Trip to Stoke / Tunstall 27-06-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60069	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
40029	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21	First Potteries
60202	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	3	First Potteries
40015	Newcastle BS	Clayton Village, Opp Beechwood Close	72	First Potteries
40020	Clayton Village, Opp Beechwood Close	Newcastle BS	72	First Potteries
60128	Newcastle BS	Burslem, Town Hall (stop G)	98	First Potteries
66310	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (Stop A)	Tunstall, adj stop M	3	First Potteries
66309	Tunstall, adj stop B	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
65731	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	4A	First Potteries
32055	Newcastle BS	Keele, Nr Sneyd Arms PH	3	First Potteries
66309	Keele, adj Sneyd Arms PH	Newcastle BS	3	First Potteries

Today we decided to do a local trip, as we were going out again on Sunday. The weather forecast was for fine sunny hot weather. Matthew got up around 10:15 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Just after 12:00 we set off on foot the considerable distance to the bus stop all the way over on Magdalen Road. I had viewed all the buses earlier in the day and they were all Scania single deckers, with First Potteries 60069 expected to turn up on the 12:05 Longton to Newcastle. Just after 12:18 as expected First Potteries 60069 turned the corner onto Magdalen Road.

First Potteries 60069 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we purchased a Smart day ticket at £5.30. We sat down towards the back of the bus and then bus pulled off onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line into Trentham and we passed First Potteries 41501 on a #22 to Longton which had replaced one of the Scania's seen earlier. We turned right into New Inn Lane and as the bus behind us was empty Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 60069.

Inside First Potteries 60069

We passed dud First Potteries 40029 on a #21 to Trentham. that would be the next bus towards Stoke. When we were approaching the Man in Space we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of First Potteries 60069.

First Potteries 60069 in Trentham

We stood at the stop outside the Man in Space for a couple of minutes and then we could see the Solo approaching... As expected it was dud First Potteries 40029.

First Potteries 40029 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. The bus was nearly empty so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 40029.

Inside First Potteries 40029

We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off up New Inn Lane. We passed First Potteries 40367 which was on a #21B to Trentham Gardens. We went through Hanford and we joined the A34 before crossing under the A500 and travelling into Trent Vale. At the Black Lion we turned right into London Road. We passed through Oak Hill and into the West End before going into Stoke. At the City Cabs base was minibus NU52 KHP. When we got onto Campbell Place we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took a picture of 40029 as it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 40029 in Stoke

We turned and we saw First Potteries 40375 on a #21 to Trentham Hotel.

First Potteries 40375 in Stoke

We crossed the road and we headed to Church Street to the Stoke cafe. Matthew used the toilet and had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. When we had finished eating we headed to the stop for Newcastle buses. On the way we saw First Potteries 41522 on the #2 service to Newcastle.

First Potteries 41522 in Stoke

When we got to the stop the timetable revealed we had an approximate 7 minute wait for the next #3. We saw a barbie liveried Scania approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 60202.

First Potteries 60202 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed our Smart Day tickets to the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off through Stoke and up Hartshill Road. We passed through Hartshill and we turned right to go through the hospital. As we travelled throught the hospital a taxi pulled out on the bus and we had to brake.... This set off an alarm in the cab. Having negotiated the hospital grounds we saw we turned onto the A34 for the last 1/2 a mile into Newcastle. just before we got into town the alarm cleared. At the big roundabout we turned onto Barracks Road and then we entered the bus station from the Southern End. We let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 60202.

Inside First Potteries 60202

As we were getting off the bus the driver told the waiting passengers not to get on the bus as he was probably going to get a replacement bus. On an adjacent stand we saw First Potteries 32054 on a #3 service.

First Potteries 32054 in Newcastle bus station

Spare bus on Stubbs Street was dud First Potteries 37158.

First Potteries 37158 in Newcastle bus station

Also on layover on Stubbs Street was required First Potteries 66964.

First Potteries 66964 in Newcastle bus station

Whilst on stubbs Street, we also saw dud First Potteries 32055 on a #4 to Hanley.

First Potteries 32055 in Newcastle bus station

We went to the bottom of the bus station and we sat down for a short while. We saw required First Potteries 40015 on a #72 to Clayton so we decided to do this.

First Potteries 40015 in Newcastle bus station

Whilst we waited for a driver change to take place, we saw a few other buses in the bus station. Dud First Potteries 41497 was working a #17 to Hanley via Bradwell.

First Potteries 41497 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw D&G 190 on the #41 to Clayton.

D&G 190 in Newcastle bus station

When the driver was ready we got on the bus and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We set off onto barracks Road and we joined the Northbound A34. At the first roundabout we went left onto Blackfriars Road. We turned left onto Friarswood Road and left again onto Brook Lane. We saw mum leaving Homebase in her car and we waved frantically but she didn't see us. We turned through 180' and we headed up the A519. We turned right into Seabridge Lane into Clayton and we wound through the estate and forward into Westbury Park. We crossed the A519 and we headed down the hill towards the A500 bridge. The bus turned just short of the bridge into Ferndown Drive South. As we got up and got off Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 40015.

Inside First Potteries 40015

As First Potteries 40015 carried on back towards Newcastle Matthew took another picture...

First Potteries 40015 in Clayton Village

We walked down to the A500 bridge to see if there were any passing buses. Matthew had a can of Irn Bru and a Rice Crispies Squares bar. As we stood on the bridge as a car passed below someone shouted 'Don't jump!'. When Matthew had finished eating we walked back up to Ferndown Drive South. We didn't have to wait long for the next #72 service. It was dud First Potteries 40020.

First Potteries 40020 in Clayton Village

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off up Ferndown Drive South. We rejoined Northwood lane just down from the Northwood Lane Store and we retuned back along the route we came. We crossed over the A519 into Westbury park before going forward onto Seabridge Lane and then back onto the A519 closer to Newcastle. We ran down the A519 into Newcastle and then on Barracks Road. We entered the bus station from the Southern end. When we got to the bus station we decided to head off towards Tunstall. There was a #98 to Ball Green on the top stand so we headed up to see what it was. The bus was First Potteries Scania 60128.

First Potteries 60128 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus and the bus set off out of the bus station. We took the A527 out of Newcastle and through Wolstanton. The bus turned right onto Porthill Bank. By the time we got to the bottom of Port Hill bank the bus had emptied out in front of us, so Matthew took a picture of the empty bus in front of us.

Inside First Potteries 60128

We crossed the A500 and we climbed the hill through Longport to Trubshaw Cross. At the roundabout we went right onto Newcastle Street. We climbed further up the hill and into Burslem town centre where we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 60128 before it carried on it's way to Ball Green.

First Potteries 60128 in Burslem

We walked around the corner to the stop on Waterloo Road. As we got to the stop we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was dud First Potteries 66310.

First Potteries 66310 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we flashed our Smart Day ticket to the driver. The bus was quite full and we sat down at the back of the bus. Sitting next to the Volvo engine on a warm day was a little uncomfortable. The bus went along Scotia Road and then left onto Williamson Street. We turned left onto Tunstall High Street and we got off the bus at the top. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 66310 before it carried on towards Leighton Hospital, Crewe.

First Potteries 66310 in Tunstall

Once off the bus we headed to the Tunstall Cafe for our customary cake break. Matthew went to the toilet and I ordered him a toffee cheesecake washed down with a glass of Coke. When we had finished we headed back onto the high Street. As we were decided which way to go next we saw a Cherry Route bus round the corner, so we crossed the High Street to go and catch it. As it got closer we saw that it was required First Potteries 66309.

First Potteries 66309 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to driver. We sat down near to the back off the bus and the bus set off down Tunstall Hight Street. We turned left onto Williamson Street and then right onto Scotia Road. We entered Burslem town centre and we exited along Waterloo Road. in Hanley we travelled along hope Street and onto Stafford Street. At the end of Stafford Street we turned to go past the town hall and we entered the bus station along Bagnall Street. At the bus station the bus didn't empty as it was running through to Madeley. We got off and Matthew went to the toilet. After he had used the facilities, we headed out of the bus station and up to the multi-storey car park to take a few pictures of buses in the bus station. we saw First Potteries 40023 in the bus station.

First Potteries 40023 in Hanley bus station

On the X15 to Buxton we saw dud D&G 132.

D&G 132 in Hanley bus station

This was followed by required First Potteries 41493 on the #21B to Trentham Gardens.

First Potteries 41493 in Hanley bus station

Dud First Potteries 40024 moved into on of the layover spaces in the centre of the bus station.

First Potteries 40024 in Hanley bus station

We then saw dud First Potteries 40175 also moving into one of these spaces.

First Potteries 40175 in Hanley bus station

We also saw dud First Potteries 65004 departing on a #18 to Leek.

First Potteries 65004 in Hanley bus station

This was followed by dud First Potteries 43876 on a #17 to Newcastle via Bradwell.

First Potteries 43876 in Hanley bus station

Dud First Potteries ALX200 Dart 40155 was on a #8B to Brown Edge.

First Potteries 40155 in Hanley bus station

We decided to head back towards the bus station. On the stands out the bus station there were a couple of Wright Streetlites as well as a couple of Scania Omnicity's. On of these vehicles was required First Potteries 65042 on a #6 to Weston Coyney.

First Potteries 65042 in Hanley bus station

Back inside the bus station we headed into the Spar shop and Matthew stocked up the trip bag with some pop and chocolate. We went out onto the bus station concourse and we saw a couple of buses we could do. Dud First Potteries ALX400 double decker 32055 was on a #3 to Madeley, and required First Potteries 65731 was on a #4A to Talke.

First Potteries 65731 in Hanley bus station

We decided to do the required Scania. We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket at the driver. We sat down near to the back of this quite well filled bus. We set off out off the bus station and onto John Street. We turned right onto Bethesda Street and then straight onto Marsh Street. Half way along Marsh Street we turned left onto Trinity Street and we headed down to the festival park and under the A53. We went along festival way and then back Southwards down Forge Lane. We crossed back under the A53 before joining the Basford bound carriageway. We crossed over the A500 in Etruria and we headed through Basford and into Newcastle. Back at the bus station the bus did not empty and so Matthew didn't get a picture inside First Potteries 65731. We got off the bus and there were a couple of required First Potteries Volvo's in the bus station. Required First Potteries 66313 was on a #3 to Crewe.

First Potteries 66313 in Newcastle bus station

Dud First Potteries 32055 which we had seen at Hanley had now caught us up.

First Potteries 32055 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do this up to Keele village in a quick out and back move to finish off the day. We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. We went upstairs and the top deck of the bus was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32055.

Inside First Potteries 32055

The bus set off out off the bus station and down Barracks Road. We headed up the A34 for a couple of rundabouts and then we joined the A525. Turning right onto Orme Road, we bounced aour way up over the speed bumps until we joined the A525 again just before Hamptons scrapyard. We crossed over the roundabout and we climbed the steep hill up to the university entrance. Turning left and then right, we ran down to main square and we turned left to go on the road that goes around it. As we passed the back of the Students Union bar we saw the stop opposite had information of bus departures on a LED screen. It was 16:47 and there was a #85 due off this stop at 16:57. Hopefully we would make it up to the village to catch this bus. We passed the back of the Library and the Lindsay building and as were on the straight to head into Keele village and we saw the D&G Solo ahead coming the other way. There was an issue with the two buses trying to pass on this narrow road and we ended up reversing so that the other bus could pass. It passed us and we saw that it was dud D&G Solo 141. We carried on across Three Mile Lane and into the village where we got off the bus. I think there had been an issue with the bus getting caught on a speed bump, as the aluminium strip on the bottom edge of the step was broken and sticking up. The driver told us to be carefully getting off and he then precede to bend it back into position so no one else could get caught on the sharp edge. The driver got back on and we took a picture of First Potteries 32055.

First Potteries 32055 in Keele

Behind us we could see a Cherry route bus stopped down the road. We didn't think we would make it to the stop up the road towards Madeley, but we did. The bus had stopped at the previous stop and wasn't moving. It did start moving eventually and when it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 66309 again!

First Potteries 66309 in Keele

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver for the final time today. On the road into keele University we passed Stanton's of Stoke DYE 815 going the other way towards the village. We passed the back of the Student union and the same youth who was waiting there when we passed the stop before got on the bus... He mustn't have fancied doing the D&G bus on this occasion. Back outside the square we saw the a Stanton's of Stoke double decker which we assume was the one we had seen earlier going around the university grounds and coming in from the over side. We left the campus and we went down the A525 and across the roundabout over Hampton Hump as we like to call it. The slight up and over hill outside Hamptons scrapyard. As we were about to turn into Orme Road we spotted the Stanton's of Stoke double decker ahead on the A525. It was at the side of the road with the engine cover up receiving some attention. There were people standing around in sports attire (presumable taking part in the corporate games 2015) standing around outside the bus. We bounced our way down Orme Road and into Newcastle along the A34, before coming into the bus station from the Southern end up Barracks Road. As the bus was terminating at Newcastle, we let the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 66309 at the second attempt today.

Inside First Potteries 66309

When we got off the bus there was just time to take a few more bus pictures before we walked up to the car. On a #10 Stafford to Hanley service was dud First Potteries 32627.

First Potteries 32627 in Newcastle bus station

We walked to the top of the bus station to see if we could see mum parked up the road. As we did we saw First Potteries 32053 enter the bus station on a #4 service.

First Potteries 32053 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw First Potteries 53830 on a #17 to Hanley via Bradwell

First Potteries 53830 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew went to the toilet, and when he came out we saw First Potteries 60175 on a #2 to Meir.

First Potteries 60175 in Newcastle bus station

We walked to the car and mum was waiting with drinks. Matthew had a can of Fanta. As we didn't have sausage rolls for today we decided to visit the riverside chippy in Trent Vale on the way home. We turned the car around on the jubilee roundabout and we headed South down the A34 to Trent Vale. We stopped for chips and then we carried on Southwards down the A34. We turned left onto the A500 and we did this up to the roundabout at Sideway. We joined the Eastbound A50 and we did this up the hill to Longton where we came off at Longton to see what was parked up at Z Carz this evening. There were 4 buses parked on the spare ground tonight. First in the row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY.

Z Carz S952 VMY in Longton

Next in the row was another Mercedes minibus Z Carz CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

Next in the row was LDV Maxus minibus Z Carz CN57 HWA.

Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton

Last in the row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and there were a couple of minibus in the compound and they weren't easily photograph-able. We got back onto the A50 which we did up to Heron Cross. We stopped at shop to drop something off and then we carried on up Blurton Road. We went forwards onto Church Street and we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 18:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash followed by a Manchester Tart. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... Mark