Bus wars lol

So monday looks like its going to be battle lines drawn. Glad i am sitting up Glossop for the day.
Just in case you wanted to read it here is there Speedwell Value site. Bit cheap looking but as you will read so is the service.
http://www.speedwellvalue.com/Speedwell.htm

Soz no pic. i dont normally do this sort of news type thing but just in case you are interested.

Things you don't see.

I see lots of things going on with the new metro link line. This is the back of the city stadium as you can see. Even here they are cracking on. And i thought it was going past the front of the ground.

Off home.

Just left dale street. This is piccadilly village. Nice apartment complex on the ashton canal. Gonna head up to littlemoss then through dairy nook to home.

Bad business!

Finished at 12. So thought i would take advantage of a bit of sunshine. I've come down to piccadilly. Just having a drink then home. This is the 216 stand. In reality there should always be a bus here. But as you can see they are all stuck elsewhere in traffic.

More water.

I was so busy yesterday i forgot to post these pics of the nasty storm that came over about 7 am yesterday. The lightning apparently hit a plane at manchester on take off and it had to turn around and land again. Oops. Anyway, it's 4am just up and ready to go not too bad i finish at 12 today.

Cold miserable and still wet.

Just started. On a split today. I'm the first 217 from the hospital. No one getting on but i'm sure there will be when i get round to mossley. Although we might lose them once speedwell start with there 1 quid fixed price bus service next month. Will be a lot quicker than this too!

What!

This is ricky hattons new gym in hyde. Outside it's advertising his new line of clothing? What shorts and gloves! Anyway up to glossop next in the none stop rain and roadworks.

Nice view.

I am off today so i am finally out on my bike. I have stopped off at copsterhill park. There is a nice viewing area at the back looking towards the south. Not sure till i get home but you might be able to see jodrell bank telescope.

Changing skyline.

This is cardinal court in Oldham. As you can see its a very talk apartment block and can be seen from many parts around the town. The pub at the bottom of the picture has been empty for a long time now. Situated opposite the also empty b and p building at mumps.

Nothing happening still

I forgot about this pic. It's on stamford street in ashton. Used to be blues night club. It's affo boarded up for ages now. I think it was going to be apartments but the current credit crunch has put a stop to it.

Piece of cake.

Exactly that. Walking through Oldham. It seems there is some sort of something going on in town today. I saw this piece of cake with 7 others being pushed up the road.

Go again.

So. Started at 430. Just got into stockport after the first trip. As you can see it's pretty quiet. Only me on the bus park. That was a busy trip i picked 3 people up lol. Onwards.

On the way home.

Just on my way home from work. It's been a long day. Very often we do split shifts which are basically do your first bit. Have about 4 hours off then do another piece in the afternoon. So the moral is a 12 hour day for 8 hours pay. Suits some people i suppose, i go to gym in the break. Anyway i took this pic at the lights at Oldham road. Thought it looked nice. Moan over now. In at 430am tomorrow on 330 if i can get up.

Shopping time

Been a while since i had a shop around ashton so i am today. On the way round found these odd people playing the pan pipes.the dancers seem to be enjoying it anyway,

Manners?

This is from my bus on stockport bus park. I have just done my first 330 and i ain't too impressed. The people getting on are the most miserable lot i have done since the 192's. Very few have the common ability to say hello or goodbye or thanks. I like to think i am happy in my job and i have been brought up to be polite so it's pretty annoying this morning. Anyway good to have a change of scenery.

We Know Where You Are!!

Passing through Droylsden today i notce this little thing on the side of the lampost. Its the new ANPR cameras which are being installed all across the city to see what everyone is doing in there cars. Apparently it's to stop criminals and catch bad people. OK then... if you say so..

Out and about.

Just finished work. Heading down the ashton canal. There are some very nice houses along here. Not sure how long i will be out the rain keeps showing it's face.

More rain.

6am start today. On the 217 which leaves from stalybridge. This route has picked up a lot since we first started doing in last year, should be a busy trip. Finish at 12 today then i think i will route learn the 389. Although was told yesterday that arriva have got them in the near future. This will be the first route arriva have into ashton bus station. Might be a sign of things to come.

So boring!

Kids are off school now and they roads are so much nicer to drive on. Does mean getting to time points sometimes a little early and have to sit doing nothing for a few minutes. Almost finished for the day now. Out on the bike tomorrow weather depending after work.

Whats this about.

There seems to be numerous mentions in glossop about norfolk. Ie the pub and this plaque i just noticed. Not sure why.

Sleepy sunday.

I'm off today. There is a leaving do in ashton which i am going on. Little cuddly pick to make you go aww.

Nice market.

It's closed now but the inside market at glossop always seems busy. Looks nice and clean too. Been in once it's good inside too. Last trip now been a long day. Nearly pub time.

"A" for Almost gone.

Here is an update on the b of the bang. It's almost gone.took this earlier this week hence the sunshine. Lol. Looks like another rainy day today off to work at 12. Stuck on taxi service for 4 hours which is bringing the drivers to ashton and back to depot. It's so boring but better than sitting on ancoats lol.

Tameside council

Here we are again at the guide bridge butty shop. This council van driver is in the shop getting his breakfast. Look at the angle of the bus. This is the only way to get in to pick people up at this stop if there is something in the layby. You would expect the council to train there staff better than this. Total disgrace.

Thank you manchester.

As you see in this ad Gorton is celebrating 100years of being a district of manchester. Well great! we can celebrate with a shoot out.

More queues

This is the view down mossley road. More queues. Today is a very bad day on the roads. 216s next and not looking forward to it. Best go get some pain killers.

Early working

Just started it's 5am and it's not just us that start early. The fitters have to be here early to fix anything that has gone wrong. I have a headlight bulb out so looking for mr fix it. Who did so very quickly. On with the 7s

Another world

Just a quick shot of a nice little village we go through a lot. Although they do like to park on both sides and make things very difficult it still seems very quiet up here.

Same old

This is a very familiar site at the moment. This dart has over heated. The drivers are not allowed to put the water in anymore so we have to wait for a fitter or in this case an inspector to fill it up once its cooled down. This bus didn't run and the passengers waiting for the 20 minutes service that is a 7 waited another 20 minutes.

Soon be winter.

430am waiting for taxi bus to work. Nice to see the street lamps on. A sure sign we are on a downhill slope to winter. Yes i know it's july but would like to sleep in without the sun coming through. On the glossop bus all day one week till we have big changes. 47 drivers coming from charles st and the 330 route coming to us from stockport depot.

Looks like trouble.

Looks like something big is going on at grey mare lane. Police have sealed it off at the junction of ashton new road.

Nice and quiet!

Saturday morning and this is the view down portland street in manchester. At the moment it's quiet but another couple of hours and there will be cars taxis and people everywhere.

Thanks for nothing!

This is the luxury canal quarter apartments and town houses at the new marina in Droylsden. Looks like nothing has happened here for a while now. I am aware of the credit crunch but surly they shouldn't be allowed to leave things like this.

The calm.

Just done a school. Sat on henry st in glossop now waiting to do a 236 to manchester. Gonna be a busy trip i think especially on ancoats with the traffic as bad as at has been recently.

Acorn bespoke roofing.

Nice parking guys. They were sat stuffing there faces in the cafe At guide bridge layby laughing at the bus struggling to pick this lady up with a pram.

Trouble already,

The day has hardly started and this first bus has broken down At the lights on wellington road. Should cause traffic problems very soon.

Finished

Just finished and called home before gym. This looked scary lol.

Still raining

The roads are not easy today. Very busy and wet just waiting time out at gorton tesco

Horrid day

So. First day back after a nice 4 day weekend. Its horrible out. The windows keep steaming up and the demisters are not much use. Dread to think what it will be like when people actually get on. Will have to tell them not to breathe. On the 7 at the moment then the current horror that is the 216. With all the roadworks on ashton new road and great ancoats street it's blood boiling work. They are even diverting the buses to try to get them into town quicker.

Out finally.

Weather not too bad so thought i would have a ride out to park on my newly fixed bike. It's nice to see it so busy. Don't know where to head next. Not too far no tools with me.

Says it all

Here we go again. On the 409 to ashton.

Blooming good

Looks like Oldham has made some effort for the britain in bloom this year. Ashton too has made a good effort with the baskets along wellington road looking very pleasant.