More metrolink

On metrolink replacement today on the altrincham line today. Overtime too which is always welcome. The line is closed from 4pm and i finish at midnight easy this and a very nice drive. Working out of princess road again too. I don't get down to this part of the county very much so it does make a nice change. Back at ashton 9am.

Manchester Goes Green!

Many thanks goes to a friend of mine. I cannot get to Hyde road this week to
see these buses arrive for there fleet numbers and op details to be put on
so here are the pics I have been given.

I Believe these are destined for the 42 and 43. So at a top speed of 40 something don't expect to get there in a hurry!!
Thank James Brompton For the pics.

New Blog To Read.

If you used to read Martyn Bryant blog, which you will know stopped producing earlier in the year then you will like this. He is part of the team writing this one. Worth keeping up with. I wouldnt normally link like this but he does a very good job. Here is the link. I'll also leave a link on this site for it too.

Totally average

Very average day today. Not much happening apart from sitting in traffic on the new road for twenty minutes and having to swap my bus for this one at stockport on the 7. The bus didn't like my singing and decided to stop working. I'm getting a bit bored of this monsoon season we are having and would like some more sun before the winter comes. I'm done after this trip and back in at 630ish tomorrow morning.

Early Morning Ride

I have been out this morning up to Hollingworth Lake. Glorious up there at
7am. Felt like I had the place to myself. After that I headed down the
Rochdale canal for coffee in town then headed up the New Road and home.
Good Start to the day. It's a shame we have to read about what's going to
dominate the Manchester Evening News all day. The Story is regarding the
young girl who was asked not to breast feed her child on the bus. Here is the link to the story. I cannot comment on the rights and wrongs of breastfeeding as I am unaware of company policy
and know nothing of the health implications. Common sense would have
prevailed in this instance! Feel free to comment on the story though.

***************UPDATE******************
SHE LIED!!! Won't lower myself to saying too much about it.
This is why we love CCTV. Too many people feel the need to seek attention sadly and this is just one of them cases. I wonder if the 100+ comments slating us will be removed my the MEN!! I very much doubt it.
Thanks Chris,  here is the revised story from the MEN. Oddly she is still harking on she was ordered off the bus? Is ODD the word i am looking for?

Nice treat.

Been on the 216s this afternoon. Not to bad today. Leading upto peak time we get extra time at each end to make sure the buses get out as they should. Today i got this 59 plate enviro from stockport. I don't know why we have it. We seem to have a few loan buses at the moment. I can only guess the paint shop is doing extra work whist the kids are off. Nice drive this once it gets going. Although i can probably set off quicker on my mountain bike. On a late tomorrow not looked what it's on yet.

Cycle to Liverpool

I deleted the Where am I post. The date messed up on it because I put the
wrong date in my mobile phone for some reason so when it uploaded it read
the date off the phone. Not to worry, Been over to Liverpool again today on
my mountain bike. This time I went up the East Lancs. road. Very nice cycle
path along side the road there. I think I will be definitely doing it
again. Week of late duties coming up after tomorrows 10 hour day and I am
back at Princess road doing the Altrincham cover on the Metrolink on a late
on Sunday. Nice week really.

22241

Don't think i need to explain too much what this bus has been upto. Recently back to be fixed up after a long investigation. I'm sure it will take some time to get it back on the road. Back at ashton today and tomorrow for overtime. Then i'm off for three days which will be a most welcome rest.

Something missing?

Just come off my first part. Found this enviro 200 chassis sat here. Not sure what it's for but it's interesting to see whats inside the bus under all the fibre glass, plastic and aluminium.

Interesting week

I suppose working at ashton i have become somewhat relaxed in doing my job. The pace of work life is somewhat slower than working in the city all day long. Whilst i an enjoying doing this metrolink replacement, i find coming home with a headache isn't my cup of tea. The buzz of working in the city is brilliant and i love being busy and having to fight through traffic but i'll stick with the cruising through glossop and mossley with the odd trip on a 216 thrown in. I really don't know how more people don't get run over. Especially around the printworks area, the first drivers are brilliant in getting there buses around there all day and night without bumping into anything. Although we have managed it all week too may i add. Such a busy side of town which i have never worked until this week. And loved it. Had a few moaning people which is normal, but most have been pretty impressed with the service we have given. It's nice to recieve so many nice comments from people who have been put out somewhat. Anyway, this picture is the fire station near piccadilly station. A magnificent building with a great sunset behind it. I hope the picture comes out as good as it looked tonight. Back in at 10 tomorrow. Back at ashton friday and saturday before a couple of days off.

A Few Pics Of Princess Road

I can really see the attraction people have with working here. There seems a
nice buzz about the place. Here is a few pictures I tool yesterday thought I
would get them out the way before the manic week starts. I'm back at Ashton
on Friday and Saturday for my overtime days before 2 days off. I'm not in
until 930today which is annoying because I wanted to see the Monday morning
rush at Woodlands as everyone came off the tram. There is supposed to be a 3
minute service at peak today which means 16 buses running this route at busy
times. I will be doing the evening service however when people are fed up
tired and just want to go home so I have that to look forward too. I'm sure
my electric smile will heal there misery lol Yeah right!!!

Interestingly, I thought this week I would have a sit back and not worry
about what ticket people have when they got on. WRONG..On Saturday I
realised people were treating it like a free Woodlands Road to Piccadilly
bus service and just walking on without paying. Since then I have turned
away about 50 people and even snatched my first expired college pass which I
wasn't expecting this week. Good old pass watch, May it continue...

Dragging

Well today is certainly a long one. I started at 930 and finish at 730. However driving time has been about 6 hours lol. I am sat in stevenson square at the moment waiting 30 minutes to do the last trip. We are keeping the buses running on tram times and it is very quiet on the roads today so no problems. I bet things will be a different story tomorony morning though. I'm here for the tea time rush so i'll cop for it in the afternoon but i'm led to believe it will be a 3 minutes bus service from woodlands road tomorrow to meet demand. It's very enjoyable doing this up to now. The nicest part is being able to fill the bus whilst being stood at the door. Sometimes the glass can be a little frustrating especially when you are getting questions fired at you. I have swatted up on the closure so i'm not too bad but judging by some moans i have heard not everyone seems to be so helpful. And no thats not me blowing my own trumpet! Last trip and home back at 940 tomorrow. The pic by the way is woodlands road tram stop. I do have a load of picture of princess road depot and night pop them on sometime this week.

Done for today

As i thought! Very enjoyable today. Just finished. Been pretty busy. Some confusion some not bothered, some moaners. Can't please everyone. I wouldn't like to be here monday morning i bet it's going to be hammered. Back in tomorrow when the skyride is on so a slight diversion tomorrow. I never realised how many buses this place had. It's huge. And there are still loads out on the road.

A week away

Just started my week at princess road. It's easy to forget how busy these other depots are compared to ashton. Also i'm just finding my way around to see where everything is. No idea that my first part is because i can't find a copy of the running boards to see what time my bus comes in so i'm stood watching the world go by hoping to see it come in. Will also be nice to drive a newer enviro instead of the 6 and 7 plate ones we have at ashton. One chap from hyde road says the replacement service is very busy but also very easy. No money to take and hardly any stops. I think it's going to be a very enjoyable week.

Back here again

390s again for my sins. Then a trip on the 218 this afternoon. It will be the first one since the change. I believe there is now far too much time on the 217 and 218 and you have to really drag your heels so to speak. This is because of the extra bus on there which gives you just under 3 hours to do the journey instead of 2 1/2 like before. This pic is the bin men in whitfield taking there time holding up my bus.

New arrivals

For the interested. 22092 and 22094 the 54 plate man buses have turned up overnight. Not sure what has left us though.

Wrong side of town.

Out route learning the metrolink replacement service today. Getting some odd looks in this magic bus on this side of town. Looks like long days next week but i don't mind the change. Not sure what we are driving on this service but last time it was man buses. I'm doing the second half of my duty which is glossop and a gee cross i think. Nice simple day today.

Nice drive

Just on the back half of my split now. It's 1 and a half trips on the 389. Finish in gee cross and then back private to depot. This is one of the newer mans buses we have received. It's a nice drive, pretty nippy too. We have this and also 22055 which is also a 53 plate. I would like to see the 06 man buses at our depot from stockport they are a very nice drive. From saturday i'm working from princess road for a week doing metrolink replacement which should be a nice change. It's only upto crumpsall but i don't know where from yet though.

Long ride

Day off today thanks to the laws of driving a bus making me be off so i thought i would jump on my bike and go for a little ride. Ended up in liverpool city took 4 hours at a steady pace with a few stops to take pics and to have lunch. Nice ride along the trans pennine trail. I'm just on the trans pennine express train to stalybridge. Nice mr conductor man let me on with my staff pass which is good. Most will be there is the odd one who won't let us on for free. On a split tomorrow so up early for the first part then after next week i'm doing something a little different but will tell you about that later in the week.

Stuck inside

At hyde road today on a course. Shame really it's the only day it has not rained and i'm stuck inside. Not much going on down her at the moment. Paint shop looks as busy as ever. Even the new dart we are getting has just been done. Few enviros in the queue 19101, 19165, 19006, and 19001 is just visiting for the day. 17645 just come out too along with 19046. There you go in case anyone was wondering where they were. Back to normal things tomorrow.

Turning point!

This is the terminus at Old Glossop. There has been talk recently of the
Royal Oak terminus being a little unsuitable as the roads are getting busier
and it is a bit of a task getting the bus around the turn in one go
especially if there are cars parked along side the wall.

This is one option that I heard whispered. The 236/7 could terminate here
like the many moons ago when the 214 (I think)came up here.

Its certainly big enough although the road leading upto here is a bit busy
with parked cars as I saw yesterday doing the 390s. I managed to do all 8
trips without self harming and made it in today too. Nothing special today,
2 on a 216 which was very quiet, and then a trip to Gee Cross International
on a 389. Pretty odd though, I don't do a 389 for months now I have them for
3 days in a row all at different times of the day. Never mind.

Noticed the other day too when the 217/8 goes to Shudehill on Monday it is
also reverting back to the old route down Old Mill Street and over Great
Ancoats street. Shame that, we were just starting to see post office staff
using it to Clayton and the likes.

How varied!

Two pictures that sum the day up. Firstly a little incident with my windscreen. Can't say how or when but wasn't pretty and now i'm sat at glossop hospital bored after one trip of the local bus for local people. Not done these for a while luckily. Suppose it's a nice break away from the horrors of the new road but it's not my cup of tea. Finish for 230 though which is good. Get to rid home in the rain lovely.

On the way home

Very uneventful very hot very stuffy day today. Was stuck on the b10 1 till 4 doing taxis with the heating stuck on after coming out of the gym! Not the best day for it. Taxis are good for gossip. Heard today we have won the tender for the centreline service or whatever it's called now. I believe it's going to be run from Hyde road . I thought first had just got new buses for it too. **update, i cannot find anything to confirm this on the net so it is just hearsay upto now**  Just getting off a 409 they seem to run ok in the evening but read a comment about poor service first thing in the morning which isn't good when people are trying to get to work and there are buses missing. Back in at 6 tomorrow with the god awful 390s for the second part. This picture is the old bank at mumps which has been left like this for a while now but i believe someone has started work on it. Random yes but i like the building lol.

Off to work

I'm trying not to use the car for the month. It's going ok upto now. Just hitched a lift to the depot on a dead bus after getting the 409. On a late today which has glossops all evening as usual for a sunday night. Just noticed we have the group dayrider offer on again for the school holidays. 5 quid for a group and 4 quid for a plus one. Am not advertising it but we all say it's a great price. Knocks spots off other operators prices.

Long day

Saturday duties are normally longer for some reason. Today is no exception. Just on my first trip and i notice the royal oak has had a huge decking area stuck on the front of it. An sure it's nice when the suns out. Although it's hardly stopped raining this week. Glossop and Gee cross until 1230ish then a couple of trips on the 216s. Nice to read that we won public transport operator of the year at the awards on thursday so we must be doing something right somewhere. Well done us.

Looks familiar

This bus has stagecoach seats inside it. Don't think it was a manchester bus. Just on a 330 about to head to ashton and home. Been a boring drag today. Got pretty wet at 4am this morning cycling to work too. By the looks of it i'll be getting wet on the way home too lol.

The odd couple

As most will know the b10 is normally out on taxi duties around ashton. At the moment it's route learning new drivers. It's soon to be gone though. The replacement is the stagecoach lancs dart which i posted the other day. Just started work. 5am a little early but i'm finished by 1230 which is nice.