Trip to Stoke / Tunstall 08-03-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60068	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Hanford, adj Mayne Street	22	First Potteries
60057	Hanford, adj Mayne Street	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21	First Potteries
2131	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop P	Newcastle BS	42	Wardle Transport
4808	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, adj stop M	91	Wardle Transport
60081	Tunstall, adj stop B	Burslem, Swan Bank (Stop D)	20A	First Potteries
42894	Burslem, Market Place (Stop F)	Newcastle BS	98	First Potteries
37157	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	25	First Potteries
2263	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	41	Wardle Transport

Today we were going on a local trip as mum had to be finished at tea time. No planning was done for this trip other than to check the weather (cloudy becoming sunny later) and to discuss where we were going to have dinner. Matthew got up just before 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. I had picked uncle Dave up and I had seen what buses were out on the #22 today. The only required bus out was First Potteries 60068 which was going to be on the 11:20 Longton - Newcastle. As we were going to have dinner in Stoke, we decided to do this to Hanford for a #21 forward. We set off around 11:20 and we walked all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road. We watched dud First Potteries 66851 go past on the #22 to Longton and a few minutes later as predicted required First Potteries 60068 rounded the corner.

First Potteries 60068 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked a Smart Day ticket (£5.30). We sat down near the back of the bus and the buses headed out onto the A5035. We turned right towards Trentham and as we were getting off in Hanford and the bus was filling up as we went Matthew got a picture inside the bus at this point.

Inside First Potteries 60068

We turned onto New Inn Lane and we passed dud First Potteries 41500 on the #21A to Trentham. We carried on through Trentham and into Hanford. As we were getting off we passed required First Potteries 60057 on a Trentham bound #21. We decided we would get this in on it's return towards Stoke. In the mean time we saw required First Potteries 65037 on a Stafford bound #101.

First Potteries 65037 in Hanford

We had a little under 20 minutes to wait for 60057 to return, in the meantime 41500 went past on the #21A to Hanley and First Potteries 60202 went by on the third #22 turn. At a little after 12:00 as expected, required First Potteries 60057 turned the corner out of Church Lane.

First Potteries 60057 in Hanford

We got on and sat down near the back. First Potteries 61235 passed going into Church Street on a Trentham bound #21 service. The bus set off over the A34 and back towards Trent Vale. We crossed the A500 ans we saw that most of the people ahead of us were getting off and there were people waiting at the stop. Matthew timed his picture inside 60057 so that the people had got off and before the next lot got on.

Inside First Potteries 60057

The bus set off and turned into London Road. As we travlled into town we passed former a Northampton bus, required 65561 on another Trentham bound #21 service. A few minutes later we arrived in Stoke and we got off the bus. Matthew then got another picture of First Potteries 60057.

First Potteries 60057 in Stoke

We crossed over London Road and headed into Campbell Place. We were on our way to the Cafe on the corner of Church Street and Campbell Place to have our dinner. On the way we spotted required First Potteries 60174 on a Trentham bound #21 service.

First Potteries 60174 in Stoke

We went around the corner into Church Street and into the Cafe. Matthew used their toilet and then we sat down. Matthew had a small breakfast with toast washed down with a can of Coke. Whilst we ate we saw 32627,32634 and 37157.We crossed over the road and we took a few pictures of buses. required First Potteries 60171 was on the #26 to Newcastle and required First Potteries 40378 was on the #23 to Hanley. We were considering doing a double decker on the next #25 towards Newcastle & Keele, but as we waited we saw an Arriva liveried Dart in the distance. As it got closer we saw it was required Wardle Transport 2131 on a #42 to Newcastle.

Wardle Transport 2131 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. The bus set off up Hartshill bank and we turned onto Princes Road. We went through Penkhull village and the onto Harpfields Road. We then headed through the Hospital onto the A34. As we went North on the A34, we passed Copeland's Tours MIB 270 going South. As we got to the rounsabout on Barracks Roads we looked up towards the bus station where we could see 3 double deckers, all from different bus companies. When we got to the bus station Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside Wardle Transport 2131.

Inside Wardle Transport 2131

As there were 3 double decker in the bus station we decided not to hang around at this point. First Potteries dud 32627 was heading up to Keele on the #25 and dud Bakerbus 266 was on the #94A to Biddulph. Wardle Transport 4808 was about to board so we decided to do that even though Matthew seemed a little reticent about doing it.

Wardle Transport 4808 in Newcastle bus station (Mark)

We got on the bus and we went upstairs. I looked up the bus expecting it to be required only to find out that it was dud! Not only was it dud, it was quite a high mile vehicle with 2 previous runs. We had done this bus from Newcastle to Bradeley on the #91 back in August 2013, as well as a run from Sudbury to Fenton on Christamas Eve 2013. Matthew obviously remembered this hence the reticence. When we mentioned we could go to Tunstall for a cake he was happy about that though! The bus set off through The Bramptons area of Newcastle before heading into Wolstatnton. We passed First Potteries 40140 on the #98 & First Potteries 40137 on the #99A. We passed Wardle Transport 4898 in Longport and we headed up into Tunstall town centre. As we were getting off 4808 the top deck emptied out and Matthew got a picture inside the bus.

Inside Wardle Transport 4808

We got off the bus and we headed into the cafe. We saw required ex Northampton Scania 65561 heading North to Bradeley. Matthew used the toilet in the cafe and then sat down. We ordered him a can of Coke and a slice of toffee cheesecake which he quickly finished of. When we had finished we crossed over the road to catch something back towards Newcastle. We saw First Potteries 40147 on a Biddulph service and First Potteries 61143 was on a #20 to Crewe.

First Potteries 40147 in Tunstall

A few seconds later required Scania First Potteries 60081 rounded the corner on a #20A to Hanley.

First Potteries 60081 in Tunstall

I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes. We got on the bus and sat down near the back. We decided to do this to Burslem, so we could get something back to Tunstall or go to Newcastle directly from there. The bus went out of town past Asda and onto Scotia Road. The bus emptied out a little just before Burslem, we had forgotten Port Vale were playing at home... Matthew took a picture inside the bus at this point.

Inside First Potteries 60081

The bus went into Swan Bank and we got off it. Matthew then got another picture of this fine beast.

First Potteries 60081 in Burslem

As we had just missed a bus to Tunstall and we couldn't see one coming, we went to the cash machine at Lloyds Bank. We then crossed the road and went to the stop across from the Queens Theatre. I thought I would use my phone app to check if there was a #98 to Newcastle due from the stop around the corner. It was 13:39 and according to my phone there was one due at 13:43! As we hadn't seen one we decided to go for it. We walked passed Ceramica and past the bus stop for the opposite #98 to Ball Green. Matthew stopped to say hello to someone and then we carried on along Market Place. We crossed the road and we only had to wait around 30 seconds before the bus appeared. It was dud First Potteries 42894 and 2 Port Vale fans ran in front of the bus... Luckily they were quick enough that Matthew didn't take a picture of somebody getting run over.

First Potteries 42894 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we sat down near the back. This is a bus we had done to Trent Vale back in January, when Darts were more common on the #22 service. The bus left Burslem and we headed down through Longport and across the A500. We headed up Port Hill Bank before turning left and traveling through Wolstaton to Newcastle. Once again we pulled into the bus station and there were 3 double deckers in. Matthew waited for the bus to empty before getting a picture inside First Potteries 42894.

Inside First Potteries 42894

Required Wardle Transport 4896 was on the #91 to Tunstall, and I thought Matthew would want to do it, but he turned it down again! It is the only one of four Wardle Transport Dennis Trident buses that Matthew hasn't been on. Also in the bus station required First Potteries 37156 was heading to Keele on the #25 and required First Potteries 37157 was on the #25 towards Hanley. Matthew chose to do First Potteries 37157, mainly I think because it was heading towards Hanley.

First Potteries 37157 in Newcastle bus station

Whilst we waited for the bus to b readied for service, we saw Wardle Transport 1623 which appears to be plain white without fleet numbers or decals on it.

Wardle Transport 1623 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we sat down upstairs. The bus left Newcastle and went towards Stoke through Hartshill. We stopped in Stoke behind D&G 173 which was on the #85 to Hanley. We carried onto the A52 and then towards Stoke railway station. we passed Wardle Transport 2356 on the X51 to Cheadle. The bus waited outside the railway station for what seemed like 5 minutes before carrying on up Shelton Road into Hanley. In the Hinde Street bus parking area we saw Bakerbus 234 parked up between X5 duties and one of their newer double decker arrivals (265-268) on the X1 to Stone. When we got to Hanley bus station we waited for the bus to empty before matthew got a picture inside First Potteries 37157.

Inside First Potteries 37157

We visite the toilet and then went for a quick walk around the bus station before walking to John Street multi-storey car park to take a few bus pictures. Whilst there we saw required Wardle Transport 2166 on the #41 service to Clayton.

Wardle Transport 2166 in Hanley bus station

a short while later we saw required Wardle Transport 3616 on the #16 to Leek.

Wardle Transport 3616 in Hanley bus station

One unusual working that we saw was #26/26A branded bus 65026 on the #32 to Cheadle.

First Potteries 65026 in Hanley bus station

Another required double decker was First Potteries 32634 which was on the #25 service to keele.

First Potteries 32634 in Hanley bus station

The last remaining original Wardle Transport dart 2409 was out on the #19 to Bradeley village.

Wardle Transport 2409 in Hanley bus station

2409 was a bus that we had done previously on the #500 in August 2011, when it used to be run by Wardle Transport. A very recent arrival from Arriva's Cannock depot was Wardle Transport 3602, which was out on the #118 to Buxton.

Wardle Transport 3602 in Hanley bus station

We did 3602 when it was based at Cannock from Cannock to Hednesford back in November 2012. At this point we decided to walk back to the bus station to have one last bus before arrange for mum to pick us up. Matthew turned down required First Potteries 32634 on the #25 to Keele, presumeably saving it for another time. He considered catching First Potteries 61553, but it was heading North and we had been on this bus back in May 2012 from Newcastle to Stoke. We then spotted required Wardle Transport 2263 on a #41 to Clayton.

Wardle Transport 2263 in Hanley bus station

When we got on the bus we also spotted required First Potteries 65564 on what was probably going to be a #21 to Trentham. The bus set off out of Hanley and down College Road. I called mum to arrange for her to meet us up at Newcastle. The bus went passed the railway station and then into Church Street before continuing up to Hartsill. We headed along Prince Road and through the hospital as we had done on wardle Transport 2131 earlier in the day on the #42 service. When we got to Newcasle bus station Matthew waited for the bus to empty, but as it was a Clayton service it didn't fully empty out. He went beyond the last person on the bus and took a picture of the empty rear end of Wardle Transport 2263.

Inside Wardle Transport 2263

We decided to got to the toilet whilst we waited for mum. Just before he went into the toilet we saw required Wardle Transport 2246 on the #33 Westlands circular.

Wardle Transport 2246 in Newcastle bus station

After using the toilet we took one last picture before walking around to mum who was parked up on the Ironmarket waiting for us. Required First Potteries 65731 was on a Hanley bound #34A service.

First Potteries 65731 in Newcastle bus station

We walked up Barrack Road and onto Ironmarket where mum was waiting for us. At the car we had Wrights Pies sausage rolls waiting for us. We headed back passed the bus station and onto the A34.We did the a34 to the A500 which we did North to Sideway before going East on the A50 to Longton where we came off to see what was parked up at Z Carz. On the spare ground today were 3 vehicles. First in the row was former Ausden Clark Van Hool coach CNZ 3828.

Z Carz CNZ 3828 in Longton

Next to this was a bus that had heard about but not seen (at least in daylight anyway). It was Ford Transit minibus GL04 CVE.

Z Carz GL04 CVE in Longton

Last in the row was former Alton Towers Transport Volvo coach M534 RSO.

Z Carz M534 RSO in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and LDV minibus T408 JUX was stilled parked up there out of action. We headed back onto the A50 and we drove down to Stanley Matthews Way. As we headed South towards Hem Heath we passed Bakerbus 205 on the X5 service to Hanley. We turned onto the A5035 and we reached home around 16:20. We had tea at a normal time for a change tonight. We had bangers and mash with carrots followed by lemon cheesecake which mum had brought for us earlier. Matthew than chilled out on his computer until bedtime, which was around 00:30...Mark