sausage bap between us we headed off to the bus station. As we approached we saw a First Manchester double decker on stand 1 on a #38 service. As we approached it pulled off and it was one of then new arrivals at Rock Ferry 30243. Matthew said he wanted to do that bus and so we hatched a plan. I went to get the #38 timetable, and Matthew took a few pictures whilst we waited. One such bus was Arriva Gemini 4202.

Arriva NW&W 4202 in Birkenhead bus station

I looked at the Saturday timetable and I saw it was a 30 minute frequency and so it would be quite a wait to follow it up. Arriva Daf 2409 appeared in the bus station.

Arriva NW&W 2409 in Birkenhead bus station

Whilst we were still wondering what we could do about following 30243, required Arriva 4097 appeared on a #407 service To Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 4097 in Birkenhead bus station

This was followed by required Arriva 4099 on a Moreton bound #407 service. We decided to do this bus, and if we were lucky, we might make 30243 coming back out of West Kirby. We used our Saveaway scratch cards and boarded the bus. We went upstairs and settled down for the run to Morteon. We had never been on this service before so we didn't know the route so we just had to look out where we were going. The route was familiar for the most part, Straight along A553. As we travelled toward Moreton we passed First Manchester 30839 going towards new Ferry. The bus then does a circle around Moreton. Turning right at the big roundabout, it travels through a housing estate before getting back on the Hoylake Road West of Moreton, now running as a Liverpool service. Matthew got a picture of the near empty top deck of this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 4099

When the bus stopped on the Hoylake Road we decided to get off as we should now be on the #38 route.

Arriva NW&W 4099 in Moreton

It was around 15:10 and there was a #38 due at 15:18. There should have been an Avon Mill Park service and also a #423 to Seacombe Ferry. We didn't see either of those whilst we waited, but we did see an Impera Dart 2511 on the #39 New Brighton to West Kirby service, and First Manchester 30246 going the other way on a #38.

First Manchester 30246 in Moreton

Eventually, our bus arrived and it was 30243 that we had missed earlier.

First Manchester 30243 in Moreton

We went upstairs on this bus ans after we sat down we saw a few buses coming the other way. We passed 4038 on a #407 service. And we saw First Manchester 30837 coming the other way. The bus empties out a little as we approached the bus station and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside First Manchester 30243

We eventually got back to Birkenhead and we had about 5 minutes before the next #38 to West Kirby. Matthew considered catching some other buses such as Arriva 2460 on a Clatterbridge service, and 4421 on a Liverpool service. He also got a picture on First Manchester 60005 on a #41 to Mill Park.

First Manchester 60005 in Birkenhead bus station

The #38 was a Scania and Matthew didn't fancy doing that today. We then saw a new Pulsar on a #410 and he decided he wanted to do that.

Arriva NW&W 3123 approaches Birkenhead bus station

We got on and settled down for the journey. It wasn't very full and it was quite a nice journey on this nearly new bus. We Arrived at New Brighton and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus. We then got a picture of the outside too before crossing the road to go and visit Morrisons. Weused the facilities and then Matthew had his favourite lemon merringue pie and a cup of Coke in the cafe. After having this quick snack matthew took us a round the supermarket to buy a few things too. We then went outside and sat on a rock whilst we waited for a bus back. Arriva 4421 arrived from Liverpool on a #433 service.

Arriva NW&W 4421 in New Brighton

Arriva 'Golfish bowl' 2451 came in from Birkenhead and then went out of service. Also coming in Liverpool was Arriva 4000, which was on a #432 service.

Arriva NW&W 4000 in New Brighton

Eventually another new Pulsar 2 appeared on a #410 service, which was required 3129.

Arriva NW&W 3129 in New Brighton

We decided to do this bus, and because it was around 17:05 we assumed it was a Clatterbridge service. We stopped at the side of Wilkinson's and then carried on past the bus station as it was on a Woodside service. We got off around the corner near to Hamilton Square.

Arriva NW&W 3129 in Birkenhead

As we walked back we saw Arriva 2453 and then Avon 923.

Avon 923 in Birkenhead

We me back up with mum and then headed to the car. Matthew decided he wanted to got to the toilet, but as the green 'tardis' by the bus station was closed I drove to Conway park station to use the toilets there. We flashed our saveaway tickets to the lady on the barrier and then used the toilet before retuning to the car. We then had our customary sausage rolls in the car. It was now nearly 18:00 as we set off home.We travelled home down the A41, and we we passed Eastham we saw a Helms of Eastham Volvo going the other way and I realised this was 'the' Eastham where Helms are based! We got onto the M53 and then onto the Eastbound M56. As we joined the M6 we soon caught up with a couple of coaches. One of the coaches Bowens XTJ 802 and Matthew got a picture out of the window. The other one was which was a white coach was possible XTJ 817. We got onto the A500 and this time we went straight home as we were a little later than usual returning. We got back in the house around 19:20. After having fish finger sandwiches for supper, we settled down in front of the telly before bedtime...Mark