Showing posts with label Keane's Coaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keane's Coaches. Show all posts

Saturday, 27 June 2026

Trip to Ellesmere Port / Chester 27-06-2026









BusFromToServiceOperator



10573Ellesmere Port BSChester BS1Stagecoach Merseyside
26059Chester BSBlacon, The Arches School14AStagecoach Merseyside
26051Blacon, Blacon ParadeChester BS14Stagecoach Merseyside
144Chester BSChester, Railway Station40Helms
36814Chester BSPiper's Ash, Rowan Place9Stagecoach Merseyside
36815Piper's Ash, The PiperChester BS9Stagecoach Merseyside
3141Chester BSBlacon, The Arches School14AArriva NW&W


Today we decided to re-visit Ellesmere Port. We asked Matthew on Friday where he would like to go today and he chose Ellesmere Port. Research for today consisted of looking at the Stagecoach bus tickets and checking the weather. The weather was forcast for hot and sunny weather with some cloud, slightly cooler than Friday! Matthew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. Matthew got up just after 10:00. For breakfast Matthew had crumpets and orange juice. We set off just before 12:00. We returned to the house to get Matthew's hat and sunglasses! We set off again and we ran along Finstock Avenue. We turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive and left onto Church Road. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we passed the former betting shop. We ran up the hill and we crossed over the A50. We turned left onto Grove Road and we ran forwards Wheildon Road. We stopped to pick up uncle Dave and we continued down towards Stoke past the old psychiatric nurse which is now a family contact centre. We joined the Northbound A500 e and we ran through Stoke. We ran North through Etruria and we past the KE Travel garage and North through Longport. We joined the M6 and we ran Nothwards. The oil light came on so we stopped at sandbach Services. We saw white minibus HT25 AYK parked up. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we went to the petrol station to pick up oil. After topping up the oil we continued onto the M6. Travelling Northwards we saw Alfa A152 and minibus SB25 PFD. We joine the Westbound M56 and as we travelled Westwards we were passed by Mario Coaches M121 RYO.


Mario Coaches M121 RYO on the M56
We passed junction 12, near to a new petrol station on the A557. We got onto the Northbound M53. We came off the M53 at junction 9 and we headed Westwards on the A5032. We turned left onto Cromwell Road and we followed the road to the right onto Wellington Road. We turned left onto Cambrdge Road and we went right onto McGarva Way. We turned right onto Grange Road and we parked up near to the Market. We headed into the Market and we ordered the food and sat down. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating, we went to the toilets. We said goodbye to mum an we headed to the bus station. We came out of the market and past The Food Warehouse and The Portal, which sits on the site of the former bus station. We turned the corner onto Civic Way and we waited for a bus. We decided to go towards Chester as usuual. There was a bus due in a few minutes. The bus came around the corner and as it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 10573 on a #1 to Chester railway station.


Stagecoach Merseyside 10573 in Ellesmere Port bus station
We got on the bus and we booked Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets at £5.70 each before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off out of the bus station onto Wellington Road and we turned left onto Stanney Lane and we ran past The Grace Arms, which was a pub we used to eat at back when we first started to visit Ellesmere Port. We continued down the road for around 1/2 mile and then we turned left into the Coliseum Retail Park. We continued into the adjacent Cheshire Oaks designer outlet and we saw , an unidentified Bws Peris coach. We got onto the A5117 and we ran Westwards to the A41. We ran South and where we would normally turn right we went straight on towards Chester Zoo. We turned into the zoo and we saw BX63 BEO parked up. We came back out of the Zoo and continued South down the A41 and we turned right onto Heath Road. We continued onto Mill Street and we joined the Southbound A5116. We ran into Chester and over the ring road onto Northgate. We turned left into Delamere Street. We continued down onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks and into the bus station. We got up and got off the bus. We had a look around to see what we might catch. We saw D&G Bus 573 on Layover.


D&G Bus 573 in Chester bus station
We headed into the cafe and Matthew had a slice of Victoria Sponge and a can of Coke. After we had finished Matthew went to the toilet. We continued to look for what we might catch. We saw Arriva NW&W 3142 on a #4 to Mold.


Arriva NW&W 3142 in Chester bus station
We headed to the Blacon stops and we saw a bus on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 26059 on a #14A Blacon circular.


Stagecoach Merseyside 26059 in Chester bus station
We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Gorse Stacks and we ran onto George Street. At the end we turned right onto Northgate Street and we crossed over the ring road onto the A5116. We veered left on the one-way system and we ran forwards onto the A540. We ran past Chester University and we hit traffic as we got to the edge of town. At the roundabout we turned left onto Blacon Avenue. We travelled Westwards for around a mile and when we got to the shops we got up to get off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 26059 as it continued towards Chester.


Stagecoach Merseyside 26059 in Blacon
We sat under a tree to keep cool and Matthew had a can of Coke from the trip bag. After we had finished the drink we headed to the bus stop. The bus came around the corner. As it got closer, we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 26051 on a #14 to Chester.


Stagecoach Merseyside 26051 in Blacon
We got on it and we flashed the Stagecoach Merseyside Dayrider Plus tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along Blacon Avenue and we had a long run of around 2/3 of a mile down to a roundabout. We crossed the roundabout onto the A540 and we had another run of around 1/2 mile up to Liverpool Road. We ran around the one-way system and passed the former Stagecoach bus depot which is now student accomodation. We continued and into town along Northgate. We crossed over the ring road on Northgate and we turned left onto Delamere Street. We continued down onto George Street and onto Gorse Stacks and into the bus station. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Coming into the bus station we spotted a Helms double decker, We headed over to the stand and as we got closer we saw it was Helms 144 on a #40 town circular service.


Helms 144 in Chester bus station
We got on the bus and we booked to the railway station at £2 before we went upstairs and sat down. We set off out of the bus station and we turned right onto Frodsham Street. We turned left onto Foregate Street and we turned left onto St Oswald Way. We ran past the bus station and we turned right onto the A56. We turned right onto Brook Street and we followed the road to the right onto Station Road. We pulled up outside the railway station and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Helms 144 before it returned to the bus station.


Helms 144 in Chester
Across the road we spotted M & H Coaches YJ64 DXR on a T8 service to Corwen.


M & H Coaches YJ64 DXR in Chester
We just missed a Stagecoach Bus heading out of town, so we decided to walk back to the bus station via the pub. We set off along City Road and at The Bars we turned right onto St Oswalds Way. As we walked towards the pub we saw The Travellers Choice YJ25 CVS on a day trip returning to Carnforth.


The Travellers Choice YJ25 CVS in Chester
We continued along St Oswalds Way and we got to Brook Street and headed into the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we headed to the bar. We bought a glass of Coke and we sat down. After we finished our drink we said goodbye to our new friends and we set off out of the pub. We went under the roundabout and we came up on Brookdale Place. We crossed over Frodsham Street and we headed into the bus station. We decided to do something we hadn't done in a very long time, we thought we'd head to Piper's Ash. We spotted a bus on stand and as we got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 36814 on a #9 to Piper's Ash.


Stagecoach Merseyside 36814 in Chester bus station
We got on the bus and we flashed the Merseyside plus Dayrider to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and we turned left onto Gorse Stacks. We crossed the roundabout and forwards onto the A56. We crossed over the railway line and we headed into Hoole. We turned right onto Canadian Avenue and left onto Hoole Lane. At th e end of Hoole Lane we turned left onto Pipers Lane. We spotted a pub and and a couple of coaches parked up, so we decided to get off at the next stop. We turned left onto Alder Grove and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Stagecoach Merseyside 36814 as it continued back towards Chester.


Stagecoach Merseyside 36814 in Piper's Ash
Once off the bus we walked back around the corner and closed to the A41 where we could see 2 coaches parked up. The front one of the 2 was Keane's Coaches BX65 WBF parked up in the layby.


Keane's Coaches BX65 WBF in Piper's Ash
To the rear was Keane's Coaches L121 MPR also parked up.


Keane's Coaches L121 MPR in Piper's Ash
We walked along Pipers Lane and we headed into the pub. As we walked through the door we were handed an England flag. We headed to the bar and we bought a glass of Coke. After we had the drink Matthew went to the toilet. We headed out of the pub abd we walked around the corner to the bus stop. It was at this point I realised I had lost my bus ticket! A few minutes later we saw the bus go around the corner. It ran around the end of the route and it came back again. As it got closer we saw it was Stagecoach Merseyside 36815 on a #9 to Chester.


Stagecoach Merseyside 36815 in Piper's Ash
We got on the bus and I bought a Stagecoach Chester Dayrider at £5.60. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside of Stagecoach Merseyside 36815 before we sat down.


Inside Stagecoach Merseyside 36815
The bus set off along Hoole Lane and we ran for about a mile. We crossed over the railway line to the East of the station and we turned right onto the A51. We ran into the town centre and we ran around The Bars onto St Oswalds Way. We ran past the bus station and we turned left to enter the bus station from the North side. We pulled onto the bay and we got up and got off the bus. We had contacted mum and we had arranged to meet her at Blacon. We had a quick look around the bus station. We saw D&G Bus 3011 parked up on layover.


D&G Bus 3011 in Chester bus station
We walked around to the stand and we saw a bus approaching. As it came on stand we saw it was Arriva NW&W 3141 on a #14A Blacon circular.


Arriva NW&W 3141 in Chester bus station
We got on the bus and we flashed the Stagecoach Chester Dayrider to the driver before we saw down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus station onto Gorse Stacks and we ran onto George Street. At the end we turned right onto Northgate Street and we crossed over the ring road onto the A5116. We veered left on the one-way system and we ran forwards onto the A540. We ran past Chester University and we hit traffic as we got to the edge of town. At the roundabout we turned left onto Blacon Avenue. We travelled Westwards for around a mile and when we got to the shops we got up to get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva NW&W 3141 as it continued towards Chester.


Arriva NW&W 3141 in Blacon
Once off the bus we headed into the Spar shop. Matthew had a chocolate bar and a bottle of pop. We walked back to the car park and we sat under a tree in the shade. Matthew stayed with uncle dave and I popped back to the shop and bought some bottled water for everyone. A short time later we saw Arriva NW&W 3014 on a #14 Blacon circular. Mum appeared from the East and when she worked ouked how to get into the car park she pulled up near to us. Matthew got into the car and I went to the chip shop. I returned from the chip shop with food and we sat in the car. Matthew had sausage chips and gravy washed down with a cup of lemonade with ice. Once I had finished eating we set off out of the car park and we headed Westwards along Blacon Avenue. We ran forwards onto Countess Way and we turned left onto the A41. We ran North for a couple of mile and we turned right onto the A5032. At Backford Cross we turned right onto the A5117 and we ran past Chesire Oaks. We turned right onto the Southbound M53 and we immediatley joined the Eastbound M56. As we travalled Eastwards we followed S-Line SL75 ???. Other vehicles seen was party bus PN03 UGC. We joined the Southband M6 and we saw an unidentified DNH Coaches coach, an unidentified Docherty Midland Coaches coach an unidentified white coach. We came off the M6 at junction 16 and we joined the Southbound A500 through Longport and Etruria into Stoke. We came off the A500 and we diverted onto Whieldon Road and we dropped off uncle Dave and Matthew got out to use the toilet. He also had some of uncle Rob's Fanta. We updated uncle daves calendar to show recent activity. Once we had dropped off uncle Dave we set off onto Wheildon Road and past the former Regent pub which is now up for sale. We ran forwards onto Grove Road and we saw green minibus R482 NDM parked up. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 19:40. Matthew chilled out on his computer and we did some of the Blog. We also wrote a few emails and generally used the computer to entertain ourselves. Later on Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. We watched Youtube and we got ready for bed. Matthew settled down around 00:30... Mark

Sunday, 17 August 2025

Trip to Stoke / Adderley Green 17-08-2025
















BusFromToServiceOperator



63114Newcastle BSStoke, stop Z25First Potteries


Today Matthew was going to McDonalds and going around the bus garages. Matthew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. Matthew got up around 09:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After getting ready we went to pick up uncle Dave. We got in the car and we set off around 10:40. We got ready and went out in tne car to pick up uncle Dave just before 11:00. We set off through Blurton onto Finstock Avenue, right onto Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road. We turned left onto Blurton Road and we went through the road works and up the hill to Heron Cross. We crossed over the A50 and we turned left at the traffic lights onto Grove Road. We continued onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Afterwards we set off down Wheildon Road and forwards onto the A500. We turned left onto Church Street and we ran around the one-way system. We turned right onto Campbell Place and left onto Hartshill Road. We ran to the edge of Newcastle and we ran down George Street. At the roundabout we turned left onto Barracks Roac and right onto the Northbound A34. We ran through Milehouse to Chesterton and we stopped at McDonalds. Matthew had a cheeseburger and fries washed down with a cup of Coke, and we shared some chicken nuggets. When we had finished we headed to Reids to see if there was anything interesting in the yard. We got in the car and we set off down the A34. We ran through Milehouse to Newcastle and we turned left onto Ryecroft. We turned right onto Barracks road and we went to the bus station. We decided t do a bus down to Stoke. After a short wait a bus appeared. We saw it was First Potteries 63114 on a #25 to Hanley. We got on the bus and we booked to Stoke before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station onto barracks Road and we ran down onto the Southbound A34. We turned left into the hospital and we ran through the grounds and onto Hilton Road. We continued onto Albany Road and we turned right onto The Avenue. At the end of the road we turned right onto the A52 and we ran through Hartshill and down the hill into Stoke where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus We walked down Stoke Road and we crossed over the A500. We turned right onto the ramp onto car park 3 and we headed to the ralway station. As we got to the tp of the ramp we saw Mighty Travel FJ09 XGL on a railreplacement service.


Mighty Travel FJ09 XGL in Stoke
Also on rail replace was Cymru Coaches W21 CYM.


Cymru Coaches W21 CYM in Stoke
There was an area with coaches on layover so we went over to view them. In the area we saw First Choice BU18 YST.


First Choice BU18 YST in Stoke
Also seen was Cymru Coaches D24 CYM on layover.


Cymru Coaches D24 CYM in Stoke
Another vehicle in the layover area was Keane's Coaches RT14 RTT.


Keane's Coaches RT14 RTT in Stoke
We walked up to the rer of the ralway station and we saw South Staffs Travel GB25 KBZ getting ready to work a rail replacement service.


South Staffs Travel GB25 KBZ in Stoke
When we had finished we walked back down the ramp onto Stoke Road and we turned right up to Shelton. We walked up to where the car was parked and we got in the car. We set off down Stke Road and we joined the Southbund A500. We came off at the other end of Stoke and we turned left onto City Road and under the railway line. We ran past the site of the new Burger King and we went forwards onto King Street. We ran through Foley and we under the railway line into Longton and we ran forwards onto Market Street. We turned left onto Anchor Road and right onto Sutherland Road. We ran to the other end of the road and we turned left onto Weston Coyney Road. We ran up the hill past Matthew's old respite place and at the end we turned left onto the A520 and we turned left onto the A5272. We turned right onto Hulme Road and right into Park Hall Country park. We parked up and we went for a walk around Park Hall. We parked up near to the visitor centre and we walked to the toilet block and Matthew used the toilet. Afterwards we returned to the car. We set off out of Park Hall and we turned left onto Hulme Road and left onto the A5272. We stopped by Scraggs and Matthew took some pictures from the car of the buses in the yard. We saw Scraggs 4493 VT parked up in the yard. We rejoined the A5272 and we turned left onto Anchor Road. We turned right onto Mossfield Drive and we drove to the end. We got out of the car and we walked to the back of the D&G Bus garage. We saw D&G Bus 111 parked up in the yard.


D&G Bus 111 in Adderley Green
We got back in the car and we drove to the other end of Mossfield Drive and parked up. We walked down the footpath to the back of the First Pottereis bus garage. We walked around the garage and we saw an number of First 35669. We walked onto the A5272 and we walked around the other side by the petrol station and we saw First 35681.


First 35681 in Adderley Green
Another former Weston bus was First 35678.


First 35678 in Adderley Green
Also seen around the side of the garage we saw First 35677.


First 35677 in Adderley Green
We walked past the pertol station onto Anchor Road and we turned right onto the path behind the depot. As we walked along the path of note were First Potteries 63178 and First 35682. We turned left over Wass's site footpath and we walked up the hill back to the car. We got in the car and Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. We set off along Mossfield Drive and we turned right onto Anchor Road. We ran down the hill into Longton and we turned left onto Uttoxeter Road. We turned right onto Commerce Street and at the roundabout we turned right onto THe Strand. We ran through Longton and we went under the railway bridge onto King Street. We ran through Fopleyinti Fenton and we turned left onto Duke Street. We turned left onto the Link Road and we turned right onto the high level A50. At the roundabout we turned right onto Blurton Road and left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Whieldon Road. We stopped at uncle Dave's and Matthew used the toilet and updates uncle Dave's calendar with the details of the weekend. We said goodbye and we set off onto Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and we crossed over the A50. We continued through Blurton and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right onto the A5035 and we got back to Blurton around 14:30. Matthew chilled out on his computer. In the afternoon we did some work on Flickr and watched some videos on YouTube. We did the Blog and Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. For tea Matthew had a chcicken buger and chips with sausage and beans followed by fruit crumble and custard. Later on Matthew had his bath. He chilled outon his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark