Trip to Newcastle / Hanley 15-08-2015

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
60073	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
40022	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21	First Potteries
66839	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	3	First Potteries
42353	Newcastle BS	Burslem, Town Hall (stop G)	98	First Potteries
32054	Burslem, Wedgwood Street (Stop A)	Tunstall, adj stop M	3	First Potteries
42894	Tunstall, adj stop B	Hanley BS	29	First Potteries
189	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	41	D&G
37156	Newcastle BS	Keele, Nr Sneyd Arms PH	3	First Potteries
66851	Keele, adj Sneyd Arms PH	Newcastle BS	3	First Potteries
53119	Newcastle BS	Clayton Village, Opp Beechwood Close	72	First Potteries
65733	Clayton Village, Opp Beechwood Close	Newcastle BS	72	First Potteries

Today we decided to have a local trip. We had checked the weather, and the forecast was for warm and cloudy with sunny intervals. Stoke City were playing away, so it would be relatively quiet in Stoke town centre, Also with Newcastle garage closing in September, and a slight reduction in services due, we though it would be a good chance to try and ride on some of the older buses before they were withdrawn. We were particularly interested in getting a ride on required First Potteries Scania 60006 if we saw it working today. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. Just after 12:00 we set off on foot to the stop all the way over on Magdalen Road to catch a Newcastle bound #22 to Trentham. I hadn't checked out what was on the #22, so we didn't know what was going to turn up. As we waited we saw dud First Potteries 60068 on a #22 to Longton. The bus came around the corner out of Finstock Avenue and we saw that it was dud First Potteries 60073.

First Potteries 60073 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we purchased a Smart Day tickets at £5.30. We sat down near to the back of the bus and we set off onto the A5035. We travelled over the railway line and into Trentham before turning right into New Inn Lane. As we passed Pacific Road we saw dud First Potteries 40022 on a #21 to the Trentham hotel, and probably our next bus... As we approached the man in Space we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 60073 before it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 60073 in Trentham

A few minutes later as predicted we saw a Solo approaching... It was indeed dud First Potteries 40022.

First Potteries 40022 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. The bus was already 1/2 full when we got on it. We sat down towards the back of the bus and we set off up new Inn Lane. We passed dud First Potteries 40304 on a #21B to Trentham Gardens, so we did the right thing by not waiting to see what was on the next bus. As we travelled through Hanford we passed dud First Potteries 60069 on the 3rd #22 turn going towards Longton. We joined the A34 and we passed under the A500 in Trent Vale. We managed to identify a further bus on the #21's as we passed First Potteries 41514 going the other way. As we approached Stoke we passed City Cabs, were minibus WG54 AOC was parked up. When we got to Stoke we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 40022 as it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 40022 in Stoke

We walked through town and onto Church Street to the Stoke Cafe. Matthew went to the toilet and I ordered the food. Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After we had finished eating we walked down Church Street to the Newcastle stop. There was a #2 due at 13:16 so we were surprised when we saw a Volvo heading our way. We could also see First Potteries Scania single decker 60171 in it's red and yellow livery and a yellow double decker behind that. As the Volvo got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 66839.

First Potteries 66839 in Stoke

Behind that was as we knew dud First Potteries Scania 60171.

First Potteries 60171 in Stoke

As we considered which bus to get on GHA double decker F811 FAO went past on a shuttle service to Betley in connection with the Junction 16 music festival. We had heard about the festival shuttles but at £15 for a return fare it was too expensive for us to do. I asked Matthew which of the single deckers he wanted to do and he chose First Potteries 66839. 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 Stoke town centre and up Hartshill Road. We travelled through Hartshill and we turned left into The Avenue. We turned left onto Albany Road and then we turned right into the hospital. After running through the hospital we joined the A34 and we headed into Newcastle. We turned into the bus station and we let the bus empty before Matthew got a picture inside First Potteries 66839.

Inside First Potteries 66839

We got off the bus and we decided to look around and take a few pictures. On layover on Stubbs Street was our last ALX400/Volvo double decker First Potteries 32056.

First Potteries 32056 in Newcastle bus station

We rode on this fine example of a double decker back in April this year. We went down to the bottom of the bus station to take a few more pictures whilst we decided which bus to do next. On a #164 to Market Drayton/Shrewsbury was Arriva Midlands 3699.

Arriva Midlands 3699 in Newcastle bus station

This was followed by dud 'Olympia' liveried First Potteries 65038 on a #10 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65038 in Newcastle bus station

In the distance we saw a Vale Travel liveried GHA double decker go by along the A34 on a Junction 16 music festival shuttle. We also saw dud First Potteries 43876 on a #72 to Clayton.

First Potteries 43876 in Newcastle bus station

At the top end of the bus station we saw a barbie liveried Caetano bodied Dart so we knew it would be one of the required pair that recently arrived from Hereford. As it turned the corner we saw that it was required First Potteries 42353.

First Potteries 42353 in Newcastle bus station

We walked up to the top end of the bus station to get on First Potteries 42353 and we saw a GHA double decker go whizzing past on another Junction 16 music festival shuttle. We boarded First Potteries 42353 and we flashed the Smart day tickets to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus was quite full as we set off out of the bus station. We headed up the A527 and into Wolstaton before going down Porthill Bank and over the A500 into Longport. At Trubshaw Cross we turned right and we went up the hill into Burslem. The back of the bus emptied as we approached the town and Matthew got a picture of the back seat of First Potteries 42353.

Inside First Potteries 42353

As we went along Market Place we got up and got off the bus. We then took another picture of First Potteries 42353.

First Potteries 42353 in Burslem

We walked around the corner onto Wedgwood Street so that we could catch a bus up to Tunstall. Along Waterloo road we could see a dud First Potteries ALX400 double decker approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was First Potteries 32054.

First Potteries 32054 in Burslem

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. We went upstairs and we sat down. The bus was quite well filled as we set off along Scotia Road. We went past the old Burslem bus garage and we turned left onto Williamson Street. A few people emptied off the bus and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32054.

Inside First Potteries 32054

We turned right into Tunstall High Street and when we got to the North end we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 32054 before it carried on towards Talke. Behind the double decker we saw a D&G MPD Dart pull up on a #94 to Biddulph. A closer inspection revealed it was dud D&G 198.

D&G 198 in Tunstall

We had been on D&G 198 back when it was an Arriva Midlands bus from Uttoxeter bus station to the stop outside the Foxes biscuit factory back in October 2012. We went into Tunstall cafe and Matthew used the toilet. Matthew had to settle for just a drink of Coke. After we had finished I asked Matthew which way he wanted to go and indicated he wanted to go over that other side of the road to go towards Hanley or Newcastle. As we were crossing the road we saw dud First Potteries 42894 on a #29 to Hanley. I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this and he said yes.

First Potteries 42894 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day to the driver. We sat down near to the back of the bus ans we set off towards Trubshaw Cross. We went down the High Street and forwards onto Brownhills Road. At the roundabout we turned left and we headed up Newcastle Road into Burslem. The bus emptied out a little and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 42894.

Inside First Potteries 42894

We turned right onto Waterloo Road and we headed into Cobridge. We turned right into Festival Park and we paused for a minute or so outside of Morrisons. We went through festival Park and we crossed under the A53 and went up Etruria Road / Trinty Street and we turned right into Stafford Street. We passed the town hall and we went along Bagnall Street into the bus station. We got off the bus and Matthew headed into the toilet. As we were heading through the bus station we saw one of the 'new' Streetlites that came from Manchester in the last few weeks outside the bus station at the addition stand on Lichfield Street. It was First Potteries 63099 on a #6B to Blythe Bridge.

First Potteries 63099 in Hanley bus station

We walked up towards John Street car park. Arriving into the bus station from Abbey Hulton was First Potteries 50281 on a #5 service.

First Potteries 50281 in Hanley bus station

On layover in the bus station was former Chesterbus 374. The bus now carries the number 41070 in the First Potteries fleet.

First Potteries 41070 in Hanley bus station

We went up the stairs into the John Street car park and we took a few bus pictures. On layover was dud First Potteries 41522.

First Potteries 41522 in Hanley bus station

Freshly repainted ready for the extended #9 service which change in September, is required D&G Versa 160.

D&G 160 in Hanley bus station

The bus used to be 262 in the Transdev Burnley & Pendle fleet. Another fairly new addition to the area is dud First Potteries 65564 on a #29 to Bradeley.

First Potteries 65564 in Hanley bus station

Former Wardle Transport 2164 is now carrying the number 188 since it joined D&G earlier in the year. It was seen working a #43 to Badderley Green.

D&G 188 in Hanley bus station

We also saw First Potteries 66309 on a #3 to Leighton Hospital in Crewe.

First Potteries 66309 in Hanley bus station

Another former Transdev Burnley and Pendle bus is D&G 157 which we saw on the #16 to Leek.

D&G 157 in Hanley bus station

This has also been painted yellow ready to work the extended #9 service from September. matthew shared a Milky Way double bar with uncle Dave and then drank a can of Vimto. We decided to head back to the bus station to see what we could catch. We went in the spar shop and we brought a bottle of Irn Bru and a couple of chocolate bat to re-stock the trip bag. Matthew said hello to to the lady working behind the counter and then we went to see what we could catch. There was a dud First Potteries double decker going towards Newcastle as well as required D&G 189 which was on a #41 to Clayton.

D&G 189 in Hanley bus station

We decided to catch the D&G bus, not least so that we could use the 'multi operator' part of the ticket. We flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver and we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off out of the bus station and down John Street to Bethesda Street. We crossed the ring road and we went down College Road to the railway station. We ran parallel to the railway along the A52 and then we turned right and into Stoke town centre. After a brief stop we went out of town and up Hartshill Road. We turned right into Princes Road and into Penkhull. We went down Newcastle Lane and we turned right onto Hilton Road before going into the hospital. After passing through the hospital we joined the A34 and then ran into the South end of Newcastle bus station off Barracks Road. As it was a through bus it did not empty put completely. Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of D&G 189.

Inside D&G 189

We got off the bus and we had a look around for something we could catch. We saw dud First Potteries 37158 leaving on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 37158 in Newcastle bus station

Also leaving the bus station in the new yellow livery was D&G 161 on a #41 to Birches Head.

D&G 161 in Newcastle bus station

We saw First Potteries 37156 arrive in the bus station on a #3 to Madeley.

First Potteries 37156 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do First Potteries 37156 up to Keele... Whilst we waited for the bus driver to ready the bus for service we had a look at the Arriva bus that came into the bus station on the #164 to Hanley. It was Arriva Midlands 3695.

Arriva Midlands 3695 in Newcastle bus station

When the bus started to board, we got on and flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. We went upstairs and Matthew took a picture First Potteries 37156 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 37156

Out of the window we saw First Potteries 42893 on a #4 to Audley.

First Potteries 42893 in Newcastle bus station

The bus set off out of the bus station and we went down to the A34. We went a ciuple of roundabouts up the road before we turned left onto the A525. We turned right into Orme Road and we bounced over the speed bump to the other end of Orme Road before we re-joined the Westbound A525. We climbed the steep hill up to Keele, passing D&G 144 on a #85 to Newcastle and we turned right into the campus. We ran through the campus and out the other side into the village. We got up and got off the bus. The bus paused for a minute or two and we got another picture of First Potteries 37156.

First Potteries 37156 in Keele

We only had a few minutes before the bus back towards Newcastle was due. We saw a Volvo approaching and as it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 66851.

First Potteries 66851 in Keele

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver. As the bus was nearly empty Matthew took a picture inside the near empty First Potteries 66851.

Inside First Potteries 66851

The bus set off out of the village and through the Keele University campus. I asked Matthew if he wanted this to be the last bus, and he said that he wanted to do a couple more. Not too surprising considering we had only managed to ride on two new buses today out of nine! We passed D&G 144 going back towards Crewe on the #85 again and we headed down the hill. We passed Hamptons scrapyard and we turned left into Orme Road. At the other end of Orme Road we re-emerged onto the A525 and we did the short run up to the A34. We went South a couple of roundabouts before turning left onto Barracks Road and we entered the bus station from the South. At the bus station we got up and got off the bus. I asked Matthew if he wanted to go to the toilet and he said yes. On the way up we saw First Potteries 53828 which was on lay over on Stubbs Street.

First Potteries 53828 in Newcastle bus station

Matthew went to the toilet and we saw required First Potteries 53119 on a #72 to Clayton. We had also seen required First Potteries 65733 going off towards Park Site on the #72 and required D&G 30 on 'The Orange One' to Meir. As we walked down to where both buses were D&G 30 pulled off. I asked Matthew if he wanted do First Potteries 53119 and he said yes.

First Potteries 53119 in Newcastle bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. We sat down towards the back of this well filled bus and the bus pulled off out of the bus station. We went down Barracks Road and onto the Northbound A34 we went around Morrisons via Blackfriars Road and Friarswood Road and we went back towards Newcastle before doing a U turn between Morrisons and Homebase and going up the A519 towards Clayton. We turned into Seabridge lane and the we left into Wye Road. We went through the Westbury Park area and we headed back towards the A519 along Westbury Road. We crossed the A519 and the bus emptied out a little so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 53119.

Inside First Potteries 53119

At the bottom of Northwood Lane we turned left into Ferndown Drive South. We got up and got off the bus. As there was a 20 minute wait for the next bus, we walked down to the A500 overbridge. Matthew ate a Milky Way and drank a bottle of Irn Bru, and took some pictures of passing lorries and a Skills coach. After a few minutes we walked back up to the stop to wait for the next bus. Just as we hoped when it turned the corner it was a 'Cherry route' Scania, required First Potteries 65733.

First Potteries 65733 in Clayton Village

We got on the bus for the final time today and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver. The bus was empty so Matthew also got a picture inside First Potteries 65733 before we sat down.

Inside First Potteries 65733

The bus set off along Ferndown Drive and back onto Northwood Lane. We crossed over the A519 and we went through Westbury Park and onto Wye Road. We turned right onto Seabridge Lane, and this time we noticed that someone appeared to be scrapping a car in there drive and it was turned on it's side! We re-joined the A519 and we ran down into Newcastle. We came into the bus station off Barracks Road and we got up and got off the bus. We walked up onto barracks Road and we saw mum waiting for us in the lay-by. We went to the Jubilee Roundabout and we turned 180' and went back down barracks Road onto the A34. As we passed the hospital we saw ALS Travel coach SIL 3844 going Northwards. we stopped at the Riverside Chippy for chips and afterwards we carried on down to the A500. We joined the Northbound A500 and at Sideway we went Eastwards along the A50 up to Longton. WE came off at Longton so that we could check out the buses at Z Carz. Today they had parked the buses sideways to accommodate the large numbers of buses parked up for the school holidays. Closest to the road was Z Carz Ford minibus LG09 JVX.

Z Carz LG09 JVX in Longton

Also nearby to the road was Z Carz airport division Ford minibus DL03 HHU.

Z Carz DL03 HHU in Longton

Another bus that is rarely seen at the depot is Z Carz green Ford minibus T418 WYJ.

Z Carz T418 WYJ in Longton

behind the green minibus was Z Carz Mercedes minibus M372 NWN.

Z Carz M372 NWN in Longton

Whilst we were there, Z Carz Iveco minibus GK02 NWJ arrived on site.

Z Carz GK02 NWJ in Longton

We turned into Willow Row where there was only one minibus. It was Z Carz Mercedes minibus S952 VMY parked at the back of the compound behind a car. We turned around and went back onto the A50 which we did up to Heron Cross. At heron Cross we joined Blurton Road and we went through Blurton. We went forwards onto Church Road and we turned right into Beaconsfield Drive. We got home around 18:20. For a late tea Matthew had banger and mash with carrots followed by a slice of lemon cake. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until Bedtime around 10:00...Mark