Merseyside Bike ride

Here is a few pics from the Trans Pennine trail yesterday. Was a very
enjoyable ride and I would recommend it anytime.

Rubbish service

I worked 5 - 12 today. After work i hit the trans pennine trail and decided to head to liverpool. Was one of the most enjoyable rides i have ever done and will certainly be heading up further to southport at some point. It's tiring in the heat though especially when you have been up since 3am. I was shocked however at the two car train that turned up at at 6pm. It was so full and hardly the most enjoyable ride i have ever had. Lots of people got off at ashton too. I asked one of them if they get it everynight and he said yes. I then asked why don't they get the bus and the answer was speed. People would rather be squashed up in a small train that runs every twenty minutes that go get the bus. I know what i would prefer anyway. Just a shame bikes can't go on the bus.


Like Ian said, Buses need these.

Back to it

Today is one of them, "why did i offer to do that" days. Sods law it's sunny and i'm in work by choice lol. Oh well at least i'm out in the sunshine. Doing till 4pm then gonna head to the gym i think. I been a bit lazy recently. Got 2 trips on a 216 to start with followed by a glossop and gee cross. Back in at 440 in the morning so might head out on the bike tomorrow afternoon too.

New facebook Group

Noticed a new facebook group has been set up to try to get a faster bus service for Glossop and Hadfield.
It's been set up by one of the driving instructors who must live on the route. If your on facebook might be nice to boost the numbers. the group is called "Give Glossop and Hadfield a Fast bus Service"

I'm back in work tomorrow and Wednesday doing overtime. Not going anywhere for my two weeks off so i thought may as well.
Have changed the layout slightly and colours hope it looks ok.

Worse bus strikes again.

I'm on my last duty before my official summer break starts for two weeks. Two things wrong with this picture. Firstly the first bus parked on the 216 stand because the driver wanted some money and also the engine cover is up on this bendy bus. I am working 4 out of my 14 days off although not sure what days yet. Just a shame my bike can't come a bit sooner. On another note i'm told the x61 is being withdrawn in october and replaced with nothing.

Something different.

Just started work. Another early today but this one is 5 - 2. Longer day but no 216s so thats a bonus. I have not done this one before. It starts with a 219 from stalybridge to manchester. This trip used to be done by hyde road until recently. After i get to ashton i do a 231 to town and back to ashton as another 219. Nice mix as i have not done either for a while. End the day with 2 on a 330 which i don't mind.

Cheating

Here is the link to the trail i too whilst i was out. It's on my nokia phone nice tool. Well worth using it if you cycle a lot.

Changes to come

I'm just in withington after coming down the loop from work. It's very busy here just as i remember in term time. There are a few depot changes to come very soon. The 42 and 42a buses will all be run by princess road and route learning has begun already. Hyde road are to get the 256 service although this is not 100% yet but it will be a similar service if not. This is in preparation of princess road closing and moving to sharston. Anyway time to carry on. Thing i might head towards the airport.

Where has it gone?

I'm the first bus out of glossop this morning to town. Only a handful on and currently sat at the gunn inn waiting my time out. I came on my bike this morning. I hope the weather picks up. It feels like summer has been and gone already. I'm off for two weeks after my saturday morning duty, well that was the idea. I'm now off for 10 days out of 14 which is ok. Not going away so don't mind coming in helping. Hoping to get out on my bike though after work not sure where yet though. Am thinking down the fallowfield loop again maybe over to the trafford centre.

Little bus

I think this is the smallest bus we have at ashton on regular service. 33098. It's fun to drive and easy when it comes to the usual tight corner at droylsden and fairfield road on the 7 service. Only one of these to do and then 3 trips on the nightmare that is currently the 216. I did the same duty yesterday. Was certainly hard work but managed to do all 3 in a man bus lol. Nothing much going on at the moment apart from my new bike is ordered and will be with me first week in july so i'm a bit giddy now. The sunshine has vanished so the shorts are left at home. And it looks like it will rain for the next 30 years none stop. Apart from all that it's a nice simple day.

On a lighter note.

This is a funny. I joined this group months ago. This will be worth a few pictures of anyones camera and for a good cause too.

Early staff bus

Well it's 430am i'm just on sunnyside road in droylsden waiting to pick a driver up. Been a few weeks since i drove the b10. Really is a shame we don't use them in service anymore. This is such a lovely drive and very fast too. It wouldn't have boy problems keeping time on the 216s. Only got two pick ups then i'm on the afore mentioned 216s for 3 trips followed by a 330 i think although i'm not too sure as i have not written it down yet. Off tomorrow so a few beers in the garden and a dip in the pool will be in order later i think.

Not long now

Only a trip back to ashton on this 7 and i'm done. Think i might head to head and pick up the trans pennine trail to glossop when i'm done. Seems a nicer run than mottram road. Although it's getting pretty warm out here now. I wouldn't like to be sat at the back of this scania anyway near the engine.

Lovely day

Been on late duties all week so it's nice now the sun is out to do a couple of earlies. Started at 545 and finish at 1pm which is nice. Just a couple of 330s and a single trip on a 7. Have come on my bike today. Not long till i get my new one so i will see where i end up later on. It will certainly be a pretty warm afternoon. Just hope i can stay on it this time however almost recovered now from my little fall.

Crazy day

I'm just waiting time out in town. I notice the road has been closed for roadworks and the 192 is currently picking up opposite our stand. I bet it's going to be hammered at 5pm down here. not sure which was it's going but the amount of 192s that leave at peak time will certainly not help with traffic around this part of town. The gardens are very busy too with the sun being out. Kids are playing in the fountain and the pick pockets are hovering about lol. Wouldn't like to be down here later on. I believe the road works are on for a few weeks too.

Back to work

Just back at work after a nice day off. Easy 10 - 6 today with 2 on a 216 and glossop and gee cross after on a 346. Not much parking space in our place so i'm at the top end which sometimes feels like miles away especially when it's raining. In till saturday now easy days though with the kids being off.

Day off

I'm just waiting for the bus home in oldhams smaller horrid bus station. However not as horrid as the big one. I noticed a couple of things on the service change notice. Firstly a shuttle to dovestones from uppermill and greenfield and more oddly a single bus from mossley to manchester and a single return trip in the evening all run by checkmate. The one to town is 0710 from mossley and 1600 from town. Hardly the busiest of times to run it. Is this just to stop dead mileage if they start a 220 in town in the morning? Who knows. I'm sure these trips will have keen eyes watching them though.

Busy day

Just on my first part of the bank holiday late duty i do pretty often. I'm in manchester waiting to leave on my 217. Quiet run down but the city looks busy. On the glossop run after which is diverted because of some festival in stalybridge. Simple day. I'm off tomorrow so might head out on my bike weather depending. although i wouldn't lock my new one up here and leave it like some do.

Dirty runt! I said runt!

Just at royal oak pretty bored and this dirty sole just pulled up in car and decided to relieve himself in the bus shelter. It's still light and the pub is open so no need to do this. Even when we get caught sort we would never do this. Two more trips before i finish at 2220. No band contests tonight so should be easier than last night. Although the enviro i'm on 19116 is a little slow.

Rant time

Ok so we all know that there are road works on ashton new road. This is going to be the case for the next 2 years ish. So why are we having so many people getting on the bus giving us grief when no bus turns up then 5 come along at once. And sods law i normally end up taking off the one at the front. Also i had 3 days off last weekend to come back to "let's guess where the next bus stop is" game. The 216s at the moment should have a counsellor on bored each bus to comfort the driver when he finishes and the passengers as they get on. I even swapped my two duties yesterday and today to have a bit of a break on a late shift. I know there is very little we can do about the situation and i'm sure the company is fed up with all the complaints too. maybe we should adopt the amphibious bus idea and send them down the ashton canal. Anyway rant over. Off to work at 3 till 11 couple on the 347 then 5 hours around glossop. Oh heaven.

Ok look

This looks like a stagecoach train. I think we do run some trains round here although i don't know where they go. Odd to see it in our colours. Had such a manic week upto now. Mainly 216 most the week and every trip is guess work as to where the stops will move to next. Am glad i have swapped the next couple of days for late shifts. I think i would have had a breakdown by now if i didn't. Apart from that not much going on in the world of ashton bus life. I'm in now until tuesday usual late on bank holiday monday. So will see how things go.

Back to it

This isn't the scene for this morning. This is from our trip to blackpool on sunday. I'm sat at the gun in at the moment waiting to head to ashton on my 237. Get plenty of time so thought i'd stretch my legs and post this. Was hard work today. I feel like i have had two weeks off not 3 days. The cab heater has been on this morning coz it feels a little cooler. Just got this then 216s and a 7 easy.

Day out

Off to blackpool today on the depot day out. Gonna be a wonderfully hot day i think. I'm just at the bus stop waiting for a 409 and saw this old car coming down. Seen a few this morning usual sunny sunday i think. Travelling with mostonian today so will see what coach we end up with. Shame we can't just borrow the b10 for the day.

Whats going on.

Today has brought me to first bus bolton depot. It's the newest of the manchester depots and it is huge. It's much bigger than our place anyway. I'm off until tuesday. Good job too as i had a little accident on my bike yesterday and i'm a bit sore now. Nothing serious though.

How posh

New addition

This is the latest addition to the arcades shopping centre at ashton. Nice to see units don't stay empty for long around here. Always a popular store poundland. Just done a 330 got my chicken now so break time before i head to town for my 1750 to glossop which i have been looking forward too yippee. Wonder how many names i can be called before i get to ashton lol.

Fixed again.

Not one to give up i have replaced the cassette on the bike and i'm having the last few hours of sunshine outdoors. I just come down to daisy nook where the cafe is and this is the latest creation. It's been built over the past few months and is now open. It's a boat that has tables and swings on for the kids to play with looks nice actually. Was on my last early today. 9 5 tomorrow which is ok. Then 3 12 - 8s not good when it's sunny but needs must. Not sure where i am going to head to might just do the ashton then rochdale canals will see where my nose takes me.

Gee Cross

I took this on Apehorn Lane at Gee Cross. I came up the lane from the canal as i had been wondering what was up it. Some lovely houses on here. Including this very colourful row.

I have seen this building so many times passing on the 330 and wanted to come for a closer look. Another wonderful building.









I do have a few more pics but my pc is messing me about a little right now. I took my camera on the ride to these are not using my phone.

All going so well!

Finished at 1230. Went home got the bike out and headed out. I thought. Hyde, gee cross, stockport, manc, couple of beers in the village and home. Well NO! My crap bike has let me down again. Oddly racing traffic once more. I have lost my top gear cog. For some reason it's just spinning round. Not good, not happy. The cycle to work scheme has just started at stagecoach so i think it's time for a new one. Anyway i'm at macdonalds on hyde road sulking in a strawberry milkshake. Lol just kidding. Will start to head home and miss town out just in case i lose anymore cogs. Been a good few hours though went to take a few pictures of places i see all the time on the 330 but don't get chance to stop off at. Will post them later. This station is very interesting. Its north reddish station and for some reason there is only one train a week passes through here. It's on a friday and it only goes from stockport to stalybridge. How pointless is that!

First bus.

First ashton bus out of the bus station today. I think hyde road do the first couple of 216s coz i'm on a 330 at 0505. Finish at 1230 today so will head out on my bike later. Either towards town or up the rochdale canal. Not decided yet. I do want to try a route up the ship canal to liverpool but i can't find where to start from. Will keep looking but if anyone can help feel free. I got 3 trips on this 330 today which means the first couple will prob be swift ones. Nice finish with a trip to gee cross and back later.