Trip to Bolton / Horwich 15-06-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
15563	Bolton BS	Horwich, Church Street/Brown Cow (W-bound)	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15583	Horwich, Church Street/Brown Cow (E-bound)‎	Bolton BS	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15567	Bolton BS	Wallsuches, Chorley Old Road/Mill View Lane (W-bound)	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15575	Wallsuches, Chorley Old Road/Mill View Lane (E-bound)‎	Bolton BS	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
22403	Bolton BS	Westhoughton, Market St/Westhoughton Church (Stop E)	559	Stagecoach Manchester
21242	Westhoughton, Market St/Westhoughton Church (Stop D)	Bolton BS	540	Stagecoach Manchester

Today we went to Bolton we had also planned to go on the to Bolton - Preston 125 service. We checked the weather for today and it was for sunshine and showers. The night before we were due to go we decided it might be a better idea to go on a slightly shorter trip, so he could ride on more buses. We agreed to go to Bolton another time in the near future and we decided to visit. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice. We set off around 11:30 passed the He Heath pub and down Stanley Matthews Way. We headed North to Etruria to get LPG. We then headed long the A53 towards Newcastle and then cut over to the A34. We stopped at grandma's for a very brief visit and then we carried on North up to the A500. We joined the Northbound M6 and went up to Bolton via the M62, M60, M61 and then the A666. We headed into town and parked near the railway station. We had already decided that we would eat at a cafe called Trinities on Newport Street. We walked over the railway bridge and we in the cafe. It was a perfectly positioned lace for watching buses at the interchange opposite. Matthew used the toilet and then sat down to have a small breakfast followed by a chocolate cake. After we saw First Manchester 61141 on a eating Matthew decided he wanted to catch buses fro the main bus station so we set off through town. On the way we saw Stagecoach Manchester 19638 on a #22 service to Stockport.

Stagecoach Manchester 19638 in Bolton

We walked in to the bus station and we saw First Manchester 60115 on a #8 service to Manchester and 60067 on a Withins service.. In the bus station Arriva NW&W 2464 was on layover. We didn't have to wait long before we saw our first #125 service. It was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15563.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15563 in Bolton bus station

We got on the buses and booked system one tickets which we could use to do the bus as far as Horwich. We went upstairs and sat down after Matthew had taken a picture of the back of the bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15563

We set off around town and then along Chorley Old Road. This route was familiar to us from time we did Darts and an Arrow on the #519 back in June 2012. We went beyond Montserrat and into new territory. We decided to get off the bus on the edge of Horwich and we got up and got off the bus outside a pub called The Brown Cow. We crossed the road and realised that the service had a 10 minute frequency and that we wouldn't have to wit for long for the next bus back to Bolton. A few minutes later required Stagecoach Lancashire 15583 made an appearance.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15583 in Horwich

It had now started to rain so the catching of the bus was well timed. On the journey back we passed First Manchester Enviro 400 33734 on a #519. The others that we had seen so far had all been Volvo B7RLE single deckers. We got back to Bolton and Matthew waited for the top deck to empty before getting a picture of the inside of 15583 too.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15583

We decided to go and visit the toilet before catching the next bus so we walked to the tardis style toilet in the bus station which was out of use, and then we walked to the market. After we eventually found and used the toilet we walked back to the bus station. Whilst we were walking back to the #125. We spotted First Manchester 60214 on a #572 service.

First Manchester 60214 in Bolton bus station

We walked over to the stop and we saw there was already a #125 service on stand. It was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15567.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15567 in Bolton bus station

We got on and sat upstairs. The bus was quite well filled so he didn't get a picture this time. We decided not to go quite as far so we could try and get an extra bus or two in before we left. This didn't quite work out. We passed a bus just before we got of and then crossed the road. We checked the stop and the service had now began to get more sparse so we had to wait around 12 minutes for the next bus back to Bolton. The bus appeared down the road and it was required stagecoach Lancashire 15575.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15575 in Wallsuches

We got on and sat down upstairs. We headed down through Montserrat we saw passing 33734 again on a #519. We arrived in Bolton and Matthew photographed the inside of 15575 too.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15575

We then decided to have a walk around the bus station. We saw another Scania in the form of First Manchester 60172 on the #562 withins circular. On layover were Arriva NW&W 2464, 2454 and also Marshall Dart 7617.

Arriva NW&W 7617 in Bolton bus station

We also saw stagecoach Manchester 22403 parked up with #559 on the front. when we came back around it had gone so we checked put stand L were the #559 departs from. We decided to do this bus to Westhougton, A place that we had been before back in January 2013 from Wigan. We jumped on and we didn't have time to take a picture as we got on the bus. It was quite well filled so Matthew only got a picture of the rear seat.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 22403

The route of this service on or parallel to the A579 and then on the A6 into Westhoughton. he us was a little slow leaving town tough traffic but when the service got into the back streets and back onto the A579 it soon quickened up. We got to the stop opposite the market in Westhoughton and then got off and took a picture of this bus.

Stagecoach Manchester 22403 in Westhoughton

We crossed the road and Matthew used the disabled toilet here. We then walked up to the co-operative food store here where Matthew had a Milky way, a can of Coke and a chocolate gateau. We saw Arriva NW&W 2733 on a returning #714 to Bolton. We didn't have to wait long before we saw the next #540 to Bolton which was required Stagecoach Manchester 21242.

Stagecoach Manchester 21242 in Westhoughton

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. It seemed odd getting on Stagecoach bus that had first bus seating inside. The route of the #540 was more direct route along the A58 and then the A676. We also passed an old Olympian which is now a burger van! We got into the bus station and Matthew photographed the inside of Stagecoach Manchester 21242.

Inside Stagecoach Manchester 21242

Arriva 2733 was on the stand in front of us. I thought had seen one of these #714's in front of the interchange earlier so asked the driver if he was heading in that direction and he said no. We set of to walk back to where the car was parked and we stopped to take a few bus pictures on the way. one of those buses was First Manchester 60183, a bus that we had back in May 2009 when it was an Adderley Green allocated bus. we also saw First Manchester 33711 on a #8 service.

First Manchester 33711 in Bolton

We saw mum on the opposite side of the road. She had drive up to meet us and had parked at the side of the job centre. We got in the car and headed out of town towards Bury. We then turned onto the A666 which we did South to the M61. We did the M61 onto the anti-clockwise M60. We did this to the M62 and then onto the M6. As we headed South over Thellwall viaduct, we saw an unusual lookiing Mercedes minibus. We passed the mini coach which was SK06 BTF. A few miles down the road we let it go passed us and Matthew got a picture of it.

Majestic SK06 BTF on the M6

We carried on South and onto the A500. We did this to the A50 and to Longton. There were 5 buses parked up this evening The first was Scania coach d104 XAN and next to that was LDV minibus M420 UEH.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

Next to that was green Iveco minibus HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

Next to that was the DAF mini coach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

Finally was airport transfer minibus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

We carried on down Longton Hall Road and we decided to stop at the St Marys chip shop in Blurton. Matthew had sausage, chips and gravy and a couple of bottle of pop. We went hoe and got back just before 20:00. After eating his chips Matthew had some of the Chocolate Gateau he brought in Westhoughton earlier. He then chilled out on his computer before bedtime around 00:00...Mark.

Trip to Birkenhead & Liverpool 17-04-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4400	Birkenhead BS	St John's Garden, Liverpool	437	Arriva North West & Wales
4407	Victoria Street, Liverpool	Birkenhead BS	437	Arriva North West & Wales
2439	Birkenhead BS	King Street,St Brides Street	411	Arriva North West & Wales
2439	King Street,St Brides Street	Birkenhead BS	411	Arriva North West & Wales

Having had a week in respite, we promised to take Matthew to Birkenhead. We all slept in relatively late, so we did not set off today until 12:30. Picking Uncle Dave up on the way, we arrived in Birkenhead just before 14:00. First things first we had to eat. We went to Platters situated near the bus station. For 2 breakfasts and 2 sandwiches and drinks it came to around £17. Matthew, obsessed with shops and banks spotted a Yorkshire Bank branch with a nice cash machine, so he decided to take a picture.


Yorkshire Bank cash machine in Birkenhead (Matt)

After food we went to the bus station to see what was working. We asked Matthew if he wanted to go to Liverpool or New Brighton and surprisingly he chose Liverpool. This was his first visit to Liverpool and his first time through the tunnel. We hadn't done any research for this trip so i went to stand 7 to check Sunday service frequencies. Having just seen 2 or 3 different Arriva buses go to Liverpool, it wasn't surprising to see one service had 15 minute frequency to Liverpool so we decided to do the 437. he took a few pictures and we only had to wait about 10 minutes for the next 437, A short trip through the tunnel and we were in Liverpool. The bus stopped adjacent to St. John's Gardens and quite a few people stopped on. We stopped on because we thought we hadn't reached the end, and the others stopped on because we had! Eventually the driver shouted us down, and we inquired as to where to catch the return.


4400 in St John's Garden, Liverpool (Matt)

At first in Liverpool we went to the bottom of St Johns garden and sat on a white concrete podium, but 90% of the buses that went past were on the other side of a very wide road and obscured by a railing. After a few minutes we crossed the road and then installed ourselves in the triangle at the end of Victoria street. This wasn't too bad and we were able to get some pictures that weren't too bad. This part of Liverpool is quite difficult to get good bus pictures in sunny weather!


selwyns SEL 853 in Liverpool (Matt)

Eventually we crossed the road and sat near the bus stop on Victoria Street. The sun makes it very difficult to get a good picture here at this time of day. Eventuelly our ride back under the river appeared... Enviro 400 4407


4407 in Victoria Street, Liverpool (Matt)

A short trip back under the river and we were back in Birkenhead. We made a decision that we were going to go to New Bighton as we had seen a 'goldfish bowl' heading towards Clatterbridge and Matthew had indicated he wanted to ride on it. We had just missed the 36 past New Brighton and the next one was 57 past. Whilst waiting Matthew took several pictures. 60071 was on a #42 Mill Park service.


60071 in Birkenhead bus station. (Matt)

Matthew also saw this cadet he quite fancied but we didn't know anything about service 293.


2438 in Birkenhead bus station on a service #293. (Matt)

as went past on there near side new past an the far side heading towards Woodside. We guessed that this would be the next new Brighton service. We waited patiently and Matthew took more pictures. 60115 was on a #42 Woodchurch.


60115 in Birkenhead bus station. (Matt)

Eventually 2439 did turn up on the 411 New Brighton service


2439 in Birkenhead bus station. (Matt)

At this point mum called up saying she had finished shopping and was now waiting in the car. as we had just set off i said i would get off somewhere convenient and catch the next service back. unfortunately we passed another bus near Seacombe Ferry. we thought we would go 10 minutes further and then get off and cross the road and wait for a bus back. As we got off Matthew too another picture of this fine beast.


2439 on a New Brighton bound service 411 (Matt)

We crossed the road and the next bus back was a 423 Seacombe Ferry bus. As we did not know the route or timing we had to let it go. Matthew did get a picture of it as it passed and it was VDL bus 3005.


3005 on a Seacombe bound service 423 (Matt)

We weren't sure if the 411 back would be the same bus or a different one. When the bus did turn up it was the same! We walked back up to the bus station, met with mum and went back to the car for sausage rolls. We Filled up with LPG in Longport. We were back home before it went dark...Mark