Bus |
From |
To |
Service |
Operator |
|
2293 |
Chell Street, Stafford |
Doxey, Opp Fern Drive |
6 |
Arriva Midlands |
2293 |
Doxey, Opp Fern Drive |
Guildhall Shopping Centre (Stand 1) |
6 |
Arriva Midlands |
2294 |
Guildhall Shopping Centre (Stand 2) |
Wildwood, Adj Somerfield Store |
8 |
Arriva Midlands |
3701 |
Wildwood, opp School Lane |
Guildhall Shopping Centre (Stand 1) |
74 |
Arriva Midlands |
2291 |
Chell Street, Stafford |
Moss Pit, opp School Lane |
8 |
Arriva Midlands |
2733 |
Moss Pit, adj School Lane |
Penkridge, Adj Crown Bridge |
76 |
Arriva Midlands |
2746 |
Penkridge, Opp Crown Bridge |
Guildhall Shopping Centre (Stand 1) |
75 |
Arriva Midlands |
2296 |
Guildhall Shopping Centre (Stand 1) |
Moss Pit, opp School Lane |
8 |
Arriva Midlands |
3701 |
Moss Pit, Opp Barnhurst Farm |
Guildhall Shopping Centre (Stand 1) |
75 |
Arriva Midlands |
Today we decided to go on a Runcorn. Matthew had been to Stafford last week an he had photographed quite a few Darts, so we decided to re-visit Stafford. We had checked the weather and for the weekend it it was for fine sunny weather. We had also made a list of all the current Arriva Midlands Stafford Allocated buses and marked off the one we had already been on. Matthew got up around 10:30 and had some toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off around 12:00 and we visited the garage to drop something off. We turned onto Ripon Road and we turned right onto the A5035. We headed into Trentham and at the A34 we turned left to go South. For dinner today we stopped at the lay-by opposite to the Monkey Forest and Matthew had a breakfast washed down with a bottle of Irn Bru. After we had finished eating we continued South through the roadworks and past Stone. As we passed to the West of Stone near to The George & Dragon we saw D&G 31 on a Northbound X14 service. South of the A51 we had a good fast run down to Beaconside and we ran the last couple of miles into Stafford town centre. At the big roundabout we went right onto Chell Road and we went passed Sainsbury's. We turned left by the College and we parked at the car park next to Wilkinson's. Matthew visited the toilet and then we said goodbye to mum before we walked onto Chell Road. The first bus that we saw was required Arriva Midlands 2293.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2293 in Stafford |
I asked Matthew if he wanted to do this bus which was on a #6 to Doxey and he said yes. We had already decided that we were getting the Midland day Saver today as the area covered by the Stafford Day Saver ticket isn't very big... We got on the bus and we booked the Midland day saver at £6.20 and we sat down near to the back of the bus. The bus set off up to the windmill and then turned right onto Doxey Road. We crossed over the railway line we headed the mile or so to the Doxey Area. Having asked the driver the frequency of the service (every 30 minutes) we had decided that we would come straight back! We turned right into Greensome Lane and when the bus emptied out I went to show the driver the tickets for the return journey and Matthew took a picture of the empty rear of the bus.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 2293 |
We retuned back into town via Conway Road, Greensome Lane and Doxey Road and when we got to the roundabout we went straight onto Broad Street and right into Earl Street. When we got to the bus stops outside the Guildhall Shopping Centre we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2293 before it carried on towards Rickerscote.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2293 in Stafford |
Also at the stop briefly was Arriva Midlands 2746.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2746 in Stafford |
We crossed back over the road and the two buses departed. There was a #3 to Wilwood due so we thought we would check it out before we walked onto Chell Road. The bus turned the corner out of Broad Street and we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 2294.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2294 in Stafford |
We decided to do this bus, so we got on and we flashed the Midland Day Saver ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off through Stafford via Earl Street, Mills Street and Bridge Street and we went over the big roundabout at the Southern end of town and joined the Southbound A34. We crossed the railway line and we went past the Queensville Retail Park before going over the river Penk and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal. At the top of Radford bank we turned right onto the A34 and we entered the Wildwood estate. We did almost a complete circuit of the estate and we spotted a large Co-operative food store so we decided to get up and get off the bus. The bus was now empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2294 before we stepped off the bus.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 2294 |
Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2294.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2294 in Wildwood |
We walked across a big car park and into the Co-op store and we brought some pop and chocolate to stock up the trip bag. We decided to walk up to the main road to see if there was a #74 bus due. Just as we got to the stop the hourly service turned up! Talk about a stroke of luck... As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 3701.
|
| Arriva Midlands 3701 in Wildwood |
We got on the bus and we flashed the Arriva Midlands Day Saver to the driver before sitting down. The bus set off up the A34 and we headed down Radford bank and up into Stafford town centre. The bus in front of us was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3701.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 3701 |
At the big roundabout we got onto the A518 before turning into Station Road. We turned right into Victoria Road and left into Tenterbanks. We circumnavigate Stafford College and we got up and got off the bus buy the Guildhall Shopping centre. We walked over to the toilets on Broad Street and after Matthew had used them we walked over onto Chell Road. We then saw Arriva Midlands 3759 on a #9B to Highfields.
|
| Arriva Midlands 3759 in Stafford |
Right behind the Pulsar was required Arriva Midlands Dennis Dart 2291 on the #8 to Moss Pit.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2291 in Stafford |
As this bus was on the list that we had compiled, we decided to do this bus. We got on and we flashed the Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off towards the Windmill and we turned into Broad Street before stopping outside The Guildhall Shopping Centre. We headed through town and at the big roundabout we took the Southbound A449. just after the sharp bend in the road we turned right into the estate. As we travelled around the bus emptied out and Matthew took a picture of the empty bus in front of us.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 2291 |
We turned left onto the A449 and we got up and got off the bus. The bus had a short layover here and Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2291
|
| Arriva Midlands 2291 in Moss Pit |
We checked the timetable and then next #8 was in 15 minutes. Whilst we thought about what to do next Matthew ate a Milky way and drank some Irn Bru. Heading towards Stafford was Leons Coaches minibus 204.
|
| Leons 204 in Moss Pit |
We decided to cross over the road to see if there was another bus towards Penkridge before the next #8 was due. It just so happened that there was... There was a #76 due around the same time. We saw the bus at the bottom of the hill approaching. Behind us required Dart Arriva Midlands 2296 turned up on the #8 to Stafford. As the #76 got closer we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 2733.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2733 in Moss Pit |
We got on the bus we flashed the Day Saver ticket to the driver before sitting down in the middle of the bus. The bus carried on Southwards on the A449 and we crossed over the railway line and then under the M6. We then ran the 3 miles or so down towards Penkridge. The bus wasn't particularly fast along this stretch and we were overtaken by cars as we travelled down. The bus emptied out a little at the North end of town and Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2733.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 2733 |
When we got to the centre of town we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2733 before it carried on towards Wolverhampton.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2733 in Penkridge |
When we got off the bus we checked the timetable at the stop. There was a #54 to Wolverhampton due in around 10 minutes. We decided to cross over the road to see when the bus back to Stafford was due. The Arriva bus was due in around 20 minutes, but before that there was an #54 to Stafford due around 45 minutes past the hour. There was a small park with benches near to the bus stop, so we sat in there and Matthew ate some Milky Stars and drank a can of Barr Limeade. Just as we finished we saw National Express West Midlands 853 on the #54 to Stafford.
|
| NX West Midlands 853 in Penkridge |
A few minutes later as expected, we also saw National Express West Midlands 854 on the #54 to Wolverhampton.
|
| NX West Midlands 854 in Penkridge |
We had spotted a toilet across the road in the square. We were just about go to visit when we saw the Arriva bus approaching. As it got closer we saw that it was Arriva Midlands 2746 on the #75 to Stafford.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2746 in Penkridge |
We got on the bus we flashed the Day Saver ticket to the driver before sitting down in the middle of the bus. The bus set off North and we went under the M6 and over the railway line. We ran into Stafford and we joined the A518 before going past the railway station. We went around the college and into Earl Street were we got up to get off the bus. As the bus was empty Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 2746.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 2746 |
Right behind us was First Potteries 65041 on a #10 to Stafford.
|
| First Potteries 65041 in Stafford |
We were considering catching the #9 to Stafford which was required Arriva Midlands 2375 but we weren't quick enough!
|
| Arriva Midlands 2375 in Stafford |
There was another #8 due and if we were lucky perhaps it would be required Arriva Midlands 2296 that we had seen earlier in Moss Pit. As if by magic required Arriva Midlands 2296 did make an appearance!
|
| Arriva Midlands 2296 in Stafford |
We got on and we flashed the Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. We headed through town and at the big roundabout we took the Southbound A449. just after the sharp bend in the road we turned right into the estate. As we travelled around the bus emptied out and Matthew took a picture of the empty bus in front of us.
|
| Inside Arriva Midlands 2296 |
We turned left onto the A449 and we got up and got off the bus. There was a change in the timetable at this time of the evening so if we turned the bus down we would have to wait for around 25 minutes. We decided to let the bus go and walk down towards Acton Gate for a few hundred yard extra on the #75. We set off down the A449 and part way down we heard a bus approaching from behind... It was required Arriva Midlands 2988 on a #75 to Cannock.
|
| Arriva Midlands 2988 in Moss Pit |
Further down the road we saw a National Express West Midlands bus approaching. AS it got closer we saw that it was National Express West Midlands 851 on a #54 to Stafford.
|
| NX West Midlands 851 in Moss Pit |
We crossed over the railway line and we walk down to the next stop. As the time neared to get on the bus I decided to check the bus pass and ticket to get them ready. I could not find them. After a quick rummage in the bag both the pass and ticket were found in the wrong part of the bag... just as the bus came into sight! As the bus got closer we saw that it was dud Arriva Midlands 3701 on a #75 to Stafford.
|
| Arriva Midlands 3701 in Moss Pit |
We got on and we flashed the Midlands Day Saver ticket to the driver for the final time today before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus returned up the A449 and around Stafford and into Earl Street. We got off the bus and Matthew got another picture of Arriva Midlands 3701.
|
| Arriva Midlands 3701 in Stafford |
We headed to the car park on Broad Street and we used the toilet before we returned to the car. Mum had put the radio on and wound down a window, and the radio being on for 30 minutes had flattened the car battery! Luckily we always carry jump leads and we were able get a jump start from a kind lady who let us get a boost off here car. Once the car was up and running we thanked the lady and we set off onto Chell Road passing D&G 30 on a X14. We headed North up the A34 and we stopped to get some chips from Stafford Chippy. We also saw the last required Arriva Midlands Stafford MPD Dart 2290 on a #8 service. The car was run for a short while whilst the chips were being purchased and when we come to leave the small car park the car started first time! We carried on up the A34 and West of Stone. We travelled North Through the roadworks and at Trentham we went towards Longton on the A5035. At Longton we stopped at Z Carz to see what was parked up there this evening. At the near end of the first row was Z Carz Ford minibus NA06 SUO.
|
| Z Carz NA06 SUO in Longton |
Further along the row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.
|
| Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton |
Closest on the second row was Z Carz silver LDV CN57 HWA.
|
| Z Carz CN57 HWA in Longton |
We turned into Willow Row to see what was parked up in the compound. Parked up there was Z Carz Ford minibus PY08 KDX.
|
| Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton |
We joined the Westbound A50 and we passed First Potteries 65564 which was running empty Eastwards towards Adderley Green. At heron Cross we went South through Blurton along Blurton Road forwards onto Church Road. As we were about to turn into Beaconsfield Drive we passed First Potteries 'Cherry Route' Volvo 66841 on a #22 to Longton and 53119 on a #23 to Hanley. We got home around 18:30. For a late tea Matthew had bangers & mash with carrots followed by a jam filled shortcake biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:30... Mark
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