Trip to Biddulph 31-12-2011

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
40383	Ladybank Grove, Blurton	Hanley BS	23A	First Potteries
248	Hanley BS	Biddulph, High Street	9	Bakerbus
40140	Biddulph BS‎	Longport, adj Longport Road	99	First Potteries

In order to try and make the best of the daylight at this time of year, we decided to stay local today. Matthew stopped in bed until gone midday as it was he college holidays. Research was no done today and I didn't even get chance to pre-book a Smartday ticket. We eventually set off just before 13:00 and walk the distance to the Ladybank Grove stop in Blurton. As we got there there was a Solo on the stop bound for Hanley. It was dud 40027 which we had previously done in June.

First Potteries 40027 in Blurton

After Matthew got a picture the bus pulled off so we had another 10 minutes to wait for the next one. Whilst there we saw 40017 on a Newcastle bound #22 and 40152 on a Longton bound #22. We also saw recently rebuilt 40170 head towards Newstead which we thought might be our bus to Hanley. Surprisingly, 40383 turned the corner which must have come from Longton on a #23A. It is a bus we had done before , but we wanted to get to Hanley as quickly as we could. On the way past Stoke we saw a long row of Wardle Transport buses on football duties. We also saw Arriva Midlands 3489 on the 164 to Shrewsbury. On arrival at Hanley Matthew got his empty bus picture.

Inside 40383

At this point I tried to persude Matthew to go after Arriva Midlands 3489 as it seemed unusual and is an old bus. Matthew didn't want to go anywhere until he had had time on the balcony and had eaten some chips from Tony's cafe. Uncle Dave stood with Matthew on the Balcony and I went to get the chips. Whilst I was getting the food Matthew got a picture of Wardle Transport 4547 on a Britannia Stadium bound football bus.

Wardle Transport 4547 on Football duties

Whilst eating the chips, AM 3489 pulled off and there didn't seem to be much interesting around. With Stoke being at home there wasn't much chance of a double decker on a #61 Tunstall service. We had passed step entranced bus Wardle Transport 2038 on a #41. but this wouldn't be back in Hanley for a while. There had already been one of the new Hybrid Bakerbus, 246 on a #9. So we decided to wait for the next one to see if it was another and therefore required. Surely enough, after a short wait Bakerbus 258 appeared, and we went down to catch the 14:40 to Biddulph.

Hybrid Bakerbus 248 on it's Saturday #9 turn

The driver went away for a short while a re-appeared 5 minutes before booked departure time. We went upstairs and found somewhere to sit. The bus engine started up and about a minute before departure shut down again. At departure time the bus pulled away in near silence and the engine did not restart until halfway down the bank inside the bus station. This was he first time we had been on a Hybrid bus and it was very strange! I must have been the first time for other passengers too as one woman was commenting about the bus engine cutting out. We asked Matthew were he wanted to go and he chose Biddulph. On the way we must have gone on to electric power at least a dozen times. As we approached Biddulph the bus was virtually empty. I decided to get off in the High Street and Matthew got a picture of the top deck as he left the bus.

Inside Bakerbus 248

Outside he got another picture...

248 in Biddulph high street

We asked the driver where we caught the bus back and he told us ~around the corner by Sainsbury's". It was the first time we had been Biddulph since Sainsbury's had been built and we were surprised to see a bus station capable of having 4 buses there at a time plus a modern comfortable bus shelter. Apart from Bakerbus 248 on stand was a Bakerbus Solo and First Potteries 40148. Also arriving was 60176 on a 7A service. We gave Matthew the choice of bus to do Back towards Stoke-on-Trent but he had different ideas! Matthew decided he wanted to visit the new Sainsbury's. We went inside and he chose to buy some Cornflake cakes and a bottle of Coke. We also visit the bus shelter and had a quick wander around the general area. Due in before 16:00 were a 7a to Hanley, a 9 to Hanley,a 99 to Newcastle and a 94 to Newcastle. I wanted to catch something out of town and then catch a 94 or 99 forward. But Matthew was holding out for the 94. He turned down 60012 on a 7A. However, when First Potteries 40140 Matthew wanted to do this. Matthew is a big fan of ALX200 bodied buses be they Darts or Volvo B6's.

First Potteries 40140 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus, unusually we got on first so Matthew got a picture of the empty bus.

Inside 40140

On the bus, it was starting to go dark. I estimated a journey time of 30 minutes to Longport, and I phoned up mum to meet us by the BP garage there. The bus was virtually empty and there weren't many people at all on the bus by the time we got off in Longport. Matthew got another picture of this beast as alighted in Longport.

40140 at the stop in Longport

Mum had beaten us there by a few minutes and so when we got off we were able to go straight to the car. Matthew continued to eat his Cornflake cakes and had a can of Coke. As we returned home we listened to Stoke vs. Wigan match. We heard Stoke come from behind to eventually take the lead. Wigan had a late equaliser from the penalty spot and the game ended a draw. We got home a fraction before 17:00...Mark