Trip to the POPS rally 08-05-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
G759 XRE	Wedgwood	Hanley bus station	66	Ex First PMT
CTT 23C	Hanley bus station	Wedgwood	66	Ex Devon General
RGV 690W	Wedgwood	Stone, Crown Street	10	Prince of the Road
GFM 104X	Stone, Crown Street	Wedgwood	10	Ex First PMT

Today was the annual Wedgwood POPS rally, and we had been planning to come here for quite a while. Setting off around 10:20 we arrived on site to see Ex First PMT 860 depart on a Hanley bound service. First thing we do after getting a programme is to go shopping! Matthew brought £48 worth of DVD from Mrs Spencer and then brought some packs of photo's (10 for £5). He also brought the new First Fleet book and then checked to see if his favourite buses were still running or had been withdrawn. he brought another couple of books and then we had a wander round the non PMT bus exhibits. He had a quick sit on Bassetts SUX 476X and then we went to the PMT exhibits. As we were about to sit down and work out which buses we were going to catch, we saw ex First PMT Olympian 30035 move off. A quick consult of the program and it was seen to be doing the 11:30 to Hanley



Ex First PMT 30035 (759) sets off towards the bus stop to form the 11:30 to Hanley (Matt)

So we all went around to the bus stop where 30035 was waiting. We went on the top deck near to the stairs. on the way up, Matthew tried to help himself to the antique 320 hanley - Crewe timetable until I told him not to do it. As we travelled down to Hanley via Blurton Road, the A50 link and Victoria Road, we passed ex first PMT 30039 coming the other way. We checked the programme to see if we could get 860 in later. It turns out that it did it's one and only turn early on and we missed it! The next bus due towards Hanley was down to be worked by "B35/B36". It was at this point that I wished i pad attention to the number in the bus windows! We made a snap decision to wait for the next bus and to let 30035 go back to Wedgwood without us. We has some food in Tony's cafe and then Matthew took some pictures in the bus station, at the bus station was 31519 between relief duties for Alton Towers.


31519 in Hanley bus station (Matt)

After a few minutes, a maroon colour single decker appeared. It turned out to be Ex devon General 23.


Ex Devon General 23 arrives in Hanley bus station on the 12:00 from Wedgwood (Matt)

Not sure if there was more than one bus scheduled for this run, I asked the driver if this was the only 12:30 to Wedgwood to which he replied "yes". So we did this bus, which was quite full. Matthew sat down with a total stranger and we had to persuade him to sit with mum by offering him a window seat. So we did this back to Wedgwood. I don't think was on Matthew's wish list but he enjoyed it anyway. This bus took the route via snow hill and then past the railway station. There was a Wardles ALX400 outside the station on football duties. The bus then went back via Leek Road, City Road, A50 and then A5035. At this point we had another look around whilst mum went shopping on her own for "future" events :-). We decide that we were going to do the 13:30 departs to stone for 801 back. The 13:30 was book for a Prince of the Road coach and two PMT Bristols. Matthew wanted to do the coach and uncle Dave wanted to do one of the Bristols. I persuaded Uncle Dave to do the coach as the Bristols are regular performers at the Rally. We went to see the buses turn in so we could get a photograph before we went around to the bus stop.


Prince of the Road RGV 690W sets off towards the bus stop to form the 13:30 to Stone (Matt)

The coach was the first to set of and the Bristol followed straight behind. At the junction of the A5035 / A34 all three buses were together. The bus took the usual route to Stone, by passing the town and in through the south end of town.


Prince of the Road RGV 690W on arrival at Stone (Matt)

At Stone there was a few minutes wait for the the rear Bristol to arrive as it must have been held up at some lights.


Prince of the Road RGV 690W and Ex PMT 198 forming the 14:00 to Wedgwood (Matt)

We let these buses go in order to wait for the 14:30 to Wedgwood which was booked to be Ex First PMT Optare Delta. It's a bus that we have been on twice before but Matthew is a big fan. Whilst waiting we saw the road go quiet. It was closed off for a few minutes in allow a band to march past the end. then First PMT 65039 turned up on the service bus to Hanley.After a few more minutes the red and yellow Delta appeared.


Ex First PMT 801 on arrival on the 14:00 from Wedgwood (Matt)

As we took the picture we heard someone say "an Olympian was following us down". Sure enough Ex first PMT 30039 turned up on an addition 14;00 from Wedgwood. We asked Matthew if he want the Delta or the new Olympian and he choose the Olympian.


Ex First PMT 30039 forms an additional 14:30 to Wedgwood (Matt)

We got and were able to get top deck front seats. The bus went back via the A520 to Rough Close and then via Lightwood and then joining the A5035 in Dresden. Whilst I took a picture of Matthew in the domed mirror, tree hit the front window and gave me a right scare! We we arrived back Matthew allowed the bus to empty and took a picture of the top deck.


Inside Ex First PMT 30039 (Matt)

He also took another picture of the bus outside for good measure...


Ex First PMT 30039 on arrival at Wedgwood (Matt)

After this we had a quick look around. 801 had already got back and was parked up back in it original spot. we returned to the car and then we decided to go home at a few minutes after 15:00. On the way back we put the match on the radio to find that Stoke were winning 2-0! Final score for the match was stoke 3 arsenal 1. bring on Man City next Saturday... (Mark)