Trip to Stoke / Tunstall 01-11-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
41500	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
40375	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21B	First Potteries
113	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	The Orange One	D&G
32057	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	4A	First Potteries
37158	Hanley BS	Tunstall (Stoke-on-Trent), adj stop A	3	First Potteries
40030	Tunstall (Stoke-on-Trent), adj stop B	Longport, adj Trubshaw Cross	9A	First Potteries
2244	Longport, adj Trubshaw Cross	Newcastle BS	91	Wardle Transport
60012	Newcastle BS	Ford Green (Stoke-on-Trent), adj Ford Green Hall	8A	First Potteries
41070	Smallthorne, adj Hadfield Green	Tunstall (Stoke-on-Trent), adj stop B	9	First Potteries
40383	Tunstall (Stoke-on-Trent), adj stop B	Newcastle BS	9	First Potteries

Today we decided to go on a local trip. Mum wasn't very well so we decided to go to Stoke and Tunstall for dinner and dessert respectively. We did no research for the trip other than to check the weather which was for dry and sunny intervals. It was unseasonably warm for the beginning of November. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Around 12:00 we set off on foot to walk all the way to the stop on Magdalen Road. I didn't get out of the house early enough to check what the 12:07 should be, I did see that it was going to be a full length Caetano Dart. We got to the stop and we didn't have to wait long before the buses rounded he corner from Finstock Avenue. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 41500.

First Potteries 41500 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. The seats behind us were empty so Matthew took a picture of the back of the bus.

Inside First Potteries 41500

We carried on into Trentham and we had a short wait at the temporary lights on the corner of Barlaston Old Road. We went trough the light and before we turned we spotted a classic Plaxton Dart on the #21b that we were going to catch to Stoke. We turned into New Inn Lane and we got up and got off outside the Man in Space.

First Potteries 41500 in Trentham

A minute or so after we got off the #22, we saw the #21B approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 40375.

First Potteries 40375 in Trentham

We got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day ticket before we sat down towards the back of the bus. This is a bus that we had been on a few times before, but its day are numbered as it doesn't have a wheelchair ramp. One of the previous runs on this bus was from Blurton to Hanley in the snow back in January 2013. As the seats behind us were empty Matthew took a picture of the empty bus behind us.

Inside First Potteries 40375

We carried on through Trentham into Hanford. We joined the A34 and we crossed under the A500. We then turned into London Road for the final mile and a half into Stoke town centre. Opposite Sainsbury's we saw City Buses & Coaches NU52 KHP at their new depot by the car wash. As we approached Campbell Place we got up and then got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 40375 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 40375 in Stoke

We walked through town on to church Street to our favourite cafe, Stoke cafe. Ideal positioned to watch the buses go passed on Church Street. Matthew went to the toilet and then had a breakfast washed down with a can of orange Fanta. After we had finished we walked down Church Street toward the Newcastle stop. There was already a bus there, and it was D&G 113 on the new service 'The Orange One'. We walked casually towards it as was a required bus but we could have waited for something different if we had wanted to. We took a picture of this well turned out bus and we got on it.

D&G 113 in Stoke

We didn't have to show the tickets on this service as it was a free ride! It was the final day of the promotion allowing free travel on this service. We sat down near to the back of this bus which was nearly full as you would expect on a service running for free. The bus set off out of Stoke and up Hartshill Bank. It carried on towards George Street and down into Newcastle town centre. We turned onto Barracks Road and into the bus station. We let the bus empty and then Matthew took a picture inside D&G 113.

Inside D&G 113

When then decided to take a few picture before we caught the next bus. On Stubbs Street we saw required Wardle Transport Volvo B6 2630 on the #92 service.

Wardle Transport 2630 in Newcastle bus station

We walked up to the top end of the bus station and we saw required Wardle Transport 2218 parked up between services.

Wardle Transport 2218 in Newcastle bus station

There was then a procession of vehicle leaving the bus station. Required Wardle Transport 2166 was on the #41 service to Birches Head.

Wardle Transport 2166 in Newcastle bus station

Also seen was required Wardle Transport 2164 on the 'Hospital Hopper' service.

Wardle Transport 2164 in Newcastle bus station

We then saw dud First Potteries 41501 on the #72 to Park Site.

First Potteries 41501 in Newcastle bus station

Dud First Potteries 65038 was on the #101 to stafford.

First Potteries 65038 in Newcastle bus station

We then saw First Potteries 40030 on the #8 to Ball Green.

First Potteries 40030 in Newcastle bus station

This a bus that we haven't ridden on for a very long time... We then saw dud First Potteries 66838 on the #4A to Kidsgrove.

First Potteries 66838 in Newcastle bus station

Arriving on a #94 from Biddulph was required Bakerbus hybrid double decker 246.

Bakerbus 246 in Newcastle bus station

This was immediately followed by required First Potteries 32057 on the #4A to Hanley.

First Potteries 32057 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do this bus. We walked down to the stand and we waited for the passenger to get off the bus. We then got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day ticket and then went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture as we got on the bus.

Inside First Potteries 32057

The bus set off out of town and up the A53. We crossed over the A500 and we turned into Festival Park. We traveled around the industrial part of the estate before crossing back under the A53 and onto Eruria Road. We carried on onto Trinity Street before turning right into Stafford Street. We stopped opposite Wilkinsons for a short while before carrying on into the bus station along Bagnall Street. When we got to the bus station we got off the bus and Matthew went to use the facilities. WE walked to the John Street car park so that we could take a few bus pictures. First thing we saw was Wardle Transport 2259 on a #16 to Leek.

Wardle Transport 2259 in Hanley bus station

Parked up in the small layover area in the bus station was required First Potteries 60012.

First Potteries 60012 in Hanley bus station

We then saw dud First Potteries 41499 on a #23A to Newstead.

First Potteries 41499 in Hanley bus station

This was immediately followed by First Pottries 40019 on the #8B to Brown Edge.

First Potteries 40019 in Hanley bus station

We then saw required First Potteries 66303 on a #3 to Keele.

First Potteries 66303 in Hanley bus station

First Potteries 65027 was on a #101 to Stafford.

First Potteries 65027 in Hanley bus station

We saw dud First Potteries 40027 was on a #17 to Birches Head.

First Potteries 40027 in Hanley bus station

This was followed by dud First Potteries 65002 in the new interurban livery on the #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 65002 in Hanley bus station

We then saw dud First Potteries 40175 running past out of service.

First Potteries 40175 in Hanley bus station

We then saw First Potteries 65733 on a #3 to Leighton Hospital.

First Potteries 65733 in Hanley bus station

Finally we saw Scraggs Blue Buses Plaxton Primo 37 on a #5 to Abbey Hulton.

Scraggs Blue Buses 37 in Hanley bus station

We set off the the bus station to see what we could catch to get us closer to Tunstall. As we walked across to the bus station we saw dud First Potteries 37158 on a #3 to Kidsgrove.

First Potteries 37158 in Hanley bus station

We walked into the bus station and we saw required First Potteries 60012 on a #9 to Newcastle and there was 37158 which would get us directly to Tunstall. As we were about to board 37158, we saw required First Potteries 32056 on a #3 to Keele.

First Potteries 32056 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day ticket. We went upstairs and sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off onto Bethesda Street and onto the ring road. Bethesda Street in front of the museum is now closed off for re-paving. On the ring road we saw City Buses & coaches FY02 RTV, presumably taking fans to the Stoke City game. We turned up Broad Street and onto Marsh Street. We the when up trinity Street onto Stafford Street before leaving town towards Cobridge. We headed through Burslem and up into Tunstall via Scotia Road, Williamson Street and then onto the High Street. The bus behind us emptied and Matthew took a picture.

Inside First Potteries 37158

At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. We then took another picture of First Potteries 37158.

First Potteries 37158 in Tunstall

We went to the Tunstall Cafe where Matthew used the toilet. The waitress remembered our order from last time.. Matthew had toffee cheesecake and a glass of Coke. After we had finished we said goodbye and we crossed over the road to see what we could catch towards Tunstall or Newcastle. We had been passing required First Potteries all day on the #9. we were hoping it was going to be working the next service towards Newcastle. The next bus was a #9A to Hanley via Trubshaw Cross and Burslem. It turn the corner and it was dud First Potteries 40030.

First Potteries 40030 in Tunstall

We decided to do this has we hadn't been on it for such a long time. We got on and flashed our Smart Day ticket before sitting down near to the back. We decided to do this to Trubshaw Cross and then catch something forward to Newcastle, After all, there were required buses out on both the #9 and the #91. WE headed down the High Street and onto Newcastle Street. The bus emptied out as we went along and at the bottom of Brownhills Road we got up to get off the bus. Before we got off Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 40030.

Inside First Potteries 40030

We walked down to the next stop so that we had more choice of service towards Newcastle. By the time we had crossed the road there was a Wardle Transport bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud Wardle Transport 2244.

Wardle Transport 2244 in Longport

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket. Wardle Transport 2244 was a bus that we first rode on back in May 2013. The bus carried on down through Longport and over the A500. We climbed up Porthill bank and we turned left to go through Wolstanton. It didn't take long to travel along the A527 into Newcastle, and then we carried on into barrack road and into the bus station. When we got to the bus station we let the bus empty and Matthew got a picture inside Wardle Transport 2244.

Inside Wardle Transport 2244

As we came into the bus station we saw required D&G 114 on the 'The Orange One. By the time we walked up to the top of the bus station it had left. Around the same time we saw dud First Potteries 32053 on a #4A to Kidsgrove.

First Potteries 32053 in Newcastle bus station

Adjacent to where Wardle Transport 3605 had been, we saw required First Potteries 60012 on the #8 to Ball Green. We decided to do this bus and Matthew got a picture of it.

First Potteries 60012 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the smart Day ticket again. we sat down near to the back of this bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and onto the A527. We traveled through Wolstanton and then turned right down Porthill Bank. We crossed the A500 and headed up through Longport to Trubshaw Cross. At the roundaobut we turned right up Newcastle Street and into Burslem town centre. We caught up with and passed Wardle Transport 3605 and we carried on up the hill to Smallthorne along Moorland Road. The plan at this point was to do 60012. We crossed over Smallthorne roundabouts and we descended Ford Green Road. At the bottom of the road by Ford Green Hall we decided to get off the bus. As we got up Matthew got a picture inside the now empty First Potteries 60012.

Inside First Potteries 60012

As the bus carried onto Ball Green Matthew got another picture of first Potteries 60012.

First Potteries 60012 in Ford Green

We crossed the road to see when the next bus was due. We checked the First Bus app to see when the bus was due and there wasn't a to the bottom of Smallthorne and then to catch Wardle Transport 3605 to Tunstall on a #90 service for quite a while... There must have been a gap in the service at this point. We decided to walk back to Chell Heath Road to wait for the next bus towards Tunstall. We didn't have to wait long before dud First potteries 41070 appeared on a #9 service.

First Potteries 41070 in Smallthorne

We got on the bus and flashed the ticket once more, before sitting down towards the rear of the bus. We had been on the bus in February 2014 when we traveled down to stoke station to do the UK Bus Tours trip to Stanways and Coepland's Tours garages. Previous to that we hadn't been on this bus since April 2008... The bus climbed the hill to Chell Heath and we passed Matthews old school which has now closed. We carried on to Fegg Hayes and up onto High Lane via Fegg Hayes Road. We drooped down into the Mill Hill estate before climbing the hill into Tunstall. When we turned into the High Street we got up and got off the bus. We walked down the High Street and we visited the toilets on Butterfilds Place. We walked a little further down the High Street to the High Street Chippy where we went to get some chips. The nice gentleman serving us chatted to us about football and buses and how Matthews day was going. After had purchased the chips we walked up to the boulevard and we sat with uncle Dave and shared the chips. When we had finished it was starting to go dark so we decided to do one more bus to Newcastle to meet up with mum. We were hoping to get 40173 on the #9. Going the other way to Hanley on the #9 was required First Potteries 42727. A few minutes later the #9 to Newcastle rounded the corner and it was dud first Potteries 40383.

First Potteries 40383 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and flashed the ticket for the final time today before sitting down towards the back of the bus.The bus set off down the high Street and forward onto brownhills Road. we carried on through Trubshaw Cross and Longtport and across the A500. We climbed the Porthill Bank once more and turned left to head through Wolstanton. We carried on along the a527 and into Newcastle. We turned into Barracks road and into the bus station for the final time. The bus emptied out in Stubbs Street and Matthew waited patiently so he could get a picture of the empty First Potteries 40383.

Inside First Potteries 40383

Mum had been caught up in traffic so we had to wait a short while before she arrived. Matthew went to the toilet and then we took a few bus pictures. On a #72 service was required First Potteries 40015.

First Potteries 40015 in Newcastle bus station

Seen on a #4 to Audley was required First Potteries 66307.

First Potteries 66307 in Newcastle bus station

On a #34 to Chesterton was required Wardle Transport 2258.

Wardle Transport 2258 in Newcastle bus station

W got a text say that mum had arrived and parked nearby... We walked onto Barracks Road and mum was waiting for us with some Wright Sausage Rolls. We headed off towards Z carz via the A53 and A500. On the A500 we passed a few vehicle coming away from he Britannia Stadium. We saw Dawson coach T368 AJF and also First Potteries 31518. We turned onto the A50 and we Headed east to Longton. Once again everything was in the yard in Willow Row. The yard was dark and the only vehicle that was easily identifiable was Z carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We headed onto the A5035 and we got back home around 17:40. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a cake bar. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... Mark