Day 7 - Brechin, Stonehaven, Aberdeen, Inverurie, Ellon, Fraserburgh & Perterhead, then back via Montrose
There were two possible names for this trip, both based on the locality – Doric The Explorer, or Another Buchan Wet Day. In the end, it dried up a bit (against yesterday), so I decided to go for the former!
Started a litte later than I wanted to, but was still able to get to Brechin in time for 0930! Left Dundee at 0800 using Olympian 953 on the 20A to Forfar, then Olympian 902 on the 21A to Brechin. This bus seems to have past its best a little, but it still managed to get us to Brechin a few minutes early, despite being a few minutes down in leaving!
The Super Day/MegaRider covers me as far as the Angus/Aberdeenshire boundary, but the way I’d got this trip worked, all four times I was crossing the boundary, it would be on a Stagecoach Bluebird bus, with their Explorer ticket at £12.00 being heavily bashed through the day!
The “Explorer” part of the trip started at Brechin, using 20704 on the 24 to Stonehaven, Service 24 needs no more than a minibus, except for school runs, but Bluebird seem to use the big bus throughout. The Summer 2006 Aberdeen digital blind set misses out the N In LaureNcekirk on the "via" point of Serrvice 24. MAN 22360 took me on the 117 (via Altens variation) to Aberdeen. A few sights and snaps around town, before getting coach 52235 on the 737 to Inverurie via Aberdeen Airport. My first trip to Inverurie itself – think I passed through it once – and a variety of sights to see, including Bain’s unusual BMC Turkish built single deck buses SV06ESG (on the 240, but with 777 branding), and similar SV06ESN (I forget what this was on, as the blinds had blanked), before I took Dart 34738 on the 493 from Inverurie to Ellon Park & Ride. This location is just outside of Ellon itself, and is served quite frequently by buses to/from Aberdeen, Aberdeen Airport, and beyond.
I had a while to wait for the bus to Fraserburgh (believe it or not, going via Peterhead would have taken even longer, i.e. going the opposite of the way I am currently). I got Volvo 53216 on the 267 from Ellon to Fraserburgh. After some time around the town, proceeded on Service 269, using Volvo Olympian 16248 from Fraserburgh to Peterhead. A few moments here, before Volvo coach 53202 took me back to Aberdeen on the 263 via Cruden Bay (260 runs via Ellon).
Started a litte later than I wanted to, but was still able to get to Brechin in time for 0930! Left Dundee at 0800 using Olympian 953 on the 20A to Forfar, then Olympian 902 on the 21A to Brechin. This bus seems to have past its best a little, but it still managed to get us to Brechin a few minutes early, despite being a few minutes down in leaving!
The Super Day/MegaRider covers me as far as the Angus/Aberdeenshire boundary, but the way I’d got this trip worked, all four times I was crossing the boundary, it would be on a Stagecoach Bluebird bus, with their Explorer ticket at £12.00 being heavily bashed through the day!
The “Explorer” part of the trip started at Brechin, using 20704 on the 24 to Stonehaven, Service 24 needs no more than a minibus, except for school runs, but Bluebird seem to use the big bus throughout. The Summer 2006 Aberdeen digital blind set misses out the N In LaureNcekirk on the "via" point of Serrvice 24. MAN 22360 took me on the 117 (via Altens variation) to Aberdeen. A few sights and snaps around town, before getting coach 52235 on the 737 to Inverurie via Aberdeen Airport. My first trip to Inverurie itself – think I passed through it once – and a variety of sights to see, including Bain’s unusual BMC Turkish built single deck buses SV06ESG (on the 240, but with 777 branding), and similar SV06ESN (I forget what this was on, as the blinds had blanked), before I took Dart 34738 on the 493 from Inverurie to Ellon Park & Ride. This location is just outside of Ellon itself, and is served quite frequently by buses to/from Aberdeen, Aberdeen Airport, and beyond.
I had a while to wait for the bus to Fraserburgh (believe it or not, going via Peterhead would have taken even longer, i.e. going the opposite of the way I am currently). I got Volvo 53216 on the 267 from Ellon to Fraserburgh. After some time around the town, proceeded on Service 269, using Volvo Olympian 16248 from Fraserburgh to Peterhead. A few moments here, before Volvo coach 53202 took me back to Aberdeen on the 263 via Cruden Bay (260 runs via Ellon).
I then had time for tea in Aberdeen - albeit only just. I was crossing Aberdeen Union Street just in time to see a MAN single decker, with Coastliner branding, stopping in my stop. I jumped on it... when we got to Portlethen, I realised it was a slightly late running X7 instead... bus 22361 took me to Stonehaven. No harm done, as i got to Stonehaven in pletny of time (even more so) for the Montrose conneciton. You see, this is when route branding can be bad for you!
This then connected with Solo 47215 on Service 117 to Montrose. The minibus runs on the 108 Stonehaven Town Service until early evening, and then does some 117 runs. Because of the new (slightly time wasting IMHO) route out of Stonehaven, each evening rounder to Montrose has to be ran by a different bus... so the Solo does the 1925 then the 2225 as far down as it goes - Johnshaven Mon-Thursday, or Montrose Friday, then light back to Stonehaven. The town loop does not really need to be done by two buses in convoy, and if it wasn't, you'd have easier connections to/from Arbroath/Dundee, and you could use just the one minibus south of Stonehaven most of the night - save the MAN's from being wasted! (all assumptions based on current timetables!)
As I hinted at above, the journeys no longer connect easily with the Dundee buses. So, what else to do? Well, 20704 was sitting at the side of Montrose Station, ready to do the 2020 9 to Laurencekirk, and back as an 8. I had of course, been on this bus earlier in the day on the 24. After the bus is finished the 24 at Lauencekirk at 1845, it seems to then run dead to Montrose, do the rounder on the 8/9 (well, more like the 9/8), and then do a 107/117 back to Stonehaven up the coast. On Mondays to Thursdays, this is the last bus of the night to the points in Aberdeenshire i.e. Marykirk and Laurencekirk, but there are later buses on the 47 which extend to Craigo Village. As you can see on the picture, the new blind set also misses out the N In LaureNcekirk too - as well as showing both an 8 and a 9, i.e. "8/9". For those not sure why there are numbers in each direction... when Nicoll's started the 8/9 in 2000, their transport manager was the now-deceased Harry Thompson, who used to be traffic manager at Tayside Buses, and an inspector with Tayside Regional Council. In the older days, Dundee bus numbers depended on where the bus was going i.e. 26 to Douglas, 28/29 to Charleston, and 30 if the bus ended in town(or in even more years gone by, the 31-40 Fintry group). It was hinted at the time that this was the reason, although no official confirmation was given. So, now you know.
We left with half a dozen passengers or so, half getting off within Angus (the service is financially supported by Aberdeenshire Council). Daytime buses running north only double-run into Craigo Village by request (and we had three getting off there), but this was tendered to go in both ways. Probably just as well rather than try to explain to the "EU National pf Polish origin" who was driving, who's English appeared to be a little broken. He did get all the fares right, though - but as there are only seven fare stages on the Bluebird journeys (Laurencekirk, First Mile Stone, Dykelands, Marykirk, Craigo, Hillside, Montrose) then it's easier. He was ok about me heading back into Montrose on the same bus, but I did try explaining it a few times - then he got it! We left Laurencekirk, and as usual, allowed all the traffic to pass before you make your way form the central reservation, then you go carefully over all thre lanes and on the road to Mayrkirk. Except, not this time. We waited until just before the truck was due to meet us, and we swerved in front of it across all three lanes of traffic at speed! (I mentioned it because I did seventeen journeys in one day, and it was the only bit of bad driving!)
We picked up a passenger at Marykirk I think, before we headed for Craigo, and onto Montrose. We almost turned into Ben More Avenue (Borrowfield) before I pointed out that Newhame Road is actually next right... I bet someone told him "second on the right" and in fact, there is a farm dirt track to contend with as well. But, no harm done, and we didn't enter Ben More Avenue (probably just as well as it will soon be one of the few streets in Borrowfield without a bus - don't want to give anyone any ideas!) We made it in a moment or two late, and I had another 59 minutes or so before the next Dundee bus. I therefore had a go on Strathtay MetroRider 148 - now at Montrose - from Montrose High Street to Ferryden, then Sunnyside Hospital, then back to Montrose High Street. I then got the 2210 40A back to Dundee, with Strathtay Olympian 919.
That was a very long, but very enjoyable, day out!
This then connected with Solo 47215 on Service 117 to Montrose. The minibus runs on the 108 Stonehaven Town Service until early evening, and then does some 117 runs. Because of the new (slightly time wasting IMHO) route out of Stonehaven, each evening rounder to Montrose has to be ran by a different bus... so the Solo does the 1925 then the 2225 as far down as it goes - Johnshaven Mon-Thursday, or Montrose Friday, then light back to Stonehaven. The town loop does not really need to be done by two buses in convoy, and if it wasn't, you'd have easier connections to/from Arbroath/Dundee, and you could use just the one minibus south of Stonehaven most of the night - save the MAN's from being wasted! (all assumptions based on current timetables!)
As I hinted at above, the journeys no longer connect easily with the Dundee buses. So, what else to do? Well, 20704 was sitting at the side of Montrose Station, ready to do the 2020 9 to Laurencekirk, and back as an 8. I had of course, been on this bus earlier in the day on the 24. After the bus is finished the 24 at Lauencekirk at 1845, it seems to then run dead to Montrose, do the rounder on the 8/9 (well, more like the 9/8), and then do a 107/117 back to Stonehaven up the coast. On Mondays to Thursdays, this is the last bus of the night to the points in Aberdeenshire i.e. Marykirk and Laurencekirk, but there are later buses on the 47 which extend to Craigo Village. As you can see on the picture, the new blind set also misses out the N In LaureNcekirk too - as well as showing both an 8 and a 9, i.e. "8/9". For those not sure why there are numbers in each direction... when Nicoll's started the 8/9 in 2000, their transport manager was the now-deceased Harry Thompson, who used to be traffic manager at Tayside Buses, and an inspector with Tayside Regional Council. In the older days, Dundee bus numbers depended on where the bus was going i.e. 26 to Douglas, 28/29 to Charleston, and 30 if the bus ended in town(or in even more years gone by, the 31-40 Fintry group). It was hinted at the time that this was the reason, although no official confirmation was given. So, now you know.
We left with half a dozen passengers or so, half getting off within Angus (the service is financially supported by Aberdeenshire Council). Daytime buses running north only double-run into Craigo Village by request (and we had three getting off there), but this was tendered to go in both ways. Probably just as well rather than try to explain to the "EU National pf Polish origin" who was driving, who's English appeared to be a little broken. He did get all the fares right, though - but as there are only seven fare stages on the Bluebird journeys (Laurencekirk, First Mile Stone, Dykelands, Marykirk, Craigo, Hillside, Montrose) then it's easier. He was ok about me heading back into Montrose on the same bus, but I did try explaining it a few times - then he got it! We left Laurencekirk, and as usual, allowed all the traffic to pass before you make your way form the central reservation, then you go carefully over all thre lanes and on the road to Mayrkirk. Except, not this time. We waited until just before the truck was due to meet us, and we swerved in front of it across all three lanes of traffic at speed! (I mentioned it because I did seventeen journeys in one day, and it was the only bit of bad driving!)
We picked up a passenger at Marykirk I think, before we headed for Craigo, and onto Montrose. We almost turned into Ben More Avenue (Borrowfield) before I pointed out that Newhame Road is actually next right... I bet someone told him "second on the right" and in fact, there is a farm dirt track to contend with as well. But, no harm done, and we didn't enter Ben More Avenue (probably just as well as it will soon be one of the few streets in Borrowfield without a bus - don't want to give anyone any ideas!) We made it in a moment or two late, and I had another 59 minutes or so before the next Dundee bus. I therefore had a go on Strathtay MetroRider 148 - now at Montrose - from Montrose High Street to Ferryden, then Sunnyside Hospital, then back to Montrose High Street. I then got the 2210 40A back to Dundee, with Strathtay Olympian 919.
That was a very long, but very enjoyable, day out!
posted by Suzy Scott @ 23:59
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