Trip to Mansfield 09-02-2013

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
16456	Mansfield BS	Shirebrook, Market Place (Stop 1)	12	Stagecoach East Midlands
33834	Shirebrook, Market Place (Stop 2)	Mansfield BS	23	Stagecoach East Midlands
17738	Mansfield BS	Market Warsop, High Street (NE-bound)	11	Stagecoach East Midlands
34464	Market Warsop, adj High Street	Mansfield BS	12	Stagecoach East Midlands

Today we went to Mansfield. The trip had been planned for a while as mum was going to meet friends for a night out and Matthew had never been here before. Research consisted on downloading a couple of maps from the Nottinghamshire county council website. We didn't check the weather until the day and it was forecast for cloudy and 4' C. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 11:30 today, as mum was going to meet up with her friend around 16:00 after we had been on the buses. For a change we weren't going North! We set off along the A5035 to Longton and then got on the A50. We did this all the way to the M1 and then we headed North. When we reached the A38 we did this into the centre of Mansfield past Morrisons. at the end of the A38 the road faces the bus station. We turned onto the A60 and went around town passing East Lancs Sprite dart 33214 as we drove. We parked in a space on the street near to the bus station and the Beales department store. We walked into a pedestrianised area and had lunch in a cafe. Matthew had a cooked breakfast and toast. We finished the food and walked up to the bus station. Immediately as we turned the corner we spotted a step entranced double decker on one of the far stands. It was required Stagecoach East Midlands 16456. It was on a 12 to Shirebrook so we decided to do it and get a picture later. We got on and booked day plus tickets and then went upstairs. Matthew noticed K&H Doyle double decker T184 CLO parked up as we left the bus station. There were other people already on the top deck so Matthew had to wait until after we had left Warsop to get his empty bus photo.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 16456

A few minutes later we pulled into the market place in Shirebrook and we decided it looked like a good place to get off. We got off and finally got a picture of this fine beast.

Stagecoach East Midlands 16456 in Shirebrook

We looked at the timetable and we saw we had around 15 minutes to wait for a different bus back, so we went to a paper shop for Coke and Milky Ways. We sat and ate some chocolate whilst waiting for a bus. First arrival was 22648 on a Chesterfield bound 82 service.

Stagecoach Yorkshire 22648 in Shirebrook

A few minutes later we saw a Plaxton Dart round the corner and it was required Stagecoach East Midlands 33834. Matthew batteries went on his camera so he didn't get a picture as we got on. The #23 which we caught goes back via Pleasley and into town along the A617/A6191. The journey back was a little quicker than the journey up on the #12 as it is a more direct route. As we pulled into the bus station we saw Mc Ewens Alexander bodied Volvo B10 L306 PSC departing. As we got off Matthew took a picture of the inside of 33834.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 33834

We also spotted a double decker over the far end again. Matthew got a picture of 33834 before we walked over to investigate.

Stagecoach East Midlands 33834 in Mansfield bus station

The bus on stand was required Stagecoach East Midlands 17738 which we seen early on a #12. Stagecoach East Midlands 33214 was along side this bus too and it pulled off as we stood there.

Stagecoach East Midlands 17738 in Mansfield bus station

We decided to do 17738 as it was on a #11 and we knew where it was going. We got on a went upstairs. As we set off North we passed 16456 on the Inbound #12 service. When we got to Warsop, we decided to get off to wait for an #11 or #12 back. matthew got a picture of 17738 after we got off.

Stagecoach East Midlands 17738 in Warsop

We walked around the corner to the Southbound stop and waited. We thought we were going to have to wait for 20 or so minutes for a return bus, but after 5 minutes we saw another Plaxton bodied Dart approaching from the North. It was required Stagecoach East Midlands 34464.

Stagecoach East Midlands 34464 in Warsop

We did this bus back down A60 into town gettnig in around 15:45. When we got off Matthew got a picture of the inside of this bus too.

Inside Stagecoach East Midlands 34464

We went to the toilet and then took a few pictures of buses as we headed back to the car. One such bus was K&H Doyle Dart W975 ETW.

K&H Doyle W975 ETW in Mansfield bus station

We also saw Trent Barton Optare 257 on a #141 service. After visiting a sweet shop in the shopping arcade We got back in the car. We tucked into some Greggs sausage rolls before heading back along the A38. Where the road turn we carried atright on to drop mum off at the Travelodge to meet up with her friends. We said goodbye and drove past Frankie & Bennys as we left. We then got back onto the A38 which we did down to the M1. We did the M1 South to the A50, and then we did this west. As we crossed the a38 we got the signal back on Radio Stoke to find stoke had beaten Reading by two goals to one. We the carried on to Longton and came off the A50 to go past the Z carz depot. not many on today as Stoke had only finished playing 30 minutes earlier. First in the row was minibus HX51 HRU with 'Fenton' on a piece of paper in the window.

Z Carz HX51 HRU in Longton

Then it was Mercedes minibus T131 SGA.

Z Carz T131 SGA in Longton

In the background was LDV minibus M420 UEH with '541' in the window.

Z Carz M420 UEH in Longton

We turned left to see if anything was in the Willow Row compound and we spotted Airport transfer bus DL03 HHU parked up.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

We turned around to head home and as we reached the end of the street LDV minibus T408 JUX had made an appearance.

Z Carz T408 JUX in Longton

As we headed down Longton Hall Road we also passed Z carz V690 EBC heading towards the depot. We then went home getting in around 17:40. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots. He had some cheesecake for afters. Matthew chilled out on his computer before going to bed around 00:00...Mark