Trip to Newcastle / Biddulph 21-05-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
42892	Magdalen Road, Blurton	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	22	First Potteries
42553	Trentham, adj Man-in-Space	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop R	21	First Potteries
65039	Stoke-upon-Trent, adj stop Q	Newcastle BS	25	First Potteries
32627	Newcastle BS	Tunstall, adj stop A	99	First Potteries
67635	Tunstall, adj stop B	Hanley BS	3	First Potteries
37159	Hanley BS	Biddulph BS	7A	First Potteries
41494	Biddulph BS	Hanley BS	7A	First Potteries
161	Hanley BS	Newcastle BS	Nines	D&G

Today we decided to do a local trip. Wee checked the weather and it was for for cool wet weather, with rain due to fall for most of the afternoon. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We got ready and uncle Dave couldn't find his coat! we said goodbye to mum and we set off on foot to the bus stop all the way over on Magdalen Road. As we waited for the bus we saw dud First Potteries 67632 on a Longton bound #22. We saw mum in the distance approaching in the car and at the same time We saw a First Potteries Dart come around the corner. As our bus got closer we saw mum waving uncle Dave's coat about. I flagged the bus down, Matthew took a picture of dud First Potteries 42892 and uncle Dave ran to the car to get his coat off mum!

First Potteries 42892 in Blurton

We got on the bus and we booked a Smart day ticket at £5.30. By the time the ticket was sorted uncle Dave had caught us up and jumped on the bus. We sat down towards the back of the bus and the bus set off onto the A5035. We crossed over the railway line into Trentham nad we turned right into New Inn Lane. We saw a First Potteries Caetano Dart in front of us on the #21A and we knew we were unlikely to catch up with his bus. We got up to get off the bus near to the Man in Space and we saw required First Potteries 42553 on a #21 to the Trentham Hotel opposite to us. We got off the bus and Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 42892 before it carried on towards Newcastle.

First Potteries 42892 in Trentham

We knew we had a wait of just less than 15 minutes for required First Potteries 42553 to return from it's loop around Trentham. The time passed quickly, mum sent a question about a house in uncle Dave's Street which her friend was considering renting, and we saw City Cabs SF58 UBZ going the other way.

City Cabs SF58 UBZ in Trentham

A few minutes later we saw First Potteries 67603 on a #22 to Longton and then we turned to see required First Potteries 42553 again on the #21 to Hanley.

First Potteries 42553 in Trentham

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up New Inn Lane and we noticed that the bus in front was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 42553.

Inside First Potteries 42553

At the top of New Inn Lane we turned right into Wilson Road and left into Church Lane. At the bottom of Church Lane we joined the Northbound A34 and we crossed under the A500 into Trent Vale. We turned right onto London Road and we ran the last couple of mile through West End into Stoke Town Centre. We passed City Cabs and we saw minibus YN02 UYV parked in the adjacent Street. On Campbell Place we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 42553 before it carried on towards Hanley.

First Potteries 42553 in Stoke

Once off the bus we crossed over the road and we walked through the town centre to Church Street and around the corner to Stoke cafe where we went for our dinner. Matthew used the toilet and when he returned from the basement we ordered him a breakfast washed down with a can of Coke. After he had finished eating we went along Church Street to the stop by the Post Office where the majority of the Newcastle bound departures leave from. Whilst we waited for the next bus we saw dud First Potteries 65731 on a #25 to Hanley.

First Potteries 65731 in Stoke

Having seen a couple of of #25's, it would seem that today that this usually double decker operated service was in the hand of single deckers... Where were all the double deckers today? A few minutes later we saw another single decker approaching on a Newcastle bound service. It was a Scania Omnicity, an unusual sighting in Stoke town centre. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries on a #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 65039 in Stoke

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. After a brief wait, we set off along Church Street and off up the hill along Hartshill Road. We passed the Noah's Ark pub, currently being refurbished and re-opening again sometime in late June. Just after the pub we turned left by the Co-operative Food store and we headed to the hospital. We bounced our way through the hospital grounds over the severe speed bumps and we joined the North bound A34. We went around the roundabout at the bottom end of Newcastle and we turned right onto Barracks Road before entering the bus station from the Southern end. It was a through bus to Keele, and it didn't empty out sufficiently for Matthew to take a picture inside. We got off the bus and we saw required First Potteries double decker 37159 departing on a #98 to Ball Green. We deicded to head up the the North end of the bus station to take a few pictures as there was a break in the rain. We then saw dud First Potteries 53063 on a #72 to Clayton.

First Potteries 53063 in Newcastle bus station

We also saw one of the last two First Potteries buses in the heritage red and yellow livery. It was dud First Potteries 65026 on a #2 to Hanley via Longton.

First Potteries 65026 in Newcastle bus station

We then saw dud First Potteries 32627 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 32627 in Newcastle bus station

We decided to do the double decker on the #99 as a way of getting to Tunstall quickly so that Matthew could have dessert! Wewalked over to the stand and whilst we waited for the bus to be readied for service we saw Knights Ford Minibus UKZ 9592 heading over to the taxi rank.

Knights UKZ 9592 in Newcastle bus station

When the bus had been readied for service and it started to load, we got on First Potteries 32627 and we flashed our Smart Day tickets to the driver before we went upstairs. The rear of the top deck was empty, so Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 32627.

Inside First Potteries 32627

We set off out of Newcastle bus station onto Barracks Road. We crossed the Jubilee roundabout onto the A527 passed the site of a new care home and into Wolstanton. We passed along the High Street to the top of Porthill Bank where we saw ABC Supreme minibus BV51 BNZ. We turned right onto Porthill bank and we went down the hill and across the A500. We traveled through Longport and at Trubshaw Cross we turned left onto Brownhills Road we climbed the hill past the site where it was once mooted there was going to be a Morrison's and into Tunstall. At the top of the High Street we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we headed into the Tunstall Cafe. It was extremely full and we could only find a table for two at the back of the cafe. Matthew went to toilet the and I ordered a slice of Toffee Cheesecake and a can of Coke. After we had finished we said goodbye and we headed back out onto the High Street and across the road. Whilst we waited for a Southbound bus we saw First Potteries 32057 on a #99 to Chell Heath.

First Potteries 32057 in Tunstall

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching from the North. As it got closer we saw that it was dud First Potteries 67635 on a #3 to Hanley.

First Potteries 67635 in Tunstall

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver and we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the High Street and we turned left onto Williamson Street. After going past Asda we turned right onto Scotia Road and we ran down to Burslem. We continued South through Cobridge along Waterloo Road and we entered Hanley along Hope Street. We ran along Stafford Street and passed the town all and we entered the bus station Bagnall Street. Once in the bus station we got up and got off the bus. Matthew went the toilet and then we headed off to the car park to take a few bus pictures. Whilst we were in the car park the rain really started to come down. On layover we saw First Potteries 63099.

First Potteries 63099 in Hanley bus station

A few minutes alter we saw dud First Potteries 66302 on a #25 to Keele.

First Potteries 66302 in Hanley bus station

Whilst we were in the car park Matthew had a Milky Way and drank a small bottle of lemonade. We also saw D&G 158 on a #9 to Biddulph.

D&G 158 in Hanley bus station

The rain died down a little and and we considered going back to the bus station. We then saw D&G Bus 32 on a #43 to Baddeley Green.

D&G 32 in Hanley bus station

We decided to head back to the bus station whilst there was a break in the rain. We stopped in the Spa shop and Matthew had a can of Coke and a couple of chocolate bars. Once we we had paid for the stuff we went into the bus station and we spotted First Potteries 32055 on a #32 to Uttoxeter. We also saw required First Potteries 37159.

First Potteries 37159 in Hanley bus station

We waited for the driver to get into the bus and set the destination. It was just our good luck that it was about to work a #7A to Biddulph. The driver readied the bus for service and we queued up to get on the bus. Once on the bus we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before going upstairs. As the rear of the top deck was empty, Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 37159.

Inside First Potteries 37159

We set off out of the bus station and down John Street onto Bethesda Street. We went onto Marsh Street and we turned right onto Trinity Street. We turned left onto Stafford Street and we went around Quadrant Road under the Intu potteries shopping centre. We left Hanley through Townsend and we saw Stanton's of Stoke TSU 268 and Required First Potteries 32079 on an inbound Hanley service. We continued out of town through Sneyd Green and across Smallthorne roundabouts onto High Lane. At the end of High Lane we turned left onto the A527 and we ran down through Fegg Hayes and up the hill into Brindeley Ford. We left the A527 and we turned left to travel through Brown Lees. We crossed over the A527 at Knypersley and we ran around the housing estate to the east of Biddulph before coming onto the High Street off Well Street. After a short run along the High Street we turned down South View and onto Wharf Road and we got up and got off the bus. Matthew took another picture of First Potteries 37159 as it carried on Northwards.

First Potteries 37159 in Biddulph bus station

We went to use the toilets in the bus station area, and after we had finished we cams out to see D&G Bus 159 about to work a #9 to Clayton.

D&G 159 in Biddulph bus station

We decided to go and get some fried from the Biddulph Kebab & Pizza shop so we walked up the High Street. On the way we saw an unusual coach. It was a maroon coloured coach FNZ 8556. We picked up the chips from the chip shop and we headed back to the bus station main shelter. We started to eat the chips and Matthew heard a bus approaching. We popped outside to see First Potteries 41500 on a #7A to Hanley.

First Potteries 41500 in Biddulph bus station

A few minutes later we heard another bus approaching. It was required First Potteries 32079 on a #7A to Hanley. When we had finished eating the chip we noticed that the coach was parked up down the road. It was Ken's of Congleton coach FNZ 8556.

Ken's of Congleton FNZ 8556 in Biddulph bus station

It was just after 16:00 and we were considering what bus to do back South. There was a #9 at 16:10 and this was followed by a #7A at 16:20. The D&G bus turned up and it was required 161. Matthew didn't fancy doing it at this point, perhaps he had a plan for later...

D&G 161 in Biddulph bus station

The D&G bus departed and a few minutes later dud First Potteries 41494 appeared on the #7A.

First Potteries 41494 in Biddulph bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off back onto the High Street and then left onto Well Street. We whizzed around the estate and we crossed over the A527 into Brown lees. Just before we got back to the A527 we passed required D&G 191 on a #9 to Biddulph. We continued South Through Brindley Ford and Fegg Hayes where we saw D&G 161 again turn towards Chell Heath. We climbed the hill to Chell and we turned left onto High Lane. We ran down through Smallthorne and Sneyd Green in Townsend and into Hanley. When we got to the bus station we lat the bus empty and Matthew took a picture inside First Potteries 41494.

Inside First Potteries 41494

As we came into the bus station we noticed one of D&G's 'new' Dart that they acquired from Routemaster Buses with some services that they gained in Crewe. We walked around to the layover area and Matthew got a picture of D&G Bus 162 which was about to do the #43 to Baddeley Green.

D&G 162 in Hanley bus station

Also in the bus station was D&G Bus 145 that was purchased new just before Christmas. It was on the service that it is more often seen on, the #16 to Leek.

D&G 145 in Hanley bus station

We walked back into the bus sgtation and we headed down to the bottom stands to see what we could catch towards Newcastle. Required D&G 161 was about to set off on the #9 to Clayton, so we decided to do that.

D&G 161 in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart day ticket to the driver for the final time today. The bus was empty so matthew took a picture inside D&G Bus 161.

Inside D&G 161

The bus set off out of the bus station onto John Street and down onto Bethesda Street. We crossed the ring Road and we went into Shelton and down College Road. By the railway station as we waited at the lights to go onto the A52, we saw a Longmynd Travel coach and CCT minibus 123 TKM. We went onto the A52 and we followed it around into Stoke town Centre. After we had stopped we continued along Church Street and up the hill into Hartshill. We turned left into Princes Road and we went into the centre of Penkhull and onto Newcastle Lane. We turned right onto Hilton Lane and then left into the hospital. After traveling through the hospital we went onto the A34 and into Newcastle. Once in the bus station we tried to go to the toilet but they were all locked up. Mum came and picked up up and we ran up to the Jubilee roundabout and back down the A34. We stopped at the Riverside Chip and we had a couple of potions of real ships between the 4 of us. We re joined the A34 and we turned left onto the A500. At Sideway we went east up the A50 Longton to see whhat was parked up at Z Carz today. Due to 3 way temporary traffic lights on Ednesor Road we couldn't stop by Z carz. We saw Z Carz PN06 ONM as we traveled South past the spare ground.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

We turned into Willow Row and we saw Z Carz Volkswagen minibus S973 OVP in the compound.

Z Carz S973 OVP in Longton

We turned around and as we waited for the traffic light we saw Z Carz silver minibus HK57 LGW on the spare ground.

Z Carz HK57 LGW in Longton

We headed back onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross befor traveling though Blurton along Blurton Road. We followed the road around to the right and onto Church Road, and we turned right onto Beaconsfield Drive. We got back home around 18:00. For a late tea we had bangers and mash with carrots followed by a piece of millionaire shortbread. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark