Trip to Chorley / Leyland 22-02-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
33178	Chorley TI	Towngate, Tesco (Stand F)	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
47326	Towngate, opp Job Centre	Chorley TI	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
15565	Chorley TI	Whittle-le-Woods, by Hardacre Lane	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15839	Whittle-le-Woods, by Moss Lane	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15564	Chorley TI	Whittle-le-Woods, by Foxglove Drive	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15565	Whittle-le-Woods, by Moss Lane	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to re-visited Chorley. We didn't chose where we were going until Friday night as we were lookng at the weather forecasts to see where the weather would be best this weekend. It seemed to be that we could go almost anywhere except west so we ruled out Chester and Birkenhead. Having chosen to go to Chorley we looked at the stagecoach website to get a map of the Chorley area and also looked up the price of the local Mega Dayrider ticket (£4.40). The weather was set to be cloud but dry. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 11:30 and we drove onto the A5035 before going onto Stanley Matthews Way. We then headed onto the West bound A50. We were passed by Silverdale MV12 ODY as we got onto the roundabout at Sideway before heading North on the A500. We did the A500 to Shelton new road where we stopped to take on LPG. We headed back onto the A500 via the Westbound A53. We got onto the Northbound M6 and the traffic was moving well we headed North over the Thelwall viaduct and North beyond the M62. We came off at junction 27 and we headed East towards Standish. We had looked up a few cafe's for something to eat when we reached Chorley, and we had seen there was a cafe on A6 as you came in to Chorley from the South. So we headed over to the A6 via the A5106. We didn't see the cafe on the way in, but as we entered the town we saw a sign for a chip shop cafe. We came around and parked on the Fleet Street car park and after I had checked out the parking and the location of the chippy we walked along Fleet Street to the corner of Pall Mall. Here lies the Big Lamp chippy which has a small dinning area to one side of the shop that seats around 20. Matthew visited their toilet and he had Chips, egg and sausage with a round of bread of butter washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked by to the car, and I photographed some interesting stencil art on the wall as I went. We drove around to the main car park in town which is adjacent to the the Transport Interchange. The car park was very busy so we stopped and said goodbye to mum whilst she parked up the car. There was a required Dart on layover in the Interchange in the form of Stagecoach 34620. We also saw another Dart coming around and we guessed correctly that it was probably on the #109 to Preston via Leyland. It pulled onto stand and we saw it was Required Stagecoach Lancashire 33178.

Stagecoach Lancashire 33178 in Chorley Interchange

There was a driver change so we had to wait for the bus to be readied for service. In the meantime Matthew photographed a required stagecoach 15581 on the adjacent stand.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15581 in Chorley Interchange

When the bus was ready we got on and purchased our Chorley Mega Dayrider tickets. The back of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture of the inside of the bus at the rear step.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 33178

We sat down and the bus left town Westwards. We passed the big out of town Tesco store and the crossed over the railway line into Euxton. We turned right and we headed North through the village on the A49. At this point we passed required ALX300 bodied MAN Stegecoach Lancashire 22253. At a crossroads by a pub called The Bay Horse we turned right onto Euxton Lane. We headed East for a short while crossing back over the West coast main line and then we turned left to head into Buckshaw Village crossing over the line to Manchester via Bolton. Buckshaw Village is a large housing estate built on the grounds of and old ordinance factory. They seem to be really nice and unusual house set in unusual landscaping. It's not every day you can buy a house with its own moat! We then turned back West for the run into Leyland. Here we passed required Stagecoach Dart 34680 on a #109 to Chorley. We rolled into Leyland and we got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of 33178 before it carried on Northwards.

Stagecoach Lancashire 33178 in Leyland

Before we walked to the stop around the corner to look at the timetable. The buses run in an unusual pattern of being 20 and 40 minutes apart. We had just missed the 14:08 and the next bus back was 14:48! So we decided to go for a bit of a walk around town. On the opposite side of the road to where we got off, we saw Fishwicks 14 on the #111 Preston service.

Fishwicks 14 in Leyland

We walked along St Andrews Way around a large Tesco store and we saw Fishwicks 15 on a #111 service.

Fishwicks 15 in Leyland

We sat down and Matthew a Rice Crispies Square bar and a bottle of Cherryade. We decided to go into a local chip shop and replace the pop from the trip bag and we also brought a can of Coke. As we were going to go back Matthew spotted the toilet in an ice cream parlour! After using the toilet Matthew had a vanilla cone at £1.50. We walked back along St Andrews Way and back to the stop for the return service. Just as our bus was due we saw Fishwicks 5 on another #111 service.

Fishwicks 5 in Leyland

Right behind the Fishwicks bus was required Stagecoach 47326 on the #109 service.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47326 in Leyland

We got on the bus and booked to Chorley. With it being a Solo Matthew tried to beep the horn but we didn't let him.We sat down near the back of the bus and we headed out of town towards Buckshaw Village. On the way in we noticed the wicker man statue as we entered the village. We headed South and back through Euxton. We passed the big Tesco and we went into Chorley. When the bus emptied Matthew waited for the Solo to empty before getting a picture inside this bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47326

There wasn't anything significant in when we got back so we had a walk around the Interchange taking pictures. We saw required Transdev Lancashire United 1101 on the #2 to Darwen. A couple of double deckers come in so we walked back into the interchange to catch one. The bus towards Bolton was dud Stagecoach 15573 and the bus towards Preston was required 15565.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Chorley Interchange

We got on Stagecoach 15565 and booked to Whittle-le-Woods and then we went upstairs. The bus was emptied in front of us, so Matthew took his picture straight away.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15565

The bus set off though town along the A581 before going onto the Northbound A6 by the out of town retail stores. We passed the hospital and crossed over the Preston to Bolton line before going into the village of Whittle-le-Woods. This is a place we had been before last time we came to Chorley back in June 2013. We decided to get off where we had gotten off last time. Just after the BP garage we got up and got off. Matthew then got another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15565.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Whittle-le-Woods

We walked back down to the BP garage and got some cash from the cash machine. We then visited the Spar shop where Matthew used the toilet and then we brought Chocolate & pop. After we had finished we headed back to the road and we were about to cross when we spotted a strange tri-axle minibus. It was Lancashire County Council welfare bus PO60 AYT.

Lancashire CC PO60 AYT in Whittle-le-Woods

We crossed the road and we had a picnic whilst we waited for the bus. Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke and a Milky Way. We didn't have to wait too long before required Stagecoach Lancashire 15839 appeared.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15839 in Whittle-le-Woods

We got on the bus and went upstairs. The journey back was swift and we got back into Chorley in no time. When we got back to Chorley Matthew took a picture of the lower saloon in Stagecoach Lancashire 15839.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15839

On the #109 was required Stagecoach Lancashire 47331 but we didn't fancy doing another Solo today! After visiting the toilet we had a walk around the outside of the Interchange and took a few more pictures. It wasn't long before another couple of double deckers arrived in the bus station. Required 15572 was on the #125 to Bolton and required 15564 was on the #125 to Preston. I was hoping to go south on 15572 but Matthew chose to go North again on 15564. Whilst we were waiting for 15564 to re readied for service, we saw Transdev Lancashire United 253 on the #2 to Darwen.

Transdev Lancashire United 253 in Chorley Interchange

We took a picture of Stagecoach 15564 before we got on it.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15564 in Chorley Interchange

We went upstairs and the bus was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside before we sat down.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15564

The bus set off through town and up to the A6 along the A581. We headed passed the hospital and over the railway before going into Whittle-le-Woods. We got off a stop earlier so we were closer to the bus stop for the return journey. When we got off we got another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15564.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15564 in Whittle-le-Woods

There seemed to be a small gap in the service, and whilst we waited Matthew drank a bottle of orangeade. The bus eventually turned up and it was dud Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 which we had done North earlier!

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Whittle-le-Woods

We decided that this was going to be the last journey of the day. We headed back down the A6 and into town. When we got back Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside 15565 again.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15565

As we got off Matthew said hello to a couple of people and he went to the toilet. We then decided to have one last walk around the Interchange before going back to the car. We had noticed there was quite a variety of buses on the the Arriva run #362 service to Wigan. On this occasion we saw East Lancs Myllennium bodied DAF Arriva NW&W 2829.

Arriva NW&W 2829 in Chorley Interchange

Matthew also got a couple more pictures double deckers in the Interchange, ironically the best was of Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 again.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15565 in Chorley Interchange

We walked back to the car where we surprised mm as we hadn't called ahead to let her know we were coming. Matthew had his sausage roll washed down with a can of Irn Bru. He also had a copy of this months Buses magazine to read. Mum nipped to Iceland whilst we ate the sausage rolls and then we set off home. We set off out of town down the A6 hooping to go back the way we came but I followed direction for the A49 & Wigan and we ended up going through Wigan! We went around most of the town and we joined on the A49 just South of the town near Sainsburys. Here we saw Stagecoach Wigan 27817 on a Leigh bound #600 and Stagecoach 22351 on a Wigan bound #600 service. We carried on down the A49 and joined the M6 quite a few miles South of where we intended to. It was now dark and we plough through Cheshire making good time of the relatively clear Road. As we neared the A500 I saw a few coaches so I slowed down so that we could see them. The first coach to pass up was Global Travel FN02 VBV. On the A500 we were passed by two other coaches Happy days 214 & 223. These coaches must have been returning from Stoke City's away game at Manchester City. We carried on down to the A50 and to Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz. There were 3 vehicles that were easily seen on the spare ground. First in the row was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next to this was Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Then there was Blackwoods liveried coach B12 FWS.

Z Carz B12 FWS in Longton

At the back were airport transfer minibus DL03 HHU and Volkswagon minibus OV05 WSW. We turned into willow Row and in the compound were Y569 DSF from the taxi fleet and long term SORN LDV minibus T408 JUX.

Z Carz Y569 DSF in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and into Heron Cross. We then went through Blurton and we got home around 18:45. After sorting out the photographs we took today we had a let tea of bangers and mash with carrots followed by cake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30...Mark

Trip to Chorley 22-06-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
33472	Chorley TI	Towngate, Tesco (Stand F)	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
47331	Towngate, opp Job Centre	Chorley TI	109	Stagecoach Lancashire
15566	Chorley TI	Whittle-le-Woods, by Hardacre Lane	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
15563	Whittle-le-Woods, by Moss Lane	Chorley TI	125	Stagecoach Lancashire
MX58 ABO	Chorley TI	Buckshaw Village, opp Old Worden Hall‎	14	Tyrers
47329	Buckshaw Village, opp Old Worden Hall‎	Chorley TI	109	Stagecoach Lancashire

Today we decided to visit Chorley. We had picked up a leaflet on fares around Chorley after traveling on the #125 service last week and this is one of the reasons why Matthew chose Chorley. We didn't do too much research on this trip, other than have a quick look on the Stagecoach website and to check the weather. The weather was down as cloudy with heavy rain showers. Matthew also had a cookery class at Heathfield too, so mum set off around 09:20 to pick up her friend on the way. They went along the A5035 to Dresden and turned onto Belgave Road. They turned right onto Lightwood Road and then right onto Highland Drive. After picking up mum's friend we drove up to the A50 which we did up to the A500. We then went along the a500 up to the A527 Tunstall by-pass. We did this to the end and onto High Lane and down spring Bank Road to Heathfield. Whilst he was there he made a tuna salad wrap and also made a marble cake. After cooking he went into the hall and spent time in the soft play area. I packet the trip bag and came up to fetch Matthew. We set off around 1145 and went down Stanley Matthews Way and onto the A50. we then did the A500 to Etruria to pick up some LPG. As we were in Etruria we decided to go to Heathfield via Smallthorne. We did the A53 up to Sandbach Road and then to Smallthorne roundabout. Here we saw First Potteries 40010 on a Ball Green bound #98 service. We carried on down Smallthorne bank and then left onto Chell Heath Road. We had heard that the M6 was running slow heading North so we decided to eat locally whilst the road cleared a little. we had seen the cafe nearby so we asked if it was still open. having found out that it was we went to fetch Matthew from Heathfield. It was his last time here as he was now too old to attend these classes so he said goodbye to some of the great people that had spent time with Matthew during his many days in and out. We drove to the cafe on Spring Bank Road and parked nearby. Matthew had a breakfast and toast with some squash to wash it down. After eatting. Around 13:00 we left the cafe and got back in the car. Matthew had a can of coke and looked at his marble cake. As he had just had a big breakfast he decided to save it until later to eat after his post bus sausage roll. We headed back onto the A500 via the A527 and North to the M6. The northbound traffic was still moving slowly and as we joined the M6 we saw Caledonian Travel coach LSK 509.

Caledonian Travel LSK 509 on the M6

We caried on North through slow traffic. It cleared around junction 18 and it was quite beyond junction 21A. we came off at junction 27 and went via the A5209, past the BP petrol station which had a Costcutters, A5250, Boundry Lane/Pepper Lane, A49 and then the A5251. At the end of the A521 we turned left onto the A6. We did this north past the Interchange and then we parked in the flat iron car park just off the A6. We walked up the the bus station and Matthew used the toilet. After he had finished we were considering catching Stagecoach 15567 which we had been on before. The we saw required stagecoach Lancashire 33472 on a #109 service.

Stagecoach Lancashire 33472 in Chorley Interchange

We booked Chorley dayrider plus tickets and sat down near the back of the bus. We set off to Euxton and over the west coast main line. we then headed north to Buckshaw. The bus was sparsely filled, but because of how people wee arranged Matthew was only able to get a phot0 of the back few seats.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 33472

We carried on through Buckshaw and then into Leyland. Whist we were on the bus there was quite a heavy shower. I was getting wet from an open window which was half way down the bus. The rain stopped just before we got of the bus. It was a nice wide pavement and he was able to get a really nice shot of this ALX Dart.

Stagecoach Lancashire 33472 in Leyland

We checked the bus stop to see if this was where we caught the return #109, It wasn't of course, but as we looked we saw this fine example of a Pulsar 2 belonging to Fishwicks.

Fishwick's YJ60 GHF in Leyland

We walked around the corner to the right stop, (the stop opposite was out of use, the reason for which soon becomes apparent). There was no shelter at this stop and it started to rain a little. We saw Fishwicks YJ09 CWF heading in the opposite direction. The rain stopped again and then the bus we wanted appeared around the corner. It was required Stagecoach Lancashire 47331.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47331 in Leyland

We got on and Matthew was trying to honk the horn. the driver did it for him on this occasion. It was a well filled Solo and we sat near the back. As the bus headed through Buckshaw it did empty out a little. By the time we got to Chorley the bus was nearly empty. At the interchange the bus finished emptying and Matthew got a picture inside this bus.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47331

On an adjacent stand was required Stagecoach Lancashire 15566 on a Preston bound #125 service. We decided to do this so Matthew got a quick picture before we got on the bus.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15566 in Chorley Interchange

We got on the bus and sat upstairs. The top deck was nearly empty but there were people dotted about front and back. We headed through town and onto the A6. We then headed North up to the hospital. When we got to Whittle-le-Woods we saw a convenient stop we got off. Matthre took another picture of Stagecoach Lancashire 15566.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15566 in Whittle-le-Woods

We walked down to the total garage which had a Spar shop. Matthew used the toilet and then e brought 2 bottles of Coke, a Milky Way and a Galaxy Caramel. As we walked back to the crossing we heard a noisy vehicle approaching, It was a Tarmac steam lorry and it thundered past at great speed!

Tarmac steam lorry in Whittle-le-Woods

We crossed the road and walked to the stop. Whilst there Matthew had a Milky way and one of his bottle of Coke. We then saw a Preston bus approaching. It was Preston Bus 20776.

Rotala Preston Bus 20776 in Whittle-le-Woods

Right behind this was the #125 service. It was dud Stagecoach Lancashire 15563.

Stagecoach Lancashire 15563 in Whittle-le-Woods

We got on the bus and sat down on the top deck. We followed 20776 down and into the hospital. There was only one other person on the top deck and they got off on the edge of town near B&Q. Matthew took a picture of the top deck at this point.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 15563

We carried on into town and into the bus station. e got off the bus and Matthew used the toilet again. He also decided to visit the travel office and he picked up a timetable for the Transdev #124 service. We were about to do a #125 towards bolotn when matthew decided he wanted to go on a Tyrers bus. It was required Tyrer's MX58 ABO. Having worked out where the bus was going we got on and sat down near the back. The bus headed north as if on a #125 but didn't call into the hospital. Just North of the hospital the bus turned left into what looks like an industrial estate called Buckshaw village. At the end of this was a housing estate. When we got to the end of the housing estate we were on the familiar looking Central Avenue. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside this nice example of a Solo.

Inside Tyrer's MX58 ABO

He also got a good picture of the outside too.

Tyrer's MX58 ABO in Buckshaw village

We got off and we were a little worried that we were gong to have to wait nearly an hour. Luckily that was for the Fishwick's #109. The stagecoach service was due any minute. It turned the corner and we could see it was a Solo. It turned out to be required Stagecoach Lancashire 47329.

Stagecoach Lancashire 47329 in Buckshaw village

We got on the bus and sat down near the back. The journey back was swift and we got back to and when we got back Matthew photographed the inside of the 47329 to.

Inside Stagecoach Lancashire 47329

We carried on into town and into the bus station We spotted Transdev 212 on a #124 to Blackburn.

Transdev Lancashire United 212 in Chorley Interchange

We walked around the bus station and took a few pictures of buses. One such bus was Arriva NW&W 2678 on a #362 to Wigan.

Arriva NW&W 2678 in Chorley Interchange

We walked around to the car where mum was waiting, with Wrights sausage rolls and a can of Irn Bru followed by his marble cake. We set off back via the A6, A5251, A49 and onto the M6 at junction 27. We headed South and the road was clear so we made good time. We headed onto the A500 and then onto the A50. here we saw former Procters coach HIL 7615 pass us. we got off the A50 at Longton to see the Z carz depot. There were 4 buses parked up on the spare ground First was Z carz DAF mini coach W344 WNS.

Z Carz W344 WNS in Longton

The we saw BV51 BNO which we haven't seen for a week or two, a regular school bus.

Z Carz BV51 BNO in Longton

R920 WNT was parked at the back and finally, relative newcomer W221 CDN was there too..

Z Carz W221 CDN in Longton

We turned Willow Row where we saw Volkswaggon minibus DX55 WGE parked up.

Z Carz DX55 WGE in Longton

We carried on around onto Longton Hall Road and then into Blurton. On Beaconsfield Drive we saw First Potteries 40179 on a #23 service. We got home around 19:00 and We had a late tea of bangers and mash followed by cheesecake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00...Mark