Trip to Bolton 16-06-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40356	Tonge Fold, Bury Rd/Tonge Fold Post Office (W-bound)	Bolton BS	561	First Manchester
40349	Bolton BS	Johnson Fold Estate, nr House 81 Lightbounds Road/Chatburn Road	519	First Manchester
40349	Johnson Fold Estate, nr House 81 Lightbounds Road/Chatburn Road	Montserrat, Chorley Old Rd/Montserrat Rd (SE-bound)	519	First Manchester
40344	Montserrat, Chorley Old Rd/Montserrat Rd (SE-bound)	Doffcocker, o/s House 584 Chorley Old Road/New Hall Lane	519	First Manchester
40353	Doffcocker, Chorley Old Road/Devonshire Road (W-bound)	Montserrat, opp House 30 Montserrat Road/Chorley Old Road	519	First Manchester
31922	Montserrat, Chorley Old Rd/Montserrat Rd (SE-bound)	Bolton BS	519	First Manchester
892	Bolton BS	Bank Top, Ashworth Lane/Whitegate Drive (E-bound)	538	Arriva NW&W
892	Bank Top, Ashworth Lane/Whitegate Drive (E-bound)	Astley Bridge, Blackburn Rd/Three Pigeons (Stop E)	538	Arriva NW&W
2680	Astley Bridge, Blackburn Rd/Three Pigeons (Stop E)	Bolton, St Georges Road/Knowsley Street (W-bound)	534	Arriva NW&W

Today Matthew decided he wanted to go to Bolton. As I am not feeling 100% at the moment the plan was for mum to take Matthew on the bus bus whilst I had a break from it. As such research this time consisted of find the map and timetables from last time and getting mum to read the Blog so she could see what buses Matthew likes to ride on and on which services. Mum also took charge of the radar key and bus pass for the day. The pan was to drive to Tonge Fold like before, have dinner and then for mum and uncle Dave to ride into Bolton whilst I sourced the sausage rolls for the return journey home. The weather was overcast, but the forecast for Bolton was for heavy rain all day. We set off around 12:00, getting air in the tyres before setting off up the A500. It was then M6, M62, M60, M61 and A666 before turning right towards Bury, parking up in the street behind he Cafe in Tonge Fold just after 13:15. As we parked up we saw 40350 and 40352 on Wthins circulars. Matthew had a breakfast, with the food coming to £10.50 in total. After dinner I walked them to the bus stop and as the bus approached I was saying goodbye to Matthew and he refused to let me go. I had to quickly get the bus pass off mum and give the car keys to her so she could take the car into Bolton. The bus was unrequired First Manchester 40356, but Matthew didn't mind as he really likes the Bolton allocated P LND registered Dennis Darts. As we came into town we also saw First Manchester 40357 on a #533 service. In the kerfuffle Matthew didn't get a picture of the bus as we got on. He did however take a picture of the empty bus as we reached Bolton.

Inside First Manchester 40356

When we got off he got a picture of the bus from behind, as it's not easy to get pictures in Bolton bus station without walking around to the ends.

40356 in Bolton bus station

At this pint we didn't know what we were going to do. Matthew needed he toilet so we went to try the tardis toilet at the end of the bus station. I didn't have his radar key so I put some money in which it swallowed without opening. We the had to go and find another toilet. After asking a local, we were directed to a toilet at the other end of the market. We then walked back to the bus station to see what we could do. Mum called to say she was parked up and that she was going to come and meet us at the bus station and travel around with me to help me out today. Whilst we waited we saw 3 Dennis Arrow double deckers come into the bus station in quick succession. First was required 31917 on a #507 service.

31917 in Bolton bus station

Then we saw 31922 on a #519 the Johnson Fold, which pretty much came straight in and out of the bus station. The a few minutes later we saw 31921 on a #572 to great Lever. Mum was still making her way across time when First Manchester 40349 pulled up on the stop to work the next #519 bus. Matthew sat with Uncle Dave at the stop whilst I went to the town Hall end of he bus station to meet mum. When we met up her umbrella had been destroyed by the wind and she was looking a bit damp from the rain. We walked up to the bus and we all got on after getting another System One bus ticket for her. The bus was fairly empty at this point, but as the bus went around town it picked up more passengers until it was nearly full. We decided to do the bus to the end of the run and then transfer onto the next bus in the circuit. On the way up we passed Dennis Dart 40353 and 31922 in very quick succession. When we got to the end Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.

Inside First Manchester 40349

As there was no shelter at the end of the run, we decided to go back part way so we could wait for the next bus out of the rain. We would see the bus go up to Johnson Fold before catching it back towards Bolton. The next bus was First Manchester 40344.

First Manchester 40344 in Montserrat

I looked it up and this was also required. A few minutes after it went up to Johnson Fold, it reappeared from around the corner. We got on the bus to ride back towards Bolton. It was still raining so we decided to go back to somewhere were there was a shelter on the other side of the Road. We got off shortly after the Doffcocker pub. We got off at a stop where there was a shelter, but we needed to cross the Road. And we couldn't see another shelter in sight. It was still raining and we left the shelter and walked down the road and crossed over. The rain eased off a little as we waited. A few minutes later dud 40353 appeared. we decided to do it anyway to get out of the rain. As we got on 31922 went past us. We decided to go back to montserrat, and with a bit of luck we would get there before 31922 came back from Johnson Fold. After turning off the main road we walked back to the stop with the shelter. We waited 5 minutes and eventually the bus we were after appeared required 31922.

First Manchester 31922 in Montserrat

We all we upstairs and Matthew took a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside 31922

Back at the bus station we saw 31924 on a #562 Withins circular. We were going to do this but Matthew needed the facilities again so we went all the way back to the other end of the market to use the toilet again. We decided to stop for a quick drink in the market before doing the last couple of buses. After a Coke and a flapjack. We walked back to the bus station. As mum was with us we stop to take a few pictures outside a shop whilst mum went in to get sausage rolls. One such vehicle was 31921 which was coming off service after working #572's earlier in the day.

First Manchester 31921 running empty in Bolton

Sausage rolls purchased we walked back to the bus station. We now needed to do a bus or buses that would get us back near the car and that Matthew wanted to do. We had been on everything on the Johnson Fold route as far as we knew so it had to be something different. We spotted an Arriva bus which we knew from seeing them previously go northwards out of the city so we thought that this would be a good service to do. We got closer and saw it was required Arriva Dennis MPD 892 and Matthew agreed to do it. We booked to the end an we decided to do the bus around the circle and then get off and wait for something else. When the bus was on the loop end Matthew got a picture of the inside as it emptied out.

Inside Arriva NW&W 892

As we started to travel back we spotted a stop with a shelter. We got off and Matthew stood in the rain to get a picture of this bus.

892 in Astley Bridge

it was now around 17:00 and time to finish for the day. We had a choice of 2 buses to catch back. at 17:05. I decided to go to the shop for lottery tickets and Matthew and everyone came with me as he fancied doing a bit of shopping. he brought drinks, a few loose sweets and a Milky Way. Given a choice between Transdev and Arriva Matthew chose Arriva. The bus appeared and by the type and the fact it was a Bolton based bus we knew it was almost certainly going to be a new bus for us. It turned up and was required Arriva NW&W 2680. He got on and took a picture of this bus as it was empty as we got on. The moisture and the warmth of the bus caused a little condensation to from on his camera!

Inside Arriva NW&W 2680

We did the bus back to the edge of town as the bus turned right we got off and Matthew go a picture of the bus as it was heading away.

2680 in on St Georges Road

We then walked back to the car and we saw 40352 as we walked back. We also saw First Manchester 40351 too. We saw Arriva NW&W 2678 on the #575. We got back on the A666 and then onto the M61. We travelled around Manchester on the M60 and then onto the West bound M62. When we got to the the M6 we headed South. Back In Staffordshire we went down the A500 to Sideway. We then did the A50 to Heron Cross and down to Blurton. Matthew wasn't happy at having to go home and was very angry as we traveled home. We got back home around 18:30 and it took most of the tonight for him to calm down. For tea he had sausage and mash. He then chilled out until bedtime...Mark.

Trip to Bolton / Bury 24-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
12016	Tonge Fold, Bury Rd/Tonge Fold Post Office (W-bound)	Bolton BS	471	First Manchester
37304	Bolton BS	Breightmet, opp Royal Bank Bury Rd/Crompton Ave	561	First Manchester
69175	Breightmet, opp Royal Bank Bury Rd/Crompton Ave	Mill Hill, o/s House 78 Bury New Road/Radcliffe Road	561	First Manchester
40350	Mill Hill, opp House 82 Bury New Road/Radcliffe Road	Withins, Kentmere Road/Withins Shops (E-bound)	561	First Manchester
69143	Top O Th Brow, Stitch Mi Lane/Newby Road (W-bound)	Bolton BS	507	First Manchester
40356	Bolton BS	Bolton Interchange	519	First Manchester
60217	Bolton, Great Moor Street/Catholic Church (W-bound)	Bury BS	524	First Manchester

Today we decided to visit Bolton. The trip had planned almost as soon as we had visited Bury last time. Matthew chose the destination Bolton, but due to one reason or another this was the first weekend we could actually do this trip. As much as I could tell, I think doing this trip was about riding on the P... LND registered Dennis Darts, the one that used to visit Bury. As this was the First time we had been to Bolton research was quite detailed. Questions were asked on the Dennis Dart Forum and timetables and maps were downloaded from both Arriva and Transport for Greater Manchester. Football fixtures were also checked and although we Knew Bolton were playing at home, we decided that this would not effect us as the Reebok Stadium is 5 mile west of the town centre. As this was one of the biggest towns we were going to visit I had a quick trip to check out the town before we made this trip. We got up on the day and it was an unseasonably bright and sunny day. With all research done we were close to setting off when I realised I didn't know where the public toilet were! Mum had a quick search online only to find out there was going to be a 'Infidels of Britain' rally and a counter protest by 'Unite Against facism' in the town centre today. As Matthew doesn't like to change his plans without a very good and obvious reason we decided to go to Bolton today anyway and risk it being trouble free. We set off a round 12:00 stopping at Longport for LPG on the way. The journey was uneventful and we reached the edge of Bolton around 13:00. We decided before that we would eat at Tonge Fold, like we had done on our last visit to Bury. So when we came off the A666 we turned right towards bury and took a journey 5 minutes up the road. We Parked up on a side street and we went to 'The Cafe' next to the Coral betting shop. We had 2 breakfasts, an omlette and sausage barm with drinks it came to a little over £11 an the food was really nice too! After eating and Matthew using the facilities we walked to the bus stop whilst mum drove off towards Bury to do some shopping. We decided to catch the first that came which we could see in the distance was going to be a bendy bus! As we had never been on a bendy bus it was going to be required. As it approached we saw it was First Manchester 12016.

Our first bend...First Manchester 12016

We purchased our system one bus only day tacikets and off we went. We filtered down to the back to get a seat. The bus was pulling away and it felt weird crossing over the bend as we walked back down the bus. We sat down and enjoyed the rest of the journey down to Bolton. As we got off Matthew got a picture of the empty inside of the bus.

"Baby's got the bends..." Inside 12016

Bolton bus station is big. It is a multi-platform island style bus station. It has over 26 stands and entrances and exits at both ends. One of the things that make it difficult to attempt to ride on selected buses from here is that you can't watch what is coming in and out of the bus station from both ends at the same time, and so you often miss seeing buses that you want until they are leaving the bus station. We saw at least 5 of the Darts Matthew likes 40340/344/350/356/358.

First Manchester 40358 getting giddy on the #562

These seem to come and go very quickly and then there seemed to be a lull in the activity for these buses. We had seen 30350 and 358 come and go on #561/2 service so we thought if we caught the next one of these we could work out were the one we wanted were in the sequence and then try and get off to catch the one we wanted. The next departure was now going to be the 14:35 #561 which when it turned up was required 37304. A bit new for our tastes but at least we could see what was going on from the top deck of this bus. As we left town we passed Arriva 2254 on a local, one of 2 full sized Dart belonging to Arriva based in Bolton.

"It's got leather seats...It's got a CD player" First 37304

Off we went, around the town centre to the North East corner and then South until we went under the railway. We then headed east and joined onto the main road to Bury. The #561 turns off this road very quickly heading Northwards towards Tonge Moor. The bus then East winding through housing estates until reaching some shops in Withins. Traveling the other way around the loop is the #562. The First bus we passed was 40350. This is one the right type but not a required bus as we had been on this one previously. The next one we passed was 40358 which was Definitely required. We decided to get off on the Bury and Bolton road and cross over for the #562 and then we would hopefully get this bus. after leaving Withins and Traveling South onto the Bolton and Bury Road, we got off and Matthew got a picture of this bus.

First Manchester 37304 is Bolton bound in Breightmet

We crossed the road to wait for the next #562. We checked the bus stop timetable and we now had around 10 minutes to wait for the 15:18 departure. Whilst we waited we saw a double decker heading into Bolton. Whilst we were looking at this an unidentified R registered Dart stormed passed us around a minute early. The rear number wasn't operational but the fact it was a dart we assumed (correctly) that it was the #562 and we had missed it! We then decided to cross the road and wait for the next #561. After a few minutes it turned up and was Volvo B7RLE 69175 which was required, albeit a little disappointing!

First Manchester 69175 in Breightmet

As we had not seen 40358 come the other way yet we decided to do this bus to the edge of town to the point on the route on which both buses travel in both directions on the street. The main street for this being Bury new Road adjacent to a new Tpyota Garage. As the back seat of the bus behind us was empty Matthew got a picture of this.

Inside 69175...

After a few minutes on the bus, as we turned onto Bury New Road we rang the bell and got off. We got off the bus and crossed the road. The First bus that we saw was 37304 returning from Bolton on a #562. This must mean that the buses swap directions after every turn. The we saw 40371 heading into bolton, which we decided must have been the unidentified bus we had missed earlier on the #562. The next bus was 40350 on a #561 which we decided to catch.

Outward bound...First Manchester 40350 on a #561

If we had crossed the road the next bus would have been 40358! I had finally worked it out. Each bus takes a little over 40 minutes to complete a circular and then it goes out in the opposite direction. Five buses are required for this service and we had seen all five. As we didn't want to get off and wait around for 40358 we decided to go a different way. Uncle Dave had noticed that the #561/2 route came close to the #507 route in Withins and so we decided to come back this way. Previously I had seen a Dart on the #507 so I thought we might get something interesting. We past 37304 as we passed through the estate and as we reached the shops we got off and Matthew got another picture of 40350.

40350 in Withins

Whilst we were there we checked if any of the local shops did lottery of which they didn't, so we set off on the short walk to Top o Th Brow. In this fine March fresh air the walk seemed very pleasant and the air seemed much cleaner than the air back in Stoke. We arrived at the bus stop to find we had a five minute wait for the bus. The wait went quickly and a little more disappoint as another Volvo appeared. It was required 69143.

Top o Th Brow..First Manchester 69143 on a #507

The journey back was very pleasant even if on a slightly displeasing bus. We passed another First Volvo as well as a Arriva MPD on one of their locals. At this point texts were exchanged with mum so that we could work out timing to get back to meet her at Bury. As we came back into town we passed the Arriva Garage and the we passed the other arriva long dart in service at Bolton (7552 I think...). We got off and then we had to work out how we were going to get to Bury. We had a look around and the only old Dart in service in the bus station was 40356. this was about to go out on a #519 to Johnson Fold. We walked around to the stops (E-H) but Matthew took us back to 40356 and sat down by the stop. The driver got on a and so did Matthew! I think he decided that he wasn't going to leave Bolton without having another of the older Darts before leaving town.

First Manchester 40356 on a #519

Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus, pointing the camera away from the lady passenger sitting to the right of the bus.

Check it out...Inside 40356...

Another passenger was a little concerned for Matthew, I think he thought we might have been trying to abduct him (this happens all the time). As I knew Matthew was determined to do this bus I tried to ask the bus driver which direction the bus was traveling so we could do it a short distance before heading to Bury. The drivers first language wasn't English so I don't think he really understood what we wanted to do. The lady passenger asked me where we were heading and then she advised me that the bus was going to the Interchange by the railway station and that we could get a bus to bury from around the corner. So we booked to the interchange and got on properly. he gentleman sitting with Matthew (friendly but slightly drunk) was talking to Matthew and trying to have a conversation . He said he would pay from him to "fly out to America..", but I explained to him Matthew would not going on a plane and hasn't been on one since he was very young. We left the bus and goodbye to the gentleman at the interchange and got another picture of this fine but unrequired bus.

40356 at Bolton Interchange

We took a few pictures at the interchange before setting of back around the corner for the Bury stop. We saw a lottery shop on the way and we also purchased some sweets and pop. Matthew said a 'hello' to someone, and we went to the stop. We had seen Merc 60247 in the bus station on a #524, but the next bus to round the corner was a Scania on a #524. It was required 60217 and much preferred over the Merc.The journey back was very swift. We passed through Little Lever and then into the more familiar Radcliffe. In Radcliffe bus station we overtook 60247 and thus ensued a bit of a duel back to Bury. 60247 passed us at the bottom of Manchester Road and we overtook it again before we reached the top. We passed a crowd around Gigg Lane but strangely Bury were playing away. Unusually every bus we passed in the opposite direction was either a Scania or a Merc. We saw no double deckers on this service today.

Inside First Manchester 60217...

We arrived back at the bus station in bury where mum was waiting for us as arranged on the phone. We got back in the car around 17:30 ate the sausage rolls mum had fetched for us. We could just pick up Radio Stoke on the radio. We listened to the First half of the Stoke vs Manchester City game and went straight down the M6 to Junction 15 to avoid the football game. We got home around 18:40 just as it was going dark. Incidentally the Stoke game ended 1-1 after Peter Crouch scored what could be the goal of the season! Surprisingly Bolton won too. It was a good day out and maybe we'll do this trip again...Mark

Trip to Bury 03-03-2012

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
MIB 246	Longton Hall Road, Blurton	Market Street, Bury	Charter	Copeland's Tours
31814	Bury BS	Unsworth, o/s Hse 165 Parr Lane/Kennedy Drive	93	First Manchester
60239	Unsworth, o/s Hse 204 Parr Lane/Kennedy Drive	Bury BS	93	First Manchester
37391	Bury BS	Tonge Fold, Bury Rd/Tonge Fold Post Office (W-bound)	471	First Manchester
37391	Tonge Fold, Bury Rd/Tonge Fold Post Office (E-bound)	Bury BS	471	First Manchester
31812	Bury BS	Radcliffe BS	98	First Manchester
34028	Radcliffe BS	Bury BS	524	First Manchester
34291	Bury BS	Prestwich Hospital, opp Supermarket Bury New Road/Tesco	93	First Manchester
31814	Prestwich Hospital, o/s Superstore Bury New Road/Tesco	Fletcher Fold, Manchester Road/Dumers Lane (Stop A)	93	First Manchester
60223	Fletcher Fold, Manchester Road/Dumers Lane (Stop A)	Bury BS	524	First Manchester
MIB 246	Market Street, Bury	Longton Hall Road, Blurton	Charter	Copeland's Tours

Today was our first coach trip of the year. As this was a short run we booked from Longton Hall Road so Matthew could have a longer ride on the coach. We had booked this trip a while a go and when we were sure that it was going ahead, research consisted of downloading all the timetables for Bury from the Transport for Greater Manchester website. On the night before departure we checked the time of the departure from Longton Hall Road on the invoice, and we found it was 08:24 which earlier than we had anticipated. This would mean we would have to get up shortly after 07:00. On the day we arrived in Longton Hall Road just after 08:20 and the coach was already waiting! We quickly jumped out of the car, locked up and then got on the coach. Matthew didn't have time to get a picture here... The journey was quick. We left Newcastle which was the final pick-up around 09:20 and we traveled non-stop to Bury. As we left Newcstle the driver announced "by the way my name is John...If you have a good trip feel free to write to Copeland's to tell them... If you have a crap day my name is Keith!". We arrived in Market Street bury at approximately 10:25 and Matthew got his picture at last.

Copeland's Tours MIB 246 in Bury

We had a short walk up the hill and across the main road and then we were in Bury town centre near the bus station. Having used the facilities, we walked up to the bus station and decided what we would do. The weather forecast had been for rain, so the plan was to keep moving as much as we could. We immediately spotted a different type of bus that we had not previously seen in Bury and that was an Alexander bodied Olympian. We walked up to see what bus it was and it was required First Manchester 31814. It was parked up with no driver so we walked back to the crossing and Matthew got a picture of this fine beast.

First Manchester 31814 in Bury

Whilst we were at the crossing we also saw a Wright bodied Volvo double decker, another type which we have never seen in Bury before. Matthew got a picture of this too, First Manchester 37393.

First Manchester 37393 in Bury

We then walked back to 31814 which was about to work on a #93 service. After the drive had got on and sorted out the ticket machine, we got n and booked our system one bus only day saver tickets. The ticket machine was a new one which was only fitted about two week before our visit. We went upstairs and as it was empty at this point, Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside 31814

We decided to do this to Unsworth and then see what came back on the next #93. The journey was swift and uneventful ans we got off just South of the shops and were Matthew got another picture of this bus.

31814 in Unsworth

We crossed the road and then waited for the return service. We let the #154 service go which was now worked by Stott's Tours. Last time we had been this way the #154 was a Bluebird service. Within a few minutes the #93 appeared and it was slightly disappointingly a Mercedes single decker. As it got closer we could see it was required First Manchester 60239.

First Manchester 60239 in Unsworth

We boarded the bus and did it back to Bury. Matthew got a picture of this bus empty.

Inside 60239

At this point we had already done 2 buses and it was only just after 11:00! The coach wasn't due to return until just after 16:00. As we realised we had nearly 5 hours left, we decided to go a little further afield on the next trip. We saw 34023 on a #524 Bolton service, but this was not required. Within a few minutes First Manchester 37391 appeared on a 471 to Bolton, which I decided it would be a good idea to go to the point where the #471 meets the #510 on the outskirts of Bolton. This would give us a choice of service on which to return on. Matthew got a picture of required 37391 just before we boarded it.

First Manchester 37391 in Bury

On the bus, Matthew photographed the empty rear of the bus as we sat down.

Inside 37391

On the way we made good progress until we reached the junction Bury & Bolton Road and Starling Road. An accident on the crossroads was preventing traffic going straight on, so the driver decided to divert the bus and turn right onto Starling Road. The bus then went into Ainsworth and then turned left onto Bradley Fold Road rejoining the original route a few hundred yards further on. Having passed a Morrison's supermarket on our right, we decided to get off and wait for a return service. Matthew got another picture of 37391 as we got off.

37391 at Tonge Fold

As we were next to some local shops at Tonge Fold and it wasn't raining, we decided to have some dinner from a local take away. We had 2 bacon barms and a sausage barm. As I ordered the food, Matthew was outside with Uncle Dave taking pictures of buses on this busy stretch of Road. This included 37302 on a following #471. There was also bendy bus 12011 on a Rochdale bound #471.

37302 at Tonge Fold

We sat down on a bench and ate the food. Matthew helped Uncle Dave finish off his sausage barm, as he not been quick enough! This was washed down with Coca Cola. After we had eaten dinner on a bench. Another Bolton bound #471 turned up and this was 37291.

37291 at Tonge Fold

Whilst we waited we also saw a few of the local services. 40350/359 and 404 were seen on Whithins circulars, as well as disappointingly 60283 on a #510 to Bury. This must have meant that Bury had taken over the running of the #510 and that First's Plaxton Pointer bodied Darts from Bolton would no longer come to Bury. After dinner we crossed the road to wait for the return to Bury. It turned up and it was 37391 again. I think the accident had messed up the running of the #471 today...

37391 at Tonge Fold

As we re-entered Bury we passed 10017 on a Bolton bound #471. When we got to Bury 31812 was waiting to work a #98 service. We got straight on this and decided to do it to Radcliffe bus station. We got on and Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus.

Inside 34812

We also saw 31811 depart from stand B-D but we didn't see what this was on. The journey to Radcliffe was uneventful. There was an obnoxious child at the front of the bus who had apparently "beaten everybody up" or "smashed someone's kneecaps" even though he was only about 10! He decided it was a good idea to lie across the front window of the bus on the shelf under the window. I was praying that the driver would floor the bus and he would fall off but it didn't happen :-( We got to Radcliffe and Matthew was able to get a good picture of the fine beast in a rare moment in which the sun came out.

34812 in Radcliffe bus station

After using the facilities outside Radcliffe Market, we returned to the bus station. We let go Scania 61140 on a #524 service and we also saw 34023 on a Bolton bound #524. There were a couple of Maytree Travel vehicles on #512 and #513 services and then 34028 turned up on a #524 to Bury. The bus was dud, but we decided to do this beast again anyway.

34028 in Radcliffe bus station

We boarded and went upstairs, and Matthew got a picture of the empty rear of the top deck. It turned out that this was our third run on this bus, having previously had a short run on a Ramsbottom circular on our first coach trip to Bury. We had also been on this bus between Radcliffe and Bury before, albeit on a different route.

Inside 34028

Another good journey was had on 34028. the highlight of which was watching a drunk load shopping into his bag only for shopping to fall out of the huge hole in the bottom. this action was repeated many time and still the penny didn't drop. We arrived back and there seemed to be a bit of a lull in activity. Matthew got a picture of 37297 as it left Bury.

First Manchester 37297 in Bury

Having taken a few more pictures there seemed to be several buses in at once. 34028 had come off the #524's and was now standing spare on the other side of the bus station. Then 3 double deckers came in in quick succession. A Rochdale bound #471 appeared, closely followed by 31816 which came in to work a #98. The driver was changing over on the #98 and there was a really long queue of passenger to get on this service. As we waited 34291 appeared on stand B so we assumed it was about to work a #93. matthew decided he wanted to abandon 31816 and go for a North Counties bodied bus instead which as this was very lightly loaded this was probably the best plan. As we waited for the bus to be readied, Matthew got a picture of 34291 through the glass.

First Manchester 34291 in Bury

As we boared we were delight to see that 34291 had the Manchester Orange and Brown squares patten moquette on the seats, so as we went upstairs Matthew got a picture of the empty top deck.

Inside 34291

With a little elass then 2 hours before the coach was due to return home, we decided to do this as far as we could. We had never been further South than Unsworth on the #93 service, and the Bury area map ran out just South of Unsworth anyway. The journey would take us into new territory and as such I could only rely on the timetable to work out how far we could go as the map in the timetable didn't render very well on the Acrobat/Blackberry software. First we passed the Whitefield transport interchange. this looks a great place to get off as buses in both directions stop in the same place, there are bus shelters and you can a get a picture of the bus before it turns back to the stop. Then we passed Bess o' the Barn which looks another good place to go. Stops on opposite sides of the road have shelters and the #93 and #137 are both served on this stretch of Road. We eventually got of at Prestwich Tesco. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a mini bus station or stops on the road. It turned out to be stops on the road but it is a very wide and busy road to cross. Matthew did get another picture of 34291 before we crossed to wait for either a 93 or 98 back to Bury. We didn't have to wait long before w spotted a double decker in the distance heading our way. Unfortunately for us it was 31814 which was the first bus we had been on when we arrived at Bury! We dedied to do this anyway as we did not know what else was going to be heading North and it might have been a mammoth trip on a full Mercedes single decker if we were unlucky... As the journey back seem to be taking a lot less time than we had anticipated we were approaching Bury just after 15:00. We decided to get off on the Manchester Road and then catch something else into Bury just to get one more bus in before we were due home. as we approached Dumers lane we saw a Scania on a #524 go ahead of us. We also saw a bendy bus on a #135 stop at the same time but we did not rush to do this. So we waited and the next service to come along was another #524 which was another Mercedes. As it approached we could see it was required 60223, numerically the first in the batch. Matthew got a picture and then we boarded the bus.

First Manchester 60223 on the Manchester Road

We did the short trip into Bury and Matthew got another picture before we met up with mum.

60223 in Bury

We then had a quick sausage roll break on stand A before we walked back towards the coach. Stopping at the Market toilets on the way, we arrived back at the coach just before 15:45. There were 6 coaches parked up and got a few picture before we got on ours. Out of these coaches 3 were from North Staffordshire operators. We set off a little after 16:00, and the journey back was swift. We did not stop at any services and we were back on Longton Hall Road at just after 18:00. The driver had said that he had recognised Matthew from a visit he had had to Copeland's depot back in 2009 with outreach. He was certainly the most entertaining driver we have had on a coach trip so far...Mark