Trip to Northwich / Sandbach 10-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
4156	Northwich Interchange	Middlewich, o/s Cheshire Cheese	37	Arriva NW&W
2619	Middlewich, opp Cheshire Cheese	Wharton, nr Wharton Road	37	Arriva NW&W
3329	Wharton, Wharton Road (cnr)	Sandbach, o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W
3329	Sandbach, o/s Common	Elworth nr railway station	37	Arriva NW&W
3348	Elworth adj railway station	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

This week we gave Matthew a choice of some of our usual destinations and unexpectedly Matthew chose Northwich. As I wanted to try and get the best out of the trip I asked a question on the Dennis Dart Forum as to the best services to ride on Arriva Marshall Darts and double deckers in Northwich. After getting advice I downloaded most of the local timetables onto my hone along with the Nortwich and Winsford bus map as supplied by Cheshire West and Cheshire council website. We set off a little after 12:00 today. It was a fine sunny day, quite warm for the beginning of March. we picked up mum's friend on the way and we stopped for dinner at the Country Kitchen food van which is situated in Middlewich. Having filled up with food and drink we headed North to Northwich. On the way in we passed Arriva NW&W 2500 on the 13:30 #37 to Crewe & a Network Warrington bus. Having parked up in town we walk down past the buses on stand. The first bus we saw was Arriva NW&W 7644 on a #1 service.

Arriva NW&W 7644 in Northwich

There was also a #82 to Chester too, which was GHA ALX200 P804 NJN.

GHA P804 NJN in Northwich

We then went to use the facilities. By the time we got back the Network Warrington bus appeared on stand, and it was number 59.

Network Warrington 59 in Northwich

Just as we took the picture we turned and saw a double decker on stand on the #37. Closer inspection revealed it was Arriva NW&W 4156 which was required. I asked Matthew if that was the bus he wanted to do and he said "yes".

Arriva NW&W 4156 in Northwich

We got on board and we then had around 10 minutes to wait before it was due off at 14:00. I decided it was a good plan to do the bus South as far as we could until we passed something interesting, and then we could double back and then do the bus further South. On stand it appeared that many of the locals today were Plaxton Centros. We only saw one MPD Dart and that was Arriva NW&W 862. We set off on time and we wondered were e would pass the first bus coming the other way. I expected to pass a bus coming the other way after 10 minutes and then evry 15 minutes therafter. The first bus we passed must have been on part of the route where the bus goes along different streets in different directions as we did not pass a #37 for nearly 25 minutes. In the Wharton area we passed a Centro on a #31 and then immediately afterward we saw 3348 heading North. This was a required bus, so we decided we would work out how to get this bus in. I estimated that the bus would be on the 16:00 from Northwich to Sandbach. I worked out that we could go to just the other side of Middlewich and then we would be on the last unknown bus that followed 2500 down on the 13:00 Northwich to Sandbach. Having gone through Winsford, we climb up Station road toward Middlewich and we passed another #37. It was another required Northern Counties bodied double decker 3349. This changed thing for us as it meant we would have to keep going towards Sandbach if we were to get the best buses in. We apssed through Middlewich and we decided to get off on the A533 as it left town. We spotted 2 stops virtually opposite each other and so we got off outside the Cheshire Cheese pub where Matthew got another picture of this fine beast.

4156 on the outskirts of Middlewich

We crossed the road and waited for the bus. We only had to wait round 5 minutes and the bus appeared. It was a Centro so there was a good chance it was going to be a required bus as we had only had one of these buses previously. As it got closer we could see it was 2619.

Arriva NW&W 2619 on the outskirts of Middlewich

We got on the bus and I had a quick check of the buses I have traveled on page. It was the same bus as we had been on twice before so it was not required :-(. I had worked out that we could go to just the other side of Winsford and then I hoped to pic up 3348 on a Sandbach service, which we could then do back to the station and pick up 3349 on the following bus. Somewhere between Middlewich and Winsford we passed a Centro on the next #37. As we passed through Winsford I called up mum and arranged to meet her in Sandbach around 16:30. as we went down the bank towards Wharton we saw required 3334 on a #31 service. We climbed the hill out of Winsford towards Wharton, and when we turned into the estate we got off to wait for what we hoped would be 3348.

2619 in Wharton

After around 5 minutes we could see a bus approaching but it was not a Northern Counties double decker. As it approached we could see it was dud 3329.

Arriva NW&W 3329 in Wharton

It turns out the buses on the #37's must do a short on a #29 in between #37's at Northwich adding an extra bus into the circuit. At least we know this for future reference. On the bus Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus.

Inside 3329

We headed South back through Winsford and around town, The only problem with covering the #37's around Winsford is that you feel like you are going round in circles! We then made a quick journey to Sandbach where we able to get picture of this bus in the late afternoon sun.

3329 on Sandbach Common

We now knew we would be almost certainly going back to Sandbach station to pick up 3348, but this would mean we would get 3349 in today. We had a short layover in Sandbach Common in which we saw 4489 on a Macclesfield bound #38

Arriva NW&W 4489 on Sandbach Common

After around 5 minutes the driver let everyone on and we went back up onto the top deck. We set off on time towards the Station and the journey to the station was quick. As we got off Matthew got another picture of this bus.

3329 by Sandbach railway station

We crossed the road and we had a 5 minutes to wait for the return bus, and it was indeed 3348 as hoped and predicted (eventually...!)>

Arriva NW&W 3348 by Sandbach railway station

We went upstairs of course and Matthew took a picture of the top deck.

Inside 3348

The return journey was uneventful albeit the strange noise which the engine of this bus makes. There was a very strange wooshing sound coming from the engin as the bus accelerated away from stops. We got to the Common at Sandbach and then we were able to take a couple of great pictures of this bus.

3348 on Sandbach Common

I phoned mum to see were she was and she was just leaving Middlewich heading in our direction. Whilst we waited for mum we went to use the facilities in town. As we got back to the Common we saw 2614 which we must have passed early on the next Northwich bound #37.

Arriva NW&W 2614 on Sandbach Common

We also saw 4490 on another Macclesfield bound #38. Mum arrived and Matthew tucked in to a sausage roll as I went to fetch some lottery tickets. As we left town we passed Bakerbus 180 on a X38 service. We went home via Rode Heath and past Caudwell Tavern before joining onto the A34 at Talke. We then got onto the Southbound A500 and dropped off mum's friend around 17:30. After a quick stop to out air in the tyres we got home around 18:00...Mark

Trip to Crewe and Sandbach 14-01-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3330	Crewe BS	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W
4489	Sandbach o/s Common	Haslington opp Oakland Avenue	38	Arriva NW&W
3331	Haslington nr Oakland Avenue	Elworth nr railway station	37	Arriva NW&W
861	Elworth adj railway station	Sandbach o/s Common	37	Arriva NW&W

Today we had planned on going Crewe, but the intention was to catch a #85 from Hanley to Crewe. I had misread a post on the Staffordshire and Merseyside bus group saying that the D&G Crewe to Newcastle service was being extended to Hanley from the 13th January, when in fact it was down as changing on 13th February. By this time Matthew had got is heart set on going to Crewe anyway! Having been to both Crewe and Northwich Last year, we decided to cover buses on the Crewe to Sandbach corridor. Preperation for the trip consisted of printing out the 31,37 and 38 timetables plus a map of these 3 routes from the Arriva site. After a bit of a hiccup, we set off for Crewe around 12:45. Arriving around 13:30 we parked up in the car park on Delamere Street and walked over to the bus station. We saw a couple of #84's and the spare at Crewe and these were all Plaxton Centros. What has happened to the Winsord allocated Cadets? Also seen at this point were D&G 27 on a local service and D&G 172. Before we traveled, we decided to have dinner at Les's Fish Bar. We all ate and drank and it came to around £17. After a quick toilet stop we headed back to the bus station to see what was working. There were 2 different services to Northwich just after 14:00. There was a 14:01 #31A and a 14:17 #37. As we got to the bus station, recent arrival to Winford 3330 came in on the #37. We decided to do this as it was required, and it would be only the second of this type we have ridden on. The bus parked on stand and the driver went for a quick break. Whilst we waited, Matthew got a picture of this fine bus.

Arriva NW&W 3330 in Crewe bus station

As we left I looked up what possible bus we could do next. We were scheduled to pass an inbound #38 from Macclesfield. The plan was that if it was an old double decker that we could get off and wait for it by the railway station and then do it back towards Macclesfield. As it approached we could see it was one of the 3 brand new double deckers allocated to Winsford. We passed the bus and it was required 4491. As it was a new bus we decided to stick with the one that we were on and travel further North. I worked out that the next bus we would pass was a #37 a couple of minutes out of Sandbach. Behind that by 18 minutes would be the next #38 to Crewe. It was decided that we would go to Sandbach Common and if we passed a good bus coming from Northwich on the #37, we could catch the following #38 and intercept it just outside Crewe on it's return. As we approached the roundabouts in Sandbach we could see it was another Palatine II like the bus that we were on. It was required 3331 so we were definately getting off to catch it on it's return. As we pulled into the Common, Matthew got a picture of the top deck as we filed off the bus.

Inside 3330

Getting off the bus, We decided that we could get a better picture than the one we took at Crewe...

3330 at Sandbach Common

We now had a 18 minute wait. We decided to fill the time with a it of shopping. We walked over to the local McColl's shop and brought some pop, a chocolate bar and Lottery Tickets. After doing our shopping we walked back to the Commom. D&G 64 was seen on a Nantwich to Rode Heath Service.

D&G 64 at Sandbach Common

The next bus in was a #319. I didn't even know where a #319 went to let alone who operated it! It eventually turned up and it was a very smart looking GHA Solo...

GHA S280 AOX at Sandbach Common

We then had 5 minutes before the #38 to Crewe was due. I guessed it would be one of the new ADL Enviro 400's and I was not wrong. It was required 4489.

Arriva NW&W 4489 at Sandbach Common

We got on the bus and worked out how far we could go. The buses would pass somewhere between The railway station and the bus station at Crewe. With the road by the railway station being very busy and the next section of road being a dual carriageway, I decided to get of at the Crewe end of Haslington by Oakland Avenue. It's a stop that we have been before when I used to take Matthew out on my own but didn't want to take him into Crewe. We got off and we had about 15 minutes to wait for the return bus. It wasn't too bad in the cold but very sunny afternoon. There should have been a #20 to Hanley First, so we stood on the green so we could get a better picture of it when it turned up. The # 20 was due at 15:22 and the #37 due at 15:26. Whilst we waited we saw 2 #20's head into Crewe. First was Potteries 60081 and this was followed 5 minuets later by Potteries 60196 which took a bizarre right turn down Primrose Avenue! Eventually our bus turned up a few minute late with a First bus right behind it.

Arriva NW&W 3331 in Haslington

We got on the bus and it was 3331 as was expected. It was quite full which explained the delay as it must of taken a while to load up at Crewe. We now had to decide where to catch the bus to and where we were going to meet up with mum. I decided that if we did the bus up to Sandbach Railway station, we could ride back to Sandbach on the shorter #37 Northwich to Sandbach service. That would take us to 4 buses for the day, and would be a good place to finish. I tried to call mum as we went through Haslington and Wheelock, but the signal was poor. She eventually called Uncle Dave back and we arranged to meet back at the Commom. We passed the next #37 and this was a Plaxton Centro so of no interest at this point in time. I had misread the timetable and I thought we were going for a dead time at Sandbach Station. We got off the bus at 15:52 and Matthew took a quick picture before we crossed the road.

3331 by Sandbach Station

We quickly crossed and headed to the stop. I check on the stop timetable and the bus wasn't due until 16:01. At this point we didn't know what was going to show up. Winsford has an allocation of around 50 buses and we have been on very few from this depot despite it being our closest Arriva NW&W depot. We thought it Could be a double decker, a Marshall bodied Dart or even a Plaxton Centro. The bus tuned the corner and we could see it was a Plaxton bodied Dart. As it got closer we could see it was dud 861 which we had travelled on on our last trip to Northwich. The bus was empty and Matthew took a picture as we boarded.

Inside Arriva NW&W 861

I think this bus must have swapped ready for the evening service. As it seemed to be a small vehicle for this service. about 5 minutes later we arrived back at the Common. direction and she just happened be on the Common. We got off and were able to get a good picture here.

861 at Sandbach Common

Mum had tried to follow the directions for Sandbach Common on her GPS but it wasn't there. She stopped to call us for directions and she just happened to have stopped on the Common next to 4489 on the #38 to Macclesfield. She could even hear us in the background. We walked over to the car and headed home. I drove NW to the M6 and then we traveled down to the A500. We listened to the Stoke match (away to Liverpool )as we traveled home and it was 0-0 still. We stopped at Longport for LPG and then drove home. We arrived home just before 17:00 and the result stayed at 0-0... Mark.