The World's Our Bus Stop
My November 2005 circumnavigation of Greater Manchester by bus (Page 2)
Contents:
1213: 247, The Trafford Centre - Eccles
With a fair wait till the next bus into Walkden, I decided to catch this Arriva North West service to Eccles. The down side was no visit to that good cafe at the Ellesmere Centre. I remembered that Eccles market had a cafe at the back, where I went one Whit Friday in 1999.
The bus was a Marshall bodied Dennis Dart with awful suspension. It was like boarding the 1623 Sundays 220 from Manchester or the old 375 service from Stockport to Ashton via Guide Bridge (when Glossopdale ran the service).
I originally intended to continue the journey to Eccles' new bus station to see the £250,000 bus shelter overlooking the College Court flats and Morrisons store. The driver stated he was going to pause for three minutes. Conveniently, Eccles indoor market was opposite.
The result was a good value all day breakfast from the market hall cafe. Costing £3.00, this had the usual bacon, egg, sausage, tomato and baked beans, plus some rather well done toast (close to how I like toasted white bread). This price included a mug of tea. The market was quiet, with the cafe the busiest of the stalls.
My first visit, May 1999, included the purchase of two Supertramp albums, as well as an all day breakfast.
1303: 68, Eccles - Bolton
After 13 minutes waiting outside Eccles town hall, this low floor single decker arrived on time. This was the first First Manchester service of the afternoon. The bus was a 1997 S-reg vehicle in Barbie 1 livery, with a similar colour scheme inside.
This bus was formerly used on the Gold Service routes, which now form part of the Greater Manchester's Overground network. The journey was relatively trouble free, apart from the second temporary traffic light of the day at Captain Fold estate.
On the site of the former 1979 Bolton bus depot is a huge Sainsburys store with a private car traffic boosting retail development.
1415: 471, Bolton - Rochdale
I made a slight hiccup, waiting at the post 1900 hours stand for this service at Bolton bus station. Asking a fellow driver on a fag break, I was directed to F stand. Within seconds, I boarded the 471.
The bus was a 1999 Mercedes Citaro single decker, with harder seats than the one on the 68. I made about five different changes of seat, due to legroom and view issues. These buses were previously used on the 409, Rochdale - Ashton-under-Lyne service, and replaced by the better Wright bodied Dennis Dart (more later).
On this bus, I saw for the first time in over five years a revenue protection officer (inspector in layperson's terms) checking tickets. Some behind me were reprimanded for paying the concessionary fare - they were 17 years old. Another boarded with an out of date weekly pass.
The third temporary traffic light of the day was seen at Heywood town centre, outside the Corgi Heritage Centre model shop.
1530: 409, Rochdale - Oldham
The infamous '9 bus', as some call this route from its Oldham Corporation era. Again, hardly any waiting to board the new Wright bodied Dennis Dart. This service left Rochdale bus station two minutes, with the service packed full of shoppers, being the post-school, pre-commuter period. The service was marred by slow running up to Royton, with the fourth temporary traffic light at Lowerplace.
Due to the journey time and arduous nature of the route, I decided to dismount at Oldham.
The other reason was a toilet stop and a connection with the...
1620: 343, Oldham - Dukinfield
This service left the temporary stand at Oldham four minutes late. Phase two of Oldham's futuristic bus station was under construction, resulting in some services using the temporary stands JJ and KK. The latter accommodated the 343, 52 and the 149 before 1900 hours.
I could have continued my 409 journey to Ashton and caught the Dukinfield buses there. Quite wisely, I decided to catch the bus which started a 20 year plus obsession in public transport, mainly Greater Manchester Transport.
The late running counted for nothing, as the bus was a double decker. The result: views of the scenic section of this route between Grotton and Stalybridge. Sadly, the only distant views were the street lights (though still fascinating) and Birmingham style congestion up to Lees. Apart from the sedate ride, a woman boarded at Carrbrook, reluctant to fold her buggy, for her short hop two stops away. This resulted in an altercation between her and the driver, stating the regulations concerning the folding of buggies on step entrance buses - which I remember was a part of life on the Leyland Atlanteans. This held the journey time up by five minutes.
By 1724, I was home, eight hours and forty minutes after a successful circumnavigation of Greater Manchester by bus. I must be mad, but I didn't see it that way. I was thinking of a future one starting within the morning peak hours, so as to take in the Wigan borough. I wondered whether this was possible in West Yorkshire, starting from Huddersfield, taking in Halifax, Ilkley, Wetherby and Castleford. I doubt it, with West Yorkshire being the biggest ex metropolitan county. Who knows?
Statistics: Friday, 18th November 2005
For reasons of comparison, statistics will also be displayed for the 6th January 1999 circumnavigation. These will be presented in brackets.
Start Time: 0844 (0906)
Finish time: 1724 (1624)
Buses caught: 12 (11)
By Operator:
Stagecoach in Manchester: 5 (2)
First Manchester: 5 (5)
First Pennine: * (1)
Arriva North West: 2 (1)
R. Bullock and Son: 0 (1)
Rossendale Transport: 0 (1)
* Absorbed by First Manchester, September 2000
Average journey time per bus: 40 minutes
Average wait per connection: 7 minutes
All above figures are approximate.
