Trip to Southport 27-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2142	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
7652	Southport, London Street (Stop HB)	Hillside, o/s Alma Court	46	Arriva NW&W
7652	Hillside, opp Leybourne Avenue	Southport, London Street (Stop HE)	43	Arriva NW&W
2343	Southport, London Street (Stop HA)	Ainsdale, adj Woodvale Road	44	Arriva NW&W
7655	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	Southport, Bold Street (Stop FA)	44	Arriva NW&W
3088	Southport, Bold Street (Stop FA)	Crossens, on Preston New Road	49	Arriva NW&W
MX04 VME	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	40	Cumfybus
2142	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	Kew P&R Southport	PR2	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Southport on the off chance that we dropped on another Palatine II, or to pick up a new Dart or two. We didn't do any research other than to check the weather (sunny intervals and 10'). Matthew got up around 09:45, and had breakfast of toast and orange juice. we set off around 11:45 onto the A5035 and past the hem Heath pub. We turned into Stanley Matthews Way passing Z Carz T408 JUX and went onto the A50. As we traveled down we passed City Buses and coaches minibus LV02 ODL. We got on the A500 and traveled North to the M6. The motorway was reasonably clear and we made quite good time up to the M58. We did the M58 west to the A570 and then we headed North West towards Ormskirk. There was heavy traffic in Ormskirk and we saw Arriva NW&W 4100 and 4104 on the Southport Wigan service. We stopped in Morrison's and after going to the toilet Matthew had a breakfast followed by a lemon meringue pie for afters. Afterwards we set off along the a570 and parked up at the Kew park and ride site around 14:00. Matthew went to the toilet and mum got the parking and park and ride tickets. The was already there and waiting an it was required Arriva NW&W 2142.

Arriva NW&W 2142 in Kew

We got on the bus and sat down. There were a few people on the bus today, probably the most we have seen on a PR2 service. The bus wound up through the streets and then we appeared in town on London Street. We got up and Matthew took a picture of the inside of this bus, which is the last of the 4 Enviro 200 buses we required.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2142

We got off the bus and headed down London Street to the railway station. On the way we saw Arriva NW&W 2728 on a #300 to Liverpool.

Arriva NW&W 2728 in Southport

We went into the station and bought our Saveaway tickets and then walked back to the bus stops on Hoghton Street. As we didn't have any gen as to what was out today, we decided to start on the #43/46's service to try and pick up a required Dart or two. We saw that there was a Carr Lane bound #46 due so we waited at the stop. We could see a Marshall Dart in the distance. As it got closer we could see it was dud Arriva NW&W 7652.

Arriva NW&W 7652 in Southport

We got on the bus and it was empty, so Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7652

We sat down near the back of the bus. The last time we did this Dart was back in April 2012 on a PR2 service back to Kew. After turning in Eastbank Street, Te bus then turned onto Cemetery Road and onto Eastbourne Road. We passed Arriva NW&W 7673 on the PR2 service. The bus then turned onto Kew Road and Guildford Road. As we went along we passed 7639 on a #46. We also passed required Arriva NW&W 2343 on a #42 to crossens. We the went right into Carr Lane where the bus terminated. The bus went to the nearby roundabout and then came back to Carr Lane to work the next #43. As we got off we had just missed 7654 going back on a #46. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do a #49 or to do 7652 back to Southport on 7652. Matthew chose to do 7652 again. We set off back to Southport and we passed 7651 on a #43. We decided to get of on Hoghton Street so we could cross the road and go to the #42/44 stop. This worked out very well as almost as soon as we got off 7652 we could see Arriva 2343 (the only Plaxton Dart at Southport) approaching in the distance. the bus got closer and Matthew got a picture of this beast.

Arriva NW&W 2343 in Southport

Unlike 7652, this bus was quite full and it filled up even more as we passed through town. The bus has quite an odd route as it heads towards Kew running parallel to Scarisbrick New Road, It then heads west past the hospital and Dobbies garden Centre. Around here we passed 7637 heading North. we then joined up with the #43/6 route at guildford Road. We went through Ansdale and the Roads look familiar around Woodvale so we decided to get off there. We crossed the road and we looked at the timetable. The next service scheduled to stop was a northbound #44, Although a #49 paused there on it way up. We then saw a Marshall Dart on a #44 and a Pulsar II on the following #47. We flagged down the Dart and it was dud 7655.

Arriva NW&W 7655 in Woodvale

As we headed North we made arrangements to meet mum in Southport for an ice cream. This was a bus we had also last traveled on in July 2012. We passed Arriva NW&W 7648 on a South bound #44 on Town Lane. We went back up Scarisbrick New road and then parallel before rejoining the road at the roundabout of Eastbank Street. At the end of eastbank Street as we waited at the traffic lights we spotted a Godson coach parked up and he got a picture through the bus window.

Godson FN04 FSV in Southport

We turned right into Lord Street and I realised that we were in the wrong lane to go onto London Street. Surprisingly (to us) the bus stopped on lord Street right by where mum was waiting. We walked up a block to where the ice cram place was and Matthew used the toilet. We had vanilla ices and Matthew ate most of mine too. When we had finished we walked over to the stop to wait for a bus. We let required Cumfybus MX04 VME go on the #40 as we thought we could pick up a new Arriva Pulsar II on a #47 or #49. When the bus arrived on the #49 it was dud 3088.

Arriva NW&W 3088 in Southport

We sat down near the back on this busy service. The seat I sat in was wet which is already worrying on a warm sunny day. I moved over and we carried on North through Churchtown. A few minutes later we arrived at the roundabout and Matthew photographed the inside of 3088 before we got off it.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3088

We went to the toilet and in the process missed Stagecoach 15469 on the southbound #2. We also saw Rigby's coach VOI 2331 heading North.

Rigby's VOI 2331 in Crossens

We let the next #42 go as it was Arriva NW&W 2343. The next bus due was going to be a Cumfybus on the #40 service. We saw the bus approaching and as we have never been on one of these and we had a Saveaway we decided to do this. It was of course required MX04 VME that we saw go North earlier in the day.

Cumfybus MX04 VME in Crossens

We got on the bus and Matthew was trying to beep the horn. The driver ended up doing it for him! He told us tat the bus was going the long way around and we told him that we didn't mind. He then got a picture inside the empty MX04 VME.

Inside Cumfybus MX04 VME

We sat down to enjoy the journey which was very windey. We kept heading out towards the coast and then back inland to the main road taking in every estate down the coast. We crossed over the #2 route seeing stagecoach 18358 on a Preston bound service. We went passed the golf course and we skipped along the promenade before turning onto Lord Street. We got off the bus by the monument and then walked to meet mum on London Street. It was now 17:30 and the next PR2 was due at 17:42. Whilst we waited we saw Arriva NW&W 7652 go by and then Alfa BU13 ZTT too.

Alfa BU13 ZTT in Southport

This was followed by Arriva 7654 on a Northbound #43 service. A few minutes later the PR2 turned up and it was Arriva NW&W 2142 again. We did the bus back down to the Kew park and ride site and when we git there Matthew photographed the inside of this bus again.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2142

After a quick toilet stop we set off towards home. Mum hadn't been able to get any sausage rolls so we stopped at Macdonalds on the roundabout of the A570. Matthew had a chicken nugget meal and whilst we ate we saw Arriva NW&W 4100 and 4104 again. 4100 sounded like a lawnmower! After eating we set off along the A570. Just before we got to the M58 we passed Mercedes minibus SN05 FXF. We got onto the motorway and made good progress. There were a few rain showers as we traveled down the Southbound M6 and we got the the A500 around 19:30. As we headed south we passed Z Carz UK04 BUS going North. We carried onto to the A50 and the to Longton to see what was on the depot. at the depot were mercedes minibus BV51 BNO and we also saw the Scania coach D104 XAN

Z Carz D104 XAN in Longton

The depot was crowded but the bus weren't in very good position to get good photographs. On the end of the row was green Iveco HX51 HRU.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

We headed down Longton Hall Road and into Blurton. We saw first potteries 41512 on a #23A to Newstead. We got home at 1950. We had chicken and potatoes for tea followed by millionaire shortbread. He then chilled out on his computer before going to be around 00:00...Mark

Trip to Soutport 06-04-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
7639	Kew P&R	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	PR2	Arriva NW&W
3312	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	Ainsdale, adj Vale Crescent	49	Arriva NW&W
15468	Ainsdale, opp Woodvale Road	Crossens, on Preston New Road	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
3312	Crossens, on Rufford Road	Highpark, High Park Place (W-bound)	49	Arriva NW&W
3088	Highpark, High Park Place (W-bound)	Southport, Hill Street (Stop FB)	49	Arriva NW&W
3044	Southport, Bold Street (Stop FA)	Crossens, on Preston New Road	44	Arriva NW&W
15468	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Southport, Monument (Stop CF)	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
7639	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	Kew P&R Southport	PR2	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to Southport. Last year we had gone to Southport on the Grand National weekend, as we had found out on the Dennis Dart Forum that some of Southport's newer buses had gone to the races to help out with racing shuttle buses. This year we found out the the buses had been sourced from other depots, but there had been some interesting working during the week so we decided to go there anyway. Other than checking the forum, we checked the weather out for today. It was forecast for sunny cool weather, 7'. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. We had found out before we had even set off that Arriva NW&W Olympian 3312 was working on the #49 service and 7639 was on the PR2 service. We set off around 11:40 and drove down Stanley Matthews Way. We then joined the A50 and then went onto the Northbound A500 passing City Buses & Coaches LV02 ODL North of Etruria. On the M6 traffic was slow due to an accident. After we passed the accident north of the A54 the traffic eased up and we carried on North. We came of the M6 at the M58 and then we headed North West along the A570. We decided to stop at the Omskirk Morrisons for dinner as we have before. We went to the toilet and then Matthew had a breakfast followed by lemon meringue all washed down with a Coke. After dinner we we carried on along the A570 to the edge of Southport before we turned into the Kew Park and ride site where 7639 was waiting to work. We quickly got a ticket and then Matthew took a picture of this required Marshall Dart.

Arriva NW&W 7639 in Kew

It was empty at this point so Matthew got a picture inside of the bus too.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7639

We set off North through the quieter streets of southhort following 7656 on a #43 service. it didn't take long to get into town. We decided to get off at the London Street stop and walked to the railway station to buy Saveaway tickets. We walked onto lord Street and looked up and down to see if we could see a double decker on the #49. At that point we couldn't so we crossed over with the intention of heading the Crossens to see if we passed 3312. As we waited we spotted it in the distance heading South, so we quickly crossed over to catch it. We got to the stop with a few seconds to spare and Matthew got a picture of this fine beast!

Arriva NW&W 3312 in Southport

When we got on it was empty upstairs so Matthew got his empty us picture.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3312

As it was heading South we decided to do it to Woodvale. We had never been passed the Co-op in Ainsdale before so we were going to head into uncharted territory. We crossed over the railway at Ainsdale and then headed back inland along Kenilworth Road. We crossed the Liverpool Road and headed into the estate before turning back towards Liverpool Road on Woodvale Road. We decided to get off here and take a few pictures.

Arriva NW&W 3312 in Woodvale

We then crossed over Liverpool Road to wait for a bus North. After watching 3312 head north, We check the timetable and we saw that an X2 service sound have been past. As we hadn't seen one we assumed it was running a few minutes late. Sure enough, a coupe of minutes later we saw a Stagecoach double decker approaching from the South. It was required Stagecoach Ribble 15468.

Stagecoach Ribble 15468 in Woodvale

We got on and sat upstairs. We decided to do this to Crossens so we could use the toilet and check out buses on the #42/44 services too. As we headed north we passed required Arriva NW&W 7643 on a #44 service. As we went through Southport the bus emptied a little and he took a picture inside 15468.

Inside Stagecoach Ribble 15468

It was now just after 16:00. On Lord Street the bus started to fill up again and by the time we had reached the top of Lord Street there were quite a few people on the top deck. We carried on North and ten got off at the roundabout in Crossens. We crossed the road and then we saw Arriva Marshall Dart 7637 about to work a #42.

Arriva NW&W 7637 in Crossens

As it wasn't required Matthew went to the toilet and let this bus go. We also saw Cumfybus MX04 VME whizz by heading South.

Cumfybus MX04 VME in Crossens

We decided to look out for the next #49 and it was 3312 again, having caught up with us. We decided to do it again as it was such a great bus and took a picture and then got on.

Arriva NW&W 3312 in Crossens

As it was the start of the service it was empty and we sat further back and he took a picture facing forward this time.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3312

We decided to do this just to High Park. We did 3312 the mile or so down to High Park and then got off and took another picture.

Arriva NW&W 3312 in High Park

We should have checked a timetable as there wasn't a bus due for another 20 minutes so we decided to go to the shop and catch required 3088 which we knew was on the following #49. In the shop Matthew brought some coke and a galaxy caramel bar. We walked back to the same stop and had a bus stop picnic. We also saw Arriva NW&W 3084 heading north on the next #49. After a few minutes required Arriva NW&W Pulsar2 3088 turned up.

Arriva NW&W 3088 in High Park

The bus was already reasonably loaded and we got off at the top of Lord Street. Matthew was feeling a little grumpy and didn't want to get straight onto a bus. First he visited and Italian restaurant to say hello to one of their customers and use their toilet, next he wanted to stop at an ice cream palour and sit outside and have a cone. When he had finished we walked 10 yards to the stop to wait for a bus. It was 17:00 and we knew we would only get one ore round trip in. First there was 3041 on a #47 which we turned down as it was quite full and wasn't required having been done last June. We decided to do the following #44 and we didn't require that one either which is quite unlucky considering how few of the Pulsar2's we have been on. We got a picture of 3044 and got on it.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Southport

We had previously been on 3044 on the Grand national weekend last year. We did the bus North which was also reasonably well filled and we got off at the end of the run in Crossens, Matthew photographed the bus empty before he got off.

Inside Arriva NW&W 3044

We crossed over the road and as the sun was in a good position he got a better picture of the outside of 3044.

Arriva NW&W 3044 in Crossens

We went to the toilet and when he came out we spotted a Wrigt Renown on the #49 so we went up to investigate. It was required Arriva 2723. We went to the front to get a picture and then it pulled off.

Arriva NW&W 2723 in Crossens

We did try and catch the bus after it had rounded the roundabout but the stop is no longer in use. We went back onto the main road wait for a bus back and we saw there was a X2 due. Unluckily for us it was Stagecoach Ribble 15468 again! We got back into Southport and we met up with mum again. We walked back to the London Street stop and we waited for the PR2 service which was due at 18:12. Whist we waited we saw 7654 on a Carr Lane bound #43 service which we had back in July 2011.

Arriva NW&W 7654 in Southport

We also saw 7651 on a #44 to Formby a bus which we ad also prevously been on back in February 2011.

Arriva NW&W 7651 in Southport

Around 18:12 7639 appears on the PR2 service. We get on and Matthew takes a picture inside.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7639

As we leave town we pass required Arriva 2343 on a #43 High Park service. We carry on down to the park and ride and Matthew uses the toilet before we get back in the car. We set off down the A570, through Ormskirk and onto the M58, We soon reached the M6 and traffic was light at this tie of the evening. As we headed south we passed a couple of coaches. bakerbus 202 was one coach and the other was Paul Watson Travel BXZ 8360 which he managed to get a good picture of out of the car window.

Paul Watson Travel BXZ 8360 on the M6

We joined the Southbound A500 and then we did the A50 to Longton to go view the Z Carz depot. Tonight it was all minibuses such as YE52 UZX from the taxi fleet.

Z Carz YE52 UZX in Longton

Also from the taxi fleet was Y568 XFV.

Z Carz Y568 XFV in Longton

A bus that he once had to college for a few days was there, Volkswagon minibus S973 OVP.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

His main school transport for a few years was also there too, LDV minibus W591 YBN.

Z Carz W591 YBN in Longton

We then drove down Longton Hall Road and home getting back around 20:00. For a late tea Matthew had sausage and mash followed by cheesecake. He then chilled out on his computer until bedtime, going to bed just after 00:00...Mark

Trip to Southport / Crossens 21-07-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
2724	Kew P&R	Southport, Chapel Street (Stop EA)	PR2	Arriva NW&W
15472	Southport, opp Duke Street	Crossens, on Preston New Road	X2	Stagecoach M & SL
2294	Crossens, on Preston New Road	Kew, opp Southport Hospital	44	Arriva NW&W
7653	Kew, o/s Southport Hospital	Southport, Lord Street	44	Arriva NW&W
3034	Southport, Lord Street	Ainsdale, o/s Toby Carvery	48	Arriva NW&W
7568	Hillside, adj Oakwood Avenue	Meols Cop, adj Town Lane	44	Arriva NW&W
4107	Meols Cop, adj Town Lane	Southport, opp The Wellington	385	Arriva NW&W
2724	Southport, Lord Street stop HC	Kew P&R Southport	PR2	Arriva NW&W

Today we decided to go to a trip Southport. At some point of the weekend we were going to go past the Z carz depot too. At 03:00 Matthew was fast asleep. We had asked Matthew the evening before where he wanted to go and Matthew chose Southport by typing in the number of a bus that is allocated to Arriva's Southport depot. Matthew woke up around 09:00. Matthew got up around 10:00 after mum went him to him to get him up. The weather forecast for today was for sun for a change. He had some toast and orange juice for his breakfast. We set off around 11:30 today. It was a little earlier than usual because Southport is further than we have been going lately. We headed North to Etruria where we stopped for LPG. After filling up we continued North along the A500 and then onto the M6. Traffic was surprisingly light for the first day of the holidays. When we reached the M58 we head West,and then onto the A570. For the first time ever as we passed through Ormskirk we actually saw a local service bus close enough to see what it was doing. Arriva NW&W 7633 was on a #311 to Liverpool. Traffic around Ormskirk was quite heavy and progress slowed down. On the other side of Ormskirk we headed to the Kew park & ride site. We got to the site around 13:30. When we got there required Arriva NW&W 2724 pulled up at the stop. Matthew went to the toilet and when we finished the bus was still waiting. So Matthew got a picture before we boarded this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2724 at the Kew P&R

The bus was lightly loaded and we got into town quite quickly. After a few people had gotten off 2724 Matthew got a picture of the rear off the bus from where he was sitting.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2724

At this point it was time to get something to eat. Matthew had been hinting that he wanted to go to Morrisons for a slice of lemon meringue pie. We had planned on eating some food first and then coming back to Morrison later in the day for a break before returning home. When we got to the cafe Matthew had other ideas and decided to have a tantrum. We then went to Morrison cafe. A man at the food counter told us there was nearly an hour wait for food , and then hadn't got a lemon merringue pie either. Matthew had a Victoria sponge and a Coke. After we had done we went back to the cafe and had bacon sandwiches. By the time we got out it was around 14:50. we saw required Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire 15472 on the Duke Street bus stop.

Stagecoach Mersyside & South Lancashire 15472 on Lord Street

We hadn't planned to catch this and we didn't have a Saveaway ticket. we got on it anyway and it cost us £5.10 to go to Crossens. we got on went upstairs and photographed the empty top deck.

Inside Stagecoach Mersyside & South Lancashire 15472

Once again mum was oming with us on the bus as I am currently not feeling at 100%. We followed him upstairs and did the bus up along the main road towards Preston. When we could see the big roundabout we got up and got off. Matthew got a picture of the bus as we got off.

15472 in Crossens

We crossed over and as we got to the other side we saw Arriva NW&W 7652 arrive on a #44 from Formby.

Arriva NW&W 7652 in Crossens

We decided out to use the facilities and the bus came and went off on the #42 to Walnut Street. The next bus to pull up was required Arriva NW&W 2294 which had arrived on the #42.

Arriva NW&W 2294 in Crossens

We asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus and he said yes. We had to wait a few minutes before it was time, at which point it became a #44 to Formby. He got on and got a picture of the empty bus. We were soon underway and we decided to do this bus through town, to possibly pick up something else on the other side back towards Southport. We passed through Southport and then headed South Eastwards towards Kew. We Passed 2 double deckers heading into Southport on a 375 and a 385 just before we got to Town Lane Kew. These were Arriva NW&W 4101 & 4104. We decided to get off anyway in case we saw another #44 or even a #300 service. We got off and crossed the road. We saw Arriva NW&W 7656 on a #300 and then we dropped on required Arriva NW&W 7653 heading back towards Crossens. This was the last of the current Southport allocation of Marshall bodied Darts that we hadn't been on. Matthew got a picture as it pulled onto the bus stop.

Arriva NW&W 7653 outside Southport Hospital

We were going to do this back through town to Crossens, but as we stopped at the stop on Eastbank street, we saw required and soon to we withdrawn Arriva NW&W 7568 going the other way on a #44. We had still planned to stay on 7653 and then to come back part way to meet this bus. As we traveled North along Lord Street Matthew was getting stressed out so we decided to get off. We decided to have an ice cream or something. We could wait for 7568 to return from Formby. We stopped at an Ice Cream parlour that also did cakes. We got Matthew a lemon meringue with ice cream whilst mum and I had just ice cream. After we had done Matthew had us cross the road to the other side of Lord Street. I had no idea of where he wanted to go he just had an idea in his head. A #48 had pulled up next to us and Matthew decided that we were going to do that. It was required 3034, but we didn't know what it was at this point as we had just jumped onto it. I had looked at the #44 Formby timetable but it didn't seem to make too much sense. There appeared to be a long layover at Formby, Either that or there is a circular end to the serice. If this was the case then the points on the timetable and the times didn't to match. As we traveled down I wondered if we could get to Ainsdale before 7568 returned from Formby? This rote down to Aindale seemed to be twice as quick as going down on a #49A. We got off at the main rounadbout in Ainsdale and we looked at which bus we had been on. Matthew got a picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 3034 in Ainsdale

Matthew got a picture of the shell garage on the corner. It was now 17:00. The first stop around the corner didn't have a timetable or a shelter. I used my phone to check the timetable and it said we had around 12 minute to wait for the next bus. We walked down to the next stop and this had a shelter. As we walked down we saw Arriva NW&W 3086 on a Southbound #49A service.

Arriva NW&W 3086 in Ainsdale

A Northbound Pulsar came by on the #49A to Crossens and this was Arriva NW&W 3080. After a short wait we could see a bus in the distance. It was a Plaxton Dart in Interurban livery and it had a manual destination blind just as the bus we had seen before. As it closer we could see it was an R ABA Dart and therefore 7568. Almost by chance Matthew had put us in the right position to catch the bus that we wanted to ride on the most in Southport.

Arriva NW&W 7568 in Ainsdale

We got on the bus and it was empty. Matthew got a picture of this ex MTL bus's interior.

Inside Arriva NW&W 7568

We then set of towards Southport. I realised that if we got off by the hospital we might be able to get on a double decker into Southport. It would also give us an opportunity to get a drink and lottery tickets. So we got off just as we turned onto Scarisbrick New Road. We saw 4103 heading in the other direction towards Wigan. Matthew and mum went into a BP garage to get some pop and chocolate whilst I headed into Tesco to get lottery. I thought I would try their petrol station to see if they sold lottery rather than walking down to the main store. It turns out that they could do them albeit printed out on receipt paper. When we got back we had a sit down and chill out at the bus stop whilst we waited for the #385 service. We saw a few coaches go past. One such coach was this Attain Travel vehicle.

Attian Travel Coach YN58 BEU in Kew

A few minutes later we saw a double decker head off to the Hospital. It came back and we saw it was required Arriva NW&W 4107.

Arriva NW&W 4107 in Kew

We did the bus back to Eastwick street and got off. After a quick visit to Poundland We saw Arriva NW&W 7655 on a #44 service. We walked across the pedestrianised walkway and on London Street. We got to the stop a little after 18:00. According to the timetable there was a bus at 18:12 and then the last one was at 18:27. Whilst we waited for the bus we saw this coach going down towards the retail park.

Grayway Coach FP51 EUM in Southport

18:12 came and went and the bus didn't show up. Arriva NW&W 7673 went past on a Southbound #43 service. We also saw Arriva NW&W 7654 meaning we saw all the Southport allocation of Marshall Darts except 7637 which is being refurbished and 7656 which was on the #300 service. Eventually we saw a bus approaching and it was Arriva NW&W 2724 again. We got on and Matthew got a picture of the empty inside of this bus.

Inside Arriva NW&W 2724

We checked the time and it was 18:26.there seemed to be a bus missing. We got to the park and ride and Matthew went to use the facilities. He came out and got another picture of this bus.

Arriva NW&W 2724 at the Kew P&R

A few minutes later another bus turned up. It was required Arriva NW&W 2141. It would seem that the buses were running around within a few minutes of each other rather than 15 minutes apart. We then got in the car and set off home. It was now 18:45. We then set off homewards on the reverse of the journey we had made earlier. Through Ormskirk and past the bus station where the #311 service calls we saw Arriva NW&W 7557 on this here. We heed down the A570 to The M58 and then oto the M6 South. As we approached junction 16 we went passed a coach. We pulled in to turn onto the A500 and the coach overtook us and Matthew got his picture.

Finesse Coaches GT02 WAY on the Southbound M6

We went the onto A500 and headed in Stoke-on-trent. As it was getting late we decided to have chips for tea. We called into the chip shop on Smithpool Road before heading home. We finally got through the door around 20:20. Matthew ate a burger with a few chips before getting ready for bed...Mark