Trip to Stoke / Tunstall 27-12-2014

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60072	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
66302	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	3	First Potteries
66307	Newcastle BS	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
65732	Hanley BS	Tunstall (Stoke-on-Trent), adj stop M	3	First Potteries
2636	Tunstall (Stoke-on-Trent), adj stop B	Newcastle BS	91	Wardle Transport
32055	Newcastle BS	Chesterton (Newcastle Under Lyme), Adj Rosevale Court	4	First Potteries
66838	Chesterton (Newcastle Under Lyme), Opp Rosevale Court	Newcastle BS	4	First Potteries

Today we decided to go out on a local trip. On Boxing Day evening it had snowed, We had been to uncle Dave's and the roads were a little bit hazardous to say the least. I went to fetch uncle Dave in the morning and Matthew got up around 10:30. For breakfast he had some toast and orange juice. We decided to go out on the 12:07 departure from Blurton. I had not been out to view this bus so i didn't know which one was going to turn up, other than it wouldn't be First Potteries dart 42892 which I had seen on an earlier turn when I went to fetch uncle Dave. We set off on foot to the bus stop on Magdalen Road. We saw D&G 171 go past on the A5035 working the Blurton Plumline service. The bus was running on time today as they were few people daft enough to go out in this weather. It turned the corner and we saw it was dud First Potteries 60072.

First Potteries 60072 in Blurton

We got on the bus and booked a Smart Day ticket at £5.30. The bus was almost empty and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off onto the A5035 and Matthew took a picture of the empty bus behind us.

Inside First Potteries 60072

The bus carried on into Trentham and we passed required First Potteries 60069 on the #22 to Dresden. We also passed First Potteries 40375 on the #21B to Trentham Gardens. First Potteries 60072 was a bus we first had back in May 2014. We turned into New Inn Lane and we got up and got off at The man in Space. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 60072 before it carried on to Newcastle.

First Potteries 60072 in Trentham

The next #21 bus would be a #21B from Trentham Gardens and should be dud First Potteries 40375. On the other side of the road we saw required First Potteries 42727 on the #21 to Pacific Drive. It waited time on the other side of the road. Whilst we waited for First Potteries 40375 to return Matthew gather snow and ice into piles with his feet. Eventually we saw the bus approaching and it was as expected dud First Potteries 40375.

First Potteries 40375 in Trentham

We got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day tickets before sitting down near to the back of the bus. The bus carried on through Trentham and into Hanford. We went down Church lane which was free of snow and ice and onto the A34. We crossed under the A500 and into Trent Vale. At the Black Lion pub we turned right onto London Road. We traveled the last mile and half into Stoke along London Road, passing he city cabs base where there were 3 minibuses including SJ54 MWY. When we got to Stoke we got up and got off the bus. Matthew got another picture of First Potteries 40375.

First Potteries 40375 in Stoke

We were ahving dinner in Stoke as usual in the Stoke cafe on Church Street. We walked along Campbell Place and around the corner into Church Street. Matthew went to the toilet with uncle Dave and I ordered the food. Matthew had a small breakfast washed down with a can of Fanta. Whilst we sat in the cafe we saw required First Potteries 32055 heading towards Hanley on a #3 and D&G 107 on an 'Orange' service. Once we had finished eating wewalked down Church Street towards the Newcastle stop. On the stop already was D&G 111.

D&G 111 in Stoke

I couldn't remember if this was a required bus. It turned out that it was... I asked Matthew if he wanted to do it and he turned it down. In the distance was a Cherry branded bus which there was a good chance of this being required. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 66302.

First Potteries 66302 in Stoke

We got on the bus and flashed the tickets. It was empty except for one other passenger, something we had never seen before on a #3... I think this was down to a combination of the weather and the fact that the universities were on holiday. The bus set off up Harshill bank and though Hartshill, turning left at The Avenue. We turned left at Albany Road continuing onto Hilton Road before turning right into the hospital. We went though the hospital before turning right onto the Northbound A34. We did the last 1/2 mile or so into town and onto Barracks Road before entering Newcastle bus station. We got off the bus and walked around looked for the next bus we would catch. In Between duties on Stubbs Street was dud Wardle Transport 3614.

Wardle Transport 3614 in Newcastle bus station

It was cold and damp so we didn't want to hang around too long. Matthew was also intent in clearing all the ice off the tops of railing and benches too! Required Wardle Transport 2165 was On a #41 'hospital Hopper' towards Birches Head.

Wardle Transport 2165 in Newcastle bus station

There wasn't much about so we decided to catch required First Potteries 66307 on a #3 to Hanley.

First Potteries 66307 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket before sitting down at the back of the bus. The bus set off onto barracks Road and onto the Southbound A34. I thought we were on the wrong bus for a while as I forgot the #3 came this way despite going through the hospital on the previous bus in the opposite direction. The bus pasued in the hospital for a while before heading off into Harsthill. Another pause in Stoke town centre before continuing to Stoke station along the A52. By the railway station were a collection of coaches on rail replacement work including Bakers Coaches 201. We carried on through the University Quarter up College Road and into Hanley via Regent Road and Lower Bethesda Street. We crossed the ring road and a car ran a red light and pulled in front of us. The driver of the bus beeped his horn and the driver of the car 'flipped him off' as he pulled into John Street car park. We entered the bus station via Lidice Way and then the bus emptied out at the bus station. Matthew got a picture inside First Potteries 66307 before we got off it.

Inside First Potteries 66307

Matthew used the toilets in the bus station before we headed off to John Street car park, so that we could take a few bus pictures. It was now raining a little bit. Inclear view in the layover area of the bus station was required First Potteries Caetano Dart 41521.

First Potteries 41521 in Hanley bus station

We didn't have to wait for long before we saw one of the pair of Solo's that Arriva From Hereford. The buses have been repainted and branded for the #43 Badderley Green service.

First Potteries 50296 in Hanley bus station

The other Solo is First Potteries 50281. Since some of the Volvo B7TL's moved to Adderley Green, they have worked the #32 to Uttoxeter/Cheadle or #101 to Stafford services. On the #32 to Cheadle was required First Potteries 37160.

First Potteries 37160 in Hanley bus station

The first Dart to be repainted into the modern style of the Olympia livery was dud First Potteries 42893.

First Potteries 42893 in Hanley bus station

It had been in service in these colours for around a week but it has not got any transfers or decals on it. A another new bus in the area is First Potteries 37146 on the #3 to Madeley.

First Potteries 37146 in Hanley bus station

whilst we took pictures Matthew had a small bottle of lemonade and Galaxy Caramel. We saw First Potteries 32057 come into the bus station and as it was cold we decided to headed back into the bus station and try to catch something towards Tunstall. When we got to the bus station dud First Potteries 32057 was on the stand for Tunstall.

First Potteries 32057 in Hanley bus station

A driver came and jumped in the bus and drove it off and onto one of the layover bays. A minutes or so later dud First Potteries 65732 came onto the stand and the driver left the bus. He told passengers that he had come private from Newcastle so he might not be the next bus. Five minute later the bus driver re-appeared and the bus started to load.

First Potteries 65732 in Hanley bus station

On the adjacent #8 service was required (by me only) First Potteries 65578. We got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day tickets and we sat down at the back of the bus. It was well loaded and when we stopped in Stafford Street we picked up a few more passengers. We carried on out of town into Cobridge and into Burslem and the bus started to empty out a little. We carried on along Scotia Road and along Williamson Street before going up Tunstall High Street. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then got another picture of First Potteries 65732.

First Potteries 65732 in Tunstall

Now that we were in Tunstall it was time for a cake break... We headed into the Tunstall Cafe and Matthew went to the toilet whilst I ordered him a slice of toffee cheesecake and a can of Coke. It didn't take long for him to demolish the cheesecake and we were back out on the street less than minutes. We waited at stop A, as there was a #29 that was due. Across the road we saw required First Potteries 65731 on a #3 which we let go. A few minutes later we saw required Wardle Transport 2636 on a #91 to Newcastle.

Wardle Transport 2636 in Tunstall

After taking a picture we legged it across the road and got on it. We flashed our Smart day ticket and sat down near to the back. It was quite cold on this bus, perhaps we should have sat on the nearside of this Volvo B6 where the heaters appeared to be situated. The bus set off down Tunstall High Street and we turned into Woodland Street. and went along Williamson Street and onto Bronwhills Road. We passed through Trubshaw Cross and through Longport before we crossed over the A500 and into Porthill. At the top of Porthill Banks we turned left and went through Wolstanton. We came into Newcastle and onto Barracks Road before entering into the bus station. As we entered the bus station we saw a First Potteries ALX400 double decker coming into the bus station. The bus stopped in Stubbs Street to unload. We waited for the bus to empty and Matthew got a picture inside Wardle Transport 2636.

Inside Wardle Transport 2636

We walked over to where the double decker was and we saw it was required First Potteries 32055 that we had seen in stoke earlier.

First Potteries 32055 in Newcastle bus station

It was working a #4 to Audley. We decided to do this up to Dragon Square. We got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day ticket before going upstairs. As the top deck was empty Matthew took a picture of the empty upper saloon before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 32055

The bus set off out of the bus station and onto barracks Road. We turned into the Rycroft and into Merrial Street before heading back onto the A34. We went North passed the bus garage and we could see a Leyland Olympian and an single ALX400 Volvo double decker, meaning there was probably another one out somewhere that we hadn't seen. We carried on past Milehouse and we turned into Bymbo Road. After going through the Lymedale business park we headed onto London Road and we went North through Chesterton. As we turned onto Crackley Bank we got up and gt off the bus. We then took another picture of First Potteries 32055.

First Potteries 32055 in Chesterton

We crossed the road and we had around 5 minutes to wait for a return service. We could see it was a cherry branded bus so hopefully it would be a required one. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 66838.

First Potteries 66838 in Chesterton

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket for the final time before sitting down near to the back of the bus. First Potteries 66838 was a bus we first did back in July 2011. We went back down London Road and through the Lymedale business park before rejoining the A34. We picked up a few passenger and we went back passed the depot, where we could see a Solo and a cherry branded bus inside the depot as well as a Wright bodied Volvo B7TL double decker. We pulled into the bus station and we got off. Matthew went to the toilet and then we took a few more bus pictures. We saw required First Potteries 40010 on a #72 Park Site service.

First Potteries 40010 in Newcastle bus station

We walked around the corner to wait for mum but she must have been delayed a few minutes. As we walked back down to the bus station we saw the car approaching. Mum had fetched some mini Wrights Pies sausage rolls as well as a bottle of Irn Bru. She turned the car around at the roundabout and we headed South out of town along the A34. We stopped at the riverside chippy in Trent Vale and we had 2 portion of chips between us. We headed back onto the A34 and onto the Northbound A500. We went East along the A50 and we came off at Longton to View the Carz depot. There was nothing on the spare ground today, so we turned into Willow Row. Centre of the Compound was Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

We turned around and Matthew got a picture of Z Carz GK02 NWJ which was opposite the depot.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We got back onto the A50 and we came off it again at heron Cross. We went through Blurton along Blurton Road and we turned into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home at around 17:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a lemon meringue pie. matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 01:00.. Mark